Maplewood Cottage Home-Lessons
• Jan. 22, 2009 - More snow fun
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Plans for the Holidays
We plan on enjoying the ten days daddy is home.
Starting this weekend we will learn more about Hanakkah. Counting the days.
'Lighting' a pretend Menorah.
Reading several books during the eight days to get understanding.
And making some traditional foods.
I wanted to do a full post about all the special things we may do and then I found this Growing in Grace post
and she did a great job expressing what Hanakkah for the gentile is like.
I also appreciated what the Wilson family shares.
We shared a few gifts each day.
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• Nov. 28, 2008 - Michalina's November 8th Birthday
We had a very nice LONG day. Our friends from next door brought their girls over early in the morning and left town to get emergency oral surgery done. I'm glad it was a special day with things planned for them.
Pin Miss Spider to the center of her web...
LUNCH
Happy Birthday Song!
We got Lina hair care supplies she's getting old enough to start caring about making her self 'nice'.
A Girlfriend brushing Lina's hair. Timmy took the picture ;^)
The girls spent time with Jonathan. Lina said he was the best birthday present ever.
We had a slow paced party that lasted through the entire day. When the girls left late afternoon another two friends came to visit.
Luke greeted them saying, "I think you missed the party but we can start again !" And that we did.
We played with play-dooh for two hours -see Bob and Larry?
I had some learning things I made for the boys when they were Lina and Sophia's age so I handed them down and they LOVED them. |
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• Nov. 28, 2008 - The month of November.
My favorite picture of the month! Sophia peeking out of our leaf pile!
We have had a very busy month. Though there have been many days that have been filled with just getting the basics done -and sometimes not even those things brought to completion:^) Each day has somewhat blurred into another. Many nights I go to sleep thinking what did we DO with this day?
The first week of the month was spent tending the needs of the new baby and my aches and pains.
The second week was much of the same with added activities of Michalina' s fourth Birthday - on the 8th we had a small gathering of friends visiting all day. The third week my neighbor had some terrible emergency dental problems and her children came over a few times as she was trying to get help. By that third week most of my aches and pains were subsiding. The fourth week we have tried harder to keep a routine and do some school. I have been spending considerable time nursing the baby. He hasn't gained a lot of weight yet and nurses often. He is holding his own and isn't left to crying too much while I tend to other things. It is always my goal in the early weeks to keep baby close to me as possible and still run the home.
We have also been trying to get the heating unit repaired for the winter. It seems close to being resolved.
The expense is great as we have a better model that takes special parts rather than less costly standard/ universal components. The Lord has been providing and encouraging us and it has not gotten below 58 inside with the aid of space heaters and using the oven. This has been stressful as I would rather be focusing on other things but again it is all working out.... should have the repair done by late December.
We enjoyed an hour or so of raking before the big frosts came.
And a great few hours one afternoon just soaking up the sun -that resolved any hint of jaundice. |
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• Jun. 16, 2008 - Summer Art Program
I started the boys in an art program offered by the rec park. It runs all this week. I hope to get back with photos as soon as I can.
Today they made bug mats. Hard to explain but these were precut preprinted paper shapes that they had to use their fine motor skills to weave a complimentary color into the design. They did well! Luke says the lady kept taking out his strips of paper and making him start over again... he said he did it correctly each time so I can only assume that he did it so well and so fast she wanted to give him extra practice.
Tim said it was a little hard for him and he asked for help several times. So I am glad it was a challenge. He said he did do most of it himself.
Luke said there was one boy that was very disrespectful to the teachers and had to sit by himself. I just explained that I was glad that Luke knew that was wrong and would not be behaving that way himself. No need to go on about the naughty deed. Overall I think it is good for them to do a few things a year amongst others... certainly gives opportunity for some teaching moments.
The things we have done with the library and such have been good in that the boys needed to learn little things that we never do at home like raising their hands to share or answer a question or even getting courage to ask for help from another adult other than Mike and I.
While the program was in process I took the girls for a walk around the park and then to the playground. Ended up meeting and older couple that were 'young' grandparents that had brought their grand kids to the program as well and had the younger ones on the playground.They know the area well and lots of people... he is a volunteer firefighter! So I asked if the boys could ask him some questions this week when we see each other again. The lady knew of several seasoned homeschool families so I asked if she would mind giving me contact phone numbers so I could see if I can get some leads on local assessors.
I am glad we decided to do this. |
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• Apr. 16, 2008 - Apple Trees
 Sophia next to an apple tree 6-6-2008
We planted our own apple trees last fall. They won't be producing for another year or so but seemed to weather the winter well.
We also have had a great time with a bushel of apples and an apple peeler/corer that a relative gave us.
Books we read recently.
Johnny Appleseed a number of different versions as well as the account of him taking the Word of God with him on his journey.
Johnny Castleseed was a take off on the idea of what we plant inspires others. A boy and his dad build a sand castle together and others follow all along the beach making their own sand castle.
Apple Farmer Annie - Child's level of understanding the process of planting tending and marketing apples and apple goods at market.
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• Jan. 22, 2008 - My Birthday
Is today and this past weekend we celebrated for the most part.
We had a really GREAT weekend though Mike was sick and we had to cancel the first invite out to dinner in years! I ended up making home- made pizza Ummm and got a lot for a few dollars! Everyone was so happy for the treat... it takes time but it was worth it, what a great birthday present to see everyone enjoying something we made together!
I still can't believe in some ways that I am a thirty -five yo wife of almost 9 yrs and mom of four children!
Today we made cup cakes and shakes - the kids sung to me. Mike made a beautiful card on the computer and other than that just did our normal routine. We are almost finished with Farmer Boy and enjoyed it so much.
I have made a few new friendships in the area and am looking forward to them growing;^)
Pretty quiet here today. |
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• Oct. 3, 2007 - Give Some Boys a Camera...
I let the boys take the camera recently. I prayed no harm would come to it!
Amongst some blurry shots this is what we ended up with.
    
Now for some funny ones...
   
I thought it was so funny that a lot of these seemed like spying on others. You know this one of Timmy doing something he shouldn't and peeking at Dad through the chain link fence...
But what struck me the most was in viewing all the shots (not just these posted ones) was the reality of our days.
I was really convicted about a few shots of Lina running around half naked with piles of laundry to be folded... a shot of me posting pictures on to the blog here and I looked exhausted and BLOATED... I forget to drink while I am busy at the computer. And several with Sophia in the play pen looking pensive having been in there too long!
Maybe, I will let them take more shots to get me to evaluate what I could do better.
On a positive note I am glad the boys look to nature an are creative, Timmy took several pictures of his toes! Oh and this one.
I often brush my hair while reading.
One time the boys took an up close of their sister's curls it was really neat!
I think using a camera helps them to focus their eyes on images of interest. |
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• Oct. 2, 2007 - Sammy's Science House
The boys really like this game they sorted animals that have back bones and those that do not for an hour the other day!
It also has a section on the weather and it's changes.
Another section on building things. Buildings, boats, and trains were favorites. |
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• Oct. 2, 2007 - Computer Games
We have various computer games that are educational and are brought out on rainy days and quiet saturday morns.
Luke and Tim have been enjoying. Math Blaster, Mia Math, Sammy's Science House, Baily's Book House and Timetown.
Lots of counting, sorting and matching going on... |
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• Sep. 22, 2007 - Making Smores
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