You know that moment you've been dreading for almost a decade? When you kids come to you and ask, "Mommy, how are babies made?".
Well, I've been through it twice. And survived. In fact, I think my daughters are better people for it!
Every Tuesday I upload a new "To Love, Honor and Vacuum" podcast, and today's is a hilarious clip about telling kids about babies. And where they come from. And other fun stuff!
It's not long. Just go here and you can listen while you continue to browse the net! Or you can subscribe through iTunes and then you can download all the episodes onto your iPod! Just to go iTunes and search for To Love, Honor and Vacuum.
Our first term is finished. It is so hard to believe that we already have 12 weeks under our belt and are 1/3 of the way finished with second grade.
Bible:
The 10 commandments
The golden calf
Moses talks with God
Building of the Tabernacle
Memory:
Matthew 4:10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Added Daniel and Hosea to our OT list
Phonics: We have worked through all the long vowels. I think that we will go back and do another review, refresher. The long vowels were a little harder on us. He seems to let himself get frustrated easily. I think that we will work on reading actual stories from the book instead of just words. He does a little better with sentences than just groups of words.
Math:
Number-fact families
Adding 3 single digit numbers. Also looked for combinations of 10)
Adding double digit numbers, no carrying
Subtracting double digit numbers
Adding triple digit numbers, no carrying
Literature:
Understood Betsy - ch 11 "Understood Aunt Frances" in which Betsy gets a letter from Aunt Frances saying that she is coming to get her. Everyone at the farm is very sad. But the end is very satisfactory to everyone. We are now finished with this book. We both enjoyed this book very much even though it was about a little girl.
Pilgrim's Progress - "Timorous and Mistrust" Timorous means timid. Two men, Timorous and Mistrust, heard that there were lions blocking the path and are running away. "Porter and Discretion" Christian comes upon the lions that are guarding a door to a beautiful palace and is thinking of turning back like Timorous and Mistrust, but the Porter of the door tells Christian something that he can't see; the lions are chained. They are there for testing of faith. Even though Christian is still fearful, he carefully advances to the door.
History Lit:
Little Duke - ch 6 The little Duke is taken by the King of France to the King's place were he meets the queen and their two boys. It seems the little Dukes pride may very well get him into trouble.
An Island Story - ch 32 "Henry Plantagenet - The Story of the Conquest of Ireland"
Child's History of the World - ch 53 "A Great Adventure" We learned about the pilgrimages taken in the 10th and 11th centuries called Crusades.
Geography Lit:
Tree in the Trail - ch 21, 22, and 23. (We are "upping" our reading because it is a library book and it has reached its renew limit.) Chapter 21 "Return to the Hill" the yoke returns to its hill after wintering in Independence. Chapter 22 "How the Wheels Rolled Westward" the wagons decide to note take the desert short-cut but to head to Bent's Fort. Did you know that oxen only sweat on their muzzles? I do now. Chapter 23 "At Bent's Fort" Bent knew that Jed, and the yoke, were on their way and spread the word. Many Indians came to see the "traveling piece of their old Medicine-Tree."
Nature Lit:
Burgess Animal Book - ch 22, 23 and 24 In chapter 22 we read about the common skunk, hog-nosed skunk, and the little spotted skunk. (They are carnivores which means stinky, LOL) Chapter 23 was about the badger and wolverine. And in chapter 24 we read about the weasel. There are many different weasels and close relatives of weasels: ermine, New York weasel, long-tailed weasel, short-tailed weasel, least weasel and black-footed ferret.
Copywork:
Memory verse
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, / A weary land, a weary land, / Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, / A shelter in the time of storm. ~ A Shelter in the Time of Storm by Charlesworth and Sankey
Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant Arbor, made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshment of weary travelers. ~ Pilgrim's Progress
There they stood, face to face, looking at each other with honest and very happy eyes. ~ Understood Betsy by Fisher
"My scouts have told me all about the yoke. And I've invited a hundred braves to see that traveling piece of their old Medicine-Tree." ~ Tree in the Trail by Holling
Spanish: This week, we are reviewing all of our previous lessons. We are going back and re-doing the lessons that we missed a question. I did all of the speaking exercises while I was at my mothers this week (we don't have a microphone in our computer) and though I thought I wasn't doing too bad, the natives think otherwise. LOL
Map work: Something new that I'm adding. Before, we had been hit or miss locating the places that we were reading about on our big world wall map. But no longer. We will be looking up every time there is a country mentioned or a region and even when cities are mentioned.
