On Wednesday, Ds12 and I traveled with my parents and five local high school students to a national park. It was a three hour drive, but well worth it.
    We were greeted by two biologists. They took us to turtle nesting sites of the endangered Blanding's Turtle. These turtles are recognized as a species at risk and are protected at the park. On evenings in June the females lay their eggs in gravel/sand. The eggs incubate for 100 days with heat from the sun. Then in September they hatch and crawl up out of their nest.
    We helped locate three baby turtles which had radio transmitters on their shells. They were so cute. They were about the size of a toonie ($2 coin in Canada).
    Blanding's Turtles
   After lunch we went on a hiking trail with an electronic tour guide called Explora. It is  "GPS-triggered, location-based technology at Parks Canada sites." We were provided a GPS and a stylus and set off! The GPS would make a loon call whenever it wanted to notify us of info. Multimedia guide: movie, audio, pictures, quizes, info about geology, botany, biology and local history. Very cool. I got 10 out of 11 on the quizes:)

Well now it is 3 pm. I am tired and stressed. The afternoon did not go as smoothly as the morning. I am registering for MOTHboard today!! I just cannot seem to swing four at once.

7 am Mom wakes up. DH has left home two hours before to go lobster fishing. I let out the puppy and feed the cat. I transplant sunflowers now that the snow seems to have finally decided to allow spring to reign.

8 am Time to wake the children. Vitamins and breakfast. Dressing and chores. We use the PEGS chore chart. www.familytools.com

9 am DS(12) is working on "alone work"...devotional book, Canadian Handwriting Book F, logic (The Fallacy Detective. www.christianlogic.com), vocabulary (Pathway Publishers), and reading (Swiss Family Robinson).

DD(9) is working on her language arts...Pathway reader and workbook, copywork, and Canadian Handwriting C. 

DS(8) and DS(6) are playing nicely in their bedroom. Oh, I spoke too soon. They are now in time-out. I need to work out some alone time for them in the early morning. I shall get out the "art box". I have five rubbermaid boxes filled with various items. Each boy can sit in a designated area with an art box for 30 minutes. If they do not like what is in the art box they have to remain in the area doing nothing. They always find something to do.

Box One:  ruler, scissors, tape, glue, pencils, crayons, markers, stampers, dominoes, paper, stencils, paper dolls, abacus, color wonder, stickers.

Box Two: ruler, scissors, tape, glue, pencils, markers, paper, stationary, stickers, pegboard, yarn buddy, multiplication wrap, pattern bugs, puzzles

Box Three: fancy scissors, scratching tool and paper, tape, glue, pencils, hole punch, paper, counting bears, number chips, geometric shapes, smelly markers, memory game, stickers, watercolor crayons, mazes

Box Four: paper, fraction tower and cards, scissors, glue, tape, pencils, barrel of monkeys, fashion plate doll, I Spy puzzle, lacing buttons, stencil, 1-2-3 Draw books

Box Five: paper, stickers, stencils, Think It Through Tiles, trivia pursuit

10 am: snack and outside time

11 am:  Family devotions, Sonlight literature, Story of the World vol 3 history. Literature: The Phoenix and the Carpet by Edith Nesbit. History: We read about Samuel de Champlain two weeks ago. I am trying to add some Canadian content...not as easy as I thought. Last week we learned about the coureurs de bois ("runners of the woods"). Today we will read about Maisonneuve and Montreal.

12 noon: lunch and DS(8) clean-up.

As of March 2008, I am a Melaleuca "Independent Marketing Executive." Lovely technical term. I was introduced to this health and wellness company by a friend. I have begun to transform my home from a toxic waste zone to a refuge which is much more protective for my dear children.

It is shocking to learn all this information. The cleaners that I had been using were so harmful. The baby wash and lotion was disrupting hormones. Plastics that are dangerous (#3,6,7) are used to make baby bottles and food and drink containers. I am glad that I have been informed, but it is a lot to take in. So much information all at once. So many dangers to look out for. It took me two hours just to find a resonable soap dispenser for the bathroom.

www.ceche.net

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/cleaners/index.html

It was a beautiful day today. After Sunday School and lunch we had a family baseball game.                  DH, DS(12), DD(9), DS(8),  DS(6), and myself had a fun game.

I am planning to transplant our sunflowers from the plastic bag greenhouses the children made at Cub Scouts. DH dug the row and placed the posts this evening. I would love to make a sunflower house...but lack the space. Maybe next year in our renovated back yard!!

I homeschool four children this year!! Grade levels Primary, 3, 4, and 6.  We started the classical approach of four year history cycle last year. 2006-2007 was our year of Medieval Times.

This year is Renaissance 1600-1850. I enjoy reading The Story of the World vol. 3. I also have the Activity Book. I borrow some recommended books from the library. The children enjoy the games and hands-on projects.

I am trying to include some extra info on Canadian history (ie. Champlain, Beothuk, La Salle, Madame La Tour, Laura Secord, Simon Fraser...)I am not a history buff. I would like help finding coloring pages, activity links, maps, and living books on these topics. Are there any other Canadians on here that are using The Story of the World?!

    We started lessons on September 10th. I decided to start slowly since we had a wonderful summer of trips, outdoor playtime, museums, baseball, camp...

    My youngest began kindergarten this year. The two middle children have only begun English so far.  My oldest has begun English and been introduced to logic and Latin. He is in "grade 6" so I thought it was about time! I plan on adding Sonlight history starting Monday:-)

    I am finding  the schedule rather difficult to figure out. Some of the children are not enjoying their reading lessons:-( But I am praying for a better week to come!