Apr. 28, 2008 - Adler Planetarium

We went to the Adler Planetarium today.  Here are a few pictures:


We went inside this "old fashioned" planetarium:




Lunch with the Chicago skyline in the background:


Watching the Mars Rover through a small window.  The older boys also got to program its movements:



Planets hanging from the ceiling.  My 18 mo loves balls--and these were the best!



Playing "Medieval Astronomy School"

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Studying Outer Space

Here are the books we read:

The amazing International Space Station
Our solar system	Simon, Seymour.
Janice VanCleave's solar system : mind-boggling experiments you can turn into science fair projects	VanCleave, Janice Pratt.
The life of an astronaut	Walker, Niki, 1972-
The space shuttle	Langille, Jacqueline.
Solar system	Goldsmith, Mike, Dr.
Space heroes : amazing astronauts	Buckley, James, 1963-
Spinning in space : a book about the planets	Rau, Dana Meachen, 1971-
The big space shuttle [videorecording (VHS)]
Do stars have points? : questions and answers about stars and planets	Berger, Melvin.
The planets in our solar system	Branley, Franklyn Mansfield, 1915-2002
Space leftovers : a book about comets, asteroids, and meteoroids	Rau, Dana Meachen, 1971-

Destination: Moon   The Spiritual and Scientific Voyage of the Eighth Man to Walk on the Moon by James Irwin
Journey into Space:  The Missions of Neil Armstrong                               Langley, Andrew
Biography of Isaac Newton
Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System
A Wrinkle in Time

And pictures of our lapbook:

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Les Miserables

My husband and I had a fun date last Sunday evening.  We went to see the musical "Les Miserables" at a small theater in the round.  It was actually not just us, but his brother and wife and mom and dad (my in-laws), too.  Afterward we went to dinner at a very nice restaurant.  I've seen the musical a couple of times before about 10 years ago.  But this time I decided to read the book.  I want to see what's different and left out of the musical.  And I'm curious about how the Christian message is portrayed.  I'm about 30 pages into the 1500 page book.  My husband and kids keep saying that there's no way I'll finish such a long book, so I'm taking the challenge!  I'll let you know when I'm done!

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Apr. 26, 2008 - Pictures from Field Museum

We went to the Chicago Field Museum a couple of weeks ago (on a free day!).
Here are a few pictures.




And one from home:  bird-watching out the back door window.

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Living Math Books

I love this list of "Living" math books that Dawne has printed at her OneRoomHomeschool.

We do math though "living" right now, as opposed to following a textbook curriculum.   (A website that gives some great resources for this method of teaching is LivingMath.net. and an explanation of why we're doing it this way may be found here.)  We plan to continue the informal approach to math until the kids reach the next stage of mental development around age 10.  I'm always amazed at how much my boys (and now my oldest girl) understand about math.  I'm convinced that they will understand and enjoy math far more than I ever did!  We'll get some of these books at the library soon.

Living Math Books

Counting
Anno, Mitsumasa. Anno's Counting Book.
Carter, David A. How Many Bugs in a Box
Crowther, Robert. The Most Amazing Hide-and-Seek Counting Book
Feelings, Muriel. Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book
Lindbergh, Reeve. The Midnight Farm
Carle, Eric. 1, 2, 3, to the Zoo
Sayre, April. One Is a Snail, Ten is a Crab

Addition
10 For Dinner -Bogart, Jo Ellen
12 Ways to Get to 11-Merriam, Eve
Annie's One to Ten- Owen, Annie
Each Orange Had Eight Slices-Gianti, Paul
Going Up!-Sis, Peter
Henny Penny
Numbers-Allen, Robert
Rooster's Off to See the World-Carle, Eric
The Great Big Enormous Turnip-Tolstoi, Alexei
The House that Jack Built
There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly

Subtraction
10 Little Elephants-Leydenfrost, Robert
Anno's Counting House
Bea's 4 Bears-Weston, Maria
Jack and the Beanstalk
Mr. Grumpy's Outing-Burningham, John
Pancakes for Breakfast-de Paola, Tomi
Roll Over! A Counting Song-Peek, Merle
The Last Puppy-Asch, Frank
There Were 10 in the Bed

Mulitplication
Bunches and Bunches of Bunnies-Mathews, L
School Bus-Crews, Donald

