The Great Update!

It's been over a year since blogging. So long the program didn't know me any more. lol

 

Life has been quite busy and I've been more caught up living it than blogging about it but for the sake of finishing what I started I will try to continue to document the exploits of my children's education since that is what the whole blog was about in the first place.

 

First I must update the happenings of my oldest boy.  When last I wrote we were in the process of visiting colleges and preparing for the application process.  Fox and I went to New York City to visit New York University which was his reach school.  We had a good time other than a long miserable bus ride and our car being stolen while we were gone.

 

 

We did a lot of walking and exploring and went to see a movie of the play Of Mice and Men starring James Franco on campus one night.  It was actually pretty cool.

 

Fox did early applications to NYU and Northwood University.  He was accepted at Northwood into the BA/MBA program, an accelerated study that will yield him both degrees in four years, his field is finance.  Because he applied early he was lucky enough to be awarded the Presidential Scholarship which is $10K a year renewable for 4 years.  In addition to that he competed for the DeVos Entrepreneurial Scholarship in which you had to present a business idea in writing and then a few were invited to the next step which was to do a 5-minute presentation to a panel of judges.  He made it through the entire process and was given an $11K scholarship renewable for 4 years.  In addition to these, he also received the full amount from FAFSA and signed up as a National Guard Reserve. 

 

In February of his Senior year he started attending drill weekends and did his Basic Training at Fort Jackson immediately upon graduating.  Yes, it was quite a whirlwind for a few months as he put everything together but I'm excited and proud over how he made it all happen.

 

 

 

Benjamin finish his freshman year of high school in the top 15 of his class.  He played JV Soccer but I was unable to get him to try any other clubs or activities.  Last summer he attended a camp at Ferris State University - Grand Rapids about Digital Media Software which he enjoyed.  Truth be told I think he more enjoyed staying with his uncle and having some independence away from his siblings and parents. (wink)  I'm still trying to steer him to some future plans.  He really just does not know what he wants to do yet.  I find it interesting that the child who has been in public school the most is the one that seems to have the least direction.  Time will tell. He and Ethan volunteered as 4H camp counselors over the summer as well.  E helped in day camp and B did his first stint as an overnight counselor and rocked it!

 

 

Ben is now almost done with his Sophomore year and he did a double sport for Fall, Soccer and Cross-Country (which he received his first Varsity letter).  Since his time with uncle last summer and going to the gym and rock climbing wall and watching American Ninja Warrior non-stop for months he has become quite the body-building enthusiast.  He has completely changed the way he eats concentrating mainly on veggies, proteins, nuts, and fiber.  Plus he has developed a regular weight lifting routine, finding a good balance (in my opinion) between pushing himself and taking days off.  He also joined the Bowling team this year and received a Varsity letter and Most Improved Bowler award.

 

 

 

 

 

Ethan my youngest had a pretty uneventful end to 8th grade other than competing in a few Forensic tournaments.  He and his friend Noah did a really funny Duo but didn't really get the kudos for it but they did a great job and had a blast working together.  Ethan ran 8th grade cross country but did not do track.  He did join a rec baseball team but I don't think his heart was really in it.

 

I will refrain from expounding on my disdain of our home district at this time since I never intended this blog to become a slam book but there have been many things that have eroded over time.  Since my daughter first entered the high school back in 2006 up to when my second graduated in 2015 it has lost a lot of programs, classes, and good leadership.  Bottom line is the students are suffering for it.  Thankfully Fox has always been an independent seeker of knowledge and rounded out his schooling with many online classes.  My answer to this decline is school of choice.  I really wanted to move both Ben and Ethan to a new school for 2015-16.  However Ben is not one who deals with change well and  insisted he wants to finish at NBHS.  Ethan however, is much like his sister in that he leans toward the creative artistic end of the scale of which NB has nothing much to offer.  So he agreed to a brave move.

