Remember that thing moms used to tell their kids, "If you keeping pulling faces like that, your face is going to stay that way..."?
Well. I spent the last few days scowling for lots of reasons that would bore you. And now I have a new, permanent, vertical line in between my eyebrows.
Merry Christmas, Charlotte. Serves you right.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Halloween 2014
Damon: Robin Hood
Claire: Vampire
Anne: Witch (takes after her mother)
Julia: wore a t-shirt with a cat on it, and a cat-ear headband for 30 seconds. Also has the makings of a witch, as seen below.
Damon and Anne went trick-or-treating by themselves. Claire went trick-or-treating with a friend. You read that right, folks. Jake and I stayed home with the Juje (that's Julia--I wanted her nickname to be Jules, but it hasn't panned out.) Best Halloween ever.
Note: photography on this blog will reach new lows now. Julia performed some dark magic on our camera shutter thingy, and i-pads don't take the best pics in the world, as you can see above. We could get a new camera, but I hate taking pictures almost as much as I hate shopping, so it'll be a while before I get around to that.
Claire: Vampire
Anne: Witch (takes after her mother)
Julia: wore a t-shirt with a cat on it, and a cat-ear headband for 30 seconds. Also has the makings of a witch, as seen below.
Damon and Anne went trick-or-treating by themselves. Claire went trick-or-treating with a friend. You read that right, folks. Jake and I stayed home with the Juje (that's Julia--I wanted her nickname to be Jules, but it hasn't panned out.) Best Halloween ever.
Note: photography on this blog will reach new lows now. Julia performed some dark magic on our camera shutter thingy, and i-pads don't take the best pics in the world, as you can see above. We could get a new camera, but I hate taking pictures almost as much as I hate shopping, so it'll be a while before I get around to that.
Friday, September 26, 2014
quick update
We're in our house. After scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing it is finally decently clean, except for the air we breath. I thought the carpet and duct cleaning had gotten rid of the smell, but it turns out we have just gotten used to it (cringe). I went to St. George for a quick girls' weekend (my abs still hurt from laughing so hard. If you're not a girl in my family, feel jealous) and when I got back, there was that stench I thought we'd vanquished, strong as ever. Big depressed sigh.
Looks like we'll need to replace the carpets and paint sooner than I thought. I have proved wrong that saying President Monson likes: "I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to somebody's need made me blind. But I never have yet, felt a tinge of regret, for being a little too kind." During the final walk-through--you know, your last chance to back out of the house before you sign your name in blood for it, all I thought was Gee, what a great house. It's a little dirty, but that's no problem. We'll get it cleaned up in no time. That old man did the best he could. He probably felt like a hero just getting all of his stuff out. It would hurt his feelings if we complained. Three days of deep cleaning later, the end still not in sight, you better believe I was cursing myself. Charlotte, you should have asked for $1000 from that geezer to compensate for the state of this house! Brimhall was right: you see the world through rose-colored glasses, and now you're paying the price! Idiot! And he took the mirrors out of the bathrooms! Could you not have noticted that before it was too late?! Now you have to buy new mirrors, and those are not cheap! Fool! $#!%!
On the bright side: the kids are in good schools. Even Anne is warming up to Kansas. She hasn't cried since Monday for Michigan. We're also in a good ward with a promising book group. I've only been to one meeting, but I sense some kindred spirits there.
Back to the not-so-bright side: I just got our water bill. I haven't gotten out the calculator and Michigan bills yet to compare and confirm, but I think water is 3x more expensive here. I might have to switch to bathing every other day and join the house in stinkiness. These old toilets that never clog because they empty a small pond every time you flush are gonna have to go, too.
