thejoyofsix

Round Up Of The Week

2011-06-17T17:48:00.002-05:00

A fun but busy week. If I thought things would be slower post Bible school I was wrong.

L did basket weaving, hemp jewelry and crochet classes. She also took a placement test to see if pre-algebra is where she needs to be next year. She also filled up her library summer reading sheet. She also worked concessions at the ball park.

F-man did a bowling class on Wednesday and of course did vision therapy daily. He also did math, Writing Strands and read, read, read. Yeah!

Miss Mel-she did bowling with F-man along with dance. Math, LA and reading happened and baseball of course.

Miss Ads is quickly working her way through Before Five In A Row books and did dance.

Don't think it's all work though...lots of swimming, playing, friends and ice cream have been enjoyed too.

Week #2

2011-06-13T05:29:00.002-05:00

Well, we went from humid, hot August like weather back to cool, sunny May weather. Both of which are fine but it's June. Probably not much swimming this week. Here's what we do have
L-crochet, hemp jewelry and basket making. She's also working concessions at the ball park and orthodontist Thursday.
Miss Mel-two baseball games and bowling and dance on Friday. We'll start CLE math 204 and we're still working on first grade LA
F-man-the boy is lucky enough to have lots of friends in town and at 10 they are all old enough to go off on their bikes. He will also do bowling with Mel. He will continue Math 407, Writing Strands and library reading.
Miss Ads-dance on Friday and listening to library books.

The older kids continue running, dentist appointments and hanging out.

Great

2011-06-12T18:50:00.001-05:00

What perfect weather today-sunny and 75! We walked all the Bible School kids between 4 churches to sing. The girls hung out with me while the boys went to see Super 8. I made a fire and we made pudgy pies and s'mores and played badminton. Not a bad summer day.

Rain-Oh Surprise

2011-06-10T06:29:00.002-05:00

After a horribly wet May we've had some scorching days but today it's pouring again. I feel so bad for the farmers not to mention my own water logged garden. Luckily today's plan didn't include mandatory sun. The little two have Parks Dept. Dance classes and L has her last drawing class this morning. We'll fit school around that. Yesterday while I was gone Miss Mel did what she thought was her lesson. It was the unit test. She missed one question so I guess we can move on to the next unit! Tonight is the last Bible School. They've done a good job. F-man didn't want to go but by last night 4or5of his buds were there too. If you can get 10yo boys interested you've done a good job.

Summer Day 2

2011-06-09T05:54:00.002-05:00

I can't imagine I'll remember to make daily posts, but this will hopefully let me look back in August and remember we did do more that sit around.

Today's Line Up
deliver kid who stayed all night after Bible School
Mel~math and LA lesson, read 30 minutes
F~man~math, writing strands lesson, read 30 minutes, vision therapy

F-man will go to Bluffton MMO with me to hang with a friend while Lily is at drawing class. The weather is gray and drizzly today instead of 100 degrees so we may bake this afternoon. We might fit in a game of science trivia too. Mel has a baseball game scheduled tonight but it's not looking good for that. The day could change though. We also have night 4 of Bible School. They have had fun but it runs until 8:30 which has made for a cranky Ads. We're early to bed, early to rise people. Can't help it.

Summer!

2011-06-08T05:43:00.002-05:00

Even though everyone was done with school by the end of May this week feels like the first week of summer. Last week was sort of a long weekend where I let them gorge on TV and computer and video games. This week is different. For starters I've declared no TV between 9 and 4 unless it's history or science. That mollified the older kids who watch that stuff for fun and earned me a rare temper tantrum from the 7 yo. She's the one most likely to sit in a Nickelodeon stupor so mission accomplished. So far since the heat has zoomed into the mid-nineties that means lots of reading and hanging out in the kiddie pool for the 7 and 3 yo. The 10 yo takes off with his friends and mostly just reappears when the pack of "dudes" gets a hankering for a Popsicle. I love he can do that in our bitty town.

There is still learning going on. We are working through math, grammar and reading each morning. F-man is also trying Writin Strands. He is working hard on his vision therapy. Next week is his 8 week evaluation. I feel there has been improvement. We are taking full advantage of free programs this summer. The library reading program of course, which includes a story/craft time for littles and other activities for the older kids. L is taking a drawing class through the parks dept this week. We'll be picking her up, having a picnic and going swimming today. I've got to make a trip to the "big town" worth it. Actually after pricing art/drama classes the gas to drive her to free classes is a bargain. The youngest three are also going to Bible School this week ( I'm helping with snacks) and L is helping to corral the pre-schoolers. Lastly we are still playing soccer and baseball. I've booted the yard work to the teen boys and Emma is taking classes and working. The first one who tells me they are bored gets sold to the carnival.

Um, ok ....

2011-04-22T15:02:00.002-05:00

We'll just ignore that three month gap. Suffice it to say life has gone on, we are busy, school has been going well and seven older kids are easier than littles in some ways and harder in others. Our biggest news school wise is that I took a deep breath and spent actual money for a curriculum. I've decided we will all benefit from a year that doesn't include mom cutting out down to the basics once winter hits. We get plenty of academic work done but fun is important too, KWIM? I've chosen Heart of Dakota Bigger. Miss Mel needs to be the focus for a change. She has tagged along with F-man her whole school career. He will do extension pack activities. Another read on for the change is F-man and his eyes. He will be having vision therapy 1xweek for the next ten months. That'll mean 3hours out of our day every Tuesday. We will also be doing therapy at home daily. Miss Ads will start pre-school in September and I'd like to spend a little more time with her the other days of the week doing story time at the library and learning very casually at home. Miss L will also be home next year, which won't require too much from me (for 12she's pretty directed and responsible) but it will change the dynamic during the day and I for see some adjustment. And then there's scouts, cubs, carefree, daisies that I somehow end up leading or co-leading and sports and piano, band, choir, the girl's wanting to do another play... Oh, and cooking and laundry and my poor dh who actually likes my attention too...I just think a year with no planning worries will benefit us. If I can go with the flow.

Week #21~Cookie Edition

2011-01-28T15:18:00.006-06:00

I apparently didn't take one stinking picture this week. That's because
Yep, Girl Scout cookie time. I've got two scouts sellingand evidently both troops mistakenly think I'm good with this sort of thing so I've been banking and selling and delivering and sitting with girls doing all of the above

It's also We love scouts of all kinds but it can be overwhelming. I am NOT going to the Klondike Derby next weekend. I just can't fit it in. We've also got play practice and basketball games.
We did manage to do some school.

Miss Mel finished her reading primers and moved into the 'big' story book. She is thrilled. She worked on more math facts. We learned about plants and seeds in science and she and I read Dr. Doolittle and Raggedy Ann & Andy.

Fman is working on decimals, mixed fractions and dividing with remainders. He read some of Baldwin's Fifty Famous Stories Retold. In history we finished the Revolutionary War. We enjoyed

. We finished the read aloud Toliver's Secret and he read
Paul Revere's Ride. He read about oceans for science. I let him pick the topic this week and that was his choice.

Week #20

2011-01-21T11:08:00.006-06:00

Well, I've been off the posting band wagon because nothing we've done has had any pictures or been especially interesting but if I don't get back on the band wagon I won't at all (d*mn Facebook almost makes blogging pointless).

Our big news is that Miss Mel and L have gotten parts in the local production of

They have never even tried out before so I was shocked. Miss Mel is a mouse and L is one of the step-sisters.
What else? Miss Mel began piano lessons so I'm thinking her performing arts are covered. F-man had no interest in either but he is all prepared for the Pinewood Derby so I guess we can count woodworking among his skills.
The weather has been crazy which hasn't helped our outdoor time. Monday it shot up to 40 and the snow melted. Wednesday we had ice, ice, ice and we couldn't get out. Last night it snowed and now we're back to about 4 inches.We did get out to the spot we're observing in all four seasons. Today is -12 so that may be it for the week.
We also began . So far so good. I just wanted an easy introduction to Latin to add to our Spanish study. F-man will begin studying Latin in earnest in June. Otherwise we're just chugging along through grammar, reading and math. We're sort of stalled in history at the revolution right now because it's interesting. I plan on moving on next week though. We still are reading Toliver's Secret aloud. F-man read Aaron and the Green Mountain Boys, This Time Tempe Wick and The Bears on Hemlock Mountain this week. Science is still scattered. I just can't find something they like so we'll just go on researching things as we find interest.
The older kids are all fine. J-term is almost over for E and then she'll start second semester. High school is high school for the boys. L is the lucky one this week. Not only did she win a part in the play but she received a Kindle for having the highest lexile at the school. I'm still not clear on who donated this or why she was chosen. The principal has not returned my e-mails. I guess I just won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Oh, and it's Girl Scout Cookie time. Ack! See I told you we didn't have much to report. I need to get out the camera.

