Creekwood Chronicles

About Me

This blog is a place to chronicle our family's adventures in homeschooling, special needs, adoption, child training, and life in general.

Home
View my profile
Archives
Email Me

Learning Resources

Sonbeams
Math-U-See
Heart of Wisdom
Answers In Genesis
Lamplighter Publishing
Vision Forum
Timberdoodle
Doorposts
Notebooking Nook
Classical Astronomy

Visit The Homeschool Lounge

Visit Christian Preschool Printables

Visit Lapbook Lessons

Visit File Folder Fun

Our Homeschool Library

Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach
The Charlotte Mason Companion
Heart of Homeschooling
A Biblical Home Education
Shepherding A Child's Heart
The Ultimate Lapbook Handbook
Draw and Write Through History series
For Instruction In Righteousness

Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons
The Children's Bible in 365 Stories
Draw Write Now series
Slow and Steady Get Me Ready
Preschool Activities in a Bag - Book 1
Rod & Staff Preschool ABC series
Beginning Mathematical Reasoning
Building Thinking Skills - Beginning
Mind Benders - Beginning
Thinker Doodles: Clues & Choose

Thank goodness I was never sent to school...Beatrix Potter quote at DailyLearners.com

Get This Calendar...

Mar. 7, 2009

Keepin' Busy

Posted in Home Keeping

Whew! It's been a busy couple of months so far! And it's only March! As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I've been absent from my blog because I've been working on some of the things on my list. As promised, here is the update on my progress.

The following items I have started. They are items that I will need to be consistent with the rest of the year before I can cross them off my list. They are:

#2 - Sometimes it is a challenge to remember to take my vitamins/supplements daily, but my dd never forgets to ask for hers and notices if I temporarily forget mine - it helps to have her reminders

#12 - My neighbor and I have been discussing plans for our square-foot garden and we are looking forward to the right weather to get started [I have graph paper and garden sketches on my desk beside me]

#17 - I've been getting up at the same time each morning pretty much, but not early enough to have quiet time before the ~~noise machines~~ children are awake; I'd also like to be a little more enthusiastic about starting my day, rather than groaning and resisting the inevitable (it's an inherited family trait - we like sleep!). As for bedtime, it's pretty consistent too, so we're good there.

#18 - I've been able to spend a little time nearly every day with the Lord, but the journaling is pretty much all in my head - not on paper. I'd also like to spend more time and start my day out with God (see #17), but I'm not quite there yet.

#24 - Now that the weather is getting nicer, this is much easier. The past few days we have been out a little every day, soaking up that wonderful vitamin D. I don't know if we'll be getting more wintery weather before spring is officially here, but while it lasts, we're enjoying the balmy temperatures.

#30 - Finding more ways to be frugal is simple in some respects and difficult in others. I've been learning that there are a lot of foods I can make myself that would be less expensive and more healthy - win/win, right? Well, the flip side is that I need to learn to make these foods (with no one nearby to show me - I'm a visual learner), and we need to get used to the slightly different taste in some cases. I'm trying to tackle one thing at a time and make the changes gradually, but consistently. I'm taking baby steps, but at least I'm walking.

#33 - Working on Chinese a little bit each day is a little challenging - what am I saying! It's Chinese - of course it's challenging! Anyway, we're using Rosetta Stone Mandarin and it is installed on my husband's laptop (which he takes with him to work, just in case he needs another computer to look at during the day), so I can't practice with the software unless he's at home. In addition to the software, we have flashcards and a "Chinese Word A Day" calendar to help get familiar with some of the pinyin and simplified characters.

#38 - We're slowly making progress learning memory verses. DD and I are the main ones working on them, DS mostly just listens. I try to get him to repeat the words with me, but most of them are beyond his skill level right now, and putting more than two or three words together in a sentence is too much for him yet. At least he is hearing the verses, even if he cannot yet repeat them or commit them to memory. My children also really love listening to a variety of memory verse songs, and that's a fun way to absorb more Scripture.

#39 - Well, I have tried learning the guitar, but I confess I have not been consistent with it. To put it simply - my fingers hurt! Maybe I should just stick with improving my piano skills. I haven't given up on this one, I just have to get past the pain, or find some more drive to learn in spite of the pain. I'm not sure yet.

