January 13, 2006

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  Happy St. Knut’s Day!

  sesquipedalian: (adj) given to use of long words.

  What a wonderful, sunny day!  It certainly is the January thaw here in PA.  The children and I and Linda and Jordan W. went for a walk (or electric scooter ride in the case of some!) around our 2.25 mile neighborhood loop this afternoon. We were all in shirt sleeves by the middle of it, and the kids had peeled off their sweatshirts in favor of t-shirts.  I actually wound up walking 3.25 miles, most of it with my three-pound hand weights. I’m amazed at how much easier it is to carry those weights and to jog and to walk in only the past two weeks!  Linda was impressed when I tossed Rachel on my back and carried her part of the way (uphill) and was still able to hold a conversation (between huffing and puffing, of course).

  Tonight the older boys have youth group, and the remainder of us will either grade timed essays (for AP class), play computer games, or watch the Dora the Explorer movie.  You can guess which children will do which activity. Jordan W. and Carolyn Z. will also be here.  I’ve got Bride and Prejudice lined up to watch after I put the kids to bed.  I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I’m thinking it won’t be my favorite movie ever. I watched Clueless last night and enjoyed it, despite the drug and sex references, because it is modeled after another Austen story, Emma.  And, for all of you who want to have a copy of A& E’s Pride and Prejudice, starting next Wednesday, it will be airing in six segments on A&E from 7:00 am to 8:00 am.  Fire up those video recorders!

  The good doctor is on his way home from his two-day stay in Washington, DC.  He was doing some consulting for some group about Algebra.  He didn’t know much more than what I just wrote when he left for the trip.  He reported fatigue and hunger.  You see, he was staying in a fancy hotel–$189 a night (gratis, thankfully)–and the food was just as fancy: salmon, cheddar mushroom soup, etc.  Poor man, he just wanted a burger!  

  Saturday is the bi-monthly ladies’ prayer meeting.  (Does bi-monthly mean every other month or twice a month? I mean the former with that term!)  This will be my first time to go, and I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy praying with others and sharing concerns and helping to shoulder burdens.  After the prayer time, I’m going out to breakfast and to the library. Although it’s a great morning for me, it’s not such a warm welcome home to the good doctor!

  I’ve been re-evaluating what needs to be done in our school. What started out at the start of the year as a really long day has become routine and not challenging.  So, I’ve been thinking about what needs changing.  I’ve added a different spelling approach, moved the vocabulary tests to once a week (instead of every other week), and I want to begin lecturing from the Apologia Science book. It will be a better opportunity for Nathan and David to study, and it will give them the chance to take notes, something which homeschooling doesn’t usually provide. Also, instead of typing all their writing assignments, the children will now be required to handwrite certain ones.  They need more practice in writing quickly and in cursive. There are so many things I would like to do or to add, but I know that trying to do too much will lead to cranky kids and a cranky mom.

  By the way, if you’d like to join, the “Dictionary.com fans” blogring was just formed today which is why I had the “Word of the Day” at the top of this post. As for St. Knut’s Day, it’s a Swedish holiday that’s fun to say!  Also, it is the day when the Christmas tree should be taken down. So if yours isn’t down yet, you’ve got the perfect reason to do so today.
  

  • 5:50 pm
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