Monday, April 7, 2008

Random thoughts and questions

To begin with, I was bowled over by the encouraging comments I received about continuing this blog. You guys are so nice. Thank you! I imagine I will keep it up as long as I can think of stupid, useless stuff to pass along. That's my ministry. I'm so proud.

Second topic... I have to find a dress to wear to my son's wedding in June. The bride's colors are clover green and tea rose pink. She is wearing ivory. The bridesmaids are in clover. The flower girls (Livie and Bri) are in ivory and pink. The other moms (remember, I'm the groom's stepmom) have chosen full length, formal dresses. One dress is chocolate brown and the other is a burgundy/reddish color. My question to you, based on the information I've provided, is: How long will it take me to cry in the dressing room?

Not really. I'm wondering if anyone out there is good at the whole color coordinating thing and can help me not commit a major wedding faux pas. I know orange and purple are probably out. But other than that, I need help. What color goes with green, pink, brown, and burgundy????? Is there a color that goes with all of those? I'm thinking something rose-ish or that beige-y champagne color? Anyone... anyone?

Topic #3... Homeschool issues. Evan is leaning towards staying home for his freshman year like Michael did, and not going to public HS until 10th grade, if at all. If he's going to stay home, I will need to make some curriculum changes and am open to suggestions. Anyone have suggestions for high school? Particularly Eng., Hist., and Sci/Biology. We're happy with the math we're using, although it's expensive. Evan is not a real self-motivated type of person and I need to stay on top of him to make sure he's doing his work (except for math). This makes it hard with the 3 little ones who will be starting 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades next year. I can't spend all day at the table with Evan, because the little ones must have my time and attention, too. If any of you are homeschooling moms (or know someone who is) and are juggling different grade levels like this- dealing with both HS and elem.- I'd love to hear how you're doing it and what you're using. Also, if you have experience dealing with a kid who constantly needs gentle, loving "motivational assistance" I'll take advice on that, too. You would think that after 13 years of homeschooling, I would feel like an old pro. I don't. Each kid throws me for a loop. They're all so different. What works for one kid is hated by another. I'm beginning to think I'll never feel like I know what I'm doing.

You know... This whole raising kids thing is turning out to be considerably harder than I was led to believe it would be during the orientation.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Really not a color expert, but how about Taupe? Just a thought. :-)

And no kidding, must be twins because I also did not get the proper warning at parenting orientation... it's waaaaaay harder than I was led to believe! No advice on homeschooling - after 6 months I'm ready to throw in the towel, it's that fun. No really it's not bad and K~ is the ideal kid for it but man the pressure! (though I was looking at her last years school work and getting mad at her teachers all over again and that was making me very glad we took this little break!)

Ok, I've babbled in your comments section long enough.

Anonymous said...

What?!? You got an orientation???? Holy crap, that totally explains a lot of MY problems. Good luck with the whole dress color thing.

AhsMom said...

How about a combo of the colors rather than just a single color? Something like this: http://www.theeveningstore.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/cgi-local/smpagegen.exe?U+scstore+xrvq6213ff5b115b+-c+scstore.cfg+-p+3562

Or maybe eggplant which I think falls between the brown an the burgundy. Like this one: http://www.theeveningstore.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/cgi-local/smpagegen.exe?U+scstore+rcxy6212ff25d525+-c+scstore.cfg+-p+59109

I personally like the multicolor idea. Maybe a tea rose pink dress with clover accents or vice versa.

Did I mention my internet obsession? You ask for advice on a dress color and I go dress shopping! I need help!!! ;)

M. said...

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll check them out.

Anonymous said...

I'm color challenged which is why my own wedding was black and white! LOL

No great suggestions for curriculum - we use smaller topical books and unit studies for that stuff in the upper grades (D will be in 9th grade next year too). But what math are you using? We are using MUS but I'm not sure I want to continue with it in higher level math.

As for balancing, I try to stagger the topics so that those who are most needy are working on their neediest subjects when those who are most independant are working on their most independant. I do our K work during Addy's nap. But I have no real science to it and feel like I'm sort of making it up as I go along too. Sorry!

M. said...

We started using yourteacher.com a few months ago for math, based on a review on Cathy Duffy's website (www.cathyduffyreviews.com). So far, so good. Evan LOVES it. I pay by the month and it's pricey, but I don't have any lesson planning, grading, etc. It's all done on the computer and I can see right away how he's doing. He's almost finished with Pre-Algebra and getting ready to start Algebra.