Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

Poetry

Some days it feels like I’m scraping the bottom of the peanut butter jar for ideas to entertain and inspire. I see my role as a teacher resembling the role of an inspirational speaker…although I admit I probably sit on the couch too often to be considered very inspirational. I don’t tell the kids what they need to know as much as I try to inspire them to go and figure things out for themselves. Some days it would just be a lot easier to sit everyone down and tell them to take notes. This happens every February/March.

On days when I am tempted to

a) begin lecturing,

b) question my own sanity,

c) lose my temper,

I know it’s time for a little pixie dust in the form of books on CD.

One of my high school English teacher’s classes began with a poetry reading every.single.day. He would write (in colored chalk) long poems on the south panel of his chalkboard for us to discuss. Did I *ever* take notes? Did I even *think* to keep a running list of the titles? NO! Aaaack! “Youth is wasted on the wrong people.” (It’s a Wonderful Life)

I have looked for a good collection of poems for children for years. This collection needed explanations and definitions and biographical information about the poets. The poems needed to be funny, entertaining, and meaningful to children.

This book is the best replacement I have found for my non-existent notes on poetry from 9th grade. I have pulled it out each spring for the past 3 years to get us through the rough times. I read a short lesson about a poet, which is maybe 3-5 paragraphs. We listen to the CD of an actor reading the poems and then discuss form, vocabulary, themes, etc. Then we go and write poetry of our own. We might have a little chocolate. But the important thing is we’re learning something and thinking and it’s DIFFERENT. The kids truly enjoy this book, which is slowly being digested over the years. Today we began the section about the poet who was a “Rebel without Applause,” Emily Dickinson.

The poetry which resulted after our little discussion about metaphor, minimal use of words, and emotion rather than description made me want to pat myself on the back and hug my kids. The poems will remain unpublished. You see, we’ve decided to closet our Emily Dickinsonesque poems in hidden panels of our desks to be discovered someday after we have died or had a yard sale and sold the furniture…whatever comes first.

He has 40 good years

Richard turned 40 this weekend. What a dashing age.

Mark suggested that Dad’s gift should be some more power cords for the closet in our bedroom. I tried to spy on Richard’s Amazon account to find what he had been viewing lately. This worked for me last year when I was shopping for his gift. Alas, this year there were no electronics in his internet history. Finally, on the day before his birthday, we just took him to Costco and said, “Pick one!” He found a Blu Ray player…with cords…and another remote! The birthday boy was so thrilled that he forgot to let us wrap the present when we got home.

The kids and I made Richard a 40th birthday music mix CD. We spent a pleasant weekend listening to Pandora and watching instant movies from Netflix. We could, because we now have a Blu Ray player. It still smarts to spell Blu without an “e”.

Richard’s birthday party was quite an event. We invited guests. I made a double layer chocolate cake. Richard smoked some chicken on the barbecue and we served an array of barbecue sauces. Richard’s homemade sauce beat Rudy’s in our taste test. We spent the late evening eating black licorice and enjoying more music and movies.

I like how Spanish speaking people answer the question of age by saying “they have” so many years.  Richard should be proud of each and every good year of his life. He’s a good man. And he grows more dashing every year.

Making it

This week we’re just making it.

We made pulled pork for a Cub Scout dinner for 80.

We made collages and 1 of us cried over it and 3 of us stormed off.

Paige made it to one day of seminary this week because she’s so very sick.

Timothy wrote an epic essay about Genghis Kahn. You never know what will inspire a kid to greatness.

Richard spoke in the Spanish branch on Sunday. He worked to get his talk translated into Spanish and then presented it with a slight Portuguese accent.

This weekend I’m looking forward to celebrating Richard’s birthday. Pretty soon I’ll be kissing a 40 year old.

Eric Carle Art Class

We decided to make Eric Carle style art with the homeschool club today. To prepare, we asked each family to paint 5 pieces of tissue paper with tempera paint, using different textures and color combinations and bring the dry tissues to class. We followed the same techniques that Eric Carle taught during a Mr. Rogers episode. You can see the clip here. (Start at minute 16.)

I have to admit that I was a little worried how it would turn out. The individual tissue papers we made were not very attractive.

Once we got to class, we shared the painted tissue paper to make some wonderful collages.

Hannah’s fruit art was so cute I had to post it. She’s playing at our house so I’m claiming the right to share her beautiful art.

We had dozens of patterns from which we could choose. I came home with a sample of each so I can do my own artwork/therapy this weekend.

Anyone can do this. And it is beautiful and simple and very inexpensive.

High School

The following post is rated PG.

