(** sorry I'm a day late at posting my contest winners!)
My youngest daughter was the first one to wake up today so I asked her if she'd do a special favor for me! She was SO happy to be able to pick my contest winners!
I printed off all the names...
Picking the names...
And this is the order in which she picked them! Congratulations Nancy, Laura & Nicole!!
After living in the desert for 4 years rain is still a exciting concept to my kids!So when it rains we all have to run out front on the covered porch and watch.Since my rent-a-kid was here visiting we were all extra excited about the rain!So I decided we needed to do some rain painting!I know, only I could come up with a craft that includes rain! LOL
Here are the kids out watching the rain.
Thinking about getting wet!
Rain painting & rain dancing! LOL
Finished product
So what is rain painting?Just put a few drops of food coloring on a paper plate. Hold the plate out in the rain to add some water and let it splatter.Then set your creation aside to dry.
Viola!
A quick, easy, creative art experiment!You can’t do that in the desert! LOL
It's thundering today. I love to listen to the rain fall and the thunder. My youngest son Lance is so funny though. Last night we were watching the Olympics and the thunder was loud. Lance stands up on the couch, walks across the coffee table (yes my kids jump on the furniture) jumps down and with his blanket hides under the table. It's funny because he so calm about. Later he heard more thunder so my Sweets & I look over and all you can see is legs sticking out of a blanket.
I think I might have wrote a few post ago that I would like to add Story of the World Vol. 1 to My Father's World Creation to the Greeks. I want to make a note that MFW is very complete without adding in Story of the World and/or Mystery of History. But you know me I'm always tweaking everything.
I want to add in SOTW for my younger ones to listen to and for Josh to outline and enjoy this book. Joshua really liked it when we used it for 1st grade.
Concerning all the myths, fairy tales and so forth. At our house I will tell the kids when the story is entering into a myth/fair tail. Because these myths are so similar to the Bible I do make sure we also read the Bible story and I do explain to the kids that the people (Egyptians, Greeks etc.) did not know the One True God and many of these stories were passed down from what I believe is Noah his descendants. Eventually the people fell away from God but the stories they passed down but making their own gods to worship and they got tangled and twisted. So my children and I have a lot of great discussions about the lost and so forth. When they read a book that mentions a million years ago because we have discussed these things they know it's not true, same with the myths.
I won't go off and just let them read the book without me because I do want to let them know which are the myths and which are not. The Story of the World sometimes or I should say many times doesn't always make it clear when the story is going from History to a myth.
All that to say that I found BiblioPlan and I purchased their Guide after seeing samples at their site. The Guide schedules in
Story of the World Vol. 1 (SOTW)
Kingfisher World Encyclopedia (Kingfisher or KF)
Victor Journey Through the Bible
Mystery of History Vol. 1 and I think toward the end Vol. 2 (MOH)
Bible Reading
Timelines & Maps
Read Aloud (I'm only going to read the books that we already have. My purchasing days are over for now)
Writing Ideas (we will use these if time permits. They sound great. There is one for every stage for my kiddos. Young Writer, Grammar & Logic)
MFW CtG does not use SOTW & MOH and doesn't really schedule too many real alouds (they do have the book basket for this though. We just don't make it to the library) For $24.00 I have everything I wanted scheduled in for me and I don't have to keep trying to figure when I should read this or that. Plus I ordered their maps on download so no more looking there either. I just hit the print button. I love the timeline suggestions no more being stumped at where to put a timeline figure . I didn't buy the timelines though. The Guide has all the dated and I have all the timelines from Homeschool in the Woods and what I don't have we will pencil in.
My plan is for me to read everything scheduled from MFW CtG. Read or listen to SOTW on cd and listen to MOH on cd.
Have Joshua read from the Kingfisher book and outline from SOTW or library books.