 

Ethan started his freshman year of high school at Oxford Community Schools.  There were two focuses in the beginning, one their Biomedical program since he always had an interest in medical research as a career, and two, Men's Choir.  I won't tell you it was all roses and sunshine.  The first couple months were a bit of a struggle trying to fit in and make new friends but he persevered and made a lot of great friends through choir and theater.  He participated in cross country, had a small part in the fall production "It's a Wonderful Life," went to choir "Boot Camp," worked on the crew for the spring production "Mary Poppins," and got to be part an amazing concert of Dan Forrest's "Requiem for the Living" with the Oxford Choirs, Rochester College choirs and guest conductor Dr. Hugh Floyd.  In fact his musical experiences were so incredible that he has declared that as his career path.  He started taking private voice lessons and will be attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp this summer to which he received scholarships to cover nearly half of the cost.  He has been teaching himself piano and guitar but will get to have some formal training next year in his Piano class at Oxford.  This thrills me to no end.  I've always wished one of my kids would pursue a career in music. Although I'll not get my hopes up to high....

 

 

 

 

So that's just a few things that have been going on in Parton World.  I'll try to keep better updates for the next few years.  Have a great day Wildcats!  or Broncos!  or Timberwolves!



iGive

Outside my Window: Beautiful sunshine but crispy air temp.

What's on my Mind: How to parent teenage boys.  Mine have been a real treat lately.  And trust me, I know they are tame in their rebellions compared to what I understand some people have dealt with.  It's a delicate dance.  You know what they say, "teeangers are God's way of helping us let go." 

Thankful for: Opportunity.   And keeping the bills paid.

My Latest Project has been taken advantage of my employer's generosity and picking batches of grapes for jelly and juice which has also become my Creative Endeavors as well.  My friend Sarah offered her kitchen and we spent a day making several batches of jelly.  She stuck with the traditional Concord jelly recipe while I used some Canadice and Cayuga grapes with natural sugar, honey, and regular sugar (in various batches). 

She made two batches of Concord that turned out fabulous plus had juice to spare for another batch the next day.  I did four different batches with the two varieties, only one set of the Cayuga set, but it IS tasty!  The rest I'm using for a juice base and in granola bars.  Last night I juiced up some Stuebens, they are very similar to the Concord but slightly mellower.  The boys taste tested it and said it didn't even need sugar added.  Next batch is NO sugar, followed by a LOW Sugar, and one HONEY batch.  Fun times.  Also working on a round of Canadice juice.  Yummo!

My 3 Sons: The boys have started to push the boundaries a bit as would be expected with teenagers which has caused some tense days.  Not to mention their poor choices creating much unwarrented distress.  We had a week where it felt everyone lost their bloody mind and now after penanance and discipline measures have taken place we seem to be back on an even keel once again.

Fox recently subbmitted his application for National Honor Society.  Ethan has checked in with the middle school Forensics supervisors and is in the process of selecting a piece to work on.  Ben's soccer experience has been challenging with the rec program again this year but we're sticking it out and making the best of it.

The first Born: Still vegan.  Still working 2 jobs.  May help with some Forensics events with the North Branch School team since little bro is going to be competing.  Alex did in high school and really enjoyed it.

Employment News: Didn't get the position I interviewed for but found out I was second choice.  Not sure how I feel about that.  Probably going to continue working at the farm part-time helping fill online orders.  Still subbing as well, been in the middle school a few times already and high school special ed.

Hoping to Improve: My attitude.  Feeling very crabby and complaintive lately....could be hormonal.  Or that I'm a pink drowning in a blue world if you know what I mean.  Being the only female in the house can push your limits of grace to the brink.

Food for Thought:  Recipes made with love can never be fattening!  (Smile)

Last Words:

Make it a point to do something every day that you don't want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.

~Mark Twain

iGet Sticky

Outside my Window: Morning darkness with a lines of fog as the sun begins to lift into the sky while the moon still glows. At least it was when I started to write this post.  Now, the sun is shining and the birds are singing but the air remains slightly chilly.

