Sep. 14, 2009 -
Taking this week off school while dh is on long break from work. We school 3 weeks, then take a week off. This is our second set. Will probably do this one more month, then after that go to a more regular schedule of schooling right on through until May with small holiday breaks.
Our ds returns home from Air Force Tech School next month. At first the time seemed to crawl very slowly but the 7 months have gone by quicker than I would have imagined. It will be good to have him back home. We will be in wedding planning flurry because he's getting married in January.
Jul. 10, 2009 -
Summer seems to be flying at light speed! Before you know it fall will be here and we will be schooling again. Only 3 students this year!!
We will be having 2 weddings in 2010! Our ds, currently in tech school at Sheppard AFB, will be marrying in January, and our dd plans to marry in July. My third baby is soon to be 12 years old and the youngest two boys are now 10 and 7. No babies, toddlers, or preschoolers here anymore. Bittersweet, but also great! 
May. 30, 2009 - We're back from vacation..
We had a great time on our trip to San Antonio. We traveled to Dallas, TX and stopped by hubby's sister's house for a couple days before heading south to San Anton. We spent 5 great days with our new A1C before having to say goodbye 
and head back to Dallas for a day before heading back home.
While in San Antonio we visited the Alamo and the Riverwalk and in Dallas we visited the Sixth Floor museum and the site of JFK's assassination. The trip was long but so worth it.
Before we left for the trip our oldest daughter finished up her high school work and is officially a high school graduate. Now we only have 3 students to homeschool.
May. 3, 2009 - 2 weeks...
...until we leave on vacation!! We're counting down the days and trying to get school finished before we go.
Apr. 15, 2009 - We're Goin' to Jackson...
DS has been in basic training for 3 weeks now. We still miss him terribly but it is getting a little easier. We never thought that him going to BMT would have such an affect on us. You know....he was rarely home, came in late every night and slept till past noon, so we barely saw him, but just the knowing that he is off in TX, being constantly yelled at for anything he does, and no way to contact him unless his TI lets him call or write (and so far that's not been much...only 2 very short calls and no letters since they lost their priviledges). It's been tough!!
We actually are going to pass through Jackson, on our way to his basic training graduation next month. We're planning to drive and take the whole family and we're planning this as our vacation. We will visit the Alamo, Riverwalk, and hopefully more while in San Antonio.
We can't wait to see him again. After graduation he will ship to Shepherd for 4 months of tech training, then be back home for OJT and Air Guard duties.
We're working diligently to finish school before we leave, although I plan to count a good bit of the trip as schooling, too.
Feb. 26, 2009 - I'd like to know...
....just where does time go? It is flying by so fast! Maybe it's just my perimenopausal brain, but I feel like my life is in a fog. With all the other things in my life it's about all I can do to keep up with email and facebook. This poor blog has been so neglected!
School is going good. I am, once again, looking ahead to next year's choices for curriculum...praying...trying to decide whether to switch to HOD or Simply Charlotte Mason or to stay with ACE. Cost of curriculum is a consideration this year. I like ACE, it keeps us on track and moving, but the cost is up there for 3 students. HOD and Simply Charlotte Mason, being mostly reuseable/resellable and many items available from the local library, seem the most economical choice, but I'm still praying about it.
Oldest ds will be leaving in less than a month for basic training in San Antonio, TX. After basic he will attend tech schools and won't be back home for the Air Guard until October. Looks like our vacation this year will be traveling to San Antonio for graduation.
Blessings,
Ronda
Jan. 1, 2009 - 2009
Happy New Year!!
May. 15, 2008 - Ready to travel
Hubby and I are getting ready to take a trip for our 25th wedding anniversary, which was May 7th. We are going to visit some surrounding states, taking in Pennsylvania Amish Country, Antietam Battlefield in Md, then on to Virginia...we just haven't decided what we are going to visit there yet. Although I will miss being with the kiddos, time away alone together will be so nice!
