Inquisiminds

         A note from Liesel:
  As much as I enjoy homeschooling and I do think it is beneficial for our kids, Molly has missed being around other girls and has requested to go to school.  I don't blame her for seeking out a social network.  We have been very lucky and have many activities where there are boys Dom and Will's ages, but not any for Molly.  As such, in August, I signed her up for a once a week program geared to homeschoolers. She attends for 4.5 hours and gets lessons in art, music, science or history, and literature and has made several friends who homeschool.   Here is her review, I have included the pictures the teachers send home for the day:

  INQUISIMINDS   

                                                          IS AWESOME!!!!      
By, Molly Buschelman. Date, Dec/02/19. For, Writing in school.                                                 HELLO THERE!     

    I'm Molly ( Surprise, surprise.). I am going to talk to you about the MOST AMAZING PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD... Inquisiminds. Yep, Inquisiminds. I LOVE that place! Every Friday, I and few other children are dropped off at 9:00 a.m for THE BEST TIMES OF OUR LIVES!!! Honestly, if you do NOT even like Inquisiminds, then, I am most terribly sorry,but you a sad sad person. Sorry, but it's true. Sadly, on some Fridays we don't have Inquisiminds ( pout, pout)like: Black Friday. Yep, sorry "Black Friday sales" lovers out there,but, Black Friday is my fiercest enemy.Sorry, but it's true (Again? yes person.). 

We usually have literature first, this quarter is about a book (Well, I guess ALL quarters are about books.) called "Island of the Blue Dolphins " by Scott O' Dell. It's about a girl of twelve years of age living alone on an island for a few years because her people leave without her and she must survive all alone. Last quarter, we had a book called "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen  for literature.Thank you Mrs. Julia! Then,second, we have music. I LOVE music. Our teacher is so fun!  I really love that subject.I really love it.Thank you Mr. Pious!

Third, we have lunch. Since the lunch room is not a cafeteria, we have to bring our own lunches (even if it was a cafeteria, I would still have to bring my lunch because my mom, will NOT let me spend money on lunches only I could enjoy. Thumbs up Mom!!). Fourth, we have art. Art is fun because all the time we get to be creative.  Fifth, we have science. Science is really Virginia History so I'll call it Virginia History. We always talk about the Native Americans who live/lived in Virginia (you shouldn't call it ancient Virginia because was 1620 AD really that long ago?). Thank you Mrs. Cheryl!                                                                                                         

Hello again! Now I will to tell you the names of my fellow students!                              Hailey,Whitney,Eli,Jack,Luke,Lizzie,Ike,Maddie,Madison, Calvin, Savanah, Jacob, and Daniel.                  
I want to thank the teachers of Inquisiminds                  for those hours full of fun,education,learning,and more!       THANK YOU TEACHERS OF INQUISIMINDS!!!!!!                                                                                    

                                       

Grocery Trips

I ran into a neighbor at the store this morning.  She has a 2-year-old and was at the store alone.  She commented how it felt like a vacation.   I told her I totally knew what that felt like.  Though they feel a long time ago, those days weren't so long ago.  Back when Molly was a baby, I would have her in the Baby Bjorn and the boys in the cart, rushing as quickly as possible before someone started to cry (preferably not me).  Once Molly could sit up, I had all three in the cart.  We strolled through the aisles a pretty merry party and poor single kids would look on with an air of jealousy. 

These all occurred before I started doing a monthly shopping trip in Florida on the first Saturday of the month.  And I never again had to take multiple kids to the store. I don't believe I ever had to take all four, so John really missed out on that experience.  He's only ever seen me calmly roaming the aisles, not highly strung due to a screaming baby or toddler or diaper situation...while trying to find the combination of products that gave me the break in price advertised.  Perhaps his earliest memories of grocery shopping will be the Sunday morning trips Eric and I took to the commissary while the older kids were in CCD.  Which we counted as a date.  We were dressed up, most of our kids were with someone else,  and we spent money on food ==> Date!

