What a crazy-lazy, sickly week we've had! 

But...things are looking up....

Yesterday, I was able to get groceries and take Tommie to his last Lego Robotics class in this session.  He really enjoys it and is looking forward to Lego Robotics II.  He is showing interest in the Catapults and Seige class as well, so we'll see how that fits into the schedule.  His instructor, is a really wonderful man, who come to find out, has worked in the gifted and talented public school programs for most of his 30 year career.  I was happy he invited Tommie to participate in his chess tournament on the 27th at Chatfield School.  This is with many boys from all different schools.  It has been my goal from day one, not to shield him, nor to only expose him to a select group of like-minded people...but rather, to expose him all opportunities...because, in life, I think the sooner you learn to get comfortable in your own skin and learn how to get along in unfamiliar situations and with people that have different personalities, the less hang-ups you'll have in your young adult life or even adult life.  I'm thinking this makes sense...at least for us.

Friday:  The morning was bright and sunny and the temperatures are rising.  It's nice to see grass peeking through the snow!  I acutally saw a fly outside?  Or some type of insect, flitting around.  Tommie enjoyed a good hour outside, this morning, playing on the ice and sliding around...I liked the idea of him getting so much fresh air and sunshine.  It's good for kids and I shake my head at the educators who have come up with the idea to limit kids in today's schools to 1/2 hour of recess a day....that's a tough thing for me to grasp....  today was math day, so it was double work and then after a healthy lunch of salad with fresh veggies and protein drink, we both pretended to be Vincent van Gogh...only not so weird.  Here's a link to the Van Gogh museum, it's really interesting, and if you have time, just click below:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://people.freenet.de/1604/vincent.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvan%2BGogh%2Bfor%2Bkids%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DG

We worked on his project and both enjoyed painting self-potraits and STARRY NIGHT! 

Here's some things about Vincent Van Gogh, I bet you never knew:

*he only had 10 teeth, because of malnutrition and whatever money he had he spent on paint supplies rather then food.

*he gave Rachel his girlfriend, his right earlobe after he cut it off...she of course fainted.

*he only sold one painting while he was alive.

*in 1990 (or there about) one of his paintings sold for 82.5 million, it was a painting of a doctor.

*he only lived to be 37, he ended up shooting himself in the chest.

*he was an epiletic and they say it was from him licking his oil paint brushes clean.

*while in the insane asslymn, his doctors used to make him take baths for therapy, the same tubs he used, are now used outside the hospital as flower planters.

*he died in his brother's arms.

Okay, now scroll back up and take the tour!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:

POPCORN +  A GOOD MOVIE!

Still feeling lazy from the wicked flu I had, we flopped on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, homemade coke slushies and a good movie, I picked up at Goodwill, titled, "The Amazing Panda Adventure"... 

Thumbs up for this movie....we liked it a lot!  I think I would love owning a panda for a pet, if it were legal!    This movie did contain guns, a shooting (not at the panda but a human), and two 10 year olds who very innoncently found them selves naked in front of each other...but neither saw anything, it was also about a broken home.  I thought I'd give you a heads up, because if you have little kids it may not be appropriate.

YOWZA!  BRING ME THE CHICKEN SOUP, I'M SICK!

WHAT A ROUGH FIVE DAYS I'VE HAD....

.... HAD THE WORST COLD OF MY LIFE....REALLY!

SINCE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT I'VE HAD ON AND OFF FEVER, CHILLS, HORRIBLE COUGH THAT SENDS PEOPLE RUNNING FROM ME....AND, WHEN I COUGH LIKE THIS, I AM INSTANTLY REMINDED OF MY WEAK BLADDER, A MIGRANE, A SINUS HEADACHE,  SORE THROAT, THROWING UP  AND DID I TELL YOU ABOUT MY WEAK BLADDER FROM MY 5-LB BABY?

THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER TODAY... I AM JUST SUFFERING FROM THE COUGH, SORE THROAT AND...UMM, YES, THE BLADDER...BUT ASIDE FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, I FEEL 200% BETTER.

I'M SURE I WAS SENDING BRAD INTO DEPRESSION...I LOOKED LIKE GODZILLA'S BRIDE OR WORSE...I HAD HIS BIG, THICK MAN SOCKS ON, MIS-MATCHED CLOTHES AND HAIR, EVEN WILDER THEN NORMAL.

TOMMIE MANAGED TO GET A LOT OF PLAY TIME IN...BUT, ALSO DID SOME DRY, DULL BORING WORKSHEETS (REVIEW), THAT I HAD ON THE SHELF....FROM SOME THIRD GRADE SCHOOL WORKBOOK.  HE DIDN'T COMPLAIN....INSTEAD HE GOT EVERYTHING DONE WITHIN 20 MINUTES AND BRAD LOOKED AT ME LIKE...NOW WHAT?

BEFORE, GETTING BED-BOUND, ON SATURDAY, I DID MANAGE TO MAKE IT TO MOTT MEDIA, IN FENTON FOR SOME NEW HOMESCHOOL SUPPLIES...I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT TOMMIE WILL BEGIN 4TH GRADE HORIZON'S MATH IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS.  I ALSO MANAGED TO PICK UP THE SPELLING POWER BOOK...HE'S PRETTY WEAK AT SPELLING, SO WE REALLY NEED TO WORK AT THIS.  I ALSO, INVESTED IN FLYING CREATURES OF THE FIFTH DAY AND REGRET NOT ENROLLING TOMMIE IN THIS AT CO-OP.  THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD PROGRAM FOR SPRING. 

OH, AND AT CO-OP, A YOUNG LADY IN OUR CLASS HAD THE GAME "SOME-BODY"... MY FRIEND JACQUE, A R.N AND FELLOW HOMESCHOOL MOM, SAID IT REALLY WAS A GOOD GAME...SO I PICKED THAT UP TOO.  WE PLAYED IT THIS MORNING AND I AM VERY IMPRESSED...AND WOULD RECOMMEND THIS, AS WELL.  WE PLAYED 2 ROUNDS OF GAME 2 AND LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE SPLEEN, GALL BLADDER, PANCREAS AND MORE.    THIS WAS A HIT! AND, MADE TEACHING SOMETHING I KNEW LITTLE ABOUT A BREEZE!  AROUND $20.

DOES ANYONE WANT TO TAKE A GUESS ON WHO THIS FAMOUS PERSON IS? 

 Tommie  has to research and report on him for his next Homeschool Co-op Class.....