Have Joshua and Annette read the Bible that is scheduled in BiblioPlan (I'll read what is scheduled in MFW with all the kiddos)
With BiblioPlan I'm not going to do all the extra read alouds for the younger ones other than listening in on the cd's mentioned above because Brent & Caleb will get a most of their history from My Father's World 1st Grade.
I'll write more as we use it. Let you all know if I bit off more than I could chew.
I was making shish-ka-babs not too long ago. A few of the kids were helping me. Carter was watching and then started grabbing the sticks and zucchini. I just let him "help". He put one piece of zucchini on each end and started lifting them like weights and making a grunting noise. I have no idea where he got that from we don't even own weights.
:>Michelle
Hello to everyone joining me from "Home School Memoirs"- it's so nice to have you here. I look forward to meeting you all during the week...
This weeks assignment:About Me
My name is Amy and I have been married to my high school sweetheart and love of my life for 19 years. Together we have 4 children ages 3, 8, 12, and 15. You can "meet" them over on my right side bar!
This year I am entering my 8th year of being a home school teacher. ( I did do a preschool program with each of the kids called "Learning At Home" when they were 4 years old, but I've never counted that as official home schooling years. ) We began home schooling when our oldest was entering 3rd grade. Previously she had been enrolled in a private Christian school - the same one that both my husband and I graduated from! At that time, I knew a handful of home schooling families through our church (one of which my own brother and sister in law) and so I was somewhat familiar with it. I know that God had those families there for me as an encouragement and support system of sorts because he was calling us to home school as well and knew I would need those mom to talk to! In the past 8 years the number of home schooling families in our church has probably tripled and these families continue to be such a blessing to me! God has used home schooling in atremendous way to teach me and draw me closer to him, I am a changed woman compared to 8 years ago. I would not and could not home school without Him!
Being a home school mom takes up much of my time - as you well know! Some things I really enjoy about school are teaching my children to read and write, reading to them and learning new things with them along the way! I enjoy seeing their faces when, as one of my children said, " I finally get it!!" I also look forward to the NY State LEAH Home School Conference every year.
I love that we know each of our childrens' friends and their parents. I love the peace I have knowing that they are home - even though it's not always peaceful at home! I love that I have the freedom to teach them God's Word everyone morning, to pray with them, and to hear their hearts.
When I'm not home schooling, I do have a life! I enjoy Bible Study, Home decorating, Baking, Cake Decorating, photo's, blogging and reading mostly non-fiction books on Christian living, mothering and home organization! If I had more time I would be a Scrapbooker, Gardener and Volunteer Librarian since I'm there twice a week anyway! :D I was challenged at our Homeschool Conference to read more classic literature both on my own and with my children so I'm working on that!
I need to go so I live you with a photo of me and the kids on a field trip last year. We are aboard a schooner docked in the Erie Canal. If your still reading - thank you! Hope I haven't rambled on too long....
Today begins "Homeschool Memoirs", a weekly "class" to share with fellow homeschool moms on bloggy land. I hope I can "keep up" but this sounded great. Click the sidebar (or the graphic above) to join up.
This first assignment is "All About You." I think I can handle this. See what you think...
I am a twenty-year veteran of homeschooling. I used to teach in Christian school, but when our church closed it down, I immediately joined the homeschool "pioneers" by bringing my then 5th grade DD and 4th grade DS home. Problem? No curriculum, so we continued to use the ACE curriculum we'd been using at the school. Long story short: As homeschooling became more accepted, more curriculum became available. I homeschooled them through high school, then began all over again with my two young sons. My youngest son is now a senior and goes to community college. In a week or two, I begin all over again--this time teaching my 7-year-old and 5-year-old grandsons to read. My oldest DD and oldest DS live across the street, so that makes it fun (most days).
