I am a home schooling graduate, and this is my journey as a mother and teacher. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:18:00 -0600 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:18:00 -0600 We have been having a good time with school lately. I thought it would be fun to show you some of what we have been doing lately. Here is Vallerie playing with one of her favorite File Folder Games, Space Rhymes. She has been very resistant to learning to read, so I use games with words so that she is forced to figure out how to read without realizing it. Vanessa is playing Monkey Money. The math curriculum that I am using is not very challenging to Vanessa right now. It will get harder as the year goes on. I am using it to make sure that we haven't gotten any holes in her math. But I supplement with games like this that make her work a little harder so that she doesn't get bored. Here is Vanessa playing Even/Odd Pumpkins. Here is Vallerie playing Acorn Addition. Math is her favorite subject. This is only a tiny bit of what we do for school, but the girls have such a good time with these games they don't realize that it is school. They just think that Mom has made some fun games. Because she is so cute and funny, I had to add a couple of pictures of Tori. I think she was posing in this one. Or dancing, I can't tell. Definetly posing here. Definetly dancing in this one. Putting together a puzzle. Aren't two year olds fun? Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/745087/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/745087/ We have had a very busy few months with the beginning of school. Vanessa has been doing so well with her school work. Even Vallerie has gotten into the spirit. This is my favorite time of year. I love the change of seasons. Our church has a Fall Festival type of party on October 31. The girls wanted to dress up as Mary and Martha. Tori got a biblical costume out of the deal too, but we couldn't ever decide who she was. Here is Vanessa and Vallerie ready to go trick or treating. Here is Vanessa again. I think that she was Martha. Here is Vallerie and Tori. Vallerie was Mary, and I think that they decided that Tori was Mary too (there were a few Marys in the bible). Here is another picture of Vanessa and Vallerie. Now that we have our camera working again I am hoping that I can get some more pictures taken and uploaded. Maybe even some pictures of our school! Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/741758/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 12:15:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/741758/ It has been a busy month in the Ellingsworth household. In addition to all the "regular" summer challenges, our computers crashed, all three of them, at the same time. We have gotten one laptop working, and that is good enough for now. Darin is in the process of getting the other two working, or not. We haven't figured out if they can be salvaged yet. Anyway, I am glad to have my laptop back up and working. I am now able to update you all on my wonderful "new" school room. I have a few pictures, but am unable to post them at this time. The software for my camera is MIA right now, but as soon as I get it reloaded I will post some pictures. About three weeks ago Darin and I were able to go to Lumber Liquidators and buy our new flooring. We had decided on Brazilian Cherry laminate flooring. That same weekend, my dad, brother, and father-in-law came and helped Darin install the floor. It looks really nice and will be great for all those messy school crafts that we will be doing this fall. And most importantly, that ugly, yellowish, nasty, old carpet is gone! I'll post some pictures as soon as I can so that you can see the difference for yourselves. I had purchased a new bookcase (to go with the three I already had) and organized my books (somewhat) so that I can find stuff again. I am planning on starting school on Monday with the girls. I don't know if they are quite as excited as I am, but they are looking forward to it. I am one of the few people I know who actually gets super excited about back to school sales. I mean, a box of crayons for $0.25! Markers for $1.00! Wow! Bring it on! I stock up for the year. I hope that your summer has been as wonderful as ours. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/713077/ Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:10:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/713077/ Yesterday was Tori's birthday. We went out to lunch then came home to let Tori open her presents. She got some clothes... Some books... Uncle Jeff and Anut Christa sent a brand new baby doll to go with all of the new baby toys. Vallerie is reading Tori's new book to her. Tori loves her new baby doll. Grandma Ellingsworth gave Tori a tub and bag for Tori's baby dolls. Here's the new two year old! Happy birthday Tori! She is holding her baby bag. Here's Vanessa hanging out with her dad on Father's day. It was a nice Father's Day/Birthday. