Veteran's Day!

I know, I'm a few days behind. We did a unit study on Veteran's Day last week and I thought I'd share a little with you guys.

I asked the kids to write about their favorite Veteran or American Patriot. It didn't have to be one of the specific ones we talked about during their study, it could anyone as long as they are a Veteran. Here's what they wrote:

Son.... "Dear Dad (he put the name but we try to remain anonymous) is an American Patriot. I think he is an American Patriot because he served honorably in the Su.S. Army. He is a Veteran of three wars, Korea, O.E.F, and O.I.F. He cureently just got back from Iraq. Not only is he a war vet, he's my dad."

Daughter... "My favorite veteran is my dad. He's an American Patriot because he's in the army. He's very special because he does his part in America and he serves American by leaving his country."

Okay, let me explain the leaving.... she mean leaving his family to serve his country but when she wrote it down she got a little confused. She is only 7.

DS hates to write so that he wrote even that little bit is amazing. He prefers to do it all orally in discussions. But doing these unit studies has really helped his handwriting a lot! Maybe he'll writing more before long.

During our unit we talked about Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Colin Powell, and George C. Marshall. We also listened to music by John Phillip Sousa.

It was neat unit. If you like unit studies you might check out Amanda Bennett's.

Oh my... Homeschooling. I can never seem to stay with any thing for long. It seems that I get scared and have to switch every so many months!! This is terrible because I can't afford to switch this often!! I'm driving myself crazy.

I really about DS. He's the oldest and he's the one that has to take the standardized test this year. I worry that I'm holding him back and not teaching what he really needs. Oh how I worry!

We've been rather eclectic. I pick and chose here and there what I want to use. I had decided on the Latin Centered Curriculum this year. Well, I'm really not sure this is working for us. Wait, I should say for me. I'm having a harder time with it than they are but I'm the one that is supposed to be teaching it! Plus, I'm not sure that DS is learning all the grammar he needs at this level. It would be different if we were starting at the beginning but we aren't. He's in the 7th grade!

There needs to be more help on how to start in the middle! Most everything out there to read about homeschooling assumes you are starting at the beginning. It's rather frustrating.

Okay, I'm frustrated and worried. It will be okay though. I know it will.

Well, it's been awhile. Sorry. My DH is home safe and sound from the desert and so we have been enjoying his return. You can read about it over at Musings by Mommy . This week he has been home a lot so we are having a really laid back homeschool week. They are getting a little work done here and there. They usually do math and Latin everyday but not always right now.

Today, DD did Latin and then decided to start her own business with a newsletter so she's been typing and collecting money.

DS has been reading a book on Aztecs and the Spaniards. Now he is in typing on the computer working on a newsletter himself.

This week, we've been on nature walks, have learned about hanging things on the walls. We've been shopping with the kids figuring out the best buys and totals. We've cleaned the garage and basement and the kids have played together a lot. We've cooked a bit and watched some discovery channel. I know learning is going on, it's just not very structured right now but you know what? I think that's okay! Being with Dad is what is important right now and so that's what we are doing the most of for now.

Also, I switched to the new beta blogger so if you are unable to post a comment please come over to Mommy's Musings and post a comment there. When I realized that the beta was going to cause such problems I started a new blog there. Come visit me there.

Have a great day!

Oh, what a day we've day had. It was so nice and cool this morning that we jumped out of bed and went on a nice walk through the neighborhood very first thing. It was wonderful!

When we got home to had a nice breakfast and cleaned up the dishes and read our Bible story. Then I declared it a day with school outside!

When we got out to the deck I realized we needed to do a little housekeeping out here so we cleaned up the deck. Everyone working together. We swept it up and watered the plants, put the furniture back in order and hung the table cloth out to air.

Then we noticed the front flowerbed. YUCK!! I had been wanting to get cleaned up for sometime but it's been too hot. But not today! So we got busy and we got dirty! It was fun and everyone worked really hard. While DS blew the little pieces off the driveway, DD and washed our hands and got down to math. When DS finished he washed up and came out with his science. Everyone just kind of moved through their work today. No particular order or time. Just when you finished with one you moved on to the next. It was a very slow day but much more relaxing than it had been being.

It was really a nice day. I think everyone got a lot done. We may not have covered every subject but we were learning and that's what counts. Like I said, it's been a very slow day. Here it is after 4 p.m. and the kids are just now really finished but you know, I don't think they mind at all. It was all on their own time, in their own time.

Yesterday, I was thinking, you know after almost 5 weeks of this, I feel like I really need about a week off! We work so very hard. The sad part is that I always feel like we aren't doing enough! It's crazy. But after today and how easy it has been and the work we got done around the house too, I feel like we are doing okay.

Well, I am being summoned! They are having a backyard adventure and then NEED to show me something. Have a great night!!

Typical Day???

I'm always wondering about homeschoolers' typical day. Well, I realize that there is no typical day but I'm always curious about what others do and how they do it. So, I've decided to see if I can post a typical day for us. Here it goes...

Times vary for us so I'm not going to give time of day. Just a reminder, my kids are 11 and 7, a 7th grader and a second grader.

We get up and everyone dresses and gets to their chores. I fix breakfast and we eat together. Then we try to have a little devotional.

Now, we clean up the breakfast dishes. Well, the kids really do. It's DS's job and DD is supposed to help.

Next, we all move on to the actual "school" work.

We do Math and Latin daily.

We do history and science most days.

DD does copywork most everyday and handwriting.

DS is using Classical Writing this year.

We read a lot. They have free reading during the day and for an hour at night before bed (DD is jut 30mins at night). We also are doing some read alouds, which they love.

We do a lot of volunteer work for our church on an almost weekly basis.

Friday, we try to have a bit of a fun day. We go somewhere, to a park or something and enjoy nature.

We throw art and music in there a lot too.

Well, I don't know if it's typical or not and I don't know if it's enough either but now it's what we are doing. What is your typical day like?

Homeschool Meme
Athena over at Athena in a Minivan tagged me with this one. This one is not easy for me.

1) ONE HOMESCHOOLING BOOK YOU HAVE ENJOYED Latin Centered Curriculum and Whe Well-Trained Mind

2) TWO RESOURCEs YOU WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT The internet and our library

3) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH YOU HAD NEVER BOUGHTT 6th Grade Rod and Staff We hated it but I know others really like. Just not for us.

4) ONE RESOURCE YOU ENJOYED LAST We really loved reading some of the books on the reading lists in "The Well Trained Mind".

5) ONE RESOURCE YOU WILL BE USING NEXT YEARAmblesideOnline.com for the book lists and also Virtual Homeschool International for our science

6) ONE RESOURCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY I don't know. Hmm. Lots of books!!

7) ONE RESOURCE YOU WISH EXISTED Something to tell me exactly what do with each child for each subject. But I doubt I would really like that. I don't really like being told what to do. HA

8) ONE HOMESCHOOLING CATALOGUE YOU ENJOY READING Memoria Press

9) ONE HOMESCHOOLING WEBSITE YOU USE REGULARLY Ambleside Online and Virtual Homeschool International

10) TAG FIVE OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS I honestly don't know 5 other homeschoolers! So... if you are reading here and you homeschool consider yourself tagged!

