KathySmith

Not that this gets read, but just a note in case anyone wonders why I'm not on Facebook for a while...just taking some time off. Just too many friends with too much drama and I'm currently on overload. I'm dealing with my own drama (which I avoid like the plague) and just don't have the energy right now. Thanks.

From an app on Facebook

You've been living for 39 years, 3 months, and 17 days.
You were born on a Monday.
Your date of conception was probably 29th September 1969.
You've seen 10 leap years.
Your Zodiac Sign is Cancer.
Your Chinese Zodiac Sign is Dog.
Your Ruling Planet is Moon.
Your Birthstone is Pearl.
Your Birth Flower is Rose.
Your Birth Tree is Fig Tree.
Your Birth Number is 9.
Time till your next Birthday 255 days 22 hours 22 mins.
Your Lucky Color is Silver.
Your Lucky Day is Monday.
Your Lucky Number is Two or Eight.

Wowza, it's been a while (thanks for the reminder, Dad). Again, all I can say in my defense is that I update Facebook TOO regularly (yes, there is such a thing as a habitual status updater), so I figure everyone is already in the know about the goings-on in our lives. Here's a little more detail...

So, I'm sure I've blogged before that I felt strongly about leaving my job of teaching in order to teach my own kiddos at home. Don't get me wrong, I loved my job and the kids I worked with, but something was seriously nagging at me that I needed to take this other path. I've learned over the years to pay attention to gut feelings like this when they are so strong, as I've regretted every decision I've made or not made that was at war with this feeling. So, a little fearfully, I gave up my job and set about setting Adam up for K12, an online virtual academy. My plan was to have him do this while I homeschooled Miranda, until Randy pointed out that we're already paying taxes for public schooling, why not get her into K12 as well, with the curriculum already figured out and free. Hmm...don't know why I didn't think of that sooner, just got onto the homeschooling idea because of a friend who was also going to be doing it (and giving up her same job to do it also). Anyway, the decision was made (after tons of glowing recommendations about the K12 program) and we moved forward on enrollment. For those who've never heard of it, K12 is an online virtual school throughout the country. It is a part of the public school system and they have stringent guidelines for attendance hours, mastery of unit lessons before continuing to the next, academic requirements, etc., just as a brick-and-mortar school would have (actually, more stringent and accountable for academic progress than any school we've been a part of). Each child is assigned a teacher and I am their "learning coach". We have regular conferences with the teachers (seems like almost a weekly basis so far) as well as testing sessions, online assemblies, field trips with other K12 families, etc. I have to say, after the education (or lack of) that I've seen offered in Arizona throughout the years, this is an incredible option that I wish I had explored sooner! The curriculum is incredible, and though we're still only held to Arizona's standards (2nd to last in the country in education...ugh), the K12 curriculum is put together using east coast standards which are much higher than here. I couldn't be more thrilled! I am absolutely in love with K12 and can't recommend it highly enough!

In addition to doing AZVA (Arizona Virtual Academy, which is our local K12), we are more active than ever in activities (nobody can argue the "socialization" point with me... these kids are oversocialized if anything, and the nice thing is that it's a focused socialization, hopefully deterring the topic from things that I wouldn't want them socializing about anyway...not that I'm naive enough to believe that I can protect them from the world, nor would I try, but hopefully the socialization they're getting is as positive as possible). So, in addition to both kids playing soccer, Miranda doing Irish Dancing again (yeah, she'd given it up last year, but wants to go see her friends, so is willing to do it again), Adam with Scouts (and Miranda as well, as soon as I feel up to leading a troop again), we've realized that with our new school schedule, we have room to finally add 4-H, which Adam has been wanting to do for years, but never had the time for. He's going to be raising a feeder pig (or 2...this possibility came up at the meeting last night, so we'll see...). Our biggest concern is that he'll become too attached to the pig to sell it at auction for butchering, based on his reaction to pets in the past, but hoping that knowing ahead of time what he's raising it for and that the $ he makes will go toward the bike he's been wanting and/or his Boy Scout fund for the National Jamboree he'll be attending next summer, will make it a little easier to not get so attached.

Jenn's back at ERAU, and as usual, we've barely heard a peep from her, so I have no updates to give on that front. Sorry!

The big news: Randy is employed! Yeah!!! Up until now he's been able to do odd jobs for friends and family to keep things moving along, but to be employed is huge, especially for someone like him who takes such pride in his work and can't sit still. He is now working for REI (Recreation Engineering) and will be doing safety inspections on amusement park rides. He's thrilled about what he's already been doing (today's only his 3rd day), it's like giving a little kid a new toy, lol. The only negative is that he'll be traveling A LOT. I'm not worried about it, as I'm used to running things around here while he's gone, which is only made easier by schooling at home, but he's worried about missing soccer games, etc. I'm actually really excited for him though, as he'll be getting to go places we never would have dreamed of going. Now for the perks: all this traveling translates to frequent flyer miles and hotel points, which eventually will translate to free vacations for the family (mostly accompanying Randy to amusement parks where he's working at the time). The best part: this nagging feeling that we were supposed to do the schooling from home now becomes more clear... we can take those "vacations" whenever we feel like it, just taking along our "school" with us and doing it from wherever we are at the time (we do still have to stay on top of lessons and required hours). This won't be for quite a while, but it's nice knowing that we have it to look forward to. It's just nice to see Randy this excited about something again!

So, that's what's happening in our world as of late. I really will try to update more, but honestly there hasn't been much to update until now.

Oh, also, as always, new pics are posted at my Picasa albums, including some pretty cool pics from Lowell Observatory a few weeks ago when we went for an impromptu field trip. ;0)

Adam: I don't get how Halloween is a holiday. What are we celebrating?
Miranda: Candy.

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Me: Today we're going to be learning more about Ancient Egypt. We are going to be learning to write using hieroglyphs, then we'll learn about mummies.
Miranda: Cool! Then are we learning about zombies?

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Miranda: Mom, we should go out and look at the stars tonight. I can show you Venus and I know where Pluto used to be.

Me: Pluto's still there, it's just not considered a planet anymore.

Miranda: So, what is it then?

Me: It's a dwarf planet.

Miranda: Oooh, well then I want to go there!

Me: Brrr! It would be SO cold there! Why would you want to go there?

Miranda: To see Snow White!

Me: uhhhhhhh....

(yes, I know that Pluto is not classified as a dwarf planet anymore, but had to think on my toes to give her an answer)