You Are Your Own Worse Critic

You are your own worse critic seems to run pretty true for most people. However, I do believe that I have found an exception to that rule. AND... it makes me wish that "I" was my own worse critic.

Please note that in my eyes everything is going great. The kids and I are having fun and learning together. At times there are battles, but in my eyes we get through them quickly with very little casualties and move on. I do believe I may be wearing "foggy mommy" glasses.



Last week I am guessing that I was having a fairly bad day. I don't remember thinking "WOW" I am having a bad day. But Spencer (you know the one), kindly informed me before for he and Maggie left for piano that I should have plenty of time to take a nap while they were gone. WHAT? I am pretty sure I can't describe the look he gave but it meant something like this, "You know what I am talking about, right?" That kid always acts like he is doing me a favor when he speaks his ornery little mind.

I wish he was my only critic... But alas this evening after family night I planned on sewing with the kids again. Making animal skin pouches like the Nomads, clever, inventive, fun, and definitely a time sacrifice, as I HAVE BEEN teaching them all day. So sweet little Maggie was called on to give our closing prayer and she nicely asks "Please help us not to make mom mad while she is helping us sew" (MY LB and I shared an open your eyes and smile moment, so special). WHAT? I thought I was patient, VERY PATIENT, considering sewing is "no" easy task to teach elementary students.

So you see here "I" am patting myself on the back, "Well done Christy!" And those darn kids are saying it how they see it. What is that saying? "Out of the mouths of babes." I think I have a better word for "babes", ANYWAY, let's just say I have a few tooooooo many critics living with me.

Mecham's In The News

New Jersey

"Or Bust"

Snow,oceans,and new experiences may be in store for the Moving Mechams.

Our awesome, super, awesome dad was nominated out of seven thousand plus employees, to be part of research at the American Water " H.Q." in New Jersey.

We are still waiting on details to know if the move will happen. Will we move to New Jersey or wont we? More details to come.

S. G. Mecham

Reporter

The Colemans Rock

The Colemans moved from Washington to Arizona. They brought fun and excitement!

There are six cool kids and one yappy dog. We like to play with them.

My dad and their dad have been best friends since they were young.

I am lucky because they have four girls and they really "Rock"!

Maggie "O" Mecham

Reporting

A Stupendous Women

The fabulous Christy Ann Mecham has been interviewed and found to be newsworthy.

Born in Prescott, Arizona, this lovely lady was known to the ones she knows and loves as, "The Gooch". This fantabulous woman was the fifth of six children in her family.

Her favorite memories are, being sealed to her awesome LB, better known as my too cool dad. And the the births of her four super spectacular children, including yours truly.

This super competitive (especially during WII sports), sporty mom is obviously the most fantastic female ever.

G.M.M.N.M.

Junior Detective

Reporting for duty

Out Smarted 4 to 1

I now have three amazing little photographers.

We just finished our photography unit and the kids continually amaze me with their creativity.

Our focus was on digital photography and editing, however we did study the history of photography. The kids enjoyed looking at negatives that I had from "before" the digital camera (they said, "Wow these look old").

We also had the chance to see some of the first cameras ever made at a history museum in Mesa (I said, "Wow those look old").

It was my first unit study that I put together and the kids and I had a great time. I am loving that I can base our studies and activities on things the kids show interest in. Photography opened the door to History, Art, Science and Creative Writing.

Field Trip

We took a field trip to the Sam's Club photo lab. The kids were able to see the machines, watch them load ink and paper, see how computers communicate with each other to pass information, and see photos being printed and sorted.

Here is their photo gallery..... Enjoy!!
( They did all of their own editing)

Capturing.....

shapes and color

Spencer

Maggie

Matthew

nature

Spencer

Matthew

Maggie

People

Spencer

He titled this one "Love Scene"

Maggie

Matthew

We now have original framed photography by these fine artists hanging in our home.

Random Thought

This morning I opened my windows to a beautiful day.

Birds singing songs of happiness...

Rain showers bringing the smell of a fresh new day.....

Outside flowers blooming....

The color green sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.....

Spring Is In The Air

Happy Fall Y'all!

Funny Of The Day

You know that saying, kids say the darndest things? Well, I believe that kids say funny, random, embarrassing, brutally honest things. But it's actually "DADS" that say the darndest things.

Last night after family night I was "done". My body was telling me it is time for a little R&R. So I had a little pow wow with MY LB and headed up to my room to read the last two chapters of my book and get a little shut eye.

I proceeded up the stairs and heard little foot steps behind me so I quickened my pace. As I reached the top stairs I heard the contention begin.

Spencer, that kid always the contention, contention, contention.

In Maggie's words, "He was trying to knock my head off."

Spencer's words, "She got in my way while I was swinging my arms."

And here it is........ DADS WORDS to a very contentious Spencer, "DO YOU WANT TO BRING THE DEVIL INTO OUR HOME?"

I smiled big as I took those last few steps, maybe even giggled a little. As I entered my room I laid down on my comfy bed, adjusted my pillow,closed my eyes for a brief moment and mentally added find a good "Exorcist" to my to do list for tomorrow.

Life Comes At You Fast

I feel like life is zooming by. Of course it doesn't help that everyone around me is growing and changing. How rude people! You are making me feel old.

My Niece had a baby!

I am a "Grand Aunt"

Of course that makes my beloved sister a "Grandma"

And my much loved mother a "Great Grandma"

Life Comes At You Fast!

Good thing it has been such an awesome ride.

Out Smarted 4 to 1 - Adventures in Home Schooling

I have been busy!

For the past year we have been home schooling with an online public charter school. This made it easier for mom. I knew exactly what we were going to work on, all of the supplies were sent right to my home with no effort on my part, all of their curriculums were grade level and preselected by the school, except for the execution of the lesson plan it was virtually effortless on my part.

So why did I decide to go off on my own and do all of the work myself? We weren't having fun! Should school be fun? Can learning be fun? When I was after schooling the kids they would come home from a full day at school and be excited to learn more during after schooling. Crazy! There ambition to learn and the fun we were having was one of my biggest draws to home school. So why weren't we having fun? Why were the kids complaining every morning? AND WHY were we taking so many darned practice pre-test for the AIMS? We had entire curriculums made up of AIMS style testing so they would be prepared. How many bubbles can a kid fill in before he has had ENOUGH?

I have been busy!

Busy studying home school curriculums, ordering materials, making lesson plans, lesson schedules, note books, preparing unit studies, and figuring out ways to make learning fun. I am excited to be finished planning and knowing that my supplies are on there way. In the mean time we have still been working on school, finishing up our AZVA units and beginning some of our own unit studies.

Something to blog about....

Because I have been so busy I have nothing to blog about. How boring! However, I decided that instead of starting a home school blog I am going to take my awesome title that I came up with, "Out Smarted 4 to 1", and use it as a title for our home school posts. We are also going to start a little newspaper blog entry once a month. I have selected an awesome team of journalists to report on the going ons of our household. It should be interesting.

Sorry for the delay in posts but I should be up and running again now. Maybe I will even start Miserable Monday again. Something to look forward to.