No, it's not John James Audubon, either...I was really wishing he would of been assigned him, however, his friend Joel picked this topic, because Tommie was home sick...so it's all a fair deal.

Take a guess....click below and comment!

Homeschooling on Thursday...not your typical classroom:

On Thursday, we were in a really good place...everything that I mentally wanted to get done was ahead of schedule, needless to say, I was pleased....but without a one-day plan....I mean you can't really start a unit study, (we have had co-op today...but Tommie is sick with the tummy flu), so Thursday of this week was our last day until Monday.  What to do, what to do?  And, suddenly.... it all unfolded into a great day!

My mom pulled in and gave us A FREE CHA-CHA-CHA Chia herbal garden, here's Tommie PROUDLY planting it:

That's right....soon we'll have big, healthy basil leaves and fresh cilantro...just like the picture!

After that, he had a good lesson on "alliteration," 2 grammar lessons and is just about finished with his Baden Powell book.

And then, (drum roll).....for handwriting practice he wrote a one page letter to President Bush!   He's done this in the past, and always receives a response....good for scrapbooking and to add to your homeschool portfolio. 

In case you're intersted, the address is: 

President Bush, The White House, 1600 Pensylvania Ave., Washington D.C. 20006

It's rainy and cold and windy and definatley being a lion on the first day of March....  so we had homemade bread and chicken noodle soup, for dinner.  Comfort!

I wanted to share a little mid-day fun, we had on Monday!  We hadn't yet built a snowman...and what's winter in Michigan, without a snowman in your yard?  We added a little twist to ours, instead of a traditional snowman (the picture above is not ours-my digital doesn't work in snow)... we made 2-foot snowmen and put them up on our patio...  we then decorated them with nature-stuff only...twigs and pine needles and lots of birdseed!  We used pecans for eyes and peanuts for the mouth....we spread peanutbutter on a large-fat stick and sprinkled birdseed on it for the nose....hoping the birds will come and sit on it!  Wouldn't that make an awesome picture?

We had three starlings flittering around, eating up all the pecans...and bluejays loving the peanuts!

It's been really fun to watch!

HERE'S HOW THE KIDNEY PROJECT LOOKS WHEN IT'S FINISHED:

*note...two popcans hot-glued signify how much our bladders can hold

*one spaghetti jar is how much is elimated (urine!) each day...actually, for adults it's 1 1/2 quart jars full (note, Tommie thought it would be really cool to fill the jar with water and yellow food coloring!) I thought stuffing yellow tissue paper in the jar would be better and not gross everyone out.  BOYS!

Today we wrapped up a 2-day unit on kidney's, for Tommies class at co-op!  This was an especially good topic, since my dad had a kidney transplant and many complications with his kidneys and kidney cancer...it was a great opportunity for me to explain to him about his grandpa Tom's kidney donor, who was a 7 year old bicycle accident victim....and the generous donation that family made.

We both think God was pretty clever...he has everything laid out just perfect! Our bodies are truely amazing!

Here's a peek at our crystal garden...I've been wanting to make one of these for so long!  We used charcoal, but it works even better with a sponge!

Up close it looks like colored cauliflower!

Here's the recipe:  6 Tbsp salt,  6Tbs. liquid blueing, 6 Tbs. water, 1 Tbs amonia...mix it all up, drop by spoonfuls over charcoal, rocks, sponge or broken bricks....squeeze food coloring on top and after about 20 minutes, the crystals will begin to form.  Repeat the next day!

I'm always on the lookout for colorful stories....  so, what's in your book basket this week?   Just feel free to scroll down, click comment and add your's....that way I know someone out there is reading this blog.....

Brad's reading:  The bio of Andrew Jackson

Tommie's reading:  Michigan Chillers: Terror in Traverse City and will start Baden Powell, Chief Scout of the World

I'm Reading:  The Runes of Isle Royale

Daytime Read-aloud:  Toliver's Secret...this sounds excellent!  Can't wait to start it!  It's about an 11 yr. old girl who has to deliver a secret messege that is baked in a loaf of bread, for her grandfather and give it to George Washinton. 

Night time Read Aloud:  Thorton Burgess' "Lightfoot the Deer"

Here's how the finished "drop and dip paper-in-coffee" project turned out for Tommie's, Paul Revere's Day Book... book project, for out homeschool co-op class.  Inside this day book, there are about 6 to 8 pages of wild facts, maps and artwork, he's worked on this week.

Below is the cover...we took our drop and dip paper, dried it, ironed it and then had fun decopaging a pizza box lids, to cover it.  We added buttons to secure the binding (thanks to my friend Sallie!), and the most fun, was Tommie operating his dad's power drill to make holes in the binding!....We chalk that up to "wood-shop 101"...

WEEK OF WINTER FUN!

I confess, I really dislike the snow and cold, and walking on ice.  I get colder quicker, the bright sun bothers my eyes and my nose can never get warm enough....this year, instead of fighting the current, I thought I'd row with it...  makes life a lot nicer for everyone, then complaining about it.  I quote one of my late father's friends...a diamond in the rough...Bill Gerlach (yes, the one of the original owners of Gerlach's bowling alley), and that is....  "No sense in being a downer...nobody will want to be around you, and then you'll have no friends!"...I often share this with Tommie...who's taken the bait...but, shouldn't I be practicing what I'm teaching him?  Yeah, I think so, too.

Back to winter fun.... 

In spite of a hum-dinger cold...no fever-- just bad cough... I sent out a group email to our homeschool co-op, inviting everyone to "Recess on Wednesday at the Sledding Hill"...  it was a beautiful day- sunshine and pretty warm.    We didn't have a big turn-out, but sometimes that's how it goes.  The families that did show up had a blast and we had lots of good conversations...walking away and feeling re-charged, from the inspiration!  It was good for everyone!

We also had the opportunity to go  cross-country skiing with our Cub Scout den right here, at beautiful Camp Holaka.  One of our Cub mom's is a teacher and had access to 10 pair of ski's and boots and generously offered them to us!  The boys earned their ski beltloop, burned off some boy-energy and ate pizza from Little Squeezers...also had hot chocolate afterwards...  I know, hot chocolate and pizza?  Great combo...but, remember these are tough little boys!

T-bird (Tommie) had a rough night of hacking and coughing and is sleeping as I write...  I plan to give him a light day...which includes:  making a crystal garden out of charcoal and food coloring (I've been wanting to do this forever), finishing up The Whipping Boy, having him wind up one of his American Chillers books, watching a movie on George Washington and "hopefully".... sketching out his body on a big piece of paper and begin to fill in body parts.  He is doing a report on kidney's for his homeschool class.... 