When I'm not homeschooling, I'm writing. I'm the author of The Circle C Adventures series, which you can read all about here if you're interested: CIRCLE C ADVENTURES. My characters even have their own blog here on HSB: CIRCLE C BLOG. And if you have any eager up-and-coming young authors in your home, explore my writing corner, where kids can take a writing workshop, get feedback on their blogs for the lessons, and even earn a certificate. It's free, of course. (Like, what else have a got to do, right?). I just love teaching. WRITING WORKSHOP
Here are some pictures. And Baby #6 joined DD's family on 8-08-08. He is 10 days old.
My DS, Chad, and family.
It's embarrassing, but I can't find his "graduation" picture so you get his old McD's picture. Hope he doesn't see this! Andrew is a junior at Washington State University, studying electrical engineering, like big brother did!
I couldn't find a decent picture of Ryan, either! Another McD's boy, although he's moved up the employment "food chain" this past year. He's at Green River Community College and interns as a CAD drafter under his brother-in-law.
It has definitely been a whirlwind week here at our home. We had a really nice vacation, and I have pictures and cool things to share, but that will be next post. It has been an eventful, emotional week being home.
We got home from Florida on Tuesday about 5:00 pm. My parents had been here pet sitting, so we unloaded and visited with them. They left about 3:00 Wed., and the rest of the day was spent washing mounds of clothes. Also on Tuesday night, I got a message from a searcher we had hired that she had found and talked to Daniella's birthmother.
Thursday, in addition to continuing the clothes mounds, I had to go shopping with Briana for about 2 hours. I came in changed clothes and immediately left with Daniella to go to a wedding dress rehearsal where she was a flower girl. That was 5:00-6:30.
The wedding was on Friday, and by the time we were early for pictures and went to the reception, Daniella and I were there from 4:00-10:30. The rest of the family came at 6:00. Marissa passed out programs for the wedding.
Saturday, I had to take Briana shopping again in the town about 45 min away. We left just after lunch, and didn't get home until around 7:00. On Sunday evening, I had to drive to my parents' house about 2 hours away, and we stayed there for 2 nights.
The reason for all of the shopping and going to my parents' house is that while we were on vacation, Briana decided she was moving in with them. Since she decided that she wanted to change her major to musical theater, and we didn't have enough time to get scholarships for a new college for this year, she has been trying to decide what she wanted to do with this school year. She has been praying about going to the playhouse near my parents' house where she loves going to musical theater/dance camp every summer. She decided while we were in FL that that is what she wanted to do. The problem was that the classes started while we were still in FL, so we had to get everything done as soon as we got home for her to start yesterday. We had not started doing any dorm room shopping or anything when she changed her major in July, and she needed some things and wanted to personalize the room a little.
I hesitate to say this because she may read this blog, but we aren't handling it too well at home. I knew it would be hard, but we all think that one reason it's so hard is that we didn't have any mental time to prepare. It all happened so fast and sudden that it really did feel like a whirlwind, and now there's just a big knot in my stomach and a hole in our hearts. The other thing that we agree we didn't have time to think of and prepare for is that we (Ashley, James, and I) suddenly realized yesterday that this is it. This changes our family probably forever. Nothing will ever be like it was before. It's really hard, ladies. I can't even type it without crying. Now, I know we will all survive it. I know gillions have done it before us, but that doesn't change it. It was just too sudden of a change to comprehend that fast. I know it will get better as we go along.
This is going to be a very generalized statement that is obviously not always true, but I think (generally!) that it is probably a harder change on homeschool families. We have our children with us almost 24/7 for 18 years. We do everything together, making memories in almost every little event and routine thing we do. The seperation is bound to be harder. We will get to see her several times the rest of this year, and she gets 2 fall breaks, but it's the daily little things that you miss.
I'm sure it's hard for Briana, too. She suddenly has no sisters with her. She does know a few of the girls in her classes already from camp, and I think they are being nice to her~one in particular has made her feel welcome. And, she loves the ballet teachers. But, those girls are younger than she is (15-16), and I don't know how much contact she will have with them outside of classes. She also went from a noisy, busy, full house to a very quiet one.
Her evenings will be very full.