What's on my Mind: Simplicity.  Back to basics.  Cash Only.  We've been working towards this for many years and it has started to become second nature.  I'm glad.

Thankful for: A great place to work.  I've really been enjoying my days at Honeyflow Farm, meeting people from different countries, talking with people from the U.S. that are nutritionally and environmentally aware, being in the good outdoors, learning a new skill, working with my oldest son.

Creative Endeavors: I've been bringing a composition notebook to work, and write for a second when there's a lull.  Started to brainstorm ideas for this year's NaNoWriMo story.  Might cheat a bit and pull out an idea I started a couple years ago but stalled on and go for a finish.  But I have a couple fresh ideas that intrigue me as well..... oh, the possibilities!

Latest Project: DECLUTTERING Still.......

My 3 Sons: Enjoying their school routine, classes, and sports.  Right now they are keeping it all As, have been checking their own status and reporting to me before I've even gone and checked!  Wink, smile, nudge.  What's up with that?  Hope it sticks.

Ethan is in Drama class 6th hour and goes over to the high school building for it, interested to see what their final production will be.

Ben has started soccer practices, so far it has worked out with cross country, no problem.  Haven't gotten the game schedule yet.

Fox is having a decent running season coming through pain free at the end of races.  He also is working Sundays with me at Honeyflow. 

Sunny day at the Lapeer County Meet!  Fox just finished running and Ben and Ethan were waiting for the middle school race.  Ben medaled. They all had good times on a tough course.

The first Born: Workin, workin, workin' day and night!  I'm guaranteed at least one check in a month when she makes her car insurance payment!

Employment News: Interview tomorrow.......

Hoping to Improve:  Continued fresh eating into winter.

Food for Thought:  The food you eat that is grown closer to you, locally, has more nutritional value than food produced farther away.  The farther away, and the more processing involved, the less nutrition it holds.

Last Words:  

iGot my Mojo Back

Outside my Window:  It is just about dusk after a very busy day working outside in the gardens.  Although it was sunny and clear until afternoon, the clouds are moving in just in time to hopefully give my new seeds a nice rain during the night.

What's on my Mind: End of the school year activities: Spring Sports Banquet, 6th Grade Graduation, Middle School Honors NIght, wondering if Ethan will make All-Stars, and booking a variety of appointments for all.

Thankful for:  A fun day at the Feast of Ste Clair with the boys and my good friend and avid history buff.  It was a beautiful day and we learned a lot as we made our way through the encampments and amid the traders.  Ethan tried weaving on a small loom.  I was impressed by the officer's quarters.  Ben blew some of his hard earned money on some homemake cream soda that was yummy.  I sprung for the refill so we could try the homemade rootbeer.  It was also scrumptious, we brought it home and made floats!  There was great music: drum and fife core, Native American, string ensembles, a men's acapella group, and more but the highlight of the day was the battle reenactment.  Very well done with the British, French and Colonists.  I took tons of photos but I'll only share a few here.

 

 

Creative Endeavors:  ???

Lastest Project:  Still working on gardens.  Fox helped today and we cleared out the Herb Garden, I severely divided back the Tarragon, rediscovered the Garlic Chives and plain Chives, planted French Thyme, and some Dill.  Putting a salsa bed in by the herbs, planted tomato plants and seeded in peppers that we propagated ourselves.  Alex stopped by with some girlfriends and they helped me get the Veggie Garden in: two rows of Davers Carrot, three rows of Blue Lake Bush Beans, a row of beets, a thick row of Swiss Chard, a row of Edamame, four rows of Super Sweet Corn, and five mounds of Tricolor Zucchini.  Need to find a place for some pie pumpkins and watermelons also.

My 3 Sons:  Fox got the results from his x-rays and there is no tearing on the tibia, fibia or anywhere at the knees.  Recommendation is better shoes and a script for Ibuprophen 600.  He is running very little right now, taking the meds, and icing his legs to recover before our school's Cross Country Camp.  He has different shoes and some really good insoles which have been helping.  Theory is that the problem stemmed from him trying out 0 lift shoes during his winter training....not a good thing for his pronating feet.  Hopefully he's on the mend and back on track.