I am in the mood to scrapbook!

Happy President's Day! 

George Washington turns 275 years old on Thursday!

This week, we'll be learning about Paul Revere....in Tommie's Book Club, his required reading is...."And, Then What Happened, Paul Revere?"....a very, very good book, with plenty of belly laughs....always a sure-sign that reading comprehension is successful!

I am coordinating it with Five in a Row's, "Paul Revere's Ride." 

Below, I thought I'd share a picture of my little Revolutionary boy making paper...he's actually dyeing wadded up butcher paper, in 7 Tablespoons of boiling coffee, to give it an old look.  We'll either turn this into a Paul Revere newspaper or a Day Book, like Paul carried...for Tommie to use for his class. 

The house sure smelled like a Starbucks...

Also in the day:  started putting together a 300 piece United States Puzzle of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandieago"....you put the puzzle together and then there's a booklet of clues for you to figure out... walked 4 miles on the treadmill, made bbq chicken and baked potato's for dinner, scrapbooked 4 pages, made calls--trying to coordinate our skiing outing with our Cub Scout den, read three chapters of our read-aloud, "The Whipping Boy"...this is a pretty dark book....

A pretty dull weekend...warning, this may take on a negative tone...I'm not feeling negative, I'm actually in a great mood...but, our weekend, was what it was...dull!

SATURDAY:  BAKED A MEAN CHERRY COBBLER TO TAKE TO MY SISTER-IN-LAW'S HOUSE...WE CELEBRATED MY FATHER -IN-LAW'S 75TH BIRTHDAY.  UNFORTUNATLY, THEY KEEP THEIR HEAT AT 62 DEGREES AND WE FROZE...BUT THEN WE  HEATED UP WITH AN INTENSE CONVERSATION ABOUT FOLK MUSIC VS. RAP MUSIC.  I DECIDED THIS CONVERSATION WAS COMPARABLE TO CHEWING OLD, STALE BUBBLE GUM.  THE CONVERSATION ALSO INCLUDED A BIG DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SINKING FUND AND THE NEW BOND ISSUES, SINCE MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WORKS FOR THE SCHOOLS AND LEANS LEFT, AND US, BEING OBLIVIOUS TO ANYTHING HAPPENING WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE JUST DID A LOT OF "UH-HUH'S AND ATE OUR PULLED PORK SANDWHICH'S....WELL, NOT ME...I DIDN'T EAT THE PULLED-PORK..."  BUT, I DID SAY "I, SEE AND UH-HUH" A LOT.

CAME HOME AND MADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP AND HOMEMADE BREAD AND PLAYED THE GAME LIFE.  YES, BRAD WON AGAIN.

FELL ASLEEP ON THE COUCH.

SUNDAY:  WORKED OUT IN THE MORNING, THEN HEADED TO DAVISBURG, TO A CIVIL WAR EXHIBIT...A LIVING HISTORY EXPO.  IT TOOK US ABOUT 12 MINUTES TO HUSTLE THRU...FUNNY THING, WE ALL MAINTAINED REALLY GOOD ATTITUDES AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS JUST GREAT...THEN WE GOT IN THE CAR AND TOMMIIE SAID, "WELL, THAT WAS A WASTE OF A DAY"....  BRAD HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A MAN WHO HAD REALLY TERRIBLE BREATH AND HE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CONVERSATION....BRAD KEPT STEPPING BACK, BUT THE MAN KEPT GETTING IN HIS SPACE. 

OUR BIG FANCY-SCHMANCY FINISH TO THE WEEKEND, IS ENDING UP WITH BRAD PULLING TOMMIE ON A SLED BEHIND THE TRACTOR, OUT IN THE FIELD AND ME CLEANING THE HOUSE...AND MAKING GRILLED CHEESE SANDWHICH'S FOR DINNER. 

EBAY WAS TOUGH THIS WEEK.

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VALENTINE'S DAY 2007

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays!  I love the way it just sort of gives you the boost you need for this time of year!  I also enjoyed reading about how this holiday originated and happy to have read about it...

http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm

We decorated for it, by stuffing a couple of branches in a pretty vase, red Christmas lights and homemade hearts attatched to it.  I also hung pink, white and red balloons from Tommie's ceiling and doorway, so when he wakes up, he'll have something pleasant to start his day!  We'll celebrate the day, by having lunch at Applebee's with my mom, a Valentine Scavenger Hunt to find his Valentine prize, tonight, and then watch our traditional Valentine Night movie:  Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! 

How's this for romantic?  I purchased a pair of good-durable snow boots for Brad at TSC, for his Valentine gift! He really needs them and will definatley use them...

In lieu of flowers, I am asking for a Toby Keith cd.  He sings a controversial song about the war...and it gives me goose bumps whenever I hear it. 

TSC had a sale of 60% off toys, so I was able to pick up a toy, Tommie had been wanting...plus, a nice sweatshirt with tractors on it.  Oh, and wrenches. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

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For Tommie's Book Report Club, at our Homeschool Co-op, he was required to read and report on, "The Bears on Hemlock Mountain,"....I usually like to take advantage of these opportunities, so I encouraged him to make this visual aide for his class.  On the back of the black culdron, is a homemade file-holder for holding these and other pages, relating to his project.  I am happy to be able to squeeze additional lessons into projects like these!  It makes homeschooling, even more fun, then it already is!

Here's a virtually free grammar game, that I really enjoyed making and Tommie really enjoyed playing....

Since, we recycle everything (almost), I took a pizza lid, hot glued 6 boxes checks come in to the top, and made little index cards (the florescent kind...because they're happy looking!) and printed six different parts of speech/grammar titles on them...I also put the defination on the cards, incase Tommie got mixed up....  I then made a stack of maybe 100 different card strips, with the words that apply to the index cards...I then put, the 100 words in a basket, mixed them up, sat him on the floor, with our Nest video of Abraham Lincoln, playing and he worked independently on his grammar, while watching the movie...while I ran on the treadmill!

Happy to report....he got all but two of them correct...in about 20 minutes.  Of course, we'll have to review...but I think it will be a "welcome review!"

I plan to use this game, again...only replace the index cards with irregular verbs, possesive pronouns, etc. And, now my mind is spinning about what eles I can create!

Thought I'd share this...because it was free, fast and effective!  And, not workbook dry!

P.S.  Yes, that's our perfect family pet, sticking her head in the picture!

