Dreams

I keep having dreams that I can walk . It is frustrating to wake up to. 2 weeks down ( almost) 4 more to go.

I think it will be a looonnngg time before i take advantage of having two working feet again.

In other news, Rex and I BOTH start school in two weeks. Bleh. I am not excited, but Rex is.

January 7th, 2014

 Joe's Baptism Day!!

 

 I am so blessed to have such a great man who is able to do great things for our family!

 

 

 I am so proud of this kid!

 

 The boys !

 

 

Joe and his Evelyn!

 

 

 

Only a week into the year, and it has been busy already! We had Joe's baptism, basketball is starting for the boys, we got a new puppy, and Evelyn is SO close to walking. I swear, that girl never tires. Literally. She never sleeps. She is a busy busy girl, who does not have time for such shenanigans. She reminds me a lot of how Trenton was when he was a baby; super sensitive to temperature, texture, and thirst or hunger. This is means that if anything is slightly wrong, she is awake and slightly fussy. She is just a go getter!

 

Trenton is starting in "big kid" basketball. Practices during the week, and games at the middle school. This is great, and he is doing well with it all.

 

Joe starts basketball Saturday.. they both do, and Rex and I have to spilt up Saturday mornings so someone is at each one of their games, as they coincide.

 

Benji starts Kindergarten basketball camp right when Joe and Trenton's basket ball season ends. So January and February, we live-eat- and breath basketball.

 

In other news, I got confirmation today, that I have officially graduated!! WOO HOO!

 

Now, onto life without my schooling, and focus on more of my kidos! 

July 5th, 2013

 Benji and Evie!

 

 

These boys sure love their sister!

 

We all got little stuff done around the house today. The garden is weed infested, and I managed to tame it down some. Bleh. I am not feeling it much this year, but we are pressing on and tending it as we should.

 

 Miss Evelyn is cooing, smiling and rolling to her side and from side to belly already. She is strong and full of smiles!

 

 She is a huge ray of sunshine all the time!

 

 

The big news today.... I got my Parapro Assessment score back today. Basically the state board test that I had to take in order to graduate.  

 I scored 476/480 I was pretty excited!

 

One more semester, and I will graduate. Then onto ISU or BSU to start my speech therapy degree. I am so excited! Today was a great day!

Gearin' Up!

Cha cha cha cha changes! Life seems to be flipping things around some more. The change is all in the best way and it will be good. I will be able to go into more detail soon, but I have to wait out for some things to be finalized. It seems to be that the older I get, the more things change lately. Maybe I am just noticing more!

My lesson planning has started and it is going to be a full year! We are actually starting our projects and some things this weekend. It is going to be awesome.

Joe's Big Day!

 Joe's graduation day. 

 Getting his "diploma" and a citizenship award. 

 

Joe and Miss Allen. 

Honestly, the kid was so checked out and done with school, he could have cared less. We have all kind of moved on and are ready to start a brand new chapter in out lives. The boys are excited to be homeschooled, and have already started helping me plan out or days and our curriculum for our school days. 

To all those out there considering the home school ways, I got a lot of information from the video here.   Also, another great link is the Thomas Jefferson Education site  . 

Both have a lot of information and are very insightful.  

Pictures! And Updates

 So, it's been a while since we have added some actual pictures! Here is Mr. Benji! 

 Trenton FINALLY learned how to ride a bike! 

Two days later, so did Joe! 

We have been seeing Nana lots. We sure love her!

We went to Centennial Park once evening for Mutual and it was just amazing. I love having a wonderful canyon in our area. 

 For mothers day we built birdhouses and squirrel feeders. Here is Rex and Andrea (one of the Yong Women from church---who stays with us on the weekends) building a house for her mom.

 

 A bit cadywompous but that is what we were going for. 

 This is the squirrel feeder we made for Nana. It took a lot of time, but it was great fun! 

The roof lifts up on the side to put the peanuts in. I have to say, my hubby sure is creative! He thought of this idea Friday and we had it finished by Sunday.



