local yokel

 

 

 

 

psssst…

 

guess who’s daughter is fish AND a who!?

 

 

…danielle

patriot’s park

 

 

I have this tendency to over complicate things.  The irony is…I know I need less complication and more simplification!  Silly me…when I learned that my Hubs would have Veteran’s Day off this year I made grand plans.  But alas, when Veteran’s Day dawned…we were not in the mood for grand.  We needed simple!  So we decided to take the kiddos to a couple close by historical landmarks we’ve wanted to scope out for a long time but have never found the time to.

 

We started at Grinnell’s Beach where there is a WWI monument and then headed off to Patriot’s Park in Portsmouth.   

 

 

Patriot’s Park is SO unexpectedly rich.

 

 

You have to go there on purpose because it’s not really easy to get to.  We’ve driven past often on our way to Bristol but have never stopped to explore the park itself.

 

There were a lot of historical goodies to enjoy.

 

A detailed map and timeline are etched into the wall.  We found our community and Grams & PopPop’s on the map.  We read all the information about the first RI regiment.  The wall is inscribed with the names of all the soldiers.  Who knew Bristol was a common name once upon a time?  We ended our tour with a family prayer of thanks for those who have fought for our freedom and safety for those who are.

 

 

It was a simple and so very sweet special time with the kiddos.

 

 

 

Patriot’s Park is not an all day destination stop (more like 30 minutes) but I definitely think it should be added to any local history lovers (or homeschool families) to-do in RI list!

 

Click here to see other places that made my local yokel list

 

 

…danielle

pumpkin pickin’ season

 

 

 

In My Life This Week

 

I don’t tend to share the guts of life, really.  It’s much easier to curl up inside myself when things are hard.  But then, that’s not really living honest.  And my heart’s desire is to be honest.  Always.  Even when it’s not easy.  And it hasn’t been easy lately.  In a variety of ways but mostly with Trevy.

 

First of all…I’ve mentioned recently that his energy and curiosity have been at an all time high.

 

But more than that, his behavior has been disturbing.  So angry and mean.  Unhappy about everything.  Screaming about everything. He bit my arm and his brother’s.  Opening skin even.  And it’s been heartbreakingly exhausting trying to parent him through this.  Behavior issues are by far the hardest part of our Seizure Monster story.

 

So last week having reached the point of desperation, I called the neuro’s office to check on recent lab work.  We measure his seizure medication levels every other month.  That poor sweet nurse who answered the phone.  I wound up boo-hoo-ing to her.  Maybe it was the fact that she was listening.  Maybe it was just how stinkin’ sweet she was.  Not once making me feel like a terrible parent.  Never making me feel like his behavior is linked to my lack of parental skills.  Even though I’d been mentally blaming myself.  Not her though.  She just listened while I gushed my fears that at this rate “they” were gonna want to lock him up in a cage someday.  She listened and encouraged me through it all.  She apologized that Dr. Neuro was out of the office that day.  I sighed and told her…we could make it through another night, I’m sure.  Evidently, her compassion was real because she called Dr. Neuro and told her she needed to call me!  Of course, Dr. Neuro called me while I was at the market.  Dr. Neuro happens to have a VERY thick Hindi accent.  You know you’re a special needs mom when you’re violating every HIPPA law ever created by shouting your child’s medical history in the middle of the milk and eggs!

 

It turns out that one of Trevy’s seizure meds was quite low.  She gave me the increase schedule and chatted about other things.  You know your child has profound medical issues when the specialist calls you on their cell phone and reminds you that she gave that number to you so you could cry on her shoulder when you needed.  Sigh.

 

Anyway…

 

For months Trevor’s behavior has slowly been spiraling out of control.  I have this thing about not wanting to be the crazy psycho seizure mom who blames every little thing on epilepsy.  So I was searching every other explanation.  Maybe his ears hurt?  I treated with Wally’s Ear Oil.  Maybe it’s sensory?  We tried joint compression, weighted vest, heavy jumping and more.  Maybe it’s just adjusting to the demands of K?  Maybe this…maybe that…

 

But I kid you not…the morning after we’d increased his dose he woke up a completely different boy.  Actually, he woke up the little boy I know and love!