This week, we'll be learning all about Abraham Lincoln...I take great pride, in announcing, I found an awesome vintage chapter book, titled "Meet Abraham Lincoln" by Barbara Cary...at Goodwill for .33 cents!  Not only that...but get this...it has a two built-in Civil War maps and a small introduction to the government in the back!  Plus, it is on Tommie's reading level.  It's amazing how much fun you can have with .33 cents, isn't it?

Happy Birthday Honest Abe....you were a wonderful man!

Ever wonder how LEGO'S are made?  This is a pretty interesting virtual tour of their factory:

http://www.lego.com/eng/info/howLEGOismade.asp

Here's a fun science experiment, that we tried this week...

HOW TO REMOVE AN EGGSHELL FROM AN UNCOOKED EGG:

Take an uncooked egg, put it in a ziplock bag, add 16 oz. white vinegar.  See the carbon dioxide bubbles?  Just like in soda pop!  The acid in the vinegar is dissolving the calcium of the eggshell...tuck the baggy in a glass...this way the egg will be submerged in the vinegar...wait two days and all you'll have left is a water-balloon type egg....you can feel and see the membrane and yolk!

HOW TO SHRINK THE EGG:

Gently empty the ziplock baggy and rinse it out....drop the egg back in the bag and cover the egg with enough clear corn syrup...tuck it back into your glass....  watch it for 5 days and you'll see the egg shrinking!  The liquid inside the egg is slowly coming out and the syrup is not going in!

*You know, after seeing what vinegar can do...I mean completely dissolve an entire eggshell....makes me rethink my choice of vinegar and oil salad dressing? 

Today, Saturday.... Brad, Tommie and I went to The Sloan Museum, in Flint and enjoyed the INVENTIONS exhibit...it wasn't very big...it took about an hour from start to finish....but it was interesting and hand's-on and thankfully, not crowded....since, I've self-diagnosed myself with "fear of crowds"    !   

Stopped at Goodwill and picked up 3 books and one video...all for $2.00!

Brad took us out for a whopping good lunch at McDonalds....as I've told you many times before....I love their Chicken Wraps!

Nothing planned for Saturday night....we're all still full from our gourmet lunch!!!!

Last year, I meant to participate in "The Great Backyard Bird Count," but never did....  This year, I thought it might be something fun to do, especially this time of year....  here is the link, just incase you want to, too!  It starts February 16th-19th.

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html

(I sure hope we have better luck, then when we monitored bluebird houses for 16-weeks at Seven Ponds/Corneill University....we never saw on bluebird...just a bunch of yappy sparrows!)

A great way to squeeze a little Charlotte Mason into your winter days!

I

HITS and MISSES:

Here's a list of hits and misses that happened to us this week:

MONDAY HITS:  Having my niece Hali who is 16, stay with us.  She is growing up fast and is itching to be independent.  I love her so much!  The public schools did not have school, but we did..Tommie did his double math lessons, spelling and started his book for The Book Club at Co-op:  The Bears of Hemlock Mountain.  I made a really awesome time line book...I can't wait to post pictures...I've been struggling for years, trying to figure something out...and viola' I got it now and get this...it only took about 20 minutes to put together--but hopefully a lifetime to fill in!

MONDAY MISSES:  Our living room is still a mess..ran into more trouble, since the floors and walls are off in this old house.  I am tired of living with towels on the floor and the sound of saws and hammers.  CALLED CARPET COMPANY....THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO LAY CARPET ON TUESDAY...THEY DID NOT ORDER OUR CARPET....THEY ASSURE US....JUST ONE MORE WEEK....  it's been over a week since they were suppose to order it....as I reminded them!  Not a huge deal...since Brad isn't quite ready for them!

TUESDAY HITS:  Tommie dived into his report on Iron Mining in Michigan...he really enjoys looking through our old set of  encyclopedias....came up with a lot of good facts and really did work hard.  Isn't it amazing how easy homeschooling is, when kids like what they're learning?  Continued with Bears on Hemlock and did an adorable project...Brad started the biography of Andrew Jackson.....Tommie and I attended the very entertaining MICHIGAN HISTORY class! 

TUESDAY MISSES:  MIRACUROULSY (sp?) The carpet company called and they overnight expressed our carpet...could they lay it on Wednesday?  YES...YES OF COURSE!  It's bitter cold and all I want to do is hibernate.  And another thing....all I want is YANKEE BEAN SOUP.

WEDNESDAY HITS:  The carpet-layers came and did a great job..nice and fast!  They were more then willing to let Tommie watch and agreed this was a good home learning experience.  Finished The Bears on Hemlock Mtn., did double math and spent the rest of the afternoon getting all the furniture back in the room.

WEDNESDAY MISSES:  The carpet-layers handed me a bill for $75. more then my quote.  They immediately discounted it, when I brought it to their attention.  I think they were trying to be sneaky!

THURSDAY HITS:  The house smells new.  Started a two-day unit on A CLIMB TO THE TOP: Mt. Everest and Hillary-Tenzing, the first people to climb it!  This book is a little more advanced then what Tommie is used to....he is getting a little frustrated with the big words...but we're trudging along and he enjoyed the homemade worksheets I did made for him...it's very interesting to all of us, overall.  Completed the book report-project for co-op!  Lego-robotics class in the afternoon.  Cub Scouts at night...Started "The Whipping Boy," a Newberry, as our read-aloud at night!

THURSDAY MISSES:  I didn't get any cleaning or organizing done and I am feeling cluttery, disorganized and cringe everwhere I look in the house....dust and books all over!  Plus, my roots need touching up!

FRIDAY:  Finished the Mt. Everest unit and we both learned a lot.   It's amazing how little I knew about the world, until I started homeschooling....Helped Tommie with his Iron Mining report and double math lessons.  Started another read-aloud...."Diary of a Drummer Boy," by M. Brill (excellent! Civil War diary of a 12 yr. old boy)  This is our day-time read-aloud!  Started cleaning and organizing.  Pizza from Little Squeezers and made chinese cookies... and played the game of LIFE tonight...Brad won.  Showed off my time-line (homemade) to Brad...he liked it, too, and thinks it's a great educational tool!

FRIDAY MISSES:  no misses...unless my insomnia sets in! 

Thought I'd share this picture of "Lucy, our perfect family pet," reading my FIAR VOL. 4 manual...she's enjoying learning about Snowflake Bentley....

How can we possible homeschool with the dog laying on the chemistry symbol chart?  Tommie's doing a report on Iron Mining in Michigan, good thing we visited Iron Mountain, in the U.P. and did the tourist-thing in the Iron Mine, last summer.  Incase you were wondering, the symbol for iron is Fe....and  some scientists believe the core of Earth is iron.

