Joey and I had original plans to visit the ZOO today but when we arrived at 11am there was no parking and everyone was in overflow at the city lot.  We decided since everyone had the same idea as us we would go across the park area to HALL OF FLAME  http://www.hallofflame.org/ .  We spent about an hour there learing about old firetrucks and fire safety.  It was air conditioned and we had a blast.  From there we stopped at taco bell for lunch YUMMY, then we stopped at ENCHANTED ISLAND  http://www.enchantedisland.com/ for about an hour. By then it was 1pm and 85 degrees... we were HOT.

All in all it was a wonderful day and great start to an Easter Weekend.

Over the past couple weeks Joey and I visited the zoo twice.  Once during the day and once for an evening event.

WE SAW ELEPHANTS EATING

 BRUSHING THE GOATS

Joey loved the kids tire swing and we learned alot about DUCKWEED  (google for a defination)  We had quite a full day.

Later one evening we attended :

ZOOMATION IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES ART INTO EVERYDAY LIFE... There were lots of art projects including, legos, beads, coloring, tissue paper flowers, mini acting classes etc... We were lucky enough to get a private tour of the STINGRAY BAY... the Rays were excited to see us and jumped out and splashed in excitement.

Saturday we attended "Touch A Truck"

LAYING DOWN IN THE BACK OF THE KIDDIE AMBULANCE

THE TOTALLY AWESOME TOTALLY COOL  WEINER MOBILE

PLAYING ON THE FLATBED, LEARNING ABOUT FIRE HYDRANTS, MEETING THE AIRFORCE

  PLAYING IN THE SANDBOX AREA... BEING 'SOCIAL' TOO

All in all we had a good morning. They provided EAR PLUGS (hence the orange tubes sticking out of my childs ears).  Joey saw lots of different trucks, he didnt care for the Garbage truck and told the operater "Your truck stinks"  LOL...   Also he got to play in a bounce house, he LOVED the childrens ambulance and the frozen food truck where he got to play in the back of the a/c truck.

Lots of learning, science, social studies, community involvement  etc...

Perler bead fun...  a couple fun action shots from last nights art events..   Yes I found my USB cable and  figured out how to upload pictures.. it only ONLY Took a year...  You can bet there will be more pictures to follow.

Today Joey read The Magic Tree House Research Guide about the Titanic. and he is itching to get on the computer and do some research of his own tonight.

Joey just loved Perler beads...   www.perlerbeads.com   Today again he was working on making patterns, following directions and fine motor skills... all while he was having fun and making crafts. 

He went to a science class at the library on 'bridges' and used toothpicks, gumdrops and marshmallows to build a suspension bridge. Socializing and learning what a dream day.

Tonight he is going to do a couple worksheets then watch a Magic School Bus Movie.

I wanted to upload some pictures but I lost my USB cable in the move

Tuesday was very productive school-wise.  Joey came home and did an ENTIRE social studies chapter  Then he did some math pages...  He wanted to do more but I redirected him back to an art project.   http://www.perlerbeads.com/ are great.  He is working on his fine motor skills with out even knowing it.

Tomorrow(weds) he has a science class at the library about bridges and tunnels... He is looking forward to it and when he is in class i will pick out some books for us to look at this week.

I just picked up 2 huge bags of yarn and will be learning how to do 'granny squares' at work tomorrow so I hope to be able to make afghans quickly and neatly.  Im about 1/2 done with a rugby stripe blanket im working on. I would have been done sooner but I needed to unravel some of my working.

Im starting to play around with uploading pictures.. here is one from September when Joey wanted blue toe nails...  very cute  huh??

 Joey and his blue toes

Its President's Day. We are UNSCHOOLING today... For the past week or so Grandma was in town so Joey didnt have any official worksheets... But he choose to do some coloring sheets of the states and Famous US leaders.  Thats counts as "Presidents day work" if you ask me.

Grandma took Joey to the Wildlife World Zoo, The Mall, Chuck E Cheese, The park for a scooter ride, basketball, baseball and playtime, The cooked 4 trays of Lasagana (our favorite) They saw "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie and did lots and lots of other fun activites.  Wow Homeschool kids sure are UNSOCIALIZED aren't they?