Solstice

2010-12-21T19:22:00.002-06:00

The Shortest Day
by
Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.

Week#17~Lookin' Like Christmas

2010-12-10T06:22:00.008-06:00

Long time no blog. Frankly we took the week of Thanksgiving off and everything else was rather a long trudge. Nothing to take pictures of and I'm sure you don't want a list of tests/quizzes/readings. Now I've got some fun pictures!

Fman~He is finishing up math right on time and will start the 400 level after Christmas. He's moving nicely through LA and Reading.

Miss Mel~She hit the half way point in CLE math early so we're using some MEP and Rightstart until the 'new' semester. She is in the last unit of Learn to Read. She's excited that she'll get to move to a 'big book' with a hard cover. Oh joy, LOL.

It's been unusually cold so far this month. We still get out but when it's 7 degrees you don't stay long. The Wii is filling in for activity we're missing.

Spanish~We finished up co-op for the year. We had a little fiesta that was fun. The kiddoes will be practicing with BBC spanish games and Tumblebooks read to them in Spanish. (Thanks to the library, oh yea!)

We made a trip to see Santa of course.

We even hung out with the elves. Note the one on the right is her sister. She was thrilled to find out her sister knew Santa personally.

History~We finished with the New England and Middle Colonies. Hopefully we can finish the Southern Colonies next week. I plan on watching The Liberty Kids over Christmas for history.

We took an evening to go to a local church that had A Night in Bethlehem. One of the very nice people let Mel try to weave. Miss Ads was worried about the tax collectors and kept telling people to stay away from "the bad man who wants your golden coin."

Science~We did a quick unit study on bears and animals that aren't really bears that we call bears. Fman decided he liked polar bears best and Miss Mel liked pandas.

Yesterday was the best part of the week, at least for mom. We went to the I like the ballet and the girls were liking it but Fman wasn't as impressed.

We also got a new Life Scout. The Court of Honor was followed by a gag gift Christmas party. Here he is with his friends goofing off with their presents.

Tonight friends are coming over and we're scheduled to go to a swimming party. I sincerely hope it makes them very, very tired. Mama must get some gifts wrapped and cookies baked or the festivities may stop here.

And Now For Something Completely Different

2010-12-02T06:04:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to share this free movie list. There's great stuff on here if you (like me) have eclectic taste in movies. Film noir, French films, early German films, short films, Oscar winners and Cary Grant (which is always a good thing.) Oh, and Monty Python!

Week #14~We Need A Break Addition

2010-11-17T09:43:00.010-06:00

Four more weeks to the half way point! Yeah! Though we work all year but technically you get what I mean. This week just seemed to be a slog. Nothing horrible but a grumpy mom and poky children resulted in something like this

F-man~He got a 98 on a LA test which is awesome. LA is, well let's say it's far from his favorite subject. We're at the halfway point in his LA books so right on schedule there. Math is going well. He totally has his multiplication/division down. We're finishing up a reading book he started last summer and then we'll go back to his CLE reading.

Miss Mel~We're pushing to get her LTR books done so we can start her reading textbook in Jan. That is my fault because I think they cram an awful lot into one lesson. Of course if we're not right on target it's not a crisis. How many PS teachers are off their syllabus too? Math is fine though I'm trying to add in more math games for fun.

History~We're still working with the Pilgrims. We've spent a lot of time on day to day life so they get a better sense of what things were like and not so much time on dates. This site has really given us fun stuff to do and a quiz to boot. We've also been watching videos from various places and doing the Magic Treehouse study guide. This was the favorite book of the week

Of course we've done umpteen art projects and crafts and a thankfulness tree.

Science~Insects were the topic of the week. Along with our science book we used this site from the University of Illinois. There's lots of other stuff there. We also watched

We finished up insects and watched the Magic Schoolbus Bugs and played this game.

In addition to our co-op Spanish we've been watching these programs from GA public television. They are extremely well done and are a nice complement. Of course there were lots more art projects and walks and read alouds but I'm to tired to remember them or go take pictures now. Here's to next week and only having two days in the schedule.

Week #13

2010-11-12T10:04:00.006-06:00

We spent last weekend at Pokagon State Park camping with my older boys Boy Scout Troop (thus no time to post last week's review). We had a great if chilly time. We totally enjoyed their bird watching window and nature center full of interesting things to touch and lots of animals. Of course we also hiked (PE) , cooked s'mores (home ec) and played games (taking care of that negelcted socialization).

We've used this handout this week to research all the birds that come to the nature center window.

On the academic front

F-man~He finished another LU and began math 309. We started in 305 so he's moving right along and will be ready for 402 after Christmas. He also started a new LA LU. FOr reading we've been using a vintage Open Court Reader A Trip Around the World which is full of good literature bits and geography to boot. He also completed a 5 paragraph report on praying mantids. I hope to do a report on something weekly to build his shaky writing skills. He rocks the history and science so I hope to make those the topics to make the writing palatable.

Miss Mel~She finished CLE 105 math and is ready to start 106 so she's basically done with her first semester of 1st grade. She's way ahead in Learn to Read too. I think she would be bored in public school but I know she misses the kids. She goes to Daisies, Kid's Klub, HS Spanish and PE and goes to Boys&Girls club afterschool programming and she still wants more kid contact. I think unless she lived in a dorm she would feel it wasn't enough. Quite the people person Miss Mel.

History~I structured it so that this week and next we are studying the Pilgrims. Here are just some of the things we're using

Science~We've worked with the above mentioned birds and also studied insects. We've also experienced them as all the nasty Japanese Beetles have woken up in the Indian Summer we've been having. Of course that same Indian Summer has let us be outside at parks and the reservoir so I can live with a few insects.

What would first grade be without art projects too? F-man has no interest in this stuff, much preferring to go build something out of legos but Miss Mel has made turkeys galore and this pilgrim mouse and cornucopia. The mouse goes along with our viewing of The Mouse on the Mayflower.

We also went to L's Veteran's Day choir and band concert. For family viewing here's a very short video. She's the one with the dark hair right above the director's head.

Thank You Veterans

2010-11-11T17:20:00.001-06:00

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

Week #11~Pumpkin Fever

2010-10-29T10:40:00.014-05:00

The week started off with my dad's 83rd birthday party on Sunday. That's a high point right there. I hope I'm as full of p*ss and vinegar as the old man is when I'm that age.Monday was our 24th anniversary. Phil's sister sent us these beautiful flowers.Monday and Tuesday were normal days. We did school, starting new light units for math and LA. Monday before the weather turned ugly we visited a local pond.

We continued through the week with our science unit on pond habitats and studied pond plants, the life cycle of dragon flys and mosquitoes and how beavers change an environment.

We also had Daisy and Cub Scouts and went swimming Monday night. Tuesday we had some kind of weird gale force winds (tornados in the area) and rain and so I was glad we went Monday.

When planning last week I totally forgot we had a field trip planned for Wednesday. We went to a pumpkin patch with a group of local homeschoolers. It was a very good trip. We had an explanation of how pumpkins are planted and grow along with some cute poems and finger plays for the littles along, a hay ride,
time to pet the donkeys and goats,

several games, a hay maze,

a corn maze, a pumpkin bounce house and oh yes, we got a pumpkin.

As much fun as that was it put us a day behind and then Thursday dawned with the dead. The tummy bug dead and that shot down Thursday. The only thing that got done was them listening listlessly to this

We are going to continue our study of Jamestown next week because we just didn't get it done this week.

Luckily today everyone felt better. We did our regular work (two days behind but oh well) along with some special Halloween/pumpkin activities.

