Happy Birthday Julie!

Happy Birthday Julie!

Today is Julie's 12th birthday. We began the day with the birthday girl opening her presents, followed by a special birthday breakfast. After attending our church services, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Kyoto's! Yummy!

The Breakfast Table

Please visit Julie's Blog and wish her a very Happy Birthday!


We are having cake and ice cream later this afternoon, and tonight I will post more pictures of the fun day!

School Prep 5

Wow! We are starting school 3 weeks from Monday! I am not ready yet!!

Planning

That is what I have been doing, and what I will be doing for the next couple of weeks. No matter what type of homeschool curriculum you are using (unit study, literature-based, textbook, etc.), you have to make a master plan for the year. This is the procedure I follow when making my plan:
1. Choose our starting and ending dates for each semester. We school 17 weeks each semester. We also take a 1 week break in both semesters. Previously we have taken all of December off, but this year we are not dismissing for Christmas break until December 11th. We will resume school on January 11th.

2. Calculate the number of days that we will have school. 17 x 5 = 85 each semester. Then I look at each subject and see how many pages/lessons/activities need to be completed for the semester. Next I divide the pages/lessons/activities by the number of school days (85) then I know how much work to assign to each day. Subjects like math are easy.....basically we do one lesson a day. If our math curriculum is shorter than 170 lessons (for the year)---like Teaching Textbooks, the child just finishes his math work early. If the curriculum is longer than 170 lessons a year, the child just doesn't finish the book....usually he has about 10 lessons left, and that is just fine!
If we are doing a unit study that lists activities to be completed, I just assign 2-4 activities a day based on my math equation described above. For assigned reading, I just assign the chapters or pages that need to be read each day. For some of Olivia's high school courses, I figured how many pages she needed to cover each day in the textbook. On the days that she had a test, I did not assign any additional reading.

3. I type up each day's assignments. My goal is to have every subject for each child typed up before we start school, but I may only complete 1st semester if I run out of time. Each child will have daily assignments for each subject typed on a separate piece of paper. They will mark off each item as they complete it. I do not date these assignment pages because (1) they may get off track because of sickness, travel, or whatever, and then have to play catch up and also (2) I can use the same checklist for subsequent children if it is not dated. I just label it Week 1; Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5; Week 2.....

4. The daily subject assignments are then placed in the front section of each child's 3 ring binder.

My next school prep post will explain how I set up my children's school binders.

Atlanta Peachtree 10K

We left Warren and Holly's house at 5:30 A.M. We drove a short distance to the MARTA station, and then we joined several thousand more people and rode the MARTA train to downtown Atlanta. At 6:00 in the morning on July the 4th, all of the MARTA passengers were runners like us! This was Olivia's, Julie's and Clay's first time to ride public transportation. We were all still a little bit sleepy, but it was still exciting!

Julie, Olivia, Jimmy, and Clay at the MARTA station

Me and Jimmy riding the MARTA train

When we arrived at the downtown station, we joined even more runners and walked a few blocks to the starting line area. As we approached the starting area, we saw the beginning of the wheelchair race. How humbling and inspiring to see these competitors.....it made me very grateful for my health!

The Peachtree 10K is the largest 10K race in the United States. This year over 50,000 runners participated! With this size race, everyone does not begin running at the same time. The elite runners start at exactly 7:30, followed by 11 more corrals of runners. To be included in groups 1A or 1B, you were required to submit proof that you had previously run a 10K in under 55:00. Jimmy, Olivia, and Julie all had race times that qualified, so they were put in group 1B. Their starting time was 7:37. Clay actually has run a 10K under 55:00, but I either I did not turn in his time because I felt like it was safer for him to run with me, or he was put in a slower group because of his age......I really can't remember.....registration was back in March! Anyway, the rest of the runners are randomly assigned to groups 2-9. Clay and I were both assigned to group 7. Runners receive their race numbers and electronic timing chips in the mail a few weeks before the race. Each race number was color coded, so you had to stay in the correct corral. The 70,000 #s (group 7) numbers were pink! I was delighted to wear a pink number. I am not sure if Clay was as pleased!

Julie and Olivia at the starting line

Clay and I told Jimmy, Olivia, and Julie goodbye, and then walked several blocks to our corral. When we arrived, we joined the other people in group 7 and sat down in the road.....and waited....and waited.....and waited! Water and coffee were provided to the waiting runners. Around 8:20 we were directed to slowly move toward the starting line. By 8:35, we were there! The announcer gave us the command, and we were off! But it was a S-L-O-W start! We were trapped in between slow runners and many, many walkers.....I looked down at my watch and saw that we were jogging at a 14:40 minute/mile pace. Clay and I had set a goal of finishing in under one hour, and I knew that if we kept this pace, we would never meet that goal! I was disappointed! Gradually, holes in the crowd appeared, and Clay and I weaved in and out of the crowd, dodging runners/walkers, and slowly but surely we were able to pick up the pace. I felt a ray of hope! Maybe we could meet our goal.

The run was overall a pleasant one, and Clay remarked several times that this was his favorite 10K. I agreed. It was a lot of fun running down the streets of downtown Atlanta, and down the street was literally what we did! The first 3 miles of the course were downhill! We quickly made up for our lost time during the first quarter mile of the race. Then we encountered Cardiac Hill, which we had been warned about! Thankfully, Cardiac Hill proved to be relatively minor! These people apparently haven't run the Bodock 5K! Now that race has a cardiac hill!