Fractions
A-Apple Pie-Greenway, Kate
Eating Fractions-McMillan, Bruce
Half a Moon and ONe Whole Star-Dragonwagon, Crescent
The Doorbell Rang-Hutchins, Pat
The Half-Birthday Party-Pomerantz, Charlotte

Geometry
8 Hands Round:A Patchwork Alphabet-Paul, Ann Withford
All Kinds of Signs-Reit, Seymour
Boxes! Boxes!-Fisher, Leonard
Building a House-Barton, Byron
Changes, Changes-Hutchins, Pat
Circles, Triangles, and Squares-Hoban, Tana
Four Pigs and a Bee-Melville, HEather
Frosted Glass-Cazat, Denys
Galimoto-Williams, Karen Lynn
Grandfather Tang's Story.- Tompert, Ann
If You Look Around You-Testa, Fulvio
Listen to a Shape. Franklin Watts- Brown, Marcia
Little Blue & Little Yellow-Lionni, Leo
Look! Look! Look! -Hoban, Tana
Round is a Pancake-Sullivan, Joan
Shapes and Things-Hoban, Tana
Shapes, Shapes, Shapes-Hoban, Tana
Shapes: How Do You Say It?-Dunham, Meredith
Shapes-Pienkowski, Jan
The Little Wood Duck-Wildsmith, Brian
The Paper Crane-Bang, Molly
The Patchwork Quilt-Flournoy, Valerie
The Shapes Game-Rogers, Paul
The Train to Grandma's-Gantschev, Ivan
The Trip-Keats, Ezra Jack
The Wing on a Flea-Emberly, Ed
Wheel Away-Dodds, Dayle Anne
Wilbur Worm-Hales, Richard and Nicky

Estimation
Munsch, Robert. Moira's Birthday

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Apr. 25, 2008 - Our Summer Plans

Well, the school year is coming to a close in a few weeks.  It doesn't really close for us--we school year-round (taking days or parts of days off when needed.)  But it will change slightly for the summer.

We're finishing up our space unit study (culminating with a trip to the planetarium next week).  When we're done with the lapbook, I'll post pictures.  It's been a really fun study.

Next month we'll be doing a botany unit.  We'll be (hopefully) doing a lot of nature walks and drawings to put in our nature journals this starting in May and continuing all summer.  We started putting together backpacks for the four oldest kids to take on our nature walks.  In them we put a clipboard with pencil attached with a string, magnifying glass, colored pencils, binoculars, and digital camera.  We'll visit the botanical gardens and arboreteum next month, too.

The boys have finished the final printing Handwriting Without Tears book, so they'll be doing copywork until ready to start cursive.  My 4 yo has also started Handwriting Without Tears and will continue that through the summer.

For reading, my 4 yo is still in the beginning stages with TATRAS phonics program.  My 6 yo is really starting to pick up in reading confidence.  He'll keep up with reading from his Rod and Staff readers this summer.  My 7 yo is almost finished with his last reader and will begin reading novels, poetry, Bible etc. to me daily.  He reads to himself all the time and just finished "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Hobbit" this week.

For history we are finishing up our study of the Ancient Times (Roman Empire) with a focused study of the New Testament (life of Jesus and the early church age).  The kids are all notebooking on this topic.  (For some free notebooking ideas and tips, see the links at this site.)  I found a lot of coloring sheets and other types of inserts (maps, list of 12 disciples, etc.) on the internet which go along with the Bible story/ passage we read about each day.  We are using Egermeier's Story Bible to guide us through our New Testament study.  I'm hoping to finish it up by the end of summer.  The baby is due at the beginning of September, so we'll take a short break and then start in with the Middle Ages.

I just ordered our Middle Ages texts:  Story of the World, vol. 2 and Mystery of History, vol. 2.  We'll be getting the CDs for Story of the World, too.  I found out that all of the historical fiction I'd like to read for the middle ages is available at the library.  Yeah!  I'll post those books later.  Right now we're reading "The Bronze Bow" (ancient Rome and New Testament times) and listening to "The Secret Garden" on CD (for the botany unit).  My husband is reading aloud "Heidi" in the evenings.  (If you haven't read "Heidi", go check it out!  Be sure to get the unabridged version.)  Next I'll read "A Wrinkle in Time" (a little late for our space unit).