Good Sunday afternoon! I just wanted to share a website again. I found it about this time last year and I used it a little but forgot about it. I've found it again and plan on using it a lot more this year. They have some interesting textbooks and some great links for teaching.

Virtual Homeschool International

It's $20 for a year for a family but there is lots of great resources.

Have a great week!

We are working but it almost seems too easy. That worries me.

DD is loving it. You should see her during the days. She is so funny and active. She almost runs from one lesson to the next and wants to read every time in between! She is doing great. It's almost too easy.

DS is doing great too. He takes forever to do his math and complains a lot but is doing much better than he was just a couple of weeks ago.

They both want to read, read, and read. We do a lot of it. I've started reading a book to them. It's a little easy for DS but it's perfect for DD. I figure that we can rotate the level of books for them. They both just love it and they enjoy a read-a-loud. They both do a lot of reading on their own too.

I feel like we need to more, since it's been seeming so easy. I worry we aren't doing enough or covering enough. I hope we are and I just have to trust we are.

Good morning friends,

It's been a while since I last posted here. Sorry about that. We been pretty busy with the homeschooling. Having them both home is ... hmmm... not harder .... but much more time consuming. I run from child to child all day. Helping here and there.

DD needs much more instruction than DS. She is just a second grader. She loves to read though and is always quick to say, "I need to do my free reading!" Too funny.

DS is struggling a little with math. Not that it is too hard, he just does not like math so he won't stay focused on it.

With DS we are trying some new stuff. He's using the "Classical Writing" program. I started him with Aesop B. Some of it is too easy but other parts are really good. And you know what, he had his first writing assignment and really enjoyed doing it. It was easy but I have a hard time getting him to do any writing! He did type it but hey, at least he was writing!! He has a wonderful imagination too.

DD is doing great. She loves homeschooling. Some of the math is a little too easy but it's review for now, it will get harder and then because of the review, it won't be hard.

I want us to read more. I am going to make a list of books to take with me to the library and we are going to try to have family reading more often. I have a hard time finding time to fit in everything. I need to work on that. I've been listening to the children talk and listening when we play games to see what they seem to be missing and I think reading some "good books" as a family should help with most of it.

We are loving Latin but I'm afraid they are passing me by. I'm going to have to take more time alone to learn it better myself. Because of the Latin, we are studying Rome too. We are reading "Famous Men of Rome". I think they are enjoying it. It is different.

I've been thinking of looking back at Ambleside Online again. It just seemed so hard to start in the middle with DS but I may just try to use it for the book lists and then you never know. I'm not good at making my own lessons either so that was another factor. But anyway....

We are doing well and enjoying it. Tell us about what you are doing. Maybe could learn from each other.

Have a wonderful day,
Your blogland friend.

First week back...

It was our first week back at our school work. It went pretty well. DD really enjoyed it and really only had one or two bad moments. DS did too but had a few more bad moments. I think it is called growing pains.

We love Latin! Who'd a thunk?? (hehehe) They both just blow me away. I'm having to do a little extra studying at night after they go to bed to stay on top of it though. The boy is awesome! He can conjugate like crazy and only needs to hear it once or twice and he's got it! He just rattles it off like it's his native tongue! Me? I have to think about it and say it much slower but I do have it. DD's is much simpler. She is doing extremely well too I love that the English grammar is built into it. Multitasking. It can be awesome!

The rest is going well too. DD loves math and is loves what she is doing. DS? Well, let's just say it's not his favorite subject. If he could just read for math he'd be good.

We all love history and literature so that is easy. We do it with out even thinking! Science we have been finding in everyday things and they enjoy that.

I guess that's our week in nutshell. I hope it continues to go well. Mom didn't have much if any free time this week but hopefully as we get settled into our routine I'll have a little more.

Whew! What a day we had. It went pretty well. We have almost all new curriculum so it is a little overwhelming for the teacher but I think kids enjoyed it all. Once I get used to the new stuff and how it all works it will be fine I'm sure.

We also went visiting to one of our shut-ins. It was fun and we really enjoyed it. This man is retired military and so it is fun for us to talk and compare experiences (we don't have nearly as many as him but...) and the kids really enjoyed it too.

We also went to the bookstore this evening. That's always a fun trip. We all love to go and browse. DD got 2 new "Magic Tree House" books. She is really enjoying them. She just finished the first one and tonight started the second one. Some of the words are a little hard for her and silly kid just tried to read it by skipping over them. I told her not to do that anymore. She needs to either ask for help or go get the dictionary!

DS is reading a book too and is really enjoying. I can't think of the name of it at the very second.

ME??? I'm just reading all the curriculum so that I know what to do each day!!! I'll get down to a science soon and we will be good.

Well, tomorrow will be our first day of this school year. I'm hoping that we are ready. DD is very excited, DS is not as much so but I did catch him looking through his new books today.

I worked today to get an area set up for us. Last year, I used a box but it didn't work too well for us. It was was too messy. Now we have a cabinet for our books and notebooks and supplies and it is located right by the kitchen table which is usually our work area so there will never be an excuse not to get things put a way. Everything has a place.

I got a new program for the computer that will hopefully help keep me better organized. I've planned the first two days. I want wait to see how we work before I plan more than a few days at a time. That may sound dumb but this year is going to be so different having them both home. I'm not really sure how we will get it all done. With them being so far apart in age I'll be having to work with them a lot separately and DD will need a lot of one on one. DS will too at first because we are using some new curriculum so until he gets used to it... so I'm not sure how it will go so we are just going to go a couple days at a time for now.

Well, I need to go do some reading for tomorrow... nothing like waiting till the last minute! Wish us luck!

Christmas???

It feels like it at my house! I got my swap last week and now the homeschool curriculum is coming in all the time! It's wonderful! I love mail and packages are even better.

The kids are even getting excited about it all. DD got her Math stuff today. She is beside herself! Even DS came running out saying, "I want to see her math!! What's it look like?" Then he was slightly disappointed because he thinks hers looks neater than his. I told him it was the age difference but still. hehe

We are expecting 5 more packages I think. I think they excited about it!!

We are going to start school on Monday. I know that when DH gets back there will be some days we won't get a lot done so I figure we will get started a little early.

We've actually already started. I've added in a little here and there and they haven't really seemed to notice. To funny. Not full days or anything like that but enough that it is school. Yesterday DD had science and DS participated but not as thoroughly. We found a beautiful locust next a newly discarded shell. It was really neat and DD thought it awesome!! She drew a picture of it. Maybe I'll start scanning some of their work and put it on here. Who knows.

Anyway, DS then proceeded to catch it in a jar so that they could observe it. Later in the day they let it go. DD also had some reading.

They played games yesterday, that in my opinion count as math and logic. Then today we've had music and will have some reading here in a bit. They are actually having fun. It's great. Schooling is found in most everything you do. Just look for it.

Now if only the lawnmower kid would come!! Have a great day!

Life at my house lately...

It's been busy and different. Somewhat stressful at times and then again exciting.

