We consider every day life part of our "school" and normally schedule our school time year round.  We have been on a more relaxed schedule during the summer--that is the time when I take to plan for the next year's heavier book schedule.  I am currently studying about teaching junior and high school as well as deciding what each of the children's needs will be for the upcoming year.

Being organized is a necessity for me--for my sanity for one, but also for our home to even be able to run productivly.  So, I was excited to learn about a virtual seminar going on this weekend.  I love it that I don't have to go out and be away from home to attend.  It is all on line and can be listened to "live" or downloaded later. 

Here are the details for those of you who haven't heard about it:

It is this weekend, July 11-12.  It is called "Let's Get Organized for the New School Year Virtual Seminar" hosted by Cindy Rushton.  You can learn all the details at Cindy's website (sorry I am not able to insert the link for some reason, but here is the website--www.CindyRushton.com/LGO2008.html). 

Jason and Jaimee recently made up several batches of homemade playdough.  They mixed, stirred, kneaded, and bagged up their goods--then went right to work making all sorts of creative things with them, including masks.  I was never that creative when I played with playdough.  I will share our favorite recipe for the playdough.  We use Kool Aid packets to make different "flavors".  I like using them because they are inexpensive, they smell good, and they make the playdough different colors.  I don't add additional coloring--I always simplify everything all I can.  They also tried making a "chocolate" playdough this time.  Of course, it was brown and smelled like chocolate.  It looked kind of like brownies.  It's not a favorite of mine, but they liked it.  Here is the recipe and some pictures of their accomplishment.....

1 C Flour

1/4 C Salt

2 T Cream of Tartar

1 Envelope Unsweetened Kool Aid (I use the off brand)

1 C Water

1 T Oil

1.)  Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.

2.)  Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan.  Be sure to stir constantly.  (We add glitter to some of the batches at this stage.)

3.)  Knead.

4.)  Store in an airtight container.

Here are the ingredients for the chocolate playdough.  (The same steps are used to make it.)

1 1/4 C Flour

1/2 C Cocoa Powder

1/2 C Salt

1/2 T Cream of Tartar

1 1/2 T Oil

1 C Water

It's hard to believe, but our "newborn" turned 3 months old.  Along with cooing and smiling and just being generally cute to all of us, here is one of the latest things she has taken up:

Notice it's just the 2 middle fingers....we've never had one to do that before! 

We spent the weekend camping in Titusville and visiting Kennedy Space Center for 2 days.  Now we are "launching" into a unit study on space travel.  It was great this time because we got to see a shuttle on the launch pad--last time we were there, there was no shuttle there.  I think the launch date is the end of this month.   We learned a lot about several of the Apollo Missions and about the International Space Station.  We went to hear Astronaut Al Worden speak.  (He was on Apollo 15.) 

We also spent some time at Canaveral National Seashore.  It is the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida.  There are more than 500 species of wildlife on Merritt Island.  We saw a bobcat and some alligators.  John spotted an alligator on the shore on the other side of some water.  We turned around to go back and get a picture.  Some other people stopped before us and actually got out of their car to take a picture.  We were in our van behind them.  All of a sudden, the alligator went in the water and started swimming toward them.  Of course they went running back to their car.  The alligator stayed in the water with it's head peering out, I guess waiting to see if he would actually get lunch or not! 

While we were at the beach a helicopter flew by pretty low.  I thought it was kind of neat so I tried to get a picture of it (although it didn't turn out).  Anyway, John asked me later what I thought about it.  I hadn't seen it close since I was focused on getting the picture.  Come to find out, there was a machine gun pointed out with people scanning the beach!  We think it was probably security because there was a shuttle on the launch pad, but still.......

Jordan wanted to go to the Manatee Village Historical Park over her birthday weekend, but we never ended up going.  They were closed for a wedding the day we tried to go, so we made plans to go this weekend instead.  I got stung by a wasp on my toe right when we got there, but other than that everyone had a good time!    Here is Jordan to give the highlights of our trip:

We started our trip by going to the General Store which was pretty cool.  They had old shoes, wash boards, a butter churn and much more.  Also inside was a playroom.  Jaimee and Jason dressed up in pioneer clothes and Jennifer cooked on the wood stove.  Next we went to an old church.  I think some people have weddings there.  After the church we went to the one room schoolhouse.  We enjoyed looking at old books, drawing on the chalkboard, and sitting at the desks.  Jaimee put wood in the stove and made a 'fire' and Jennifer liked the teacher's 'apple'.  Our next stop was a courthouse which is the oldest building in the park and the oldest remaining building built as a courthouse in the entire state of Florida.  Jennifer took the gavel and hit it on the board and said, "Quiet!  Quiet!"  After the courthouse we looked at the other buildings they have, looked at their garden, and went to the little museum above the General Store.  Then before we left we climbed up into an old train and looked around.  The Manatee Village was a cool place and we'll be going back again sometime.   

It's Jackie again.....we don't have any pictures to post, although I took a bunch.  I dropped our camera on the way out the door and it is NOT taking good pictures now......  I'm thinking maybe they should have left me at home.....

Jordan has been spending a lot of time the past few weeks studying for her tests to obtain her driving learner's permit.  She successfully completed the required course on line and then passed both of the required tests.  She and John (and Jaimee went along--she always wants to go to everyone's appointments and outings ) headed to the Licence Branch early this morning to get her permit.  She just had to take the vision test at that point, since she did everything else on line.  John let her drive part way home from the License Branch.  Jordan is on the road! 