Now, my grocery trips are regularly solo as the kids are old enough to stay home alone for the hour or so it takes to do our shopping.  But, occasionally, one or more will ask to come along.  One such outing was before a camping trip that Will was grubmaster on.  Grubmaster means you shop and cook for your patrol.  I take these as opportunities to show the kids how to comparison shop and stretch the dollars.  As a result, our patrols have food fees much lower than other patrols.  Last spring, everyone else had $15 food fees for four meals...we had $7.

In the above picture, Will is marking the price of a bag of oranges.  Note it is on sale!  Just prior to this, I had tried a grape to see if it was worth buying (because we have had too many bags of grapes go bad that were not ever worth buying).  Will saw me do this and as I turned back to the cart trying to decide, he immediately put the bag in the cart with the comment that since I had done that, we had to buy it otherwise it was stealing.  Good point. That will be a lesson for another day.  The gray area of grocery store ethics.

Going with John generally means we come home with some dollar item (note the dollar in his hand, this time he came prepared, because you can never count on how generous Mom might feel by the end of the trip)

Nearly every trip with John also includes a pineapple

The boys anxiously waiting to see if we had come below budget.  Of course we did.  Will had been keeping track the whole time.  The one swap we made was discounted turkey for ground beef.  I explained that side by side...one would note the difference...but, at night on a campout with everyone hungry, the $2/lb turkey would taste just as good as the $4/lb beef. 

And post camping trip, he said it tasted 'good'  which is pretty high praise coming from Will.  And I believe we came in at least $2 or $3 below other patrols.  I doubt other patrols know they are in a competition with me...but, I am still winning!

So our grocery trips have changed quite a bit over the last 10 years.  Now shopping alone is the norm, and shopping with the kids is the treat.  If you categorize teaching my children the power of comparison shopping as 'a treat'...and I do.  

Happy Birthday, Dominic!

The world gained a new teenager today.  13 YEARS OLD TODAY!!!  Happy Birthday, Dom!  Also, as a side note, I am again glad our children's birthdays are every quarter of a year.  This time, as it forces a blog post...wow...I will strive to do better. 

It has been quite a year for the teenager.  He hiked the Appalachian Trail!  (At least 50 feet of it anyway.  Still Counts!)  He also enjoyed many camping trips with his boy scout trip and participated in a week long camp during the summer.  Which marked the longest I had not seen him since he was 10 months old and Eric and I went to Italy for 2 weeks.  Luckily, he did not forget me this time around. Though he apparently forgot to shower...just kidding. 

He had a fun year of sports with soccer, basketball, track, cross country, and, of course, riding his bike around the neighborhood.  Which means he can now ride his bike to church for activities.  There is a lot to be said for living close to your parish. 

In the area of basketball, he not only brought a lot of energy to his team, he also introduced these Virginians to what it means to be a Kansas fan.  Not sure how they figured out he was a Kansas fan...he is pretty discreet about it.  He also spent a lot of time honing his skill at the Free Throw Line (even on an arctic day with windchills in the negatives) and walked away with the 3rd place trophy at the Knights of Columbus State Free Throw Contest.

Yup...I don't see how they ever figured it out. 

In the spring, all of the men in the house cut their hair as short as it would go without shaving in support of Ben who is dealing with chemo.  We have all kept him in our prayers and Dom never hesitates to ask others to pray for him. 

This was also the year I let him spend his money at a game at Six Flags...hoping for him to learn a powerful lesson in not wasting money...and he won instead.  The experience was immortalized on this blog a few months ago.Written in Dom's own words.

Being a history buff, Dom has loved going on various excursions around our Nation's Capital.  We have visited several Civil War Battlefields and most of the museums.  His appetite to learn more about history as well as the causes of events is insatiable.  Granted, it also is quite likely a delaying tactic for doing the dinner dishes as many a history lesson or political lesson or economic lesson occurs around the dinner table.  Either way, he knows quite a bit and we often quiz him for information.  That and KU basketball game times.  He really is a nice kid to have around.