 

Note to Self:  If Trevor’s behavior spikes WAY outside his norm it’s okay to play the crazy psycho seizure mommy card.

 

 

In Our Homeschool This Week

 

I think we’re in a nice groove.  I keep meaning to get a workbox post together.  But the time?  Who has it? 

 

Bristel is excelling in her Math and coming along with her Reading.

 

I bumped Toby up to Saxon’s Pre-Algebra based on his placement test results.  He’s so totally capable.  But not without plenty of weeping and gnashing of teeth!

 

Both of the kiddos are really enjoying Mystery of History.  We’re building our own replica of Stonehenge this week.  I’ll have to post pictures next!  If I find out where that time went, I mean. 

 

 

Places We’re Going and People We’re Seeing

 

 

Clearly, with all the Trevy drama…my creativity and energy has been running on fumes.

 

Which is why I am SO thankful for a wonderful and amazing friend who offered to take the kids to a special home school workshop on animal communication!  Seriously, Jen, that was a bigger blessing than you know!  My heart breaks every time my kids miss out on something because I’m too tired…or it conflicts with Trevy’s therapies.   You made ALL of our day by inviting them to hang out with you guys!

 

If you’re reading this and know a homeschool mommy who happens to have a little one with special needs…I promise you it will bless her deeply if you invite her other kiddos along for a special treat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also had a wonderful time with a huge group of other homeschoolers for our annual Simcock Farm Pumpkin Pickin’ field trip!  You can’t beat $5 for a hayride, corn maze, pumpkin, pumpkin ice cream and feeding the rescue animals!

 

 

Annnnd…

 

if that weren’t enough fun…

 

We have American Heritage Girls tomorrow and ICE SKATING next week!  One of the best homeschool activities in our area is the weekly ice skating at a local prep school.  They let us use their rink for an hour each week.  It’s great exercise and friend time.  For them…and me!

 

 

What’s not working for us…

 

 

I was using Apples Daily Spelling Drills for Toby and we both just really really weren’t clickin’ with it.  So this week, I set up spelling lists for him on Spelling City and that’s working SO much better!

 

Another thing that wasn’t working was the way I was doing their schedules.  I spent a TON of time and energy creating a super cute grid for Bristel.  She hated it.  I’m talking…totally not into it!  It made her feel too “baby-ish”.  Soooooo…I’m trying out a new style.

 

   

 

I just fiddled around with various tables in Open Office until I was happy.  I’m already loving how I can add very specific details to each day’s lesson plan.  The picture above is a screenshot of an incomplete schedule.  If you’d like a copy of my template just leave me your email addy in the comments and I’ll send it over. 

 

I’m Inspired By

 

This mom’s decision to stop hiding and start being photographically present in her children’s lives.  So someday they’ll have proof she really existed!  I SO heart connected with her.  Photos of me are few and far between.  And the ones I’m actually in I’ve carefully hidden as much of myself as possible behind a child or two.  The stress of the last few years has done a number on my face & figure.  But it’s time to swallow my pride (and insecurities) and make silly faces with them for a keepsake.

 

A Video to Share

 

I married an Orioles loving man who is raising little Orioles loving youngins.  Every Spring for the last twelve years he’s said, “This is the year, Babe.  I just know it!”  Every summer, I’d console my boys.

 

And then the impossible happened!

 

For all the other girls out there loving die hard O’s fans…I leave you with this…

 

 

 

…danielle

 

 

 

the dog days of summer (weekly wrap)

 

 

In my life this week…

 

It’s the dog days of summer around here. 

