http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:48:00 -0600 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:48:00 -0600 I have been hearing about the Homeschool Lounge for a week now so I decided to visit.  It looks great - good job Tiany!  I really have no idea how I can keep up with another compute related project, but I want to try.  You should go take a peek!   Yesterday Jeff had another day off of school - a snow day.  This was a blessing for him as he is busy completing many job applications.  In the evening we went to see the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.  This is the veggietale movie that has been out for awhile.  We wait until movies are at the dollar theater because who want to spend $6 on a movie?  Oh, well, we will spend that much$ if it is a movie like Lord of the Rings or Prince Caspian (coming out in May). Back to the Pirates movie.  It was, well, it was veggie tales.  During the first half hour I heard a familiar snore and looked at Jeff- yes, he fell asleep.  We all got a giggle and that woke him up so he could enjoy the rest of the show.  It wasn't that bad-but I am glad we didn't pay more than $1.  The Water Horse is also at this theater so that will be next.  I hope everyone has a great day.  Are you impressed that I actually updated this blog so soon after the last entry?  I am trying... Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/484215/ Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/484215/ Like all of the rest of you who live in cold weather zones, I am ready for spring.  I want to open up all of the windows, close down the woodburners, deep clean the house (ok, this I don't want to do) and take a walk.  Yesterday we had a teaser day.  It was 50 degrees but rainining.  This week it is going to be cold again.  We had basketball again this weekend.  There are only 3 weeks left, then we get a little break before soccer begins.  After a game on Sat, one of the moms stayed to talk to Jeff. She was upset that her son accepted Jesus as his saviour at one of the practices.  The Upward bball program exists to evangelize.  Jeff went through some of the message but the poor mom was quite confused.  She was not upset with how Jeff presented the Gospel, but with the message itself.  She felt she was a good person and that talking about sin and hell was offensive.  Well, we had to scoot (Jeff coaches 4 teams) so Jeff passed this one off to the director.  We haven't heard how it ended.  We had a great day of church yesterday.  I am still mulling over the message, it was so powerful.  Jeff is home today for President's Day.  This always changes the dynamics of homeschool somewhat.  He will more than likely teach everyone's math. How was that super long paragraph without a topic sentence?  My children would be aghast that their grammatically correct mother should write in such a way.  Okay, I can't stand it, I'll go back and put some space between thoughts ......there is that better?  I know, it still isn't perfect but the morning is dragging on and I have to get off of the computer.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day.  Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/482820/ Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:36:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/482820/ I have been trying to update my blog for about 3 days.  There were two reoccurring problems that kept me from succeeding.  The first was the unbelieveable slowness I was encountering trying to login.  I tried to snatch time here and there to get something written, to check your blogs, etc... and I just couldn't get logged in.  So this morning, everything worked great and here I am.  The second problem is actually the newest member of our family, Tony the Pony.  Tony was adopted (you are not supposed to say bought) by my youngest with his saved up birthday money.  If you don't have young ones anymore you may not be aware of the Webkinz craze that is sweeping the nation.  I remember the Cabbage Patch craze of my childhood (lucky for my parents I thought they were really ugly), and now my sons have webkinz.  It is actually a great idea that I wish I had come up with.  You buy, I mean, adopt, your animal from a store then race home to the computer.  Your secret code to enter the website is securely hidden in your animal's tag.  Once you have registered you can buy furniture, clothes, toys, food and so on for your animal using play money (thank goodness).  You earn more money by playing games on the site.  Can you see the fascination this would have with kids?  Now for my update.  School is going well.  Basketball is all comsuming.  I am behind in my housework.  That about sums it up right now.  Tony the Pony is way more exciting than my real life.  I'll go read all of your blogs to see if your lives are any more exciting in the dead of winter.... Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/477912/ Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/477912/ I've been tagged by canadianladybug.  Here we go: RULES: 1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages). 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Tag five people. The book nearest me was A Patriot's History of the United States (What can I say?  I am a history-geek) The fifth sentence on page 123 (get ready for a great sentence)  "In fact, Hamilton sought the alliance of government with elites because they needed to be enlisted in the service of the government on behalf of the people,a course they would not take if left to their own devices." The next 3 sentences: "To accomplish that, he intended to use the Treasury of the new republic, and its financial/debt structure, to encourage the wealthy to align themselves with the interests of the nation.   