What’s Up, Doc?

I am going to design a header for our Family History website! I’ve already been thinking about all kinds of cool things to do. It’s going to be fun.

Word on the street is that we’re also going to have a blog on the website! That will be fun, too.

I’ve been tutoring more for tutor.com. You should check it out.

They’re hiring right now in the following subjects:

· Math Subjects
o Algebra 2
o Geometry
o Trigonometry
o Calculus
o Statistics
· Science Subjects
o Earth Science
o Biology
o Chemistry
o Physics
· Humanities
o English and essay writing tutors who can tutor on Sundays and between the hours of midnight and 3:00 AM Eastern time

It takes a little while to complete the application process (you have to take some subject tests, submit a background check, etc). If you have any questions, let me know. I like it.

I have also been running, doing yoga (Namaste!), and doing a crazy workout in the morning (Basic Training style workout – it’s pretty intense, and Danielle is like a Drill Sergeant. Whoa.)

Trying to keep up with my goals and stuff. I was a little lazy today, but I did take the kids to the pool (oh yeah, we go to the pool pretty much every day except Sunday – for obvious reasons – and Monday, because it’s closed). And I took (and passed) the test to tutor Geometry at Tutor.com. I’m going to take the Algebra, Trig, and Physics tests next. Hopefully I can keep up all my math skills. I still want to start teaching next fall. *crossing my fingers!*

So yeah, that’s basically what’s up around here. Just keeping my head above water and trying to swim to the other side. Hopefully getting a tan and building some endurance (physical as well as spiritual) on the way...

...see you on the other side.

Preschool Week 1 - SPORTS

In honor of Spring baseball starting, and the fact that the entire household seems to go outside in the now warm evenings to play catch, I decided that this week should be sports week.

Today – we will go to the library and check out books about sports. These books will be our main source of reading material this week, and it will be my goal to read to Vincente each day. He loves to be read to, and I should really do better about that. Eventually I want to start reading chapter books (the classics – Alice in Wonderland, etc) to him and Joseline, even if they don’t quite understand it yet.

Tuesday – plays sports outside. Hopefully we’ll be able to organize a little soccer game or some kickball or something relatively easy for a little guy like Vince. Luckily his little cousin, Samuel, is here (Sam is about 6 mos older than Vince). Sam also loves to play outside, and his mom is here, so maybe we’ll have some willing opponents ;)

Wednesday - “academics” This day, I’ll print off some “color by number” sheets, counting sheets, etc, and we’ll practice the “sit still at the table and follow directions” activity. Ha ha. We’ll see how that goes! I will not give up! We’ll also gather up balls and count them, and maybe start experiencing “number conservation” (there are the same number of basketballs as there are baseballs, even though baseballs are smaller). We’ll also practice our letters – probably the letter B, since most sports involve a ball.

Thursday – attend a sporting event. This will most likely mean a baseball game. Possibly a soccer game. And we may switch this around to another day, because it mostly depends on when Vince’s uncles have games. (but I’m pretty much sure there is a game every night this week, so we shouldn’t have a problem).

Friday – COOKING DAY! We’ll make home made cracker jacks, and maybe have hot dogs for lunch. And learn the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and maybe some other sports-themed songs.

What are you doing this week with your preschooler? How are you helping your preschooler learn and grow at home? What ideas do you have for a theme for another week?

back to the Y

And the first day of school comes to a close. It was actually really satisfying, even though both of my classes were in the same building - but it was the ESC, which is a pretty cool building. Tomorrow I have four classes in four different buildings. Now, some people may not think this is very out of the ordinary, but for the past year I have had 87.5% of my classes in the TMCB (that is an actual true percentage - I calculated it). This semester, I have only ONE of FIVE classes in the TMCB!! That's crazy! And it's my last math class. Weird. It's like the end is coming or something.

