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Summer is slipping away from me.
I haven't done anything that I had planned, haven't read any of the books I need to read. We've been going to the beach a lot, taking nature walks and doing nature studies. Which is all good, but I need to get busy. The problem is I have no desire to do so. Our oldest will be 14 on Wednesday! We're going to play putt-putt, have a picnic and then go to the beach with a few other families. Then I'm going to take him to see a movie of his choice, just he and I, maybe Daddy too if he's off from work when we go. We're not going to do a party this year. He's getting a very nice tennis racquet for his presents. His coach has gotten him one at cost, so it will only be about $100 for us, so that is his gift. He just broke his at practice last week, but he needed a new one anyway. He was in a tennis tournament at the end of June and he won in his age division. Alexis got the wires on her braces last week and was in pain for a couple of days, but now she's fine. The little ones have been playing with Legos a lot when we are home. Today I had everyone do a little bit of school work and we're having a "no screen" day so I better get off from here myself! I'm reading aloud Swallows and Amazons to them, which I don't think they're really enjoying, although it is a nice, old fashioned story. We're also finishing up Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which I've been rereading to them forever...it's time to move on. I've read all the Harry's aloud to Zarek when he was younger, then reread them all aloud to Alexis and him, now I'm rereading them all for the 3rd time to Cait and Brett. They're great books though and I enjoy reading them again and again.
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Is it summer yet?
We've taken this last week off and we're taking this next week off as well. I thought it would be nice to have two weeks off before the public school kids are out for the summer. The week after Alexis is in drama camp and I plan on taking the other 3 to the beach while she's there for some beach combing. I ordered a book called Florida's Living Beaches to get ready for it. So, that may be a 3rd week off. We may do some school in the afternoon though. What basically needs to be done is math, Zarek and Alexis need to finish their Latin curriculum, and each have a vocabulary book to finish. Caitlyn and Brett have a Language book to finish as well as practice reading. I think we'll do 2-3 weeks off, then 2-3 weeks on this summer, which of course can change if it gets to be too much. I do want the children to have a good break, but there's no sense in getting bored either. With gas prices the way they are we're going to try to keep our running around to a minimum and try to stay home at least 3 days out of the week. When the summer sun really hits here, we won't want to be outside unless we're at a beach or pool, so may as well get some school done.
I'm sure the children will feel differently than I do.
Another book I've just ordered is Christian Unschooling, I'm not and never could be an unschooler, but I think the book might encourage me to have faith that my children will learn all they need to learn. I visited a Charlotte Mason blog today and it was one book she recommended highly that I didn't yet own, so I hopped right on Amazon and ordered. I am again so thankful that I was given the gift of Amazon Prime by my great friends...you know who you are! You just don't know how much you blessed me by giving that to me!!
OK, I'm off to switch laundry.
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Current Read Alouds
These are the books I’m reading aloud to Caitlyn and Brett. Alexis is listening in to Understood Betsy as well, as that is a favorite of hers.
Today as we were reading about spiders in the Nature Reader I was amazed at how excited Brett was to tell me all he knew about spiders. He stopped me frequently to tell me what he knew. I think that was one of the first times I’ve seen him show a real interest in something “school” related.
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Menu Planning Monday
It's almost summer time!
This weekend it is supposed to get into the 90's!!!
Wow. And we'll be too busy to go swimming. Brett is having his birthday party Saturday, he turned 8 last week. We're having about 20 people over, including 7 or 8 of his friends. It's a Star Wars party and everyone is looking forward to light saber battling, including one of Zarek's friends who is 16...hey, you're never too old for light sabers.
Last week we went swimming with friends and my sister in law and her two little ones, we've also been to the dentist 4 times so far and will be going again tomorrow. The girls had cleanings and then went back for sealants, now it's the boys turn for cleanings and we'll probably have to go back for sealants on them too. We went to the ortho for Alexis and she's getting her braces on June 2nd.
Tomorrow we have the dentist, art class, tennis lessons and Zarek has Civil Air Patrol. Friday we're having Field Day at a park with our homeschool group, there's already 60 kids signed up so it should be a big deal, afterwards we may be going to Zarek's friends house to swim. I also have to get the house clean that night and in the morning on Sat.