DH's time overseas is coming to a close. YEA!!! Not too much longer and then we will finally be together again. This is the cause for the excitement and the stress. I'll be so glad to have him home.

Things have a changed around here a bit though in last year and I worry about that. For the most part, I like the changes that have occurred here. But I worry about how DH will take to it. Also, I've been a single parent for a year and it will be hard in some ways to relinquish some of that... what's the word... authority? I'm not sure if that's the word I'm looking for or not but that will be hard in some ways but great in others.

Don't get me wrong. I'm so very ready for my husband to come back home to us. I need him in such a bad way. I want him here to take some of the weight off my shoulders. You know so that we can be a couple again, a team. I'm really excited about it but there are the fears...

We usually do pretty good about the "reintegration" (that's what the army calls it). But for some reason I think we've already started having some little, minor problems with it and he's not even home yet!! Maybe it's good that it is starting now. Maybe this way we can get it out of the way and then when he gets home it will be over with, well, at least some of it.

Well, that's that part of our house... the other is the buying of the homeschool curriculum. Boy, can I go over board. I've spent around $300 so far. I'm hoping that I don't have much more to buy and then it won't be so bad. I will have to buy DS a new math book around Christmas time but hopefully that's it.

It's been both a fun and scary process. You know, you hate to ruin your kids! This homeschooling thing puts everything right on you and you can't blame anyone if things don't go well. Hence the scary part. But I love looking at all that's out there. I'm a book junkie and so I can really get caught up with the literature purchases. But for now I think I'm done.

Well, this is where we are and what we've been up to. So much to take in and experience. How are all of you? Is there anyone out there?

I woke up a earlier in the week to the realization that my baby boy is no longer. It is now a nice young MAN! He's almost a teenager. It made me very sad. I miss my baby boy. Don't get me wrong. It's wonderful to see him grow into a young man but... it's still sad to see the baby go.

DD and I had a wonderful week together. She shopped her little heart out as well as my bank account! She bought all the stuff for manicures and pedicures and we even had face masks! She had so much fun! She played with my hair and helped plan menus. She went to church meetings with me. It was great!

Now, I need to make up for too much fun and get my house straightened back up again. I also need some rest! I'm so tired.

We had a VTC with DH yesterday. It was wonderful to see him. I'm missing him. (Nothing new I know.) We don't seem to hearing from him as often. That's okay because we are fortunate that I hear from as often as I do but I sure do love hearing from him!

Well, I guess you are all updated for now. Let me know what's going on with all of you!

I'm still here dear friends! Just busy enjoying my family. I'll return soon, when things slow down a bit. I have much to blog about.

In the mean time... what's going on with all of you?

Dreams of the country???

Crazy, I know. But I have always had dreams of living in the country.

When I was little we had a farm. We didn't live on it. There was a trailer on the property where we stayed sometimes on the weekends and during the summer.

I loved it there. We had chickens, cows and pigs. We had a garden too. I remember riding my bicycle all over the place. My brother had a paper route and we kept the extra papers. I took them out there and made myself my own route. You know, the garden, the chickens, the pigs and then the cows. I loved it.

I loved the garden. But I remember that I didn't like snakes and I still don't! I remember coming out one day and seeing a huge snake skin hanging from the telephone pole near the garden. It scared me to death!

I don't like little critters either. You know, mice. I once went to feed the the chickens and when I pulled the bucket out of the grain barrel, there was a mouse sitting on top!!! I remember screaming and I had a terrible time feeding the chickens from that moment on.

I loved fresh eggs but I was scared of the chickens and I would throw the feed out to them and shoo them out to eat and run into the coop and gather the eggs as fast as I could. They didn't want me to have them and when they realized what I was doing they would come back in and it scared me!!

Did I mention I was only like 7 years old? I'm not sure about the age but I know I was in the first or second grade so...

Anyway, I dream often of living out in the country. I'd love for my kids to experience it. I think it would be soooo good for them. Fun too. I know, it would be a lot of hard work but rewarding too, don't you think?

I dream of this often. Not sure DH shares this dream with me but I'm holding out hope that someday we might have a couple of acres that we can all play on and learn on.... to expand ourselves.

Dreams of the country.....

Curly top!

I love my little curly top! She slept in sponge rollers last night for the first time. She looked so cute! She loved making them bouce when she walked. We know this because as she walked down the aisle at church this morning coming back from the children's sermon, there was a definite bounce in her step.



My Princess
notice the curtsy... she did that just as I snapped the picture!
Too cute!




What a beauty!

more pictures...

What a ham!!!




Gorgeous, darling....

Happy Birthday, DH!

We love you!

late night chatting

It's late and I'm tired but I thought I send a quick hello out into cyberspace.

We've been busy but not too busy. I've been exercising when I can.

DD is feeling poorly so I've made her a Dr. Appointment for tomorrow. She's been feeling icky for about a week now. Poor baby. It's the kind of icky that just lingers. Hopefully, we will get that taken care of and she can be feeling better soon.

DS is goofy as usual. No, he's been wonderful. He is so protective and is all male! He doesn't want to be as protective and pretends not to be but then when he needs to be he is to the bone!

It's neat to see it develop. He worries about me a lot. He's not as bad as he was when DH first left but it's still there. If he hears me scream or yell at all he comes running full force! Sometimes it's funny because I'm not really screaming but laughing loudly but he worries.

He tends to want to stay near me when we are out with certain people that he thinks might even just hurt my feelings. People don't really understand it but you know, he is the man of the house right now even though I try really hard not to put that on his shoulders, he's at the age where he puts it there himself. He's not like this at church but if we are out, boy howdy! You better be nice to his momma! It's cute.

I really haven't seen this in him too much about his sister. I mean if were to see someone hurting her he would quickly put a stop to it, but he doesn't really try hard to look out for her like he does me. Well, at least not usually.

We went to eat tonight and I left them at the table for a second to go get them some milkshakes for dessert and she came to me when he wasn't looking. I was just coming around the corner but I saw the panic in his eyes when he thought someone had taken his sister. It only took him a second to see her but the panic was real. He even got on to her but walking away without telling him. I did too. I'm really quite proud of him.

Wow, for just a quick hello this has really gone on! I'm just proud of my babies. I'll have to tell you how protective the dog is later. I'm tired right now and off to dreamland. Sweet dreams dear friends!

Such a lucky girl*...

I received a very loving email from my wonderful DH and then I even got an unexpected phone call from him! He can be the sweetest when he tries and I love it when he is. It just makes my heart swell.

I know that I am very fortunate that I hear from my DH as often as I do but when I have to 2 or 3 days without hearing anything I start to ... not exactly worry, well yes, but.... well, honestly I just get cranky! Miraculously I was not really in my cranky mode yet but I could tell I was headed that way! DH saved me, or more importantly the kids, from it.

Anyway, just had to share my wonderful mood and shout to the world that my DH is AWESOME!

*I will forever consider myself a girl, I'll be 105 and still refer to myself as girl. Sorry, but it's true.

Still reading...

I just can't seem to stop! I have to break myself away to do anything. Even eat! Hey this could be a good diet for me!! Except the kids come in hungry and force me up to feed them and then I eat too.