So, pictures aside, things have been well here. Rex is up for a new job this coming week. We are pretty sure he has it, but I wont go into detail until he does.

I am done with school for the semester. That being said, we have had a lot of changes happen since school ended.

#1- I am changing my major. I really, truly, honestly do not want to teach and feel as if I went into the major for the sake of other people. I was only fooling myself.  I want to be home with my kidos, and I want to be a mom. I am changing my major to English, which I can have done by next spring.

#2- After this school year, the boys will be home schooled. This is something I have always toiled with and contemplated, and the time has come. It is scary, but very exciting.

I love when life turns upside down and everything feels new! It is scary, but exciting!

Keeps Me Sane

I am sure no one really cares to read my endless to-do lists.. but it makes me feel better.

Can I just say that this next 7 days are insane!!

 Wednesday-Meal plan, make grocery list, Study for math test, math test, grocery shopping, cook dinner,Young Women's meeting, Mutual, clean house, study for next math test.

Thursday- .. Laundry --Clean like crazy, take Joe to school, Dad and Tony Visit, speech class, study for speech final next week, Joe and Trenton math night at school.

Friday- Spend time with Dad and Tony, Study for Psychology final, Study for Education Final, Study for Speech Final, Study for Math Final.... oh crud.. I have to teach the lesson on Sunday, so plan out lesson for Sunday, Take boys to birthday party.

Saturday- Spend time with Dad and Tony, Study some more, Finish lesson for Sunday, Put out clothes for church, Go to Stake baptisms, study some more.

Sunday- Teach lesson.. and spend time with Dad and Tony. Thank goodness for the day of rest!

Monday- Study some more, Dad and Tony time, Laundry day, take Education Final, grocery shopping.

Tuesday- Scouts, Study for Psych. final, take Psych final, study for Speech final, study for math final. Dad and Tony time.

Wednesday- Study for math final, dad and tony leave :(  clean house again.... study for speech final, take math final, mutual.

Thursday- study for speech final, laundry day, take speech final .. and then

I AM 

 

Okay, I feel better now that I have everything blogged and listed once again. I am very relieved now that I am not taking summer school!

Bummed But Relieved

I just got word today, I will not be able to go to summer school this year. I am kinda bummed out about this, since that will set me a semester behind, yet--- I am a bit relieved. I get a nice long break from school and I don't have to worry about anything for the whole summer. I guess there is a reason for it all.
Now I am even more ready for summer vacation!!

Smarty Pants

Though I detest standardized testing and think that it is a joke, the eldest boy in the Bateman Clan has exceeded "standardized" expectations for the ISAT tests.

Last Tuesday he tested for Reading. 190 is an "accelerated" score. He scored a 223.
This Tuesday was Language Arts. Again 190 is "accelerated"  He scored a 245
Next Tuesday is Math, his favorite subject. WE will see how he does.

Joe tests for IRI next week. We will see how it goes. These tests drive me batty, but I like it when my kidos feel so proud of themselves.

Onward

School starts for me next week. I am kind of excited.. I suppose. I was less than 2 points away from getting the grade I needed to move onto my next math class. So, I am re-taking the class again, but with a different teachers. ::sigh:: I have one actual in class, class and that is speech. I am excited about that class, I like speaking and don't mind speaking in front of others. If I take summer school ((yuck)) again, I will graduate next spring... or should. I am not pushing myself, and whatever happens happens.
 I am looking at the different options I will have with my degree, besides teaching in a public school. So far, I am leaning towards specialized tutoring, assisting families in homeschooling, college teaching (which would require more schooling)  book writing, or special ed. developmental skills (which would require a major change) But we will see what comes to me.
 Rex and I are still toiling with homeschooling as things just get crazier at the boys' school. Hmmmmm.
That is all I have to say about that.
The boys have had a cold since Christmas, now I have it... I am dead to world.

