Tuesday, August 7, 2012

2012-2013 Curriculum

EM - 2nd Grade

Bible, History, Geography, and Literature - Sonlight Core A
Language Arts - Abeka
Art - Atelier




JR - Kindergarten

Bible, History, Geography, Literature - Sonlight Core A
Math - BJU Math K5
Art - Atelier



LD - Tot School


Monday, July 30, 2012

First day of a shiny new school year.

Today I began school with a Kindergartener and Second Grader, well planned to anyways.  JR woke up complaining of a tummy ache which grew into a tummy ache and fever.  He spent the day in a daze on the couch and fell asleep as I read The Usborne Children's Encyclopedia's pages about dinosaurs.  EM and I covered him up with a blanket and called it a day. 

EM's enthusiasm and love for learning at home really keep me going.  She is so appreciative of the special things I plan for her that it makes all of the effort worth it.  Josh and I hung "Welcome to 2nd Grade" and "Welcome to Kindergarten" signs for them to find in the morning and she was just tickled.  As I tucked her in to bed tonight she asked if they would still be there in the morning.  We read our first chapter of "The Boxcar Children" before bed tonight and both kids seemed to enjoy it.  EM asked if we could read just a few more pages?!  I'm looking forward to this read-aloud jump starting our year in a good way. 

Now for tomorrow, First Day of Kindergarten (on antibiotics and tylenol), take two. 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Now Playing: Phineas and Ferb the Movie

I once heard that boredom is a gift you give your children. 

I would add to that:  free time, clothespins, and siblings. 

Now playing at the Treehouse Theater:  Phineas and Ferb the Movie. 






"Ticket, please."

"That will be fifty cents, miss."

Enjoy the Show!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Bubble Pizza

This is one of my favorite fun dinners.  It's from a Goose Berry Patch recipe book that I "borrowed" from my mom a few years ago.  I thought I gave her the cookbook back and almost panicked when I didn't have the recipe!  It's pretty simple, but I thought I'd record it just in case!

Bubble Pizza

3  7 1/2 oz. tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, quartered
14  oz jar spaghetti sauce, divided
3c shredded mozarella cheese, divided
1 clove garlic, minced
Your choice of pizza toppings

Place biscuit pieces in a large mixing bowl; add half the spaghetti sauce, 2 cups cheese and garlic.  Mix until biscuit pieces are well coated; spread in a greased 13"x9" baking pan.  Pour remaining sauce on top; add any optional toppings.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.  

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Moments to Remember


My favorite homeschool moments this week:

1.  EM sending me the message "I love you" in Morse code.
2.  Listening to EM sing in the tree house while she did her math worksheet.
3.  Being the one with EM when she had BIG questions come up. 


Monday, April 16, 2012

Experimenting with Workboxes

I'm not the kind of person who enjoys having the same schedule everyday.  One day I'll be excited to start the day early and get a lot accomplished and another day I might want to stay in my pajamas until lunch time.  It hit me recently that this is not helpful to my kids or myself for that matter.  Since they didn't know what was expected of them at any given time, they complained or were shocked when I asked them to put away whatever they were enjoying to start school or chores. 

We've been using these chore charts for a few weeks now and they're working well.  I like that I can change the chores from day to day rather than week to week like our previous charts.  They always have the morning routine *chores*:  get dressed, brush teeth, make bed, pick up bedroom, brush hair.  I usually give them two or three little jobs as well. 

I've been doing a lot of reading about workboxes recently, I know I'm a little behind the trend, but I like the idea.  I've tried similar lists and piles for the kids, but workboxes seem much more organized.  I decided to give it a try using folders this week before making an investment in boxes.  Today went well, JR LOVED the idea of getting through his folders.  The kid thrives on competition and he was so excited each time he reached a new number.  EM got off to a rough start because I gave her Math right of the bat (not a great idea considering we usually do it together when LD is napping).  I think she'll do well too with a little tweaking of the schedule.  I'm glad to have a few weeks left of the school year to give the workboxes a dry run before laminating and mod-podging my summer away. 

Oh, on another note I bought this little e-book the other day and it has helped me remember to keep up with the basics!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Happy Easter

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter Sunday!  Resurrection morning services are always a little extra special with the joyful music and kids in their Easter best.  After church we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a lot of laughs and a LOT of great food! 









Saturday, March 31, 2012

Lilacs

This week I noticed that the lilac bushes were almost ready to bloom with their heavenly-fragranced purple flowers that grace my home with their delicious smell for a few weeks of the year.  The kids and I happened to be near the house I grew up in yesterday and it reminded me of the park I used to ride my bike to and pick lilacs to bring home to my mom.  I thought we could spare a few minutes to stop by and see if the lilac bushes still grew there. 

We drove past the house I lived in when I was EM's age and not much has changed.  The crab apple trees were in bloom in the front yard and so was the apple tree in the back.  The shutters were still green, I remember the day my dad painted them.  I could see the lilac bushes he planted in the back yard because they have grown so big.  We walked toward the park and saw the lilac bushes in bloom, so the kids and I picked as many as we could reach! 

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Owl Moon

Owl Moon isn't in the manual we own, but it is a Five in a Row book I wanted to read with the kids.  EM"s favorite animal is an owl, she often creates owl art and convinces her brothers to pretend they're owls with her.  We read the book together this week and did a cute little art project by turning pinecones into owls.  EM spent a few hours on hers and I was quite impressed with her imagination, as usual! JR finished quickly so he could get to non-craft related activites, but his turned out pretty cute too. 



Life Skills 101

Vaccuming, with four of us home all day, a Mom needs a little help! 

Gardening

Can you believe those popcorn seeds turned into this?!  We are now growing corn...in our kitchen.

Laundry

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.


Job Training?

Grocery Shopping

Sewing

Ironing!  Yikes! 

EM's Snuggle Blanket

This blanket has been my longest ongoing knitting project.  It took about a year and a half to finish, but most of that time it spent hibernating between other projects.  It's a chunky cable knit in berry colors for my sweet daughter.  I'm a lot sentimental in this way, but I love the idea of her wrapped in the warmth of her mommy's love.  She adores the things I make for her, so maybe she's a little sentimental in that way too.   

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

The kids and I did a great study on the fruits of the Spirit this week.  It was perfect for little ones and introducing them to the fruits, some of which are familiar such as kindness and some of which were new words to them (but so applicable!) such as self-control.  I loved watching EM recognize points during her day when she could put them into practice.  

Our memory verse was Galatians 5:22-23 (NIrV)

Each day as we talked about the new fruit of the Spirit EM and JR colored and cut out a picture to add to their fruit basket.  Sometimes it's easier for kids to listen when their hands are busy!



Can you guess whose is whose?  :)  

It was also a fun reason to sing the Fruit Song!

This great kid's devotional with printables can be found here.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Faith of a Child

"Mommy I wonder what the New Heavens and New Earth will be like?  I can't wait to be in Heaven with God." 

It was not exactly the random thought I was expecting to hear out of my seven year old's mouth as I was taking her brother to bed.  Just half an hour ago she was arguing with JR about whose turn it was to put the laundry basket on their back and pretend to be a turtle.  Wow, the faith of a child is a completely beautiful thing!  I wish I could bottle it up and use a little for myself now and then.  How wonderful is it that she knows her Heavenly Father's love is just as real and natural as the love of her Mom and Dad?!  Pretty wonderful, I'd say.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I Heart Valentine's Day


It might be a Hallmark holiday, but I can't help loving Valentine's Day.  Handmade cards with lots of hearts and glitter, chocolate, and a day to tell special ones they're special.  






A little holiday filled with homemade simplicity, what could be sweeter?