They tested whether pumpkins, apples, lemons and grapes sunk or floated. They estimated circumference and length of pumpkin vines and then figured out how to measure those items with curves using yarn. They listed all the things they could think of that pumpkins can be used for and completed a Venn Diagram comparing apples and pumpkins. We also played Halloween matching game, wrote about our trip and created some paper mosaic art.

Tonight is our town's local Scarecrow Festival and we have three friends coming to spend the night. Saturday dh and I are going out with friends and we've also been invited to a Halloween party and Sunday is church, youth and trick-or-treats of course. I'm thinking I will need next Monday to recover.

Week #10~Birthday Fun

2010-10-22T12:25:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday my kids participated in a homeschool science fair. There were 10 entries which isn't bad for the first year trying it. At least I exposed my kids to the scientific method.
Wednesday the big news was that Mel turned 7. SEVEN! Eeek! Here we are having her chosen supper of frozen pizza.

We also had cupcakes with our friends at Kid's Klub at church. We didn't have a real party because we'll be going to celebrate a combo grandpa/Mel birthday Sunday. Her big present is we are going to go see Cinderella on stage Saturday.
In school

Fman~

Math~He worked with graphs and division and aced his math quiz.

LA~He did lots of sentence conventions, quotations and paragraph writing involving transition words and describing a process. He wrote on making a peanut butter sandwich and taking a shower.

History~We discussed LaSalle and Sir Walter Raleigh and Roanoke Island

Science~We did pond habitats. We studied cattails, dragonflys and beavers and did a dragonfly lapbook.

We worked on the world's ugliest Halloween House. The icing was too runny so

We ended up with something like this.

Miss Mel ~

Math~She took a LU 104 test and got a 94%. She missed two she knew. Not sure if she wasn't paying attention or what.

LA~She began primer 3 in LTR and worked on sentence ending punctuation

Science&History~She does the same thing as F-man

She also did a blue million crafts and played train with Miss Ads

Not to mention worked on her engineering skills.

The older four continue to be busy. E is working three jobs and keeping up A's as of her college mid-term. The high school boys each had all A's for the 9 weeks. L had one B+. She sure got kidded about being the 'dumb' one in the family. She is going to a middle school dance tonight. Luckily she's in student council so will have to spend time taking tickets, thus cutting into possible boy time.

I Am This Crotchety Guy

2010-10-15T11:45:00.001-05:00

Week 9~Break

2010-10-15T09:47:00.003-05:00

After last week this week seems, well , anticlimactic. A tummy bug went through the house one at a time so that slowed us down. We finished up LU, took tests and are taking Friday off for 'Fall Break'. We completed our science fair project for tomorrow's science fair. Halleluja! We read tons. We finished Justin Morgan Had A Horse and read through some Ambleside Online selections. I think we've finally finished conquistadores and can move on to Roanoke and Jamestown next week. We did some picture study on this

The kids also did Spanish, PE and art class along with a boatload of crafts at home this week. That's it. A sort of slow, simple week but it left lot of time for being outside

Week #8~Memory Rich, Picture Poor

2010-10-08T14:04:00.008-05:00

A busy week this week but I couldn't seem to remember to bring a camera anywhere.

Fman~ He worked on division which he felt like made perfect sense along with some geometry. We finished his second Light Unit (workbook) in Reading and he got a 95% on his test. He had a LA test too. He got a 93% and was darn happy with that. Grammar is not his friend.

Miss Mel~ Math was just more facts and reading graphs. She looked at me like I was stupid when I explained them. I could hear the mental "Well duh, mom" Reading moved on and she is really doing quite well. She still thinks phonics is boring though.

History~We continued to study the conquistadores and added in John Cabot. There's a lot to cover there.

Science~Not a very sciency (is that a word) week. Our mold is not growing well. We did a lot with hibernation/migration and why we have Fall and leaves.

In the afternoons we did a unit study on

We talked about the life cycle of a pumpkin, Fall, Indiana crops, who James Whitcomb Riley was, dialect, meter and all sorts of other things. We don't do many lapbooks but we did this time.

We worked with pastels and drew pumpkin patches too but they are too heavily pasteled to scan.

We spent today here

We crawled in wigwams and lean-tos, watched people skin animals, re-enact the battle, talked to trappers and pirates and used a two person saw. I just didn't think I could keep the three of them out of a fire or hatchet range and take pictures too.

L finished her cross country season. Sorry for the poor picture quality, I'm not sure what happened there.

C finished his high school soccer season. Suddenly it seems like we have loads

of time. It won't stay that way for long.

Week #7

2010-10-01T06:15:00.007-05:00

What happened to week #6 you ask? Life. Lots and lots of life. But on to the past week.

LA~

Fman worked through diagramming sentences and paragraph writing. Make that good paragraph writing.

Miss Mel doesn't like it much but we continued with phonics. She thinks that the fact she can read well means she doesn't need it but I think she does. And I win!

Math~

Fman worked more with decimals. He is doing really well with CLE but we added in some MEP logic type problems and worked in RS too though D is seeming mostly like review.

Miss Mel catches on really fast to math so far. I'm thinking of adding some MEP stuff for her too just for fun.

History~We have been studying all of the early explorers, conquistadors and the people they found here. Here they are grinding corn ala the Aztecs.

If the Aztecs hunkered down in the shade with rocks that formerly lined the driveway. It gave us a chance to talk about grit and our teeth too when I refused to make said cornmeal into muffins.

Science~

We continued looking at cells and also worked hard on learning the scientific method. We began tentative work on our science fair projects. For fun we did nature walks since who knows when it will turn cold and ugly. Might be next week, might be in 8 weeks. Who knows? I say why miss a nice day.

Miss Ads kept arguing these aren't cat tails because there are no cats. Three year olds are very concrete. Or she's channeling Elton John.

This is the outfit she insisted on wearing everywhere. Spanish, PE, the grocery, Cub Scouts. Evidently this is her version of the little black dress.

A good week overall. Much quieter than last week when I spent all my time working at the Boy Scout Parking Lot during Street Fair. They better really like camp.

Week #5 Whew!

2010-09-17T13:17:00.008-05:00

This week seemed really long. It wasn't just me, the kids keep saying they are tired too. Next week I have 'Fall Break' scheduled on Thursday and Friday. It can't get here soon enough. Ok, what have we done. Let's shorten this. The kids worked on in their LA, Reading and Math books and it's all good.

History~We read about Leif the Lucky and Vinland from several sources and made Viking shields.

Science~We continued working with cells and plants. We also spent a day on chemistry studying filtration, mixtures and evaporation. We mixed salt and sand in water.

We filtered it and low and behold the sand came out, but where's the salt? Look, it was there all the time.

We skipped ahead to Week #6 of our Weefolkart Harvest Time pre-school curriculum to read about Johnny Appleseed and apples in general. That's because we took a field trip to the orchard on Thursday. No pictures of the actual apple picking because older dd had my camera for her college lab class.

To finish the unit we made apple prints on fabric squares I hope to turn into a lap quilt. We'll see how that goes.

Week #4 in Review

2010-09-10T13:40:00.009-05:00

Birthdays were observed over the last holiday weekend. No one cared that they were late since we had time to enjoy them.

School wise I feel like we've hit our groove. No melt downs and minimal whining this week. Yeah! The weather was spectacular. I'm sure we'll pay for that at some point so we finished our leaf books and generally spent tons of time outdoors. If I point out the names of all the weeds we hike by it's nature study, right?

Fman~

LA~got an 88% on his grammar quiz but he's never going to love grammar so we're going with it

Math~97% doing happy dance, it was continued story problems, multiplication/division and decimals

History~finished Native Americans, I asked him if he wanted to make a diorama. He was not into it so I let it go. He told me all about what he learned and that was good enough for me. I don't test in history or science so a narration/explanation works. We did make dream catchers this week.

Science~here's a shock, we're off topic. We were doing chemistry but L is making a cell model for school so he wanted to learn cells too. He's learned about structure and organelles. We're going to touch on DNA/RNA next week and I'll have him make a cell model too.

Spanish~class starts Monday so we've been reviewing

He also spent time putting together a new lego set and this dinosaur. It's a deinonychus so I'm told.

Miss Mel~

LA-more punctuation and the use of is/are. She's doing really well. Her reading is coming along great and she reads words I'm shocked she can read. Of course then she'll have to sound out sunset or something but that's ok.