I really recommend this book, for "Once-A-Month-Cooking,"  it's called:

Once a Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg

isbn: 080541835-0

I think it's available thru ILL at the DeAngeli library.

Our family especially enjoys  the homemade Chicken Packets...here's the recipe:

2 cups cooked chicken chopped, 1 three oz. package of cream cheese, 1 Tbsp. of chopped chives, 2 Tbsp. milk, salt to taste, 1/2 c. seasoned crouton crumbs, 2 eight ounce packages refrigerated crescent rolls, 1/4 c. melted margerine or butter

Mix first five ingredients together in a medium bowl, to make filling.  Store in a 1-qt. freezer bag (label and I write the cookbook page number on the bag), Put crouton crumbs in a seperate bag and attatch it to the filling bag.  Refridgerate cresent rolls.  Obviously, I make a triple batch of this and freeze 3 meals....to prepare for serving, thaw filling mixture, preheat oven 350, roll out cresent rolls in to four rectangles, press perforated seems together, put 1/4 cup or more of filling on each rectangle, then put the other rectangles (from the other tube of cresent rolls over your rectangles and pinch seams together...so you have a "packet", dip or brush each with butter and sprinkle crouton crumbs over top...bake for 20 minutes.

Well, after typing all that, I think we'll have those for dinner tonight!

I don't have this cookbook, but it's by the same author...I wouldn't mind owning it!

"SATURDAY'S TOP 8"

1.  ran local errands yesterday:  post office and bank.

2.  wrapped up a week of working for my mom (she was on a Carribean cruise)...went into her office and organized the weeks business....funny how life is...I spent my entire life in that same office working along side my dad and now, I am taking my child in and giving him the same jobs my dad gave me....it's a bittersweet feeling.  And, I wish I was as nice as my dad.

3. helped Tommie make 10 homemade Valentines...I signed him up at Five in a Row, for a nation-wide Valentine exchange...it's always fun to take part in their exchanges...receiving things in the mail and good opportunity for a nation-wide geography lesson.

4.  Baked two cookie sheets of chicken...I'll be doing my once-a-month cooking--freezer meals, on Sunday...love having those on hand!

5.  Made a good lasagne for dinner!

6.  Played John Deere Monopoly and I, as usual lost.

7.  Read-aloud, "You're on Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt," by Judith St. George.  This was a very good picture/chapter book...a quick read with a good messege.  I liked the fact, that Tommie cuddled up next to me and snuggled in....those days are rare.  The illustrator, Matt Fulkner, who lives right here, close by in Michigan, did an outstanding job..  I really recommend this book!  I found it at the main library.

8.  Started reading "The Runes of Isle Royal," a Great Lakes Adventure in History & Mystery, by Janie Lynn Panagopoulos.  I plan to read this aloud to Tommie and the dog, but just couldn't wait!  It IS very good....  Thanks Holly, for loaning it to me!

Fantastic Friday!

Today, we had our homeschool co-op.  As usual, it's always good to see the other ladies and see the different projects going on.  I helped out a lot in the pre-school rooms...it was a nice change.   My three classes went waaaaaay better then the first class.  The kids projects were all above and beyond what I asked for....their projects for my class were, to design and develop their own resturant....we had blueprints, menus, real food, pictures, artwork and everything from a bakery in NYC to a Mexican Burrito Stand....and everything in between.  I was very impressed with my junior high and high school kids, who REALLY REALLY got into it...so, I tried to prolong the fun, by bringing in an ice-cream scoop-covered with foil and using it as a microphone...I asked them some pretty crazy "impromptu" questions...which, surprisingly, they all went right along with.  I see that, maybe a Homeschool Forensic Team might work, in the future?

Tommie enjoyed being there, too.  What's not to love, about being around 150 kids?

Made taco's for dinner.  

Enjoyed a good conversation with my Aunt Janet.

Enjoyed a good conversation with my cousin Jeff.

Listed 19 items on Ebay.

Tommie and Brad played 3 games of backgammon- grand champion of the night:  Brad.

Read aloud:  George Washington's Teeth....a very weird book...it's a picture book type and I'm not totally sure there was ever a need to write it?  Sort of "too much information".....

Caught Brad reading, "The Whipping Boy," a Newberry, I think?  Anyway, it's a classic...I think subconsciously Brad wishes he could be homeschooled!  tee hee hee!

Thursday:

We took advantage of the Lego Robotics class that was being offered at an area elementary school...Tommie took his first class on Thursday.  He absolutley loved it!  I am kind of proud of him...he walked into the school, not knowing anyone, sitting down and worked with a partner, who he really meshed with, and team-built a lego merry-go-round...next he'll program it into a computer, somehow? He really likes his instructor, too...which is wonderful, since this program has a smorgasborg of classes, suited to Tommie's personality...

I spent an hour and a half shuffeling thru the snow and slush, running errands. 

Spending even 30 seconds at a public school gives me the heebie jeebies...all I saw were rowdy loud kids who scream when they talk (they're 10 years old!), running-pushing and shoving, I saw a lot of kids wired from junk food and I swear I could see germs everywhere!  The school floor was cold and dirty.  I saw a lot of kids arguing..I'm sure they were just tired...and I saw a lot of teachers screaming overtop of their kids, because, the kids all scream when they talk....obviously, they all must of missed the "use your inside voice"...day at preschool when they were 4 and their parents "enrolled them".  Seriously, is this the socialization thing, the how-will-he-ever-function-in-life thing,  that so many people tell me Tommie is missing?  I've come to the conclusion, that, forced socialization-is not positive socialization. Just my opinion.

Thinking of taking a trip on a rabbit trail?  Here's our experience.....

Tommie is reading "Little Pear," a chapter book about a little boy in China.  After reading a chapter yesterday, about canaries, I suggested he look up and write 4 facts about them for his lapbook.  In doing so, he located 2 encyclopedias and looked up The Canary Islands and the Islands of Azores and read them to me.  One thing led to another in discussion, about volcano's and geography and more.  While this wasn't on my "agenda"...and I admit, at first I tried to rush him along...I mean...hey, he had spelling words to write!...It occured to me that this was child-led learning at it's best.  I felt privilidged at that moment to be homeschooling...and not squash his passion for learning something on his own...in his own timing...and glad he had the opportunity to dive into something, without a time-frame or peers calling it stupid....or a teacher, saying "not now", because she means it or simply doesn't know the answer and doesn't want to.  Okay, so this must be how unschoolers feel, everyday.