Looks like we'll need to replace the carpets and paint sooner than I thought. I have proved wrong that saying President Monson likes: "I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to somebody's need made me blind. But I never have yet, felt a tinge of regret, for being a little too kind." During the final walk-through--you know, your last chance to back out of the house before you sign your name in blood for it, all I thought was Gee, what a great house. It's a little dirty, but that's no problem. We'll get it cleaned up in no time. That old man did the best he could. He probably felt like a hero just getting all of his stuff out. It would hurt his feelings if we complained. Three days of deep cleaning later, the end still not in sight, you better believe I was cursing myself. Charlotte, you should have asked for $1000 from that geezer to compensate for the state of this house! Brimhall was right: you see the world through rose-colored glasses, and now you're paying the price! Idiot! And he took the mirrors out of the bathrooms! Could you not have noticted that before it was too late?! Now you have to buy new mirrors, and those are not cheap! Fool! $#!%!
On the bright side: the kids are in good schools. Even Anne is warming up to Kansas. She hasn't cried since Monday for Michigan. We're also in a good ward with a promising book group. I've only been to one meeting, but I sense some kindred spirits there.
Back to the not-so-bright side: I just got our water bill. I haven't gotten out the calculator and Michigan bills yet to compare and confirm, but I think water is 3x more expensive here. I might have to switch to bathing every other day and join the house in stinkiness. These old toilets that never clog because they empty a small pond every time you flush are gonna have to go, too.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
1st Day of School
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Good-byes
Before the movers pack up the computer... Wait--gotta relay the comment one of the packers just made.
Me: Do you need to pack up the computer now?
Him: No, we'll do that very last. And we'll box up the kids last, too. Don't worry. We poke holes in the top.
Claire: They're going to put us in boxes?!
Me: No.
Packer: No, we usually use plastic bags for that.
Uh?! Eeek! Who is packing us up?! Get me out of here! And not in a plastic bag, please.
Anyway, we're moving to Kansas. This job opportunity was sprung on us pretty quickly, and we've had to rush to get the house sold, a new house found, and blah blah blah so the kids can start school on time NEXT WEEK in Kansas. Kansas City area. It's pretty nice. I was pleasantly surprised. Hot and humid right now, though.
So we're bidding farewell to our wonderful ward (will I ever love another ward like this one? Probably not. It's like the ward I grew up in. Actually, it's not at all, except that it's just as dear to my heart.) and our wonderful neighbors and Michigan.
And the geckos. Two of whom are buried in the backyard. I accidentally killed them. I'll blog about that later. My time is up. Call me on my cell if you need me.
Me: Do you need to pack up the computer now?
Him: No, we'll do that very last. And we'll box up the kids last, too. Don't worry. We poke holes in the top.
Claire: They're going to put us in boxes?!
Me: No.
Packer: No, we usually use plastic bags for that.
Uh?! Eeek! Who is packing us up?! Get me out of here! And not in a plastic bag, please.
Anyway, we're moving to Kansas. This job opportunity was sprung on us pretty quickly, and we've had to rush to get the house sold, a new house found, and blah blah blah so the kids can start school on time NEXT WEEK in Kansas. Kansas City area. It's pretty nice. I was pleasantly surprised. Hot and humid right now, though.
So we're bidding farewell to our wonderful ward (will I ever love another ward like this one? Probably not. It's like the ward I grew up in. Actually, it's not at all, except that it's just as dear to my heart.) and our wonderful neighbors and Michigan.
And the geckos. Two of whom are buried in the backyard. I accidentally killed them. I'll blog about that later. My time is up. Call me on my cell if you need me.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Common Core: Final Thoughts (I hope--I'm sick of this)
Just talked to an aide for my state senator. So: it's the teachers/school districts that choose the curriculum. Common Core provides the standards (e.g. in 3rd grade a kid show know how to do this, in 5th grade a kid should know how to read that, etc). Teachers decide how to teach and what to use to help children meet those standards. I wish I had known that before I e-mailed the teacher and attacked the worksheet--I could have been much more tactful. No wonder she was rather defensive. She probably picked that workbook herself. Poor lady.