Dom continues to be little kids' favorite (though Molly is giving him a run for his money).  He seems to always be happy to play with the younger crowd.  At least for a few hours while the parents have some adult interaction. He continues to be one of the most patient and pleasant kids to be around.  Which makes the times he actually gets upset pretty jarring.  Luckily those times are pretty infrequent and generally fixed with time alone (perhaps playing Fifa) and ice cream.  We have also added going for a run.  Which is weird. Right? But, it works for multiple members of the family.  And is apparently backed by some research. 

This summer, Dom was the ideal travel companion as we all traveled to Germany.  I don't know how he manages to always stay positive.  But, he never complained, even as travel arrangements changed at a moments notice.  It was probably the pretzels...and ice cream...and walking miles a day (see earlier paragraph about running)

He welcomed all of the new experiences...well...maybe not the downhill coaster in Oberammergau.  He and I value our lives higher than everyone else, apparently.  Though, he would probably say his favorite thing was eating Bavarian Pretzels every day. 

Or getting to be with extended family in Germany...or visiting the FC Bayern fan shop (Did you see what they did to Tottenham in the Champion's League?!! Ouch!)

John crying about Tottenham's performance over the last couple of weeks

Dom continues to be a pretty good older brother.  Look, he isn't a saint.  But, I do know he tries to do the right thing in 85% of the situations.  He just needs to tweak how he goes about it.  There have been a few too many times when the story goes: "And then Dom sat on me..."  What?  Luckily, he is pretty skinny, so chance of significant damage is minimal.  But, still, I'm pretty sure there is a better way to convince your siblings to do their chores...

Speaking of chores, breakfast chef may be added soon.  He does make some delicious pancakes!  Even if he refuses to add blueberries because he believes they ruin his creations.  These chefs are so tempermental.

This summer, we not only visited Germany, we also got to the midwest to visit our family for a relaxing couple of weeks.  And Dom did not crash the boat.  So that was super awesome!

We also got to see the musical Hamilton as a group.  I don't know which I enjoyed more. Watching the production or the looks of delight on my sons' faces.  Probably the production...but, the delight was a close second.

And while he rode trains with L'Opa, he rode bikes with Grandpa.  And got to keep his Andy Schleck Jersey!  He had a pretty busy summer and was looking forward to spending the mornings in Oklahoma and Kansas watching the rest of the Tour de France...getting to pretend he was actually in the tour: PRICELESS!!

Our lives are getting busier as we try to accommodate everyone's interests and activities.  For a two week period, Dom had soccer, basketball tryouts, boy scouts, cross country, and middle school youth group.  He was wiped out.  He made the basketball team, but we had to decline.  At a certain point, it just gets to be too much and you have to consider what is really important.  It was a hard morning making that decision, but in the weeks since, we have been shown again and again that it was a good one.  But, don't worry!  He has CYO starting up in a few weeks (post soccer season).  He'll still get to be on the court, just not when he had so much else going on.

And one of those bonuses is that he gets to watch October baseball.  I shared it with some of you already, but during the wild card game last week, he convinced Will to stay up to watch the last innings between the Brewers and the Nationals because "Miracles always happen in the 8th Inning".  Sure enough, the Nationals came back to win. Something I learned as the sound of excited feet running up the stairs woke me up.  Same thing happened last night.  Nationals were down in game 5.  They came back to tie and then hit a grand slam in the top of the 10th.  Everyone had gone to bed, but Dom alerted me to something exciting with a shout (he'd previously let me know Nationals had tied the Dodgers). We watched the last 5 outs together.  I really love my Superfan!  I should add, he also helps me out during the NCAA tournament by waking me up for the last 5 minutes of close games.  This Eastern Time Zone is really rough!  So glad we homeschool.

Dear Dominic,
  We are forever grateful you are our son. We love your smile and enthusiasm for the things you love.  Time and again, adults let us know what a great young man you are.  Whether it is because of your willingness to help, be coached, be a good friend, or various causes of World War I, or KU's sports schedule for the next week and their chances of winning.  As the years go by, you mature, but also keep the magic of childhood.  That is a wonderful gift and I hope you never lose it.  You still find enjoyments in playing with your siblings whether it is fighting a skirmish with William, coloring with John (Dom has recently introduced John to coloring sports logos...), or trying to convince Molly that sports are worth watching.  This is a debate you are winning with William...backed by some solid evidence that miracles really do happen in the 8th or 9th or 10th inning.  This may become the most sleep deprived William has ever been in October. 