Saturday Jody took the day off so he could take the kids to our nephew's 3rd birthday party, while Zarek will stay home with me helping me get ready for Brett's party. Sunday will definitely be a day of rest.
Next week we're going to a theme park in GA, it's homeschool day there and we get to get in half price! Yay!! We couldn't pass that up, so we'll be missing art class, tennis lessons and Civil Air Patrol to go...which is a bummer, but the kids will have a lot of fun...there's a water park there too and we couldn't turn THAT down.
Zarek has 2 more weeks of his Sonlight Core 5 after this week. He's ready for a break. He'll keep doing his Algebra I over the summer though, but as he says that's "no big deal"
I know some other children who will also be keeping up with math during the summer too...
May 30th will be our last day. I'm really looking forward to it. Our summer will be swimming at my brother-in-law's pool, going to the beach and playing with friends. And lots of reading. I can't wait!
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My summer reading list
High School Form+U+La by Barb Shelton
Piecing Together the High School Puzzle by Joanne Mastronicola
Homeschooling High School by Jeanne Gowen Dennis
The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer (reread)
High School @ Home: You Can Do It! by Diana Johnson
(do we see a theme here?)
Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett
Losing It, and Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time by Valerie Bertinelli
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
The following are prereads for Sonlight Core 200 so I can discuss with my son.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Parcel of Patterns by Walsh
Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
The Shining Company by Satcliff
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
Robinson Crusoe by Defoe
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Stevenson
Going Solo by Roald Dahl
What Hearts by Brooks
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
A Christmas Carol by Dickens
Check out my book blog at Fond of Books
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Menu Planning Monday
A Visit to the Heart Doctor
Yesterday Jody and I woke up early to take Caitlyn to her new cardiologist. She was nervous and so was I, wondering if the doctor would be good, would the facility be nice and the nurses and techs friendly and kind? Well, we were all very happy, her new doctor was wonderful and took a lot of time to talk to us, even about finding a good pediatrician for the children since we still haven’t found one we’re happy with. The sonogram tech was very gentle and nice. In CT Caitlyn always said getting the sonogram of her heart hurt because they’d push down too hard on her chest and that was the main thing she was nervous about. She was pleased to find out there was a TV in the ceiling she could watch and she got to pick a DVD. These take about 20-25 minutes so after about 10 I asked her if it hurt and she said not a bit. Afterwards she told me it didn’t hurt at all. I was very happy this lady was so gentle. All in all it was a great experience, her heart is doing wonderful, the two reasons she may still have to have surgery weren’t showing any signs of becoming problems and the doctor said she would be a great candidate for a catheter closing of her hole, so even if it did need to be closed that she wouldn’t have to be opened up. All around great news.
Across the street from the cardio center was a Peterbrooke Chocolatier so we went over there, watched the production line for a bit, tried some samples and bought some chocolates for the children. They are VERY expensive, so we just bought a bit, but while we were picking out what we wanted, one of the workers gave Caitlyn a Nutter Butter dipped in thick chocolate. She loves Nutter Butters!
Then we swung by the library, picked up some holds, put gas in my van and then we went out to lunch at Panda Express where Caitlyn has been wanting to eat. Um, we won’t be eating there again, the food was terrible. Jody ate his and almost all of ours too. Then we stopped at Publix on the way home and did some grocery shopping and met a fellow Kraft employee of Jody’s that I talk to on the phone, but hadn’t met yet. Finally, we got home, put the groceries away and Jody had to run to work. The day was cold and windy, the kids rode bikes for about 15 minutes and then wanted to come in. I read to them most of the afternoon and we had a light dinner of sandwiches.
Today we’ve done lots of school, besides the basics we read about Saudi Arabia, did work on our huge wall map and did some more catching up with our Travel Diaries and also did our Saudi pages. We’ll be learning about a few more Middle East countries and then having our Middle Eastern dinner, instead of doing a dinner for each M. E. country. Easier on me. I told them we were going to have lamb with our meal and the girls are disgusted. To eat a sweet little lamb?? Hopefully when the time comes they will try it at least.