We have been keeping up with Saturday Art classes and last week the craft involved popsicle sticks and making a one-dimensional log cabin. Joey was able to be creative and use markers to put designs on each horizontal stick.- such a free thinker, you can bet his house didnt DIDNT look a thing like the model when he was done  ... THATS MY BOY...

Tonight I was going to stop at MC Donalds for a bit and let Joey play... again more unsocialized time  LOL...then come home for a great tray of lasagana.

Im back to work tomorrow (took off today) so tonight I will set out some worksheets and see if they grasp Joey's interest.

Oh my I keep forgetting to list our 'school' activites.

Saturdays we keep doing art class at Michaels. Joey loves art and enjoys it weekly.  I am trying to remember to fit in the Kids Club at Home Depot the first Saturday of the month but we are so programmed to Michaels.  

We also do art at the library once a month, tomorrow is another class and they are fun as well.

The library also has a once a month science class.  Last week the kids learned about 'pop fizz bubble' and worked with soda cans and 2L bottles.

I am trying to get us to the zoo a couple more times before our membership needs to be renewed.  I have been lax on visiting the Puppet Theater too. I wanted to see "Father Goose" last weekend but we were busy moving so we missed it.  I was sad ;(

Joey is working thru language arts, spelling and math for 3rd grade along with some social studies and science books.  Right now he is reading more and doing workbooks less.

Well just when I thought things were going well, life goes and throws us a curve ball.  My life long babysitter quit at the end of the year, no notice, no explaination, nothing... so I find a replacement, a nice family who are foster-parents and seem to be genuine and great.  After 3 short weeks all falls apart.  Apparently they are not as open-minded to homeschooling as I thought they where.  They dont seem to understand 'child lead' parenting and education etc etc etc...  The family is very strict and structured, something that us as unschoolers are not.  The mother felt Joey was acting out and being rude, he was confused and upset about a number of things.  This was just one fall out after another.  So today it all came to a head when my child yet again was in time out when i got there, my child was upset and both parents were antagonizing him.  And in my mind I began to silently question why am I paying our good $$ for this type of treatment.  The final straw was when they recommended I enroll my child in school so he can learn in a structured environment.  (that totally defeats the entire unschooling theory)

Joey and I went this evening to interview yet another sitter and hired her on the spot.  Hopefully this situation will work for the better.

Does anyone else notice if they unschool, their entire lifestyle is much different then most other families...Our children are free spirits and free thinkers, they like to organize thier time and explore things at a slower pace.  Tonight my child was happy and excited to make some beaded crafts and read a book.  I saw no signs of anger or rage nor did i see any disrespect.  Again I saw a child brought up in an unstructured environment who has been left to make most of his own decisions.

I love unschooling and homeschooling and I hope we continue to learn this way for many many years to come.

We have been super busy here, finishing off workbooks and learning.... Joey didnt even really take a winter break...

I will have to update soon....

Wow what a fun couple days we've been having.  Monday night we went to zoolights at the phoenix zoo. The weather was cold and rainy, we almost had the place to ourselves... Today, Tuesday we went to the Arizona Science Center and saw the Titantic Exhibit. Again we went later in the day, around noon when the school groups were ending the tours and we almost had the entire building to ourselves. Joey is obsessed with the Titantic and we spent about an hr in the exhibit.  I even found it interesting. They had an 'iceberg' to touch and lots of artifacts.

I hope I can figure out how to upload more pics to share..

Things are going well here. Attitudes sure change when Nintendo gameboy time is limited.  Joey is working on school books and slowly finishing up 2nd grade.  I found a new store called ... Lakeshore Learning in North Phoenix... I purchased 2 games/toys for Christmas to help with fine motor skills for Joey.  One is a dart board, the second is a peg board type toy.

