Goth, a Terrorist, & an Inmate . . . I'm so proud!

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Today is Halloween, which for our family means it marks 8 years that we we have been at McDermott Road. Our first visit was 8 years ago, Jon had already accepted the position in Plano. The kids and I came up the week of Halloween to go house hunting. We laughed with the Durham's because McDermott was meeting in a pre-fab, had no baptistery, no elders and everyone was 'trick or treating' on a Wednesday night. Later we understood that they were a new plant congregation, etc.

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Tonight was a Christian homeschool mom's nightmare. I got to see my children as an inmate, a suicide bomber and a goth forensic scientist. Hopefully not a predictor of things to come.

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The kids 'Trunk or Treated' at the church building. We come home with lots of candy and goodies. It is amazing how many people come out from the surrounding neighborhoods to participate in a safe environment of fun.

Make-Up Games

With all the rain we have had the last three weeks, we could very easily be playing ball until Thanksgiving! Caleb did a great job pitching. He did well enough that coach wants him to pitch at least the next two games. He had two at bats, one out, one double and a run.

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Abigail's team won today, too! She played catcher the entire game. She had a couple of good at bats. All in all, a great day at the ball fields. If you can't find us next week, chances are pretty good that we will be at the fields!

The Strictest Dad Ever

When I run into adults and peers from my childhood and they learn that Daddy passed away earlier this month, they always offer their condolences and will then have a memory tied to things I wasn’t allowed to do.

You see my Dad was strict on Michael and me. While growing up Saturday night was not date night or party night; it was the night before the Lord’s Day. We were expected to pick out our church clothes, bathe, etc. and make preparation for Sunday. Oh and don’t get me started on Sundays! We were NEVER late for church, not a Sunday morning, Sunday night or Wednesday night. You see, my stern father believed if we could be on time for school and work, we should not be late to meet with the Lord. We left early for services, in case of traffic, bad weather, etc., and had time to re-focus our minds to worship, in the 15 minutes we had to sit on the pew until services began!

There were a ton of clothes I loved and would have looked so cute in . . . that I was not permitted to purchase because they were too low, too high, too tight, too loose, too thin, or too grown up. This dictatorship didn’t even stop when I had a job and was earning my own money to buy clothes, he still ruled my wardrobe! Did I mention that I had to wear dresses to school, seriously. I could only wear jeans twice a week to school. I was expected to look like a ‘lady’. And pants/jeans/shorts were never allowed to be worn at church. Dresses Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night! I have an aversion to hose to this day!

I still grew into a somewhat normal teen. When I was 14 I loved the Dukes of Hazard. Correction, I thought John Schneider was hot! So like any teen I had posters of him on my wall. In one poster his shirt was unbuttoned. Dad gave me two options, 1) take the poster down or 2) put a shirt on him. Well that poster remained on my wall until I left for college with the construction paper t-shirt I made for it.

Oh, oh, and did I mention we had chores!!!! We were expected to clean bathrooms, and prepare meals, and do the dishes and vacuum, not to mention rake the shag carpet! Even when I was in High School taking advanced classes and working two jobs, I still had to do my chores! Ridiculous!

The insanity didn’t stop with my clothes, chores or friends; it even intruded into what movies I could watch. You see the PG-13 rating came out when I was 16, no problem right, I was over 13. My Dad focused on that PG stood for ‘Parental Guidance’ which was him. And to Dad PG-13 was really a new name for R rated movies, so that movie makers could now make even raunchier films and call them ‘R’ rated. Try being 16 and telling your ‘peeps’ you can only see PG movies!

There were plenty of friend’s parties I was not allowed to attend because they weren’t Christians or Dad didn’t know their parents. There were boys I really liked but wasn’t able to go out with because they were not members of the Broken Arrow Church of Christ. There were boys who were Christians that I wasn’t allowed to go out with because they were too old, too mature, or they had already had a serious relation. . . ?

But curfew, believe it or not I never had a set curfew. My curfew varied by the activity I was participating in, for example: When I went on my first date with the preacher’s son, David Bates, we went to dinner and a movie. Dad allowed 10 minutes for us to drive to dinner, :30 minutes for dinner, another :10 to drive to the theater, :90 minutes for the movie and :15 minutes to drive home. Oh but don’t think he was heartless, he padded the time with an extra :10 minutes in case traffic was heavy etc., and set my curfew that evening at 10:20 PM. When we ran out of gas, really we did, David’s sister brought us a gas can. I still made it home by 10:25 PM but I was grounded for a week.

Now when I managed to arrive home from a date on time, Dad would always flick the porch light, so I would know that the :05 minute time had begun. If I did not make it back into the house within five minutes of when he flicked the lights, he would come out to the car to get me. What a guy!!! I lost a lot of second dates because of that rule!