One day in high school accidentally walked into the men’s bathroom…in Egyptian make-up from drama class. *sob*

I still have nightmares that my gingham p.e. shorts are in the locker and I can’t remember the combination. *waaaah!*

I never used my own locker in 10th grade because it was in the scary cowboy hallway. *Skoal + Marlboros= smelly folks*

In 9th grade my locker was heavily stocked with lip gloss which Thora and I would apply liberally in front of our magnetic mirror. *gag*

I skipped class one time… to study biology. *scoff*

The first day I drove to school I got in a car accident. The policeman made me sit in the back of his car IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. *shudder*

I ate pizza or Taco Bell almost every day in 11-12th grade. *blech*

Two of brothers went to high school while I was there but I don’t think I ever saw them. *sigh*

I’m pretty sure the high school counselor waved her magic wand to delete a 1/4 credit hour class I never took so I could graduate. *phew!*

And then there were the 8 a.m. P.E. classes where we studied swimming. Wet hair in the winter in Provo=not good. *shiver*

My science teachers inspired me. *exclamation*

An English teacher caused a continual state of frustration. *yikes*

I have stayed in touch with ONE friend from high school. *hmmmm…*

I’m not sure how many play try-outs I sat through, trying to kindle the courage to audition. I could never do it. *sigh*

One day I looked across the room at the wealthy girls sitting in a row with their mini Levi skirts. I could see the underwear of nearly every one. *insert eye roll*

One day in biology class the teacher was trying to explain genetics. To illustrate what would happen if an attached ear lobe crossed with an unattached ear lobe, she implicated me and the boy sitting beside me as a possible genetic cross … I don’t remember the rest. The blood rushed to my head too quickly. In fact, I’m still blushing…and the teacher is still apologizing to me…  *gasp*

I had an orchestra teacher with a heart of gold. *awww*

I bought and ate an Atomic Fire Bomb jaw breaker each day during chemistry class. *cringe*

I had one copy of a portrait of me in high school that I liked and I gave to a boy and he never returned it. *hmph!*

Sorry if I have triggered angry/painful/embarassing/lively memories that will lead to nightmares that you have forgotten a class in your schedule and it’s halfway through the term. For me, high school memories are tied to an inevitable emotional response.

Family Home Evening

We decorated cookies as part of our Family Home Evening activities. I taught the kids how to use royal icing for outlining and a thin royal icing for flood icing. Everyone had a good time making designs.

We hold a Show-and-Tell activity each week before our Family Home Evening lesson. Daniel showed us some rocks he bought at the gem show. These glow under a black light:

Radioactive? Probably.

We almost didn’t have a lesson because the black light was so very fun.

Community events

We have had the best couple of days.

There have been many homeschool group activities this week. Daniel began golf lessons. Some of us attended a play on Thursday. We took part in a homeschool valentine exchange and Mark addressed his first set of valentines. Timothy received a love note from his friend that I had to show you.

Yesterday we went to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show because we got in free for School Day. The boys felt like kings, buying crystals and petrified wood. The older kids had a delicious taste of independence from me as they joined with a group of friends to move through the exhibits. Paige and two friends traversed the floor and found matching charms and tiny carvings to please the female spirit. Daniel, independent as always, brought his own money and spent it on some carefully selected minerals. Timothy and Mark were my buddies. They were adored by the old ladies and given nervous looks by the uptight jewelry vendors. I heard accents from Russia, Germany, and China. We saw an enormous gold nugget. We ate nachos from El Charro with friends on the patio and the kids carefully lined up all of their rocks on the tables for us to admire. It was a great adventure for all of us.

Oh, this house

This week I found:

A dead lizard on a patio table… a highly prized gift (presented in its dead state) from a neighbor, worthy of its prominent placement for repose. On detection, there were many accompanying promises that the children will bury said lizard.

A homemade bird feeder down on the ground.

Evidence of a sick dog on the carpet, the dog having gorged himself on the birdseed from the above mentioned feeder.

An entire box of Kleenex emptied, used as paper towels, and left on the floor of the guest bathroom because “Mom forgot to hang up a fresh towel.”

Many love notes from Mark, decorated with hearts and trees. The attending lollipops, soon desired by the giver, magically evolved from being Mom’s gift from Mark to Mom’s gift to Mark. Genius!

I have determined that:

  1. I need to be more engaged in running this house today.
  2. At least the kitchen table looks lovely in the morning sun.
  3. Never mind on running the house. I’m going to read a book.
  4. I love my life, dead lizards, dog messes, and all.
  5. We need more lollipops.

Reporting for duty

Wittle Wichawd

The weekend was dreamy. I read Tolstoy. We went to the symphony and heard an amazing concert pianist. We slept in on Saturday and Sunday. There was a fishing trip. Richard shopped for yard stuff, which I am told is heaven.

So now it’s time to face it. It’s a new week.

Early morning seminary hit us like a frigid mass of arctic air.

Richard drove to work, forgetting his work computer.

And I have a dental cleaning. And lots of algebra to correct.

It’s time to get it together. The week has begun!