August 28th 2012

6th grade C.C. style..so far...

I still can't sleep so I figured why not post some pictures of my favorite 6th grader hard at work & play. :)

Math: Khan Academy:

Recess: This day it was Frisbee in the front yard.

Penny being the true Southern Belle dog that, naturally choose to watch.

Sadie...not so much.  If it flies she will retrieve it.

IEW: (Institute for Excellence in Writing-LOVE THIS! and so does Jake who "hates to write"..not any more)

First day of Classical Conversations officially (we had orientation the week before but this was the real deal.  We meet once a week and all the new information is presented by parent tutors.  Parents must stay with our kiddos because we are the teachers.  We are just learn fun ways to learn it more at home and fellowship with other Christian homeschoolers)

Science:

Jake's Foundation Class-the Masters. 

Jake got his Case-it all set up with everything he needs. :)

Writing Foundations flashcards.  Copy work helps to memorize.

I could not have labeled the Fertile Crescent from Ancient History before last week...could you?  We can now.  We will be able to draw a map of the whole world and label it in the next couple of years!  That is awesome.

A little out of order-this was the week before on the way to orientation.

Orientation "recess".  They were playing octopus. Tag where they try to reach you with their arms and legs as people go by.  This is just a few of the kids.  There are probably around 40 I would say.

Recreating one of the Mastery Charts on the wall in the hall.  These are the big kids on campus.  The 4th through 6th graders.  (love the one room school house feel)

Not the most flattering picture of Jake he was looking down at the computer screen following along with the song and doing the hand motions that help remember history timelines and things like that .

Loving it so far.  Classical Conversations (C.C.) is a perfect fit for us. 

Haunted by "our" house...

I am starting to realize the reason for my not being able to sleep.  It is "our house".  We looked at it last Thanksgiving when the owners abandoned it.  It is an amazing neighborhood.  It is just the right size.  It has a fenced in back yard.  It backs up to the woods.  Fast forward 9 months and 3 offers later and it is in foreclosure.  I lost all patience with the process and then started falling madly in love with every home we looked at....We decided to rent from friends that are eventually going to sell their home but are going to rent it until they are ready.  They are kind enough to rent to us month to month because they know we are trying to buy a house.  Long story slightly shorter and we are moving into the rental the end of this month...and now our real estate agent texted me today to let me know that "our house" (formerly known as "my" house :} ) is coming out of the redemption phase on Friday and we will know if the bank is going to put it back on the market as a foreclosure "as is" or if they are going to fix it up first.  That is it just a simple text update and I cannot sleep.  I am again decorating "our house" in my head and cannot sleep.  I took melatonin...no luck.  So, here is the only thing I can think of doing that may lead to sleep:

*Kitchen-Simply Gray (Valspar) cabinets and light yellow walls (haven't picked that color yet).
*Living room-Simply Gray walls and we are painting the parka floors...I am thinking Bird Song Blue by Valspar
*Dining room-I think it will painted the same as the living room but it has a chair rail so I will have to think about it.  I really wanted to do 2 tones horizontal stripes in gray but I will have to see.
*guest half bath and Laundry-don't know yet but I saw the paper towel dispenser at Sam's Club that is $19.95 that I will be putting in there (I am not even joking) that will just get a coat or 2 of spray paint to make it cuter.  On the wall it will say "wash you hands" in some cute way...but I won't be joking about it. :)
*Family room-I need to ask the guys about this but I know were are going to have one wall painted either chalk board or dry erase (probably dry erase) because we will have our big desk in there set up for homeschooling.  I am going to paint the desk and mod podge the  chair for it with a world map.  I am also going to stencil some words onto the desk...maybe a quote..I don't know the color in there yet because I want the guys to help me figure it out.
*Jake's bath (it isn't in his bedroom but it will be the one he uses in the hallway upstairs).  We found a cool color called Crocodile Smile (very cool green) and we are going to get a navy blue and white striped shower curtain from target. 
*Jake's room will be up to him but I know he wants one wall black chalk board which I think is an awesome idea.  He will use the dresser I painted and distressed (one past down from Nee) and we will paint and distress a bed we found at Goodwill the same way.  He has a couple of Star Wars posters that will got great with his Star Wars bedspread (it is not one of those Kmart tacky ones it is from Target and I even like it.)  He has free reign since it is his room.
*The 3rd bedroom...not a clue.  I would love it to be a nursery...
*Our bedroom will be painted a kind of slate blue color I think.  I really want it white with our soon to be painted black bed, white bedspread, and black and white striped curtains for the windows and the 3 doorless closets in the room, with a dash of blue in a picture I painted but Aaron vetoed the white walls.  So I am picking a blue (because it is calming...which I obviously need sleep but he will like it too.  Our bathroom will probably be the same color and will look great with the yellow shower curtain I found on sale at, where else?  Target. :)
*The halls are still up in the air but I am thinking a very light gray and we are painting the doors fun colors (or a color...don't know yet)...