Soon we also need to finish up our hands-on projects for Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome and Space.  I have a list of things to do on the fridge and will post about them when we do them!  They include things like Greece:  make paper mosaics, bead/seed/bean mosaics, geometric 3D shapes, and sugar cookie clay tablets;  Rome:  food like olive bread and artichokes, army helmet out of paper mache, aquaduct, weave a mini basket, crayon engraving, and volcano model; and Space:  planetary model out of foam balls, comets, rockets from plastic film containers and space food (soup and comet ice cream cones.)  These are the hardest things for me to get to because of the preparation time (buying materials), mess and difficulty dealing with the two little ones.

Here are our unit studies for the summer:  In June we'll study Famous Artists and Paintings and take a trip to the Art Institute.  In July we'll study oceans.  I have some fun lapbook materials for this.  And we'll take a trip to Shedd Aquarium.  In August, we'll study Desert Habitats.  I was going to study China because of the Olympics, but my oldest son expressed his interest in Deserts, so we'll do that instead.  We'll go to the zoo and see some great "boy" desert animals such as rattlesnakes and gila monsters!  My other son said he'd rather study dinosaurs, so we'll see if we can fit that in, too.  I have some wonderful materials from Answers in Genesis and Institute for Creation Research.

Finally, now that we'll be finished with swim lessons, I'd like to start up our Musikgarten classes again.  These are related to animal habitats:  Cattail Marsh, Meadow and Seashore.  In the fall they are related to 4 different world cultures:  British Isles, Germany, American Indians and African Americans.  Each of these cultures will be a unit study for next year.

With all the above, playing outside a lot, field trips and a couple of vacations, we'll be plenty busy this summer!

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Apr. 9, 2008 - 7 Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

Here are some good tips here.

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Apr. 7, 2008 - Bread Baking Primer

I've been baking our own bread for the past six months.  We haven't bought any sandwich bread in that whole time (except when we were on vacation)!  I thought I'd share how I do it here.  It's really not that hard or time-consuming.  And it tastes so much better than store-bought, as well as being better for you.

I bought the mixer, grain mill and many supplies from Urban Homemaker (urbanhomemaker.com).  (You can also make the bread by hand and buy wheat flour at the store if you don't want to get a mixer or mill.)  I get 100 pounds of wheat berries at a time from a food co-op that my friend is a part of.  I bought two 5-gallon buckets from Home Depot and put gamma lids on them and oxygen absorbers in them (bought at wisementrading.com).  The gamma lids completely seal the buckets so that nothing can get in.  The oxygen absorbers absorb all the oxygen from the bucket, killing any bugs or eggs which may have been in there.  The wheat will then keep indefinitely!

Ingredients: oil, honey, dough enhancer, vital gluten, yeast, salt, and wheat berries:


Bosch Mixer and Nutrimill Grain Mill:



Six bread pans to make six loaves at a time.  This lasts us about a week:


A 5-gallon bucket with gamma lid on:


Here is the recipe for Marilyn's Famous Whole Wheat Bread Recipe.  I use 2 1/2 TB of yeast, 2 TB of salt, 2 TB dough enhancer, and 1/2 cup of vital gluten.  One time I ran out of vital gluten, so I left it out to see how the bread would be different.  The bread was very crumbly and wouldn't hold together when cut.  It was still edible, but the texture is much better with the vital gluten.  I grind 11 cups of wheat berries, but I've never counted exactly how many cups of flour I use.  Sometimes, there is some left over, which I put in a baggie in the freezer to use the next week.  Sometimes, I have to grind a little more.  It depends on the humidity, etc.

Step 1:  Set everything out.  It helps me to set it all out the night before, so I can get started early in the morning.  It takes me 2 1/2 hours from start to finish, not including cooling the bread.  But I'm not working the whole time, so we get started on our schoolwork when the bread is rising and baking.

Step 2:  Grind 2 cups of berries in the mill.  While it's grinding, put honey, oil, dough enhancer, yeast and very warm water in the mixer.  Add 2 cups of freshly ground whole wheat flour.  Mix a few seconds and let it sit there for 15 minutes.  This is called sponging.


Step 3:  Put 9 cups of wheat berries into the mill to grind.  It takes about 7 minutes.


Step 4:  After the 15 minutes of sponging is up, add salt and vital gluten to the mixer.  Mix a few seconds.  Add one cup of flour at a time and mix a few seconds.  You're done adding flour when the dough cleans the sides of the bowl. 


Step 5:  "Knead" the dough for 6 minutes--just turn the mixer setting to "1" and set the timer.