That’s it for today, everyone is playing outside with friends/riding bikes with friends. I’ve almost caught up on the laundry and tomorrow we have a very busy day. Tennis, art class, park day, tennis again, then Zarek has CAP. We’ll hardly be home, so I’m glad we were home all day today to get work done and get the house in some kind of order.
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Menu Planning Monday
Menu Planning Monday...yep I'm a day late
Monday
Chinese Stir fry with Jasmine rice
Tuesday
Our Brazil dinner for school, Brazillian beans and rice, Brazillian Coconut Pudding for dessert
Wednesday
Pasta with Texas toast, salad
Thursday
fried pork chops, egg noodles and green beans
Friday
Pizza! Yay, mom doesn't have to cook!
Saturday
Breakfast for dinner, bacon, eggs and toast
Sunday
Burritos or quesadillas
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Brazil...and other things
Tomorrow we will begin our study on Brazil. Along with reading books and making pages for our Travel Diary we’ll have our cultural dinner. This is the dinner and dessert we’ve planned.
BRAZILIAN BEANS AND RICE
1 lb. pinto or black beans
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
1 lb. browned sausage
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
Garlic powder to taste
Cooked rice
Soak beans overnight (or use two large jars of the canned, cooked beans). Drain the beans after they have been soaked. Cover with water, add onion, green pepper, salt, pepper, garlic. Cook until beans are soft. Add water if necessary. When beans are cooked make sure there is enough water to just cover them. Add the tomato paste and sausage. Cook an additional 15-20 minutes until the meat is cooked. If the beans are too watery, crush some to thicken. Serve over cooked rice. Top with molho sauce.
BRAZILIAN COCONUT PUDDING
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Coconut milk to fill the milk can
Milk in the quantity to fill two of the condensed milk cans
3 tbsp. of corn starch
Cook all ingredients together over medium heat stirring constantly until it begins to boil and thickens. Pour into a form and chill until firm. Brazilians often serve with stewed prunes along with the juice. Delicious!
Tomorrow we’re going grocery shopping and we’ll pick up all the ingredients we need.
We have quite a bit of catching up to do on our Travel Diaries so that is going to be priority tomorrow.
Zarek is finishing up his study of the Middle East. I’ve read Shadow Spinner and am now reading Seven Daughters and Seven Sons aloud. Both books are really good.
Zarek was going to start Algebra I this fall when he starts 9th grade, but as his determination to go to the Air Force Academy is getting stronger, he’s decided to start Algebra I now and finish it before fall so he can begin his freshman year doing Algebra II. We’re learning more and more about the requirements for USAFA and he’s reading all the books he can get his hands on about it. I’ve just ordered him a new one, as he’s already exhausted all of the libraries in our area on the topic. Now tonight he’s told me he wants to read all he can about airplanes. Thursday evening he should be going to his first Civil Air Patrol meeting, unless Jody’s schedule doesn’t permit it. His dad has committed to taking him each week and is letting his job know he needs to be out early for Thursdays. I hope Zarek enjoys CAP and that there is a good leader at this unit. If not, we have another one nearby we can try out.
OK, off to bed for me.
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Need to re-focus on school
For some time now I've not been focused on school. I mean, to a certain point, yes...but not really. I do believe I had a major burnout 2-3 years ago that lasted quite a while. We still struggled through with school but some days it was quite rough. Moving to the Sunshine State has actually helped quite a bit. There is that feeling we're living in Vacationland most of the time and since the sun really shines almost every single day, I feel better for the most part, and have happier days. Taking off for the beach helps too, to relax and enjoy the fact that we live so close to the ocean, that we live where people actually want to come to vacation helps me feel blessed to live here.
Back to my point...I'm seeing the end in sight for this year. Zarek is on week 29 with his Sonlight core with only 7 weeks remaining, which he'll probably finish up in 5-6 weeks because he's moving right along. The rest of the children will still have school until the end of May, beginning of June and I know of two little people who will be doing math and phonics throughout the summer as well (I'm not a slave driver, they'll get beach days off).
I'm making up a summer reading list for Zarek and Alexis, and Alexis will probably have to do her Language Arts through the summer, but the point IS I'm really looking forward to summer break and having time off to relax and think about what we're doing for fall and learning about what I need to do to get ready for high school with Zarek.
