Welcome to our blog. We are a Christian family who believes that God has delegated to us the authority and responsibility to teach our own children. We've created this blog to keep our family and friends updated on the latest events in our family and to give other homeschoolers a glimpse into the life of a like-minded family. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:51:00 -0600 Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:51:00 -0600 It's been ages since I've posted here but I wanted to stop by and wish everyone a Happy New Year.  I've been doing my blogging at blogger, but I would like to try homeschool blogger again.  Do you know if this site works with Live Writer?   It  makes blogging so easy and I'm already having trouble posting images here! FOR TODAY – January 5, 2009... Outside my window... It’s early morning and still dark and quiet out. I am thinking...There’s not much going through my mind at the moment.  I’m just concentrating on this blog entry. I am thankful for... A new year, a new week, a new day and the possibilities that they hold. From the learning rooms... In addition to our dailies our primary focus for Monday’s are art and nature. New themes that John Charles will be focusing on include winter, birds and evergreens. From the kitchen...Breakfast will be toast and juice, morning snack will be yogurt pops, lunch will be salmon patties, black eyed peas, corn and apple sauce, tea will be oatmeal balls, and dinner will be baked chicken,green beans, carrots and noodles. I am wearing... a brown turtle neck sweater and denim skirt I am creating... a handwritten journal of my plans and thoughts for the new year I am going... to have a busy day I am reading...the Bible I am hoping... for a peaceful day I am hearing... the boys’ rhythmic breathing as they sleep Around the house... things are in disarray with lots of morning chores needing to be done One of my favorite things... quiet early mornings to myself A few plans for the rest of the week: no plans in particular other than getting back to a normal routine http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/641461/ Mon, 5 Jan 2009 10:51:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/641461/ My Six One Way set for this week is from our Easter weekend. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/503676/ Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/503676/   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/503061/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/503061/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/501973/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/501973/ Last week's Six One Way photos featured John Charles.  This week showcases Zach and the life of a teen boy. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/488105/ Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/488105/ 1.  Bible Study/Devotions - I have not been doing well with my plan to read through the Bible in 90 days and I want to restart.  This week I want to read Gen. 1 - Exodus 40.   My goal is to read the Bible for 30 minutes each morning followed by 30 minutes of scripture memory work and a 30-60 minute prayer walk. I also plan to read the Bible for 30 minutes each night. As a family we will read a Psalm and Proverb at breakfast, a chapter or 2 from the Old Testament at lunch and 1 or 2 chapters from the New Testament at dinner. 2.  Must Do -   a.  Stick to my schedules   b.  Control diet better 3.  Zone - This week I am in the bedrooms.  I need to:    a.  Dust furniture    b.  Wash linens    c.  Flip mattresses    d.  Wash windows    e.  Dust any cobwebs    f.  Straighten drawers    g.  Clean under beds    h.  Clean closets    i.  Rearrange videos/ games/ books    j.  wipe down doors and light switches 4.  Train Them Up - My primary focus for this week must be disciplining and training John Charles.  His behavior is becoming more and more out of hand. 5.  Menu Plan  Monday -     Breakfast- oatmeal and raisins     Snack - almonds     Lunch - Tuna sandwich, carrot sticks     Tea - Peanut butter toast    Dinner - spaghetti, salad Tuesday-      Breakfast - French toast and bananas      Snack - yogurt and granola      Lunch - black bean burritos, corn, rice      Tea - nachos     Dinner - grilled cheese, tomato soup Wednesday -      Breakfast - sausage, eggs, toast, peaches      Snack - fruit cocktail      Lunch - Peanut butter and honey sandwich, bananas     Tea - cheese and crackers      Dinner- Turkey burger, okra, corn on the cobb Thursday -      Breakfast - biscuits with jam, oranges      Snack - yogurt pops      Lunch - egg sandwiches, pears      Tea - trail mix      Dinner - chicken noodle soup, sandwich, salad Friday -      Breakfast - oatmeal banana muffins      Snack - apple sauce      Lunch - Raviolli, salad and fruit      Tea - peanut butter cookies     Dinner - Chili and cornbread, baked pears Saturday -      Breakfast - cheese toast      Snack - pudding      Lunch - turkey and cheese sandwiches, smoothies      Dinner - Pizza, salad Sunday -      Breakfast - grits or toast with fruit      Lunch - chicken and dumplings, homemade bread, salad     Dinner - leftovers         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/486884/ Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/486884/ I've joined a new group on Flickr called Six One Way.  It's a group for parents who are inspired by the blog Six One Way.  This is my first triptych photo. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/484504/ Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/484504/ Monday is usually a busy day around our house.  I love a schedule and I love getting everything accomplished that I plan on accomplishing.  But I'm the only one in the family who has this personality.  