Step 6:  Turn the oven on for a couple of minutes to warm it.  Remove the dough hook from the mixing bowl and place mixing bowl in the warmed oven for 30 minutes.  Instructions usually say to cover the bowl with a damp cloth, but I never do.


Step 7:  After 30 minutes, my dough has always started to come out over the sides of the bowl, so it's time to put into the bread pans.


Step 8:  Pull out dough and put enough into each pan to fill it halfway.  I never "shape" the dough, but just stuff it in there and try to flatten the top!  I think the bread looks pretty nice when baked, so I haven't worried about shaping it nicely!


Step 9:  Place the 6 pans back into the warmed oven (turn back on for a couple of minutes if necessary.)  Set the timer for 30 minutes again.  By that time the dough has always risen to the tops (or a little above the tops) of the pans.


Step10:  Turn the oven to 350 degrees and set the timer to 30 minutes once more.  My bread has always been perfectly baked by following these instructions.


Step 11:  If you let the bread cool a bit before cutting, it will slice better (won't be so doughy).

Step 12:  Cool completely and place in bread bags.  I keep 2 or 3 loaves out and put the rest in the freezer.  Don't put bread in the refrigerator as that will dry it out.

Step 13:  Enjoy!

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Apr. 7, 2008 - New 6-year-old

We had another birthday!





We made a "Sand Castle" cake, which was featured in Family Fun magazine this month.  Maybe it looks hard, but it was very easy!  (See recipe here.)

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Apr. 7, 2008 - Human Body Lapbook

Our unit study for the month of March was the human body.  Here is the lapbook we put together after reading many books and watching several videos.
Many of the graphics came from www.handsofachild.com.

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Apr. 7, 2008 - Resurrection Lapbook

My kindergartener did this lapbook by himself.  We found the free materials for it at www.lapbooklessons.com.

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Mar. 31, 2008 - A change in plans

Today we had a change in plans.  We were on our way to the Children's Museum traveling in a lot of rain on a freeway with lots of construction when we got a flat tire!  I couldn't stop anywhere safe so I had to keep traveling for 3 miles, praying all the way!  We got to a gas station and thankfully my husband was available to come and change the tire for us.  So, we came home and worked on lapbooks, housework and started our study of the solar system with the reading of Destination Moon by astronaut of Apollo 15 Jim Irwin.  We'll try again for the museum in a few days.

I'm joining a challenge to spend 15 minutes reading the Bible every day (see the contest here.
I started reading from a chronological Bible in January, but I'm about a month behind right now.  I'll try to catch up!

Other good news:  We got carpet in our basement!  It is so nice down there now.  My kids absolutely love it, especially the 17-month-old!





My little girl is now 3 years old!







Having a rare moment of them all sitting still!

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Mar. 25, 2008 - Public Boarding Schools

The Chicago Public School system is proposing having boarding schools.  See article at http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=153598&src=1.
My first thought after reading about this was that the public schools are trying to steal kids away from parents even more than they already have.  But then I remembered a couple of experiences I had when I was teaching in a public school.

About 10 years ago I was teaching choir at a junior high in Texas.  It was a lower income school, and the administration gave me no support in the enormous amount of discipline problems I had.  I just had to do my best to try to teach the kids something everyday. 

One of the techniques we were taught to use was to call the kid's parents to enlist their help in solving a discipline issue.  I was rarely able to reach the parents.  Many didn't even have a phone (although they all had TV, VCRs and cable).  Sometimes when I'd reach the mom or dad and explain the problem, they would start yelling at their child while I was still on the phone! 

One time, my vice principal came to tell me not to call one particular father anymore because he would beat up his son every time a teacher called him.  This poor child was fighting all kinds of odds.  Both his older brothers were deep into gangs.  This boy loved singing in choir, but even that brought ridicule from others.  I'll never forget how proud he looked every time he put on his tux shirt and bowtie for a concert!  His parents never came to see him, but he was always the first student to show up.  Believe me, I never called his father again!

Another time I had a boy in my first class of the day who fell asleep every day.  I went to talk to an administrator about it.  She explained that his father was a custodian at an office building and worked nights.  He made his son come with him and work with him all night long.  (Maybe his father slept while the son did all the work!)

I think in these cases, these boys might have had a better chance at making it if there was some supportive boarding school for them.  However, I'm not sure that the government public school system is the right vehicle for it.  They are failing so  miserably in all other areas that I don't think they could handle the 24/7 care any better than these failing parents could.