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/701468/ Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/701468/ Once again, I have been having problems with my computer and camera. So, no pictures today. Sorry... But we have been having a lot of fun that I am more than happy to tell you about. I bought the girls a slip-n-slide, which has been a big hit. They are so timid with it though... They run up to it, then stop, sit on their knees, and then scoot down the slide. It is funny to watch them. Tori also got a small pool which she has really enjoyed. Vallerie started swim lessons a couple weeks ago. She is really enjoying them, but still won't put her head under the water, even after seven lessons. We have a family pass at the new Ozark Community Center (or OC for short). Darin has been working out every morning, and the girls and I have gotten lots of use out of the pool. That is where Vallerie has been taking her lessons. Vanessa and Tori are also going to start swim lessons on Monday. Vanessa and I have been reading "Heidi" while Vallerie has been having her lessons. Vanessa is working through the summer reading program at the library. I am hoping by next summer that she will be able to do the summer reading program on her own. We have planted our garden, but I am a little nervous about it. We planted four zucchini plants, four pea plants, and five cucumber plants. I think we have too many zucchini plants. They are already starting to spread out and take over, and they are only a month old! It remains to be seen how much of the yard will get taken over. I will keep you all updated on what else we do this summer. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/697660/ Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:31:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/697660/ We had a good Easter Sunday. We had planned on having a birthday party for Vallerie with all of her Grandparents, but unfortunatley Vallerie woke up with a stomach virus. Vanessa and Tori had a great time hunting for eggs though. Aren't they cute in their little dresses? My mother-in-law made them. Vallerie wanted so badly to wear her dress too, so I let her get dressed up too. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690854/ Wed, 20 May 2009 12:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690854/ Vallerie recently decided she didn't want her bangs in her eyes anymore. So she took care of them. This is a couple of days after the event. She is smiling in these pictures. She was very upset after she actually cut her hair though... Vanessa has recently lost a tooth. She is proud of the hole in her head.   A month or so ago Vanessa performed a pre-show at the Springfield Symphony. A couple of weeks ago Vanessa performed at theDixie Stampede. I wish I had some more pictures of her, but my camera doesn't work well in low light. Oh well... This is the Group Recital from sunday afternoon. The theme was Aunt Rhody's travel around the world. Vallerie and Tori were very good during the performance too. I have such sweet babies. Blessings, Abby   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690851/ Wed, 20 May 2009 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690851/ It has been a couple of months since I have updated my blog, so instead of overwhelming you all with a very long post, I am going to post a different post for every event that has happened since Vanessa's birthday. Let's start with Vallerie's birthday. Vallerie turned 5 this year in April. We took her and a few of her friends to the Ted E. Bear's Toy Factory. On a sidebar, we love the Ted E. Bear's Toy Factory. Vanessa has had a few birthdays there, and it is just wonderful. Anyway, back to Vallerie's party. Vanessa chose a Panda Bear. I love her smile! Here are some of the guests. From L to R: Carrie, Sarah, Hannah, Linsey, Vallerie, Joyanna (she is almost hidden), Vanessa and Davis. Then they got to pick out the eyes for their new friend. Vallerie is getting the eyes for her giraffe. Then the eyes go in your new animal. Here Tori is getting the eyes put into her St. Bernard. Then you have to stuff the machine. Everyone got to help stuff the machine. Then everyone takes a turn stepping on the special switch that turns on the machine and your animal takes shape. This is Vallerie's turn. This is Tori's turn. She was not heavy enough, so I helped her push the switch. After your animal is sewed closed, you give him or her a "bath." Really it is just a vacuum to get the bits of extra fuzz off. Vanessa again. The animal has been stuffed and is a little easier to squeeze this time. What a happy girl! And then comes Tori's favorite time, CAKE TIME! Where eating is a contact sport... Tori made herself right at home... Too cute! Altogether, it was a great day. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690849/ Wed, 20 May 2009 13:13:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/690849/ It isn’t quite spring yet, but I can’t help myself. I have Cabin Fever, bad. It hasn’t helped that Tori has had Rotavirus the last two weeks, plus all the other stomach issues that everyone else has had… Anyway, I am ready for some warmer weather. This is a tough time of year here in Missouri because we get a couple of warm days (in the 70s) only for the temperature to drop back into the 40s again, just to remind us that winter is not over. I have been doing some organization and planning for our garden this year. I have used this garden planner that I found online. It is really easy to use. I have also been making Newspaper Seedling Packets. It has given me my garden fix for now. I am hoping that in a couple of weeks I can get outside some more and start building another bed in our (my) garden. I am hoping to double the size of the garden. I also have great assperations of making these plant markers. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/669199/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:30:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/669199/ Ok. Here are a few pictures. I don't know if you've heard, but we had some snow about a month ago. 3 inches worth, at least... The girls had a great time playing outside. I was sick on Monday. So what do little girls do when Mommy can't play? MAKEOVER! (of course). Hopefully, we will have more pictures coming soon. Blessings, Abby http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/663007/ Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ellingsworth/663007/