Okay there.  Decorated.  I am not going to go into furniture layout or anything crazy, even though I a pretty much have that figured out (barring any rearranging that may happen which is inevitable because I sometimes picture the shape or size of the room/furniture different than it is!).  The only furniture we will have to buy is a couple of the Billy bookcases from Ikea and we will be ready to go.  Now maybe I will be able to sleep.  I am now going to go back to not caring and having moved on.  If it works out GREAT!...If not than I will probably go back to sleeping because I will be back to not having to worry because I don't have anything to decorate.  Permanent closure on "our house" is going to be a much welcomed thing, one way or the other.

"Remorse inevitably sets in"...

Name the movie is from and you get a cookie!...Don't know?  Okay I will tell you: You've Got Mail.  Are you really surprised that I am quoting that movie yet again?

That is what I am feeling: remorse...that inevitably set in...I am not done blogging.  I am just going private.  No pressure to post anything unless I want to...or have time to...I am horrible at making decisions....I was just looking for a photo that is saved on my other computer that is still packed (yes I should have it backed up and I will.) and I ended up looking back at posts from March of this year.  It seems like ages ago...and I got scared I would miss memories if I didn't document them.  So...I am going private and it will strictly be my families blog which will include millions of pictures and me rambling about them.  I may do a journal post and say I am going to post the pictures later and later may be a month later with no words at all just the pic's that go with the before mentioned post.  That is it.  I will be writing it to myself, or Jake, or Aaron, or posterity.  Whoever it most seems to apply to.  I will not have comments because that is just more pressure... If that interests you than email and I will send you an invite...If it doesn't that is okay too.

*Friends that I have known for a long time (and obviously family...)and only keep in touch with through blogging: you will automatically be getting an invite.

*Friends I have met through blogging and feel like I have known forever: you will also automatically be getting an invite.

So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

 Let me start off by saying: yes I did have to look that up to spell it correctly. :)  I think in music lyrics from the Sound of Music (and tons of other genres too...for instance the title of my blog is from a John Mayer song...but you already knew that right?)  a lot for some reason.  But to get to the point.  I am saying good bye to the blog world.  I some times have a hard time making decisions.  I second guess myself.  I doubt myself.  I wonder if the feelings I am having are the Spirit directing me or...just me.  I am starting to realize a decision that I almost made back in the Spring is one I should have made.

Several months ago, I toyed with the idea of going private or not even blogging at all.  I felt like I should not spend so much time blogging.  The reason I started doing it (to have a journal/scrapbook/way to keep in touch) has long since fallen by the wayside.  The whole keeping up with our families life part of my blog is always an afterthought and me trying to catch up.  I find myself snapping a picture and wondering if it will be good enough to put on my blog..which is a strange thing to worry about because I am not a photographer and I am really taking pictures to hold on to memories.  I sometimes think about doing a post so much that I can't remember if I have or not...because it was important and I wanted to but...did I ever get around to it?  I posted it in my head the day it happened (whatever it may be depending on the day) and have to look back on my blog to see if I ever got around to it. 