Canary Information (just incase you wondered!)

*yes, canaries originated on the Canary Islands

*Canary Islands, located off of Spain

*cousin to the goldfinch

* eat thistle, are actually greenish up close, are 4-5 inches long

*NOTE TO SELF....STREW ENCYCLOPEDIAS!

WHAT'S NEW?

Okay, I admit, I am struggling here with finding anything worth writing about..one might say we have hit our first winter slump.  Nothing like making you feel uplifted, right?  It's just....that, when you read this blog, don't think, I don't know it sounds boring, I do...really.

WHAT'S NEW?

1.  Had the carpet man come over to measure carpet.  Now, that's exciting...visiting about measurements and padding!  I tried super hard not to stare at his teeth...he's over-done it on the Crest White Strips....I was shocked when Tommie mentioned it at dinner (didn't know he noticed) and also, Tommie thought he had way too much caffine.  I could use a little of this guys energy!

2.  Have only seen one squirrel and one blue jay in my entire yard all week.

3.  Our read-aloud is dull.  Margurite Henry's "First Pony"...it looked like a quick read and I thought we could cross it off our list...I need to get to the library and scan their shelves.  I printed off the Newberry list from 1922 to current and should go with that in my hand.

4.  Made homemade chocolate zucchini (froze from our summer garden) bread.  Had Tommie take a loaf over to our neighbors....our sweet neighbors.

5.  Tommie is wrapping up his lapbook on Little Pear/Asia and his resturant project.   He has two chapter books going on and wanted to read Louis Braille.  Math is going good...test today.  Handwriting is coming along and spelling is frightening.

Okay, well, hows that for fireworks in January?

For the past several years, I've enjoyed making these wintery type wreaths, that my friend Rhonda a.k.a Martha Stewart.... told me about... I thought I'd share them, since they are virtually free and lots of fun to make!  We have more in our freezer, waiting to be added to the lonely two in the picture...

Just take a round bundt pan or any baking pan with a hole in the center, fill it 1/2 way with water, add nature goodies to it, Tommie and I used:  pine-needles, birch bark, bird seed, orange peels, cranberries and sea shells....plop them in the pan...freeze until solid, then add more water to fill the pan...re-freeze.  When froze, pop it out and run a ribbon or string thru and hang up in a favorite spot to enjoy outside!

"I tried to be Charlotte today...." 

1.  We awoke to a beautiful snow fall and it lasted well into mid-morning!  I pulled on my boots and Tommie and I headed outside.  We gathered what nature things we could (pine needles, birch bark, pinecones), to make the "Rhonda" wreath...the kind you freeze..I'll post pictures later this weekend...they're beautiful.  We call it the Rhonda wreath, well, because Rhonda is the one who told me about it!

2.  Looking over Tommie's shoulder, I spotted a HUGE white duck with a HUGE RED HEAD...our neighbors duck has taken to our yard and has camped out under our tree.  We fed it bread and crackers and hope it stays here!  He (or she) has been a blast to watch!

 3.  We made pine needle tea and loaded it with honey...it reminded me of drinking the water from your Christmas tree stand...not that I ever tried it...but, you know what I mean.  And, it really wasn't bad at all.

4.  I sewed while Tommie read aloud.

AND

THEN...........

MY

ALLERGIES HIT

ME!

MY EYES HAVE BEEN GIVING ME TROUBLE EVER SINCE

BEING OUTSIDE....

AND I LOOK MEAN

BECAUSE I KEEP SQUINTING SOOO MUCH.

I wonder if Charlotte had allergies to nature?  Oh sure, they never tell you that part! 

 Here is an overview of what happened this past week:

Lucy's blood work came back fine, although the Vet said she was one sick dog, when we brought her in!  We may never know the reason why any of this happened. But are so greatful she is fine.

I decided on paint color  for the living room...it's called prairie grass and another color...olive green.  It's 3/4 of the way done...that Brad sure knows how to dance with the paint roller!

A blah week homeschooling...although the highlight has been making another lapbook for Tommie's Book Report Class, for the book "Little Pear,"  and the restaurant design and layout, for my DD class.

Michigan History Class...our third one was Tuesday night.

TOMMIE TURNED 9 ON THURSDAY!  My friend Brandi made him a birthday cake CHOCOLATE WITH PUDDING and brought it in to scouts at our meeting on Thursday....even had candles!  (Thanks Brandi..you made his day!)  We went to Applebee's for lunch with my mom and Aunt Janet, to celebrate and the night before out for spaghetti with my in-laws.

Pinewood Derby is tomorrow, and Brad has been feverishly working on gettting "his" car just perfect...that is...when he's not dancing with the paint roller!

Thought this would make a fun blog entry....not my idea mind you...I am being a copycat...yep, a copycat with permission...(thanks Lisa! ):

QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMEMAKING:

APRONS, do you own one-what does your favorite look like?  Yes, I own one, never wear it, I feel like Jean or Joan Cleaver...you know Beaver's mom?  It's a John Deere one, Tommie gave me for Christmas....okay, well, once in a while I "might" put it on when we're baking, so he knows I appreciate the gift.  Don't tell anyone!

BAKING, what is your favorite think to bake?  Bread, cookies, pies, baked Tilipia and chicken...and cake!

CLOTHESLINE, y/n:  No...I don't like stiff towels.

DOUGHNUTS, HAVE YOU EVER MADE THEM:  No, but I love the smell of them....I am just not into deep-fryers or deep fried food.

What is one homemaking task you do daily?  empty the dishwasher and laundry and cook...a lot.

FREEZER, do you have a seperate deep freeze?  Yes, it's stocked with a lot of our summer veggies and my "once a month cooking" meals.  It is not a deep freezer, but an upright.  Had a deep freezer once and disliked it....couldn't find anything.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL....y/n:  nope

HANDBOOK, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOMEMAKING RESOURCE? Five in a Row messege boards, without a doubt.

Ironing--love it- hate it? Or, hate it, yet love the results? I don't mind...I have to be in the mood...I find it rewarding to iron while Tommie is emerged in homeschool lessons at the table and I can just stand in the kitchen and be near him. 

JUNK DRAWER?  Yes, of course....and it's really junky.

Kitchen decor?  Green and white and shabby chic.

FAVORITE HOME-MAKING TASK?  How can I say this without sounding like a Stepford Wife?  I love to vacume.  There, I said it.

