May. 31, 2008 - Long Time No... School
I have been a horrible blogger this year! I long to write, but never seem to make the time to do it. Why is that? Well, tonight I am. We are nearly halfway through 2008! It's incredible how time flies!! I haven't blogged in months so I will do a quick rewind as to what we've been up to.
One of the last times I blogged, I mentioned that I was searching for a curriculum. Well, I ended up going back to Sonlight. I really do love the style and especially love getting that huge boxful of books! Caleb is doing Core I+2 with Grade 3 readers and I purchased a few of the language arts items for Christian. We are still using Math-U-See for math and are on our own for science and other electives (music, etc.).
It has taken a bit of adjusting on my part from doing everything on my own, to following a schedule. I'm still struggling a bit with the amount of reading I have to do to Caleb, while trying to keep the other boys interested or occupied at the same time. I feel like I barely get through a paragraph without having to set the book down and chase after Christian or Charlie. It's busy, but we're starting to get into a routine again. Or we were at least, until all of the traveling began again!
The past few weeks have been spent mainly in our truck, and then our car. We packed up our trailer and made the loooooong drive from Mexico up to Canada. We drove to Manitoba, where my family is, to visit for a few days. We spent 2 days with my family, then we went to a lake with my family for 2 more days, then up to C's parents' place for a couple more days, then back to my parents' place (something went wrong with our truck that needed fixing - hence the unexpected return there), then we left the truck and trailer (so the truck could be repaired) and packed up my new (used) station wagon and headed all the way to southern Ontario (3 more days driving). We arrived here on Tuesday just in time for Caleb and Christian's first soccer game. We will be staying here until the end of the month, then driving back to Manitoba in time for my brother's wedding. The boys and I will be staying there for a month afterward, while C flies to the Dominican for July. Then he will be back to pick us up and we will be returning to Mexico. The weeks after are filled with several other long trips as well, but I won't get into the details as they're not that exciting and they're likely to change anyhow!
So much has happened since I last wrote! Christian turned 4 and Caleb turned 6!! My babies are growing up!! Christian is doing very well with his reading now. We purchased the 3 complete sets of Bob Books at Costco for $9.99 a piece. He LOVES them and so do I!! He will be a fluent reader in no time! Caleb has started reading "in his head" now, not just out loud. It's strange, but so nice to see him sitting on his bed or on the couch reading a book quietly to himself, page after page, sometimes chapter after chapter.
We have had a few educational stops along our travels, including a morning visiting the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are not Latter Day Saints ourselves, but had friends in Utah who were who gave us a tour of some of the buildings. The history was fascinating and the artwork was amazing!! It's definitely worth the time spent there. What amazing buildings and architecture and art! The boys enjoyed it a lot, as did we.
Today we went to the library. It was sooooo nice to be in a library again!!! 7 months without a library was nearly unbearable for me! We were only there about 20 minutes before closing so I didn't get to do as much browsing as I would have liked, but I'll be back very soon! The boys signed out about 30 books so they should be busy for a little while! On our way out of the library we had a little bit of a frightening experience. I was checking out the books and C took the boys out the front door to wait outside. As they were walking out, a group of teenage boys came running up chasing after another boy of the same age. He ran into the library in an attempt to escape them and the security guards came out after them. They had several weapons - knives, chains, even a shovel! My boys, oblivious to what was going on, walked right through the middle of the group of angry teens!! My husband commented to the teens something about how many children were around, but they were too busy cursing and swearing at the security guards. One of the guards kept myself and a few other library patrons from leaving the building until the group of teens had left. I was happy to get in my car and leave!! And very sad that the library seems such an unsafe place now. I'm glad the boys were oblivious as to what was going on!! As for me, from now on, I think I will stick to the tiny little branch a couple of blocks from where we are staying! (We had been at the big central library today).
Because we ended up leaving our truck and trailer in Manitoba, our car was pretty stuffed (with one month's worth of 5 people's stuff!). I ended up leaving most of our school stuff in the trailer. I didn't want the books getting lost or damaged along the way. I did bring the chapter book we are currently reading together and a few workbooks, but I figured we would be spending enough time at the library and reading anyway. So, in a sense, we are taking an early summer break (I hadn't planned on breaking for summer...). I do plan on doing a lot of field trips while we are here though! Next week we hope to go to the Children's Museum and there are always events going on at the library.
It's time I got to bed, so I will end this update with a few pictures from the past few months. I look forward to writing more regularly and hearing back from all of you! You have been missed!!
Happy Homeschooling!
Comments
May. 31, 2008 - Hello!
Posted by Jade
I enjoyed reading your blog. I have many friends who love SL! We read some of their books aloud too, but just don't do the whole ball of wax. I'm happy you've found a good fit. What a blessing!
I'm way behind on my blog too with finishing up our school semester. Now that we're on break, I'm hoping to revamp my poor neglected blog!
Happy homeschooling.
Jade
Jun. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by http://maccarthaigh.blogspot.com
Hi there,
welcome back. Like the photos of Christian and Charlie with the helmets and also the steps on the stairs! Must show them to Sean.
Ruth
Jul. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Just popping by to wish you and yours a happy 4th of July from Ireland!
Ruth
