Getting ready....

For next year that is. I spent most of last week looking at new curriculum for next year. I think we are pretty decided and it is going to cost us pretty penny but with DS starting High School so I want really good stuff.

So, we will be using TRISMS for our main curriculum for DS and I'll incorporate DD into it. Then we are looking at using Teaching Textbooks for Geometry and High School Physical Science in your Home. We will probably use an online French course as well. We are also going to try incorporate some Waldorf methods in as well. For DD we will get a 4th grade Waldorf syllabus but still try to incorporate her into some of DS's work on her level for some subjects.

I'm really looking forward to it all a lot. I always look forward to a new year.

Anyone out there use the Waldorf method and TRISMS? I'd love to hear from you.

So much going on...

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. DH left for Afghanistan last week and so we were very busy trying to get in as much family time as possible before hand.

We did have a lot of good times and also some sad ones as we told him good bye.

We took last week off from school to be with him as much as possible but we are back at it this week. I have found a new site that is kind neat. It's called Free World U . We've been using the science for both kids and I think they picking up on it well. Science is our weak spot. I don't care much for it and neither does DS. Poor DD is missing out and I really need to work on this but for now this is going pretty good. DD has been rotating it and reading a little science book.

We've been taking some little practice tests to see where we are and where standardized tests think we should be. We have them scheduled in May so...

Well, that's it for now. Please keep my DH in your prayers and our little family too. The kids took his deployment pretty hard this time.

Update

Well, we are doing good. The kids are progressing well. DS took an Algebra test today and did great. DD is feeling poorly today but she is doing well in at her school work. They both make me so proud every day.

DD, 8, came in the other day and said, "Mom, I really don't understand all this primary stuff. Could we please work on that? I think I need to know what's going on. I also need to more know more about the people running. I can't make a very good decision now. I just know the names you say and I should know for myself."

HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!!

DS, 13, has been watching the debates and is very opinionated about it all also. And I'm proud to say that he has formed his own opinions about the candidates.

Needless to say, I have purchased a unit study on the election process. I have to that sound good so I've purchased one for the now and then I will get the other for the fall.

Well, I feel like this is a nice little update. I'd love to hear how anyone is doing.

Doing Great!

The first few days "back at school" have been going great!! They have been working so hard and getting everything done in such a timely manner. I'm so very proud of them!! We have even been able to get History and Science done before lunch!! Very unusual for us. We've been having fun too.

I told them that if they continue to get everything done in such a timely manner that we can add some more subjects that are fun stuff to our day and they are all for that. I hope they keep this up!

Well, just wanted to do a quick update. Have a great Wednesday!

Good Morning, dear Homeschooling friends! Well, we are back at school this week. I think everyone enjoyed their time off but were ready to get back to it. How wonderful is that???

DH will be deploying shortly and so we took off from school while he was on leave for the last month or so. It was wonderful. The kids both had some wonderful quality time with their dad which was very important, especially for DS. I'm so glad that they had the time together with out having to worry about school work or anything. It was very nice. And yes, I too had some wonderful quality time with DH and the kids too.

This morning we started the kids on their Financial Peace plan and they are really excited! Me too. It was so fun to see them planning and wanting to do right with their money.

They are both busy now on their language arts and math. DD just jumped right in this morning. She was excited to get back to her language arts. DS is feeling a little puny with a cold so he's moving a little more slowly but I think he too is ready to be back at it.

We are heading into the Revolutionary War soon so we are finishing up with Colonial America. We did a lot of that last year so we are touching on it here and there. We are using Learning Through History Magazine and I'm excited to get started with it.

We have got to move on with our Science but it will probably start tomorrow. I need to see what I have planned (or plan it).

It's good to be back at it. I hope you all are doing well too. I'll try to be better at up dating here.

Happy New Year!!

Hope you are having a wonderful start to your New Year! We are probably going to take one more week off as DH is still home on leave but will be deploying soon. I feel like spending this time with him is really important for us. We can make up our schooling on weekends or in the summer is necessary.

So... Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish you all in blogland a Very Merry Christmas! Enjoy this time with your family and friends. Cherish every minute of your blessed time together!

Merry Christmas!!

Still busy

Yes we are! The kids are doing great. DS is having to work a little harder on his math this year but he is doing pretty good.

Currently we are reading a book called, "The Story of Rolph and the Viking's Bow". They are really enjoying it. This is for history as we are studying American History and are now with the Vikings.

Science we are in the midst of the universe and stars and moving right along to planet Earth. We did get up the other night and lay a blanket out in the drive way and watch the meteor shower. That was neat and kids enjoyed it.

They are both doing great with their language arts. I've been very pleased with DS's writing. It has improved so much over the last 2 years. I'm amazed. DD's spelling is already improving since we started having a spelling list every week. (Last year she kept a dictionary of words she had a hard time with but knowing there will be a test she is doing GREAT!)

