Dec. 2, 2008 - Still here!
We finished up week 18 in school, though Caleb still has some more Math lessons he needs to finish. We went to the library and checked out a whole bunch of Christmas books, re-arranged the living room and are just reading a few books a day about Christmas. All the Christmas shopping is done, so we can focus on Advent and giving to our friends (they will be making crafts). We are also doing a Jesse tree again this year.
I learned last week how much I rely on my copier as a homeschooling mom, after it broke down - luckily after we were done with the week in school! Luckily, my MIL found one as a door buster and gave it to me early so I can resume being sane. I don't know how we would survive without one!! I don't use it 'much' - only 1-2 pages at a time, but several times a week! I highly recommend having one at home!
We are still awaiting the arrival of baby - belly is very full of baby... and baby has big feet! But other than that, I am not feeling too bad to want baby to hurry up. I feel a lot better than I did with Heather at 36 weeks!! So who knows.... I am not looking forward to labor at all... and it'll be interesting to transition to having 4 kids since I finally feel like I was getting the hang of three.
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Nov. 23, 2008 - Thinking about next year
No news of baby yet (Though dh would like for it to come tonight... we'll see).
I have been thinking about curriculum for next year and torn about waht to do - WinterPromise American Story 2 in continuation of this year, or Sea and Sky, that would interest Caleb and I have been holding off because I think it might be too 'old' for him still (it's targeted for 4-6th graders) and he will be 3rd grade next year.
But he has a renewed interest in flight and space - so I think we will go for it next year! He has already listened the the Audiobook of Around the World in 80 Days and enjoyed it, and knows about Treasure Island and a few other read alouds (maybe I can find the auiobooks for most of them through the library). I even bought the Young Learners Guide and have been collecting the books and he has read the majority of them already!! The benefit is that I already own collected all but 2-3 of the books for S&S and am just starting hunting down the AS2 books... Plus he has already memrozid all the SOTW CD's, so I am not really all that concerned about *needing* history - we just need something to do during the day! But now I feel better because I know which Language Arts readers to get.
Jessica told me she wanted to study animals, and we already own Animal Worlds, so I don't think that will be a problem at all either!
For LA, we will stick with WP, except I think we will try out Sequential Spelling instead of Spellwell next year. Caleb seems to get more correct on the pretest, than after working with the words for a week.. he tends to just copy them instead of thinking about it.
I think science is pretty much covered as well by the WP programs, but we will have visits to the library, and a friend suggested Story of Science by Joy Hakim. It's rated for slightly older kids, but we did check it out of the library to see what it looks like and Caleb enjoyed me reading it and even Jessica enjoyed the pictures! So I think we will slowly read through them as the kids want, and at the very least it makes a wonderful addition to our home library.
My goals for next year is for Jessica to be reading independently, for Caleb to really know his math facts and work on fine motor skills (not that he is very behind or anything - he's just a boy about it... and told me he threw a fit this week at CCD because he couldn't copy the prayer down fast enough like all the other kids), and possibly add some geography for both - but I am not too concerned about it and we will see how life is with a baby in the house. I really am liking the direction that Caleb is taking in owning his education and picking topics to find out more about - that's what this age is all about - developing a love of learning!! Of course there are so many things he wants to do, that his fine motor skills are just not there yet - or the ideas are just so 'big' - which isn't bad but just not feasible.... But I don't want to squelch that either...
Anyways, it feels good to know which direction we are heading for next year, and of course I have my shopping carts/wishlists ready already for tax return day to be able to purchase it all!!
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Nov. 15, 2008 - Hanging in there
Well, we are almost to 37 weeks and we are hanging in there. I feel huge (though people are so nice and say I look good... HA!!!) and keep bumping into things. My back/sciatica perpetually ache and all I want for Christmas is to be able to curl up in a ball :) Contractions come as often as every 5 min but they are just uncomfortable - not the 'real thing' yet. This baby likes to punch my legs with his/her fists when I sit down though!! Everything is looking good - I am not looking forward to the actual labor!! Hopefully it'll just be quick and over with again....
