Once Upon a Jelly Belly Horizon

Three more outings we've had lately -

1. We got to see the Tall Ship, Lady Washington. 

(picture above taken from their website)

This ship has been in Star Trek Generations, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Once Upon a Time (which is what we were most excited about).  It was docked in Moss Landing for a couple of weeks, and we were able to take a tour of it.  Pretty darn cool.
 

2. We got to go the Jelly Belly Factory. There were free samples, a tribute to Ronal Reagan (who loved Jelly Bellies so much that he had a special jar made for them on Air Force One that wouldn't move during turbulence), a behind-the-scenes tour (where we couldn't take any pictures), and sooooooo many Jelly Bellies in one place that I wanted to dive into them and swim around.

3. Finally, Cora was able to go to Expanding Your Horizons, which is a free conference for girls to provide STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) role models and hands-on activities for middle and high school girls.  This one was held at Hartnell College.  Cora got to choose 3 workshops offered, out of about 10-15, and then was assigned to 2 of them.  She got something about marine invertebrates, where she got to dissect a squid, and another one about sharks.  She went with a couple of homeschool friends, and she had a lot of fun.

Okay, let's talk pros and cons of homeschooling.

Pros -
I've loved it - I really have.  I love knowing what my kids are learning.  Not just a general idea, but EXACTLY what they're learning.  If the curriculum leaves out something that I think is important, I can add it in.  If it teaches something in a way I don't like or agree with, I can go ahead and teach it (or not), and then I can teach alternative viewpoints/methods, and have a good discussion with them about it.  I don't have to waste time on something if I know that they already get it - I move on, and spend time on what they actually need to spend time on.  It's fun when we notice things outside of school that relate to what they're learning in school, and I can point it out, and they are able to recognize the application.  I love that we're all on the same schedule, and how incredibly flexible it is.  I love all the fieldtrips that we get to do TOGETHER.  I love the other homeschool families we've met.  The kids are great.  I love watching my kids struggle with, practice, and then master a concept.  I love watching them grow.  I've learned so much about my kids, who they are, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how I can help them - not just in school, but in their lives.  I've learned a lot about myself too.  What I'm capable of.  What I need to work on in my own life.

Cons - It is very time consuming teaching all four kids.  By the end of the school day, I feel like I need a break from them, and I just want to go lock myself in my bedroom for the rest of the night.  They get "school mom" all day, but then they get less "regular mom" at the end of the day.  My free time is VERY unproductive.  I feel like I'm falling behind in ALL areas of my life, other than homeschool.

The pros far outweigh the cons (at least quantitatively), but the cons are starting to feel overwhelmingly heavy lately. Soooooo, now that we're going to be staying here in California until June (if you hadn't heard, Joe got rolled back into a class that is 6 months behind where he was - this will give him 6 additional months to build a strong base of the language before he has to test out of it, so it's a good thing), I've decided to put my kids back into public school after Christmas break (except for Cora).  I don't feel like it was a mistake to homeschool them, and I don't feel like it's a mistake to stop now.  There are other things in my life that I need to be working on right now that I think will make me a better mother and wife, so that's what I'm going to do.  Wish us luck:)

And you Thought he was Just Obsessed with Bikes

We've been doing a lot of camping lately.  A lot.  Maybe not enough?  It's hard to tell.  In any case, we love it:)

Over the weekend before Veteran's Day, we found a place to enjoy a few days of perfect fall weather.  PERFECT. 

We do not have enough beautiful fall foliage where we live.  It's pathetic, really.  It makes me homesick for Utah.....or Korea;)

Anyway, it was officially fall where we camped.

 

Do you know what I love as much as fall?  Veterans!  Okay, that's more of a who than a what, but you understand.  My grandpa, my dad, my mom, her brothers, my sister, my husband, his brother, and his grandpa all have served, or are serving in the military.  I am very proud of them all.  I am very thankful to them all.

 

Joe has been in the Air Force for over 13 years now.  Here's a picture we got when I went to visit him at Basic Training (back when Joe didn't wear glasses, I still highlighted my hair, and we were young and carefree)

In some ways the military has been a hard road, but it has also blessed our lives in innumerable ways.  If we had to do things over, I wouldn't change the road we've taken.

I don't think a lot of people get what being in the military is all about....not even every person IN the military.  Early in Joe's career we heard some higher ranking guy, at a graduation, say something to the effect of, "Your job is to kill people, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."  We didn't know whether to laugh, or to shoot the guy (because apparently that was our job, right?)  Actually, I think a lot of people see military members that way - as killers, and tools of war.  The few bad apples get plastered across the media, and suddenly the whole barrel is rotten.  Grrrrrrrr.

That's not who members of the military are.  That's not what they "do". 

Have you ever heard the United States Armed Forces oath of enlistment?  Here's the first part of it:

"I, ___________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...."

