My name is Kristi, wife to my wonderful husband Mike, mama of Morgan '94, Mike '99, Chase '00. We have been homeschooling since 2005. I am thankful for everyday that God blesses me to be with them. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:28:00 -0600 Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:28:00 -0600 arrived on Nov. 24 at 8:13 am  weighing in at 7lbs 7oz, measuring 19.5 inches and she is beautiful!!!!   She is such a good baby.  It's amazing how much you can love someone you've just met.  I can't imagine life without her. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/750138/ Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:28:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/750138/ Well, we got back to school on August 3.  The first week was a little bumpy, but now we are hitting our groove.  This year I have a 9th grader (14yr dd), 5th grader (10yr ds), and a 3rd grader (soon to be 9yr ds).  9th grade ENGLISH I:   Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings                     k12 English Language Handbook                     Vocabulary From Classical Roots                     Extra Reading outside of LLotR                     Poetry Memorization (month of August she memorized "The Raven" --Poe MATH:         Chalkdust Algebra I (finish up and begin Geometry) SCIENCE:    Apologia Biology through Apologia Academy SPANISH:    Rosetta Stone I and ABEKA Spanish I, watch shows/videos with dubbing in Spanish,  draw comic strips in Spanish) BIBLE/WORLDVIEW:  Read through the Old Testament                                  Mere Christianity                                  Living a Life that Matters                                  What the Bible is All About                                  The Story of Philosophy HISTORY:          Ancient History (Western Civilizations as a spine)                            IEW PE:                  Karate 2x's a week, plus daily walks/bike rides HEALTH:          ABEKA  health.  Once per quarter, pick a topic to research and write a paper on ART:            (this is her big interest so she spends lots of free time on this herself, plus once a week we do a lesson from Visual Manna so that she is exposed to different types of art.  She also will be reading art history books) CO-OP 5th GRADE: ENGLISH:         Rod and Staff English 5                        Mixture of different books from each genre. Will cover diff. aspects and analyze                        IEW                         SWR                         Read Alouds                        Poetry Memorization (2 per month)                        Vocabulary take from literature, science, history MATH:           Saxon 6/5 SCIENCE:     1st 6 weeks RS4K  Physics  (after that I'm still searching, any ideas????)(3 to 4x's a week)                      Nature Study and Nature Readers HISTORY:     Famous Men of Rome with accompanying student and teacher guides (4x's a week) PE:               Karate 2x's week plus daily walk/bike ride ART:           Visual Manna (1 x a week) LATIN:         Latina Christiana I (SP????) Different materials from the Critical Thinking Co. CO-OP 3rd GRADE: ENGLISH:        Rod and Staff English 3                        SWR                        Mixture of different books                       Evan Moor Literature Pockets                       Vocabulary from literature, history, science                       Read Alouds SCIENCE:      Different books from the library along with experiment books (2x's wk)                       Nature Study and read nature readers HISTORY:      American History (3x's a week)                      Geographical unit studies (when we need a break or to go along with what is being read MATH:           Saxon 3 PE:               Karate 2x's week plus daily walks/bike rides ART:              Visual Manna (1x a week) LATIN:          Prima Latina Different materials from Critical Thinking Co. CO-OP Sometimes, I fret whether we are doing enough.  I'm learning not to compare myself or my children to anyone else's idea of what's enough.  I feel like my kids are learning and we are accomplishing all we can during the day.   I know my kids have good hearts and that they love one another, and I give credit partly to homeschooling because they are not under constant peer pressure.  I also believe that sometimes people equate success in school with success in life.  I've come to the conclusion of that is not always the case.  I believe education can lead to a more fulfilling life experience.  I don't necessarily believe that a straight A student, who just happens to be a great test taker, is better educated than the C student who studies hard and tries to learn, yet is a poor test taker.  Enough rambling.  Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/724232/ Sat, 5 Sep 2009 14:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/724232/ Well, thankfully I have FINALLY gotten over the ALL DAY sickness part of being pregnant.  I'm gonna have a little girl!!!! My youngest son had surgery this past Thursday.  He had a tonsillectomy and adnoidectomy.  The first few days were really rough, but he seems to be doing much better today.  Thank the Lord!!! My daughter held down her first job this summer.  She worked at a corn research facility.  I think she enjoyed it.  She also would come home talking about what some of the other girls down there would say.  I thanked God everynight that we were homeschooling. (They would talk about getting high and drunk.  How they learned to kiss by kissing other girls.  Ugh!!!!  Morgan said she could wait for it to be a boy, she was pretty sure instinct would tell her how.  Of course, they told her she should come back to public school, that she was missing out.  They spent their time in class texting other people and not listening to the teacher.  The school district I'm in is supposed to be a school of excellence. they even gave her some "sugar/energy" pills.  Thankfully she gave them to me)  I know I can't protect them forever, but hopefully I can protect and guide them through the rough years.   I told her that I can't be with her 24/7, that I was gonna have to trust her to make wise decisions, because some decisions will be with you the rest of your life. Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/709396/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/709396/ This week has been ho-hum as far as schooling goes.  We've managed to get in math, spelling, writing, and reading everyday but that's about it (all thanks to morning sickness!!)  