I hope everyone has a very happy and prosperous new year!
We had our 4th annual CHA Christmas Party at a local park. The park had a pond, which was ringed by many pretty, colored trees, and with the mist in the air, I thought it would make a nice photo.
As we were taking photos, I saw these huge, rat-like creatures come out of the water and beg for food! They are called Nutria, and apparently there are people who eat these creatures! I’ll stick with veggies, thanks!
And look who showed up in high style! Look at the passenger on the golf cart …
We got a few of our tween girls to pose with Santa, but none of them wanted to sit on his lap. Could it be that they are on the naughty list this year?
And when we saw Miss A sitting on Santa’s lap, we couldn’t help but break into song: “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth…”
And what’s a park pond without a couple of ducks?
My son spent the whole time running around with the other boys, so I didn’t get to catch him in a photo. I did ask if he wanted to sit on Santa’s lap and let me take a photo. He said, “no,” like it was a ridiculous thing to ask and that he was far too old for such things, but as I was walking back from the pond, I caught the little bugger sitting on Santa’s lap! He was off playing again by the time I reached the pavilion, but I saw him!
We had such a great time with our wonderful homeschool friends!
So, US News has again published its picks for the top 100 high schools in the US. It looks like the majority of them are either specialized schools or magnet/charter schools. I noticed none of the “exemplary schools” from my area are included in the list. Even the public schools in the richie-rich areas are not included on the list. Did anyone catch that? I wonder why it is.
Could it be that the one true indicator of success is students want to be at school? Those specialized schools don’t just take whomever falls into the door. You must apply and often win a lottery to be able to attend. Once there, you must maintain a minimum grade average. No skating by as is the case in many public schools. The specialized schools and charter schools weed out those who want an education from those who are simply doing their time.
Where I grew up, charter schools were not an option. Where I live now, the people think the sun rises and sets on the local (overcrowded) school district, and I think they are too vain to allow educational alternatives such as this. So, be thankful if you live in an area with easy access to specialized schools and charter schools!
This Saturday my family is going to go do something special. I am really excited about it, and I can’t wait to post photos so you can see what we did.
I will give a hint … it’s WAY more important than high school football playoff games!
Please come back on Saturday night or Sunday sometime and see!
UPDATE: Due to rain and nasty conditions, I wasn’t able to bring my camera. But here’s what we did!
Our homeschool tween girls’ group got together to decorate gingerbread houses. I was dreading the mess, but it turned out to be so much fun! And, believe it or not, there was very little mess!
Christin and I made several double batches of royal icing and scooped some into baggies. The deco items were put into bowls on two tables, and some had spoons to make it easier to sprinkle stuff. The girls looked through some gingerbread house books for inspiration while they waited for Papa John’s to deliver the six large pizzas.
After they ate, they got down to business…
Our homeschool Cadette troop was lucky enough to go on a tour of our local HEB Cypress Market. We got to speak to the produce manager, the seafood manager, the meat market manager and a baker.
We learned the proper way to check for ripeness of an avocado — and it’s not by squeezing it! We got to sample some pomegranate/peach tea, which was really good.
We learned the difference between fresh seafood and not so fresh seafood. We learned about different cuts of meat and the differences between prime, angus, natural and organic meats. In the cookware section, we learned how to choose the best knives. Look for knife handles where you can see that the blade goes all the way down to the base of the handle!
We had a great time and learned a lot! Thanks to Marti Owens, the Community Coordinator!
We met up with another group of friends to have lunch at a local place called Tea for Two. If you haven’t guessed, it’s a tearoom! It’s very, very girly, and my 8-year-old son was not thrilled with attending with us. But the other moms were so great about making him feel at ease. They thanked him for escorting the ladies to tea. After that he felt a little better about being there.
The kids sat at one table, and the moms at another … my favorite thing about going to lunch with our friends! The kids all got their own little teapots and tea cups, which were filled with pink lemonade.
Also in the room where we were seated was a shelf filled with all kinds of old-timey hats. There was a full-length mirror so that the girls could look at themselves while trying on hats. Cute!
While it was rather pricey, we had a great time! It’s a great place for a moms’ night out!
I have a new project in the works that I hope will be a blessing to the many, many small, locally owned businesses all over the USA.
It is still in the works, but check back for an announcement about it.
Shop locally, no matter where you live. Have a Walmart-free Christmas!
Last week Christian had his pack meeting. He finally received all the belt loops and pins that he worked so hard on in October and early November. He got the following belt loops: swimming, wildlife conservation, geology, citizenship, marbles, astronomy. And he got the following pins: geology, weather, citizenship and language and culture.
He also earned his Wolf rank, but the pack has everyone make rank together at one time, so we will wait until February at the Blue and Gold banquet.
He also earned his Texas Badge (for the second time!) with the homeschool pack. And he’s almost finished with his Emergency Preparedness Award and the 100 Years of Scouting Patch award.
Good work!
A Visitor From The Past (author unknown)
I had a dream the other night, I didn’t understand.
A figure walking through the mist, with flintlock in his hand.
His clothes were torn and dirty, as he stood there by my bed.
He took off his three-cornered hat, and speaking low, he said:
“We fought a revolution, to secure our liberty.
We wrote the Constitution, as a shield from tyranny.
For future generations, this legacy we gave.
In this, the land of the free and home of the brave.
“The freedom we secured for you, we hoped you’d always keep.
But tyrants labored endlessly while your parents were asleep.
Your freedom gone, your courage lost, you’re no more than a slave.
In this, the land of the free and home of the brave.
“You buy permits to travel, and permits to own a gun, permits to
start a business, or to build a place for one.
On land that you believe you own, you pay a yearly rent.
Although you have no voice in choosing, how the money’s spent.
“Your children must attend a school that doesn’t educate.
Your Christian values can’t be taught, according to the state.
You read about the current news, in a regulated press.
You pay a tax you do not owe, to please the I.R.S.
“Your money is no longer made of Silver or of Gold.
You trade your wealth for paper, so your life can be controlled.
You pay for crimes that make our Nation, turn from God in shame.
You’ve taken Satan’s number, as you’ve traded in your name.
“You’ve given government control, to those who do you harm,
so they can padlock churches, and steal the family farm, and
keep our country deep in debt, put men of God in jail, and harass
your fellow countrymen, while corrupted courts prevail.
“Your public servants don’t uphold the solemn oath they’ve sworn.
Your daughters visit Doctors, so their children won’t be born.
Your leaders ship artillery and guns to foreign shores,
And send your sons to slaughter, fighting other people’s wars.
“Can you regain the freedom for which we fought and died?
Or don’t you have the courage, or the faith to stand with pride?
Are there no more values for which you’ll fight to save?
Or do you wish your children, live in fear and be a slave?
“Sons of the Republic, arise and take a stand!
Defend the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land!
Preserve our Great Republic, and each GOD-Given Right!
And pray to GOD, to keep the torch of Freedom burning bright!”
As I awoke he vanished, in the mist from whence he came.
His words were true, we are not Free, we have ourselves to blame.
For even now as tyrants trample each GOD-Given Right,
We only watch and tremble, too afraid to stand and fight.
If he stood by your bedside, in a dream, while you’re asleep,
and wonders what remains of our Rights he fought to keep,
what would be your answer, if he called out from the grave:
“IS THIS STILL THE LAND OF THE FREE
AND HOME OF THE BRAVE?”