Anyway, I'm in love with my book. Anyone else reading anything? Share, if you will, what you are reading and how you are enjoying it. Have a good night!

Getting lost in books...

Yes, I'm back to my reading... well I talked about reading on my other blog... Anyway, I love to read, to get lost in books. I frequently get lost and get so absorbed I can't do anything but read. That's kind of where I am right now.

I call it my escapism. Is that a word? I'll find out when I do spell check... anyway, it's my escape from life without DH. It's how I cope. Last time he was gone, spent close to $1000 on books. I didn't realize it until much later of course (I'd never have spent so much knowingly). I've been a lot better this time. I've been occupied reading homeschooling books and websites and lots of blogs. But I did get a good deal on some books a while back and went crazy buying them but then never got to reading them!! Crazy! But this week I've been making up for lost time!

I've also been busy writing lots of letters to DH. I love letter writing and stationary and all that goes with it. I'm not really all that eloquent but... I think it is important that DH get letters from me regularly even though we talk often and email. A handwritten letter means so much more. Well, it does to me anyway.

Then, I've also been writing in my journal. Just after Christmas, I decided to really start keeping a journal of the time while DH is away. Something he can read and maybe see some of what we experienced while he was away. Who knows if he'll ever read it but it's therapy for me.

So, I guess the point of all is that I've been keeping busy, reading and writing. So, if I'm missing for a day or two, don't worry, I'm just lost in a book.

It's HOT here!

Is it hot there? I've got a headache and think it's the heat and allergies. It's terrible. I want to take a nap but DD has other ideas. She is learning to "sew" and keeps losing her thread and so I have to re-thread her needle for her. She is so funny about it.

DS is doing ... I don't know what and he's not offering any information. We are just hanging out today. It's too hot for anything else.

Just thought I'd check in and say hello. My head hurts too much for much writing. Sorry. Maybe later.

So sad...

The news today is very distressing. I'm so sad to hear the fate of the two missing soldiers. I've thought a lot of them and their families over the last few days and I cried for them today as I heard about them. I can't imagine. It is so frightening.

But then I hear people say things about how WE don't treat people that way and maybe we should and I get so angry at them! I heard that comment today and my reply was, "You know, we are supposedly a Christian country and so hopefully as Christians we do the right thing and the treat people the way we should." The person who said it was somewhat speechless. As they should have been! It just blows my mind.

Anyway, I'm so very sad about all this and hope that everyone will keep these soldiers and their families in your prayers. Please keep all the military and their families in your prayers.


*** note: I'm not sure if this all made sense but bear with me. Hopefully anyone reading here will know what I mean to say.

Monday Morning....

I typed the title and then thought, "It's barely morning!" Oh well...

I got up this morning and exercised for about 30 minutes. YEA ME!! I hate exercise but it is necessary. Then I got the kids up and we busied ourselves with morning chores and then breakfast.

They quickly got to their Latin lessons and then some math.

Now DD and I just put the makings of some bread in the bread machine and DS is up in his room. He said to clean but I figure he's building with Lego's.

I love homemade bread. YUM!! I actually like to make it myself but it takes so much time and heats up the kitchen. So I bought myself a new bread machine for Mother's day and it's not been working out too well for me. I've thrown out 3 loaves so far. They just aren't mixing well. I can't decide if it's the recipes or the machine. The mixing is probably the machine but I've had one turn out okay but the taste was horrible! That's the recipe.

For me the whole purpose of the bread machine, is that I just throw in the ingredients and then move on to other things, but with this one I'm having to really sit and watch it. I keep having to add water as it is kneading. I never had this trouble with my last bread machine but it was really having problems at the end (it was 9 years old), that's why I got the new one. I wonder now if it is the climate here and that the old machine was fine. (I kept the old one though because it also makes butter! Love it!) Hmmmm.... Since we've lived here my bread in the machine has not turned out at all.

When you do it all by hand you can feel what needs to be done and don't really think about it so maybe that is it. The climate. But I don't really think the climate here is that different from the last place we lived. Maybe it's altitude... I don't know the altitude here or our last place we lived though so I'll never know. Any ideas?

It is cloudy here and it's making me feel tired. Clouds always bring out the worst in me. On cloudy days, I need to be alone with my thoughts or a good book. Not an easy task though. I'm afraid DS takes after me here. Poor kid. He's been cranky this morning too so the two of us together have not been fun to be around. POOR DD!!

Well, she is wanting to try the needle (she got a Sewing Kid Kit for her bday) so I'm off to help with that. What happened to alone with a book??? This will be fun though. Until next time...

Waiting...

Well, we called my Daddy and DH's dad this today and wished them both a Happy Father's Day. Now we are just waiting for DH to call so that we can wish him a Happy Father's Day but probably by the time he calls (if he calls) it will the day after there. Oh well, it's the best we can do. We sent him cards and an email and they all arrived in time so he knows we are thinking of him.

Today at church, the kids sang their VBS songs and we watched a video of the week. It was cute. Then we had a special video of fathers talking about being fathers and kids talking about their fathers. It was really nice. I got a copy to send to DH.

It is raining cats and dogs here. DD wants to go sit out on the deck and listen to it. I guess I should go and join her. That's part of the reason we covered it. So we could sit out and watch the rain. The problem is when the wind blows! Hopefully it's not blowing to hard now. Have a good day!

The finished product!

Here is the finished product. Sorry it took so long to post them. Been busy enjoying it!! Sorry they seem dark. It was 9:30 pm before I got to see the finished product myself.

It really changed the look of our home. We love it.

Last night we spent the evening out there enjoying the breeze. DS brought his Lego's out and built and DD chased fireflies, while I read a book. It was wonderful. It was very relaxing.

I out early this morning again, reading. Now I really do have a porch to share (reference to other blog talk about porch). Come share a cup of tea or soda or lemonade and sit and chat for a while!

The Process

Well, we are having a cover put on our deck today. I hope it is going to look nice. We have no shade on the deck so we can't really enjoy it until late afternoon. That will all be changed soon!! In just a few more hours to be exact! I can't quit going out to look at the work. They laugh and say just a couple more minutes. I told them I'm worse than any kid!!

Here are some pictures of the process...

If it's not one thing, it's another...

I'm telling you! Really!! Got up this morning to get ready, to take DS to his golf lessons and the car wouldn't start!! I guess the battery is dead. Don't know how that happened. I guess maybe someone left a light on, but I can't tell because there are no lights on now! So now I have to see if I can get someone to come over and hook it up to our charger. Yes, I'm one of those helpless females. Sorry girls. I've just had a man to take care of me too long, I guess.

Thankfully we have 2 vehicles, so I got DS to his lesson. DD and I went to our church which is near his lesson and practiced on the piano for a bit and then practiced her handwriting.

I'm appalled at the lack of handwriting instruction in school these days. I guess they just put the letters in front of the kids and let them figure out how to form them by themselves. And it's not just my kids either. I helped at VBS last night and watched how other children wrote and was very surprised that they don't know how to properly form their letters either.

I really believe that there is a right and a wrong way to start each letter. You should do things in a certain order and way. It makes things easier in the long run. I mean really! No wonder my kids handwriting is so messy.