Jessica has been complaining her tooth hurts during meals - and sure enough - she has her first loose tooth!! (Caleb just lost his first tooth in September, so she was sure she had to be 7 to lose a tooth.)
We went swimming again today, with daddy, and so they did laps. Heather jumped in a few times, but the water was really cold, and so I dressed her and we sat and watched the rest swim laps. I think this membership will be good for daddy as well - he is complaining his legs hurt from the kicking after just a few laps!!
On a good note, I think I got most of the Christmas shopping done. I went to one store and got overly frustrated because there is so much 'lure' and nothing that was on my list - so I came back home and shopped online. There are just a few more things to get - but I have a list and will stick to it!
We finished up week 16 in school... we are learning about Thomas Jefferson right now. Jessica finished up the Kindergarten Math books and is working on First grade math. Caleb started multiplication in his workbook. He is also enjoying his Success with Maps workbook (grade 2) and Exploring Creation with Astronomy. He really likes all topics as long as it doesn't include writing!!!
We went to the library and checked out an audiobook - of course Caleb had to finish listening to it all in one night. He really enjoyed James and the Giant Peach - and then Jessica listened to it as well and enjoyed it. We also started reading the biography of Isaac Newton.
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Nov. 6, 2008 - Project Pictures
Here are pictures from the kids choice of projects this week.
Jessica wanted to make her Marian Grotto project, so she made this mostly on her own (I helped in the glueing of the sticks a bit just to get them all aligned):
And Caleb really wanted to make a Solar System model. He struggled a bit with wanting to give up before all the painting was finished, but I am proud of him that he perservered and finished. He is very proud of his new model:
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Nov. 5, 2008 - Halloween Pictures
Before I get to Halloween, I wanted to share these pictures of Heather swimming... she loved it so much, but unfortunately, due to a price increase, we can no longer afford lessons for her. And the kids will have to switch teams to continue swimming. For the record, I think the coaches/teachers of this place really do deserve the money as they do a phenomenal job with the kids (and with keeping mine 'in line') but we just can't afford it... I wish we could....
And here she is doing her arm reaches all by herself:
And here is the halloween gang (just ours):
It's sad that they came back with much more candy than we gave out - it filled a whole canvas tote shopping bag!! I guess we won't need to buy candy for a LONG time.....
Otherwise life has been going on - the kids really need to have some physical activity, so this morning I made them do jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, lunges and crab walks just to get their blood running through their viens... helps Caleb concentrate a bit better... and since he hasn't been swimming, he hasn't been sleeping well and has been complaining that his legs hurt. The weather has been great, so they have been running outside, but it just isn't the same to him for some reason. On a bright side, the Upwards basketball evaluations are this upcoming weekend and practices will start in December - maybe that will tire him out some???
In schooling - we are almost done with week 15!! We finished reading The Fighting Ground, which I was glad was a read aloud becuase there were a few swear words in there, but overall, we enjoyed the book. Caleb is also reading The Cabin Faced West, and daddy was able to hear him read. He does a very good job... We basically finished studying George Washington and are moving on to Thomas Jefferson.
Jessica finished her Horizons K Book 2 workbook and is excited to move on to "First Grade" math!!! She is also ahead in her readers for Language Arts and has read almost all the 'Level 2' Readers (long vowel sounds). She is also becoming quite the artist!!
Heather seems to know her colors well, and likes talking up a storm. She does a wonderful Goofy impression that just always cracks us up! Lately, it seems she has been working on her shapes as she has been spotting them out and trying to draw them. It's very cute :)
Pregnancy is going well - we are past 35 weeks, and after 36 I can have my homebirth, so baby needs to hang in there for just a little while more (at least). In some ways I can wait longer, and other times, I would love to be able to get my socks on and bend over again!! So we will see... I am not quite ready for labor yet... I am not looking forward to that part of it all, and the sleepless nights that follow... But we shall see!!
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Oct. 23, 2008 - Pregnancy/Schooling update
Well, I officially on the 'countdown'. When will this baby come? Who knows?? I'm at 33.5 weeks, and at 36 I can have my homebirth. Caleb and Jess both came right before 37, but Heather hung in till 2 days before her due date. So who knows....
