Follow us as we walk through the narrow gate and along the difficult way (Matt 7:14) of a Christian life. We may be walking the Narrow Way, but that doesn't mean our life is hard! (although its not easy!) Bug and I are loving our homeschooling, working, crazy life here in Oregon. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 27 May 2009 14:40:00 -0500 Wed, 27 May 2009 14:40:00 -0500 OK. It's not REALLY summer, but it sure feels like it.  And Bug sure is enjoying the outside like it is!  I decided to move us outdoors for the afternoon.  I'm planning school and Bug is playing.  Here are a couple pictures of what I see right now. Hmm... I wonder if I can get away with not planting anything there and just letting him have it as a mud pit all summer.  It's shaded, it's safe, and it's fun! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/693155/ Wed, 27 May 2009 14:40:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/693155/ Thanks to the ladies over at HSS, I was introduced to this great concept, the workbox system. There are many many other homeschool blogs around that explain how and why they use it.  I've modified the system to fit us, and we used it for the first time today.  I'm trying not to be premature, but our first day went very well.  I set it up and explained to Bug how it would work.  He quickly understood that he was to go through them in order and he spotted a couple things that are not normally 'school work' that he was looking forward to doing.  I also told him that if the box wasn't ready for him when he woke up in the morning, then there was no school that day.  He thought that was great. For our modifications, I used large, clear plastic bags that I got from the Dollar Tree, and a milk crate.  It doesn't take up too much room and is easily transportable.  It's also very easy to change the number of bags we use on any given day.  The only down fall is that its a little sloppy looking and the bags don't stay standing up.  But with the numbers on the bag, I don't think its that big of a deal. The preschoolers that I babysit each got one bag with some worksheets to do.  It kept them entertained for a while.  They needed help with a lot though, which distracted Sebastian.  It'll definitely take some experimenting to see what works for them all.   Bug's last bag had a puzzle that all the kids could work on with him: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/687971/ Mon, 11 May 2009 14:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/687971/ Hey. Look. Second week in a row! It's amazing!  And it's not even Monday yet! This week's menu actually has a couple new recipes on it, but nothing so hard it's a headache.  The great part is my shopping list is next to nothing which means I'm mostly buying stockpile items that are on sale and not 'need' items at full price.  I was able to find a couple of these recipes/menu ideas from the wonderful list of menus over at I'm An Organizing Junkie. Sunday: ~Pasta with Bertolli Champignon and Portobello Mushroom Sauce (looks really good, I got it on sale cheap, and it's ALL natural!) ~Steamed Broccoli ~Fresh Bread Monday: ~Foil Packet Tilapia Crockpot ~Asparagus (I'm going to attempt to cook in foil in the crockpot as well) ~Whole Wheat Couscous Tuesday: ~Chili ~Cornbread ~Salad Wednesday: ~Homemade Hummus ~Homemade Pita Bread (both hummus and pita bread from the Moosewood cookbook) ~Carrot & Celery Sticks Thursday: ~Onion & Beef Muffin Cups ~Sauteed Brussels Sprouts Friday: ~Make-Your-Own Pizza Saturday: ~Leftovers http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/666489/ Sun, 8 Mar 2009 00:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/666489/ OK. So it's been a while since I last posted a menu plan.  I've been planning, but not well, and usually not by Monday.  I actually got it done this week, typed it up, and posted it on the fridge! And I'm pretty sure I have everything I need from the grocery store!  I'm now off to see what kind of yummy stuff I can pull from other people's menus over at orgjunkie.com. Monday:  Crockpot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus Tuesday: Spinach & Rice Casserole, Brussels Sprouts Wednesday: Baked Potato with broccoli, cheese, and sour cream; salad Thursday: French Dip Sandwiches with homemade rolls, Asparagus Friday: Grilled Tilapia, Spinach Salad, Couscous Saturday: Leftovers! (or we'll order a pizza) Nothing too special or exciting. Nothing that I feel warrants a recipe to be posted.  The Spinach & Rice Casserole is from the Moosewood Collection Cookbook.  I doubt I can post it without violating some kind of law, but its basically just rice, spinach, cheese.... I don't remember what else.   Overall, I'm proud of our menu this week.  There are two meat-free meals, lots of veggies, and I'm using leftover roast from Monday for the sandwiches on Thursday!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/664171/ Mon, 2 Mar 2009 11:16:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/664171/ The kids enjoy playing school.  Can you guess who the teacher is? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/657920/ Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/657920/ Rex a mother, her autistic child, and the music that transformed their lives by Cathleen Lewis This is not normally the kind of book I read.  I'm not sure I would have given it a second glance if it wasn't for being a blog reviewer for Thomas Nelson, I probably wouldn't have read it.  But I am so glad I did. It is an incredible story about a mother's love for her son and her faith (and lack of) in the power of God. Cathleen Lewis really shows what it was like to have a child who was both autistic and blind.  The long days, the lack of understanding, the pleading with God.  "DON'T... YOU... CARE?" she pleads with God at one point.  But there is also joy. There is the music that her son is able to play.  