Basketball camp for him, swim camp for her, summer school for Trevy, enrichment (or review products ) for all, baseball tournies for our AllStar, trips to the beach and Grams’ house for a swim.  I love lazy (or is it crazy?) summer days!  Even though we still do school lite during the summer…it’s so much more relaxed.  And I have totally needed pressure free time to gather my homeschool (and just plain old) mommy wits and prep for next year.

 

 

In our homeschool this week…

 

We’re using the summer months to focus on wrapping up projects we didn’t quite finish during the school year and working through products we’re reviewing.  The only real curriculum (meaning non-product review) that we didn’t finish up was Exploring Astronomy.  So we’re still plugging along in it.  If you’re planning to or already using Apologia’s Exploring Astronomy you might be interested in my Solar System pin board.  Lots of great ideas including Red Ted Art’s Blog ah-mazing ideas for solar system crafts!  We’re also finishing up our volcano project.  The kids had such a blast experimenting with the right explosion formula this week…

 

 

We learned that the ratio of vinegar to baking soda made all the difference in explosion size.  And also, that when it comes to food coloring…less is MORE!

 

 

Helpful tips to share…

 

I’m always looking for good movies to add to our Netflix que.  Just in case you are too…here’s some that we have lined up:

 

Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!

The Patriot (we already watched this one and decided to let our oldest join us)

How Smart are Animals?:NOVA Science

The Velveteen Rabbit

Back to the Secret Garden

God of Wonders

Space Dogs

 

Because all of our family units are unique…be sure to check out Plugged In to see that the movies I mentioned are good choices for your family!

 

 

My favorite thing this week was…

 

Definitely the beach!

Bristel learned how to boogie board!

And Tobes learned how to go “crabbing”.  I had no idea there were so many creepy crawly things on the ocean floor with us!  Just waiting to nibble little tootsies!

 

 

Things I’m working on…

 

 

Getting all my curriculum for next year planned and purchased.  Also creating a better binder.  Oh Boy, do I need to get more organized! 

 

 

Although after hem hawing for ages…I’ve finally decided to go with Spelling Work Out for both kids this year.  Shew.  One thing down!

 

 

I’m reading…

 

I borrowed The Well Trained Mind from my library and I don’t just love it…

 

 

I

 

 

L-O-V-E

 

 

this book!  In fact, it’s already added to my CBD cart just waiting for me to finish my check out!  If you’re homeschooling and haven’t read it yet…you really need to!  It’s just chalk full of practical advice and suggestions.  How did I manage without it?

 

 

…danielle

 

 

I’m linking up to these wonderful blogs:

 

 

Dream Night at the Zoo (2012)

 

 

The first Friday in June has been a favorite of our family’s since…

 

 

Well…

 

 

since we were first invited to Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Dream Night at the (Roger Williams) Zoo.  Shortly after Trevy’s diagnosis.  Four years have gone by too fast!

 

 

 

You can read the history of Dream Night here.

 

 

For our family, it’s just such a beautiful treat.  An escape from the daily grind that is loving and caring for a child with catastrophic epilepsy.  While some stretches are less crisis filled than others…somehow it’s no less exhausting.

 

 

Or maybe I’m just a big baby? 

 

 

 

Either way being invited to celebrate at the zoo with other families, exhausted (or big babies?) like us, is…

 

 

Well…

 

 

heart warming.

 

 

All three kids begged for face painting this year.  Evidently, Tobes has lived the past three hundred and sixty some days regretting that he was too cool for the paint last year.

 

 

This year he decided the choices were manly enough for him.  Batman.  Spiderman.  Things like that.

 

 

 

Trevy did amazingly well at sitting still without grabbing at the paint brush or paints!  Much.

 

 

They also have super neat-o exploration stations set up throughout the park.

 

 

One of the exhibits was…no joke…a ginormous pile of elephant poo.

 

 

Shellacked.  To make it play-with-able.

 

 

 

 

It only occurred to us when it was too late that maaaaaybe we shouldn’t have had quite so much fun playing with the poo. See, Trevy has this new (new here really means we’ve been battling over this for months) habit which involves…umm…playing or rather painting with his poo.