We are just getting things ready... we still have to finish the basement and fix the changing table and find the car seat, but we are getting there. I am not looking forward to the labor at all, but also starting to get that 'well lets just get it done and over with' feeling until I remember what happens after LOL!! :)
School is going well, our days are very simple, which is fine. The kids work on the Math and LA independently for the most part, then we do the SL preK and WP AS1 readings.
I am happy to say that last week, Caleb actually got all his spelling words correct!! Jessica just finished Explode The Code book 1 and is reading the beginning reading books without much help at all. She is also trying to work ahead in Math and has been doing 2-3 lessons a day. Math has also become easier for Caleb it seems... the spiral approach of Horizons seems to be working well for him... He struggles with a concept at first but it finally 'clicks' before moving on to the next concept.
Caleb also wanted to start studying Astronomy, so we got Exploring Creation with Astronomy and started reading through it. It seems really neat. I like how it doens't shy away from teaching them the correct terminology and explaining it in a way they can understand. It's a really nice low-key part of our day and I think Claeb is actually remembering most of it. I also bought Scholastic's Sucess with Maps workbook for him and he seems to be enjoying it.
I can't believe we have finished 13 weeks already, it seems to be flying by, and we are certainly finding our groove. I hope to finish through week 18 before Christmas 'break' - and we will see if that is before or after baby comes.
I have also started piecing together the books for AS2 for next year. Caleb said he wants to continue with AS2, Jessica said she wants to study Animals (good thing I already have AW) and Heather will just have to tag along.
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Oct. 10, 2008 - AS1 Week 11
We have finished week 11!!
Caleb is enjoying the LA readers. I had to run to the store to buy the next one - Nathan Hale Patriot Spy, because he actually read ahead in Phoebe the Spy since he really wanted to find out what happened. We also finished Sign of the Beaver, and started The Fighting Ground. The kids keep asking for "more - just a bit more".
For fun, we finished reading teh unabridged version of Pinnocchio, and just started The Twenty-One Balloons. The kids loved Pinnocchio, and I had never read or heard the unabridged version.
We also finished up reading The Children of Fantima by Mary Fabyan Windeatt - as usual with tears in our eyes. We have not picked out the Saint next book yet.
Our day to day schedule has been working rather well. Claeb is realizing it's better to just do the work and be done with it and have the free time instead of spending all day doing something simple. The house has also been kept clean, even with having a few sick days this week. The pickup (once feeling better) took only a half hour or so, and now the house is back to looking picked up and presentable. The kids are even playing better with the toys than before when there were more out. Heather's favorite is definately the legos. Today, the Wedgits made it out as well. And then the weather was so beautiful, we had to spend the afternoon outside!
For my reading - I finished Robinson Crusoe (boy was that a long read...) and started reading Little Women for the book club.
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Sep. 28, 2008 - Quater of the Year done!
We finished up Week 9 of the American Story 1 with corresponding LA. Wow!! I can't beleive it!!
We are using the old IG (2006), so I realize a the timeline has changed a bit. We started reading about the Revolutionary War. I added the book If you Lived During the Revolutionary War to our reading (I think the newer program already has this scheduled) and we are also enjoying LIberty very much. Caleb finished reading Then What Happened Paul Revere? ahead of schedule becuase he wanted to find out what happened!!
Jessica is also reading her readers ahead of schedule, and doing a good job of not only sounding out words but remmebering that word on the next page. This week she read Stuck Duck, and then took out Elk Yelps as well. She is also taking some of Heather's board books and trying to read them.
We have to work in Math a bit with Caleb, he is still trying to add and subtract on his fingers, so we might pull out the flash cards. Though when I give him a time limit on his tests, he can actually get them right in the time limit. I think it's mostly a focusing issue - you know - boys and not wanting to do the work. But overall I think the kids are doing really well!