Then the thought crosses my mind: maybe I should just write in a journal and then I know I will always that I did in fact document that memory.  What a novel idea...Write it down the actual day it happens.  It is crazy that such an idea would pop into my head when our latter day prophets remind us all the time that we should be doing it.

 President Spencer W. Kimball said: "On a number of occasions I have encouraged the Saints to keep personal journals and family records. I renew that admonition. We may think them is little of interest or importance in what we personally say or do—but it is remarkable how many of our families, as we pass on down the line, are interested in all that we do and all that we say.

With that being said I am going to get back to writing to and for the people I originally started blogging for: me, my family, my posterity...

 I also really need and want to work on my weight loss.  I am getting rid of time consuming, non-essential distractions and blogging topped the list.  I need to focus more on getting up and moving, rather than sitting down and blogging.  I need to simplify.  Have less distractions.  Blogging (along with Pinterest...but lets face it I can get on there and look for 5 minutes and move along.  With blogging I can't do that.  Yes, I am justifying but I am not ready to go completely cold turkey with my "vice's" so don't judge me.)


I will still be doing my blog S.O.O.N.- Something out of nothing to try to start selling some of the things I have been refinishing, but that is not very time consuming.  Blogging has become time consuming.  I am always playing catch up.  I rarely have time to post and have even less time to check out the blogs of friends I am trying to keep in touch with.  There are other things that I need to focus on.  My family, homeschooling, exercising, moving in a couple of weeks...Life is busy and although I have loved blogging I can see where I have let other more important things go to write a post or upload a million pictures.  I am going to journal.  I am going to print a photo book at the end of the year and I am going to be happy. :)  I will still be checking all the blogs of friends I have known or met through blogging.  I will still have an email so if you want to know how life is going for the Harmon family than you can shoot me an email.  I may even send an occasional email with a family photo-each one with me shrinking I hope.  :)  It is time to put the focus where it needs to be.  I have loved learning, sharing, and getting to know so many of you.  Thank you for your friendship.  In a couple of days I am going to make my blog completely private until Aaron can upload it or whatever you do to save it...It is sad that after 5 years of blogging I don't know all the lingo!  Luckily I have a husband who isn't as computer illiterate as me!

The scene from my favorite movie (You've Got Mail) keeps popping in my head when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is standing in her little empty bookshop for the last time.  (Seriously if you haven' t seen that movie please go watch it for me okay?).  In an email prior to this she says that her closed shop will be something depressing like a Baby Gap.  I will miss blogging but I feel happy (not depressed)  that I have met so many amazing people.  That I have kept in touch with people that I don't have to say I "used to be friends with until we/they moved" because we blogged.  I have documented memories.  I have gotten brave enough to start homeschooling because I felt empowered by the support in the blog world.  I have become brave enough to take something I love and try to make it into a little business.  I have become brave enough to know that I don't have to blog to be heard.  I feel like this last post should be more impressive than this is but this is all I've got.  The decision is made-for sure this time-and there is no turning back now!

Thank you for the memories and who knows someday I may be back.  Because let's face it I do always have One More Thing....to say. :)

I'm A Mormon Monday: Austyn

I am so excited for you to get to know another amazing Mormon woman. I met Austyn when we lived in Asheville NC and I feel like I have really gotten to know here since our families moved to different parts of the countries and we kept in touch through blogging. Austyn is a multi-talented, super mom (she would never admit to that but it is totally true) who has worked hard to learn about nutrition and has even started a blog (Project Granola Mom) to share all her knowledge with us.  Reading Austyn's post reminded me that we all have something important to share with others and I am so glad she agreed to shared her "mission" here on my blog.  With out further ado, let me introduce to you "Granola Mom":

  This is my oldest son, "The Wild One."  True to his nickname he came out screaming and has not really quieted down since.  He was a pretty intense baby and my mind was a whirlwind thinking that this motherhood thing was a lot different than I had imagined!  Right around the time that he turned eighteen months, things really escalated.  He did some pretty odd things behavior-wise, was not talking much, and was a very sensitive and difficult little toddler.  Enourmous meltdowns would errupt at the tiniest things - like someone saying hello to him or a sudden movement someone made.  I feel like I had tried everything to help him be happy and meet his needs, but felt I was failing, and was very worried.  At routine checkups doctors started casually throwing around the term "autism" which scares any mother, let alone a brand new mother.  I was at a loss for what to do, and felt helpless.  At times I couldn't even get him to focus on my face as his attention was all over the place.  Feeling I had exhausted all my efforts, I turned to my last resort - nutrition.