So we worked on that and she didn't enjoy it but we joked about it and that made it a little better. I'll get off my soap box now...

At this moment, we are cleaning their rooms. Yes, we are still working on them. I went and bought some really pretty decorative boxes for DD's room to help her and then I bought some very masculine ones for DS's room. I get so angry when I go into their rooms. I have cleaned both their rooms spotlessly, so that everything has a place (several times!!) but they just can not pick up after themselves for anything!! Drives me crazy.

Today I bought a Flip book for them on cleaning their rooms. I hope it helps them. I ordered it online through Free Homeschool Stuff and got it free, just had to pay shipping. I've got several things through them and it works well for us. If you homeschool and you haven't ever checked them out you really should. Even if you don't homeschool, they have some really neat stuff; computer games, science kits and so on.

Well, my break is over. Have a great day!

It is a nice morning here. There is a gentle breeze that feels wonderful. It's over cast which makes me sleepy.

I'm doing okay this morning. The kids and I did our Latin lesson and then they moved into a short math lesson. Now they are working on cleaning their rooms.

Their rooms are really out of control. DS is afraid that I will come up there and "help" and he hates that so he is working a plan and told me to stay away. We'll see...

The Plan... they help each other. She is helping him now and then (supposedly) he'll help her. I told them I'm talking spotless!! I want all the corners, closets and under the bed done too! I need to run up and tell them all surfaces too!

I guess while they are doing that I can straighten up my own room and the finish going through the piles on my kitchen counters. I also need to do some laundry.

That said.... I'll guess I'll go get to it! Have a great day!

BLAH....

I'm having a bad time today. I started to say that I'm having a bad day but the day is fine. It's me.

I'm having a hard time getting over my missing DH. Not that I really get over it but I had gotten used to the feeling ~ the lonely feeling, the missing him feeling. I was used to it and could work around it but I'm feeling overwhelmed by it and am having to get used to it all over again! He was only home 2 weeks. You wouldn't think it would be too hard but it is.

I feel so sad when I wake up in the mornings, when I go to bed at night, and every time I go to cook a meal. I'm having a hard time cooking because I just get so sad. Now, I know why we had been eating out so much before he came home.

Now, he's gone again and I have to start over from the beginning. Don't get me wrong. It was wonderful to have him here to see him and be in his arms again. Wouldn't trade that, just wish it was easier to get back into my swing of being used to him being gone. (Never thought I'd say that!)

DD is having the same trouble. She was so sad at church this morning. When it came time for Sunday school she started crying. Poor baby. It took everything in me not to cry with her. She ended up staying with me for Sunday School. We have VBS tonight and I'm hoping she will be strong so she can go and have fun.

DS has just totally zoned out with technology so that he's not really given himself time to think about it. He does usually come in around bedtime and tell me he misses his dad. Tomorrow we are backing way off of technology so we'll see how he does then.

I guess that's really it. It's just BLAH here and a little sad. It will get better eventually.

Up early this morning....

I don't really know why but for some reason I was wide awake at about 5:45 am this morning!!

I got up and took the the dog out and it was such beautiful morning. The birds were chirping and singing, the squirrels were hopping from tree to tree and scurrying from here to there. It was just wonderful.

I came back in and, of course, got back in bed and played with the dog for minute and then I picked up a book.

I finally received "The Latin Centered Curriculum" by Andrew A. Campbell. It is very interesting and I'm very interested but it hasn't really talked about how to start in the middle (yet I've not finished the book). With DS being in the 7th grade that is for sure in the middle and even DD isn't at the beginning since she in the 2nd grade. So I'm not sure where exactly to start but we'll figure it out soon. I think it's what I want to do with our family so we will figure a way to make it work.

We are going to try to start our Latin this summer, on Monday to be exact. The kids are very excited. I'm a little intimidated and scared but again, we will make it work.

DD is about to bust with the excitement of her starting to homeschool. She wants to start NOW!! I've been trying to show her that we are learning in everyday things but she is in a "school" mindset so she's not sure she believes me. She is so cute and willing to learn.

DS? Well, he enjoys it but is having a love affair with the computer lately. He runs up the stairs saying, "I'm going to do history now!" Meaning that he is going to play "Civilization III" on the computer. I will admit that he is learning quite a bit from it but I wish he wasn't on the computer quite so much. I told him starting Monday, he'll be on it much less.

Our summer plans include, Latin, typing, some math and lots of reading, both family reading and reading on their own. I'm looking forward to it and I think they are too, for the most part. I'm not talking spending hours of their summer days this way just enough that we don't lose what we had (ds mostly) and move to far from our routine, so that DD can start to get used to it.

Well, I'm still trying to help the house recover from DH's visit. We've almost got it all done this morning but I do have some paperwork that is piling up that needs to be filed or shredded and just put away. I guess I best get to it so that in an hour or so we can go out and swim in the kids pool.

Have a great weekend!!!

Happy Friday!

We have a busy one planned. We've already been out to sign DS up for free golf lessons. I think he is excited about it. The lessons are just down the street from our church so I think on those days DD and I will go over there and use the piano for some lessons. We just have a keyboard so it will be good for her to use a real piano some.

We are getting ready now to mail some things at the post office. DH left sftuf behind that we are mailing him and then I have got to get DS's attendance form mailed in before I forget. I read some where that you should send a SASE and an extra copy of stuff you send in for them send back stamped filed so that you have proof and to also mail it certified with return receipt. Sounds excessive but I guess better safe than sorry so I'll be doing both. Do any of you do all this? If not what do you do?

DD has a birthday party tonight and I have a thing at the church for me and DS. He doesn't want to go but I just can't leave him at home at night. It wasn't well announced so maybe no one will come. Is that awful? I love doing stuff with the church and all but some times I just want to be at home. Especially after telling DH bye. I need that time alone, you know? This was on the calendar before DH came home and I'm supposed to be one of the people in charge. So... we'll go and I'm sure we will have a great time.

Well, that's about it here. How is everyone out there?

Hello dear cyber friends!

Well, DH was home for R&R the last two weeks. We took him back to the airport this morning. It was very hard to let him go again. We had a great time and really enjoyed being together again.

We did so much. DD had her dance recital and that was great. Then we had her birthday party a few days later. She had a great time.

We also had a fun trip to the zoo, and to a science center nearby. We did some shopping and some window shopping. We went to the movies. We scheduled some home improvements and just spent time playing and talking.

He's only been gone a few hours and I miss him so very much already. The kids are really having a hard time but in a day or two we will settle back down into our routine again and we will be fine.

DD is very excited about homeschooling and keeps asking when it's going to start counting for her days of homeschool. It's so funny!! We were playing a kind of game and they were laughing and having such a great time. I told DD, "Hey! Can you believe that we having this much fun homeschooling?" She giggled and smiled. It's great!

Well, I guess I've really updated you for now. I hope all is well with all my dear cyber friends. Until next time....

Good Saturday morning, dear cyber friends.

Well, public schools here are now out for summer vacation! Yea!! DD is home now. We are very excited.