Beyond Writing Papers

I have been dragging my feet this week about getting my homework done. i always put philosophy off last, not because i don't like it, but because it takes the longest and always entails  mountains of research, reading and work.
 I just finished my paper for the week, and i have to say, it was so enjoyable to write!

This week we are reading about Seneca, and I have to say... the guy was pretty smart!

Here are a few quotes that really caught my fancy.

Avoid luxury, debilitating prosperity which makes men’s minds soggy and which, unless something intervenes to remind them of the human condition, renders them comatose as in unending inebriation.  If a man has always be protected from wind by glass windows, if his feet have been kept warm by constant relays of poultices, if the temperature of his dining room has been maintained by the hot air circulating under the floor and through the walls, he will be dangerously susceptible to a slight breeze.  All excesses are injurious, but immoderate prosperity is the most dangerous of all…

disaster is virtue’s opportunity.  

Cruelty presses hardest on the inexperienced; the tender neck chafes at the yoke.  

“Why do many misfortunes fall to the lot of good men?”  It is not possible that any evil can befall a good man.  Opposites cannot combine.  The stalwart man maintains his poise and assimilates all that falls to his lot to his own complexion, for he is more potent than the world without.  I do not maintain that he is insensible to externals, but that he overcomes them; unperturbed and serene, he rises to meet every sally.  All adversity he regards as exercise.  Is not every upstanding man who is intent upon what is right eager for appropriate exertion and ready for service which involves danger?  Does not any diligent man regard idleness as a punishment?  In the case of athletes, whose concern is for physical strength, we observe that they employ very strong adversaries in their practice bouts and insist that their trainers use all their strength against them.  They submit to blows and bruises, and if they cannot find individuals strong enough to match with them, they take on several at once.  Without an antagonist prowess fades away.  Its true proportions and capacities come to light only when action proves its endurance."

You must know that good men should behave similarly:  they must not shrink from hardship and difficulty or complain of fate; they should take whatever befalls in good part and turn it to advantage.  The thing that matters most is not what you bear but how you bear it.

I know, it is a lot to read, but I love these thoughts and theories. It makes so much sense.

My Crazy Mind, School is Hard and Plain Truths

     After some ... okay, a TON of turmoil with the public school system this year, I have been contemplating my major in Education. I am  not liking how standardized everything is.  Through my observation time at schools, and talking with teachers.. ughhh, it just does not sound like how I had it pictured, and I could be wrong and it could just be the schools I am observing. But I almost have my Associates, and I do not want to waste all of my hard work. Right now I am on the fence, but I think I am leaning towards double majoring in Elementary Ed. and Psychology. It might open up a few more opportunities and options. I am also going to be putting in some time at some private schools, charter schools and Head Start programs just to see what else is out there. Bottom line.. I want to teach, but I am not sure where I want to teach. 
     I had a small breakdown yesterday after receiving my math test results in the mail..... not pretty. I could have done better and thinking back, I could have studied more, and asked more questions. School is really tough this semester. I am learning a lot, but the work load is hefty. we are ALMOST half way through the semester, so that helps. I am moving on though and giving myself my own advice that I give to the boys, buck it up and carry on. Shall do!

Here is a great quote found on  Pinterest. All of them pure truth

Truths For Mature Humans

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. 

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong. 

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. 

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? 

6. Was learning cursive really necessary? 

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. 

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired. 

10. Bad decisions make good stories. 

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this – ever. 

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? **** it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. 

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option. 

21. Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in. 

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text. 

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger. 

25. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever. 

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year? 