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Mar. 21, 2008 - But what about the prom?

I've never been asked this question (yet), but if I ever am, I have found a great answer to the question here!

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Mar. 16, 2008 - Pictures

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Mar. 16, 2008 - Old Testament Verses

We have--after 2 years--finally memorized a verse or passage from every book of the Old Testament!  We still have a lot of reviewing to do to make sure they have really sunk in, though.  And now we're working on the New Testament.
Here are the verses:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Honor your father and your mother.
Exodus 20:12

Love your neighbor as yourself.
Leviticus 19:18

The Lord bless you and keep you.
Numbers 6:24

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

Be strong and courageous. . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

I will sing to the Lord, I will sing.
Judges 5:3

Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.
Ruth 4:14

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
I Samuel 12:24

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.
II Samuel 22:31

O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below--you keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.
I Kings 8:23

Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book.
II Kings 22:13

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
I Chronicles 29:11

The Lord is with you when you are with him.  If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him , he will forsake you. 
II Chronicles 15:2

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:
“He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.”
Ezra 3:11

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  Nehemiah 8:10

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?  Esther 4:14

Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.  What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly!  His tail sways like a cedar. . . He ranks first among the works of God.  Job 40:15-19

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 
Worship the Lord with gladness;  come before him with joyful songs. 
Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.  
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

See!  The winter is past; the rains are over and gone;
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.
Song of Songs 2:11-12

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Isaiah 40:31

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah  29:11

His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:27

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens.
Daniel 12:3

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6

Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:13

Seek good, not evil, that you may live.  Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
Amos 5:14

The day of the LORD is near for all nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.
Obadiah v. 15

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.”
Jonah 2:2

He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.
Nahum 1:3

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
Habakkuk 3:18-19

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

This is what the LORD Almighty says:  “Give careful thought to your ways.”
Haggai 1:7

Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.
Zechariah 10:1

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Malachi 3:10

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Mar. 12, 2008 - Good News for California

From an HSLDA email:

March 11, 2008

An update to HSLDA Members and Friends on the California Court of 
Appeal Decision on Homeschooling:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell comes to the 
defense of homeschool families. "The California Department of 
Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this 
ruling. Parents still have the right to homeschool in this state," he 
said.

After the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District in Los 
Angeles ruled on February 28 that parents had to be credentialed 
teachers to educate their own children the statement from O'Connell is 
encouraging news for the homeschool community.

"O'Connell has it right," said Michael Farris, Chairman of HSLDA. "But 
the court decision must still be overturned before homeschool freedom 
can be restored in California."

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Mar. 9, 2008 - Homeschooling Illegal in California?

To read and learn more about this unbelievable court ruling, please listen to the Focus on the Family broadcast:
http://www.oneplace.com/common/player/oneplace/CustomPlayer.asp?bcd=3/7/2008&url=
http://swn.edgeboss.net/wmedia/swn/oneplace/wm/ffd/ffd20080307.wax&MinTitle=
Focus+on+the+Family&MinURL=http://www.oneplace.comhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/
focus_on_the_family/&MinArchives=http://www.oneplace.comhttp://www.oneplace.com/ministries/
focus_on_the_family/archives.asp&Refresh=&AdsCategory=MINISTRY.FOTF&Show_ID=132

and please sign the petition at the HSLDA website (non-homeschoolers may sign also):
www.hslda.org

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Mar. 7, 2008 - My funny girl

My 2 yo daughter (who is almost 3) has said a couple of funny things lately.

2 yo:   Mom, your belly button is broken.  It has a hole in it.

and

Me:  What does your thumb taste like?  [She's a big thumb-sucker.]
2 yo:  Cold milk!

No wonder she loves to suck her thumb!

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Mar. 7, 2008 - A Day in our Life

I haven't done this in a while, so I thought it would be fun to write out what we did all day long. 

6:05 a.m.  My youngest (17 mo.) woke up--later than usual!  We went downstairs to get his medicine and switch clothes from washer to dryer.  Then upstairs to dress him and take my shower.

7:00 a.m.  Everyone was downstairs for breakfast.  My boys started playing checkers before eating.

8:00 a.m.  Morning chores:  empty dishwasher, fold clothes while listening to a couple of stories from YouNeedAStory.com, practice violin, brush teeth.