#43 - Reading to my DD has never been a problem, but my son has only recently decided books are good. He used to wriggle, and fuss and complain, but now he brings books to me and asks for "book?" This past week we borrowed several Seuss books from the library and their silliness has been a tremendous hit (my DS is a huge fan of all things silly!)

#46 - My children and I have been enjoying listening to the audio Bible as read by Alexander Scourby. In fact if I sit down at breakfast or lunch before starting the DVD on my computer (in the living room right beside the dining area), my children will tell me. "Mama, you forgot Mr. Squirmy" - yes, they like watching "Hermie & Friends - Hermie, Wormie, Mr. Squirmy... Anyway, I am so glad that my children like to hear God's Word, and, of course, it's good for me too!

Some of the items I have started but not finished yet (but I'm working on it) are:

#3 - I have the journaling/text written up and in order for each page of DS's Lifebook. I have several page layouts sketched, the album ready, and some great papers and embellishments to work with. I just have to find the time to format the journaling to fit each page and put it all together.

#9 - As you can see by my new pretty header, I have been learning to use my new Photoshop Elements software. I think I've got a pretty good grasp of the basics, but I plan on playing with it some more.

#10 - Besides a couple blog headers, I have completed two digital scrapbook page layouts. The first was following a tutorial step-by-step to get my feet wet, and the second is my own layout. For the first, I used the same papers & embelishments as the tutorial, so the finished page, while nice, is not what I would necessarily choose. My second page (below) includes tools and techniques I learned in the tutorial, but with my choices of paper, embellishments, fonts and layout. I like it a lot, and I hope you do too.

My dear Mamá with my children last spring...

#25 - I'm still fine tuning our daily schedule, but it's closer to completion than it was two months ago.

#27 - Like learning to be more frugal, making menu plans and sticking with them is a bit of a process for me. One would think that after nearly 16 years of marriage, I'd be pretty good at this by now. Sadly, that is not the case. This is one of the areas as a homemaker that I have shirked my duty, and with the Lord's help, I will tackle it and be victorious this year.

#29 - I have been living, eating, and sleeping budget & financial data this past week or so. I'm not gifted with a mathematical brain so I need to look at numbers and work through them several times in order to understand what they're saying (usually they're saying, "leave us to the people who know us, and don't bother your pretty little head about us"). Well, we've just about got the basics of a budget down and are starting to pay careful attention to where our money is going. It's not pretty, but it's a start.

#35 - My church is currently going through Beth Moore's new study on Esther. I would love to be going through that study, but when we looked at our schedule, DH and I realized our evenings would be too full if I took that on right now (sigh. sniff, sniff). So, I decided to re-do one of the previous studies at home on my own. Our pastors wife lent me the DVD's and I am going through "Living Beyond Yourself", a study on the fruit of the Spirit. It was such a wonder-full study the first time around, that I hardly felt like I absorbed even half of the material. We'll see how it goes the second time around.

#45 - I have the loose school papers sorted by theme (fall, winter, dinosaurs, transportation, etc.) but they are not yet housed in folders or notebooks.

And finally, the items I have actually completed so far this year:

#1 - We closed one credit card acount in January - yippee! One down, some more to go!

#5 - It took a couple weeks (and the glue stank to high heaven), but DH and I finished installing wood floor in our living room and hallway. I LOVE it! Here's a couple photos of the finished floor:

the living room...

... and down the hall.

#6 - The living room also got a fresh coat of paint (thanks to the help of my dear friend and neighbor, Mrs. K) As you can see in the above photo, the hallway is still at the patches-of-primer stage. There are still some drywall repairs needed in the hallway before we can paint.

#20 & 21- As you can see in the living room photo above (and the one below) the bookshelves are organized with books and school/craft supplies. Perhaps it's a little unusual to have craft & school supplies in the living room, but it's where most of our living and learning happen, so it works for us. Someday when we need to sell the house, we'll probably have to re-organize and "stage" the room differently, but that's not happening any time soon. The children and I love having everything nearby and more easily accessible. Here's another view of the living room:

You can see the little table and chairs set up near the couch for a game of Candy Land. Usually the table and chairs are tucked up beside the half-wall (as in the first LR photo).

#22 - Our 2008 family newsletter was completed by the first day of Chinese New Year, and sent out to our family and friends before Lantern Festival, two weeks later. Why the delay? Well, it's a funny thing, but the post office won't send letters without stamps on the envelopes, and can you believe it - they don't give stamps away for free! Translation - we ran out of stamps and needed to wait until payday to get more stamps. In honor of Chinese New Year, we used red envelopes for the letters we sent here in the US.

