Thursday, May 16, 2013

A Peak at Our Week: Tick, Tick! Time is Winding Down

In My Life This Week
There was POURING RAIN for a few days. We're pretty dry around here and our garden needed a good soaking, but sometimes I also look forward to rain because it means our days are slower and quieter with less running to-and-fro for this-and-that. This single Mom needs some days like that. Days filled with sleeping in, Netflix movies, library books and warm crockpot dinners.

This week was also a BIG ONE for my upcoming divorce: we went to court to establish custody, visitation, support, and division of marital property. Fortunately we - my husband and I - were able to come up with an agreement beforehand and everything went smoothly and quickly. 10 minutes, ladies! It's still not an easy time for the kids and I, but it's a bit of a relief to have these things decided legally.

Of less importance, Jake, Sam and I loaded up the new-to-us 6x4 trailer with bulky trash, hooked it up to the van for the first time, and dropped 740 pounds with of refuge at the Transfer Station. I can't tell you how AWESOME it was to FINALLY get rid of that stuff!

And I solved SOME of my little black fly problem with these...


On the Menu
• Baked Chicken Drumsticks and Fries with Asparagus (FROM THE GARDEN• Beef au Jus Sandwiches with Baked Fries and Beans • Chinese Take-out • Chicken and Rice with Peas and Carrots • Egg and Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches with Bananas • Spaghetti with Tossed Salad 

Homeschool Happenings
Well, Cati and Sam just need to finish up Story of the World II: Middle Ages for this year. This week we read about Christopher Columbus and watched "Christopher Columbus: Explorer of the New World" from Netflix and then moved onto the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas, and did mapwork.  And Jake? He only has his English research paper and Biology to complete now, but it's QUITE a bit to finish in our remaining 15 days of school. (Not that he can't do MORE days! :wink:) 

But the BIG THING this week was that a friend gifted us 2 bikes for Cati and Sam. Our old bikes were in super rough shape - Did I mention that I ran over the front wheel of one with the van? Yeah, I did! - so getting new-to-us ones has been exciting and they've been riding for HOURS, sometimes even in the POURING RAIN. Now, I'm on a hunt for bike for Jake so he can spend the summer biking with his buddies.


Places We're Going, People We're Seeing
• Softball (C) • Scouts (J/S) • Library (C) 

Our Favorite Thing
Whoever said chickens weren't HILARIOUS has never had any! I surprised the kids with a pizza picnic for lunch. Ava, our newest hen, flew up into the tree house where Sam was, looking for nibbles. Sam threw a piece of crust down onto the lawn hoping she would go after it, but instead the 6 others made a MAD DASH for it and Sassy got the prize. For the next 20 minutes we watched her "chicken dance" around the yard with 5 others tailing her for a bite. QUITE entertaining! (Or maybe you had to be there? :wink:)

Something to Share

 Other Blog Stuff
Click these links to see what else happened this week and to get some FREEBIES around the web. (Some aren't highlighted red...for some reason. :sigh:)

• Canning Quick Bread (Banana Bread Recipe)
• Question-of-the-Week: End of the School Year
Critical Thinking Company: Sign Up for Catalog/Newsletter, Get Several PDF Workbooks (including Visual Mind Benders)
Crafty Classroom: Formula Poetry Notebooking Pages
Summer Reading Programs: Earn Books, Money and Movies From Different Companies

As always, linking up to these AWESOME blog hops!

Homegrown LearnersThe Homeschool Villagehttp://hammocktracks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/savannahbutton2.png photo 79396fe0-1f8b-44f8-a90e-f8ca7bfa801e_zpsa74bcc3b.jpgHip Homeschool Hop Button

26 comments:

  1. It's good to hear that you were able to come to an agreement with your "husband". You seem to be adapting well to your new life. Just remember to find time for you. Since you are a single mom now, you won't have as many opportunities to relax.

    You are really on top of your schooling. I bet you are ready for a sigh of relief at summer.

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    1. Thanks, Rachel! I try to make time every day to just "veg" a bit, usually outside on the hammock with my eyes closed, listening to the birds, and the kids occupied INSIDE. And ironically, I might have more Mama Time as visitation kicks in! We are looking forward to a "lazy summer" and I'm purposefully not scheduling a lot of extras.

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  2. I know that you must be relieved to have the legalities behind you. Those stink. Next week I will be beginning legalities with my ex-husband. Although all of the laws are in my favor, it's still not fun. Time for him to take some responsibility for his kids. It's been long enough.