Only the wealthy could play that role: middle-class merchants, farmers,or artisans were too transient and, at any rate, did not have enough surplus to invest in the nation. Permanent stability required near-perpetual investment, which in turn required structuring property laws so that the wealthy would not hesitate to place their resources at the disposal of the government." If you actually read all that, I am impressed.  Seriously, this book by Schweikart and Allen, tries to tell our country's history as it really happened.  In fact the authors state that they are trying to undo what modern texts claim concerning our history of racism, sexism, bigotry and basically the idea that everything our founders did was wrong.  You know the fad: America bad, everyone else good.  Thanks for the tag.  I am suppose to tag 5 people.  I think that I'll just ask you, yes you, to play along.  Come on, you can do this one.  It is easy and it lets us see what you're reading (or at least what's on the coffee table).  Let me know that you've played. Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/473195/ Sat, 2 Feb 2008 14:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/473195/ Friday night basketball is over for this week and now we move on to Saturday basketball.  The season is only 2 weeks in and I am getting tired.  The boys (and the dad) love it so what' a mom to do?  We had to make a few minor changes in our school routine.  The boys were really not enjoying the learning process.  It was becoming drudgery.  Ok, I really wasn't all that excited about things either.  So this week we made one tiny change that helped revive our interest in learning.  After morning devotions we did science.  So?  You say?  Well, you see, being the former classroom teacher that I am, I have always made the boys do the work that took the most brain power and stamina first in the day.  This is how most classrooms run - reading and math first with all other subjects coming in after lunch when everyone is tired.   On Monday I was tired after devotions.  This was not  a good thing.  (I think my body needs a good brisk  walk on a warm sunny day).  So I pulled out science because I didn't want to have the familiar battles over math/language arts.  I should say here that my kindergartner does not fight school yet.  He is still way excited over everything.  I couldn't believe the enthusiasm so early in the morning (ok 9:30, but early for some).  It worked so well that we started each day this week with either science or history.  If you need a great science program for your elementary kids that doesn't cost very much, you have to check out Jeannie Fulbright's series.  I love it.  The boys love it.  It is loved. Have a wonderful weekend, my blogging comrades. Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/468590/ Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/468590/ Good day blogging friends.  I don't have much time to write as we have 2 basketball games tonight and need to hustle. This entry is more of a plea for help.  My son just started his own blog.  We searched the member's list to find other boys but found none that are still keeping a blog.  Can you direct us to any boys out there that he could befriend via the blog world? Tyler   would love to read and comment on other boys' blogs.  Thanks! Have a great weekend.  I'll try to add a more "normal" entry later. Anissa Okay.  I have no idea why the link is not working to Tyler's blog.  Here it is:  www.homeschoolblogger.com/alphakid http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/468285/ Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:00:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/468285/ Ohio (and most of the mid west) is in a serious deep freeze.  It is about 7 degrees (farenheit) right now and the prediction is for it to drop below zero today.   I shall only say this once (at least for today) "I can't wait for spring!"  There, I have got that out of my system.   We had a busy weekend of basketball.   I had the opportunity to talk to a mom at one of the games.  I had mentioned to her in a previous week that we homeschooled.  Well, she said that since I talked to her, she can't stop thinking about homeschooling.  This is exactly how my homeschool journey began.  play dream music....  It was seven years ago.  My son was attending the local kdg. at the time.  During a brief meeting after church I politely asked Tammy how her children were doing  in school.  I asked if they would be attending the same Christian school during the next school year.  Then she said those fateful words, "We are going to homeschool."  ZAP.  I felt ('m not kidding here) a jolt go through me.  I continued our friendly banter for a while longer and then went my merry way.  Poor Tammy did not know what she had just done.  I could not get this homeschool lunacy out of my mind.  I mentioned it to Jeff who just sort of shrugged it off.  Not me though.  I made my next fateful move - I started praying about this thought that had infected my being.  Then I was led to search the Bible.  Using my concordance I looked up every verse that dealt with family, knowledge, children,...you get the idea.  I actually wrote done these verses.  How nuts am I?   By the time I was done (or you could say the Lord was done)  I was convinced that I had to at least try homeschooling for one year.  Jeff wasn't excited but he wasn't opposed.  So there. The decision had been made.  