I have finished reading Robinson Crusoe (I was motivated to finish it because the Read Aloud for AS1 was Sign of the Beaver and it kept having exerts from the book that I hadn't read yet!). I also finished reading How to Become a Saint by Mary Ann Budnick - I liked the later half much more than the first half. And have started reading Little Women and Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade for myself.
Pregnancy is going well. I am at about 30 weeks, so just 7-10 more weeks to go! We are working on finishing the basement before the baby comes, and I am just working on perserverence to do those little things like sweep the kitchen. Fall allergies have befallen most of us, so I can't wait for the first frost to help out!
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Sep. 22, 2008 - Sanctity in Housework
Due to several friends influences, I have been working on finding sanctity in doing those mundane household chores that I always hated doing.
Step one was simplifying our schedule, to be OK with not having to do every activity with everyone as it comes up.
Step two was decluttering - getting rid of all those toys that haven't been played with in over a year and that were just just taking up space.
Step three was creating a household shedule - I chose daily 'zones' to focus on instead of specific chores (Ie - Mondays are bathrooms, and we attack one bathroom (we only have two) each monday).
The decluttering and scheduling of chores has really helped keep the house presentable (or pick-upable withing 5-10 min) and since we have simplified and are not leaving the house all the time, we make sure we leave it clean. It used to be that when we walked in, the mess was so overwhelming I just got angry and frustrated the very first step into the house!! Now, it's actually pleasant to come home and have a clean living room/kitchen. The not going out has also helped in keeping the kitchen clean, which is currently a good thing since we have ants trying to invade). I have time to make meals, and to clean up immediately afterwards - all dishes put away, all pots/pans washed, table wiped off and floor swept. It has been rather nice, and even though it takes more 'work' - strangely relaxing and freeing.
I think the kids are in better moods not being visually overstimulated as well, and we have had time for Art, crafts, games, and just being able to enjoy one another without tripping over toys!!
I have to say, I am enjoying this 'simplified life' - counting my blessings that there is not much stress, no high dramas, and enjoying just spending the time with the kids.
Schoolwork has been going by a lot easier as well. I think Claeb really needs his time structured, and since I printed out a schedule, he can go consult it to see what to do next. It has really cut back on the whining and complaining and things are done in a timely (and not rushed) manner. WE have even been able to add a few science experiments as well!
It is hard to believe weare almost 1/4 of the way done! After this week, we will have finished week 9 of American Story 1 and the corresponding LA's for each of the kids. I am amazed at how well Caleb has taken off reading. We still need to work on math facts some - he is still counting on his fingers for most problems. Jessica is reading the beginner phonics readers as well. She is working on ETC 1 with very little help from me. Heather is being 2, and some days it's harder than other to entertain her. She really wants to be a big kid and have her 'work' as well.
Overall, it has been a very pleasant fall and getting ready for baby to arrive, which I am sure will change everything around, and we will see if the house will survive!!
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Sep. 18, 2008 - Disney Photo's
We had a lot of fun at Disney. The kids can't wait to go back. Jessica rode every ride she was tall enough for - including Tower of Terror (one that Caleb didn't go on!!!).
Here are just a few of the pictures to share...
And this was from the Science Museum in Orlando - Jessica loved the Hurricane Simulator:
And when we got home, Caleb built a robot out of lego's he was very proud of:
And a cute one of Heather:
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Sep. 18, 2008 - St. Louis Pictures
Here are the pictures as promised. Sorry it took so long - last week the girls were sick, and this week Heather was deciding she did not want to sleep in her bed, so I was up later trying to get her to sleep and did not have time to upload the pictures.
We visted with the kids best friends who moved away:
And then with other friends, the Broms, we visited Ft Dubois (Lewis and Clark):
Then the kids and I visited Cahokia Mounds:
And the view of St. Louis from the top:
A farewell to the Broms (all the kids together now):
And Jessica and her Godmother:
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Sep. 8, 2008 - Home from Disney
We just got home from Disney this weekend, an I still need to catch up on some sleep! Dh's parents paid for our trip with them - 9 days to Disney, staying on site with the dining plan. Let's just say, this is a good time of year to go - there were very few people and short lines. The kids had a lot of fun, and were so tired out. I still haven't downlaoded pictures, so I will have to get those up soon.