#51 - Yes, my original list only had 50 items, but I said I'd add more as I thought of them. Well, #51 is freshen up my blog with a little makeover, and as you can see, it's fresh and pretty now. I'm really enjoying the new look.

#52 - In fact, all this talk of "makeovers" got me to thinking of another kind of "new look", so last week I donated 10" of my hair to Locks of Love. My new 'do is a simple bob, but it's light and cute and very easy to take care of. I haven't had short hair in many years, but I have had no regrets and am thouroughly enjoying my shorter locks, and the surprise on the faces of friends here who have never seen me with hair this short.

Well, this has turned into quite a lengthy tome - I hope someone manages to read all the way to the end!

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Dec. 31, 2008

Things to do in 2009

Posted in Home Keeping

I've been clearing up the remnants of Christmas chaos at our house and thinking of some goals for the new year. Yesterday I read Spirittibee's To-Do list for 2009 and was inspired to make my own list. My list is considerably shorter than hers, but the point is to make a list, not try to have as many items as someone else. So here's my list of things I'd like to accomplish in 2009:

Fifty Things to do in 2009

1.    ~~pay off at least one credit card & cancel it~~
2.    remember to take vitamins/supplements daily [year-long in progress]
3.    finish son’s lifebook [nearing completion]
4.    help hubby finish kitchen renovation project [nearing completion]
5.    ~~help hubby install wood floor in living room and hallway~~
6.    help hubby complete drywall & trim projects [started]
7.    help hubby install closet shelving
8.    ~~repaint living room~~ & hallway
9.    learn to use my Photoshop Elements software [year-long in progress]
10.    experiment with digital scrapbooking [year-long in progress]
11.    clean out the laundry room and add some “pretties” to make me love being down there
12.    plan square-foot garden with neighbors before Spring [nearing completion]
13.    sell or donate things we don't need (purge ruthlessly)
14.    get the Christmas decorations ~~put away by January 1st~~ and up by December 1st
15.    plan & create Jesse Tree ornaments before December 1st
16.    follow reading program to read through Bible in a year [year-long in progress]
17.    start a new habit of getting up at the same time and going to bed at the same time [year-long in progress]
18.    spend time every day with God - prayer journal, prayer, meditation, Bible reading [year-long in progress]
19.    find 16 ways to bless my husband (this is our 16th year married) [started]
20.    ~~organize the bookshelves~~
21.    ~~organize the school supplies~~
22.    ~~write 2008 family newsletter and send it out for Chinese New Year~~
23.    keep in touch with family and friends all year (via email & snail-mail) [year-long in progress]
24.    spend time outdoors every other day [year-long in progress]
25.    redo our daily schedule and adjust as needed [nearing completion]
26.    reorganize my closet
27.    keep up with menu plans and weekly meals at home (eat out less) [year-long in progress]
28.    use baking soda & vinegar to clean rather than toxic commercial cleansers
29.    make a budget & follow it [year-long in progress]
30.    find more ways to be frugal [year-long in progress]
31.    schedule time for myself every day and keep a journal as to how it is spent [year-long in progress]
32.    nature journal with the children each week [year-long in progress]
33.    work on practicing Chinese a little bit each day (speaking & writing) [year-long in progress]
34.    blog at least once a week
35.    ~~re-do “Living Beyond Yourself” Beth Moore Bible study~~
36.    do a new Bible study [started]
37.    deep clean the house twice (spring & autumn)
38.    memorize one Bible verse with the children each week [year-long in progress]
39.    practice guitar at least once a week [year-long in progress]
40.    finish one scrapbook
41.    organize scrap supplies and papers
42.    donate books/videos to the library
43.    read to the children every school day [year-long in progress]
44.    declutter once a month (set a schedule up for it)
45.    get the loose school papers into folders or notebooks [nearing completion]
46.    listen to audio Bible daily during breakfast & lunch [year-long in progress]
47.    assemble my 500 piece puzzle
48.    ~~print this list out and start checking it off~~
49.    add the rest of the things I think of later to this list after #50....
50.    reward myself with a special treat when I get half way through the list

I hope this challenges you to make a list of goals for the new year. I'm excited to have a couple things marked off already. Now to get to the rest of them...

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link