We are working hard to finish up the paces the kids are currently working in and should accomplish that tomorrow. I have not yet decided if we will pick up where we left off when we get back home or if we will call it quits for this year and start again next. We're a little more than 3/4 of the way through the year, so my vote is to quit for the year....I just haven't told the kids yet. I will wait and let it be a surprise when we get home.
As it turns out I'm going to be schooling 4 kids next year. Leah had hoped to get in enough credits this year to graduate from high school, but since she has been working several hours a week at Chick-fil-a she's not made it far enough through her work to graduate, so she will finish up next school year. This will be the first time in our homeschooling experience (13+ years) to have 4 students at one time.
Blessings,
Ronda
Apr. 17, 2008 - I have spring fever....
and I'm so sick of school right now....I'm worse than my kids! I will be so glad when this year is finished and we can take a break. The sad news is the kids have 3 or 4 more paces left in each subject, which if completed as instructed would take us 9 to 12 more weeks. I don't think we'll make it that long. One more pace and they will have completed 9 booklets, which is three-fourths of the 'text' and is considered enough to count as completed. Don't tell my kids, though, just in case I can get them to work much quicker and finish them sooner, lol!
The reason we are so behind is that we took the month of Dec. off to do a Christmas unit, so that should count for something. Plus we've had more sickness than normal the past couple of months. Between the respiratory flu and recently an intestinal flu we've had a few weeks off this winter/spring. Also, for the second semester of the year we began attending a Friday co-cop for Spanish, music, art, and PE, so that has cut into our schooling time here at home.
Hubby and I are getting ready to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversay in a couple weeks. Time sure does fly! I'm looking forward to getting away for a week or so later in the month to celebrate by ourselves. We will have a busy few weeks before that time, though.
Mar. 8, 2008 - Just when we thought spring was on it's way...
...we are hit with a winter storm. 2-4 inches of snow today and another 1 or more tonight. Makes the 60 degree weather we had Thursday seem unreal. Oldest DD & I had fun getting her to work this morning as we did some fish-tailing down the road. I absolutely do not like to drive on slick roads!
We've started attending a new co-op on Fridays. We already attend one that meets one Friday a month for art history and science dissections. The new co-op meets the other Fridays and has classes in Spanish, music, art, and phys. ed. The kids have been enjoying working with clay in art class and yesterday we glazed their pieces they made previously. We're hoping they will be fired by next week's class. They are also loving Spanish and music and have been going around today singing the Spanish alphabet and the song they are learning in music class.
We are tired today because late last night we just finished a week of campmeeting services at our church. Sure was a great week and we are really blessed! I already feel that I will miss being together with our church family tonight! Hopefully we will be meeting together tomorrow morning, if this storm doesn't leave more than anticipated.
Feb. 20, 2008 - More Snow
We're getting more snow today....1 to 3 inches predicted. We currenly have a couple inches already on the ground, but it has stopped snowing for the moment, so maybe it's over.
The kids are still not feeling well...seems to be a different one ill every few days. The joys of a large family! E was sick at his stomach yesterday and feeling achey, J just recovered from a fever and cold..still coughing, though. S was sick last week, fine over the weekend and today is complaining of a sore throat and has a fever. I'm looking forward to some spring time weather!
Feb. 13, 2008 - Well...I spoke too soon.....
The younger kids are all 3 sick again. They all have fevers and achiness and generally are feeling 'blah'. I had the same thing last weekend and spent a couple days in bed. Fortunately, it only lasts a couple days then it's gone!
We've had about 2 inches of snow in the past couple of days, and the kids are bummed that they can't go out and play in it....but none of them feel well enough to go out anyway.
Feb. 9, 2008 - Better
We are all feeling better! The flu is going 'round and 'round here in our area. Thankfully, we've avoided most of the worse parts (the stomach virus) and we definitely don't want it!!
Thanks for the prayers! 