The guys are more spontaneous and fun loving. They hate a schedule and sometimes they feel like I'm a slave driver - especially on Mondays. I had a thought that I would try to take some of the stress out of our week by not pushing so hard on Mondays.  I decided that we would begin our week with "Slow Paced Monday."  The idea was to sleep in a little later, stay in our PJ's as long as we wanted, to do as much work as we could do but not worry as much about sticking to our schedule or if we were falling behind. I didn't think about one thing though - John Charles doesn't know how to be slow paced!  He's going to automatically wake at the same time each morning and once he's awake he's going strong. It's not easy being an introverted mother with an extroverted child.  On the Mother Styles blog I read that: It is draining for an Introverted mother to interact constantly with a very Extraverted child. Many Introverted mothers say their Extraverted child is draining the life out of them. Extraverted types turn outward to the world around them for energy. Introverts turn inward to recharge. In the early years, for the most part, you are your child’s world. So he is constantly engaging you for stimulation. However, with each interaction, you lose energy. It’s easy to understand your frustration and see how it might even turn into resentment unless you find a solution. However, please keep in mind your child has no idea he is pushing you beyond your limits. Only you know that. Therefore you must take action to keep your relationship loving. The most important thing is to find ways to meet your young child’s need for external stimulation that don’t involve you and to make sure you have 30-60 minutes of uninterrupted solitude to yourself each day. The author goes on to offer 7 ideas for finding this time for solitude, but I don't see any that would work with my son or my circumstances.  I do need to find a solution though because it's only noon and I do feel drained.  So much for our Slow Paced Monday! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/478619/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/478619/ Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of Winter, but Georgia's General Beau predicted an early Spring.  When we stepped outside this morning, it felt like Spring had arrived.......Read  more about it  at Sunshine Cottage. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/476515/ Thu, 7 Feb 2008 14:42:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/476515/ I'm going to see if Blogspot is as easy as they say. Visit my new blog at Sunshine Cottage. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/452199/ Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:50:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/452199/    It's hard to believe that Christmas 2007 has already come and gone.  Some how it just didn't seem like the Christmas season this year until Christmas day - and then it was quickly over.  I have to admit that I've been feeling a bit of a let down these last few days.  Every year I want to find a way to do something special to make our Christian Christmas set apart from the wordly holiday that it has become.  I make so many plans of things I want to do with the children, but this year it seems that most of them got pushed aside to continue our wordly, materialistic traditions.  Now I feel so disappointed.      I have stayed inside in relaxation mode since we got home from our last family get together on Tuesday.  Randy has been out hunting some - in fact that's what he's doing now.  I have been lounging around the house in pjs or sweats most of the time.  Normal cleaning and household routines have vanished as we've been staying up all night and sleeping late into the morning. We've had lazy days of movies, video games, reading, naps and me doing just the basics of caring for a family.     I will be glad to get back into a normal structured routine and to see some productivity return to our family.  I have been thinking about changes and improvements that I would lke to see in 2008.   I'm trying to organize those thoughts and will probably post about them later.     For now, I'm going to enjoy one more quiet afternoon and just maybe I'll find the drive to make myself do some cleaning! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/452000/ Sat, 29 Dec 2007 12:23:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/452000/ This Christmas will be remembered as the year of costumes for John Charles.  He loves playing dress up and received a beautiful outfit that is a Knight on one side and a King on the other, a Bible man costume and light saber, an Army outfit and this pirates costume.  He doesn't want the patch on his eye though and has taken to wearing it over his mouth so we have decided that his pirate's name is "Silent John". http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/451474/ Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:21:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/451474/ Zach enjoying one of his most favorite Christmas gifts. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/451462/ Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/451462/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/450701/ Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:31:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/450701/ This morning we spent some time helping John Charles make paper ornaments for his tree.  He had a lot of fun and was proud of himself for his work with the scissors. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/449091/ Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:28:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/449091/      Randy went into the attic today to store a few things and found Zach's old Christmas tree.  When he was a little boy we decorated his bedroom for Christmas.  