MOP?  No, only wash the floors on my hands and knees.

NYLONS?  Hand wash or washing machine?  Handwash....although I am so greatful they are no longer a part of my everyday world.

OVEN, DO YOU OPEN THE DOOR OR LOOK THRU THE WINDOW?  Both...

PIZZA...WHAT DO YOU PUT ON YOURS?  If I could...EVERYTHING.

QUIET...What do you do during quiet times during the day?  Check emails...check my Ebay...visit the Five in a Row board.

RECIPE BOX...do you have one?  Yes and it is jammed full with recipes I've never tried...but someday......

STYLE OF HOUSE?  Old, tiny, once a farmhouse....now a shabby-chic little home...  I love it....although, nobody else does.

TABLECLOTH AND NAPKINS?  Sometimes pretty placemats and always cloth napkins...I've found pretty nice ones at Salvation Army and bandana's from WalMart make good ones too....  you know, I'm trying to help the enviornment and cut costs.

UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK: pretty organized and recently I switched over to organic cleaning supplies.

VACUME...HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK?  4-5 times.

WASH...HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK? 2 loads at least...daily.

X'S...DO YOU HAVE A CHECKLIST OF "THINGS TO DO" LIST? Me?  No....noooo, nothing like that...I like the challenge of trying to remember....honest!

YARD...WHO DOES WHAT? Brad does it all.  He would never even consider having me mow or weed wack or shovel snow...ever!...I do water the flowers in the summer... however.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ'S  WHAT IS THE LAST HOUSEHOLD TASK YOU DO BEFORE BED?  Nothing...I relax at night and get at it in the morning...

After coming home from chess club and errands, yesterday, we entered the house, to find Brad standing with our dear dear Lucy (our dog of 11 years), gravely ill.  I won't get into specifics, because it's pretty gross....but he had me call the vet and the vet urged us to bring her in immediatley.  I wrapped her in a soft towel, set her on Tommie's lap and wondered if I would be coming home with her. I explained to Tommie, that she was in pretty serious condition (okay this involves really bright red blood from both ends), and that we would never want a suffering sick pet...I went on to explain more, which he handled well....other then he wished Grampa Tom (my dad) was alive and would know what to do....since he loved dogs.  I explained Eccelisties, "a time for everything", he also loves the folksong by Pete Seeger.

Lucy was spunky, chipper and being her annoying self at the vet's and the vet was happily surprised to see how lively she is...including making a fool out of herself by running around the office like a lunitic.  She had x-rays, microscope analysis and now we're waiting on the lab results.  She has been fine ever since....we are waiting for the results today.

During the office visit, the vet asked Tommie how school was?  Tommie just mentioned good....and then she went on to ask where he went to school...his eyes shifted to mine...since we usually like to avoid this topic and we both said homeschooled. The vet, literally ambushed him with questions...and then quickly back-peddled....it was kind of funny...here are some of the questions:

1.  Do you ever get lonely?  Tommie:  Lonely? Ugh? No, I don't think I've ever been lonely?   Believe me, I was an only child too, and the didn't even know what lonely meant.  If you don't know any other way, you just are okay with how life is.

2.  Do you have friends come over?  Tommie: Sometimes. Not always.

3.  Do you "get out" and do things with other people?  Tommie:  Ugh?  Vet:  You know, do you do things outside your home with other people?  (I'm thinking...why do you care?...and better yet, Tommie is totally NOT connecting the dots on this)....

Suddenly, he pipes up and says, "I just was at chess club for 2 hours at the library and I'm in 3d year cub scouts, we have the Pinewood Derby this weekend, and I have two rabbits I show in 4H, but the Florida always molts and I belong to a co-op......

Exhale:  Enough said.

Inhale:   The  vet bill was about the same as our house payment.

Exhale:  I think Lucy will be just fine.  I think Tommie will be too.

Monday's Top Ten:

1.  PICK OUT PAINT FOR LIVING ROOM

2. Package and MAIL EBAY ORDERS  (Tommie's little Ebay business is going well! It's been a great learning opportunity for him and best of all, doesn't want to spend the cash!  Although, he could be a little faster with packaging!)

3.  get groceries....we're down to nothing...

4.  Clean out the Milk house and rabbit cages

5.  Check out the Lego-robotics and physics classes, being offered in our area.

6.  Try to stay warm!  Brrrrr..it's only 18 right now!

7.  Wrap up our read aloud...begin a new one..not sure what, though.

8.  Bake more cookies...those boys of mine sure gobble them up!

9.  Homeschool

10.  treadmill, laundry and  pick up clutter...I swear, I have little elves or fairies that come into the house at night and drag junk around...the house is always worse in the morning...what's with that?

After boasting about how thrilled I was about
"meshing two projects into one," and chipper about the idea of this whole China theme, and I quote myself..."hitting it hard"....Tommie Chow has decided against a Chinese themed restuarant...instead....he asked if it would be all right if he could do his restuarant report on a place like the Metamora Hunt Club....only way out west?  "Mom, I even have a new name for it"...."DEER POINTS"....  I'm not sure where this all stems from, we're certainly not the saucey hunt club type people, and I've never been there myself...even.  Although, I regret never meeting Preston Mann....we may have to drive out to the club, one afternoon, to ...well you know, snoop and get ideas.

It's a bittersweet feeling for me however, watching my child snub my lesson plans and get wildly passionate about his own...he stayed up later then usual reading about mountain goats and prong-horns, in his Reader's Digest.  Nothing like a little late-night homeschooling on Sunday night!  I'm thinking I would probably get a nod from the unschooling community, for this one. 

Yes, he is still doing his required reading, "Little Pear," for his Homeschool Co-op class....so, we will still be covering China, just not a double whammy.

Well, not exactly physically, but we will be emotionally and academically! 

 It just so happens, that in Tommie's Book Report Class, he is required to read the classic novel about a little mischevious boy from China....written in  1931.... "Little Pear," by Eleanor F. Lattimore!  Then for my Dynamic Discoveries class, he is required to create and design a resturant of his choice!  In order to maximize and mesh two projects into one ---that's right a two in one theme...and to hit this Chinese theme, even more, I suggested he create a Chinese Restaurant...well, he's all for that...since he can serve weird combinations of snake and duck!  He's already given his restuarant a name, which is "TOMMY CHOW'S."

Also known as scaly anteaters, pangolins are found on Chinese dinner plates (Photo courtesy National University of Singapore)

I am really thrilled that I can combine two wonderful classes around one rich unit!   Nice how this unfolded!