I'm A Mormon Monday: Jaime

  I am honored to be guest posting for this I'm a Mormon Monday.

When Carrie asked me I was so excited to do this, then she sent me the questions...there were MANY.  I hope I do a good job!  She gave me free reign to answer whatever I wanted to, so I hope that you enjoy this little peek into my VERY random psyche!

Why did you choose to homeschool your children?

Oh wow, this is a rather loaded question!  When my first son was born, my hubby and I discussed homeschooling.  We knew that we might like to do it as we could see a deterioration in our school system.  When he was 5 we finally found a school we could believe in (mostly) so away he went, taking a little piece of me with him.  When my second son was ready for school, we sent him to the same school and he took a little more of me with him. 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Fifteen years and counting!  (I knew I better have Jake click a picture of us before we headed out to Olive Garden because that would be the one and only picture that we would take since Aaron is a P.T.P.P.) 

Ranee's Mexican Fiesta

I am just going to start off by saying we are not racist.  Why would I preface this post with that you ask? Because, I am sure some one out there will think we are being politically incorrect and insensitive.  Maybe we are but this really isn't a negative thing (but someone will most likely spin it that way...).  That is all I really need to say because if you know me (which chances are pretty good you do if you are reading this) you know that I love everyone and I like to have a good time.  That being said: onto Ranee's 40th birthday celebration Fiesta style!

Jeremy asked me if I would make a dinner for Ranee's birthday and plan a little party.  I of course said:  YES.  I love this kind of stuff.  He also asked me if Ranee had mentioned anything that she wanted for her birthday...she had...but it wasn't really something you could actually give her.  Ranee said she wanted a Mexican for her birthday.  You see, for some time now she has been wanting to put new flooring in her downstairs and redecorate her family room.  Since it hadn't happened she wanted to hire someone who she knew would do it right.

Hub City Railroad Museum

Earlier in the summer Jake and I headed over to the Hub City Railroad Museum.  If you want to know what city is the "Hub City"  (a nickname that has made a comeback over the past few years) you will have to do a little research to find out.  I will tell you it is in South Carolina.  It was a fun little place full of railroad "artifacts" from a city that used to be the Souths hub for trains.  The people that give the tours are volunteers and train enthusiasts.  The boy that gave our tour was only a year or two older than Jake. 

Nana's birthday surprise....

For Nana's b-day  we wanted to do something fun and surprise her at work with a treat.  She is working as a long term sub in the office at an elementary school and we were sure we could surprise her. That day also happens to be Erin and Matt's anniversary so we decided to make 2 fun treats at 1 time.  I saw this on Pinterest and thought it looked cool (click it and it will take you to the blog it that put it on Pinterest):

 After going back and looking at it now I see that it didn't even have directions which was really no big deal because I didn't plan on reading them.  I thought the pictures were pretty self explanatory.  I would do a couple of things differently but it worked.  We just melted dipping chocolate and went to town!

Bowling...

(It is time for me to get caught up on some of the fun things we have done this summer...since technically it is over and we have started homeschooling.  The only way I am going to accomplish this is by posting like crazy for the next few days so bare with me.  This is going to be lots of pictures and a few words....)

Jake and I were leaving Walmart one day and noticed the nearby bowling alley was charging only a $1 a game so we decided we were going to do it! We totally rocked the shoes.

I'm A Mormon Monday: Melissa

{Image credit to Mormon.org...plus I added the Monday to it. :) }
I just realized this is my very first guest post on my blog.  I am so glad it could be written by an amazing friend of mine.  I have known Melissa for several years now and every time I need a little pick me up I go and read her blog.  When I think of Melissa I think of 100% positivity.  I think you will agree after reading this post....

