Feb. 29, 2008 - Tales from Shakespeare

I started reading Tales from Shakespeare this morning. I remember hating it in high school when we had to read Hamlet and Julius Caeser for English class. I had to reread one line twenty times before I even remotely understood what the heck he was saying. Well, at some point in the past month I came across "Tales from Shakespeare" as a recommended read for young folks. So, I got it inter-library loan and in has sat in our library bin. I already renewed it once.

 

So, this morning I decided to read some to Ariella. She wanted me to read Romeo and Juliet (since that's the Shakespeare she is familiar with...not that she ever seen a play of it, she just knew that it was a love story). I told her I would get to pick the first story and then if she wants me to still read more, I will read her Romeo and Juliet. So, I read A Midsummer's Night Dream to her. I chose this story because I really didn't know what it was about. I know it's a famous play and it was my own curiosity that drew me to start with that particular story. Like I mentioned, I was very turned off from Shakespeare from highschool. Although, I did rather enjoy the R & J version starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DeCaprio.

 

Well, I have to say, we both enjoyed it. It was writted in Shakesperian language, but Ariella picked up a lot more than I think I did in high school. Every so often throughout the story, I would ask gher to narrate back to me what happened, and she would. A few times, we had to figure it out together or I would have to define some words for her. But, I was very impressed with what she got from it. I only made it through a few pages of Romeo and Juliet and to her protesting, I hadto stop. She wanted me to read the rest, but she has to go clean her room in order to go see her aunt in Bye Bye Birdie again tonight.

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Feb. 29, 2008 - What's Ariella Learning Right Now?

• Basic cell theory
• American Revolution
• Human skeleton and bone structure
• Underground Railroad and slavery
• The Order of the Mass
• Classic Literature
• How life was growing up in various points in American history
• How Catholicism differs from Christianity
• Grammar
• The United States
• Self-reflection
• Shakespeare
• State capitals
• Respect of self, others, and the environment
• Caring for animals and pets
• Letter-writing
• Art appreciation
• Music appreciation
• Expression through the creative arts
• About Michelangelo
• Story-telling
• Conflict resolution
• How to play the recorder
• Fire Safety
• Tolerance
• Kindness
• Patience
• Forgiveness
• How to think outside of the box
• That her parents love her enough to homeschool her

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Feb. 26, 2008 - Today's notes (2/26/08)

Slow day today. The girls played a lot with eachother. They decorated their new club house (a cardboard refrigerator box from the house my husband and dad built next door), played Polly Pockets, and Barbies, worked on the computer some, went to the library, and had a dance party in our living room.

 

I joined the Homeschool Lounge the other night and have been meeting quite a few fellow homeschoolers. It's great to know that there are other moms in the same boat with similar values and beliefs and who have the same focus--to do what we feel is best for our children! 

 

Perhaps I'll write more later but it's dinner time now and I've gotta get it on the table because there's some huungry people at our house!

 

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Feb. 21, 2008 - Today's Notes (2/21/08)

Milana was up from 2-4:30 am and all over the place. I brought her into our room but she just crawled everywhere, so I went downstairs with her. Jason couldn't sleep so all three of us were down there. I finished Poisonwood Bible, which I've been working on for quite a while now. I thought it was really good in the beginning and in the middle, but as the story wore on and the characters grew older, I lost interest. I forced myself to finish it though and I did learn some about the Congo and Africa that I did not know before. At 4, Jason went back up to bed and I finally got Milana back to sleep.

 

When all of us were up and dressed, we went to Chick Filet for our free breakfast combo. They're doing a deal this week and any combo is free. Jason has been working next door so he even came with us. Our Chick Filet has an indoor playground so the kids were able to release some energy and have fun. We ended up meeting one of my friend's husbands there with their son who's a playmate of Kaylah's. After eating and playing, we headed home to get ready for TLC (co-op). I usually pack us lunch, but we were all so full from breakfast, it threw our routine off, so I packed a few snacks to hold us off until we got home.

 

The babies were asleep before we even left the driveway and since Milana especially needed to catch up on her zzz's, I sent the girls in and sat in the car while the babies snoozed away in their carseats. I read some and then ended up falling asleep myself. They slept for 2 hours, so co-op was really short, at least for the babies and me. Afterwards, the girls were supposed to go to Book Nook, but the girl who leads the group is sick so it was postponed to next week. Next Thursday is going to be a rough one since we have Book Nook and then Pajama Storytime. We've had off from PJ Storytime for the past two weeks.

 

When we got home, Ariella worked on her blog (see other entry) for a while, Kaylah watched the Big Comfy Couch on video, and the twins played while I prepared dinner. After dinner and baths, the babies went to sleep then the older girls and I snuggled together to read some books. After a while, Jason came up from working on the basement and Kaylah was crashed beside me on the couch. I had to go buy a coffeemaker since ours broke and I've come to depend on the caffeine in the morning, so Jason listened while Ariella finished reading The Story of Pocahontas and I headed to Target.