Each mile of the race offered a water sprinkler which Clay and I both gladly ran through. There was also plenty of water stations (both for drinking and pouring over our heads), and strangely enough--snacks! Pizza, watermelon, and do-nuts! Who could eat while running a 10K?

Around mile 5.5, I grew extremely weary of weaving in and out of all of those runners. I quickly became claustrophobic. I was ready to get away from the massive crowd! Then, we saw the finish line! It was a downhill sprint to the finish---as much as a sprint as we could do with thousands of people running shoulder to shoulder!

We did it! My time was 59:06, and Clay's was 59:07!!!

We walked with the masses through the water bottle line and then to the t-shirt line. This is one race where you are not given your t-shirt just for registering. You must earn it by crossing the finish line. Clay and I picked up our shirts and then searched for Jimmy, Olivia, and Julie, who by the way finished with fantastic times!! Jimmy--45:57; Olivia--50:58; and Julie--46:00. We quickly found them, enjoyed some post-race refreshments, and then walked a LONG way to the MARTA train station.

Olivia and Julie after the race

Look at all of those water bottles on the tables!

Olivia, Jimmy, and Julie after the race

Clay, Julie, Me, and Olivia after the race

Jimmy and I waiting for the MARTA.

Clay, Me, Julie, Olivia

See the MARTA train in the background!

Visiting With Warren and Holly

When I signed our family up to run the Peachtree 10K, my first hurdle was child care for Leah and Sam. When I run local races either my parents or a dear friend from our church family (whose husband runs too) watch Leah and Sam while I run. When we travel to Memphis, I usually push them in the stroller. However, running a race 5.5 hours from home presented a child care challenge!

So, what did I do??? We invited ourselves to Jimmy's cousin's house for the weekend! Warren, his sweet wife Holly, and their 3 year old twins graciously agreed to host us and take care of Leah and Sam while we ran! What a wonderful family! How brave to open your home to 7 people for 2 nights! I am so grateful to Warren and Holly for their hospitality and generosity!

We arrived at Warren and Holly's just before suppertime Friday night. We enjoyed supper together, and the children had a great time playing both inside and outside.

Sam and Warren

Warren providing entertainment

Warren is an accomplished pianist and singer. He thrilled the children with his playing and singing! They begged for more!

After the race on Saturday we napped, then we rode over to Holly's brother's house where the children swam, Holly and I visited and supervised, and Warren and Jimmy fished on a boat in the lake.

Holly and Me watching the kids swim

Next, we ended our 4th of July celebration by taking a picnic into town and watching the spectacular fireworks display.

Clay at the picnic

Sunday morning, we attended Bible classes and worship service with Warren and Holly. We enjoyed their church family so much! After a quick lunch we packed up, cleaned up, and headed home!

What a great weekend!

Trip to Atlanta--The American Girl Store

Our family left last Thursday afternoon for a long weekend trip to Atlanta......to run the Peachtree 10K. About 2 hours into the trip, my cell phone broke just as I was receiving a text from Megan! I was not happy! I had planned to twitter and text all weekend.

Family Photo at the hotel

Friday morning began with a trip to the American Girl Store! The girls were so excited to see all of the American Girl products in person, after years of viewing the catalog. All three girls love their American Girl dolls, and each one of them brought one with them to Atlanta.

Olivia and Julie

Another part of the store

Julie posing with Kit, her first American Girl doll

Leah looking at the book display

Julie and Olivia with their purchases

Sam and Clay---bored at the American Girl store!

Jimmy and Clay

San Francisco Day 6

On our last full day in San Francisco, we visited the children's favorite landmarks. The day began with a walk down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in our country. We had previously driven down Lombard Street, but actually walking up and down this crooked street proved to be even more fun!

People actually live on this part of Lombard St. Their "yards" are beautiful! The flowers are so pretty!

The whole family on Lombard St.

Here we all are outside of our big white bus! Jimmy expertly drove us all around San Francisco and the surrounding mountains.

Next on our agenda was running across the Golden Gate Bridge. One trip across the bridge and back is a little over 3 miles. Olivia was resting her hip, and Russ wanted to take pictures, so they stayed behind with Leah and Sam while the rest of us ran.

Run Clay Run!

Clay, Julie, and Jimmy


Olivia, Megan, Julie, Jimmy, Clay, and Me

Megan and Me

Back to Muir Beach was our next destination! The children just love climbing on those rocks!

Leah's name written on a rock, with a rock. I think that Uncle Russ wrote this!

Following the trail

Leah, Russ, and Sam

Olivia climbing a rock

Sam and Clay in action

Olivia, Julie, and Jimmy---waaaayyyy up high!!

Fearless Sam!

Great ocean view

They sure are brave!

Brothers

Julie looking for the perfect rock

Olivia

Clay's rock--Clay is a rock hound, so he really enjoyed collecting rocks in San Francisco!

This area is just so pretty!

Olivia hiked all over the place.

After we left Muir Beach, we headed back to downtown San Francisco. This day was Russ and Megan's 4th wedding anniversary, so we dropped them off to have a dinner and some time alone. Our family went to Chinatown.

Some kind man took our family's picture.

walking the streets of downtown San Francisco

We picked up Russ and Megan a couple of hours later, and we spent the rest of the night washing clothes and packing up for our return home. Friday morning we left in plenty of time for the airport! We did not want to be running for our plane again. We were so prompt, that we had to wait for 2 hours at the airport after checking in and wading through security before we could board the plane. The flight lasted about 4 hours, and this time, thankfully, Sam slept some of the time!

We safely arrived home around 8 PM. It was good to be home!