We've decided to try our hand at Latin so I've ordered a program and we will start it this summer. It will probably be a little too easy for DS but DD wants to do it too so... I figure that DS can work through it faster if he wants. I just didn't want it to be too much and us give up on it, so I think this is the best option for us. Check back later though and I might tell a different story. hehehe

We are spending the day cleaning house. I want to start our summer out right and see if I can get them on a routine of chores. I'm terrible about this myself so any suggestions would be great.

I best get back to work. Have a fantabulous weekend!

You're Invited!!

You are invited to an Usborne Books e-Show to explore the world of Usborne Books. A child's interest in reading and learning is stimulated by the lavish illustrations and informative content. There are over 1300 bright, colorful and fun titles covering activities, puzzles and a wide range of subjects for children of all ages.

Usborne Books - the books kids love to read!

Place: www.ubah.com/HOS59162

When: Today thru 5/26/2006 11:59:00 PM

Everyone is welcome, so invite a friend.It's a rewarding experience when a child opens a book and discovers the magic of reading.

These are great books for homeschooling! We use and like them a lot. The 10 Terrific Weeks that they offer are pretty neat too. I hope you will come check it out!

Neglect...

I know. I've really neglected this blog. I'm sorry. No excuse really. I've been trying to get some things done around here. Not very successfully, I might add.

We've been slowing down and trying to make things more relaxed. I'm not sure that is the right way to put it but for now... it will do.

I'm looking into the Latin-centered curriculum. DS is very interested in learning Latin AND Greek. It is very interesting and I'm trying to learn what I can about it but I'm not sure where to start since he is older. I seem to be having that problem with what ever curriculum I look at these days. I guess I should say style not curriculum. There are so many styles out there. Many of them have cross overs so you can incorporate several of them together. I just need to learn how to do that!

I'm thinking of ordering Prima Latina. I know that it is a little young for DS but I thought I'd use it for both DS and DD (she's homeschooling soon too!!). I thought we might start this summer and just do a little each day. DS might move more quickly through it than DD and that's okay. I just thought since it was aimed at the younger grades it might be a good summer time program. You know not too hard that it would make him lose interest.

I don't know. I still can't decide about history next year. We are going to move into the Middle Ages. We really enjoyed it when I just found things for us to do and read but I worry if I'm showing him everything, or leaving something out. We were thinking about SOTW. It says that it can be used with older children but I don't want him to be bored. I may use it as an outline to follow and then still do our own thing. The History Odyssey was just more than he wants. He gets bored after being on one subject for too long or when it makes him move on before he's ready so... Plus he hates some the activities.

We'll be sticking with our Saxon math. It seems to work pretty well for us. Science? Not sure again. But we will figure that out.

So... I guess we are where we always are. Still trying to figure things out for us. That may be a never ending process...

Well, I know I've been away for a while. No good excuse, just been quiet. Well, I say quiet but I should say quiet on here. My home has been filled with lots of laughter.

Things have been going really well. We've been going pretty easy on the homeschooling front. We've been letting things go pretty much how ever they go and you know what? It's working well for us! I've still been kind scared and worried but... our days are much more pleasant and learning still happens. I never really wanted to "do school" at home but because of fears that's usually what we do. This week we have found kind of a pleasant medium. It's been nice.

Well, my morning will be coming extra early so I best get to bed. I'll try to come back and post more this weekend about what we've been doing. Have a great night!

A MESS

Well, DS was working on his math this morning and couldn't find this and that so that he could get it finished and so I HAD HAD MY FILL WITH HIS MESS!!!

So, I went up stairs to where we've been keeping his homeschooling things and we got busy and organized and cleaned! It looks great and it all has a place now. Hopefully, he will keep it neat and better organized now.

Now, we didn't get much "school" work done but we did have a lesson on organization and tidiness. It was past time for it.

I feel like we really need to get this under control before DD comes home with us next year. I'm not the most neat person either though so I need to get myself under control and get a better routine.

Lead by example, right?!

Not the best day...

No, it really wasn't the best day and yet we got a lot done. DS is just very careless in his work. He knows how to do it he just doesn't put his all in his work.

In his math he does silly mistakes or sometimes just does half the problem! It is driving me crazy. I've shortened his lessons thinking that maybe they were just too much and he was losing interest or something but that didn't help. I've been making him redo his work when he gets a lot wrong to be sure that his mistakes are really careless and that he does understand and almost always that is the case. I keep hoping that knowing that if he is careless he will have to redo it, will help him get it right the first time but it doesn't. I just don't know what to do at this point.

In his other work, he is just messy! I need advice!! Anyone out there have any?? He's 11 and in the 6th grade. We are using....

Saxon Math 7/6
Learning Language Arts through Literature The Tan Book (6th grade)
History Odyssey the Ancients level two
For Science we are using something from Usborne Books - 10 Terrific Weeks of the Human Body

He plays handbells and is reading music there and he is learning the guitar. We really need to do more of music and art study but right now it's not there for us. His history does talk a little about this but just a little.

Anyway, friendly advice is welcome.

We had home economics today. We planned our menus for the week and then made a grocery list. We then went and bought our groceries. DS was so funny looking for just the right stuff and wanting to find what was cheaper (unless he wanted it and then price was no object. hehehe). It was fun. Then he helped me to put all the groceries away.

When we finished he got busy doing his school work. He did pretty good. It was slow starting but he worked hard. Then he and his sister played together outside and in the basement. When his Dad called he visited with him. After dinner we all went for a walk and it was very nice. He's doing great.

We are looking forward to have DD home with us too next year.

What a week!

The first of the week was okay. Things went well. DS was getting his work done well and we were working together and it was great. Then came Wednesday night.

DS got hurt at church. He's okay now and still has somethings that need be done but he is basically okay. He has some pain and this morning he was very ill but it passed and he seems almost his old self.

So what does this mean to our homeschooling plan? Well, Thursday was nearly shot but we did watch a cartoon version of the Odyssey. He couldn't help himself from talking about it and comparing it to the book. He told me what was wrong, different and how. He actually learned a lot at the dentist too.

I guess you could say that we definitely had real life learning. He did "work" (winking) on the computer some today with a game called "Civilization III". Which he loves and he loves to talk about it too.

Ah.... the blessings of homeschooling... not having to worry about missing a day and having a ton of make-up work. Don't get me wrong... he'll have to get that work done that he missed but "school" contiued even though he wasn't able to do the "work". He had real life learning experiences. It's so funny to hear him even on the weekend say, "Hey, we just had science!" Or "Hey, this goes along with what we've been doing in history." or "It's like when Daniel, in "The Bronze Bow" did this..." I just love it.

Tonight we were watching "The Chronicles of Narnia" again and at the spot where Jadis is leaving after speaking to Aslan, DS says, you know that's kind of like the Last Supper there. Then he said, when Susan and Lucy were walking with Aslan through the woods, this is like when Jesus was going to pray before they took him. It was neat to see him finding different spots of symbolism than he noticed the first time we saw it.

Yes, our plan didn't quite make it but I feel like we had just as good if not better learning going on during this time. On my other blog I've been trying to regularly post things I have going for me. Well, today I need to add....
6. Homeschooling!!!