Togo, Africa (missionary)
Alberta, Canada (missionary)
Philippines, Asia (missionary)
Mexico, NA (missionary)
England: London and Canter berry
Spain, England, France and Germany and their distance from Jerusalem (the Crusades)
Sante Fe Trail in Kansas and Colorado
Artist/Composer:
We viewed Calumny of Apelles by Botticelli
We listened to Art of Fugue by Bach
Hymn/Folk:
We began work on our new songs. Our hymn is "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" by Vernon J. Charlesworth, music and adapted by Ira D. Sankey
Our folk song is "De Camptown Races"
Nature Study: We were house sitting for my Uncle, who happens to live on a few acres of land and was perfect for letting Cameron loose and telling him to find what he could. He found quite a few interesting leaves and a bunch of different pinecones. We may study those more in depth next week.
Fill in the missing parts (numbers and signs) of equations
Figured out which of three numbers did not belong in an addition problem (ex: 2+4+3=6, 3 is the extra number)
Following directions to fill a hundreds chart. (Actual quote from Cameron "Mom, this is fun!")
Literature:
Understood Betsy - ch 9 "The New Clothes Fail" Everyone is so excited about helping out a little boy to get adopted and away from his drunk step-father. The step-father sells the clothes but the boy is still gets a great deal. Chapter 10 "Betsy Has a Birthday" What a great chapter of how far Betsy has come. She is no longer the scared little girl that can't do anything for herself and must figure out how to get herself and her small charge home from the county fair where they were accidentally left behind.
Pilgrim's Progress - "Salvation" Christian gets to the cross where his burdens are removed and tossed into the grave to be seen no more. He is given new clothes and scroll to read for direction and comfort. He also comes across men, Simple, Sloth and Presumption, who were fast asleep and did not seem concerned that there was a lion about that may come upon them and destroy them. "Formalist & Hypocrisy" Two men climb over the wall thinking that they can get to Zion their own way without
History Lit:
The Little Duke - ch 5 Rescue comes to the little Duke but to keep peace it is decided the little Duke must journey with the King and spend some time with him. The King makes solemn vows to keep the Duke safe.
An Island Story - ch 30 "Henry Plantagent - The Story of Gilbert and Rohesia" which is the legendary story about the parents of Thomas a Becket. Chapter 31 "Henry Plantagent - The Story of Thomas a Becket" We read how Henry II, the king, and a Becket, his chancellor, were great friends until Henry makes a Becket the Archbishop. They have many words and a Becket does not do anything that Henry wants. Four knights of Henry take it on themselves to kill Thomas a Becket.
Geography Lit:
Tree in the Trail - ch 19 "The Yoke Goes to Independence" and 20 "Rendezvous at Council Grove" After Jed carves a new yoke out of the cottonwood they head to Independence. The yoke is becoming famous because everyone knew about the tree that it came from. Council Grove is where wagons met to form up as wagon trails.
Nature Lit:
Burgess Animal Book - ch 20 and 21. In chapter 20 we read about the common mole, Brewer's mole, Oregon mole and star-nosed moles. Chapter 21 was all about bats: red bat, little brown bat (which I am unfortunately VERY acquainted with), big brown bat, silvery bat, hoary bat and Cameron's favorite, the big-eared bat.
Poetry by Walter de la Mare:
Alone
Come!
Tom's Little Dog (our favorite)
Copywork:
Memory verse
Jesus! I do now receive Him, / More than all in Him I find, / He hath granted me forgiveness, / I am His, and He is mine. ~ Our Great Savior
Then Christian said with a merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death." ~ Pilgrim's Progress
On the whole, William, although descended from a pirate, gave England a good government and made it a safe place to live. ~Children's History of the World
Spanish: We did "-ing" verbs. drinking, eating, working sleeping, playing, reading, writing, running, walking, sitting, standing, smiling, crying, they (f), they (m)
Artist/Composer:
We viewed Calumny of Apelles by Botticelli
We listened to Art of Fugue by Bach
Hymn/Folk: We finished with "Our Great Savoir" and "The Star-Spangled Banner"
This blog is for you Obama supporters. I have had lots of conversations about why people support for McCain and many McCain supporters try to change my mind to get me to vote for him but I have not gotten much from Obama supporters. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MAKES YOU TICK... why vote Obama? You can even leave anonymous comments if you want although I have more respect for people who are willing to say who they are and leave links.