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Feb. 20, 2008 - Decorating for St. Patty's Day

We pulled out our St. Patty's Day decorations today. Then, while Jason napped (Milana just didn't want to go for a morning nap today) the girls pained shamrocks to hang in our windows. Milana painted her tray (and her face and her shirt)...hence the red and blue paint!

 

 

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Feb. 18, 2008 - Today's notes (2/18/08)

The babies were up at 4:30 this morning, rearing to go. I tried getting them back to sleep in our bed, but with no luck. Kaylah wandered into our room at 5:30. Ariella had set the alarm in their room for 5:30 with the intention of making Jason and myself breakfast in bed (for President's Day, she announced last night). I knew at that point, with 5 of us in a queen sized bed, we weren't going to be going back to sleep. So, we all came downstairs and left Jason Sr. to sleep before he had to wake up for work. At 6:30, Ariella stopped hitting the snooze button and came down, a little disappointed to find us all sitting downstairs on the couch.

 

Morning nap time for the babies came around 8 am. Brownies and CCD were cancelled for today, but we weren't sure about geography class, so we were just going to stay at home just in case Ariella had it. She didn't. I did run this morning to our cookie mom's house to drop off the cookies from the booth we worked this weekend. We read a lot today. No school work though (remember Ariella wanted to have today off since all her friends had off!) We read some more From Colonies to Country (History of US) and we're almost through with Crispus Attuckis: Boy of Valor (a biography about the childhood of a black man who was born a slave and who became the first casualty of the American Revolution when he was shot and killed in what became known as the Boston Massacre) and we started A Series of Unfortunate Events by Leminy Snicket (Ariella's book for chapter book club).

 

We also walked around the neighborhood selling GS cookies. We did two blocks and would've done more, but Ariella's feet were aching and it was about to downpour on us. I can't wait to get these cookies sold and be done with this fundraiser. The girls hung out over our neighbor's house this afternoon and when they got back, I managed to get everyone for a nanny, including myself. The day seemed forever because of how early we woke up so a nap was in order for all of us. Dinnercame. Dinner went. Now everyone is tucked in bed, dreaming away.

 

Shocker...At 8:50, I announced ten more minutes until bedtime. When the timer went off (I set it for my own sake), Kaylah kissed me goodnight and went up BEFORE Ariella. A few minutes later, after she found what books she was bringing up, Ariella headed up. When I went up about fifteen minutes later to check on them, Kaylah was tucked in bed, not sleeping but laying down. I said her prayers with her, gave her another kiss and she's now sleeping. This does NOT happen often, so it's a huge deal that she did this.

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Feb. 14, 2008 - Today's notes (2/14/08)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 

What did we do today? Today was our co-op day. Before that, I finished the book I was reading by Raymond and Dorothy Moore (very interesting read) while Ariella worked on her story and Kaylah and the babies played with toys. My mom sent over some Valentine's gifts last night and the kids played with the toys. Milana was the most excited, she started shaking with happiness when she spotted her babydoll through the holes of the wrapping paper. Thanks, mom, we love you too!

 

On the way to co-op, Ariella and I went over some multiplication facts. Co-op went well. Kaylah ended up going to gym, art, and spanish class which was awesome for her. As I mentioned before, she usually only attends the art class. We're all exhausted, although Jason is the only one that is still taking his nap. Milana snoozed a little but is up now. We're waiting for J to get home so that we can make our personal heart-shaped pizzas for dinner! Yum---I'm starving. We usually have pajama story time on Thursday nights, but the program is on break for two weeks, so I'm looking forward to kicking back and relaxing tonight since I'm actually caught up on laundry and the bathrooms are clean!

 

**The library program last night was a good one. Even Jason enjoyed it, which says a lot.

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Feb. 13, 2008 - Today's notes (2/13/08)

Jason Jr. was the first kid up today. He threw up last night and ended up sleeping in our bed. Today he seems okay, though. Ariella was second and worked a while on Mickey Mouse's Magic Artist on the computer while waiting for everyone else to rise and shine. By 8:00 everyone was up, Jason had left for work, and our day was in full swing. Ariella started to work on her fashion designer scrapbook, but after doing one page, she called it quits.

 

Kaylah woke up very cranky. She wanted oatmeal then didn't eat it. I thought she would go back for a nap, but that would require her to actually sit down. After the table was cleared from their very short scrapbooking experience, they settled on the rug to play Polly Pockets. Kaylah's mood finally started improving. Jason came home for lunch to find us in a game of restaurant with Ariella as our waitress. After lunch, I worked with the girls on a game of I Spy Silly Sentences. Then A and K went upstairs to put away their basket of clean laundry.

 

As I type this, Kaylah is in the living room making a fort with the babies. Ariella is sitting at the table next to me typing her story, called "The Little Princess" on the lap top. She just informed me that she has Writer's Block and went to get a drink. Tonight , my sister is coming over to watch the babies while the rest of us go to a program at the library that has to do with reading together as a family.

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