Wrapping up our week I’ll say, the past 2 weeks actually, we’ve been “sharing” this “crud.” Some days it feels like we’re being very productive and other days seem like a blur of tissues, naps and pushing fluids. I’ll have all the kids gathered around to read, then get myself into a coughing fit. This happened Tuesday. Instead of reading I put on the new version of “The Count of Monte Cristo” with Jim Kevezal and counted that as classic Literature for the day! Last night I was up and down with the baby, who had a fever, so today has been slow to say the least. To make myself feel better here’s what we have accomplished in the last two weeks:
1.) Read our bibles and prayed together everyday. Prayed for our unsaved family, our country and for God to bring an end to Abortion/Murder. Listened to the bible on DVD while we eat and several Kenneth Copeland teachings.
2.) Zion finished two chapter books. The Swiss Family Robinson last week and The Wind in the Willows this week. I've found him in the bathroom with a stack of books and he will not come out until he's read them all. He also watched the classic Swiss Family Robinson movie and compared all the differences from the book (he says the book is better :)
3.) Jadin was greatly inspired to read an adult version of Star Wars and even though he’s only managed to complete the first few pages, he’s pushing himself onward none the less (even carries the book with him when we go out) He’s also been found sitting working on his level readers on his own...Praise God! His goal in life right now is to read a Chapter Book like Zion. I know at 9 many kids are reading chapter books, however I also know, except in the case with Zion, most 6 year olds are not. Jadin is at least inspired by Zion and we've had many deep conversations about God's developing individual plan for each person. Zion's passion is reading and he can hardly draw a stick person (but his stick people are so sweet). Jadin drew a life like Jesus on the Cross, during breakfast this morning, and yet is still in reader booklets. I say, and I think Ruth Beechick would agree with me and I know GOD is leading their learning, that Jadin IS reading and he IS progressing at his own God given pace. This journey with his struggles with reading is drawing him closer to God and giving him a testimony already.
4.) We’ve watched a lot of good Christian television during this time. It’s nice to have our faith built up together and, even if we're taking turns blowing our noses, at least it's like church in the living room. Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort's “The Way of the Master” is on awesome show that teaches Christians how to witness. We’ve also enjoyed watching “It’s Supernatural” with Sid Roth….talk about a faith builder! We’ve enjoyed stories of God’s deliverance and supernatural intervention, like the story of a boy who was in a coma for 3 months and during that time Jesus took him to heaven with Him (his family's website is here http://www.rethamcpherson.com/ ) We also watched “The Passion of the Christ” as our Church one Sunday when we were too sick to go and we watched another wonderful DVD called “Prophecies from the Passion” that broke down all the old testament prophecies of Jesus being the Messiah. Not bad topics to fill their little hearts with!
5.) We went to our Church’s Harvest Party on the 30th and spent a fun afternoon at the Children’s Museum with two other homeschool families yesterday. Both days we felt "good" so we pushed and went out.
6.) Jadin finished his Multiplication Lapbook and Zion continues to work on his Math Fun Facts Lapbook. Zion also finished a Star Wars Lapbook he decided to do himself. Both the boys continue to add to their quote mini-book within their George Washington Lapbook.
7.) We all got up with Daddy at 5:30 am to get to the polls and voted (and our guy won!). The political process in action!
8.) Math, Reading, Writing…the basics…still have gotten done. I accomplished setting up all the boys Notebooks in a modified “Workbox” system. I filled each of their notebooks (besides room for their special notebooking pages) with worksheets of new skills and/or review skills I want them to cover. I’ve had a day or two where I’ve needed a lot of rest and I’ve said “o.k. boys, you go pick your pages in your notebooks and bring it to me when your done.” Zion has worked on counting money, basic subtraction and telling time. Jadin has worked on multiplication, reviewing subtraction to the ten thousands place w/ borrowing and rounding to the nearest 100,000. We still use the MATH U SEE manipulatives but I've found all their math for free, and printed it out with my ink cartridge that I refill 7 times with a $10 refill kit from Wal-mart, on sites like http://www.tlsbooks.com/thirdgradeworksheets.htm , http://www.printactivities.com/MathQuiz.html , http://www.math-drills.com/multiplication.shtml , http://www.multiplication.com/index.htm , http://www.hsadvisor.com/bookstore/3rd-grade/math/workbooks/ , (It's endless ANY resource you need to teach your children for free or almost free is out there and I'm finding them) In their Language Arts Notebook they’ve worked on everything from alphabetizing, grammar reviews and crossword puzzles. I have been working on all the cutting out involved in starting their new Grammar Lapbook that will most likely take them all year to complete, but we're still a few weeks away from starting. Jadin has been doing his dictation from Psalm 139 again, getting it in his heart, and boy is his spelling improving…Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick were right! As I read him the passage I only tell him how to spell a word when he needs it. Forget spelling curriculum for us. We‘ll use the Good Book! Zion did copywork of a verse everyday.
9.) All four kids and I, for the 2nd month in a row, did our Once-A-Month Shopping trip together. My big mishap was forgetting the Baby’s sling, so I pushed the double stroller, Zion was my “runner” and Jadin pushed a cart. EVERYBODY in the store stared…yes, a mother OUT with all her children (I guess instead of locking them in daycare or shipping them off to the Government?) and the children were engaged in the shopping process (o.k. Naomi did try to lick the floor a few times, but other then that is was very successful). We just filled one cart, parked it and filled another. We learned patience’s, perseverance, consumer math, and we got to love on some people who stared-by smiling great big! It’s my own personal Pro-Life Campaign, wink.
10.) We had a picnic. In the sunshine. In November! (Pictures below in the previous post)
11.) Jadin and I did make it to one play practice. I sounded ridiculous b/c my voice was almost gone. But Jadin got to be on stage and work on when he comes in with the others in the play. ((We're both doing our Church's Christmas play together))
12.) I’m sure there more, however, it has all kind of run together. We are getting better and we still believe Jesus IS our healer even when we’re under attack in our health. It’s still all getting done, even though my perfect plan has not unfolded everyday. To God be the Glory, He’s STILL on the throne!
Check out others weekly wrap up's HERE!
If you look closely you can see he's got a clock, and ice cream cone with his 9 facts, houses with his 2's, 5's and 10's etc. He's had a lot of fun working on it. It's still a work in progress.
Jadin and his fellow homeschooling buddy acting out sword fights...it's serious stuff!
Sweetgirl is not left out of the fun. Here she is painting her "Hello Kitty" face & working in her garden.
Gaby being cute! One of my besties and our matching babies.
Zion and his buddy. Jadin work'n out!
Zion's "Dulles Space Center." All the homeschool'n boys say "Operation"
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