I noticed as I was researching Obama the other day and listening to interviews that he was a captivating speaker. I told Rick that after I was done watching interviews he seemed like a great guy, I was swayed and I could understand how he could get votes by just whooing crowds with speeches. After I was done with interview watching I sat down and thought about what he stood for and of course I could never vote for him... ever... but is there anyone out there that knows what he stands for that is willing to tell me WHY you are voting for him?
I will tell you why I am NOT voting for him and in your comments you can refute what I think, tell me what you think about subjects not listed by me, share your thoughts and feeling, and if you are really studied maybe share some great links. Ok, so here it is-
He is referred to as the Messiah and doesn't refute it. In fact, according to his campaign manager this was done on purpose. Some quotes from Obama's mouth are "a nation healed, a world repaired." "We are the ones we have been waiting for," "A light will shine down from somewhere. It will light upon you. You will experience an epiphany, and you will say to yourself: I have to vote for Barack." "This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and the planet began to heal." There is even a blog dedicated to saying he is the Messiah. http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/ What really bothers me about this is he never says "I am not the Messiah" so does he really believe it? If you are a Christian this should make you think because we all know the Messiah has already come, Christ, and for him to give the impression he is is blasphemy. If you believe we are in the end times then you may think this is expected but why would you vote for it?
Obama is in support of homosexual education- Do you really want this to be taught to your children and have NO choice about it? When talking about a book that was read to young elementary students where two men were married and the parents were not notified and had no choice Obama said this- "you know, the fact is, my 9-year-old and my 6-year-old's -- I think, are already aware that there are same-sex couples. And my wife and I have talked about it. And one of the things I want to communicate to my children is not to be afraid of people who are different, and because there have been times in our history where I was considered different, or Bill Richardson was considered different. And one of the things I think the next president has to do is to stop fanning people's fears. You know, if we spend all our time feeding the American people fear and conflict and division, then they become fearful and conflicted and divided. And if we feed them hope, and we feed them reason and tolerance, then they will become tolerant and reasonable and hopeful. And that, I think, is one of the most important things that the next president can do, is try to bring us together and stop trying to fan the flames of division that have become so -- so standard in our politics in Washington. That's the kind of experience, by the way, that we need to put an end to." That sounds great if you don't mind having no choice about your child's education. What about OUR religious convictions? Shouldn't the school just stick to reading, writing and arithmetic????
Homosexuals will have more rights than you- Maybe I should of lumped these three homosexual subjects into one. The fact of the matter is if you are in the military you will have to be bunked up with openly homosexual people. I would be just as uncomfortable undressing in front of a lesbian as I would a man because they can both "check you out". Also, if you have religious beliefs against homosexuality you will have to hire and pay for one that wants to work for you. Where are your rights to run your own life and run your own business? For adoption companies they will be forced to adopt to gay and lebian couples. Many of us already know that the catholic organization has had to remove itself out of one state because its religious beliefs were contrary to this. For a full list of where he stands of homosexual issues click here. Let me take a moment here to explain something- one of the nicest and hardest working persons I ever worked with was actually gay. While I think his lifestyle was 100% wrong I still treated him kindly and we were able to actually have good conversations about God. I think looking at porn is just as vile as homosexuality and committing adultery is also very, very bad. God said if you simply look at a woman and lust you are committing adultery. Think about that next time you sit and watch a rated R or PG-13 movie with some woman's ***** hanging out or a sex scene. You are perverted too if you do this. My point is I am not a "homophob" and would like to see homosexuals saved too... I am for our religious rights which are stripped away when they grant homosexuals all the "rights" people like Obama want to give them. Well, you know what.. if an employer doesn't want to hire a lesbian it is his/her right and the lesbian has the right to look elsewhere for employment AND even to boycott that business or company if it is that big of a deal to them.
He fully supports abortion- This includes abortion, partial birth abortion, transporting of youth for secret abortions without parental consent.
Infancide- This is legalized killing of infant born alive.
Obama is against gun rights- You will not be allowed hand guns and hunters will get slim pickins'. He said "that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right."
His church- I actually agree with part of what the pastor says that most Americans don't agree with. However, part of what Mr. Wright says is pretty far out in left field if you know what I mean. It is an interesting youtube search to say the least.