THAT is what it means to be in the military, and that's what millions have died for - to protect the Constitution - to protect YOUR constitutional rights.  Yes, people join the military for different reasons (for love of country, for schooling, for travel opportunities, for a career, etc.), but at the end of the day, they're all working, and sacrificing, for the same thing.  Are they all heroes?  No, probably not?  But are they all (or even most of them) just a bunch of war-hungry, killing drones?  Ummmmm, no.  I'm grateful that most people get that, and are quick to come to the defense of military members when someone tries to slander them.

I hope you had a wonderful Veteran's Day.

Out and a Boot

Here are some of the fun field trips/outings that the kids have been on for school this year (these are with the military co-op, so they get printed in the CYSS monthly newsletter).  The great thing about these is that I don't always have to go with them.  Sometimes I just get to drop them off and have 2 1/2-3 hrs. BY MYSELF!  But sometimes I like to go anyway;)

 

The octopus was more active than we've ever seen it before.  It was really interacting with the kids, moving to where they would move.  Awesome!

 And yes, the kids LOVED feeding the rays with little chunks of fish:)

 

 

On our own, we also attended a free jazz concert.  There is a big jazz festival in Monterey every year, and they always put on a free concert for students the day before the festival starts.  It is performed by a group of high school students from all over the country, and they are very talented.

 

With very few exceptions, I do not like jazz music.  It's just not my cup of tea - I like order to my music, not impromptu chaos.  However, I am not going to impose my opinions on my children.  I didn't tell them that I don't like jazz.  I just took them.  I want to expose them to all kinds of music, and if they want to like jazz music, then more power to them.  Alex sure seemed to enjoy it:)

 

Another thing we did (not a fieldtrip, per se, but an interesting firsthand observation nonetheless) was go and watch a controlled burn in Fort Ord.  There were a lot of other cars lined up on the road closest to it - many people with binoculars.  There were 6 helicopters.  Fun to watch.  The video makes it look like it was far away, but it wasn't;)

 

It All Started With a Wig

I love Halloween, and the last two years I just don't feel like I've done it justice.  We didn't even buy pumpkins this year, or watch any Halloween movies (although I did text quotes from Young Frankenstein to my sister - she thought I was watching it, but I said no, I just have the whole thing memorized).  Also, I did wear my skull and crossbones earrings ALL month.  That's an accomplishment, right?  I can't show you a picture of me wearing them though, because Joe says I have mutated ears.  Don't worry, he has mutated toes, so we were obviously made for each other.  What was I talking about?  Oh ya, Halloween.

During our last week in Korea we took a trip down to Osan to buy some souvenirs?  What Korean goodies did I come away with?  Two wigs.  Have I ever mentioned that I love wigs?

Anywho, I didn't know what to dress up for this Halloween, I just knew that I wanted to wear my pink wig.

I'm sorry, but that's just an awesome wig;) I finally settled on a fairy with big wings that wouldn't stay in place, and hit other people in the head whenever I walked by.  And yes, flipflops.  What?!

Cora was Cleopatra, Joseph was Superman, Madelyn was a vampire, and Alex was Percy Jackson.

Dang it, I love my kids!

 

Dear children,

         please remember that you will never be to old to dress up for Halloween. 

                                Love, your awesome mother.

Cora and I got some fake eyelashes.  I put hers on first, and they looked really great. 

I put mine on, and realized that I had just gotten lucky with hers.  It is VERY hard to get them on there just right, and then they kept falling off on one side all night.  They're still pretty cool though;)

That's all I've got.  Next year Cora is determined that we all go as Star Wars characters.  Even Joe can't get out being the Han Solo to my Princess Leia;)

It Never Gets Old

One of the things that has helped me to like living here more is biking.  Joe and I have been biking a LOT more lately.  When we're short on time, we go on the trails near our house.  But most of the time we like to ride along the coast in Monterey, past Fisherman's wharf,

past Cannery Row, and down to Lover's Point.

 There is a plethora of sights, sounds, and smells that I will never tire of.  The smell of the pine trees across from the Post Naval Graduate School, the smell of the ocean, the smell of clam chowder on the wharf, and other goodies sold along the way.  Seeing kites against the blue sky, seeing the sail boats out on the water,

 

  
 seeing the sea lions and seals sunning themselves,

seeing the cute otters floating on their backs,

 seeing the big pelicans congregating on the rocks, seeing all the way to the other side of the bay on a clear day, and seeing all the other people kayaking, surfing, running, biking, swimming, picnicking, and playing volleyball.  Hearing the street performers (a.k.a. homeless people) sing and play guitars,

hearing tourists ooh and aah about everything,

hearing the sea lions and seals barking at each other, and hearing the waves crash into the rocks along the shore.  Feeling the wind at my back, feeling the sun on my face, feeling the thrill of riding fast, and feeling happy to spend time with Joe doing something we both enjoy.  It never gets old. 

The other day they were having a sand castle building contest, so we stopped and took a look around.  I wished that the kids were with us, because the next time we went, they were gone.  But we got some pictures. 

Winter is coming, and that means lots of rain, and that means we won't be able to ride our bikes as much.  Boo.  Well, for all I know we might be moving in December, and we won't have these lovely rides anymore anyway.  I will try to appreciate them while they last.