Ben will be going on his class trip to Lansing this week.  I am not chaperoning this one but will be subbing that day.  Soccer is done and we're lightly discussing how we should proceed for next year but no decisions have been made yet. 

Ethan has a few more baseball games left and on Sunday we will be going to a Loon's game in Midland.  Grades are looking good, all As except for Math which is at a B but he's thinking with these last few grades he can make it an A.  He just learned how to do showmanship at rabbit club and is supposed to be working with his bunnies.  Bugsy is a real poser as you can see.

The first Born:  Alex has gone complete vegan and her boyfriend is now vegetarian.  It is extremely restrictive, I don't totally get it but wish her good luck.

Employment News:  I've been subbing a lot lately and have resigned myself to the idea that this is the best work situation for me right now.  It is nice to be able to bring the boys up to school or home after with me and also to stay in the loop with what's going on in their schools and classes.  The only bummer is no pay in the summer but I can always supplement with things as I've always done.  Still open to a new situation should it present itself.

Hoping to Improve:  Not being so crazy throughout the summer, having just the right amount of down time and busyness.

Food for Thought:  When nutritious food feels satisfying and exercise feels like play, there will be no soldiers left in the battle of the bulge.  ~Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People

Last Words:

iHear the Sounds of Summer

Outside my Window:  Birds singing, geese honking, tadpoles swimming, pigs snoozing, no breeze, perfect temperature, it's a beautiful thing.

What's on my Mind:  Summer plans for the boys and what I hope to accomplish around the property. 

Thankful for: Time.

Creative Endeavors:  Campfire skits.  Our theme this year is "Larger than LIFE" and everything is about games, for the evening skits we're going with "Are You Smarter Than a Counselor?" and "Cabin Feud".  Alex is going to be my coordinating assistant.

Latest Project: Weeding gardens!  So far I've gotten through the Gramma Garden, both Hosta Gardens, and made significant progress on the Perennial Mix Corner in front of the house.  Still have two jungle areas to tackle plus dismantling an entire perennial holding area, shifting all plants to other beds.  Fun times.

My 3 Sons: Fox took the AP World History exam and felt pretty good about it afterwards, unlike many of his classmates, not sure if that's a good sign or not.  He also told me had the highest score on the Psych pre-test and the second highest on the post-test.  Hhhmm.  Still struggling with discomfort in his legs. He opted out of Regionals to give an underclassman the chance to run who had been having a better season.  We've been to the doctor and got x-rays hoping to get things under control soon.  He will run at the last TVC on Wednesday.

Ben has been getting some decent time out on the field, scored a couple times, and assisted a few.  The coach is not always organized about how he rotates players which causes some bad playing at times.  He had fun for the most part though, we'll decide what to do for next year later.  Last game tonight!  Friday his Environmental Science class went on a field trip to Kettering University to participate in the Flint River GREEN Student Summit 2013 which "provides youth the educational opportunities to understand, improve, and sustain the water resources in their communities."  Schools from Lapeer and Genesee county participated, each doing a class presentation in the morning and then attending breakout sessions throughout the day such as Sewer CSI, Meet the Macro-Intertebrates, Being a Bee Keeper, Chevy in the Hole!, Incredible Edible Plants and Paddling the Flint River.

Ethan has some pretty intense coaches for baseball this year.  At first he felt quite humbled, going from playing all the infield positions and doing some pitching last year to basically being put in the outfield.  We talked about it, and knowing that he's playing with a team made up mostly of last year's All-Stars, he needs to look at it as a chance to bring his game up.  No matter where he plays he plays his best and has definately gotten recognized for it.  He's shown some hustle and helped get the out on many plays plus the batting is starting to click in and he's gotten a few out there to get on base.  They brought him in for short once too. One of our NB-JV players helps with the team and has been very encouraging to all the boys, he's given Ethan some tips that really got great results.