Good night dear cyber friends. Have a good weekend and a very Happy Easter!

This week....

Okay, well, last week was okay. It started out pretty good but he ended up getting a little behind. He gets so caught up sometimes. I'm not sure how this is going to work for us. I gave he an assignment sheet that what I wanted done by Friday and well, he got up at 5 am to finish this morning. I told him if it wasn't all done by 9:00am today he'd lose his PS2 and the computer. I think it is done now and he even got started on today's work (a little) until he fell back to sleep.

So, this week we are doing muscles in Science, Greeks daily life and Sports and Entertainment in History, rhyming rhythms and schemes and dialect in Language Arts, and he is hopefully going to finish the Iliad this week. We will also be doing lots of Math to include a test. Should be a good week. I hope we can do better this week in following our plan. A plan might not be right for us but we are going to try.

Have a great week!

Learning this week???

There's lots to learn this week! I've got to try to get better organized. We do a lot of work and he is learning so much but we often get off track. So, this week I'm going to put it down on paper what I want accomplished this week and hopefully it will get done. I'm going to say that the minimum has to be done by Friday night or he'll be working over the weekend. We'll see how that goes. This way he can do it at his own speed and when he's feeling able.

This week we will be studying the Greeks and their literature. We will also be studying the human body some more. We have a cool experiment to do with an egg about calcium and your bones. Then we will have an investigation on Data collection and Surveys and work some on percentages and fractions. He will also finish his research assignment and write it up formally for me.

whew! We better have a really good breakfast in the morning! :o) I'll let you know how it goes.

Am I alone in this??? I go in spurts with the curriculum. I love to look at all of it and want to buy, buy, buy. I get to worrying that what we are doing isn't enough. I'm such a worrier.

I know my son is learning. He is learning so much but I worry it's not what he should be or even worse.... that it's not what the kids in school are learning. I know that is nonsense. Who cares right? Well, next year he has to take a standardized test and I worry. Yes, already, I'm worrying about a test that's not until next year. Crazy I know but I'm worrier.

His math is going great and I know that he can read and understand just about anything but we've been lax in Science and I know that what we've been doing in History is different from what they are teaching in school (although what we are doing in History is great and he is just soaking it all up!!).

Anyway, does anyone else do this? I'm constantly looking at different curriculum wondering if it is better than what we are using or looking at different styles of homeschooling and wondering if we should switch or if it would be better for us. Questions, questions, I've constantly got questions.

Hello cyber friends! Well, last week we learned a lot about painting. We painted the kitchen and the deck. What would you call that... home ec? no, art? I don't know, but we spent most of the week on it.

This week we are starting a new science topic. We are going to do 10 weeks of the human body. FUN!! I bought the "10 Terrific Weeks" program from Usborne books for us to use. I think it will be good and seems like fun.

We'll continue on with our regular stuff too. We are finally getting to the Greeks in History and I know DS is excited about it. He's been dying for them since we started!! It seemed to take him forever to get here. Because he wanted to get here so bad he had a hard time getting into the other stuff and so it took him forever to get past them but here we are.

I'm getting ready to start putting together a scrapbook of our year together doing this homeschooling thing. I'm learning that I need to take more pictures and be more organized for next year.

We will have DD home next year too. That will be Fun, interesting, and a lot of hard work!! I'm looking forward to it though. I've already got our history picked out for next year and maybe our science too. I'm ready to get started now. Hmmm... I guess you can see where DS gets his impatience!! Shame on me...

Hope all is going well with my dear friends out her in cyber space... Take care until next time....

Burn out?

No, not really but I'm feeling very cranky and DS is feeling really lazy and has an attitude this week. He's been slow and careless. It's driving me insane! How do you take a break and still do school? Now, that didn't make any sense!

I've been thinking a lot about next year. DD will probably be home with us too. She'll be in 2nd grade and DS will be in 7th. I've been thinking a lot more about unit studies but I'm not sure about it. I really like the classical approach, although I do it lightly.

Things really are going well, I just get frustrated and so does he. I really need to look into all our options. I'm not sure we like the History Odyssey. There are parts we enjoyed but not much. We really enjoyed just doing it on our own but I worried so much about not covering what needed to be covered. So anyway, we will probably be looking for something else for DS. I may use TWTM books (can't think of what they are called) for DD. I wish they had something for the older kids too.

Hmmm... now that I mention it, I may try their grammar for DD too. DS has been using "Language Arts Through Literature" this year and we like it for the most part but I may keep my mind open to TWTM curriculum that they have out there. (Meaning Susan Wise Bauer and Jesse Wise books that follow their book TWTM.)

Anyway, just thoughts for today. Frustrations and nerves are high in this house today. We need DH home and no more sickness. We need spring.

DD has been home all this week so far. She has Croup. Poor thing. I thought she might go to school today but it was not the cards for us. She had a very rough and long night. Her fits of coughing were terrible. I think, hope, pray that she will be back at school tomorrow. Times like these I really wish that we had just taken her out of school too but we didn't want to force her. Anyway....

DS is working very slowly this week. I don't know if has something to do with DD being home or if it's just a slow week. He gets all his work done but it takes most of the day. (Usually he's done by 1 or so.) His heart just isn't in it. He's doing well though and has been working mostly on his own. I just answer his questions as he has them or help him look them up or whatever.

Me? Well, I'm feeling rather poorly so I'm napping when I can and drinking lots of water. I've been reading again which I truly love and am glad I'm making the time to do it more. That's really it here. How are you all doing?

Well, DD will be home again tomorrow. She has a terrible cough and fever with a headache too. Poor kid. We're going to the Dr. in the morning but I'm sure they will just tell us to let it take it's course.

I'm going to get some work together for DS to take with us to the Dr's. Not sure what yet but I'll think of something. Probably, math and reading. That's the easiest thing to take I think. I'll take books to read DD and maybe a puzzle book too. It always helps things go better when we have something to keep them busy while we wait. I'm not sure DD will be up to anything but reading but DS can do his.

It's times like this that I'm glad I homeschool DS and wish DD did too. It makes things easier and they don't miss school because we can take it with us or do it at a different time during the day or even adjust the lesson so that they can get it in with minimal effort but still learning.

I'm looking forward to this week and what our homeschooling will bring. What will yours bring?

Spring is in the air... well, for today anyway! I'm getting spring fever. The kids want to be outside always! I want to work on the house and the yard. I'm really not very good at either.

We had horticulture today. I think DS enjoyed it for a while but then he came to me and said, "I'm going to get started on my math now." Too funny!

I'm really not very good at yard work. For one thing it really hurts my back. Besides that though, I just don't know what I'm doing. I was really just trying to clean the beds out so that new growth could start but I'm afraid that I may have pulled some of that new growth out. But regardless, it was good to be outside in the sunshine for a while and spend that time with DS.

We also went to the library this afternoon. That was nice. DS read a juvenile version of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" last month and now wants to read the real thing. He's so funny. He loves to read.