Math-added facts 3+4 and 5+2, and graphs

History-same as Fman

Science-I didn't think she was ready for the endoplasmic reticulum so she's been studying plants, plant parts and plant life cycle. She also took part with Miss Ads in Weefolk Nursery School and enjoyed the stories. She also spent lots of time doing some new puzzles I got.

Her biggest accomplishment as far as she is concerned is losing a tooth. She must have teeth with roots to China. She will be 7 in October and it just came out.

Miss Ads~we've begun using http://weefolkart.com/content/harvest-time-preschoolkindergarten-curriculum. This week was vegetables. We read Tops and Bottoms, The Vegetables We Eat and The Turnip. She is young for this but likes picture books and got that veggies grow in the ground and we eat different parts.

Week #3 in Review

2010-09-04T06:16:00.007-05:00

I need to start taking more pictures of actual educational activities.

Math~

Fman-worked through some simple division, decimals and took a LU quiz. He got 99% Woot!

Miss Mel-learned the new facts 5+2=7 and 4+2=6. Did lots of place value with the abacus and generally thought math was easy

We enjoyed the tail end of summer. Monday and Tuesday were downright hot. We enjoyed the splash park almost all by ourselves.LA~

Fman-took the LU test and got 93%. He also wrote a friendly (it was supposed to be friendly but his mood made that iffy) letter. We've moved on to paragraphs.

Miss Mel-continued in LTR at a blistering pace. She could probably jump ahead but I don't want to push. She has mastered the period and question mark.

We enjoyed picnics too.

History~we continued our Native American studies. We compared woodland, plains and Pacific coastal tribes. We made totem poles (which I can't find to photograph). We read many, many library books on the topics. We also made cardboard (birchbark) canoes.

Science~I was gifted an AO Lifepak 4th grade science set. The first unit is plants so we finished that (Miss Mel listening in) and worked on identifiying tress in our area. We started a leaf book. We identified the leaves and made crayon rubbings of them too. We talked about what each tree is used for. Miss Mel also listened to the story The Class Leaf Project.

Some of us lay down and thought deep thoughts.

Read Alouds~Fman and I finished The Birchbark House. He didn't like it. Oh well. We also listened to a Cherokee storyteller on Teacher Tube tell some traditional stories which was cool. Miss Mel grudgingly sat through some House at Pooh Corner to get to her obsession with Junie B. Jones

Some of us didn't think such deep thoughts.
Extras~We did paintings in the style of Mondrian, had soccer practice, went to L's cross country meet, went to the older boys' Court of Honor and generally kept very busy.

Why We Spend So Much Time Outdoors

2010-09-02T05:54:00.001-05:00

3. The World is certainly a great and stately Volume of natural Things; and may be not improperly styled the Hieroglyphicks of a better: But, alas! how very few Leaves of it do we seriously turn over! This ought to be the Subject of the Education of our Youth, who, at Twenty, when they should be fit for Business, know little or nothing of it.

4.We are in Pain to make them Scholars, but not Men! To talk, rather than to know, which is true Canting.

William Penn

September

2010-09-01T05:55:00.003-05:00

The Shepheardes Calender: September

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run. . .
KEATS (Vol. 41, p. 879)

Time Flies

2010-08-31T06:30:00.003-05:00

Miss Ads turned 3 yesterday. Note there are no 3rd birthday pictures. Because we didn't tell her it was her birthday. Because this coming Sunday is more convenient, that's why. Shhh.

Week#2 in Review

2010-08-27T06:11:00.003-05:00

A busy week as Chez S. Amid birthday celebrations and soccer games/practices we actually did some school work. The weather was UNBELIEVABLY FANTASTIC. We spent as much time outside as we could. What we got done bookwork wise:

F Man

Math~He had his first LU test. He got 93.5% Not bad for a kid who thought he was 'dumb' in math.

LA~ He finally seems to understand subject/predicate. That was a long slog. He wrote a friendly letter and got 100% on his spelling test.

History~We've begun working with Native Americans, we read from our school books and added "How Would You Survive As An American Indian". After we looked at the Anasazi he painted petroglyphs which he said was his favorite thing. Today we'll make shields and small teepees with traditional symbols. I have a diorama planned for next week. He also watched a really good but likely over his head documentary. He was able to tell me all the things he learned though so he got something out of it.

Science~We learned about measuring, interpolating and the word meniscus. We also learned the name of all that chemistry glassware. I've got a mixture and solution experiment scheduled for Fun Friday today.

Miss Mel

Math~continued on with basic addition facts, a quiz is scheduled for today. She doesn't even want the abacus anymore.

LA~She had her first quiz on capitalization and periods. She rocked. The question mark was introduced. She did some copywork and we reviewed the spelling of middle and last name which she knew but slowly.

History~The same as F Man except she didn't watch the documentary.

Science~A mish mash of caterpillars/butterflies and seed/plants. I'm mostly just following her interest here. She is scheduled to watch Magic School Bus about ants today.

The biggest feat as far as she's concerned is mastering the two wheeler to my standards for road riding. She's been able to ride but was so wobbly I didn't trust her to ride it to the library, etc.

We also attended the library in bigger town which had a scavenger hunt. It really aquainted them with where and how to find things in the children's area. They earned popcorn and a free movie rental for their trouble. Woohoo!

Our Read Alouds~I'm reading them The Birchbark House to tie into history and heaven help me we read another Junie B Jones for fun.

Miss Ads

She did puzzles, glued, painted and generally did what nearly 3yo's should. I can't believe her birthday is Monday. ~weep~

My baby

Turning Twelve

2010-08-25T14:14:00.005-05:00

12 — Poem of The Road.

A FOOT and light-hearted I take to the open
road!

Healthy, free, the world before me!

The long brown path before me, leading wherever
I choose!
Walt Whitman

Hard to wait.

Post cross country practice. Yes, she asked for cookies not cake.

First Week of School Wrap Up

2010-08-20T14:41:00.002-05:00

The first week is over here. Whew! I am easing into it so we didn't have tons to do. Our first day included fun 'all about you' work and Schulteuete. We got to grammar and math everyday, began our study of ancient pre-columbian civilizations, did a clay project to make an Aztec snake god and did a paper sculpture for art. We started read-aloud time too. Not a crushing schedule but the 'fun' stuff really helped get the year off to a good start I think. Next week we're adding in reading. We'll do science in a nature sort of way next week by starting a tree/leaf project.

__________________

Poison Ivy

2010-08-18T15:40:00.002-05:00

First Day

2010-08-17T14:27:00.002-05:00

Happy Homeschoolers~they got gifts, what's not to be happy about. The high schoolers and middles schoolers did not want their picture taken. We won't even discuss the college kid.

The Good Old Days

2010-08-13T06:42:00.003-05:00

Maybe they were happy because they were treating their toothaches? Someone should have told me about this before I had that root canal!

More Amusing Conversation

2010-08-11T18:29:00.001-05:00

During her bath tonight Ads announced she was a mermaid. But not just any mermaid. She is a broken mermaid because her tail doesn't have any muscles. What would fix that I asked? Ice cream! LOL, no moss growing on that one.

Two Year Old Sayings

2010-08-10T13:33:00.001-05:00

While playing tea party "Wait, I must get the refreshments."

Wadding up a piece of paper "This is a stupid, stupid contract."

"I'm fabulous, don'tcha think."

Where does she get this stuff?

Facebook Killed My Blog

2010-08-03T15:37:00.005-05:00

So, I've been blogging here for (I think) 7 years. A long time anyway. The problem is it's so easy to just post a couple lines on facebook. What to do, what to do?? Oh, well, here's camp pics.

This Is Sorta Horrifing

2010-07-24T11:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.latoyaegwuekwe.com/geographyofarecession.html

Camp

2010-07-23T06:37:00.004-05:00

Mel is off at church camp this week. I pick her up tonight. Six seems so young but she really wanted to go. I guess her social skills must be ok for a homeschool kid. ~wink~ Gotta love the digital age, I can follow her on facebook

Curly Girl

2010-07-13T06:46:00.001-05:00

A little humidity and how can you resist those curls.

