Tuesday, October 27, 2009

It Doesn't Take Much...

Today was a new day in the ole Clark Homeschool. A day I have been wishing for and waiting for a long long time. A day my kids wondered about and longed for.

I purchased an electric pencil sharpener.

I broke down and bought one. For years I have just bought the little plastic sharpeners. It just went against my frugal ways to spend money on an electric sharpener when I had three children who had the ability to turn a pencil clockwise a couple of times. But hey~guess what? If you can't find the little pencil sharpeners or you try to sharpen a crayon or a pen or anything else your toddler finds to sharpen in it you will find they break in a heartbeat. And its bad when you can't find any sharpened pencils in your house and you have three homeschooling kids.

This morning we excitedly opened our pencil sharpener box. We hurriedly installed the batteries. The kids begged over who was going to get to sharpen the first pencil. And then little sweet Abbie reached over~picked up the blunt useless pencil~held her little hand over the opening~and slowly inserted the pencil into the sharpener. A quick buzzing sound and then quiet. Would it work? Would we be disappointed yet again at with our pitiful pencils?

Victory!!!! The sharpest prettiest little yellow #2 pencil you have ever seen! I immediately began to sing "We Are The Champions" and the kids cheered. All the kids~including James~took their turn and in no time flat we had enough sharpened pencils for a small country. We were ready to conquer the books. Ready to write amazing essays well beyond our years. Ready to show fractions and long division who was boss.

Now some of you may doubt that this actually happened. But it did. There were four witnesses~and just because one can't talk very well doesn't matter. He knows what he saw. As Abbie reached for another pencil and happily began to sharpen its little blunt end~she took a small breath and quietly began to sing... "Don't Stop Believing..."

And a little tear rolled down my cheek.
We can move forward with Clark Academy now. We will not be swayed.


Goodness~I just don't know who they get all their dramatics from? ;)

16 comments:

  1. I have a pretty good idea where they get their dramatic leanings.

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  2. LOL! We just bought our first battery powered pencil sharpener too. We love it!! I got so tired of hearing..."mom, my pencil isn't sharp." And we also lost the little sharpeners.
    Thanks for sharing, we're singing along with you.heehee
    Blessings, Fine Linen

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  3. Congratulations on your purchase !!
    I am still laughing - There is still so much joy in the little things. BTW - we have two (2) electric pencil sharpeners - one upstairs in the school room and one downstairs in the Kitchen. Sharp pencils make me happy !

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  4. I've been toying with the idea of getting an electric pencil sharpener for a while now. All the little plastic ones are so flimsy and nobody wants to use them. Maybe soon...

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  5. That part about the little plastic sharpeners was sounding VERY familiar, Wendy! I finally did it too! At the beginning of this yr, I broke down and went electric as well! Ain't freedom grand?

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  6. Hilarious! I wish I could have been there. If I had only known I could have saved all that money on presents...

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  7. What do you mean losing all those great pencil sharperners I bought for 5 for a dollar? This is a momentous day. Can't wait to hear what Mollie has to say about this.

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  8. LOL - that's hilarious! I can't imagine homeschooling without one - I would have gone insane!

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  9. Um...Wendy? Listen honey, I know you've been working really hard lately, and under a lot of stress, but I'm here for you. When the nice white van arrives with that specially tailored jacket just for you - please get in quietly and go with them. They're nice men, and they have a wonderful little room ready for you...

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  10. I just bought a huge box of presharpened pencils and when one dulls, we [insert lowered voice]throw it away...I know so awful. I guess now we can just come over and borrow yours.

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  11. LOL! I am so glad to finally meet another mama who understands the angst and agony of finding a pencil sharpener that WORKS!
    Amy @ Raising Arrows

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  12. Okay, I've actually used a hand-me-down electric pencil sharpener which was pretty pitiful. I hated it so much I finally threw it away because even the bargain pencil sharpeners did a better job! So you will have to enlighten me--which brand did you buy because if I'm going to plunk down $10 or so it had better last about a decade!?

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  13. Congrats on the electric pencil sharpener. I have had one for several years now. I won't go back... I won't go back.....

    I know that you and the children are thrilled! And there will never again be an sharpened pencil in your house. :D

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  14. How precious! It is the simple things in life that makes everything so much fun!

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  15. Too funny! That's so fun that you all got into the spirit of it!

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