Over the last couple of days, we have gathered together as a family each evening to watch the Olympics. My two older girls are at an age where they understand what is going on and they are so excited to cheer on team USA, in whatever sport they are participating in. The other day we were watching the men's rowing competition. I was so fascinated by the whole five-six minutes of the race. As they row, they do so in perfect synchronization. It is quite amazing to watch. I loved to hear all of the comments that the commentator was making because I am so unfamiliar with any of the logistics of rowing and it was just so interesting to me. As I cheered on the USA team (they totally killed it, by the way), I couldn't help but feel an analogy coming on (I know, I know, it's a sickness I have...what can I say?) The precise rhythm and perfect unity shown amongst the crew was so symbolic to me of the goals and vision that I have for my family. We are also a team, made up of individual members who have different strengths and weaknesses. As we come together united and in perfect synchronization, we have the possibility to accomplish and become greater than we ever could on our own. Really, that's what being part of a team is all about. A team united in purpose, direction, and vision and all working together to win the victory.

Okay, now I am really excited...

I am a Conservative Republican. I always have been and always will. I have mentioned that before but I have never really mentioned this: I am going to vote for Mitt Romney.  It goes with out saying really since you know I am a Conservative.  I was going to vote for whoever the nominee ended up being.  I am even more excited to vote for him since he picked exactly who I hoped he would pick for his running mate: Paul Ryan.

These are a few of my favorite things: Bowling, dogs, famliy photos, temples...etc.

The list is long this week...Who am I kidding it always is..These are a few of my favorite things: (feel free to hum the song while reading this post.  I did while I was writing it.)

*Going bowling (more on that later...because I had 7,942 pictures of the 2 times we have gone in the past week...maybe not quit that many pic's but close.)

*Bowling balls.  Aren't they so pretty?

S.O.O.N-something out of nothing...

I have mentioned my new love for refinishing and distressing furniture, mirrors,...basically anything I can get my hands on!  Jake and I decided to create a little business since we can't possibly keep everything we distress.  I have no idea how much to sell anything for and we are really just beginning so we will see how this all goes! I started posting all my/our pieces on a new blog so that I can at some point catch up on all the pictures, memories, and life stuff on this one! 

If you live in the Upstate SC area and surroundings and are interested in having a piece painted & distressed (or just painted), buying a piece I have already painted, or learning how to do it, let me know!

Go check out our new blog:

S.O.O.N-Something Out Of Nothing...Recreating,Re-purposing, & Remaking

I'm a Mormon Monday: Guest posts schedule

  It is an awesome thing to be able to keep in touch with people through blogging and make new wonderful friends!  I have some great guest posters scheduled for the next 6 weeks that I think after reading their posts and going to check out their amazing blogs, you will consider friends also.  There will be more...that is just as far as I have gotten so far!  I am in the middle of gearing up for our first week of homeschooling next week so I decided to get a little help from my blogging, Latter Day Saint friends...who are probably even more busy than me but they are amazing enough to still help!  So, with out further ado, here is the the schedule with links to their blogs:

*Monday, August 13th: Melissa from Moments That Matter

*Monday, August 20th: Jaime from Welcome to the Madness

*Monday, August 27th: Austyn from Project Granola Mom

*Monday, September 3rd: Cocoa from Chocolate on my Cranium

*Monday, September 10th:  Cara from Kigginsanity
 
*Monday, September 17th: Cassity from Remodel Aholics

Please join me the next 6 weeks to learn, be inspired, and get to know all these wonderful ladies.  We all have the same beliefs but we all have different lives!

We ate at Chick-fil-a today.

Unless you have been under a rock than you probably know why.  Just in case you have actually been under a rock I will try to catch you up to speed. :)

The President and CEO of  Chick-fil-a is a Christian (that's why they aren't open on Sunday's) and in an interview recently said this:   "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit".  We believe that too.  Our church leaders even released a document all the way back in 1995 talking about the importance of families and marriages.  You can read The Family: A Proclamation To The World here.