29. There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. 

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet my *** everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

This That and Then Some

 We survived the first week of school. It is going to be a hectic year, but the boys LOVE school. Trenton thinks 3rd grade is just the best thing ever and Joe was born to go to school. Tuesdays will be a bit nuts, but we will make it work. Joe goes to school at 12:10 then the boys get out of school at 3:10 and then Trenton has to go to scouts at 3:30pm and picked up at 4:30. No biggy though.
 My school is going fine so far. I am still not sure of myself with my math class but so far so good and I am pulling an A in the class. My first test in next week.. and I am a bit scared.
 We had a fun Boise trip last week and got lots of goodies and odds and ends. We have started Christmas shopping  and have a good start so far. I hope we can be done by next month.
 We finished the last hurdle of potty training Ben and he is full fledged in undies 24/7 no accidents.. full on BIG BOY. It is awesome.
   Speaking of Mr. Ben... he turns 3 on Thursday ...crazy I tell you!! He is such a cute, sweet and kind hearted little boy. ((Sigh)) 
Everything else.. is quiet. Not too much going on. I need to enjoy this quiet time before chaos ensues and I am grumbling.
  My garden is still going strong and I have TONS of tomatoes. Tons of zucchini and squash, my cucumbers are sub par and I wish I had more so I could make pickles but.. oh well. My artichoke is coming up nicely and I think I am going to plan a lot more next year. I have 2 five gallon buckets of apples waiting to made into apple sauce :) Pears will be on their way soon and I have a TON of canning to do. I love it though. I am looking into getting a pressure canner so I can can soup, meats and veggies. They are spendy little suckers though.
  That aside, I must continue on my journey of educational fulfillment.



10 grateful things- school-self control-prayer-listening-learning-my great husband-a good schedule- planning-my great young women-self reliance

First Day of School

Ugh... this was one hard day for this mama...
But they did well and are both born leaders :) Both of their teachers said they did so well and took charge of their peers when needed.

 Walking to school 

 Joe's first day of Kindergarten...he was a little nervous. 

 Ready to go! 

Set and happy after a little looking around. 

So, this was primarily Joe's BIG day, being his first day of school and all. He was a little grouch y on the way (total ball of nerves) but he settled in and got the lay of the land and was just fine. He made me go back to the school after they had gotten out for the day because he thought he had forgotten a paper that I was suppose to sign... but I had already signed it. His teacher was impressed with his responsibility and told me he was the line leader all day today and did a great job keeping everyone on track. 

 Mr. Trenton is now in 3rd grade and is too cool to have mom take pictures in class (though one of the other moms snagged a picture for me with his teacher )

He was so excited to go today and woke us up at 5am! Geesh kid.... do you like school much??? He LOVES class and is already impressing his peers and teacher with his knowledge of all things... learning related! This kid never forgets a thing! 

PS- Trenton's quote of the evening

Trenton- "Mom, give me a REALLY hard math problem"

Me- "What is the square root of Pi?"

Trenton- " That's easy mom, PIZZA!" 

LOVE THEM TO BITS!!!

Here is Benji meeting up with is pal Ariah at the boys' school 

What an emotional day! I cried after leaving Joe, but the afternoon was nice with just having one little boy at home! 

5 grateful things

The public school system, great teachers, options, not caring about status, a new school year! 

Week One

It is my first week of school. I have to say, next to the last week of school, the first week is my favorite. I am already done with my work for the first week. I like not stressing over it all and like to get it out of the way. The boys start school on September 6th. I really wish we started at the same time or if they started before me. It has been hard to get my work done trying to entertain all three of them. Joe is very excited to start school. I hope it all goes well for them. I cannot believe that I will have two kids in school now. Its crazy!

I am proud to announce I have not bought diapers in 3 whole weeks! It is AMAZING. It is the first time in 8 years! WOOO HOO! It is very liberating.. I have to say. Benjamin is officially out of toddlerhood and into the stages little boyhood. Where is time going?????

Trenton..my Trenton.He is so big and tall and just a big ole mama's boy! I love it. He is going to pass me up in height very soon. He is already past my shoulder! Crazyness I tell you! It is a theme at the Bateman house!

