Athena in a Minivan

Meet LIO

Here is why we homeschool....Lio could be renamed Butch, Sundance or Hopalong.

Thanks to my brother at Sailing or Between Sails.

A new comic strip - Introducting - LIO

This explains why we homeschool. Boys should be cheered for conquering bad guys!!

My brother at

School is out...Let Summer Begin

School is officially over for the year and Butch and Sundance have been promoted to 2nd grade (Year 2 in Ambleside Online).  They started the year not even knowing all the sounds of the letters and now both are reading. We have already started the 2nd grade math book.  We are going to finish some reading, math and free reading this summer (ssshhh don't tell the kids it is school work) I am so proud of the boys hard work this year!!

This summer will be filled with swimming lessons for all boys. Hopalong gets to take "big boy" swim lessons, that is, without Mom in the water with him. He is so excited. Butch and Sundance are taking tennis lesson, choir camp and YMCA day camp. It will be a fun filled summer. I love summer. I was made for summer. I love being outside, swimming, long days, fresh veggies, and a slowed down routine.

My summer will be filled with becoming Sugar Free. WHAT? you may ask. I have been struggling the past 12 months with stalled out weight loss. I just thought I was crazy. I am moody, irritable, binging, and plateaued on weight loss. I have struggled and struggled. I started working out 4 days a week back in January and still have not lost any more weight.  Monday, I had had enough. I bowed my head on the treadmill and cried to God to help me find what was wrong.

Tuesday, a book I had ordered from Paper Back Swap came called Your Last Diet. I read it from cover to cover. It was as if the author had read my mind and knew just what was going on in my head.

I have begun to become sugar free. I am only on Step 1 (adding protein to my breakfast) but I know this is what I had been praying for. I already am feeling more alive and better than I have in the past 12 months. Let the journey begin!!!

The joy of my Mother's Day

Mother's Day is pretty ordinary around here. As I did not become a mother until 34, I heard TONS of mother's day sermons that did not apply to me. I fought three boys into church clothes and kept two quiet during services. I then have duties at church which involves feeding a snack to 10 squirmy children who have just sat through services. I am always late to my class as a result.

My brother is here which is always a treat. We went to lunch and then to the pool which opened last week. We swam with some friends. All the kids have known each other since they were toddlers and they always get along so great. We cooked out hamburgers and watched some TV. A good day was had by all.

The best mother's day present ever...having ones to celebrate it with.

Governor Bill Richardson, Your next President

And as an added bonus...free trips to New Mexico for everyone...ok....not really...but if you've never been there, you should plan a trip there right now!! GO BILL.