 

 

 

I did tell him if we shellacked his poo maybe I would think about letting him play with it…but otherwise…let’s leave it in the pants, bud. Or better yet…plop it in the potty!

 

 

He said,

 

Ohhhh-kaaaaay

 

So I think maybe we’re getting somewhere.

 

 

We also got to pet the cutest little Wallaby you ever did see.

 

 

The kids are all still wearing their little self decorated safari hats.

 

 

A couple highlights for me were definitely the monkey.  She was everywhere!  And was always asking Trevy to dance.

 

 

My other favorite was during dinner.

 

We always wander off to the quieter tables away from all the action.  Last year they added some free play games.  This year they had even more fun – play-doh, hula hoops, puzzles.  Just lots of fun.  Which translated into the kiddos connecting with other kids. 

 

 

 

I cannot lie.  Watching Toby and Bristel making friends with other special needs siblings made me a little sappy in the heart.  A little wet in the eyes.

 

 

As did seeing Trevy have so much fun!

 

 

 

…danielle

American Girl Celebration at Barnes & Noble this Friday

We made a BIG deal out of her first American Girl experience.  On her 6th birthday (she’s 7 now) we trekked to the American Girl Doll store in Boston.

It was SO fun!

She picked Kanani because who doesn’t love that beautiful hair?!  Which btw is super hard to keep beautiful!  (sigh)

She’s in a “take Kanani with me everywhere” phase.  Which is why I’m so excited that our local Barnes & Noble is hosting an American Girl Celebration this Friday night! 

Click me for more details.

…danielle

always a fan of FREE

 

If you’re local and a fan of FREE too…

 

 

you’ll want to check out this link for a listing of this year’s Free Fun Fridays!

 

 

…danielle

shopping for the kids + saving money + supporting a friend = happy mommy

I’m super excited about a new children’s consignment store that’s opening in our community!

I love that it’s practically within walking distance.

And I double love that I’m friends with the owners and think they’re some of the sweetest people I know!

If you’re a local yokel be sure to check out Tiverton Tots…

…danielle

our first time ice skating!

 

A local fancy shancy private school opens their ice rink to homeschoolers every Tuesday during the winter.

 

 

Most co-op-y things don’t work with my (Trevy) schedule or they’re too far away.  We live in the boon-docks of our region.  But this one is in a perfect for us zone and I knew we had to do it. 

 

 

So…last week I set about finding skates for the kiddos.  And was SO thrilled that another homeschool mommy friend would be joining us too! 

 

 

 

Little Miss. Independent is SO funny with her dainty ice walking!

 

 

Toby has been feeling so lonely lately.  Which is why my heart swelled when another boy about the same age immediately befriended him.  And even stayed with him during the wall clinging learning for awhile!  Of course, he did leave to play tag for awhile too which helped encourage Tobes to get off that wall.  I just know he’ll be tagging it up in no time!

 

 

 

We had SO much fun that I’m tempted to buy skates for me!  This is going on our weekly to-do list! 

 

 

 

Best homeschool event ever!

 

 

…danielle

local yokel (spend less on clothes so you can spend more on christmas gifts) shopping tip

Are your kiddos growing like weeds too?

Do you live in my neck of the woods?

Then you might be in love with this

See you there!

…danielle

the astronaut, the fairy, and the baseball boy

 

I *heart* Halloween

The costumes…

 

(Bristel is over the moon cuz I let her wear make up outside of the home!)

The candy…

 

(my jeans are not as thrilled with the chocolate as my mouth is!)

The sense of community…

 

(we went Trick or Treatin’ with friends from church this year…it was really great!)

It’s all just SO much fun!

This was the first year that Trevy really understood the concept of asking for and receiving candy.

Of course, he was also a big fan of the quick double dip! 

 

Thankfully, he’s cute enough to get away with it.

 

Also…

 

Candy happens to be an excellent motivator.  For the astronaut, the fairy, and the baseball boy!

 

 

…danielle