ACORN- Obama's campaign has GIVEN over $800,000 to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN. Its goal is to promote the welfare state, finance illegal-immigrant activities, undermine capitalism, and elect politicians such as Obama, using government grants to do so. The money was supposed to be for providing "stage, lighting and sound" to the campaign. But its subsidiary, Citizen Services Inc., has been doing get-out-the-vote work for Obama and the group has been implicated in multiple voter-fraud schemes in at least 14 states, for which several of its members have been criminally convicted.
Citizenship- This youtube video explains it perfectly. Even though this man's case was thrown out of court the questions were NEVER answered about it.
Immunizations- I guess we are not good enough to decide what is medically best for our children either. He is really funded by the pharmaceutical companies! Check out the links on the blog I linked for more information. "I do not support selective vaccination." is what he said.
Big Government- He seems to think government should control everything. Where are my rights????
For a full view of what Obama believes click here.
So, tell me, why are you voting the way you are? Are you willing to discuss this?
Tuesday morning when my 5 yo was putting on shoes she got stung in the foot by a yellow jacket that was sitting in her shoe. We have been stung by these before and got big welts. This time I did the ususal- a little garlic and some lavender essential oil.. we were in a hurry to get into town. When we got there I took off her shoe and wiped off the garlic and put her sock back on... her foot was just red at this point. Normally we use plantain but we were in a hurry and just grabbed what we consider second best for bites. We have used garlic many times before and when I took the garlic off it was just welting so I know the garlic didn't burn the skin and cause blisters. By the next day her foot was covered in water blisters and her foot was super swollen including the toes!! I have never seen anything like this.
That day (wednesday) she got bit again! This time it was on her thigh on the same leg! Poor thing. After seeing her foot I knew I would have to act quick. So I began applying garlic/onion/vinegar poultices with wet clothes and covering them with a warm water bottle hoping to drive the herbs in and get the poisin neutralized. I also gave her fresh garlic in honey, vitamin c, probiotics (full size adult capsules) and flax seed oil. This worked in not letting her thigh get so swollen and hot and covered in blisters as her foot had. Last night her foot was still so swollen that her toes were completely red.
I remembered a tincture I made that was in the cupboard for joints of people with arthritis and other swelling issues so I gave her some. She has also gotten a few salt baths. She has a high tolerance for pain and says it doesn't hurt (except when I clean them)and she is not itching the wounds. By this morning, Thursday, her toes were back to normal size. The blisters are broken and believe it or not her foot is getting better slowly. Her thigh just has a few small water blisters forming that came up not long after I took the photo. If you examined the photo close you could probably see where they were going to come up. There are three small ones that formed. And the darkness of the skin- I don't know if this is actually bruising or if this is the skin being discolored............ I am not so worried about the swelling, believe it or not I think I have it under control.
My question is this.... why did she react so bad when she has been stung by the same insects before and only gotten a welt? I have never heard of blisters and the skin looking like this before from yellow jackets. I know if you are allergic you can swell.... I am wondering if anyone has experience in the area of being able to tell if this is allergic reactions or if this is some form of a skin problem or infection entering the wounds.....?????? Any help?? I would like to know more in hopes of preventing problems in the future. After all, could you imagine if this was her face or something??
I just want you all to know I believe in free speech; therefore, I am not one to delete comments or edit them. Unless there is foul language or something totally inappropriate I feel that you have the right to leave comments as you would like them to be heard read.
Mama (reading): "Come see the monkey." said Polly. "What is a monkey?" asked Phronsie...
Cameron: I know what a monkey is. It has a tail that it uses to hang by, It has two feet that is can use like hands. It has two arms. (Pause and then deadly serious) And the will attack.
(I couldn't finish reading for a few moments. He had me in stitches)
~~~~~~~
Cameron was working on his notebook page for mammals as I was reading from Burgess Animal Book. Today we learned about some skunks.
Mama (reading again): "You are members of the same order and it is a rather large order.It is called the Car-niv-o-ra, which means--"
Cameron: STINKY!!
Actually it means flesh eating but that was funny.
My oldest child and I were talking about why some people and I are disagreeing over voting for McCain and a third party candidate. Then my 5 year old, Adah Mae, interrupted the conversation and said "Why don't you just vote for Mickey Mouse mom?" and then smiled.