I've Got a Couple of Minutes

As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't been as good at keeping up on the blog lately.  This is largely in part because I don't have as much free time as I used to.  This year I have taken on the insane task of homeschooling ALL four of my kids.  Seriously, the craziest thing I've ever done.  Why am I doing this?  Well, for one thing, Joe is supposed to finish up school here in December, then on to Texas for a few months of more training, and finally to our next station, wherever that may be.  We wanted to be able to stay together - no separations, not even a few months - but I didn't want the kids to have to be in three different schools in 1 year.  Homeschooling gives us the flexibility we want.  We could even take a month of leave in between stations if we wanted to.

Ultimately, though, I made it a matter of prayer.......a LOT of prayer, because regardless of all the good reasons, the idea of homeschooling four kids was not appealing.  More like terrifying.  Or appalling.  Perhaps unhinging.

But there was a moment. A moment amid all the praying.  A moment that was just for me.  A moment when I felt a profound sense of confidence in my ability to do this.  Thank you God.  So I dived in.

Day one - There is a certain little girl, who will remain nameless, that I'm going to kill.  This is not going to work.  What was I thinking?

Day five - Okay, things are getting a little better.  Nobody has died. We just need some better organization, and we might be able to make this work.  Maybe.

Day ten - I think this is going to work.  Sure, I barely have time to use the toilet, let alone shopping, cleaning the house, or taking a shower......, but I think this is going to work.

And so it goes.

The kids are doing great.  Everyone is on track.  My mind is still functioning properly;)

The annoying thing is, now we don't know for sure if we're going to be leaving here in December or not.  Joe has been struggling with his reading - nothing new, he's always displayed signs of dyslexia (so has Cora).  In fact, they almost tested him for it, but the guy who was going to do the test actually talked him out of it.  Apparently it could get him kicked out of the military.  Instead, he wrote Joe a recommendation to be rolled back.  That means that Joe would go into another class that is a few months behind his. He'd be repeating some of the same material, and have more time to master it.  This sounded great to us, and all of his teachers were on board.  They made it sound like a sure thing.  We figured we'd be here until June.  Well, it wasn't a sure thing.  There are no open slots in any of the other classes.  If a slot doesn't open up in the next 3 weeks, Joe will have to go ahead and try to test out of Iraqi.  If he passes, great - we move on.  If he doesn't pass......we have no idea.  They could keep him on here as an academic advisor.  They could send us back to Korea.  They could do whatever they want.  We have no idea.  Aaaaahhhhhhh!  The not knowing is a killer.

In other news, Cora learned to ride a bike a few years ago, but we failed to teach any of our other kids - until now!  In one weekend the other three kids were mobile.

Since that video we got rid of the rusty, noisy pink bike that Alex was riding, gave him the one that Madelyn was riding, and gave Madelyn Cora's old bike.  The all love it!  Madelyn LOVES it.  She is a natural biker.  She loves going really fast, and then breaking hard and squealing to a stop.  She's go the balance, the coordination, and the moves of a pro.  She was giving me a heart attack, and I told her that she needed to go slower and be careful.  She came to me after a while, with tears in her eyes, and said, "When I go really fast I just feel free."  I didn't say anything after that.  How can I take away her freedom?  If she crashes, she crashes - it'll build character, right?

Let's see, what else?  Our Relief Society presidency got released, so I'm not longer the 3rd counselor.  My new calling is primary teach for the 8-9 year olds.  Joe is still the 1st counselor in the Elder's quorum.  Cora got her first calling too - 2nd counselor in the Beehive presidency;)

I guess that's about all.  I will post later about some of the field trips/outings the kids have done for homeschool.

On Stage

My kids have wanted to be in a play for a long time.  Obviously, they're nothing like me - that's all the Liddell side;) 

Being in the military, we have had a couple occasions to watch plays put on by the Missoula Children's theatre, which is a company that tours around the country, as well as the world.  They come into a community or a military base, hold auditions on a Monday (all children who audition get to participate in the play), practice all week, and do a performance on Saturday.  It's always a musical.  It's a great introduction to theatre for kids, and it's a lot of fun.

We've watched their plays, but my kids had never actually been in one.  The first time we were in Texas, and we didn't even know about it, and the second time we were in Korea, and the kids had other obligations.  We almost didn't hear about it this time, because it wasn't very well advertised, but we got lucky. 

The kids did great at the auditions.  The musical they chose this year was The Wizard of Oz. 

 Can you see what parts they got?

Alex was a Fierce and Ferocious Flower,

Madelyn was a Munchkin,

Joseph was the Tin Man,

and Cora was Dorothy. 

Pretty exciting:)  It's not the best video in the world, and it took me FOREVER to upload to Youtube, but here is what we recorded of the play (broken up into 6 parts).

 

 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

The Play was put on at the Porter Youth Center, and their flyer had this on the front cover this month.

We're glad that our kids had this opportunity, and they all want to do it again...especially Cora:)