House inspectors were here today.  I don't know why, but you just feel on the defensive.  It's weird.  You've got people going through your house with a fine toothed comb, so to speak.  I chose to stay around, be it good or bad, and not rearrange the naps that way.  The folks were nice, but found a number of things to bring up...not many major, but among which the garage door is one.  Having just paid the septic pumping and inspection, I dread hearing of any more demands on our tight budget. 

     On homeschool notes, the day went pretty well.  All three children are using Rod and Staff English books.  I like it more each year we use it.  It's a very comprehensive yet simple and straightforward curriculum, and instead of just filling in blanks workbook style, the children are writing sentences often, looking things up in the dictionary, and actually learning much better than in our former venues of language arts.     I can also assign what I deem a manageable portion and do some of the exercises orally.  I was an English major, so maybe it's just my grammar fetish or something.  I must be weird...I liked grammar exercises. 

     I played a math game with the kids today too.  It only takes a couple minutes to make, and this is a fun booster for memorizing the times tables.  I made a grid of lines (about 20 squares) and in each square wrote the multiples of four, and then cut a stack of cards that would fit over the squares with the numbers 1-10.    The child draws a number say 5 and then multiplies it by 4 and finds the answer on the game board.  He/She then covers it with the little 5 card and proceeds to the next until all numbers are covered.  I timed them several times seeing if they could "beat their scores."  You could also play this with your child taking turns if you had your numbers written in a different color ink or on a different colored paper.  Then the first to get three in a row wins.  I made game boards for the 9's table for C and the 4's and 5's for M & S. 

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Posted by dawilli

It was good to hear from you again! Things have been such a whirlwind, for most everyone I know, that it has gotten so easy to go quite a while in between connecting with people!
I hope things go well with the selling of the house, it's been 5 years since we had to deal with that, it can be such a hassle! But that was the cleanest my house has ever been, I learned to love a decluttered and picked up home during that process (I didn't grow up with any kind of understanding about that!) and every so often, when things get pretty ugly around here (literally, ugly...) I remember that time and that feeling I would get when I sat down in my fabulous living room (the realtor called it a showcase!) and thought 'why are we moving again?'... and then I get off my rear and try to get that feeling again. I've never gotten quite that far in this house, but it doe make a difference when I try!
Anyway, sounds like you're doing a great job keeping the homeschooling going through the whole process, it would be tempting to take some major breaks... days stretching into weeks...
Hmmm, actually playing the game with your kids? what an interesting idea... I recently rediscovered the joys of the old stand by 'Memory' for a young child. I sat down to play a round with my 3 1/2 year old while the 13, 7, & 5 year olds where 'doing some school' and it wasn't long before the 7 & 5 year olds were trying to get in on it... what simple fun... and when I tried to get back to my computer to answer a couple of e-mails asking for knitting pattern technical advice (that's how I make a little spending money on the side) I had set up another game for the 3 1/2 year old and told her to go ahead and try to find the matches then stood up and started walkign away only to hear, 'but mom, you can still play too...' How could I not?!
Well, keep up the good work,
enjoy them today,
ali

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Posted by hskubes

We used R&S English one year and I really liked it, too.
I, too, love grammar.
I like your math game idea. Thank you for sharing it.

Also, thank you for stopping in at my blog.
I enjoyed hearing from you. *Ü*

~ Christina
HsKubes HomeSchool Haven
HsKubes Haven for Home
Christian Military HomeSchool Mamas

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Posted by EEEEMommy

I feel the same way about Rod & Staff Grammar, and use it with the same flexibility that you do! Math was always my favorite subject, by I LOVED diagramming sentences, so far my kids do too!
We'll have to try the math game.

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Posted by LittleEblingsAcademy

Sorry about the inspector. Gotta' love them, though. Right?

Your game sounds like fun! :o)

Blessings, Beckie

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Posted by Lindsey G.

Missed you at MOPs last week. Did you get a chance to read the books I lent ya? :o)

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Posted by FaithfulGrace

I don't know if you've read any of my post about it, but I feel so affirmed in my choice after reading your post. We pulled Jen(11) out of public school after fourth grade, she had NO grammar education. We've plowed our way through R & S English 5 and now she is gliding through English 6th.

Love the math game, thanks for sharing.
Praying for a quick sale at your asking price,
Blessings,
Linda

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Posted by shallbe

I need an update here! I know you're busy (beyond measure)....but where are your priorities!?? LOL I posted the rewards for the Blessing Chart in the comment section under the last entry on my site. I also have been thinking about your organization and separation of your household goods! Yikes. What a nightmare. I don't envy you. I was wondering...will you bring your boat? Your whole garage can go into storage. If the Navy is anything like the Army, they will either take care of the yard, or they will have equipment for you to borrow to do so yourself. From there, I would just put everything that is to go in to forever storage into the garage...so you can say "all this goes into storage." I don't know if it ever gets cold in Hawaii, but store all heavy winter clothes, boots, sleds, etc. Store all the books you want to keep, but don't refer to all that often. Store extra kitchen items like crockpots, dehydrators, juicers, woks, whatever that is big and bulky and you can live without. Extra china, store. Extra crystal, store. Old files, store. Look at your walls....you have a lot that you won't have space for in the base housing....carefully choose, and store the rest. The extra bedroom. Store. You shouldn't really care about your guests at this point :) Not with 5 kids in Hawaii!, anyway! Any extra linens, store. I'm remembering some of your hutches in your kitchen. I'm not sure that they will fit and should be stored. You will really have to evaluate space constraints, because you won' t want to shrink the house anymore. I don't know, DH's rank may land you a bigger house, but I'm thinking that they are all quite small over there. So just start now. Put these things out in the garage (if you are keeping the boat, pull it out to make room) and daily you will find more things you can do with out. Think of it as an economic challenge! Toys? Bring favorites and one's that all can enjoy. Extra TV's? Store. Maybe even do without? I wish I could be there to help! Also, once your guest bedroom is brought out into the garage, use that room for the FL room. 800 lbs will be what, a fourth of it!? It will just be easier to sort with defined spaces. Ok. I'm done taking up all the space on your blog. Just some brainstorming! Hang in there!

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