Well, that's about it for now. I've started a new blog over at http://www.homesteadblogger.com/mommy22ss you are welcome over there anytime.

Cruising along...

That's what we've been doing. The kids are doing great on their work. They get right to it and get it done without much fussing. I'm really proud of them. We've been having fun. They like doing their history and science together. We all gather around the book, or computer or whatever we happen to be using that day and do it together and they enjoy it. Me too.

How is your school year getting started?

Tomorrow is the day!

We will start our official homeschooling. We spent about week last month working a little but didn't have everything we needed so we put it off. But now we are ready to start. We are going to start this week with just language arts and math. We'll start out slowly as we have a lot of extra stuff going on this week so this will be perfect for us.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Well, I have purchased just about everything we need. I just need to wait on it all to arrive and then we are ready for the year!

I'm really rather excited about it. We are really only going to Science and History together this year and I've been really planning them out. I think we are going to have a lot of fun and learn a lot.

They will be each be using a LLATL in their grade for language arts and then their own math. DS is going to do Algebra this year. What a wonderful challenge. I'm even looking forward to it!

I hope everyone's planning is going well.

Purchasing curriculum

Well, this weekend I've been ebaying like crazy and I think I have got a few good items pretty inexpensively too. I'll tell you more after I get them and look them over. We are trying to go a little simpler this year. So far I've only spent about $30 but I know that DS's math will be more expensive but since I've saved on the other's that's okay.

I hope you are all finding you need too!

Well, we may go ahead and start up school after this next week. The kids are so bored and are starting to watch toooo much tv. We'll probably just do a little and work slowly back up to it.

DH is leaving town for a while and so it will be the perfect time to start working. I still have to order some... well most of our curriculum but I have a few things right now that we can start with slowly.

How are your plans coming??

Busyness

I read a devotional about this this morning. It was called Busy, Busy, Busy and it made me think of several my friends. Lately I've been hearing a lot of them talk about how busy they are and how tired and even sad it makes them. They are rushing their children here and there trying to keep them active.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against this at all if it's what you want great, but I have to say, it's not for us. My kids don't like being too busy or having things to do all the time. They like having home time~ family time. The friends I'm thinking of don't homeschool so they also have to contend with school and homework on top of the extra. They tell me how nice it must be to not be so busy but they don't want to let go of anything. They are tired and burned out. I feel bad for them.

But I even see lots of homeschoolers in this same predicament. Sometimes it's even worse for them because they feel like they have to make up for NOT being in a "real" school so they are constantly running to this homeschool group or that or this lesson or that and so on and so on.

I have to say that I love how simple our life is. We don't keep our kids from joining things but our kids don't want to join EVERYTHING either. They enjoy being at home. I guess what I'm saying is you can do TOO much, and it's a lot of pressure on everyone, the whole family. We enjoy a slow life and I like it.

DS

Well, DS has found a new hobby. He is enjoying archery. We got him a nice recurve and a couple of hay bales and he is having a ball. We even have him in lessons! He loves it is always outside with it. I imagine that it won't be long before DH will have one too! He loves it too.

Save on Dave Ramsey's finance curriculum for kids

The Homeschool Buyers Co-op has launched a Group Buy for Dave Ramsey's finance curriculum for kids.

It's never too early to teach kids the right way to handle money! The Homeschool Buyers Co-op is pleased to present a Group Buy for finance curriculum at deep discounts from DaveRamsey.com!

Dave Ramsey, a nationally syndicated finance expert & author of Total Money Makeover, has produced financial curriculum for the classroom! With these resources, you can teach your children how to handle money while they are young AND grow into educated, empowered, financially fit adults that live debt-free and in control from the start!

By purchasing as a group, we will all save at least 15% and as much as 35% depending on how many items we order as a group. Have more than one student? No problem - we all save 40% AND 50% on Add'l Student Add-on Items!

PLUS - we save 60% on Dave's book, Total Money Makeover, with any other purchase!

And... it gets better! We each get a FREE Total Money Makeover tote bag with ANY purchase of $50 or more!

The bigger our order, the more we all save, so tell your friends and homeschool groups! To take advantage of this special offer, you must place your order no later than 06-19-2007 at 11:59 pm Eastern.

Interested? Click here...

Happy Birthday Dear Daughter!

Our Garden

You can check it out here.

Learn to play the Piano by ear...

I just found this great ebook. It's only $4.95 for both a teacher's guide and student book.

"The "Little Homeschool Library"
presents How to Play the Piano By Ear: A Simple Home Study Course
Learn to Play your Favorite Songs on the Piano..."

Click here for more information and to order.

Another neat website

Here is another neat website from our friends at Homeschool Radio Shows. This one has videos and my kids are loving them! Go check them out at Great Homeschool Videos. You'll really enjoy them. We do!!