We came home, and dh and Heather slept for 17 hours straight. Heather wasn't feeling so great today, so we will see what the rest of the week brings and how soon I can get those pictured up.
Caleb realized today, I think, that school isn't that much work and did his work well and had lots of free time. I even got a nap in! We started week 7 (WP AS1, LA, and SL preK readings and Horrizon's Math). Then we also started the unabridged version of Pinnocchio. It seems like there should be time to add several more things, but I know that won't last once baby is born. Plus this month we start some Co-op activities and right now my motto is "Simple is better".
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Aug. 25, 2008 - End of August
Wow, look at that. It's already the end of August and I haven't updated my blog!!
This we have done:
1) I have worked on and finalized a daily/weekly/monthly schedule - including housework. This has actually been very freeing and liberating. I can glance at the monthly 'outside activity' sheet and know if I can committ to something else or not. I have really simplified what we are doing, allowed for lots of leeway and freetime (or in Caleb's case, time to actually do his work) so that when baby comes, it will be completely do-able.
2) We have been working on school stuff. We will be done with week 6 this week!!
Caleb is doing WinterPromise American Story 1, and LA2 and Horizon's Math 2.
Jessica is not liking doing the same thing as her brother, so though she can listen in, I got out the Sonlight PreK books to read to her and she has been enjoying them along with WinterPromise LA AdvK and Horizon's Math K.
Then we have weekly adoration, lots of bible/saint readings, Catholic Mosiac, and Caleb has CCD. I was so excited to find a Bible at Caleb's reading level for him to read on his own.
Heather is working on the Kumon tracing book and has swim lessons.
3) We visited friend in St Louis and visited the Lewis and Clark Museum, Lock and Dam, and Cahokia Mounds while there. I will try to get some pictures up soon.
4) We have also been working on decluttering and keeping the house clean!
Our current struggles are with attitudes and timeliness of doing work. Or learning that, yes, what you are doing is 'good' but it is not the right time to do it.
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Aug. 3, 2008 - America Story week 2
We have finished WimterPromise's American Story 1 week 2. Here are some pictures from the week.
First, we are doing the Native American focus, so the kids made tepees out of tagboard:
Then they made their 3-D maps showing the Viking path to the new World in AD 1000:
Caleb's -
And Jessica's -
After coloring the water, they gave up on coloring more and just put it together.
And this week, we got to Art using Usborne's Art Treasury and made Japanese prints. We printed 3 times on a sheet of paper since I did not have a styrofoam piece bit enough.
Caleb's -
Jessica's -
And Heather had to get in on it as well -
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Jul. 29, 2008 - Back to School
We have officially started school once again!! Over the last few weeks, since a good friends moved away, I have learned to set limits and learn to manage my household. I sat and made a daily schedule (color coded) that I think is feasible and to make priorities and stick to them. The result? The house is clean - it must not know what to do with itself!! - and decluttered. I am getting enough sleep and excercising and I have time to cook and school.
I am finally understanding and internalizing what another good friend has been working on for years - and her seemingly weird comments of "I don't need any more friends". I finally get it - there is only so much time and my forst vocation is wife and mother, and managing my household. And while i need my social outlet - if I try to do too much, the family suffers.
So - this year, with a baby coming, we are focusing on basics - Math, Reading, Writing and then history and household work. I trimmed down activities as well so we can do a good job on these basics.
We are working on week 2 of the LA and AS1 (the vikings). So far so good. Today, Caleb is a little slow and reluctant to work, but overall progress is being made and we are enjoying the readings and activities.
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Jul. 19, 2008 - Swim B-invite
Today we had the town's B-invite, and it started of rather rainy. We were glad we had the tent to set up and camp out under!! But then it cleared up and it really wasn't all that bad of a day.
The kids really did their best! Each one won one of their heats and was awarded a 'heat award' - a little bag of goodies. They each had 3 races, and I am told the top 12 times recieve a ribbon.
