Team Gray!

And what did you do with your new car, you ask? Why, thank you for asking! We took it on a 1/4 tank vacation to the Double JJ ranch.

We were only gone a day, yet we were so far from everyday life that it felt much longer. And so refreshing!

I told Curtis that one thing I like about being a large family is that we can stay in cool hotels like this one. We had a loft condo with a full kitchen. There was more than enough room for everyone, and it was very quiet. If there was anyone in a neighboring condo, we didn’t hear them. And there was woods all around, so we didn’t see anyone else, either.

With a water park, golfing, horseback riding, hayrides, even dog sleds, there is a lot at Double JJ to call us back there again.

Homeschooling is ramping back up. The children have auditioned for the years’ musicals. They have signed up for sports and classes.

And I am trying to hunt down their books for the year. Yes, I know I am behind. Yes, I know, I should get kicked out the homeschooling union for that.

Frankly, I’m overwhelmed. There are just too many choices!

I almost wish someone else would choose and buy all the books for me. But that would be school, so nevermind.

It’s already been established that I’m a bad shopper, but this is deeper than that. I read this article last year that summed it up very well. You should go follow the link, but I’ll try to paraphrase what he was getting at. Essentially the illusion of choice just serves to distract us from more important matters.

I totally get that as I work myself into a near panic about which edition of Shakespeare to get for Xay. After reading the basic synopses, it became clear that Shakespeare is going to be hard no matter what. So maybe I should just hope for uniform books, an inspired teacher, and maybe get a discount if I can. Instead I worry that maybe the just right edition will be all Xay needs to comprehend the Bard.

Yanni’s math teacher removed one major source of worry for me. She canceled her class. And I was worried that her choice of textbook was going to be a problem for Yanni. She just got used to Saxon Math last year, and was going to do University of Chicago math this year. Phew. We can go back to Saxon.

Should I be worrying that I’ve failed to find all the books for my two little girls that I plan to teach full-time? And what about their extra-curriculars? Should I sign them up for ballet, or gymnastics, or both? What about the GAMES group, or some other support group with our homeschool organization? Or should I try to build up my own support group instead?

I have so many spread sheets started to help me make these decisions and organize my life. I really don’t have time to write this post.

What do you do to help you make good decisions?

They met 4 years ago. All preschoolers at the time, each was more likely to hide behind Mommy than to cheerfully play together. We kept getting them together. They started getting used to each other. Then Rose and Laurel, twins, had their birthday party. It was August. At a new park. Everyone agreed to wear pretty dresses and explore the wooden play structure together.

Something clicked that day, and the girls have been friends ever since. Yesterday, Rose and Laurel threw their first slumber party. Imani and Joy went to spend the night. For the first time. Not just the first time at Rose and Laurel’s house, but the first time sleeping over at a friend’s house.

They were so excited. Each planned to sleep in their own separate sleeping bag, each doing their best to follow the jungle theme. Joy with the pink leopard print pajamas, Imani with a monkey design. Each had to have the same kind of stuffed monkey to sleep with.

When I dropped them off, all the girls were chasing the various kittens around the house. There are lots of pets at the twins’ house, besides one big brother, and Julie and Mark, the parents.

I got there at 10 the next day to pick the girls up. I didn’t want to make them odious in the face of their gracious hosts. The same little girls that had been running through the house chasing kittens the night before was now quietly coloring at the table. My girls acted as though they didn’t see me, or hear me trying to get them to go. I collected a handful of glitter in the name of goodie bags, located Joy’s toothbrush and hugged my friend goodbye.

“The ice is broken,” Julie announced as I drove away. Let the sleepovers begin!