We enjoyed our time visiting the fire station with our HS group today.  The children were able to see one of the firefighters dress all the way up in his gear so that they would not be scared if they ever saw a firefighter coming through the smoke.  The talked about stop, drop, and roll and how to CRAWL out of a burning house.  We will be having a drill soon, I think, to make sure all the boys how to get out of the house.  One firefighter said he drilled his 4 year old and found out she couldn't get the front door open by herself.  Quite an eye opener.

Maybe I should say Whimsical???

Learning Goals:

• Math: DS8: 61(writing fractions), 62 (id hundreds, tens and ones), 64 (subtracting multiples of 10 and 100), 65 (find the missing addend): Much of this is review.  I think he should be able to do this.  I'm skipping 63 because it is about measurement - tsp, 1/2 cup, etc used in cooking.  We do a good bit of cooking already, but I'll be sure to focus on this aspect and the art of reading a recipe again the next time we make cookies or bread.
• Math: DS5 and DS6: 46 (playing with 1 cup measuring) or 47 (counting by 2).  Which one depends upon time and mood.  I want to do the cup measuring in the bath tub *laugh*
• Literature: Read "Farmer Boy".  Talk about Almonzo's respect for his parents. DS8 finished Bunnicula Tuesday night.  I want him to fill out a character profile for Chester the Cat.  I just need to find one or make one up.
• History: Read a Middle Ages library book and start a new lap book (again)
• Science: Either Read a book about the Woodland forest and start mural OR three facts for Saturn (or Uranus - I'm not sure where we are)  Children's Choice.
• Bible: Continue Reading about "Important People in the Bible" List is in Cowboy Silver's Bible OR little project on Adam and Eve (last ...erm..first...important people) Children's Choice

HOME GOALS:

• 3 Loads of Laundry Washed, Folded and Put up.  Additional Laundry Folded
• Boys' Bathroom wiped down (Cowboy and Cuddlebug need to clean up the toothpaste)
• Living room picked up and dusted.  Couches cleaned out/under.
• Kitchen straightened up, esp around bakers rack/butcher block
• Put the quilt fabric up

My dear wonderful husband, henceforth known as Gen. Deftone, will be home tomorrow ((today as it is about 1am technically)) - working from home, that is.  Hubby is in a terrible need of a new job.  He is unhappy and overstressed, not to mention the fact that the company is drowning - which would make anyone unhappy and overstressed anyway.  I do love that he is able to work from home once a week though. At first, when he worked at home my homeschooling/homemaking schedule - if you'd call it that - more like a flow - was completely disturbed.  The boys, Gen. Deftone and I have grown quite accustomed to it now.  We all sit at the kitchen table.  Daddy at one end with a laptop, Momma at the other end or walking about the table ((with a dirty dish or clean towel to fold wearing the new apron Nana got her over her pj's..)), boys in the middle.  It is sooo cute, really.  I'll definately miss this when he gets a new job.  Hopefully, he'll be able to work at home some.  I miss him so much while he is at work.

I have to go over to my boss' house tomorrow night to work.  I am a project administrator for a small company that installs tracking devices for company fleet vehicles among other things.  Boss and his wife are great friends of Gen. Deftone and mine. ((of Gen. Deftone and me? of mine and Gen. Deftone's? English experts, come forth))  We've all known each other since highschool.  The bummer thing is...I'm missing Bible Study AGAIN this week.  I'll still do the study...but I already missed one or two weeks in a row. 

I'll probably not have to cook tomorrow since Gen. Deftone is home.  He's an excellent cook. Much better than I am in fact.  I can't really cook unless I have a recipe, but Gen. Deftone can just start throwing things together and like magic ... 9 out of 10 times it comes out fabulous!  I'm not talking speghetti here folks, I'm talking gourmet!!  *laugh*

Well, I have finished my work for the night and am off to bed.

Praying for : lady in Bible Study who lost her husband recently; my daddy's best friend Billy who lost his wife recently; Gen. Deftone's job situation; and me to be the best mommy and wife I can.  

Praises:  Sister is getting better and is back to work after her terrible car accident day after Christmas

Learning Goals:

• Math: DS8:  Work on Map Skills Lesson 60 in Saxon; DS6: Lesson 45
• Literature: Read more of "Farmer Boy" aloud.  Talk about what setting.
• History: Read one of the Middle Ages Library books and start a new lapbook about what we learned.
• Science: Work on Jupiter planet facts.
• Reading: 100 Lessons with DS6 and DS5

Home Goals:

• 3 Baskets of Laundry washed, folded, and put up.  Additional Laundry put up.
• Kitchen cleaned up and mopped
• Living Room Cleaned up and dusted.  Clean out under and in couches.
• Bathrooms wiped down
• Bag up recyclables

Cooking Goals:

• Roast for tonight : recipe
• Cake or Cookie Snack

Well, we were a little too laid back today.  I had really wanted to get some work done in the house, and my attention for school work slipped.  We did finish the Rainforest project today.  It culminated in a scavenger hunt for products commonly in the home that come from rainforest regions.

I also read from Laura Ingles Wilder's "Farmer Boy" which DS6 picked from the library.  He loves everything to do with cowboys and farmers.  The mother in the book really puts me to shame.  Despite all the conviences I have at my disposal, she accomplishes more in an hour than I do all week, it seems. 

The rest of the week is fairly busy.  Tuesday: Cub Scouts - of which I'm a new leader; Thursday: Speech for DS6, Fire Station Fieldtrip; Friday: Bird Sanctuary Class

More about Farmer Boy's Mother later.....

DS8 and I went out Saturday.  I wanted to use the $17 left on my Joann's gift card to buy more fabric and quilting stuff.  I also wanted to run by the SchoolBox to see if they had anything for Middle Ages study.  We were unsucessful in both places.  My problems with Joann.com continues.  They did not refund my money to my card, so now I have to call them Monday.  The Schoolbox had nothing at all interesting in their social studies area.

DS and I stopped by a little Mexican restaurant and had the Speedy Gonzales lunch together.  It was fun spending time with him.  Any time I have to go out for errands, I try to take only one child with me so we can have some alone time.  We'll stop for coffee and juice or maybe lunch. 

Anyway, DS8 noticed a YOUNG CHEF'S ACADEMY near the Schoolbox.  We darted in just as a birthday party was leaving and was able to speak to the director for a while.  She showed us around and after hearing we were homeschoolers, told me about the group fieldtrips which I will pose to our group.

The kids do EVERYTHING in the kitchen except use the oven and dishwasher.  DS was glad to hear this since his daily job is loading and unloading the dishwasher.   For a fieldtrip, the price is $10 per child and the coordinator can pick out the recipe.   The director even gave us a pass to try a class free for all three DSs. 

I think we'll go this Wednesday when they will be cooking salmon.  Mmm!  I'll post again with a review.  I know that I teach all the boys cooking in everyday life, and this is definately not an area most homeschoolers are lacking in.  On the other hand, DH and I both like cooking and trying new foods and I think the boys would enjoy a class like this.  Young Chef's Academy has locations all over.  Here's their website.