Even better, our good friend Rhonda has sent and given us a gazillion gifts from Shanghai that will work nicely into his presentations...  money, chop stix, Chinese New Year decorations and more!  Thanks-thanks-thanks.....Rhonda!

Our first day back to homeschool co-op was yesterday...I enjoyed seeing lots of ladies who've I missed over the break.  I was especially happy to have a deep conversation with one lady, who's views and opinions I have respected for years.  I was thrilled to reconnect and have her untangle some confusion I am struggling with, regarding homeschooling and homeschoolers.  No, it's not that I am considering stopping homeschooling, at all.  Just deeper issues, that homeschoolers seem to avoid... 

On a lighter note:

Tommie was happy to see his friends and seems to really like his classes: Dynamic Discoveries, Missionaries on the Move, Open Gym, Book Report Club and Science Projects! 

I am teaching three classes...not a big deal, since they are three of the same subjects....  same room, same topics, just different students. 

I am greatful to everyone on on the steering committee in our homeschool group and cannot even imagine where we would be without Lisa.  Bravo girl!

Happy Saturday....

Thought I'd share our latest read-aloud..."The Light at Tern Rock," a Newberry by Julia Sauer.  It's a pretty quick read...with rich vocabulary and  a Christian flavor!  There's a bonus to this book too....which is, lot's of discussion, "what would you do???"

Ronnie and his aunt are tending the Tern Rock lighthouse for two December weeks while its keeper takes a much-needed vacation. But the days go by, and the lighthouse keeper doesn't return home.

This week, we also enjoyed making our very first lapbook!  Tommie is taking a book report class, in our homeschool co-op....which I am thrilled about!  The reading list is an excellent mix of books...books that will take him around the world, back in time and everywhere in between!

I also felt that lapbooking is an excellent teaching tool for hands-on learners....by doing the lapbook, we were able to cover vocabulary, grammar, geography, art, handwriting and lots of computer skills!

This week, he read Jules Verne's, "Around the World in 80 Days" and here's a peek at the lapbook cover:

Here's a peek at the inside:

The toughest part for me is letting go and letting him come up with his own ideas....but, I am learning!

Two thumbs up for the MICHIGAN HISTORY class, that has been offered to area homeschoolers!  The instructor is very professional, very interesting and is wonderful with children!  Well worth the $$.  My mom joined us and she enjoyed it a lot, too!  I made a really excellent dinner that night....chicken tenders dipped in olive oil and rolled in Italian bread crumbs from (Papa Joe's...thanks Aunt Janet!) fried to brown and baked for 1/2 an hour...served over spagehetti and side salad of tomato's and cucumbers, with oil and vinegar.  This was a good night.

REPLICA OF THE SAN ANDRAES FAULT...a very interesting topic with lots of rabbit trails!

P.S.  Even cooler...he got to use his jacknife to trim the clay!

On Sunday nights, I usually always get a giddy-feeling, thinking ahead of our homeschool week...more often then not, Monday mornings, find us hitting the ground and running with purpose and enthusiasm, over what amazing things we'll be learning during the week... 

Today, was no different...except for the fact that our dry-wall men would be hanging dry-wall and "they may be a little loud"...according to Brad...  AHH....nothing we can't handle, I said and believed....what a great "learning opportunity!  Imagine that....right in our home...Tommie can learn dry-walling!"

Ummm well.................

The men showed up at 7:45am, flipped on Diana Ross's LOVE CHILD song on the radio, started drilling (still drilling 8 hours later) and the smell of toxic glue is filling the air...plus, they turned our furnace down to 60 degrees...my nose is cold and I type this in a coat...and I am borderline migrane...not to mention PMSing when I shouldn't be...and the fact that the phone has rang six times before 10 am!

I feel as though the good Lord is testing me, as I struggle with the above...until I finally surrender and decide to just "let go & laugh about the struggle and have a silent conversation with myself about how I could trudge thru these obstacles and come up on the otherside feeling positive."

I handed Tommie the book Earthquakes in the Early Morning, about the great shake in 1906...and gave him required reading...  Which led us on a huge rabbit trail about the San Andreas Fault, which led to him making Fault Plates out of clay, and map-making-charting the fault pattern.  Which btw, the San Andreas Fault is the largest in the world.  I did an ILL and rec'd the book, "April 18th, 1906, A Day That Changed America," and read the entire book (which was awesome!) out loud...while Tommie built legos...check this picture out...of the Great Shake in San Francisco:

It still smells toxic in here. We're still cold. The radio still plays from the other room...but I feel accomplished over what we both enjoyed learning today.  I truely never ever remember learning anything like this in school.

"When I let go and surrendered and took the path of letting things unfold naturally, many good-good things came about!"

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM...we saw this the other night and it was really, really good!  Lots of history and humor! 

We give this movie, two thumbs up!

My favorite character?  President Roosevelt

Tommie's favorite character?  The dinosaur!

Best part....the ending...but I won't tell you what it is! Plus, it reminded me a lot of my time spent in NYC.  Bittersweet.

Brad was fixing a leaky pipe at our apartments....so, he missed this one!

Since, on my previous blog, I posted about "good things this week..." I thought I should share the opposite....some not-so-good things:

* the dry wall men, never showed up...never called.

*the painter never returned my calls

* my chicken salad, with a million ingredients turned out awful (pasta was not done!) hence, it went in the round file and we had grilled cheese sandwhiches, instead.

*started reading The Abernathy Boys, as our read aloud...was so happy to get it, since I had to do an ILL on it, only to realize we are bored to tears with it....  The author really needs a lesson on run-on sentences!  I got out of breath and weary, just after the first page!  This one is going back.

* On Wednesday, I sat between two elementary teachers at the local nail salon...I was like a deer in headlights...listening to what they were saying about "education, their students and parents"...Since, I was sitting right smack dab in the middle...I not only got one-earfull, but two-earfulls!   Which again, validated my homeschool opinion...not that I need any....just sort of reinforces it.

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK:

*our attitudes are all in check with the remodeling project

*making our first real lapbook...based on the classic AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS by Jules Verne (this is for a book report class at our Homeschool co-op, that Tommie is reading....which by the way, is having a blast walking around the house saying BOMBAY AND CALCUTTA!)

* farmer's casserole and homemade cherry bread

*snow and a big ice patch in our field for playing

* our first MICHIGAN HISTORY class and it was very interesting!

* a fieldtrip to the STATE POLICE post with our Cub Scout den

*discovering how good brown sugar oatmeal is on these cold and damp mornings!