Just life

I love homeschooling and would not trade it, but I have to admit this school year has been a challenge with educating a middle school student and now a high school student as well. When I look back at my days not only this week but over the past 8 weeks of school, I definitely find that I am spreading myself a bit too thin these days. I love to volunteer and be involved in all aspects of my children's lives and feel that to properly parent and be in control of your children it is necessary to be involved. However, it is important to not get your priorities out of whack and I think at some point in time we all do. I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband that is always there to help me see when I start to do this and he helps me get things back on track. I have done some serious thinking and praying and am re-evaluating my priorities to find the areas that I can cut back in. There comes a time in our lives when we have to stop and get things back into perspective and I have just gotten myself too deep in volunteering in several areas and I am taking baby steps to keep my primary focus where it needs to be and that is my family and educating my kids! What an exhilarating feeling to slowly be letting things go and put my primary focus on my family and my home! I do love to help people and be there and be the one "you can always count on to get things done" but I have come to realize that there are a lot of "those kinds of people" and a lot of time to be "that kind of person" but there is only 1 person that can be a mom to my kids and that's me and we only get one chance and starting today I am not going to miss my chance!

What a weekend!

Well, this weekend was jam packed with both of my girls favorite things...gym and horses!!!

We started the weekend off with dropping Marissa off at her home away from home, http://madronehillranch.com/beta01.htm on Saturday morning so she could prepare for her show on Sunday. We then headed north to Eugene for Rebecca's last gym meet of the season before the end of season championships in November. This was a great meet for our team since it included several teams from Northern Oregon (which tend to be a bit better than those in southern Oregon). Well about 4 hours later, Becca received 4 trophies and 1 medal and her team rec'd the 2nd place trophy! Becca scored a 36.125, 1st place all around (out of 40) 1st on floor, 9.275; 1st on bars, 9.2; 2nd on beam, 8.9 and 6th on vault, 8.75.

This was at the beginning, they had a costume contest for each team and our team decided to dress up as gymnastics judges. Becca is the 4th judge from the left (without a score card)


Listening to her coach before the meet!

Waiting for the judges to salute so she can begin her beam routine!

Becca with her trophies, great job baby, we be proud!!!!

So our weekend continued on Sunday when we headed south this time to Medford for Marissa's last dressage show of her season as well. These are very fun, but I am just learning so I am not near as familiar with the scores and what they mean. Marissa has only been riding dressage since January and this is a very difficult but beautiful sport! I love watching this type of riding because they are able to get the horse to do various things all with their subtle movements of their legs, bottoms and bodies! It is truly an amazing thing to see! The funniest part of this for us is that although we all know Marissa loves horses she never wanted to do dressage only because she swore she would NEVER wear these pants!!!! Well, look at her now....she looks great!!!!

This was practicing before the show, she looks pretty sharp doesn't she?

Aside from the horse doing his duty, this is a great pic!






Waiting to go in for her ride!


Marissa and Tez!!!

Marissa competed in 2 rides and rec'd 3rd place for both with scores of 60.9% and 58% both are great scores! Her trainer receives scores in the 60's and has been riding dressage for years, so Marissa's scores are very impressive!








Marissa helping her instructor by preparing her horse for her ride.

Great job Marissa, we are so proud of you and what a terrific rider you have become in such a short time!

Well, as you can see it was a fun weekend and we are excited for many more of these! Enjoy the pics!!!!

Outside My Window...It' still very dark, but one good thing is my windows are clean!!!!

I am thinking...Of all the things I need to do today!!!!

I am thankful for...for my family and my wonderful husband of 18 years today!!!!

From the kitchen...I can smell the coffee..thank goodness for coffee!

I am wearing...gray flannel lounge pants and a gray lounge shirt

I am creating...my girls schedule for the day

I am going...to GP today with the girls for a yummy blizzard to celebrate their accomplishments this weekend!

I am reading...the newspaper

I am hoping...to have a wonderful dinner for my hubby this evening and that I don't forget to get an anniversary card for him!

I am hearing...the fire cracking and the washing machine; trying to catch on my laundry I didn't do this weekend since we were gone :)

Around the house...I am happy that it is mostly cleaned up (thanks to my girls helping out yesterday evening)

One of my favorite things...watching my girls in gymnastics and dressage shows; doing the things they absolutely love!

Plans for the rest of the week:

• Going to GP today to DQ and running some errands


• Working on some transcripts that I need to finish up


• Let's hope I finish my mound of laundry


• Finding Bec's costume for a fun Clue party the girls are going to Friday night


• Reporting the gym scores for the paper


• Carving some pumpkins with the girls and their friends this week


• Attending Recognition night for 4-H on Saturday

Here is a picture I thought I would share:

Daybook Entry

FOR TODAY October 21, 2008

Outside My Window...I see the fog beginning to clear
I am thinking...I should be schooling my children and not sitting on the computer right now :)
I am thankful for...mornings such as this and my wonderful family
From the kitchen...I can smell the coffee and see the dishes I didn't do last night...oops
I am wearing...gray flannel lounge pants and a dark blue lounge shirt
I am creating...my girls schedule for the day
I am going...to get my children up very soon since Marissa is working at 11:00
I am reading...the newspaper
I am hoping...we will get all our schoolwork done before we leave
I am hearing...the fire cracking and the cats running about
Around the house...I see a few fans I need to put away for the winter and the rest of the clothes that need folding
One of my favorite things...cold mornings with a warm fire and reading with my kids!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Getting Marissa off to work this AM and Bec to her friends to do Science

Working at my friends farm on her books

Getting caught up on school

Becca's gym meet on Saturday

Marissa's horse show on Sunday

Here is a picture I thought I would share...

Gymnastics Meet :)

Wow, my baby just had a fabulous meet and I am so proud of her, 1st place with a 37.2...her personal best!!!! Just one more and then it's a bit of a break in between until sectionals championship!!! Let's just pray she can keep it up and have a great end to her season!

We're proud of you baby, you work so hard and it shows!!!!!
One Proud Mama!!!