The first Born: Making plans to shift to a two-bedroom apartment when their lease is up. Adding a roommate will bring down costs for all, they've been negotiating house rules....

Employment News:  No comment.

Hoping to Improve: Recently I stumbled onto a show called Eco Company.  It's a youth oriented show about environmental activities around the country.  This has brought me back to thinking about reducing our trash.  We do recycle but plastics of many kinds are what challenge our ecological future, make that product packaging overall.

Food for Thought: We are all quite willing to learn the fuel and maintenance requirements of a new car. Why do we resist learning the fuel and maintenance requirements of our own bodies? If your car falls apart from neglect, it can be replaced. Your body can't.  ~Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People

Last Words:

iSee the Sun

Outside my Window:  A fantastic sun shiny day!  Perfect temps. Just lovely.

Pig pick-up and tagging went well this weekend. 

Above: Ben & Fox  greet their gilts and settle them into the Piggie Palace. 

Below: Sunny Girl getting to know the new arrivals.

What's on my Mind: Getting in the groove with all the outside projects and duties.  Rob has been working to get the push mower and tractor ready and running.  Fox did some push mowing this weekend.  The peas and spinach are just starting, need to get a plan for the rest of the garden.  List of tasks is to long to post, just need to take it one day at a time.

Thankful for: My awesome neighbor who has been there to help us out so many times in so many ways.

Creative Endeavors: Kind of creative....I framed out an opening in the back barn, extended the wall, and made a new door, turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

Latest Project: Getting my mojo on for 4H Camp and coming up with some fun stuff to make campfire time more memorable.

My 3 Sons: Fox is taking the AP Psychology exam today and doing some grade clean-up before it's too late.  Can not stress the importance of GPA to him when it comes to applying for college and scholarships.  The last track meet he only ran the 1-mile and was dealing with some shin splints still.  Meeting with the doctor later this week to see what we can do to help him through these training pains.

Ben is having a great time playing soccer with his school buddies and the team does really well together.  They have two strings that take turns playing and both are very strong.  This is the best passing team I've watched play in a long time.  So far they've won one and lost one.  Ben had several goal shots this past weekend but none went it.  Doh!  Hopefully today's game he'll put some in the net!

Ethan did a great job getting sponsorships for the Swine Department again, not sure if he'll win the prize this year but he was glad to help out and generate some funds to go toward all the expenses at Fair.  His first baseball game will be on Wednesday, he's not a huge fan of his coach right now but I'm hoping things will turn around.  When it comes to rec sports and volunteers it's like a box of chocolates....you never know what you're going to get. 

The first Born: Not much on her lately, she's just looking forward to having a week long PAID VACATION in July....going camping with the Grandparents.  It's tradition!  Nice to see her and the bf at the LCCC "Cinema Sinfonia" concert yesterday.

Employment News: Nothing new on my end, have been getting a decent amount of sub jobs, was in the high school three days last week.  Fox and Ben are going to get two more weekends in at the Vineyard which is great because that means they can totally fund their swine project themselves and keep all profits after auction.  Ethan is already thinking about where he would like to work when he is a bit older, while he was out procuring sponsorships for the Swine Department he kept in mind that these would be good contacts for references and possible employment.  That kind of mindset makes me smile.

Hoping to Improve: My leadership and delegation skills now that, by default, I have become the President of the Lapeer County Concert Choir board.

Food for Thought: Every time you eat according to your natural instincts, it is an act of love and respect.  When you begin to recognize your body's needs and take the utmost care in satisfying them, the feelings of self-connectedness can be awesome.  ~Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People

Last Words:

iAm What I Am

Outside my Window:  Bright skies but rain forecasted for later.  Ponds are the highest we've ever seen them since moving in, swamp pond has drifted halfway up the back lawn and the swimming pond edge is nearly 3 feet higher than normal.  Sun has been making more regular appearances lately though and it is supposed to be nice for most of the week.