We hope you have a wonderful birthday and another year of growing and learning about the world around you.  Isn't great that we go to school in a place where every birthday is a holiday?  Time to open those presents!

Love,
Mom

Happy Birthday, William!

 Happy 11th Birthday, William!!  As I went through pictures from the last year, it didn't seem possible some of the events occurred 12 months ago.  They feel so recent.  It has been quite a year.  Just like usual. But, really not the usual at all.

Your year had a bit of everything that makes life great.  Times where you couldn't stop laughing...over something ridiculous.  I love to hear you laugh!

Coming face to face with your nemesis: Sauerkraut!!  For those not aware of his opinion on this: It is the WORST!!!  All smells and tastes are ranked on a scale from "That is GOOOOOOD!"  to SAUERKRAUT disgusting.  Poor fellow, I made it twice this year AND we traveled to Germany.  So, yeah, pretty rough year.

You had a fantastic year in scouting.  Crossing over from Webelos to Boy Scouts was nearly the least exciting.  Camped at Gettysburg!  You camped in a snowstorm and now get to tell future generations how you had to hike back 10 miles with your backpack through 3 feet of snow.  Uphill!  Most of that is true, I used rough estimates on the numbers.  And the thing is, you love it.  You love being outside and hiking and learning skills that will come in useful when the grid goes down.  And I am thrilled, because I will not make it without your help.

You can be pretty serious, but you have a fun streak in you that I love to see come out from time to time.  Reminds me of days long ago (though not that long ago...not, yet!) where you were always doing something mischievous.  You, Molly, and John have great times together.  I love seeing you all still disappear into a world of make believe.  This is added by your love of reading. You have read books faster than I can think of new ones to give you...but, then you just re-read your favorites.  "The Phantom Tollbooth" is a favorite.   We've also enjoyed books together that I have looked forward to reading with all of you including "Where the Red Fern Grows", "Anne of Green Gables", and "Cheaper by the Dozen". I love reading to you and hearing your insight into characters and situations. These don't have to be classics either.  I am grateful that as I pull out picture books to read to John, all of you come running to the couch.  Reading is my favorite activity to do with you.  I am compiling a list of books to read together in the next year and can't wait to get started.

You have become quite a master strategist at games of Risk and Axis and Allies.  Always looking for someone to compete against (Man, do I know that feeling!).  But, you enjoy many other games as well, which I appreciate.  Because I love other games more than Risk and Axis and Allies.  Plus, I'm better at the other games. 

You are currently playing video games as your birthday eve treat and will play them quite a bit on your birthday as well.  Zelda is a favorite.  Anyone surprised? But, I never see you as happy as when you are outside.  Maybe because you are imagining you are Zelda?  You are never the first one to come in on snowy days or the first to want to turn back on a trail.  As much as you love video games, I really do think you would prefer going camping for a weekend to a weekend of video games.  It might be close, but even that is pretty remarkable. And I'll tell you another thing, you are much happier after a weekend of camping than a weekend of video gaming.  Much happier.  And therefore I am also much happier....so you see why I make the rules I do.

This is your 11th birthday, which makes you 100 years younger than Bilbo was at the start of Fellowship of the Ring.  Or the age of Harry Potter in the Sorceror's Stone.  Something tells me this will be a magical year.  One way or another. Even if we don't get a letter in the mail.

I love catching your genuine smiles.  They are the best. You want to share what you are interested in with anyone who will listen.  You have a wonderfully caring heart for your family and friends, but you have learned better in the last year that maybe we don't want to hear a couple hour lecture on your game strategy or every little detail about your latest Zelda expedition.  These are solid life lessons, young man!  It is still a work in progress, but you are conscientious of it...which is saying quite a bit!

