Right or Left? That is the question!

Did you struggle through school or do any of your children? Research shows that 50% of us are left brain dominant and 50% of us are right brain dominant. Well, it's no secret that the schools are geared toward left brainers--which means that many of us were, and many of our kids are, not being taught in the best/easiest way possible. (If it's not obvious to you--just google "right brain learning" and you'll find all the info you care to know on the subject.) I am left brained and therefore excelled in school and always believed I was smart. Little did I know, the kids who got B's and C's regularly were just as smart as me, they were just having to work twice as hard in the school setting to do what came easily for me. Well, we recently found out that Mark is not just right brain dominant, but almost exclusively right brained. I've been madly researching all I can about this (hence this blog--and the absence of blogs over the past couple weeks) and have come to the conclusion that Mark will not reach his full potential (or even come close) if I leave it up to our "left brained" school system! So, what does that mean? Well. . .after much deliberation, prayers, pondering, advice, dead ends, etc. . . we've decided to homeschool Mark for a little while. Yes, you did just read HOMESCHOOL! And, yes, I've always had all the same reactions you're hearing in your heads right now (huh? ugh! weird! wacky! Nutso, etc. etc.) to people who say they homeschool or were homeschooled themselves. But after all my research, I am totally committed to our decision and I'm actually VERY excited about it. We're going to do the rest of this year (3rd grade) and possibly/probably next year (4th grade) at home (hopefully getting through the 6th grade curriculum in that time) and then re-evaluate. We'll focus on helping him learn how to adapt what he'll get in school to what he needs to learn and be able to send him back for 5th grade and beyond!!! Since this is all so new to me (and since I LOVE hearing from you guys). . .just curious what all y'alls thoughts are. . . !

Updating

So, I guess I've just been waiting for my blog to update itself . . . ?! I find myself checking it almost every day--like it might have changed or something. . . but I can't get myself to update it. Anyway, sorry. Maybe when I get a few other things finished it'll become more of a priority. But, meanwhile, thanks for updating yours--I love to read them.

Scrapbooking

So, it's no secret that I love to scrapbook. I don't know if it's even so much that I love to scrapbook as much as I love having scrapbooks for my kids (and I) to look through. THEY LOVE IT! And, I love that I can do that for them. They are my journals, as I don't keep one otherwise (well, unless I can now count this--my blog--as one! hee hee). I always make sure to journal on each layout and I'm one of those who likes to cram as many pictures as possible on each layout (you know, tasteful cramming, cropping is key). I have too many books already to be putting one picture per page! I know it's cute that way, but, c'mon! . . .is it really feasible?!

Here are a few example layouts of mine, nothing spectacular, just pictures and journaling:
Anyway, nothing extraordinary, but we LOVE them! So,now I'm on the verge of looking into digital scrapbooking, I'm just not sure I want to make that leap. If I was convinced that it was either cheaper or faster I would really consider it. Dave just got me a laptop because I've always said that I would never dream of digital scrapbooking without a laptop, but now that I have one, I'm not quite sure where to start. Any ideas? I suppose I should buy a program (I've heard Photoshop is the best) and just start playing with it (but the time I spend doing that could be used catching up on my other scrapbooks!). Anyway, I suppose either way I'll still get to invite my friends over every month or so for scrapbooking parties--and that's really what it's all about, right girls? :)

Reality TV

Are there any other junkies out there? Maybe I should be *embarrassed* to admit that I watch these shows, but it's ok if it's in the name of m-o-t-i-v-a-t-i-o-n, right? I only justify watching all of these because I work out during each episode (or I watch a second one while I cool down and fold laundry)!! I just don't know how I'm going to catch all of them anymore: Biggest Loser, American Idol, Mamma's Boys, Survivor, Bachelor, you gotta love Extreme Makeover--Home Edition, Apprentice (what happened to that anyway?) and now there's the new one, True Beauty, that looks like it's going to be hilarious! Sheesh! Now, c'mon guys, fess up--do you watch any of these? (are there any good one's I've missed?--not that I have room for any more!) How do you all choose and/or justify spending time watching these??? Or do you NOT? (be honest) :)

YOU guys!

I love, LOVE, LOVE getting your family updates and/or photos each year! Thank you, thank you to those who sent me one and hint hint to those who didn't! ;) (there's still time) I know some of you have blogs and keep them updated--and that's even AWESOMER--thanks to all of you too. (anyone can start a blog, you know) But, for those of you who do/did BOTH--wowsers, thanks to you guys the MOST! I love it!!!

Christmas

Christmas was M-A-G-I-C-A-L at our house! We had SO much fun watching the kids' excitement on Christmas morning when they saw what Santa brought. Mark left a note for Santa asking if he'd bring a few elves along to help fix the toys that had broken over the past year (aka transformer pieces that have broken from full-time use since last Christmas)! He was OK with Santa's reply, but that was a tricky one. We woke up to a dark, chilly house (as the power was out for a few hours) and a huge wind/snow storm outside. As far as days go that I would like to be stuck at home with everyone--Christmas would probably be at the top of my list--it was tons of fun watching the kids play with their toys and just having a good time together all day long. I don't have too many pics because my camera broke on Christmas Eve--ya, good timing, I know! Luckily Evelyn (my sister-in-law) got a camera for Christmas and was able to take a few for me. Enjoy.

Christmas Eve
making candy houses with the Hokanson and Call cousinsdecorating gingerbread houses with the Johnson and Clark cousinsor, should I say, eating the candy for the gingerbread houses. . .
acting out the nativity for grandma, grandy, and the aunts and uncles Christmas MorningNeed I say more?!!

2008-at-a-Glance (part 3)

September: Dave teaches the kids jiu-jitsu a couple nights a week in our "fight school" downstairs--Mark has already earned his yellow belt and Kyra has earned a stripe on her white belt! They love having Jarod and Justin to train with.

Kyra started ballet with her cousin Emily--aren't they so cute?!

October: For Halloween Mark was Iron Man, Kyra was Aurora, and Darci was Minnie Mouse. Darci has been a huge fan of Minnie since we went to Disneyland, Kyra loves all the princesses, and Mark loves any super hero or comic book character. I love helping them dress up, and we all love trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. We had a couple family parties and got some pictures with all the cousins:

I had to add this one of Darci! (she really was excited to be Minnie)November: We hosted Thanksgiving with most of my family (about 40 people) here at our house. It was great just providing the home and having everyone else bring all the delicious food! I love get-togethers!

Isn't Mark adorable? I'm so thankful for my kids! :) December: Dave got his BLACK BELT in jiu-jitsu! He's been training and working toward this for about 15 years!!! You're awesome Dave, we're so proud of you.

Every year the kids write a letter to Santa. They let him know that they've been good (just in case he missed that part) and then continue to tell him what they would like since they were so good! Mark takes it pretty seriously! They usually get letters back within a couple weeks! (Thank you UPS) We all love this tradition.

Merry Christmas to all . . . .