I'm a Mormon Monday: Patience, endurance, and attitude

 Welcome to I'm a Mormon Monday!  The great thing about having a blog is that you can do whatever you want because it is yours.  I decided Monday is going to be "I'm a Mormon Monday".  I am thinking this will be a good time to share beliefs, concerns, and life experiences.  One of my favorite thing about blogging is meeting new people with similar beliefs that I have learned so much from.  I am hoping for some group participation on this so don't let me down people! :)  If you are interested in guest posting let me know.  I have some friends in mind that I am hoping will be willing to share experiences that we all can relate to and learn from each other through sharing.  You don't have to be a Mormon to guest post or to join in on the conversation.  You just have to want to share something that can positively help others.  I would love to hear from other faiths.  The "I'm a Mormon" part will be when we compare our beliefs. :) 

Bain Declutter: Because sleep alludes me...again

*I am officially labeling myself an insomniac.  I never sleep through the night and I am okay with that because if I wake up I can go back to sleep.  My problem for the past couple...few...I have lost count is the falling asleep part.  I am going to buy some Tylenol PM tomorrow...

*I know why I can't sleep.  I am a night time interior decorator. Every time I lay my head on my pillow to go to sleep I start to decorate "our" house in my head.  I have tried to pick out the actual paint colors and have even gone as far as going to Lowe's to price the paint with my "final" decision on paint colors..so it feels more definite, and I still can't help but decorate it every night in my head.  I tried showing people my ideas hoping that it would help but it didn't.

Frustration is...(a short list)..Followed by a serious change in perspective...

1.)...trying to buy a house in short sale. The whole term "short sale" is misleading.  Now I know it is referring to the fact that the bank is going to let the seller sell the house for less than they owe and call it good.  So they are "short" what they need to pay off the mortgage.  Obviously there is a bunch of paperwork and things like that but you would think that the bank would be ready to get rid of it. The poor sellers of "our house" are a few days a way from foreclosure-LITERALLY.  We are trying to do them, the bank, and us a favor (we get it for a great deal-they don't go into foreclosure, the bank doesn't have to give it away!) by buying it!!!  We even upped our offer so we thought the bank would jump on it!!!  We were supposed to hear on Tuesday.  Aaron keeps reminding me we have supposed to have heard from them several times and haven't so why am I surprised that we didn't hear this time?

These are a few of my favorite things...

1.  Boxes that the UPS man delivers not even 48 hours after you ordered (free delivery makes it even better!) them full of homeschool curriculum!

 I can't stop looking through them...and then I put them back in the box so the newness doesn't wear off!

Markers+ cousins=fun outside in the hot, HOT, heat.

Some how I forgot to post these pictures from last week:

Ketchup Day & A Brain Declutter all wrapped up in one...

*The inventor of these new dip or pour Heinz Ketchup thingies at fast food places should win the Noble Prize.  It is pure genius.

*I feel like I just haven't posted enough pictures of one of my favorite faces lately so this picture does double duty. 

*Notice the crocked glasses.  They are super glued together...We are anxiously waiting for the eye doc's to call us to say Jake's new glasses are in...

These are a few of my favorite things: Cheap above ground pools that are worth their weight in gold...

It is hot here in South Carolina.  Hot and humid.  The kind of humidity that makes 80 degrees at 7:30 in the morning make your stomach feel yucky because it is like stepping into a sauna.  You should feel the 95 later in the day...For those of you who don't have the distinct honor of living in the South you may not know the feeling.  In the summer we have a thunder storm just about every day in late afternoon or early evening because it is so humid.  That is why my favorite things this week are the pool in Matt and Erin's backyard and the pool in the Martin's back yard.  We are getting to the point in the summer that if you are going to be outside you had better be near (or in) a pool.  

One good thing about all the sweating we do down here in the South:

All you have to do is walk out the door to break into a sweat in July (pronounce it Jew-lie in your head so it sounds Southern) and August (and June, September and sometimes even October and May...) so I am sure all sorts of calories are being burned with out even trying.  At least that is how I a make myself feel better every time I put on make up or do my hair only to melt before I even make it to the car. :)

What are some of your favorite things?