I have been working on things to do with a 2 1/2 year old during our "school" time during the days, specifically when I meet with each of the older children for their individual time.  Before Janna was born, we had a system that worked pretty well, but I knew I needed to make some changes.  Since we are redoing our schedule anyway, I figured this was the time.  Before, the general set up was that each person had time with Jennifer in 1/2 hour segments while I was with each of the older children.  They basically got to do whatever they wanted.  I decided I wanted her to have a little more structure with planned activities during that time, so I have been looking into "what to do with a 2 1/2 year old?" 

A few of the things that we have come up with include:

~Before Five In A Row....Jaimee went through the Five in a Row, Volume 1 series, and really enjoyed it.  Someone will read the same book to Jennifer 5 days in a row (we will have different people each day do it), then there are activites related to the book to go along with the reading each day.  I think this will work well because they have 1/2 hour and that should be the perfect time to read the story and lead an activity.  I will also take a day or two doing this with her, as I wanted to be a part of it as well.

~Activity Bags.....These are basically a complete activity with instructions all put together in a large ziplock bag.  So, Jennifer along with whichever older child is with her for that time segment, can choose a bag and they can sit down and work  the activity for their 1/2 hour segment.  I am able to be included in an "activity bag swap" which means I will just make up 20 of one kind of activity bag, send them to a coordinator, who will separate them into 20 different groups and mail all the participants 20 different activity bags.  It is more economical and easier to do it this way as you can purchase the items in bulk and just make 20 of the same thing verses having to go and make 20 different bags yourself.

~Rice Bin.....We made one of these when Jaimee was younger and everyone enjoyed it.  Basically, we got a big bin, bought a 50 pound bag of rice from Sam's and dumped it in the bin.  We then added things like measuring cups, funnels, nested cups, etc.  The person this was intended for is the 2 1/2 year old, remember?  Well, it seems to be a big hit with the older children as well!  Jason spends a lot of time out there just for fun (without Jennifer along).  He has his little army men in there and has a big time with them in the rice. 

Jason had a great day today.  He was John's helper all day long.  They accomplished a lot of things that needed done around here.  Here is a sampling of some of the things he did today:  he raked leaves and filled 4 trashcans with them, he cut a hose with scissors to fit it in the trash, he mowed the whole yard-front and back, he picked up misc. wood pieces that were in the back yard, he cleaned out the lanai, he helped fix the couch in the family room, and he helped fix Jennifer's dresser.  He was excited and proud to tell us that he got paid $5 for his efforts.  He's a good worker and we loved the good day he had. 

Tomorrow he and John are headed to Tropicana Field for a major league baseball game between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Chicago White Sox.  We will report back on that!

We are enjoying the citrus season here in Florida....although it will be ending soon...always a sad time for me!  We have been blessed again this year with a steady supply of grapefruit, and some oranges and tangerines.  Jeremey is our official grapefruit juicer--he makes me at least 1 quart every day.  John gave him the job of juicing the grapefruit for the freezer this year.  So far he has 8 gallons frozen.  He will be doing more as we get more containers.  It's not as good frozen as it is fresh, but we still enjoy it.   Beth, my sister, got hooked on it also when we took grapefruit to Indiana.  I wish there was a way to get it to her--last time we checked the shipping was outrageous.  Well, she is coming to see us in June--we'll have to be sure we save some of our juice from the freezer for her!

(Update:  As of 4-15, Jeremey has 17 gallons of grapefruit juice in the freezer!) 

Janna loves to listen to Jeremey play his guitar!  If she is fussy, she calms right down when she hears him play!  He is doing a great job playing--he just got his guitar in November of last year from Grampa Bill and he plays every day.  He has learned a lot from Grampa Bill and Uncle Chris, and from books and dvd's he has gotten from the library.  We all like to listen to him play--even little Janna!

Our newest addition, Janna Grace, will be 8 weeks old in a few days.  These first 8 weeks since she has joined our family have been full ones.  Along with me recovering from my first c-section ever, we have already made a 1200 mile trip to visit our extended family and friends in Indiana.  (can read more details about that at our family blog:  www.homesteadblogger.com/kingfamily)  The older children have kept up with their daily lessons that they do themselves, but it is now time to get back in full swing again.  I have been pondering how to put everything together.  I keep telling myself that there are many people who have many more children than we have (we have 6), that somehow manage to homeschool along with taking care of a newborn and keeping the home running efficiently.  I tell myself that at times when I am working on the schedule and think I have it all fit together with everyone in a slot all day and then remember, "oh yeah....what about Janna???".  I still have the final touches to put on our schedule.  (I know that the schedule is not set in stone, but we have to have something to keep us on track.)  I've been working on revamping our chore schedule as well to include all the children sharing all the jobs instead of the brunt of it falling on the older ones just because they do a good job!  My friend, Rebecca, shared their "zones" with me and I was able to glean some great ideas from her, plus from my trusty Emily Barnes books, along with incorporating all that we already do that is working.  So...now that this is on paper at least, I will turn to the daily schedule and get that on paper, then it's time to put it all into practice.  It's just making the transition to our new "normal"......I'll let you know how it goes!

Here are the broomstick skirts that Jordan made for all us girls.  She made all 5 of them in about a week.  We took them on our trip to Indiana with us and all wore them on Easter.  I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but Janna's (the baby) skirt matches mine.