The Wild Garden

8 February 2012

Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday! I always (or nearly always) forget to take our garbage dumpster out to the curb on Wednesday! Good thing we have two dumpsters or perhaps that is a bad thing. Maybe if we only had one dumpster remembering to take it to the curb would climb higher on my priority "to remember" list.

We ran a few errands in the morning. I had to take Em in to get some of her immunizations and since we were across the street from the used bookstore I stopped in and bought a few more books.

My sister-in-law's sister asked me if I could give her a ride to a friends house so she could go searching for a car with him. She offered to pay my gas money and so I consented and also decided that since I had been planning on driving that direction tomorrow anyways I called my sister to see if we could just spend the night. I am very accustomed to the hour drive down there, but I will avoid it if I can. She said that would be fine so long as I helped her maintain the younger kids because she had some teenage girls coming over for a cupcake decorating activity. Before going to her house I stopped by the local thrift store to see what books they had and I was able to get a dozen books I have on my list at $0.50 a piece!

When the activity started I herded the kids downstairs (four of mine and three of hers). I knew there wasn't a whole lot for such rambunctious kids to do down there so I came prepared with The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I told them all that they could play and didn't have to listen to the story, but it would be nice if they could keep quiet so those who did want to listen would be able to hear. At the end on the first chapter I had asked everyone to be quieter a few dozen times. By the end of the second chapter I was essentially reading to myself so I stopped reading and just maintained the kids from getting into things they weren't allowed in. Ten minutes after I stopped reading A couple of the kids asked why I stopped. I explained that no one was listening and a few of them defended themselves saying that they had been listening. Perhaps I should have picked up the book again and continued reading at the chance that someone would actually have sat down and enjoyed it, but I felt I had been thoroughly ignored so I didn't.

After the girls left the younger kids were allowed upstairs to decorate the leftover cupcakes with the leftover frosting. We cleaned up and my kids helped my sister's kids with their homework. (I know! I was surprised too!) Usually I worry about my kids being a distraction to their cousins but my sister commented that tonight it was easier to get them to sit down and do their work than it regularly was. After they were caught up with their homework we all sat to read scriptures and have a family prayer.

I read my kids The Secret Garden, from the beginning. When they were all asleep I talked with my brother a bit about homeschooling. He loves to hear about it and wishes his wife would be willing to homeschool but she does not feel adequate to be able to teach them herself. He did buy A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille in e-book format while we were talking. Maybe then my sister-in-law will be a little bit more comfortable with the idea. Maybe not. Who but God knows?

P.S. I didn't have a chance all day to read The Chosen by Chaim Potok. I didn't finish it last night but I only have a few chapters left! Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Weekend Rearrangement

28 & 29 January 2012

The weekend was fun. I spent a lot of time with the kids and hubby. We kept the house clean and rearranged our basement so that we could bring in our giant bookshelf from the shed. We finally took down our Christmas tree (we're lazy, I know) and moved our television back upstairs. The computers were rearranged on the wall opposite the bookshelf. Our book collection may be pitifully small right now but it wont stay that way for long. I found a great used bookstore called The ReAd Cat and I bought seven books while I was there. I would have bought a good deal more, but even at $3 a piece I have to keep an eye on my budget.

I have been reading a good deal and am just about 3/4 through my book. I should be able to finish it by Tuesday or Wednesday. I also read some more Charlotte Mason this weekend and I feel utterly reprimanded for my lack of structure in the dealings of my household. My husband has pestered me about keeping the house cleaner for as long as we have had kids, but I have always thought his request unreasonable. Charlotte makes it quite clear that my children will learn my bad habits (which of course I have always known) and will carry them with them throughout their lives. This thought in pertaining to housework and such has never interlocked until reading last night. I fear I have done a wretched job as a mother in regards to housework and responsibilities. This is what I will work on with the kids while I complete my 2 month self education primer with TJ Ed. I will work on being a better mother while I prepare myself to be their scholastic teacher as well.

I just need to follow Cinderella's lead and do my work cheerfully and not grudgingly. It will be easier that way, I am sure of it.