When it was time to head off to college, mind you I was to pay for my own education; you know to teach me responsibility blah, blah, blah. Dad explained I could attend Oklahoma Christian or Oklahoma Christian, so I went to Oklahoma Christian.

I’m sure as any of you who know me well, know that such tyranny led me to be a rebellious college student who went crazy out in the real world. NOT! All of that strict parenting led me to be a somewhat normal individual, who was pure when I married. I felt no need to be a Bridezilla full of ‘I wants’. I have been successful at any job I have held. I am always punctual.

So why, when all wisdom, and lots of relatives said this kind of strict parenting would back fire, did Michael and I turn out so normal? Ok, well I turned out normal, Michael is still well, Michael (sibling rivalries run deep :)).

I knew every day of my life that my Dad loved me, he wanted the best for me, and he took the time to explain modesty, greed, lust, work ethic with Biblical examples. While working on cars in the driveway one day, my Father explained the intricate workings of a boy’s brain, when exposed to any female stimulus. . . .ICK! No girl wants to have that conversation with her Dad!! But I will never forget, and I must say, he was right!

He would take the time to slip me a note or cartoon, letting me know how proud he was of me. From childhood to the day of his death I never doubted that Dad loved me and was proud of me. Oh he wasn’t perfect and neither am I. But Dad would defend me to the ends of the Earth if anyone else pointed out my imperfections. But in our private conversations he would correct me and straighten me out. As he became older and those roles of parent/child reverse I too would not allow a negative word to be said about my father, but in our private moments I would return the guidance he had given me, and encourage him to do better.

I will miss him every day of my life; I will miss his crooked teeth smile, his laughter, the ways his eyes squinted up when he belly laughed. I will miss the verbal banter we would exchange as adults. But when my days are gone, I only hope my children can write a eulogy to the ‘strictest mom’ with as much affection and fondness as I penned these words today.

Snow White Spotted at Home Depot

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These photos were taken at the Home Depot Kids Workshop. If you will notice Abigail is wearing her Snow White dress. Jon was a good sport and escorted her to Home Depot with her heels clicking all the way! What a girl, she looks like a princess and can handle a hammer!

DMA Homeschool Family Class

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Today was the first ever Homeschool Family Class at the Dallas Museum of Art! We loved it! It's an interactive program for families with youth 6-12 years old. Today's topic was Center Stage and we looked at the All the world's a stage exhibit, with galleries the celebrate performances in the visual arts.
.We focused on a series of Isadora Duncan Dancing sketches by Abraham Walkowitz. The kids took turns mimicking the poses. Later we looked at a series of pastels by Edgar Degas. The kids sketched each other posing. In the studio, we used different materials and created original costumes for a cardboard dancer.
.Abigail and Caleb created break dancers and Frankie created a ballet dancer, me I went for the Flamenco dancer, Ole'!

Sprinkles Cupcakes

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Following our visit to the DMA we enjoyed a cupcake at Sprinkles in Dallas. I've been wanting to stop by, so today we made the time. The kids loved having a cupcake for lunch! Not a bad day, school in the morning, then the museum, and then Sprinkles!

Chestnut Square Historic Village

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Chestnut Square Historic Village brings Collin County history to life with events, educational programs and tours. The collection of ten historic houses and buildings represent life in Collin County from 1850-1930.

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The buildings included a great 1872 "bed and breakfast" house at 25¢ a night, named the "Two-Bit Taylor Inn". An 1875 Victorian cottage that belonged to a newly prosperous family who were just recovering from the rigors of the Civil War. A favorite was the one room school, complete with slates, lunch pails and a paddle! The ten buildings have been carefully furnished with furniture that is authentic for the period in which the building was built.
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We really enjoy the living history! Things the children read about in books they are able to see, touch and examine.

Under the Big Lights

Caleb had a game tonight. Because of his age, he is now playing in one of the older divisions, so their games don't even begin until 7:30pm. Tonight Caleb had two at bats, with a single and a strikeout. He did get a runner out on 2nd during the game. Any night at the ballpark is a good night!

Wizard of Oz

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Abigail took this photo of her computer screen. She was working in Paint and created the Yellow Brick Road with Scarecrow, Dorothy, Tinman & Lion! The kids are getting fairly proficient in their computer skills and keyboarding, but Paint is their favorite program. We have a lot of Star Wars and Hannah Montana creations!

Softball Buddies

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Abigail's team the Blue Crush had another great game today. Most of the girls have played together for several seasons. This year Abigail's friend from church, Jodee joined the team. the girls have had a great time together. Today was also the OU vs. Texas football game, notice Abigail is wearing her Longhorn hat and both girls are doing the 'Hook 'em Horns!' Crazy Texas kids!