I've decided for my oldest this coming school year that she will do BJU high school online distant learning and home2teach for writing.  That will be all preplanned out for me and I won't have to worry about it.  My husband took the kids to karate tonight so that I could stay home and have some much needed quiet time.  I must admit, it's been kinda nice.  I've been reading through baby names trying to get some ideas.  It's been so long since I've been pregnant.   It's been so nice outside here lately.  Tomorrow I'm going to begin tackeling the flower beds.  This weekend we are going to the Indian Festival at Cheehaw Park.  The kids are excited, which so am I.  I really, really, really NEED a vacation and a LONG (at least 3 weeks) break from school!!!   We should be done with this years school work in about 2 1/2 weeks.  I suppose I could plan some day / field trips.  They could journal about what they saw, did, learned.  Spring Fever and morning (all day) sickness just doesn't mix well! Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/679886/ Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/679886/ Well, in light of the fact that I am expecting, I know that I will need something somewhat planned out for me for my daughter's ninth grade year.  These are my thoughts (suggestions welcome): History:    MFW Ancients or TOG yr 1-redesigned Bible:      MFW Ancients or TOG yr 1 - redesigned or Bible Quest Literature:  MFW Ancients or TOG yr 1 - redesigned Grammar:    ABEKA or Jensen's Writing:    Home2Teach Science:   Apologia Biology w/Teaching Company DVD or  BJU Biology w/DVDs Spanish: Rosetta Stone w/ a spanish workbook, read spanish children's books and watch spanish shows Math:     Chalkdust Geometry Elective:   ?????????? That's what I'm thinking anyways.  It's not set in stone. Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/676618/ Mon, 6 Apr 2009 19:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/676618/ have a baby!  Can't believe it.  By the time the baby gets here I will have an almost 15 yr old, a 10.5 yr old, and a 9 yr old.  I'm excited and scared.  It's been a while since I've had a little baby and to throw homeschooling on top of it, whew, I hope I can handle it!  I suppose I can handle anything with God's help. Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/676614/ Mon, 6 Apr 2009 19:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/676614/ I'll learn how to do pictures and such on here.  I see where lots of people use PhotoBucket, but alas, I don't know how.  Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/660160/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:54:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/660160/ The kids have been helping their dad work on the shed he's been building and I've been inside cleaning and having a "little" break.  We did watch a show on Alaska this morning and they took notes, and they been outside helping with the shed (so they've been using those math skills and learning a few life skills), and before bed they will be required to read for AT LEAST 30 minutes, so I'm still counting today as a school day.  We've been productive but not too schoolish today. Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/660156/ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/660156/ I really haven't been all that great at keeping this living journal going now have I?  Another "school year" is almost done.  Sometimes I wonder why I even follow a traditional school year, I should just school January thru December taking time off as I wanted.  Next "school year" my daughter will be a high schooler.  Time really does fly.  Four more years and she'll be considered "grown"!  How did that happen!!!!  I spent most of December fretting on whether to keep her home for high school or to send her off (my wonderfully wise husband insisted that we keep her home, public school is out of the question).  So, I relaxed for January and when February hit I began fretting about curriculum.  UGH!!!!!  I believe I have it figured out, though it is subject to change.  For history, literature, some of her composition, philosophy, and maybe Bible (have another program I've been looking at for that), I've been considering TOG (Tapestry of Grace) along with The Teaching Company DVD's or maybe just the WTM / WEM way (my problem with that is I need a little more structure).  Math would be Chalkdust Geometry. Composition would be Home2Teach online courses. Science - either Apologia Biology w/ The Teaching Company DVDs or either BJU Biology with their DVDs.  Maybe Memoria Press Online Academy for Latin (not sure yet), either Analytical Grammar or ABEKA grammar,  Or maybe I'll just order BJU DVD program for the whole 9th grade.  I DON'T KNOW!!!!  My brain hurts from thinking on it so much.  I've prayed and prayed about it.  Just don't know yet, so I'm holding off on ordering anything at the present moment. Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/659920/ Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/659920/ As the title suggests, this post will be a jumble of thoughts on various things.   I can't believe I have an 8th grader this year.  Next school year she will be in high school.  Exciting and terrifying all at the same time.  It won't be long before she will be a young woman in the world, and it's my responsibility to prepare her for it.  Once again, exciting and terrifying!!!   A couple weeks ago, in the little pond outside, we found a bunch (100 maybe) tadpoles swimming around.  We've been watching their metamorphosis, and yesterday we found a couple that have completed it and are now frogs.  They are so small, about the size from the tip of your finger to your first knuckle.  Needless to say, the kiddos were excited.  Now if we can just keep the cats from going out to dinner! I really need to clean off my bookshelves and get rid of some of my books, but that is easier said than done.  Maybe I will though. Next week my "baby" will be 8 years old!!!  My mind has a hard time wrapping itself around that fact.   Sometimes I think "Where has the time gone?", yet I am so thankful that God has given me this precious little boy and the opportunity to homeschool him.  I see how much I would have missed if he would have been in "school".  God is good!!!!! Blessings, Kristi http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/588198/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:49:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Peachy/588198/