Because It Nearly Happened Where We Swim

2010-07-09T14:54:00.002-05:00

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Read it, please!

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Summer in a Small Town

2010-07-03T19:29:00.007-05:00

Before winning the T-ball championship.

Festival Games

Off

2010-06-28T20:02:00.003-05:00

to the funnest place in IN, if not on earth.

Vacation Day 1

2010-06-26T18:17:00.002-05:00

We haven't actually left yet but dh is officially 'off'. After 8am t-ball practice and a trip to replace the now dead weed eater I dropped L off to work concessions at the ball game and took Mel, Ads and F to pick up his new glasses. We went to the splash park after. Then we came home and the girls swam for another 1 1/2 hours while F chilled with a friend that showed up. Everyone looks sun kissed and sleepy. Me too.

Again?

2010-06-22T05:47:00.002-05:00

So after that quick drive by post, I had another cup of coffee, hunted up stuff for the 6yo to go to camp and again. with . the. lightening. 11yo is already at camp, spending the week. A glorious week of no showers, porta-potties and sleeping on the ground. The very wet ground. I'm also wondering how safe it is for her to be sleeping in a tent with lightening and thunder and gale force winds. The 6yo will just be going in the daytime. Which means as an extra special treat I get to drive her twice a day and listen to her griping about the heat, wet and bug bites over dinner. The piece de resistance is that the oldest two are going to go get meningitis vaccines today. I'm sure their arms may fall off if they are to be believed. And while I'm whining, the 14yo has scraped the garage in preparation to painting it. Evidently it will never be dry enough to paint it though, so it just adds to the Hillbilly Goodness that is our landscaping. Four cars sitting around. Check. Toys strung all over. Check. Popsicle sticks decorating all surfaces. Check. And now chipped off paint. I have arrived!

Weather or Not

2010-06-22T05:31:00.002-05:00

Rain, rain, more rain. Intersperse with stifling humidity. Rinse, repeat. At this rate we'll be playing t-ball in August.

Spelling? Grammar

2010-06-14T14:48:00.004-05:00

Yes, an English teacher organized the rally. Ironic, no? Read the whole story here http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_87b69a30-7f7a-5f93-a93c-497b8860511e.html

Funny Things They Say

2010-06-13T14:57:00.002-05:00

From the two year old today (between wracking coughs)

Hey, those are my guys. (referring to L, F and Mel coming home)

I can't take it anymore. (while in time out. At least she didn't use the whole quote from Network)

This is my home that I love. (coming home after a trip to the drug store)

Summer School

2010-06-11T06:01:00.003-05:00

A busy week here. It was hard to buckle down and do much after the fun of visitors and a couple weeks off. For my own memory, here's what we accomplished

F~started RS D, we only made it through 1.5 lessons but he's getting it which is more important than speed, continued reading The Door in the Wall and he read about Asia from a geography text. We began IEW and he has watched the dvd and done his KWO, today we write.

Mel~a couple easy phonics readers, some phonics review and 2 lessons of RS B, our read alouds have been classic fairy tales Three Billy Goats Gruff, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty

F&Mel~Bible School which covered art, PE and music at least. We've also been reading for the library summer reading program.

Other kids? My public school kids don't escape. I guess technically what we do with them is called after schooling but I just consider it giving direction. C & L are doing IEW with F and L is taking free drawing and tennis lessons from the park department. Gotta love free. Oh, and summer reading programs. I leave the 16yo alone. I expect I'll leave C alone next year. They do alot of reading and watching educational stuff anyway. I think E is reading some required stuff for college.

Thanks to The Cheap Stuff

2010-06-10T19:01:00.003-05:00

I think I've got a plan for next year, at least loosely. I'm not a real good plan follower. Cost was a real issue so I've put things together from the library, used curriculum sales and e-bay/amazon/half price books. I really like Sonlight but just can't afford a whole core so for my 4th grader we will be using

Writing/LS~Institute for Excellence in Writing SWI A~this will touch on spelling and grammar

Reading~Sonlight reader's list from the library

Read Alouds~Sonlight from library, we do these at night and they tie in very well with history

History~US from explorers to 1850, using The Complete Book of US History and lots of library stuff

Science~Christian Kids Explore Chemistry (he requested Chemistry)

Math~Rightstart D and possibly into E

Extras? Homeschool PE and field trips, Spanish, recorder, soccer, Cub Scouts

Mel is a little harder. She's been doing 1st grade stuff since Dec even though she was technically a kindergartner.

Writing~Writing with Ease

Reading~Bob Books, Sonlight Readers 1 and an old First Grade reader I have Reading is Fun

Read Alouds~Sonlight P4/5, Addie will listen in too I'm sure

History~America and My World

Science~Usborne Science Books and Health

Math~Rightstart B

Extras~PE, Spanish, Soccer, Daisy Girl Scouts

I also use the Core Knowledge Scope and Sequence (What Your X Grader Needs To Know) to check for gaps. It can't be worse than what I remember 4th and 1st graders doing.

Catching UP

2010-06-09T06:07:00.003-05:00

Last weekend saw dd graduate

and my SIL's from FL visit. We even arm twisted them into spending Saturday morning in the rain watching soccer. Sunday I took the Girl Scouts horseback riding and we did their bridging ceremony to Cadettes. This week is also Bible School and L is taking a (free!) drawing class and tennis lessons in Bluffton. I've had to have S & E help out with that driving. I'm so thankful they can drive now. How did I keep from losing my mind when they were all younger and helpless? I also fit in a used curriculum sale in Fort Wayne yesterday. It rocked and I hit the free boxes and tables hard. Gotta love free. This weekend is just as packed as last with t-ball games, Bible School programs, the last soccer games and the boys needing to be at Boy Scout camp Sunday morning at 10am. Oh, and Phil is working so it's all my party. And I should probably get some food in the house. If I have time.

Poor Neglected Blog But...

2010-06-02T07:04:00.001-05:00

May

2010-05-25T06:22:00.002-05:00

Why, why does every group feel that they must have a year end event, award, party? It's crazy around here. I also threw in a trip to Riley Hospital and after much worry was reassured S's arm will be fine and so will he. Very, very thankful here. Interspersed with that? Award luncheons, band concerts, Girl Scout picnics, Cub Scout Raingutter Regattas, eye appointments, orthodontist appointments, Spanish Class Fiestas, 8th grade trips to D.C., soccer and t-ball games, graduation parties....... You get the idea. Exhausting. And it leaves no time to waste on the internet.

Award Night

2010-05-18T05:41:00.002-05:00

Look at that fistful of awards BUT see the medal her friend is looking at? You guessed it, they got her name spelled wrong. Geesh!

Menu and Still Thinking

2010-05-17T10:17:00.002-05:00

Food, I'm too busy to make food. Soooo much to do this week. This is a brief respite before I head out for orthodontist and surgeon appointments (which are 30 miles apart of course). S needs to be back by 5:00 to go to a meeting about his Eagle project. Mel has a 6:30 t-ball game and I need to be at the High School awards night ceremony at 7:00. The rest of the week is just as bad. Maybe I'll type up another post while I'm here to post later. It's mostly to keep me on track anyway. Food this week is coming from freezer stash

Sun-turkey (I baked two, picked them and packaged the meat for later), broccoli, grapes, angel food cake

Mon-ham (freezer), mac&cheese (box, blush), leftover broccoli (I made double), fruit bowl

Tue-stir fry, rice, mandarin oranges

Wed-hamburger casserole (freezer), green beans, applesauce

Thu-spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, grapes (sale)

Fri-pizza, relishes, fruit bowl

Sat-potato soup (freezer), bread, fruit bowl

Reading

2010-05-16T05:10:00.003-05:00

So it's 6am. Couldn't sleep. Probably because I went to bed at 9pm. I just couldn't stay awake. A very busy,hectic week and Saturday. (Today isn't any better or tomorrow~sigh). I did finish a book last night before bed. I love to read. LOVE IT! I tend to go in fits and starts though. It almost seems like movies. Tons of good stuff, then alot of nothing. If you've got time I recommend
Wolf Hall~this is huge but good and you'll know more about Henry VIII and his time period than you thought you wanted to know

The Happiness Project~I just like peeking into people's lives so I enjoyed this. A little gimicky but nice to know other people think about this stuff too. I'm always up for a little self improvement. I wish it would stick better though

The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Purse~the second mystery featuring a mad chemist named Flavia De Luce, who is 11 years old. E disliked the first book (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) but I enjoyed it. We usually agree on books so this was surprising.