And her growing ability to "Walk by faith, not by sight". Cathleen is honest about her faith. There was no big turning point where she all of a sudden had faith and that was that.  It was with growth and progress that she was able to accept what God had given her in this life.  "I just don't get it. I don't get what it's all for." Cathleen tells her brother in the book. His reply, "It's simple. It's to glorify God." Book Giveaway I'm going to give my copy of this book away to one lucky winner.  To enter the contest, just leave me a comment.  I will draw one random winner at 3:00 PM (Pacific Time) tomorrow. Please be sure and leave an e-mail address or blog address so I can notify you if you win. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/656272/ Mon, 9 Feb 2009 12:57:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/656272/ If you like snickerdoodles, you MUST try this recipe.  It is the best.  Wish I had pictures to share. We had them with hot chocolate today. It was perfect! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/655019/ Thu, 5 Feb 2009 17:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/655019/ Tristan wanted us to share our schedules.  Mine isn't really changing too much for the new year, other than the new schedule I started at the beginning of December for a week will again be implemented (snow days and no school got in the way).   I'm going to separate the schedule into workdays and non-work days.  I can't break it down by day of the week as my workdays change.  I've included times, but for school related items they are approximate depending on how focused we are. Workdays: I set my alarm for 6am, but don't usually roll out of bed until closer to 6:30.  I get ready for the day and either my mom or I will wake Bug at about 6:45.  If we're hungry and have time we'll grab breakfast, otherwise we head out the door and catch our bus at 7:10.  I rest and Bug listens to music or plays Leapster on the bus ride. Arrive at the G's house at 8am.  We don't even take our coats off and head right back out the door with W & S to take W to school.  We are back from that by about 8:45.  At this point, Bug will get breakfast if he didn't get it before and S will finish his breakfast if necessary.  If no food is needed, the boys will play until 9:00. 9:00-9:45 -- Bug does handwriting, reading, and math.  Starting new, I'm going to set the timer for him for each subject.  He seems to focus a little better if he knows the timer is going.  During this time, S is either quietly playing near by or will join us at the table and color. 9:45-11:00 -- Play time for the boys.  I will usually figure out what is for lunch, and then sit and read or play with the boys until about 10:30 at which time I start lunch prep (depending on what we are having). 11:00-11:30 -- Pick W up from school. 11:30-12:00 -- Lunch 12:00-1:30 -- Bus ride home. Again, I'm resting, Bug is playing Leapster or listening to music. 1:30-2:00 -- Quiet time.  Bug gets quiet play time in room, I check e-mail and organize literature unit. 2:00-2:30 -- Literature unit studies. 3:00-5:00 -- Play time for Bug, sometimes this includes a little TV time.  I will finish checking e-mail and start dinner.  5:00 -- My mom is home and I leave for work. Non-Workdays: Usually we sleep in until about 8.  Bug wakes up earlier, but because of my late nights I usually allow him to watch a bit of TV until 8 so I can catch a little more sleep.  Once I get up, we'll eat breakfast, play, and if we're lucky get dressed and ready for the day. 9:00-9:45 -- Handwriting, Reading, and Math.  Depending on the energy level of the day, this may get pushed back but prefer it done by 11:00. At this point, it is really dependent on what else needs to be done.  We'll eat lunch and go to the library or run other errands.  Or we'll relax and play for a while longer and do our literature unit in the afternoon some time.  I try to start dinner by 4:00 so it's ready before I go to work at 5:00.  There ya go.  It looks crazy, and most of the time it is crazy!  My weeks are never the same from one to the next.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/639417/ Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/639417/ "You should listen to your mother." "I do listen to her." "Not all the time." Bet you can't guess who said it!  Bug told me that I should listen to my mother.  It wasn't said in a snotty way, just matter-of-fact because I she 'told' me to do something.  LOL.  It was so comical the way he said it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/639366/ Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:10:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/639366/ This week's menu was a pain to plan.  I'm trying to use up food in the freezer and I just couldn't come up with ways to use some things. Monday:  Turkey Noodle Soup (using frozen turkey and broth from T-Day) and Homemade Rolls Tuesday:  Enchilada Casserole and Black Bean Quinoa Salad Wednesday:  Chicken Stir Fry and Rice Thursday:  Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup Friday:  Baked Talapia, Roasted Red Potatoes, Asparagus, and Blueberry Pie Saturday:  Chili (leftover found in freezer!) and Cornbread   Black Bean Quinoa Salad 1/3 cup Quinoa 1 cup Water Bring water to boil and add quinoa.  Cover and reduce heat.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.  Let the quinoa cool. 1 tsp Olive Oil 4 tsp Lime Juice 1/4 tsp Cumin 1/4 tsp Coriander 1 Tbl Cilantro (fresh chopped) 2 Tbl minced Scallions 1 can Black Beans (=1 1/2 cup cooked beans) 2 cups diced Tomato 1 cup diced Bell Pepper 2 tsp minced fresh Chiles salt and pepper to taste Mix all the above ingredients together then add in quinoa.  Mix well and refrigerate.  Serve cold.       http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/637640/ Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/TheNarrowWay/637640/