Then began the curriculum hunt...but that would reveal too much of my neurotic self so we will just stop there.  I am happy to report that Jeff is now on board 100%.  As I talked to J (the aforementioned mom at the game), all of these memories came back to me.  I really think that she and her husband are going to end up homeschooling...they told me that they are praying about it.  So let this be a lesson to all of us - even our chit chat can be used of the Lord.  Have a great day. Anissa disclaimer:  I am not saying that everyone is called by our Lord to homeschool.  I do not presume to speak for the Holy Spirit.  Remember, Samuel and Moses were not even raised with their parents. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/465179/ Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:32:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/465179/ Okay, I will attempt another entry.  The last one I typed got erased before I could post it.  This was a bit frustrating, but I will give it another try.  We are doing well.  Basketball season has started.  We are involved in the Upwards program.  Jeff is coaching 3 teams and assisting with a 4th.  Needless to say we spend a lot of times at practices/games.  The other night I went to watch the kindergarters practice.  There was a lady there with a newborn.  I, of course, had to go oogle on this little guy.  As we chatted (yes, she asked if I wanted to hold the baby - -which I did) I mentioned that we homeschooled.  She was full of questions.  I think that she is really interested.  She did have one funny observation. She thought homeschoolers have the common trait of not being very organized people.  I sweetly said that there are all kinds of people who homeschool - super organized to super laid back.  I look forward to talking with her each week and holding that baby. Another sweet little moment in my otherwise dull life - I took the boys to the bike trail the other day.  We were having 40 degree weather and no rain which is quite the heat wave in Ohio.  Anyways, my always ready to chat 10 year old decided to hang back with slow mom( who was walking) while his brothers went ahead on their rollerblades/bike.  As we passed a local elementary school he commented that he was glad that we homeschooled because he didn't want to learn "stuff without God".  As we (by this I mean mostly he) chatted, he came to a final conclusion that he wanted a wife that would homeschool their children.  YIPPEE!! HOORAY!!  This of course what was going on inside of me but I kept my cool.  I guess that these two incidents really have brought back a little of the passion that I had for homeschooling before I became a "veteren".  I started this year with less than ideal enthusiasm.  My patience has been worn thin through weeks of various illnesses and other problems.  However, God is able to break through circumstances and recharge me.  Now if I can only find more time to connect with my blogging friends... God bless you all in your homeschool, Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/460556/ Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/460556/ Hello friends.  I took an unplanned break from blogging during the holidays.     Anyways, Christmas is over and life slowly gets back to normal.  We had a quiet Christmas this year.  I will have to tell you one funny story.  My niece received a remote control dragonfly for Christmas.  She is 5 yrs old and this was the one gift that she craved above all others.  My bro took her outside to fly the beloved gift.  All was wonderful in the world.  The dragonfly took off and flew - for about 2 minutes.  You see, a huge red-tailed hawk swooped down and grabbed the poor toy and then deposited it a couple of yards away.  The toy was destroyed.  Now my niece never wants another flying toy again.  How did my boys, her cousins, respond?  Well, one of my boys had to go and buy the same toy in order to experience the supreme coolness of a hawk attack.  So far, no hawk.  We did not do anything for New Year's Eve because my oldest boy is ill.  He tried to stay awake until midnight but the poor kid fell asleep.  The other boys stayed up with Jeff.  I was in bed, reading.  Jeff said that at midnight (they watched the ball drop in NY) my 8 year old gave his 6 year old bro a hug and a big kiss.  I wish that that had been captured on film. Have a Happy New Year!  Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/453265/ Tue, 1 Jan 2008 07:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/453265/ Yesterday was cookie making day.  We started before lunch and were still icing cookies after dinner.  While you can see the mess on top of the countertops, you will only be able to imagine the mess on the floor.  There was cookie dough, crumbs, a dog toy, legos, and shirts that were flung off.  By the way, do you think my youngest has a future career as a plumber?  Look at those Hanes.  You will also have to imagine the noise.  Have you ever sat back and watched your children making a big mess and thought "Oh man, this is going to cause me A LOT of extra work to clean up."  BUT, you also see them having such a great time that you decide to not interfer?  I have one more picture to share.  This is a very familiar sight of my husband in the winter.  His head is stuck in our woodburners a great majority of the time.  I like to be warm, and so does our 13 year old dog.    I hope everyone is staying warm and well sugared-up this Christmas season.  Anissa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/447255/ Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/anissa/447255/