9:00 a.m.  Bible Time (We read about Daniel and the angel who protected him from Leading Little Ones to God, prayed, reviewed 5 memory verses).
Copy work (sentences about Ancient Greece)
Oldest did a little of his Bible Study Fellowship lesson.

9:40  Went to library to pick up books and videos I had put on hold.  Then on to the violin lessons.  In the car we listened to Johnny Tremain.

10:30  Violin lessons.

11:40  Drove home  (listened to Johnny Tremain again)

12:15 p.m. Lunch.  My son sent an email to his grandmother.

1:15  Put two younger kids down for a nap.  Phonics lessons with boys, they read to me from their Rod and Staff readers.  I read to them:  Aesop's Fables (they narrated), Famous Men of Greece (about Philip of Macedonia and Alexander the Great) and Magic School Bus inside the Human Body (our unit study for March).

2:30  I tried to rest but my youngest wouldn't sleep since he had fallen asleep in the car at 11:45.  The boys played checkers and chess in their room.  I took the little guy downstairs to give him a snack.  My 4 yo daughter got one, too.   I made some blueberry muffins.

3:30  The others came down.  We straightened up the house and set up for our Small Group Bible Study.  I put a pizza in the oven.

4:15  The kids ate their pizza and muffins.

4:50  We loaded in the car to head to my oldest son's swim lesson.

5:20  My husband met us there, and the four youngest and I headed back home.  I put a pizza in the oven for my husband and me.

6:15  My husband and son came home.  My husband and I ate while the kids watched "Magic School Bus Human Body" on DVD.  (The book was better!)

6:35  I took my little one upstairs and put him to bed.

7:00  Our Small Group Bible Study began.  We had a huge group tonight (16).  Our kids enjoyed having a dessert and singing hymns with everyone before my husband and I took them upstairs to bed. 

10:00  My husband and I went to bed.

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Feb. 23, 2008 - Pictures from Christmas

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Feb. 23, 2008 - Random Thoughts

1.  I saw my first lunar eclipse the other night!

2.  I've been doing a lot of studying about celiac disease.  We were concerned that our youngest child had it because he isn't gaining weight.  Celiac means that gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley and contaminated oats) attacks the small intestine, causing a number of different problems.  One of the problems is that the body is unable to absorb nutrients.  We thought this could explain our baby's lack of growth.  Blood work showed he had antibodies and the gene for celiac.  But I could tell the doctor (pediatric GI specialist) wasn't too convinced of it.  However, she said we needed to find out for sure because those with celiac disease have to be completely gluten-free for the rest of their lives!  We took our little guy to Children's Hospital to have an upper endoscopy which required full anesthesia.  She took biopsies of his esophagus, stomach and small intestine.  The whole procedure took about 7 minutes, and he was only "out" for about 30 minutes.  It's so amazing what they can do today!  We are so thankful that the results showed no evidence of celiac disease.  However, we still have to figure out why he's not growing.  He has very little appetite and so much energy.  I think he simply doesn't eat enough and burns off everything he does eat.

3.  We are expecting our sixth baby!  This will be the longest in-between babies yet.  All our others are 16-18 months apart.  But this one will 23 months apart.  I've been so sick and exhausted--which explains the lack of blogging much lately.  I'm about to enter the 2nd trimester and am hoping to feel better soon!

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Feb. 19, 2008 - Studying states

Here are some links from an email list about studying the U.S. States:
Many States require US History be taught.
This weeks Freebie at homeschoolestore will get you started in that
direction
http://www.homeschoolestore.com
I'd also like to recommend doing a one page shape book for each state
use their blank map as the front page
you can use the lapbook suggestions for each state.
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/state.htm

Maps

older kids
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/hist_sites.html
http://monarch.tamu.edu/%7Emaps2/
http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/reference.html

younger kids
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps/usa.html

Timelines
http://www.teacheroz.com/Maps_Flags_Timelines.htm#timelines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_history

Software
http://www.atlasofworldhistory.com/

General information
http://www.50states.com/

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Feb. 7, 2008 - Audio Resources for Homeschooling

Here are some audio links I got from an email list.  I haven't checked them all out yet:

Audio story and audio book resources including historical speeches
http://storynory.com/

http://www.kiddierecords.com/2006/index.htm

http://www.alexwilson.com/telltale/

http://www.readingwell.com/audio.html

http://www.talkinghistory.org/

http://www.hiskids.net/?profile=Insight

http://www.librivox.org

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Feb. 4, 2008 - What we're learning

I haven't had time to write much or post pictures lately, but hopefully I will soon.  As a quick update, we just finished a study of fossils, rocks and minerals in January.  I had originally planned on studying the Rain Forest, but my 7 yo son really wanted to study rocks and fossils.  So, I found some great books at Answers in Genesis and ordered some sample rocks, minerals and fossils.  We used plaster of paris to "make" a fossil and did a lapbook with some of the Rockhound activites from Hands of a Child.  It was more fun than I thought it would be.

