so i wanted to post not just about the bookwork the kids have been doing but some of the things outside of the scope of 'schooling' that i also consider to be as much 'schooling' as 'schooling' is. :o)  basically, the unschooling part of hiomeschooling, i suppose!

i had to go back in my memory, which is totally shot since i got sick last november, but heres some of the stuff the kids have been up to in the last few months.

both kids have been given a weekly allowance. this allowance isnt just for doing chores, etc, but also for behaviour. they get their 'coins' at the beginning of the week. $2.00 in dimes and $3.00 in quarters. the coins stay in a jar in my room in their own separate baggies. they each have their weekly responsibilities, but they also have to have good behaviour. each time, they groan and gripe about their chores, they lose a dime. if they fight with each other that escalates, they lose a dime. if they disobey, they lose a dime, if they lie, they lose a dime, etc. if they go thru all $2.00 in dimes, then they start losing their quarters.

this has worked on several levels. one, it has helped them to try to work out their differences so any arguments dont escalate to losing a dime. theyre also learning the importance of their chores and doing them without an attitude as well as the importance of obedience and truthfulness.

another level this has worked on is budgeting. they are free to blow all their money (they have left) at the end of the week when we count out their coins and convert the leftovers to dollars OR they can save their remaining earnings for something more expensive they want or just to hold off till they see something they really want instead of blowing it on junk.

all in all, its been a good system.

as for every day things...

mandy has been making up superhero games making pictures of each superhero, giving them names and super powers. she then cuts them out and we all play paper superheroes. FUN!

both mandy and joey have been really become computer literate and can almost do as much stuff on it than i can!  theyve really been into webkinz for a while. this is an interactive site where they get virtual pets and earn points for virtual accessories for their virtual pets. things like furniture for their houses, etc.  whats cool about this site is they can play with their real life friends while they are on their computers at home.

joey has also become quite an ebay pro. much to my dismay! he actually was able to log into my account, use the 'buy it now' feature, and bought himself a webkinz stuffed penguin! he lost a quarter for that PLUS wasnt able to get the penguin from me until he had saved up his weekly coins to purchase it. it took him 3 weeks and in that time period, he didnt have a cent to buy anything else, but he finally got the penguin. i have since blocked my ebay account!

mandy is in her 7th year of ballet and really is quite the lovely dancer. so graceful and just a beautiful dancer. and not just pretty, but just a great ballerina.

she is also involved with the american heritage girls (a christian version of girl scouts). shes been earning badges and just this last weekend went on her first away camping trip with the group. :o)  it was fun camping combined with a service project.

joeys been into his yugioh cards, tading and playing the game, etc. last week, however, he decided he is now into 'chaotic' cards. theyre a lot like yugioh but you can enter codes from them onto their website and play online with your real life friends. each from the comforts of their own home. kind of cool!

mandys become quite the artist. she draws pictures ALL THE TIME!  she has a journal that she writes in as well as does some of her drawings, but most of her drawings are on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper that are scattered thru-out my house. :o)

mandys also been big into going into her room, shutting her door, and choreographing dances that she later will perform for the family. its amazing that not only can she dance, but to have the creative mind to bring an idea from her head into a moving reality, its just amazing.

both mandy and joey, and even me ha!, have been doing skits for daddy. we worked all day on some that not only did we rehearse but we also worked on props and staging, etc.  it was a huge success for all involved!

mandy has hit that all encompassing crazy 'pre-teen' stage. UGH! she really into girlie things like make-up (only at home), clothes (all of which are hand me downs) and shoes, as well as accessorizing. she loves to do her nails and has been great about not biting them and keeping them groomed.  she also checks the weather each night to see the next days forecast so she can prepare what outfit shed like to wear the next day. what a GIRL! lol

joeys a boys boy, playing football with his friends and dad, hes also quite the pool (billiards) player. he also likes poker & chess, solitaire, and free cell (another solitaire card game, but more stategic). hes actually pretty good at all of them! oh and hes big into following sports stats and watching sports games on tv with his dad.

both of them have gotten back into their dirt house now that its gotten warmer. its a big pile of dirt behind daddys garage that theyve dug and molded into a house/fort of their own.

both of them have gotten into the computer game 'rollercoaster tycoon' in the last few weeks its a game where they have to desighn and build a virtual rollercoater. it has to ahve the correct aerodynamics, etc in order for it to work. lots of science there!

nearing the end of this blog....

theyve been bowling several times with one of the local homeschool groups and a week ago they went to a lunch/dinner theatre with the group to a place called 'medieval times' where the staff not only dressed from the period but acted out an interactive show with the gpoup while they ate and participated.  fun was had by all.

id love to get more pics of to go with this long boring post and maybe one day i will, but i wanted to at least get what i could remember down in writing before i forgot at least this much.

theres SO much more theyve done which enhances their home/unschooling education, but this is all i could put together with my lost memory. and i do believe, as long as this post is, thats enough for now! lol

i will post more as i remember it or as they accomplish more things, but for now...  buh-bye~!  :o)