What's on my Mind:  Just getting through all the end of the school year activities and our sports commitments.  Contemplating how different it is dealing with teenage boys than teenage girls (sons vs. daughter).  We had an emotional weekend, many tears, surprisingly not from me but from my men.  They too have their breaking point emotionally, it just seems to take more to crack them than it does women.  Fear not, all is well, life is unfolding as it should.

Thankful for: A wonderful day out with friends this past week.  First stop was the Flint Crepe Company for brunch, everything on their menu is organic and locally grown, made right there while you wait and tastes fantastic.  Love, love, love this concept - wish there were more establishments like it.  Next we popped into the Flint Public Library then over to the Flint Institute of Arts.  Unfortunately I can not post photos from the gallery since I signed an agreement but we all enjoyed the eclectic mix of exhibits, met a featured artist [David Maxim] that was on sight that day, and got a private tour of the ceramics area, from classrooms to kilm room, which was very cool.

Creative Endeavors:  Zippo.

Latest Project:  The pig pen is almost complete, just a few last things to secure.  We got a great deal on some used items (feeder, fencing, gate, water nipplers) which means the project will come in well under budget.   Working to get some press going for the spring choir concert but not having much success.....sent out press releases but some of the papers did not use them which is a drag.  Posters are going up all around town thanks to choir members, hoping we'll have a decent turnout this weekend.

My 3 Sons: Ethan ran the North Branch Area Schools Spring Fitness 5K with me yesterday. He and his buddy came through the shoot together, first in their age group with a time of 28:21 on a very challenging and extremely cross-country route.  I finished as well, running the whole squishy course in 39:18.  Baseball is going well, opener will be next weekend.  He also got out to collect sponsors for the Swine Department again visiting those that gave last year, nearly everyone gave again.  It would be cool if he won the incentive for a second year but he expressed he's just happy to help and it's not about winning so much this time.  First prize is $100 cash, second is a $50 gift certificate to Tractor Supply Company.

Benjamin is really enjoying being on a soccer team with all his school buddies.  At first he was giving me grief about not doing AYSO again but it all worked out for the best.  I like that he will have a couple years of rec play with the kids that he will eventually end up on the high school team with, first game will be this week.  Coach was very excited to have him and commented that he had some great skills and is a real 'team' player.  Cool.  Pigs have been saved at the breeders and will be picked up this coming weekend.

Fox is experiencing a definite sophomore slump.  Track season has not gone the way he hoped, for all his hard work he is not getting the results he aims for and it has him a bit discouraged.  I know it will all click in for him if he doesn't let it mess with him mentally, each meet, each race, is a fresh start and as long as he can not dwell on his 'bad' runs and keep a positive attitude for the next run he'll be fine.  Next month he will take the AP Psych and AP World History exam, here's hoping for a 3 or 4 score!  We've also been discussing the idea of him going to Cross Country camp at Grand Valley State University this summer to get another campus experience and some new running influences.

The first Born:  Car is all better, tires and brake line dealt with.  Haven't seen her much lately but we keep in text....miss her!

Employment News: Nothing new to report at this time just doing some substitute teaching when I can.  May be helping Rob with some administrative things for his company as they get the machine selling aspect in place.  Open House went well and they had a nibble on a machine purchase.  A fellow employee is out of the picture due to some personal issues so Rob is going to be doing quadruple duty .... praying all will work out for the best but it may be a bumpy go for a bit.

Hoping to Improve: Food sources.  Our brunch at Flint Crepe Company sparked my desire to scale down my grocery purchases at big chain stores and begin to focus again on growing my own and buying locally.  We are fortunate to live in a farming area so it is readily available, just have to purpose to buy that way and not just run to Meijer when we need things.  In this grabable, eat-on-the-go, world it can be very challenging but it is possible.  Planted some spinach and peas this week, looking forward to getting the rest of the garden planted soon.