We've been doing a lot of talking about writing. DS hates to write. He loves to tell stories but absolutely hates to write. He hates to write anything at all. We've tried the journal thing but he doesn't do it. So I'm at a loss. While we were outside this morning, he kept asking somewhat philosophical questions. I told him that those would be good things to write about in his journal. Pose the question in his journal and then write about the different answers or thoughts. Well.... total no go. He has a big writing assignment coming up and it is going to be like pulling teeth to get him to do but... I've got a good pair of pliers!

Today

It's been a good day for homeschooling. Other things have been tough but homeschooling as been pretty good.

We read TSOM together today. It was very interesting. We read the chapter on the Rise of the Church.

He took 2 math tests today. We accidentally forgot to take one when it was time. He got a 95 and 90. Pretty good, I think. If only he wasn't careless we'd have 100's but at least it minimal carelessness.

He took a spelling test and did great on the words (didn't miss any) but he made a few mistakes on the dictation. Nothing major though. Still over all he got a 95. Then he continued on with his lesson from "Language Arts Through Literature".

His reading is going really well. He is reading "Stories from the Iliad and the Odyssey" by G. Chandon. He is really enjoying it and wants to read the real thing next. He loves to read and would do nothing but read for school if I let him.

Science actually happened purely by accident! We were talking about his plant and the uses it has. We were looking in a book about alternative cures and he just started reading the index and as he found something interesting he would read it to me and we would talk about it. We ended up talking about (besides the rosemary) asthma and the lungs, strains and sprains and R.I.C.E. It was actually pretty fun. He quizzed me on some of it to see what I knew too. Some of the medications he was on when he was sick were in there and he was able to look them up and see what all they are used for and how that was different or alike what he was taking it for himself.

He finished off writing in his journal and is now outside in the beautiful sunlight playing with the dog.

Hello friends. Well, we went out yesterday looking for a new bar stool and to see if we could find some books or magazines on container gardening. We ended with a rosemary plant and a strawberry plant. I looked at a couple of books about vegetable gardening and got some good information. We looked at different pots and such. It was fun. DD is just dying to get started. DS is is too but he's concerned that he might have to eat what they grow. He is totally against this! He hate veggies. (I've failed him there.) Anyway, today after church we planted their plants into new bigger pots. They had fun and wanted me to take pictures of them. They are very excited.

I'm taking it easy today. Just goofing on here. I need to put in a load of laundry though. I'm really sitting around waiting for DH (dear husband) to call. We've had a very hard time connecting lately and I'm missing him terribly. He called today while we were at church. I didn't have good service and he couldn't hear me so we didn't get to talk. So I'm hoping for him to call back soon. Hopefully before I have to leave to take DS to church for guitar lessons and Youth group.

I'm also sitting here reading my book that I'll be teaching from for VBS this summer. It looks interesting and I think the kids will enjoy it. That's really it here. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

DD is home today...

Good morning, dear friends! DD is home sick today. Her tummy is hurting really bad. She vomited a few times a few days ago but the pain is lingering. A friend at church last night told me that the virus that's going around lingers for 10 days. Hopefully NOT! and she will be able to get rested and feel well enough to go back to school tomorrow. (For the new visitors, I homeschool DS who is 11 and in the 6th grade. DD is still in public school 1st grade by her choice.)

DS is busy correcting a couple of mistakes from yesterday's math lesson. They were just careless but I still want him to be able to figure it out and NOT be careless. We will do some history and language today also (he'll do another lesson in math too) and then I'm going to try to slip in some science as well.

I'm ready for spring! I want to go outside and clean up the yard and flower beds for the new growth to come. That's science right? I can't wait for a warm afternoon to do all this in. DD wants to plant some veggies. I don't really have a place to do a real garden so we are going to try our hand at container gardening. I definitely do not have a green thumb so I'm hoping DD will.

We tried a container garden when we lived in Hawaii when my son was little (DD was a baby so she doesn't remember it) and we grew a few things. I hope we can do better this time. I wonder if my kids will eat veggies better if they are the ones growing them? hmmm... I hope so!

If anyone has any tips for our container garden please share them!!! We can use all the help we can get!! We are thinking of trying zucchini, squash, carrots, cherry tomatoes and I'm not even sure what we can do. Tip away!!

Menu/Meal Meme

A new blog (Sunny Day) that I've been reading lately has decided they want to know about my kitchen and tagged me in this list so here it goes.

1. How many meals does most of your family eat at home each week? How many are in your family? Hard one! There are 4 in our family, that's easy. Meals at home? Well, DH is home we eat at home most nights with the exception of Sunday lunch and probably at least once on Saturday. BUT when DH is gone we eat out much more often. My kids are very picky and to be honest, I don't like to cook unless my food is appreciated so....

2. How many cookbooks do you own? Too many! I love cookbooks

3. How often do you refer to a cookbook each week? Unfortunately rarely. My family likes to stick with what they know.

4. Do you collect recipes from other sources? If so, what are some of your favorite sources I get a lot of recipes from my mother and recipezaar online. Also places like, BettyCrocker.com and others like it.

5. How do you store those recipes? So embarrassing! On scraps of paper from my mom and other live people. I do print out recipes from online and put them in a notebook (well, I don't always get them in the notebook. Sometimes, like now, I have a pile of them.)

6. When you cook, do you follow the recipe pretty closely, or do you use recipes primarily to give you ideas? well, I usually follow a recipe but I do leave out ingredients we don't like and sometimes add. I usually just cook from my head (no written recipe).

7. Is there a particular ethnic style or flavor that predominates in your cooking? If so, what is it?Oh, we like TexMex and Italian and Asian but we eat a lot of noodles (with butter or cheese)

8. What's your favorite kitchen task related to meal planning and preparation? I don't know that I have one! To read this you wouldn't think I love to cook! I do! I guess I love looking at recipes. And yes, I love eating.

9. What's your least favorite part? Cleaning up

10. Do you plan menus before you shop? Sometimes. When I'm being really good I do but lately... no My problem is I plan menus and then when the family asks what's for dinner and I tell them, they say oh, I don't feel like that tonight. DH is the worst about this!!!

11. What are your three favorite kitchen tools or appliances? Hmm... I like my baking stone and the dishwasher is pretty handy...

12. If you could buy one new thing for your kitchen, money was no object, and space not an issue, what would you most like to have? Double ovens for the holidays!! I'd love a new refrigerator

13. Since money and space probably are objects, what are you most likely to buy next? Appliance wise? An new frig but it won't be for quite a while.

14. Do you have a separate freezer for storage? We have a VERY old extra refrigerator in the basement but no stand a lone freezer

15. Grocery shop alone or with others? Since homeschooling DS usually goes with me

16. How many meatless main dish meals do you fix in a week? None, we are definitely carnivores Well, at breakfast we usually have pancakes or cereal and don't always have bacon but that would be a side so....

17. If you have a decorating theme in your kitchen, what is it? Favorite kitchen colors? My kitchen is the way it was when we bought the house. It's mainly white (counter tops) and the cabinets are natural with wood flooring. I would love a yellow kitchen though.

18. What's the first thing you ever learned to cook, and how old were you? I have no idea! Probably mac and cheese

19. How did you learn to cook? My mom I'm sure. I do remember a kids cookbook I had.

20. Tag two other people to play.

DesertShams and WendyLou