This summer I'd like to reread some childhood favorites. I can get away with that if I call them read alouds. Or I might just read them anyway. Yes, I am reading A Wrinkle in Time. So there. I admit it, I am juvenile. I promise not to re-read the entire Nancy Drew though. I don't like the new versions anyway. Sacrilege. I grew up on these.

180

2010-05-13T05:14:00.004-05:00

We hit our official 180 days of school yesterday! Yeah! Now shhh, cause I didn't tell the kids.

Old business~ I've got two lasagnas, 5 lb of browned meat, 3 packages of ham in the freezer and I've got two turkeys yet to bake. I'm on my way to a 'mama ain't cooking' summer.

I'm also still pondering homeschool programs for the summer and next year. So many choices, so little time. I find we're not very good at box checking so bits and pieces are where we end up anyway. I might as well start that way. We're going to finish up some things next week then take 2 weeks off (lots of field trips and fun though). We're then going to do a 3 week mini session, break for 2 more weeks for vacation and the holiday, do 3 week session number 2 and then break 2 more weeks for church camp and general fun. The kids get 6 weeks of vacation but we still get lots done. We'll see how it goes. My thoughts are:

Session 1

Begin Rightstart D and continue B

finish up world history~they like this and see it as story time

Session 2

Math

keyboarding for F, Bible school and day camp for Mel

Of course we're going to do the summer reading program and may throw park tennis lessons and craft time if we feel like it. Oh, and lots of swimming.

Check out other great ideas check out the Homeschool Blog Carnival at

Appolo's Academy

My Ringtone!

2010-05-09T12:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day

Got Away

2010-05-08T07:25:00.002-05:00

The whole week got away from me. Four appointments with docs/orthodontists, breakfasts, car repairs, school, t-ball, soccer, soccer, soccer, hail storms. Whew! I accomplished not much other than keeping my head above water. School wise we'll hit 180 days on Wednesday the 12. We'll probably take a little break and then dive back in. It seems stupid to waste summer when they are just sitting around here anyway. Of course some things we'll do we do every summer. Camps, library reading programs, sports. All that is learning and doesn't need a text book. I think if we can devote a little time to grammar/writing and a little time to math we're good. We (ok the kids) like to play math card games and Trivial Pursuit and Risk and...well you get the idea. I think that all counts too. And I'll keep reading to them which they think is fun but we secretly know is (shhh now) good for them. We'll see how it goes.

Proud to Announce

2010-05-06T06:12:00.003-05:00

E is the salutatorian of her class! Which goes to show you can overcome your upbringing!

From the paper:

"Emma is the oldest daughter of Phil XXXX and Lisa XXXX and she has 3 brothers and 3 sisters all younger than she is."

"She plans to attend Manchester College and pursue a degree in Elementary Education. She has a real passion for working with and helping young people. She would like to try and make a difference in the lives of these people through education. She is humble, kind, considerate and obviously very bright.

Her accomplishments are many.

She was ranked in the Top 25 students, 4 years
Treasuer of National Honor Society
She is a 10-year participant in 4H
Member of Future Educators of America
Student Council member, 4 years
Class Council, 3 years
German Club, 3 years

Debate Team, 2 years
Freshman Mentoring, 2 years
Kids Club assistant in Warren for the last 6 years (Christian Outreach program for young children)
Junior Troop Assistant in Girl Scouts, 4 years
Service Learning Club at HNHS
babysat and tutor young children, last 2 years

She hopes to enter the Peace Corps after finishing college.

So

2010-05-05T05:08:00.002-05:00

I haven't got the menu made because I've been running around like crazy. A breakfast for E at school. Many doctor's appointments (3) in 2 days for S (cyst on his arm), orthodontist appointments and fitting school, soccer and t-ball in there. My eyes are glazing over. I've also been trying to finalize in my head what we'll be doing this summer for school and coming up with a schedule. Oh, and fighting allergies and a virus. I'll get to it all, just not in my time.

Monday Again

2010-05-03T10:47:00.002-05:00

No menu today because I'm working on a OAMC plan. I try to do this when summer heats up and we get so busy. Also, I can micro most stuff and not turn on the oven. A big plus in my circa 1900 kitchen. Today was filled anyway with an ear recheck (finally all clear!), school and lots and lots of laundry. The rainy weekend meant I backed everything up since I'm trying really hard to hand everything and not turn on the dryer again for a long time. I'm also trying to nail down just what we're going to be using next year for school. I need to narrow it down. There is so much great stuff but needless to say you can't do it all. I've got ideas and I'm going to see what I find at the used curriculum sale in June. Now on to Spanish class and stopping at the park because it's too pretty not to. Oh, and Paula, relishes are just raw veggies, usually with hummus or ranch to dip.

Menu Monday

2010-04-26T17:33:00.001-05:00

I'm using up some pork roast and ham I got on deep discount. It's a porky week.
Sun-pork roast, broccoli, baked potatoes
Mon-bbq pork sandwiches, chips, relishes, applesauce
Tue-ham, corn, boiled potatoes, grapes
Wed-spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, oranges
Thu-shepherds pie, peas, apple slices
Fri-breadsticks&cheese sauce, relishes, fruit salad
Sat-split pea soup, hm bread, fruit bowl

Spring Beauties

2010-04-21T14:08:00.002-05:00

They are so princesses. They've just been kidnapped by peasants.

Spring

2010-04-16T06:54:00.003-05:00

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall

We've made the most of spring this week. We've tramped, tilled, mowed, played and generally been outside, even if the weather was only so-so.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

I hung as much laundry outside as possible. Comforters, towels , rugs. Gotta suck up the spring smell.

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Phil took a low census day this week. We took the kids to the reservoir where they had put in some new equipment. It was like a whole new park. We also went crazy and bought a pizza to eat there as a picnic. That's right, we know how to live on the edge!

A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King.
Emily Dickinson

Ten Reasons

2010-04-13T17:05:00.001-05:00

I loved these
Ten Unexpected Homeschooling Benefits Oh yeah, break, it was great.

Fun So Far

2010-04-06T13:19:00.003-05:00

We've been trying to squeeze some fun out of this break without spending any dollars. I did have to spend money at the doctor's yesterday because Mel has managed to get a double ear infection. I don't think she's ever had one before. Strange to wait until she's six. Hmm, what have we done?

The egg hunt of course

We did the traditional scavenger hunt for the baskets. Never start these traditions if you don't want to do them for 20 freaking years. That afternoon we went walking in the woods to a nearby pond and the kids caught little frogs.

Yesterday we worked our butts off cleaning (mean mommy) and while I was gone taking Mel to the doc C and L took F and Ads outside and to the library. They got some movies we haven't seen. Score!

Today after more cleaning (I have an agenda) I took them out to the reservoir where we flew kites, played tag, shot hoops, blew bubbles, drew with chalk and went for a walk in the woods. I have a fairly decent batch of horticultural/forest trivia in my head from being raised by the Clampetts. I'm going to call it nature study. We saw lots of wildflowers. Even found some bloodroot and Dutchmen's Breeches (I say britches). Oh, and these

Yellow Trout Lily

Easter Fun

2010-04-04T12:59:00.001-05:00

BREAK

2010-04-02T06:35:00.002-05:00

Oh yeah, I'm yelling it. I have been absolutely exhausted this past week. I'm not sure why, maybe I'm trying to catch the bronchitisy thing the little girls have, but I am so glad to take a break this coming week. Public school also being on break means that clubs/sports/meetings are on hold. The only things on the agenda are Spanish and PE for homeschool which we might or might not do depending on the weather and the inclination. So far having E home is great since she got up with the coughing 2 year old (she told me to go back to bed and I didn't argue) and she just took said 2 year old with F tagging along for a bike ride. I'm going to take L to get her ears pierced later this morning and I'll leave S watching the littles. It will be a good mommy break. As much as I love them sometimes I don't want to remind someone to go potty or get a tissue or use utensils when eating.

