Homeschooling a Houseful

A stroller

Posted by Jenne
11:30 PM, Dec. 18, 2009 .. 0 comments .. Link

What happens when your kids really really want something with wheels to play with in the backyard? And the bikes are not working because they want to play light sabers too?

You get out an old stroller and let them go. So what have I learned? Peter still fits the stroller. Michael fits the stroller. And Amanda even fits the stroller. And they all had a good time playing with the stroller and the light sabers.

All of them. Together. It lasted about 30 minutes. But it was a really nice 30 minutes.

Do You See What I See?

Posted by SuperAngel
2:40 PM, December 17, 2009 .. Posted in Reflections of a 20yo .. Link

I was putting some laundry in the washer in our *NEW* laundry room (YAY!) and lifted my head and saw this:

Isn’t it tremendous? How can you look at that and not believe there is a loving and awesome God?! I sure can’t! Clouds and sunsets and sunrises have to be my favorite part of His creation. They are gorgeous! When I see that, I see a loving God.
What do you see?

©AmandaDixon2009

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Reorganized

Posted by Jenne
11:51 AM, Dec. 17, 2009 .. 0 comments .. Link

We have lived in this house for a year. Last year at this time I had just finished unpacking boxes and was working at getting Christmas stuff set up in the middle of adjusting to moving a thousand miles.

This year the tree is up and decorated. The wreath is outside the front door. The outdoor lights aren't up, but that is because we haven't found an outlet that we can use to power them. Maybe this weekend.

But the big deal is the sun room. When we moved into this house, we assumed that the sun room would hold the toys and provide a place for the kids to play. Back in Arizona we had a space that served that purpose and it worked really well. It didn't work so well here. The space was alternately too small, too large, too in the way, to out of the way, and even just cold. So in the past week we have repurposed the space. It now holds desks and tables. And soon it will hold computers and a printer. Brad's office that was once in the basement is moving upstairs. The toys that used to be in there have moved out, some to the boy's room closet, some downstairs to the basement and some to donate to charity. Now Brad will be able to be part of action while still keeping an eye on the computers. And maybe all will be well.

Passport in process

Posted by Jenne
11:40 PM, Dec. 16, 2009 .. 0 comments .. Link

His passport is in process! This is good. Now in 2-3 weeks he should have a passport in hand. Zurich here he comes.

Wordless Wednesday: My Little Boy Blue

Posted by SuperAngel
9:10 PM, December 15, 2009 .. Posted in Memes and Carnivals .. Link

Such a great color on him, don't ya think? :D

©AmandaDixon2009

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News

Posted by Jenne
7:32 PM, Dec. 15, 2009 .. 0 comments .. Link

The good news: we have an approximate date for his group meeting. It is in early February.

The not so good news: it is in Zurich.

The good news: we have 6 weeks before the meeting.

The not so good news: he doesn't have a passport.

The good news: he had an appointment for a new passport, last Wednesday.

The not so good news: they didn't like his birth certificate, it wasn't official enough.

The good news: expedited birth certificates can arrive less than a week after they are ordered.

The not so good news: they cost.

The good news: he has another appointment with the passport people tomorrow.

The not so good news: it is at the post office and tomorrow is a BUSY shipping day.

The best news... he has a JOB that he loves. Location and all the other stuff will deal with itself eventually.

Latest baby updates on facebook...

Posted by Amy Verlennich
7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 15, 2009 .. 1 comments .. Link

Just to let you know... I will be giving the latest updates on our new facebook group... so feel free to join and hear the latest on when the newest addition (who WAS due the 13th) will FINALLY decide to enter the world! :)

Click on the following link: THE VERLENNICH BABY'S COMIN'!

Mailing done

Posted by Jenne
10:24 PM, Dec. 14, 2009 .. 0 comments .. Link

The gifts to Massachusetts are wrapped and boxed. They will go in the mail tomorrow. Hurray! The shopping and mailing are done!

Schooling During the Holidays

Posted by Moms4Psalms
10:27 AM, Monday, December 14, 2009 .. Posted in Homeschooling .. 1 comments .. Link

Do you take the month of December off from homeschooling? It seems nearly impossible not to. So much to bake, wrap, clean, and decorate! We scale way back on the sit-down lessons during December, but the kids are able to keep up with several things on their own each day.

Some things the 8 and 9 year old do each day on their own:

1. Typing program on the computer

2. Cursive for the 8 year old (9 year old has mastered it already)

3. Reading literature books (they do a chapter or two a day)

4. Spelling (Excellence in Spelling is done with headphones/cd player)

5. History/Bible with the Veritas Press Self-Paced online course (which the little ones love to watch as the older ones complete the lesson).

I had heard that homeschooling would get easier as the children got older and were able to complete more on their own. It really does! They often complete these subjects by 10am without any prompting! We also take 2-3 months off with the birth of a new baby, so I am thrilled that they can keep up with some subjects while I am unable to teach others. They are also able to do Math-U-See with just a little supervision, so we'll be keeping that up as well. Shirley English and Excellence in Writing still require my sit-down instruction with them each day, so I am hoping to not get too behind in those.

The younger children do Phonics Museum (Veritas Press) for reading and writing. They have a college girl teaching them Math-U-See and art this year, which has been a great blessing! Hubby also reads to the children each night, sometimes a Bible lesson and sometimes a work of literature. He is currently using "The Child's Story Bible" by Vos and "The Chronicles of Narnia".

So even though we scale back for holidays and new babies, I have to remind myself that some schooling is getting done. :o)

I hope you have very Happy Holidays!

In Love

Posted by SuperAngel
10:09 PM, December 13, 2009 .. Posted in Waiting for My Knight... My Hopes .. Link

I am soo adoring not only this song, but the meaning behind it. Brayden and Talitha wanted their marriage to be an example to all of how the Savior feels about His people: Us.
This is just beautiful and precious!