Put me in Coach

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The fields have dried out some from all our rain, so baseball season has resumed! Tonight the girls won 10-1. Abigail played catcher for 2 innings and pitcher for the 3rd inning. She really has a great team and a coach that has made sure these young girls know how to play the game.

Dallas Museum of Art

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For the last several years we have enjoyed the Homeschool art programs at the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Kimball Art Museum, but now the Dallas Museum of Art has begun their own homeschool program. Our homeschool group broke off into groups by grade levels and then went on docent led tours through different galleries. Abigail's group went through the Arts of the Americas gallery, while Caleb and Frankie visited the Past to Present: Arts of Mexico and Central and South America gallery.

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Abigail's favorite piece in the collection was Frederic Edwin Church's The Icebergs, 1861. Church exhibited it to enthusiastic crowds in New York City and Boston, who paid 25 cents per person to see his spectacular vision of this distant world. He then donated all proceeds to widows and orphans, this would be the beginnings of what is now the Red Cross.

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Caleb's favorite was the Central Mexican god of rain and lightning whom the Aztecs called Tlaloc. Peoples of the time believed that Tlaloc lived in mountain caves, the source of fertility and wealth, and his helpers, the tlaloque, lived on mountaintops, where shrines to the deity were often built.

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Frankie's favorite was a richly decorated cabinet is believed to have been constructed for the Count of Monclova, the viceroy first of New Spain (Mexico) and later of Peru. Intended as a collector’s cabinet to house and display precious objects, it was produced in the former Portuguese colony of Goa, on the west coast of India. It was made of Mahogany, mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, pewter, and gilding.

Interurban Railway Museum

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Today a field trip was in order! Following Bible and Math we headed to join friends at the Interurban Railway Museum in Plano. The railway station was once a stop on the Texas Electric Railway providing service from 1908-1948. The kids were able to create electricity, wire a circuit board and make a motor work in the interactive displays.

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A special attraction was Car #360, which is the only remaining passenger/Rail Post Office of the system. The museum has brought to life Plano's second generation rail transportation through artifacts, interactive displays and information panels.

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Because the children were so well behaved the docent took them in small groups to the archive room and showed them how new items are cataloged and carefully handled. The museum is a mandatory field trip for all PISD 4th graders.

Wet Sox not Red Sox

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Rain has postponed and rearranged our baseball and softball schedules multiple times. Tonight Caleb had a good game. He got on base twice and advanced runners both times. Jon took the clear shot of Caleb's at bat from the dugout. The season was suppose to conclude at the end of October but with all the rain we may still be playing at Thanksgiving!

DSO Fanfare!

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This year the Dallas Symphony started off their youth concert series with a program title 'Fanfare!'. It was a look a various brass instruments and difference in the acoustical quality of coiled and uncoiled instruments. The orchestra also demonstrated antiphonal music.

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Fanfare pieces included works by composers Aaron Copland, Giovanni Gabrieli, Paul Dukas, Antonio Vivaldi, Robert Schumann and several others. Because homeschool groups are usually smaller than the magnet schools we are privileged to get the luxurious box seats. So fun!

My kids are good sports!!!

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I have achieved the ultimate mom moment, I have become an embarrassment to my children!!!! Today was opening day for Toy Story I & II in 3-D. I have been looking forward to this! We took Frankie and BJ to see the original one in 1995. Then when Caleb was two the second movie came out in 1999. BJ used to try to stay awake at night to catch his toys awake. Caleb took Woody & Buzz with him everywhere. One time when Caleb went for immunizations, Buzz quit working, the pediatrician wrote a prescription for AA batteries to 'fix' Buzz!!!

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The movies were fun, the conveyor belt sceen in 3-D was well worth admission price!!! All day today when we would get in an elevator, or escalator or an electronic door would open, I would 'oooooh' like the LGMs (Little Green Men).

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Yes, I am even posting a photo of me with no make up, just because Caleb's face is priceless! Another good thing about homeschooling, when your mom is making a goof of herself at the matinee, all of your peers aren't watching!

Go from Growling to Giggling

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.Go from Growling to Giggling is the new slogan for the Fort Worth Zoo! Today was their annual Homeschool Day, filled with lots of animal programs and zoo keeper talks. The day started off with a light rain that really energized the animals. They were fun to watch as they played in the rain. The kids petted everything from longhorns, hogs, chickens, goats to armadillos! The Dallas Zoo has really become a nice zoo, but the Fort Worth Zoo is one of the top 5 zoos in the nation. Yes, Abigail is wearing her Super Girl cape, . . . why, I have no idea. On the way to and from the zoo, we listened to a Jim Weiss audio of G.A. Henty's The Lion of the North.