I've been e-mailing a friend over this. I wrote to her: "This isn't the first history worksheet I've had problems with. Also I don't look at all of them (who has time?), and it makes me wonder if there are other bad ones slipping by me. I hate paying teachers to teach my son things I disagree with. It makes me want to dump some workbooks in the harbor :-)"
She wrote back: "The best thing, though, is that if you DO see it and you discuss it with him, it teaches him how to be a critical thinker, which is a valuable lesson. We spend 4 years in college trying to teach that. It can be a valuable conversation to point out what you don't like and talk about it with him."
I feel much better after reading that. I've been very agitated over this whole thing. I don't want to home school, and yet I don't want my children being taught incorrect principles. I'm going to trust that Heaven will help me see the bad things, so I can discuss them with my children and help them see right from wrong and become critical thinkers. I feel good about that. Not so excited about forever checking up on what is being taught, but it is my job...
I've been e-mailing a friend over this. I wrote to her: "This isn't the first history worksheet I've had problems with. Also I don't look at all of them (who has time?), and it makes me wonder if there are other bad ones slipping by me. I hate paying teachers to teach my son things I disagree with. It makes me want to dump some workbooks in the harbor :-)"
She wrote back: "The best thing, though, is that if you DO see it and you discuss it with him, it teaches him how to be a critical thinker, which is a valuable lesson. We spend 4 years in college trying to teach that. It can be a valuable conversation to point out what you don't like and talk about it with him."
I feel much better after reading that. I've been very agitated over this whole thing. I don't want to home school, and yet I don't want my children being taught incorrect principles. I'm going to trust that Heaven will help me see the bad things, so I can discuss them with my children and help them see right from wrong and become critical thinkers. I feel good about that. Not so excited about forever checking up on what is being taught, but it is my job...
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Common Core: Thoughts from people other than me
You don't have to be a conservative like me to be wary of Common Core. Check out this website: http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/common-core-is-agenda-21.html
Also, read excerpts from my mother-in-law's e-mails to me (posted with her permission):
"Charlotte dear, Just read your blog quickly. You are not off base about common core ... It is the "Growing Up Caring" philosophy I fought against years ago. That textbook also subtly implied that parents are the enemy. Never dismiss your intuition. It was my intuition that told me something was terribly wrong with the course and teachings of that book, and my feelings were confirmed when we obtained the teacher's manual which instructed the teachers to create a dichotomy in the classroom and then work to the end that the students would overcome their belief in absolutes. Frightening! At that time I also read the statement that the secular humanists were using the school classroom as their pulpit. Are we not seeing the fruit of their labors in our society today?
"Another quick thought: Perhaps ... the teachers don't intend to disparage parents, yet the end result is exactly that. Message of sheets: Parents force; parents are unfair; where will it lead? rebellion against parents is justified. (One who is drunk and driving doesn't intend to kill the passengers in the oncoming car when he hits head on, but he does. Intention is not the whole ball game. Result, fruit of action is the greater consideration. The poor judgment of ... teachers, though innocent of evil intent, does not justify the result. Parents need to take action to overcome that which injures the family.)"
Also, read excerpts from my mother-in-law's e-mails to me (posted with her permission):
"Charlotte dear, Just read your blog quickly. You are not off base about common core ... It is the "Growing Up Caring" philosophy I fought against years ago. That textbook also subtly implied that parents are the enemy. Never dismiss your intuition. It was my intuition that told me something was terribly wrong with the course and teachings of that book, and my feelings were confirmed when we obtained the teacher's manual which instructed the teachers to create a dichotomy in the classroom and then work to the end that the students would overcome their belief in absolutes. Frightening! At that time I also read the statement that the secular humanists were using the school classroom as their pulpit. Are we not seeing the fruit of their labors in our society today?
"Another quick thought: Perhaps ... the teachers don't intend to disparage parents, yet the end result is exactly that. Message of sheets: Parents force; parents are unfair; where will it lead? rebellion against parents is justified. (One who is drunk and driving doesn't intend to kill the passengers in the oncoming car when he hits head on, but he does. Intention is not the whole ball game. Result, fruit of action is the greater consideration. The poor judgment of ... teachers, though innocent of evil intent, does not justify the result. Parents need to take action to overcome that which injures the family.)"
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