Monday 6-8: ballet/pointe
Tues. 6-8 modern and tap
Wed. 6-8 ballet/pointe
Thurs. 7:15-8:15 jazz
Fri (time determined this week) Musical theater
She will also be adding private voice lessons, hopefully, next week.
So, this is why you haven't heard from me. Since I wrote the first part, I've had my good cry for the morning, so I'm feeling better for a while anyway!
I'll leave with some sweet pictures of my beautiful flower girl~
Those were a lot of steps for 4 little feet.
Relaxing between the photos and the ceremony. The other flower girl is 4, and is Daniella's little buddy from church. Daniella is doing math~at her request.
My son and I have been going through a really tough financial time here lately. I had to go for the first time to a food box distribution center just to get some food for our home. At first I thought it would be humiliating, but seeing the kindness of the women who worked there, I decided to feel grateful that the Lord had provided for us once again. I have been trying as much as possible to make everything from scratch and to make things last for several meals. I have also wanted to start making my own bread again. The only thing is I don't have any yeast right now, and can't get any for a week and a half, So, here's my question ladies...does anyone know how to make Whole wheat bread without using any yeast? Or even a yeast substitute. Any ideas anyone???
My rent a kid is here, my rent a kid is here, hi ho the derioo my rent a kid is here! YAY!!!!!!
The hardest part of leaving Las Vegas for me was that I couldn't bring my rent-a- kid (AKA: my sons best friend) with us! So imagine how happy we all are that he is here for a visit!!!!!
Here he is!
Best Friends!
Of course she is thrilled too!
I know his 2 weeks with us will pass WAY too fast! But, we are planning on enjoying every minute of it!
I hadn't planned on starting school until after labor day, but my mom reminded me that hubby has vacation in September. So, in an effort to get some school work done before October, we started school today. N was excited, D had quite the attitude. Luckily, he got over it quickly.
We got a lot done today. I was shocked. But boy, it's going to be a tiring year. N was great. He had a great attitude, he loved his books, and he worked by himself. Princess C wanted to do school. She was very excited. A little TOO excited. "What now?" was heard over and over again. And Toddler B... oh boy.... He was acting like a 2 year old. Can you believe it? Lil' L behaved quite nicely. She slept the whole time. But I know that's not normal and she will be in the mix tomorrow.
We started with Math. D got to open his new Saxon math book 76. (Bought cheap off Ebay). And since I couldn't get a cheap Saxon math for N, he is using a mix of a half used second grade math book that D used and some extra Abeka sheets from my mom's class last year. And if I need anything else, I'll search the internet for something free. Then I did some First Language Lesson's with N. D listened. Then N grabbed a work book and got to work. He loves workbooks. D worked a little in one of his books - a critical thinking book - then we did history. I really want to buckle down and get a lot of history done this year. We barely touched history last year. I want to finish the Story of the World 1 by Christmas.
For science this year, I want to be diligent with our nature journals and also do a weather study. And that's about all the planning I've done.
After school ended, which was in record time - just after lunch - we headed outside and did some yard work. Quite the productive day. I'm happy.
I am a Born Again Christian for 14 years, I've been married for 11 years to my best friend ,Michael, and have been blessed with 3 Princesses, Viviana, Isabella and Natalia and a prince, Aaron Michael.
. I didn't buy the timelines though. The Guide has all the dated and I have all the timelines from Homeschool in the Woods and what I don't have we will pencil in.
. 
And Baby #6 joined DD's family on 8-08-08. He is 10 days old. 
My DS, Chad, and family. 
It's embarrassing, but I can't find his "graduation" picture so you get his old McD's picture. Hope he doesn't see this! Andrew is a junior at Washington State University, studying electrical engineering, like big brother did! 
I couldn't find a decent picture of Ryan, either! Another McD's boy, although he's moved up the employment "food chain" this past year. He's at Green River Community College and interns as a CAD drafter under his brother-in-law.