Caleb had a personal record in all three races - Freestyle - 25.8 s (12th place); Breaststroke - 32.3 s(9th place!!); Backstroke 32.5 s (12th place).
Jessica did awesome as well and swam two personal record times - Freestyle - 40.8 s PR; Butterfly - 50.8 s PR, and backstroke 50.1 s.
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Jul. 18, 2008 - Swim pictures
Here are some pictures of the kids at one of their swim meets.
And Heather this afternoon - I think she is trying to tell me something....
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Jul. 14, 2008 - Schedule and workouts
I am realizing that the summer is quickly coming to an end. I had said I was going to start 'school' again after swim team ends, and we only have 2 weeks of swim team left!
After going to a homeschool conference and hearing a talk about making a schedule, I sat down to alter mine, I realized I already had one from last year, but when it's color coded, it looks so much more appealing! I also made a monthly shedule of outside activities/commitments by week... so I divided the month up into the 5 wees possible, and each day into morning/afternoon/evening and wrote down the activities (Ie, Swim Lessons for Heather every M/W afternoon) so I can glance at it and see if a new activtity would or wouldn't work with our current priorities.
So now I think I am all set, we are working on cleaning out the house and setting up for school. Since the girls now have their own room, I no longer have a schoolroom to work and store everything in. We are also going to work on scheduling a specific area of the house to clean each day (Ie, Monday - bathrooms, Tuesday - laundry, etc.).
I have also started to excercise again more regularly, using Denis Austins pregnancy workout. Just 20 min a day but it helps to have the energy and toning.
Caleb is listening to Story of the World 4 - he has really taken to being in his room a lot listening to SOTW and reading. Currently he is working on a lego project.
Ok, off to do the chores and clean the bathroom today!
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Jul. 6, 2008 - Pregnancy update
Well, I am about half way through this pregnancy. Just at 18 weeks already. And I just realized an occurance that happens at this period in time that I am not so thrilled about. Things have just been agitating me. Nothing majorly out of the ordinary at all, but I just realized taht around this time in every pregnancy, things bothered me. With Caleb I had finals and was in a wedding, with the girls this was the time the older one weaned because I couldn't stand it anymore. Well Heather has already weaned, so I can only blame it on just the pregnancy hormones now. I think I will stay in and lay low for a bit till it passes so as not to say something or upset anyone.
In other news - Heather has moved in with Jessica now. We set up the bunk bed in the girls room and Heather has enjoyed sleeping in her own room. She really has taken ownership of it and we don't hear form her all night long. We still need to move her clothes in (though she takes it over and dumps it on her bed!).
Caleb then lost the desk under the bunk and we went to IKEA this past weekened and thanks to my dad, we now have a desk for Caleb - which he is throughouly enoying. I will have to post pictures once we get the rooms cleaned up.
I am just realizing that July is almost over and I had considered starting the school year in August. Wow! we still need to clean out the living room to make it work. I really want to be able to do more arts/crafts and games this year with the kids before the baby comes. It looks like we won't be doing many co-op type things so we have all day at home before swim team and other activities. We'll have to see how much energy I will have though.
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Jun. 29, 2008 - Extracurricular Activities
Now is the time of year that I ponder and plan what I want the kids to be involved with over the next school year and why. Here is what I was thinking (trying to keep in mind I will have a newborn in December. Does this look well rounded? Am I doing too much or missing something?
Caleb (7yr -second grade):
Swim Team (for discipline, perserverence) twice a week; CCD (to recieve First Holy Communion this year and to get to know other kids his age in the parish); Blue Knights (once a month, virtue and faith formation); Upwards Basketball (sportsmanship and fun - daddy will be coach); a homeschool Art class (fine arts); and possibly thinking about Cub Scouts (to get to know the boys his age that go to the parish school).
Jessica (5 yr - Kindergarten):
Swim Team (same as above); Little Flowers (starting in Jan, for Faith formation); Daisy Girl Scouts (to be with friends who will be in the parish school); homeschool Art class (because she would like it); and Upwards Basketball (on her cousins team).
Heather (2yr):
Swim Lessons (twice a week)
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