We have also finished up our Old Testament history.  We're almost finished with memorizing a verse (or passage) from every Old Testament book, too!  We just completed our reading of Victory on the Wall: A Story of Nehemiah, which was an historical fiction account of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall.

My mom came for a visit a week ago, and we were able to go on a couple of field trips, including the Kohl Children's Museum.  They also played lots of board and card games (not my strong point, but so great for them!)  My 3 older kids are now in swim lessons, too, for a few months.  And the two older boys are continuing with their violin lessons.  I'm taking a break from our day Musikgarten classes (including for the 4-7 age group) but hope to get back to it soon.  The night class is for my 3 younger kids, and it is a Christian-based curriculum.  We have 2 other families who join us.  During our Bible Time, we have started again with Leading Little Ones to God by Schoolland.

This week we have started into Ancient Greek history.  I'm using Story of the World, Famous Men of Greece, Aesop's Fables, Usborne's Greek Myths (very watered down for young kids), a historical novel called "Theras and His Town" by Snedeker, and a website to start learning the Greek alphabet:  http://www.inthebeginning.org/ntgreek/lesson1/gl1.htm.
This website is great--it has flashcards of the letters to post on the wall and says the pronunciation of the letter as well as shows you how to draw it.  I also found some free worksheets here:  http://www.greeknstuff.com/EBOOK-Samples.html

We're also doing a unit study on the U.S. Presidents during February.  I found some great books at the library today, and the boys will do copywork of some of the President's best quotes.  I'd love to take a trip to Springfield, Illinois and go to the Lincoln Museum there.  We'll see.

Another great book we've been reading is "Life in the Great Ice Age" by Oard.  It's in between a picture book and historical novel and explains the biblical view of the Ice Age and cave men.  It's great! 

My older sons continue with phonics instruction using TATRAS and reading to me from Rod and Staff readers (biblical stories).  My 4 yo daughter has just started some phonics instruction, too.  The boys practice handwriting from Handwriting Without Tears when they aren't doing copywork.

In the evenings, my husband has been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to the boys.  They are now in the book  "Little Town on the Prairie," and he's also reading them the book of Revelation.  And a new thing--my 7 yo has begun reading the Chronicles of Narnia to his younger brother every night as they are in bed.  I love it!  They're reading "Prince Caspian" now. 

As I look at the above list, I realize we're doing a lot.  But there is always more I wish we could do, such as Spanish, Sign Language, cooking, more chore/housework instruction, Nature Notebooks, more geography and I keep forgetting to have them narrate.  Well, we can't do it all!

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Jan. 31, 2008 - Bee-Attitudes

I really like this "Bee-Attitudes" lapbook idea at Jamin's site:
http://lapbooklessons.com/jamin/2008/01/12/bee-attitudes-lapbook-jan-9-2008/
I think we'll have to do one of these!  Some of the ideas come from Sermons4Kids:
http://www.sermons4kids.com/bee-attitudes.htm

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Jan. 29, 2008 - Great Unit Study for free

The freebie this week at the Homeschool E Store is huge!  It's a unit study based on Charlotte's Web.  Get it here:
https://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/index.php

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Jan. 29, 2008 - Groundhog Day

Saturday is Groundhog Day!  Here is a web page of lots of links:
http://www.fvsd.ab.ca/stm/groundhog_day_links.htm

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Jan. 9, 2008 - Do you speak Yankee or Dixie?

Here's a fun little quiz to test your speech.
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html

I came out as 68% Dixie (100% is pure Dixie) and my husband is 38% Yankee (0% is pure Yankee).  As usual, he's trying to convert me!  But my Texan upbringing just won't leave!

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Jan. 8, 2008 - Great Quote

"What is the worst thing God can do to you in this world?  Perhaps it is to hand you over to the desires of your own sinful heart.  Sometimes God judges us by giving us the very thing we ask for."
--Iain Campbell

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