Lake Champlain Monster

I found this story on Yahoo News about a monster in Lake Champlain, New York. Very interesting. Two fisherman caught a small portion of some type of serpent underwater. You can read the story at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1648547
Is it Champ the Lake Champlain monster or not?
The world may never know.

Homeschool and Socialization

Homeschool and socialization is a subject that always comes up when you meet a non-homeschooler. Being a homeschool mom it's an issue that you must think about and define.
Well I've thought about it a lot. We are not hermits. My husband and I are very active politically and with the Cub Scouts. Tanek takes karate and is in Cub Scouts. He will probably be on a little league team this summer and take swimming lessons. Kaia is in the Girl Scouts and takes part in a lot of the Cub Scout activities.
Some might say but those are organized groups and the kids don't have much "play-time" together. Well, that is also the case in a regular school. Those children are seated in desk most of the day so they also don't have much "play time". Plus my children are learning to socialize with children of varied ages and that really isn't the case in most elementary schools.
We are part of a homeschool group that meets once a week. Some of our meetings are two hours of our children just playing and interacting. Our children also have friends that come over to play and they go over to their friends houses.
My husband and I both attended public schools and our ability to deal with social situations is very different. My husband is an extrovert. He can talk to anyone like they are his best friend. I, on the other hand, am an introvert. If you put me in a room full of people I don't know I sort of panic. Did public school make us that way? I'm not really sure. I think Vinson just has a knack for dealing with people. Public school probably didn't help my situation too much. Being an introvert is like having a kick me sign on your back. Some people take that as a sign of weakness. Not a good thing when they are looking for someone to pick on.
So, are my children socialized? I think so. Tanek will walk up to a group of kids he's never met at the playground and just start taking part in whatever game they are playing. I guess he's like his father. Kaia needs more time to get to know people and feel her way around a situation, like her mom. I think that's alright and as long as she can find her comfort level without others making a big deal about it she will probably step out of that shell a little more.
So how do I define my children's socialization? Not a problem, they are normal kids having fun and enjoying life while meeting people from all different walks of life. They seem to be doing a pretty good job of it to.

Valentines

We had a great Valentines yesterday. Nothing fancy just fun. I woke up to roses and a beautiful card. I spent the morning trying to get everyone and everything ready to be at the homeschool group Valentines party.

There were games with valentines themes for the kids to play. Vins even got into the games. I think he kept the adults laughing with his antics. The kids all traded cards and candy. We had pizza, chips and dip, and cupcakes to snack on. I think the kids will remember this Valentines Day for awhile.

When we got home we all traded gifts then went to the video store to rent some movies. Like I said nothing fancy but very enjoyable. Sometimes the simple things in life are what matter most.

Day by Day

Yesterday we spent all day at the LP Central Committee meeting. By all day I mean that we left the house at 9:30 am and arrived home last night at 7pm. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my day but we had lots to discuss and as usual some of the guys like to talk and talk and talk. Thank goodness my mother-in-law was watching the kids for us.

Kaia has been suffering with a nasty cold the past few days and it doesn't seem to be getting any better so I guess tomorrow we will be off to the doctor. She seems to be infecting Vins and Tanek with it but so far I'm staying out of harms way. I had to make a phone call this morning to ask a friend if she would handle Tuesdays homeschool group meeting since Kaia probably won't be well by then. I don't want to get everyone elses kids sick.

Last Wednesday we decided to put in the jacuzzi tub we got a long time ago. As usual what was supposed to be an easy job is still an on going horror story. Guess there really wasn't any surprise there. Nothing is ever as easy as it appears. Luckily we have more than one bathroom because now that one has a non-working sink and a semi-working tub.

I figure in a few days someone is going to drop by for a surprise visit while my house and family are in total chaos.

Laugh! You Know It's Funny

I was looking at some pictures we had taken earlier this year when I stumbled across the one above. This is somewhere in North Louisiana. I can't remember which town. When Vinson and I saw this sign he turned around and went back so we could get a picture of it. As you may have guessed the place was closed. There were two old men sitting outside a nearby building looking at us like we were crazy.
So, if you were having a bad day today be happy, at least you don't work at Ho-Made.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

We had a busy day today. We left the house at 9am, which is early for us, and headed to the Mansura thrift store for their bag sale. Kaia probably made out the best at the sale. She has a few more winter clothes for this year and some to grow into next year. On the way home we stopped at the Cottonport library to borrow some movies.
After lunch I did some house cleaning and prepared for the Tiger Cub meeting we were having later in the evening. Vins and Tanek went into Bunkie and got haircuts and picked up snacks for the Tiger Cubs.
We allowed Tanek to skip karate lessons today because he's been fighting a cold. We figured with everything else that was going on today he might need the break.
At 5:15 pm Betty and I left to try out the new aerobics class in Bunkie. It was a good workout and the best part is I can pay per class instead of by the month. This works out well for me since I won't always be able to go because of schedule conflicts with Tanek's karate class. We made it back home at about 6:55pm. The Tiger Cub meeting started at 6:45 pm but Vinson entertained everyone until I arrived. We said our Pledge of Allegiance and set the boys (and girls) to work making paper bag puppets. When they were done they ate their snacks and played for awhile while the grownups visited. Everyone left shortly after 8pm and now it is time to get ready for bed.