He had his own tree with colored lights and decorations that looked more childlike than those on our family tree.  We would string popcorn and cranberries and make gingerbread ornaments.  He would make his own star for the top and had a Christmas train that chugged along the tree skirt playing Christmas music and whistling.    Over the years he lost interest in having the tree and we packed it away in the attic.      Tonight we took it out of storage and brought it down for John Charles.  We decorated it with Zach's old ornaments and colored candy canes.  Tomorrow we'll let him make a few ornaments of his own and place them on the tree.  I don't know what happened to the old train set.  Maybe we'll find it after Christmas when we put the decorations back in the attic and John Charles can enjoy it next Christmas. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/448866/ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:29:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/448866/ This comes from Ellyn Davis at The Homeschool Marketplace. More holidays are coming up, and it's time for the next few lessons on "How to Survive the Relatives." You might remember the first six: Lesson 1. Don't shoot the messenger. Lesson 2. Get the message. Lesson 3. Leave the policing to the cops and the judging to the courts. Lesson 4: Being Peter Pan is no fun without pixie dust. Lesson 5: Your little light may indeed be shining Lesson 6: Nobody thinks your kids or pets are as cute as you do. This week our primer teaches lessons 7 through 12. You can read it here: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=GibIq&m=1e5ela8iHBdjB1&b=Ce1_Gt8Mh3qZnFf9yhSoKQ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/448548/ Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/448548/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/447425/ Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:55:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/447425/      As we find Christmas quickly approaching, we also find our normal daily routines being interrupted in favor of more exciting seasonal activities.  We had our first family Christmas get together over the weekend.  It was a very enjoyable party for all of us.  The ride there and back was another story.  Sometimes excited or tired three year olds and a longer than usual car ride don't make a good mix.       We've also had the pleasure of doing some needed and often spontaneous shopping.  Daddy says, "I can't work today, let's do some of our shopping".   Another day Nana or Granny calls to say that they're free if we need a babysitter so that we can shop.  We only have a few last minute items to buy and it has been quite pleasant having a few hours to ourselves here and there.     The Christmas season brings a lot of fun, but also its share of stresses.  I find that the best way to keep times like this peaceful is to keep as much order to our days as we can.  Keeping the general flow of our days going is very important.  When the big markers of our day are in place children feel centered and behave much better.   A regular waking time, meal times followed by Scripture readings and chores bring a sense of calm to our home and keeps behavior problems down.  We have been taking advantage of the longer winter nights by putting John Charles to bed earlier and making more time for ourselves to destress and relax.  His nightly routine of a warm bath, read alouds by Mama from Corduroy and The Snowy Day, followed by an adventure story told by Daddy lets him know that even on these "different days" , there's still a predictablility that he can depend on.     One of the greatest joys that we've had this Christmas is seeing the holiday through the eyes of a small child.  This is the first Christmas that John Charles has understood much of what's going on.  He knows what a party is and he loves celebrations now.  He wakes up each morning wanting to go to a party!    He also understands what presents are and he loves them too!  On the first day of Advent we gave each of the boys a present to open.  The next night John Charles wanted to open another one and we allowed him to.  This started him asking for a present everyday!  I was afraid that it would  make him greedy, but in fact the opposite has happened.  Now he delights in giving.  Through out the day he comes to me with little items and says " I have a surprise for you".  It so sweet to hear him say that and to see the joy he gets from giving.  It's also touching to see the love that he feels for the extended family that he's in contact with.  He can't wait to "help" Aunt Christy open her present, he wants to buy Colby a skateboard, and when he left Granny today he told her several times "Bye Granny, I wuv you.  Come to see me!"    That's the Christmas Season at our house.  Does it get any better? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/446412/ Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/446412/ True Meaning of Christmas   Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace. "What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . . "TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven." He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise." He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness." Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection." He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December." He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him. Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper." He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men." Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD." http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/446407/ Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:06:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Hutcheson/446407/