Sunshine Vitamin

2010-04-01T06:57:00.003-05:00

I'm taking this article under advisement. But instead of supplementing we're actually going to go out in the sunshine.

For laughs I'm going to read this.

We're starting our Spring Break tomorrow. I'm gonna lounge around, eat bonbons, read glossy magazines and let my kids run wild. Ok, probably not but since some seem to think that's what I do all the time I thought I'd live up to my image. Actually I'll probably have to hike through the woods, go bowling, laser tagging and I promised someone she could get her ears pierced.

Monday Menu

2010-03-28T12:41:00.004-05:00

~potato frittata, have with bread and salad
~mac&cheese w/a tiny bit of ham thrown in, I can really stretch a little meat this way, broccoli, grapes
~beef&bean burritos/tacos, about 1/2 and 1/2, corn, oranges
~corndog casserole, relishes,fruit salad
~ homemade pizza, relishes, sherbet
~swiss steak on rice, carrots, baked apples
~chili soup,relishes, fruit bowl

Nine

2010-03-28T11:38:00.002-05:00

You hang out too much with teenagers and so greet everyone with "dude" and report most things are "lame". But you still hug me and tell me I'm the best so you're not all grown up yet.

School Saturday

2010-03-27T05:43:00.004-05:00

Went to the school carnival last night. The kids had fun (except F who had a stomach ache). He revived a little when we got home though and stayed up to watch some old cheesy movie with C about Jason and the Argonauts. It was evidently made in 1963 so the special effects were a hoot. E and S were out with the German Club bowling. Today we are celebrating F's birthday. It is really tomorrow but Palm Sunday is not a good day for a birthday party. He will be 9. Shocking to me! He still loves his mom though so it's all right. On to what we got accomplished this week:

F

LA-exclamatory, interrogative and declarative sentences ,reading in his reader .we're reading The Wizard of Oz out loud and another Encyclopedia Brown book ,he practiced LA and handwriting with copy work of how to write dates, months, days, etc and practiced his middle name in cursive, did vocab

Math-fractions, equivalent fractions (worked hard on this), area and kept on practicing the multiplication facts

History-finished the Vikings, he found them pretty interesting

Science-sound and pitch, he still needs to cement some of this so we'll probably do it next week too, he also googled a bunch of sea animals we saw in a documentary about coral reefs and drew them on his own, he doesn't do much creative stuff with drawing so this was good, they watched about three Magic School Bus episodes too

A quiet week for us. No Spanish or Cubs this week. He went to PE and Kid's Klub.

Mel

La-phonics reviewed sounds ar,th,sh,ng and read a decodable reader or two, she reads really well but doesn't seem to like too
of course she had stories read to her too

Math-she's got the 10's addition facts cold so we've moved on to addition up to 10

Science-the coral reef documentary and Magic School Bus, she also watched a video for younger kids about the woods which led to lots of discussion about birds and camouflage

SS-It's hard not to teach a kindergartner about the world. If I just answer all her questions she seems to learn a lot so we didn't do anything formal this week.

Whew

2010-03-26T04:04:00.002-05:00

So yesterday was one of those days. The kind where I wish someone would pat me on the back and tell me how efficient I am. That's the problem with the stay at home gig. No one notices unless you don't do something. We did school in the morning and I did some laundry and cleaned up. That seems like enough you say, oh no, then we left at 12:35 for PE. I dropped off the two ( a simple procedure made more difficult by the 2 year old's dislike of her carseat) and ran to the grocery. There I managed to drop $160 in 40 minutes, bag it up and get back in time to pick up the kids....except....they went home with friends so I headed back to our town to unload said groceries while dancing around the 2 year old. I got it all put away and gave Ads a snack. An older kid got home (2 others were elsewhere) and took off for L's basketball game. After that I swung by to let dh off to pick up his car from an oil change. He went to bigger town to pick up S. I threw some supper together, filled out various papers, provided solace to the angry senior and called to see when F and Mel were coming home. At 7:00 I took L and F to a 4-H meeting and dropped of Mel's t-ball forms. No one else is playing baseball this year, which is fine by me. I went back out into the cold drizzle at 8:00 to pick up the kids. Blah! No wonder I go to bed by 10.

Spring Time Past

2010-03-24T07:36:00.002-05:00

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

Imponderable

2010-03-23T07:18:00.002-05:00

Why do two year olds feel the need to completely disrobe (even in Walmart) to use the potty but scream if you take off their shirt to eat spaghetti?

Couldn't Last

2010-03-22T09:44:00.003-05:00

All good things must come to an end. Today is rainy and 40. We sure loved the good weather while it lasted though.

Menu's this week are:
Registered: 11 months ago
Posts: 836
Dinners
Mon-chicken&noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, orange slices
Tue-greek pasta, grapes
Wed-rice w/goodies,frozen berries
Thu-beef&bean tacos, corn, apple slices
Fri-pizza, fruit salad
Sat-potato soup
Sun-shepherd's pie, peas, peaches

Breakfasts
oatmeal
eggs&toast
pancakes
sausage&toast
hash browns & eggs
french toast
cereal

Lunches
english muffin pizza,applesauce
tomato soup&grilled cheese,applesauce
pbj, relishes,bananas
baked potatoes w/broccoli&cheese
hot dog, relishes, pears
ramen noodle soup w/peas, pears
popcorn, apples, peanut butter crackers

What We've Been Doing

2010-03-18T11:37:00.004-05:00

First began the great thaw.

Mel acted at drama day. She is a princess of course. You'll notice the prince is a pig however.

Swim season concluded. No track this year, only soccer. Oh, yeah!

Fifty-six degrees right now. Notice how the shoes are gone.

So telling of her personality.

Somewhere to expend that boundless energy.

Today's Quote

2010-03-12T11:01:00.001-06:00

"Mom, I'm taking care of my puppy. I'm putting it to sleep." Bwahahaha. Yep, that'll take care of it.

Because I'm Still A Geeky Dietitian

2010-03-11T05:59:00.002-06:00

Here's an article in New Scientist about how obesity may be a defense mechanism to protect against a bad diet. It would explain how some heavy people don't become ill and some thin ones do. Ok, now switching back to your regularly scheduled program. And yes, we are geeks who read science magazines and last night I spent the drive home moving from Martin Luther to communism by some weird conversational quirks. With my 16 and 14 yo sons. Weird stuff.

Quote of the Day

2010-03-09T12:25:00.001-06:00

From Mel, the 6 year old, in the back of the car as we cross the reservoir.
"If you see a beaver you have to leave it alone, because it's a wild animal and it might eat your face off."

How I Feel

2010-03-07T12:39:00.002-06:00

We do stuff, I swear, but when asked my kids say "nothing".

Milestones

2010-03-04T11:21:00.002-06:00

Reaching some milestones here. I put Miss Ads in a pull up Friday and by Sunday she was all 'do it myself' and since Monday she's been in cloth panties. How to live without diapers? It's been a looooonnnnggg time. I guess she's not officially a baby anymore (but she's MY baby darn it, even if I see her turn 40). Mel has a loose tooth. She's six so I guess it's later than some but my kids all got their teeth late too. Swim season and basketball roll on. S can take his driver's test anytime I can get him there. Not sure when that will be though. Oh, and Mr. Joy turned 50 on Monday. I don't think he was feeling the Happy Birthday vibe though.

Yes, this

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

I am excerpting from this post because it says exactly what I've found to be true. My homeschooled kids are just as socialized as my public school kids. They have activities, friends, responsibilities but

If you start talking about economic independence, stable, happy marriages, making responsible choices, being involved in community and church activities, having respect for authority figures, or voting, they will probably look at you like you are speaking Martian.

For them, it has never been about whether or not you will raise well-educated, responsible adults.

It has always been about whether or not your kids will act in the same silly, cliquey, immature way that every other "normal" kid they know acts.

Working

2010-03-02T11:23:00.002-06:00

Our noses are to the grindstone here. On the bright side the kids have decided not to play baseball or run track. That leaves only soccer which is plenty since it's 4 kids on 3 teams. And we'll be done by mid-June. Now to keep them from spending the rest of the time glued to X-box. Oh, and got my dd this bag

School Saturday

2010-02-27T06:39:00.003-06:00

A relatively quiet weekend here so I have the chance to get this done early. Phil is working evenings this weekend so no big plans. A basketball game today and a Wii party tomorrow. That's it! This week we

F(3rd grade)
LA~We worked on adjectives and he took a quiz on them. He is reading A Knight at Dawn independently with narration and we're reading a bunch of world tales out loud.

