Genevieve and I have been covering the Middle Ages in History. Yesterday's lesson covered how the monks hand copied books. We talked about how they had to get skins and them scrape them and tan the hides and them turn them into parchment. Sooo...as an extension, later that night I showed the girls how to make recycled paper. Ooooh my...and I thought the the paper mache pumpkins were messy!! Long story short, 3 hours later I had produced 3 whole sheets of paper. And **I** had not only a paper shredder, but a power blender! As I went about sifting the paper gunk, the girls and I talked about what it would be like to live in the Middle Ages. We talked about how none of us would probably be able to read or write. We talked about how we would probably be working on a farm and the girls would be doing chores all day rather than watching TV or playing on the computer. It was fun and entertaining...but I can tell you...you'd better be glad that those monks loved God so much! 'Cause if it was me in that scriptatorium, the Dark Ages would have been a whooooole lot longer!!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again…I love GVA. I love the curriculum. I love the fact that Genevieve is able to work at an advanced pace. I love that we get to go on fun field trips together. But lately I've been struggling…
I've suspected for a long time now that Genevieve might have ADD. I know there is a lot of controversy about the subject, and honestly for a long time even **I** was a doubter about the prevalence of the diagnosis among children today. But trust me, when you have a kid with ADD, you know. Sitting still without moving is completely impossible and math is a downright chore. Then if you throw in siblings yelling or playing games or even sitting at the table…well, you get the picture (you should have seen her in the public school!!). With all this going on, the last two weeks have been really tough on me. I guess some of it is trying to get back into the swing of things from being back on vacation for a week, but Genevieve has seemed even more distractible that usual. Combine that with Benjamin getting increasing active in his attempts to instill chaos and destruction in the world, and you have a recipe for one very frustrated
So, like Sylvester Stallone in Rambo, my husband bravely waded in…bullets zinging over his head…and volunteered to do school with Genevieve yesterday while I took Benjamin and Autumn out to do some chores. While he has taken over a lesson or two,
It was with a refreshed and rejuvenated heart and attitude that I returned to teaching today. Although we had a couple of frustrating bumps (in math and spelling of course!) this morning, I can honestly say that both Genevieve and I enjoyed school a whole lot more today…and it's all thanks to a brave Daddy who dared to "go where no man has gone before." ;)
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown
Looking back on the trip, it's almost impossible for me to describe all the fun we had. It's funny to me that for the girls, going to AZ is almost better than Disneyland...it's one big party! From having their nails done with Aunt Kelly to sharing Dippin Dots with Auntie Dena, the girls were treated like royalty. And Benjamin, while mostly just along for the ride was able to make his presence known (loudly!!) from time to time. And even though **any** time someone went to a door he began to panic, I could tell that he's beginning to understand the sheer joy that is our AZ trip. (Ummmm...well, ok...maybe he didn't **quite** enjoy his time at the zoo...but then again, it's hard to have fun when your nose is oozing snot and your eyes are running like a leaky faucet!!)
And through it all, I am simply amazed and overwhelmed by my family. It's one thing for your immediate family to tolerate you...I mean, you got that whole genetics thing going on. But the reception that the Knotts Clan received in AZ goes far beyond toleration.
I'm telling you though, this goes beyond toleration...we're talking full blown love. Is it any wonder that my kids love our trips to AZ?!!!