Food for Thought: Savoring is an art that can enhance your entire life. The practice of slowing down, appreciating small things, and immersing yourself in the present increases your ability to derive satisfaction from every life experience, including the experience of eating.  ~Ten Habit of Naturally Slim People

Last Words:

iDk

Outside my Window:  Rain again!  April showers are in full force this year, nearly every day last week it rained, there were a couple days of sun and now wetness once again.  Booo.   Hiss.

What's on my Mind: To many things that are negative and frustrating, working hard to move past, not dwell, and find ways to stay uplifted.  How am I doing with that?  Depends on the day.

Thankful for: Baby bunnies and my doggies.  They're soft and fuzzy and love you no matter what. 

Creative Endeavors: Finished my first read and mark edit of my NaNoWriMo novel.  Now to pull it into Scrivener and really get busy.  I realized there is much detail I'd like to add.  When getting the idea out originally I just worked to get the basic concept down now that it is out, time to go through and embelish.

Latest Project: Still working on the Pig Pen, hoping to pour cement this weekend and got a lead on some used equipment.

My 3 Sons:  Track  -  Baseball  -  Soccer  ....  and away we go!  My spring trifecta is in full swing.  Fox did well in his first track meet. He got a 2:29 on his split in the 4x800 relay, not sure of his times on the Mile and 2-Mile.  Ethan's buddy on the next street is on his baseball team which is fantastic since we can help each other with the driving.  Ben and I went to the Space Camp meeting yesterday and got all the details about the travel and what to expect on the trip.  It all sounds super, I wish I could go with him.

Fox and Ben have been working at a vineyard the past few weekends pruning.  Great opportunity and for them, good money.  While they're gone Ethan is working with me around the property.  All three of the boys also spent two and half days working down at the shop with their dad during spring break doing some inventory and organzing of parts. 

The first Born: The second job idea didn't work out but she has been working fill-in manager shifts at various locations.  Fun.  Working on her first grown-up purchase on her own of some new/used tires for her vehicle.  More fun.

Employment News: Due to scheduling issues I am no longer at the greenhouse.  It's a good/bad thing.  I've been picking up substitute teaching jobs again but still looking and hopeful to find something regular.  Found out about a position that I would really love to do but the reality of it is the schedule would not work with my life right now, as it would entail lots of late nights and crazy hours so I decided not to even apply for it.  As much as I want regular work it is really important to me to be available for my boys since the time I have with them is getting shorter and before I know it they will be graduated and off on their own so I want to do as much as I can with and for them now. 

Hoping to Improve:  Ah, my life in general..... and my training schedule, got another 5K race coming up in a couple weeks!

Food for Thought: Being picky about what you eat is a sign of self-respect. Not only is it OK to be picky about what you eat, but it is also essential to the process of becoming naturally slim.  ~Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People

Last Words:

What's My Line?

Wow. I really had intended to do one more post in June but time just slipped away from me.  The week after school got out Fox started his Segment 1 Driver's Training which lasted three weeks. Every morning we were up to town at 8am, then off an running from there.  He still has 3 driving sessions this week then we're done until Winter when he'll do Segment 2.  Finally received his last report card. Intro Business, Intro Macrobiology, and Geometry he got an A- in, AP US History a solid B, and sadly Intro Chemistry ended with a C+. Ew. That was his last class of the day and they had to leave early many times to get to track meets so it became difficult to keep up at times.  Interestingly he did better in the 10th grade science class but I think it was more the circumstances, although he did comment that chem just wasn't really "his thing."  Still waiting for the results of his AP US History Exam, hoping for a 4 at least so it can count as college credit.  Fingers crossed.  If he's not playing Age of Empire on the computer or checking his investments, you can usually find him walking or running the trails.  Yesterday he participated in the Freedom Run 5K in North Branch, finishing 5th overall and 3rd for his age group with a time of 18:55, his best yet.  We've had a couple meetings with the new cross country coach and they have been getting together for group runs two mornings a week but because of DT he couldn't run with them yet.  The coach and several XC members and hopefuls ran yesterday too which was a pleasant surprise to see the comraderie beginning already before the season has begun.  Coach took 1st in his age class and one of our freshmen girls placed 2nd as well. 