The glasses brigade of which you are the founding member.

 This year you learned a few new things.  One was taking programming which I'm eager to see you continue.  You also taught yourself how to solve a Rubiks cube...which makes me want to learn how to solve a Rubiks cube.  And I think you probably made the most progress in learning German in preparation for our trip abroad.  Yet, you can probably guess my favorite new thing: Pre-Algebra!!  I know I said reading was my favorite activity...but working with you and Dom on pre-algebra the last few weeks of our school year was a new highlight in our homeschooling journey.  Maybe it was because I got to write on the mirror with dry erase marker.  Or maybe it was because we would all take the same test and you would get more right than I would.  Or maybe it was just discussing problems that everyone missed and getting to that Aha! moment that every teacher thrills at.  Well, at least this teacher did.  I mean, Math is just the best! (Can I get an AMEN!)

While you don't share imaginary play with Dom (unless you include battles in the backyard), you share many other common interests including boy scouts, reading, soccer, history, ridiculous jokes, beating one another at games, and a disdain for doing chores...but, persevering under threat of severe punishment.  I really hope Molly and John get to the persevering part...

It was a big year for sightseeing, for sure.  We did a lot in our new home.  You and Dom share a love of battlefields (Manassas, Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg...probably forgetting some)....not so much Molly and John, but they dealt well with the situation.  We visited several museums where you tried to read everything...we need to go back.  To all of them.  And we went to GERMANY!!!  Where you and the rest of your siblings made us so proud of how well you handled  all of the stress of traveling.

There was never a time that any of you kids acted like you were anything less than thrilled to be wherever we were.  And you mentioned in the Alps you would like to come back to Bavaria to live for a while. (See earlier paragraph about how much you love the outdoors)

And the Germans have things like Cheese Plate as a dinner option.  That country is AMAZING!!

Plus your name was everywhere!

I saw many genuine William smiles which were aided by the fact you were there with family.  Both immediate and extended. Which I happen to know are your favorite people.  It was a wonderful trip and Dad and I were so thrilled to share it with you.  Everyone enjoyed it, but you in particular enjoyed ALL OF IT!! (ok, not any encounters with sauerkraut...but, those were extremely rare as it turned out)

And finally, you recently headed to Scout Camp for a week and came back smiling and full of stories.  Which is an excellent indication you had a wonderful time (see earlier paragraph of being outside. Use that also as a comparison for how you will feel tomorrow after I let you play video games to your heart's content today..or 9 pm, whichever comes first).

Dear Will,
  We are so incredibly proud of the kid you are and the young man you are becoming.  The next year will be filled with new discoveries and adventures, and not just on the Nintendo Switch.  I know you hate to write, but you write so well.   You have a talent of putting exactly what you mean on paper.  It is unfortunate that so few people can actually read it (note to self...we really need to work on penmanship).

I see you trying to always choose the right thing, even when it goes against what you really want to do.  Of course you fail (like choosing to read a book over cleaning up the kitchen...which you sort of come by naturally, sorry), but you rarely make the same bad choice twice.  Which is impressive.  Granted you may tweak it a bit, but you rarely make the exact same bad choice twice!

There are many things that come easily to you.  But there are many that do not and we will all support you as you work and practice to do them.  You make it easy to help you because you are so willing to work hard.  And you don't give up!  Watching you figure out the Rubiks cube was pretty inspiring (note to self: Make Will clean up kitchen while I practice the Rubiks cube)

We love you so much!  It is hard to believe it has been 11 years since you came into our lives, but it is harder to imagine a world where you didn't exist.  You have made our lives so much better!  And we thank God today (just like every day) that he gave us you.  We hope you have a wonderful morning, day, week, month, and year surrounded by people who love you and will give you at least 5 minutes (don't push that time limit, buddy...we love you, but most things should be told in 5 minutes or less) to listen to your thoughts on whatever happens to be your current pet project.  You are so special to all of us.  Now go beat whatever it is that you have to beat at Zelda, because today is the day!!

Love,
Mom