Math~worked on multi-digit multiplication and introduced simple division

Science~finished up blood/circulation/respiration

History~Clovis and the Franks and the Islamic empire comes to Spain

Mel(K)
LA~I moved her into the first grade reading program. We're just practicing, practicing and working on some phonics informally.

Math~I think she's finally got the 10's facts. I think this week we'll just play some math games. I don't want her to dislike math.

Science~we studied the weather and what to do in snowstorms, thunderstorms and tornadoes

SS~American symbols

We did Spanish class, library time (F played Oregon Trail while Mel went to story time/craft), Daisy Scouts and Cubs. We also went to a homeschool skating party on Tuesday and Kid's Klub on Wednesday so they're not lacking in social outlets. A pretty quiet week all in all.

Pictures

2010-02-26T05:39:00.005-06:00

No pictures lately because I was too lazy to get them from the camera to the computer. I finally did and found Christmas pics still on there. Ooops! We're just not big into saving for posterity I guess.
The carousel from our trip in Jan.

More museum pics

Trying on clothes at the Egyptian exhibit

Displaying their own sense of style

Intact

2010-02-24T10:03:00.002-06:00

We went to a skating party last night and I am still here intact. All limbs working. I don't think I'm ready to join the roller derby though.

Test

2010-02-22T05:49:00.002-06:00

Next week our elementary and middle school students will be taking the ISTEP (Indiana's standardized test). I've already been receiving the give them a good breakfast/get them to bed early/tell them not to stress reminders. As if the rest of the time I send them to school hungry and exhausted? Anyway

Menu and Almost Monday

2010-02-21T11:34:00.002-06:00

So I planned these in my sleep last night, along with weird homeschooling ideas and worried about paying for college. In. My. Sleep. Argh!!!! Of course I also dreamed I made cabbage rolls and the kids ate them all. Proof it was a dream.

I hate to waste all that effort.
Sun~spaghetti, salad, garlic toast
Mon~chicken tenders with rice and broccoli, berries
Tue-going to a Soup Supper
Wed~chicken pasta, carrots, grapes
Thu~meatloaf, mashed pot&gravy, pumpkin pie
Fri~potato or chili soup, sandwiches, fruit salad
Sat~mac&cheese w/ ham bits, cauliflower

School Saturday

2010-02-20T17:53:00.003-06:00

So much to chew on this week. Last night I went with C to sign up for his high school classes. He was recommended for Honors Geometry, Honors English and Honors Biology. We skipped the honors English. Have they spoken with my son? He's also got the required PE, World History, German and required computer apps/career exploration. Then today I went with E for her further scholarship interview. We had to be there at 9am and of course she was in the last interview group at 1:30pm. We did get some good info on overseas study (I would so do that) and their fast forward program which is basically 4 years of college in 3 years. She signed up for more info on that and for more info on the honors program. Next week is middle school sign up. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to send Ads to preschool/play time for 1 day/week. I think it might be nice for her and for Mel and Fletch to have a little space where I"m not jumping up to get her while doing school with them. Ok, what did we get done this week?

K
It's kindergarten, so it doesn't look like much. She worked on memorizing all the addition facts for 10, more phonics and reading, science books from the library and our field trip, history was pretty much Abe and George. She also went to story time at two libraries with the attendant crafts.

3rd
Reading aloud from the reader
Verbs- action, linking, helping and verb phrases
Science-field trip and a further study of circulation/heart/respiration
Math-fractions and memorizing the multiplication tables cold and fast
History-rise of the Muslim empire

We also did a study in the mornings of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit which was a hit. We did lots of sledding and went to Spanish. It seemed like a full week. It doesn't look so impressive in print. Tomorrow is an open swim day at the local school so I think we're going to go and let them burn off some energy without me having to get cold.

Another School Cancellation

2010-02-18T07:34:00.002-06:00

Urgh! My older kids will never be done with school at this rate. I would say the cancellation was warranted though, as E put her car in a ditch. Gotta love black ice. The boys and I dug and pushed her out but not what I had planned for the day.

Field Trip

2010-02-17T05:56:00.002-06:00

We went on a field trip to a science center yesterday. The highlight for F was being chosen to pump the pig lungs. Not something we would likely do here. Where does one buy pig lungs? We had a class in respiration and circulation and one on physics. They spent the rest of the time running around while the 2yo spent every minute at the water table. She was soaked but happy. We had swim practice, late basketball practice and Boy Scouts last night. That led to lots of running around. Now that we've got sport overlap going on it's going to be a little crazy for a month. The kids have decided on their own to just play soccer in the spring and not baseball too. I'm not going to argue. Today is library storytime, Kid's Klub and a meeting with the high school people tonight. It was supposed to be last week but it got cancelled for the snow. It should be beyond boring but since they change the requirements constantly I need to go, even though I've got two in high school already. Now I see we've got a two hour delay of school this morning. I guess I have no reason not to get moving. Blech!

Languishing

2010-02-15T06:01:00.002-06:00

So the blog has been languishing because life keeps getting in the way.

Yesterday E and I went to her college of choice for aid day. Surprise, surprise, nothing from the government (well, except loans but we're not going there) but the college did give her $2900 based on needs. That combined with her academic scholarship sure helps. We're hopeful that some of the other scholarships she's applied for will come through. Come on Lilly Scholarship!! Or anything for that matter. After that I had to fly to a Girl Scout meeting. So much for romance on Valentine's Day.

Last week thanks to the snow the older kids were home for three and a half days. They did go to school Friday and then they are off again today for President's Day. The homeschool kids were not enthused that they did not get a snow day. Having the other kids around does make it more difficult to get things done. Not that they did nothing, I have to say that E, S and C all worked ahead for stuff in school and L devoured more books. I think it's just the principal of the thing that irks F and Mel. We did accomplish some things:

We worked on our
Writing with Ease
Spelling a couple days
Lots of reading aloud

F worked on fractions and multiplying 2 digits by 1 digit
We covered proper and common nouns and pronouns

I've gone ahead and moved Mel into first grade T4L.
We worked on her math facts that make 10

We talked about the olympics and President's Day. Truthfully they didn't really care so I just hit the highlights.
Spanish class is this afternoon. I hope to get in LA, Math, Science and History/SS this morning. Wish me luck.

They have both been watching Bill Nye Circulation in preparation for tomorrow's field trip. We're going to Science Central for a class in respiration and circulation. They don't want to go (they are so weird) but I know will have fun once we are there. After the class homeschoolers have run of the place for 2 hours.

C has a swim meet on Thursday and L has her first school basketball game that day too. Of course she plays in Upward BB on Saturday. Kid's Klub starts on Wednesday and Cubs are Friday. Tuesday I have to take the boys to Scouts but at least I don't help with that one.

I haven't stopped making menus. As if you were all waiting with bated breath.

Mon-roast, potatoes, carrots (thank you crock pot)
Tue-chicken alfredo, broccoli, oranges
Wed-beef stew, dumplings, grapes
Thu-spaghetti, salad, berries
Fri-tacos, beans, corn, ice cream
Sat-chili or potato soup, sandwiches, fruit salad

What Freezing Really Means

2010-02-11T06:04:00.000-06:00

Not One of My Reasons

2010-02-10T11:08:00.000-06:00

This made me chuckle.

Sixteen Years Goes So Fast

2010-02-02T10:57:00.003-06:00

Cute

Deranged, and counting the days to his driver's license.

Can I Say It Too?

2010-01-28T11:17:00.004-06:00

Yes, I know it's not true. But it enompasses all the things I want to say to say to so many other parents. Especially if I am being accused of being harsh. Like telling them to wear their wet swimsuit for practice if they weren't smart enough to dry it last night. Or when I don't care if the ref made a bad call, that's life, suck it up. Or, or, or....you get the idea.

I Have Lusted In My Heart

2010-01-28T11:07:00.003-06:00

'Cause It's Funny

2010-01-26T06:07:00.000-06:00

Regretting not labeling the key ring!

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