Ben and Ethan have also been running a bit themselves in preparation for a few open races.  Ethan really looks up to Fox and his exercise dedication and even does a weight workout with big brother from time to time.  B & E also tried the Pedal Pull yesterday for the first time, since Ben was the only 12 y.o. he got a trophy but it was very challenging to pedal the semi because his legs were too short.

All Ben's paperwork is turned in for Chatfield so he is officially transfered. He will hopefully play soccer for the school team if they have a parent volunteer to manage it but if not I ran into the gentleman who runs the North Branch Rec Soccer at the Freedom Run and found out there is a 7th and 8th grade team through that program that does some traveling but the games are much closer than the AYSO games which would make things easier.  Benny is now an all-out roller-coaster fanatic and got to go to Cedar Point with his aunt last week much to his delight.  They practically shut the place done cuz Ben just didn't want to leave, by the end he was riding by himself because his aunt and cousin where exhausted and didn't want to ride any more!  I'm glad he enjoyed himself, next on his list.....Six Flags-Chicago!

Pigs are doing well but when we weighed them last week they were significantly under where they should be by now.  200lbs would be ideal but ours were 140, 140 and 160.  However we still have time to push them, feed is now doubled, and we're adding eggs, milk, and extra scraps to their diet.  The heat is a challenge and we need to go out several times a day to water them down and make sure they have mud holes to lay in and keep cool.  They really are hilarious to watch, like three big, stocky, dogs.  I kid you not, they even have a bark.  Was fortunate to purchase an old pick-up truck from a farmer up the road that still has plenty of get-up-and-go left in it and got it for a great price.  Now I don't have to borrow a truck to go scrap or pick up mulch, or even building supplies.  yeehaw.  I'm a true North Branchian now!

Ethan has been quite the animal hunter as he's been the past few summers.  He's always out by the pond with a net catching things. Mostly frogs and turtles.  He even discovered a turtle laying eggs and took a picture.  In another couple weeks we'll probably see the little shells popping up.  Snakes are always a good find too.  After requesting one for nearly a year he finally got his wish as I responded to a email for a rabbit relocation.  Ethan is now the proud owner of a very sweet Netherland Dwarf bunny who is very lucky to have an inside 'apartment' especially in this heat!

With all the discombobulation Alexandra has been having with her higher education choices Fox and I have been having many conversations about education in general, both from the aspect of what he'd like to have under his belt at the end of high school, what he'd like to pursure as a career, and where he wants to attend college.  He's open to making sure he has a well rounded experience that will result in a strong college application, ie: good grades, athletics, volunteer work, involvement in some type of school club, as many AP classes as he can achieve, and hopefully some type of work experience or internship.  After having his Intro Business class last trimester he is very disappointed in the teacher who unfortunately is the only faculty that teaches the business classes and there aren't many of them that our District high school offers.  I sent him the link of online classes available and he is looking for some that might fit into his plans.  If he finds any that are worthwhile I told him I go to bat with the principal and superintendent to see that he can work it into his high school credits.

My thoughts on education have been in an upheaval lately. I see the benefits of homeschool and public school but neither are the perfect fit.  This new experience with the charter school will be an interesting addition to my sociological experiment.....but will it be the absolute answer?  Time will tell.

On the agenda for the near future..... swimming lessons for Ben and Ethan, Discovery Camp for Fox, 4H Day Camp for Fox and I (he a counselor, me a teacher), 4H Overnight Camp for Ethan and I (he a camper, me a teacher), initial meeting to begin setting up the Lapeer County 4H Citizenship Academy (a paid gig!), and hopefully getting more work done on my stagnating kitchen project. 

Kicking up the AC....they're talking 100 degrees for the 4th of July.  What!?