    So glad to see the kiddos on their "new" bikes! I know they must be loving the outside time. That exercise does wonders for their emotional states, I am sure!!!

    Take care of you!!

    Nicole

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    1. Thanks, Nicole! These situations are never easy, but I'll give my husband credit for not making it MORE difficult. They have been spending HOURS biking. I'm hoping to find some safe places for them to go on LONG rides once I find a bike for Jake. It's AWESOME for them!

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  3. I'm happy to hear that everything went smoothly with the legal arrangements. The last thing you need is a nasty battle right now. Hope everything goes well for the rest of the process.

    Loved the story about the chickens going crazy over the pizza! I have seen this before and it is just the funniest thing. Chickens are so entertaining.

    Hope you have a great weekend, Jessy!

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    1. You're DEFINITELY right about any kind of battle! It's not good for anyone! But fortunately my husband seems agreeable and we've been able to communicate and make decisions in the best interest of the kids. Win-win!

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  4. Jessy I am glad to hear everything went smoothly with the divorce. As a single Mom I know how awesome those rainy, Netflix days can be. Isn't it great to get rid of stuff!! Woohooo for you! What a great thing about the bikes. I hope they get hours and hours of enjoyment from them. Happy weekend friend.

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    1. Many, many hours! Such GREAT exercise for them! I just need to find another bike for Jake...and then he can bike with buddies. Sometimes you just gotta have a Netflix day in PJs! LOL And I got rid of MORE STUFF today! Yay!

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  5. Now at least you have this part of the divorce process finished and off your mind. You can go forward with less worry. I hope the weekend and next week are enjoyable and full of happier events.

    It looks like your kids really enjoyed their new bikes. I remember riding around in the rain as a kid too. It was fun sometimes. Amber doesn't bike at all, she doesn't have the balance for it. She tries, and really wants to, but she simply doesn't seem able to do it.

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    1. Lots of kids with SPD do not have the coordination and motor planning for riding a bike, but ironically Sam started riding without training wheels at 3 1/2. He had no problems! Sometimes you just don't know!

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  6. I am glad to here that the legal stuff is proceeding as smoothly as can be expected. We will keep you in our prayers just the same. When we moved the first trip with the moving truck was to the dump. I can't remember the weight but ridiculous come to mind. At least I feel that the clutter is finally headed in the right direction.

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    1. A moving truck for TRASH?! LOL The new-to-us trailer was certainly handy in getting that bulk trash out of here. I have already gathered together another 50 pounds or so! Yikes! I'm trying to totally SIMPLIFY everything around here. Thanks for thinking of us!

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  7. I'm glad that it went smoothly. I'm sure this is a very difficult time for you. I'm so sorry you are going through this. Hugs to you from a new blog follower.

    Lynn

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and following, Linda!

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  8. I am glad your court date went smoothly. It sounds like you are doing a great job of keeping the home fires burning. The chickens sound very funny.
    Blessings, Dawn

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    1. Thanks, Dawn! We REALLY are doing OK. And yes, chickens are more amusing that TV! LOL

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  9. Thank you for linking with Collage Friday -- it's a rainy, lazy day here today, too - and we all need it. I am so thankful you got some of these days and that things are beginning to settle for you - I'll be praying for that third bike and for further peace in your divorce.

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    1. Oh, thanks for thinking of Jake and finding a bike for him! I've struck out so far, but I'm hopeful. It would be a really great thing for him!

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  10. As always your menu sounds Devine! Glad your court date was quick!

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    1. Next week might be a lot of pizza and hot dogs! LOL

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  11. Love the quote! It's so true.

    And I love my hens...they really do have personality don't they?! I get a kick out of watching them, especially when food is involved.

    Ah, to be a kid again and bike ride for hours- even in the rain;)

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    1. They're wearing a new path through the lawn on their bikes! LOL But they're having fun and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise. It's just grass! :wink:

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  12. Yay for new bikes!
    And as a mom who has been thru a divorce, I know it's a hard time. Our agreement came after a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears (which really means lots of hours of mediation and lots of $$$). Anyway, praying all goes as well as possible, not only in the midst of divorce, but in the years to come.

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    1. Thanks for sharing a bit of your "story, Jamie! Fortunately my husband has been easygoing about this process and we've been able to agree on things that are in the best interest of the kids. Hopefully it'll continue to go that way!

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  13. Thanks for joining us at Friendship Friday. I'm sorry you're going through so much. I can only imagine how hard it must be at times. Your positive and joyful attitude is an inspiration to us all!

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