I have all these great books about high school that I need to read, I also have Bauer's Ancient History book I need to read before beginning Ancient History in the fall with all the children. Oh yes, and I have two huge Sonlight Teacher Guides to go through...literature books for Zarek that I need to pre-read and take notes on...I'll just stop there. I have a desire to re-focus on school and really throw myself into it like I did in the first few years of homeschooling. I feel like I'm just now recovering from the burn out, though I've been recovering for an entire year now really...and I'm realizing time is passing much too quickly. My little guy who began homeschooling in 1st grade will be a freshman in high school this fall...I only have four more years to teach him. There's so much to do!
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Finally! Back to school. Well, sort of.
Pretty much anyway.
After our vacation we found out that my dh's parents were coming for a visit. We did school most of last week, but took off quite a bit to get the house ready for them. They left yesterday and this morning we finally were able to get back to business. Mostly.
Caitlyn had her art class and I had to grocery shop for Easter dinner, so we all went to take Cait to art and then went to the park for an hour to let the kids play. After that we did our grocery shopping and came home for lunch. Then we got busy. At least until the neighbor kids came home from school. Then I let the kids out to play and they've been playing ever since.
Tomorrow we'll really hit the books. Ok, I plan on it at least. :)
Monday we'll really, really get down to business.
I have to figure out how to find and print the children's attendance from Homeschool Tracker so I can register with the umbrella school again.
We've been living in Florida for a year now. I'm going to stay with the same umbrella school for this year and figure out what to do next year. I may let Zarek register with the county so he can be on the school tennis team next year. That will be a new experience. At least here in Florida homeschooled children are able to participate in school sports, unlike Connecticut.
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We're back!
Manatees!
Our daughter Alexis has been in love with manatees ever since we moved to Florida and in less than 2 weeks we are going over to the gulf side and swimming with them in the wild, in a spring-fed river. We are so excited!! We went to the library yesterday and checked out every book on manatees we could find so we will be extra knowledgeable about them. We going to buy some disposable underwater cameras and the people who take us out will film it and we can buy the DVD. My only fear now is that we won't encounter them, but I'm told in 5 years they've never had that happen and now is the peak time to go before they start going north around April. But there are manatees year round at this place, just not as many as there are now.
So, we're getting ready for our trip. I want to buy myself a new camera as I'm not happy with the one I have now, but I'm debating on if I should spend the money or not.
We also plan on visiting Waki Weechi, FL too, where the have an underwater mermaid show...these women have been putting on mermaid costumes for decades and doing an underwater "ballet" type show. I know...it's kinda hokey, which is why I'm dying to see it. It's in all the Florida travel books and by George, I'm determined to see it myself...although it is pricey...it better be entertaining!! LOL.
We'll also visit a wildlife park that has many Florida animals, including manatees that have been rescued, ones that were injured or abandoned calves. Should be a funducational trip...my favorite kind!
Prayers for a safe trip would be wonderful to anyone reading this!
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Tuesday
The children are eating lunch, so I thought I'd write for a minute. Today I've cleaned my bathroom and am catching up on laundry.
The children are almost done with school for the day. We have two tennis lessons this afternoon, and I need to run to the post office again too.
Zarek is learning about Southeast Asia countries this week and reading The Land I Lost about a boy's adventures growing up in Vietnam.
With the other children we're still in America, taking time to get an overview of American history before we move on to Canada and Mexico.
Tomorrow we'll probably take a trip to the library.
And that's about all that's going on here!
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Ahh, Monday
Well it's Monday again. That weekend flew by. I'm trying to move the children right along, everyone has now had breakfast which was yogurt with various toppings (wheat germs, granola, mini choc-chips) and Alexis made a banana, strawberry smoothie which she was kind enough to share with Zarek.
Now everyone is either making beds, brushing teeth, getting dressed and then the learning (or crying) will begin!
Dh is working and he's doing my library run for me today, he's such a sweetie. Alexis has drama tonight and she told me she wants to quit the classes, they aren't what she wants, she wants something more serious. So, I think Feb. will be our last month with these drama classes. My problem is the closest place that has what she wants is a 40 min. drive and I really don't want to drive that.
Well I have a lot to do so I better get going...