Now I'm going to watch videos of Russ with Vincente. Vince just came up to the computer and saw me on it and reached for the computer saying "A pai?" So I think that's a cue :)

productivity

I felt very productive this weekend. I got my proof written for Number Theory, today I presented a different proof in class, I finished most of my Geometry homework due Wednesday, and I applied for graduation and paid a bunch of random fees (from blue books, test late fees, etc).

So anyway, I feel very productive. The bus doesn't come for about another hour and a half, so I'm going to hang out here in the computer lab and type some stuff for my book. Maybe I'll work on some homework, too, but I have time to do that later! And hopefully, I'll even be able to go for a run this evening! The weather has been really nice. Maybe we'll go on a family run and put Vince in the jogging stroller. Maybe we'll do that for our FHE activity. Who knows, Vince might even fall alseep!!

the first day

So, now I will finally write about the first day of classes, even though it's been two days of classes. I am taking survey of Geometry (taught by a high school geometry teacher) and Number Theory, taught by the cutest British professor.

Both should be pretty easy. And Vincente gets to hang out with our portuguese speaking friend, Emily. I know it's been really good for him so far - he gets to hear another person speak Portuguese, so it's not as hard for him to learn. Anyway, he spends time with her while I'm in class, and then we come home and hang out with O Pai.

I have a feeling this summer is going to be perfect. I love my family, and hopefully we'll be able to grow into a family of four!

Life in General

Things are going well lately. I've been losing my patience the last few days with Vincente making so much noise at night, and it's hard to tell if he really needs me or not, because he's been sick, and he's been making the adjustment to living here with the in-laws. But I think things are getting better. We run a fan in both rooms so we can't hear him as well when he makes noise.

School is going well. My teachers are fabulous, the workload isn't too bad (so far) and I'm getting good grades on what I do, so it's looking like it will be a wonderful term. Plus, Spring Term is sooo relaxed and the small class size makes me feel a lot better about school.

My calling is going pretty well, choir is big and exciting. Everyone always compliments them, so that's good.

So, in general, life is good. And that's how I like it.

goings on in the rowley pad

It's been a while since I've posted. Things are going really well. I am catching up in my math classes (I am 2 homework assignments behind in one class, and a test behind in the other, but I'm taking the test tomorrow, and the two homework assignments will be done by the end of next week, and then I will be caught up. Then there is a test in the other class!


I got a nap in today, which was really nice. I can't even tell you when the last time was that I had a nap. I have been feeling so stressed with school, work, and family. It is amazing to see the hand of the Lord in my life. Here are some examples just from this semester:

At the beginning of the semester, I wasn't able to attend one of my classes because we didn't have anyone to watch Vincente. Then Russ' cousin said she could watch him, just days before the withdraw deadline. I told my professor that I might have to withdraw from his class since I didn't have a sitter. But then, things fell in place, and that has been worked out!


Next, I was struggling a lot in my Partial Differential Equations class. It is a difficult class with a lot of really hard concepts, and while my professor is pretty good, he doesn't help me in the way I need when it comes to questions on the homework. So I started looking for a tutor, I called every tutoring service I could find, emailed every ad that even mentioned any kind of differential equation, and eventually found nothing. Then my professor (who has been very kind and compassionate and thoughtful since the beginning of the semester!) talked to a student in my class who has been doing really well, and asked if he would consider tutoring me. So now I have a tutor (and he's only charging me $10/hr) and it has been AMAZING!

On top of all that, I have been able to manage my time enough to keep the house clean, and play with Vincente, too!

So I am feeling really good about a lot of things, and not as stressed as I've been. I used to be tense and wanted to be working all the time, so napping was out of the question. Vincente sleeping was time for me to get things done! But this afternoon, when he took a nap, I said to myself, "My life is in order, time to take a nap!" And boy did it feel good.

Even if I don't have everything completely done, I feel much more comfortable when I have a plan and I know the plan is going to work, because it has been working.

So anyway, yeah, life is good.

"Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Ether 12:6