My 5 grateful things from the past 5 posts-----
school-learning-books-family-prayer-fasting-sleep-set bedtimes-schedules-learning true patience-faith-cleaning-canning-fruit-meals plans-planing-hot showers- FHE- time-cars-cooking-cookbooks-yardsales-my calling

The Blahs

School (for me) starts Monday. My brilliant professors are slacking on top of things in the matter of posting Syllabuses and required text. I already have to return 3 out of 5 books I bought on Thursday. Oh well, more money in my pocket. I am very excited to get into my Philosophy class and my Cultural Geography class. I am almost done with my Educational Technology class (hooray for teachers who post assignments early!) and Math....well, it's math and how excited can I get over that? Blah

The boys are set for school and I cannot believe my Joe will be in school this year! Crazy...pure insanity.  Boo Hoo.

My allergies have been so bad this year. I am going into the doctor coming up because I have had a hard time breathing. I hope its not asthma. It feels like it though. Blah.

I made peach JELLY yesterday. I have made jams before but never jelly. It was fun and simple.. but boy there is a lot of sugar in jelly. Blah.

Today I am dehydrating apricots for snacks and to make low sugar jam. I love canning, and I have a lot more ahead of me. My tomatoes are going to ripen all at the same time, which is nice. I hope to get about 10+ quarts of  of spaghetti sauce put up this year and 5+ pints of salsa. We will see. Next up will be cucumbers so I can make pickles! Hooray! I love home canned pickles. They are awesome. I am on the hunt for apples and pears and maybe some plums. I have an abundance of apricots that I hope to trade with for the fruit I need. I really want to make my own applesauce this year. ---Not blah

OH! Trenton had dental surgery last Monday. That kid GRINDS his teeth SO bad that he had to get crowns put on his back molars and then have a few baby teeth pulled that weren't coming out on their own. IT was scary, but he did just fine and he feels great. So all Bateman's are perfect in the mouth department now. HOORAY. Excema is rearing its ugly head already though. Blah

I think that is about it for my BLAH post. I hope I can maintain the blog a little more this fall... but we will see.

DONE!

Summer school is over.....now I wait impatiently wait for my grades and enjoy my time with books, Gilmore Girls, my boys, cleaning and much much more!

I UNDERSTAND!!

After deeming myself a "non math person" many years ago, I never thought I would be able to understand polynomials, and how to add, subtract, multiply and divide them.

Summer school this year has really pushed me out of my limits and has made me believe that I can be a math person, and that it is possible for me to understand what I am doing. I have been doing math online and it has pushed me to teach myself how to understand what I need to know.



I am proudly pulling a solid 88% in math right now. I am learning to love math and really appreciate it!

Within An Inch of Freedom!

One more final to take on Thursday, then I am on a nice break until June 6th. I am so stinkin excited. This semester has been so incredibly difficult to manage with everyday life for some reason. I am glad to be rid of it and have it behind me. My goal was to make the Presidents List ( all A's) but sadly I will have to settle for the Dean's list, which I am okay with. I just did not have the uummph the last 2 weeks and did not test as well as I usually do on my last couple tests, but I finished them and I got grades that I am not heartbroken over.

I have lots of pictures to post when I get around to it. School is winding up for Trenton, the garden is getting ready to be planted, the summer reading program is starting, landscaping and decorating is about to commence and life is showing no signs of slowing down.

Chipmunck Face

I am so utterly adorable right now. Let me tell ya... I got 3 of my wisdom teeth removed yesterday. I was only going to get 2 out, but the dentist said that my 3rd one was not in good shape. So, I faced one of my biggest fears... being put under with IV sedation. I was shaking in fear when they put me in the chair. All in all, it wasn't that bad though. I went to sleep, woke up... I think. I don;t remember much. The assistant kept asking how I was feeling and all I kept saying was, "tired" . I got home, ate a yogurt and slept for 5 hours. Today is pretty rough and painful still, but I know all in all, it will feel better soon. The down side... I have finals this week, and it is my turn to teach on Sunday for the combined lesson. Ughh lots on my plate, but it is almost over (for school) and then I can take a break!