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Our reading lists January 2008
Mine:
- Honeymoon by James Patterson (Jan)
- Julie and Julia, My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell (Jan)
- Persuasion by Jane Austen (Jan)
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Jan)
- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (Jan)
- The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith (Jan)
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (Jan)
I read aloud the following to the children:
1. Ribsy by Beverly Cleary – Jan.
2. Look What Came From Italy by Miles Harvey – Jan.
3. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreath – Jan.
4. We’re From Greece by Victoria Parker – Jan.
5. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken – Jan.
6. The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Dinosaur Bone by Stan and Jan Berenstain – Jan.
7. The Bike Lesson by Stan and Jan Berenstain – Jan.
8. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye - Jan.
9. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss - Jan.
Zarek read:
- Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer -Jan
- The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi -Jan
- The Seeing Stone by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi -Jan
- Lucinda’s Secret by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi -Jan
- The Ironwood Tree by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi -Jan
- The Wrath of Mulgarath by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi -Jan
- Boba Fett, The Fight to Survive by Terry Bisson –Jan
- The House of Sixty Fathers by M. DeJong -Jan
- The Mongols by Nicholson -Jan
- Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde by Lamb -Jan
- Homesick by Jean Fritz –Jan
- Water Sky by Jean Craighead George
- Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by T. DeTerlizzi and H. Black –Jan
- Introduction to Biology by John Holzmann – Jan.
- Book of Kings, Holy Bible – Jan.
Alexis read:
. The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi – Jan.
2. The Seeing Stone by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi – Jan.
- Lucinda’s Secret by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi – Jan.
- The Ironwood Tree by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi – Jan.
- The Wrath of Mulgarath by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi – Jan.
- Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by T. DeTerlizzi and H. Black - Jan
- Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary – Jan.
- Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles, The Nixie’s Song by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi
Caitlyn read: (many picture books while we were at the library weren’t recorded)
. Moonlight, the Halloween Cat by Cynthia Rylant
2. The Shape of Me and Other Stuff by Dr. Seuss
3. The Berenstain Bears Go Up and Down by Stan and Jan Brerenstain
4. Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
5. A Cat and a Dog by C. Masurel
6. Bunbun at Bedtime by S. McCullough
7. Woo! The Not-So-Scary Ghost by A. Larranaga
8. I love Cats by B. Saltzburg
9. Love, From Wooly by N. Michaels
Brett read:
Stories from Fun With Pets by A Beka
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Tuesday
Friday
Well we have survived two weeks back to school so far. We have discovered the joy of the Jacksonville Library system, (at a price of $40) which is such a welcome enjoyment after dealing with the small, pitiful libraries in our county. The children are actually asking me to take them to the library. That hasn't happened in quite a while.
Alexis has discovered the Spiderwick Chronicles series (Zarek is reading them also) and she can't put them down. She's read all of them this week and can't wait to see the movie. It's nice to hear them discussing books together!
Brett is finally tying his own shoes. Yes I know he's 7. And a half. But he's the baby and we have always tied his shoes for him. I decided that he needed to do it on his own and he's finally figured it out. Never mind they are untied again 20 minutes later. At least he did it himself. Yes, I've taught him how to double knot, but it doesn't seem to matter, it still comes undone.
We're wrapping up our week long study of Greece and are now heading to the Americas. I'm going to read through A Beka 2nd grade history for Cait and Brett while we study this. It will all be old news to Alexis.
Zarek is finishing up Mongolia and moving on to Russia. I will read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase aloud to him and Alexis, as she studied Russia a few weeks ago. I hear it's a great book.
We're also reading Cheaper by the Dozen, which we love, but haven't picked up in quite a few days. We've been on the go a lot and this weekend is supposed to be cold and rainy, so I'll be sure to take advantage of that by reading aloud to them while they play legos or draw.
I'm doing a Jane Austen reading challenge and if you're interested check out my reading blog, Fond of Books.
Well that's all for now, the children just went to bed after we watched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade...again.
Now it's time for me to read some Sense and Sensibility.
If you have never read the book then don't go to my friend Amy's blog. She will ruin the ending for you. I only warn you, as I wished someone had warned me.
ROFLOL. Yes Amy, I'll never let you forget. Neither will Sarah I daresay!!
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