Love,
Ronda
Jan. 27, 2008 - We've been sick
We have not been able to do any school for the past week because we've all had colds/flu/bronchitis and then some. I don't like stopping mid-stream in the paces, especially when the kids only have 2 or 3 days left before testing out, but when everyone is sick it can't be helped. I'm praying we'll be able to work tomorrow, but the 2 younger boys (E & J) have fevers and coughs at the moment. I took 'S' to a Med Express on Friday and she had bronchitis and is on an antibiotic, so she's much better. I've pretty much decided that if the boys aren't better by tomorrow I'm going to take them in, too. They've both had the fever and chest congestion for several days.
I had flu-like achiness and fever on Friday and was pretty much wiped out all day. I'm feeling better, but am still not 100%. Been doing alot of sneezing today. UGH! I feel a nap coming on!!
Blessings,
Ronda
***EDIT***
I ended up taking the boys to Med Express today because I didn't want to have to delay school any longer than necessary. Turns out they both have strep throat, so they are now on an antibiotic, too.
Jan. 14, 2008 - Next Year's Curriculum
It's that time of year again.....looking at all the great curriculum out there and trying to decide if we want to try something new.
Next year I will be teaching 5th, 3rd, and Kindergarten. Here's what we're looking at:
I'm trying to decide between using Our Los Banos American History (which I love the looks of and the lesson plans are free online!), for history and add Heart of Dakota's Bigger Hearts for His Glory for Bible, science, poetry, hymns, and art and misc. activities, or if I should just use Bigger Hearts for everything and add in some OLB activities and books for the 5th grader. I do plan to use our Animated Hero Classic Videos and activity books either way.
ACE Math
ACE English, Word Building, and Literature & Creative Writing, OR Queen Language Lessons and Spelling Through Copywork OR possibly for the 3rd grader Rod & Staff English and the language arts as recommended in Bigger Hearts. Trying to decide!
For kindergarten for 'J' I need to choose between ACE's ABCs with Ace & Christi and Phonics Pathways. He can listen in on the OLB &/or Bigger Hearts activities if he wants, and I have a sneakin' suspicion he will want to, since he thinks he needs to be involved in what everyone else is doing.
Jan. 10, 2008 -
Sorry it's been so long since I've added an update. We've started back to school but I haven't had much time to check in here and add an entry. It seems I'm always on the go lately, just running kids to the dentist, doctor, dance, work, and on and on.......LOL.
Our two oldest were involved in an auto accident on Monday evening. They were rear ended while stopped in traffic at a light. They are both o.k., but we did take them to the dr. yesterday because their necks were still sore. The x-rays showed no major damage, just whiplash and severe muscle spasms. I've not heard a complaint about their necks today....must have something to do with the muscle relaxers and extra-strong ibuprofen.
Tomorrow is our first art and dissecting co-op of the new year. I think we're supposed to dissect a crayfish....fun, fun, fun!
Dec. 6, 2007 - Merry CHRISTmas!
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*The politically correct police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a "Holiday".*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me. *
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !*
Dec. 5, 2007 - We have snow!!!
It's very cold and we have received about 4" of snow today. The kids are thrilled. They've already been out playing in it and built a snowman. Now "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas......!!"
We are doing a Christmas unit this month. Yesterday we learned what Advent is and today we learned the true story of Saint Nicholas. The kids seem to like taking a break from the paces, although they don't like having to wait for *me* to be able to do their schoolwork.
Dec. 2, 2007 - 12 Days of Homeschool
To the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas".
On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can you homeschool legally?"
On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the fifth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How long will you homeschool, YOU ARE S0 STRANGE, what about P.E. , do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the seventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "They'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"
On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the twelfth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can they go to college, I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"
On the thirteenth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: "They Can go to college, yes you can do this, they can have graduation, we don't like the prom, we do it cuz we like it, they are missing nothing, we'll homeschool forever, WE ARE NOT STRANGE!, We give them P.E., and we give them tests, they are socialized, AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!
On the fourteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How can I get started, why didn't you tell me, where do I buy curriculum, when is the next conference, WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE? I think we can do this, if you will help us, can we join P.E. and we'll homeschool legally."
http://www.waldsfe.org/Humor/12days.htm
Nov. 17, 2007 - Let's go MOUNTAINEERS!!!
How 'bout them 'EERS?
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