Joey is also using the Knifty Knitter tools and working on a pink and green scarf. He works slow but is learning and not making many mistakes.  I have been knitting as well and creating some very cute knitted hats and scarfs....  My next adventure is a blanket for Joey made on a large knifty knitter.

This weekend we are finishing up wrapping presents that need to be shipped to Ohio.  This is pretty much a homemade holiday with one homemade item and one bath body works item.... shhhh dont tell anyone..

I am off work on Tuesday and we are going to the Science Center to see the Titantic Exhibit. Joey is excited. We are also planning a trip to see the Zoolights and both zoo's...

Wow, one post all month... I am slacking...

Joey finished his 'All about me' me book and did fairly well on it.  This month we are focusing on social studies and a math review.  It should be full speed ahead to finish most of 2nd grade and start the new year fresh with 3rd grade materials.

We have several holiday events planned. Ice skating with Santa in 2 weeks, zoo lights at both zoo's, possibly a trip to the train park to see the lights...and a trip to the Science Center to tour the Titantic Exhibit.

Also the usual art classes have been put on hold for December.  Things are a bustle with wrapping and shipping so we will start them in January.  This week Joey has an Art program at the library and we will check out a number of books/media while there as well.

I hope to get some holiday cooking/baking done as well..

Plugging along at Social Studies and Self awareness. Ironically Joey is developing some behavior issues that im NOT pleased with.  Im sure they are just average 7 yr old boy actions but still... Im trying to nip it in the bud so to speak.

For example he can use a fork an spoon proficiently but is determined to eat everything with his hands. This makes a huge mess with foods like salad and spaghetti.   His vocabulary leaves a bit to be desired as well.  He is a bit too concerned with bodily funtions for my liking.  He is becoming very argumentative and cranky.   For example just now he continued to make a mess in the bathroom and make loud banging noises with a ball.  He lost the ball and needed to put it in the trash.  It will be gone for good.  I was met with a glare that could kill.

So this seems like a good time to start our "Self Awareness" lessons.   We are also focusing on 2nd grade social studies which is covering groups of people and neighborhoods, again bringing up ideas about differences etc.   I hope to have 2nd grade completed by the holidays so we can move toward 3rd grade in 2008.

I am lacking the patience to foucs on handwriting and I am lacking the funds for a class.  I am hoping this improves with practice.

Next week I will be going back to making a schedule of work for Joey. Hoping that will lead him back into the mind frame of work must be done daily.

Its November and I guess we are HOLIDAY MODE already. Joey had a blast with Halloween, literally he was an astronaut.  We have been working on 2-3rd grade and pretty much completed 2nd grade. For November we are focusing on Social Studies.  I had plans to complete an entire workbook, hopefully we can attain that goal.

Just the usual ho-hum of daily life here... things should improve next week when the time changes and I dont have to be at work so early.  Meaning I wont be so tired in the evenings.

Time sure does fly by. Last weekend Joey and  I went to Ohio for my sisters wedding.  Joey is staying in Ohio til NEXT FRIDAY.... just hanging out with grandma and doing all kinds of fun stuff.  I am enjoying the break.  I have not gotten much house work done but such is life.  Joey is progressing well with 2nd-3rd grade material.  Yes I am a mean mommy and sent him with school work to Ohio... LOL... The seasons are staring to change up there and he is totally enjoying the time outside.  He got a new scooter and is burning up the sidewalks  LOL

When he returns we are going to see a play Charlottes Web and probably a halloween puppet show.  I also have secret plans for a pumpkin patch/hay ride in October.   Its so hard to believe we are into October already.  The holidays sure are coming quickly.

This year I am determined to teach JOHNNY APPLESEED in October. 

Things are not fun when mommy is sick. Nothing gets done.  We are going to Ohio on Thursday for my sisters wedding. I hope I feel better by then. 

School is progressing well for Joey.  He is keeping up with worksheets and workbooks at rapid speed. At this rate I fully expect him to finish 3rd grade by the holidays (however I may need some time off so that my not happen)

The trip to Ohio will be wonderful for him to experience FALL where trees actually have leaves that change color, real pumpkin patches etc. And I am going to enjoy the 2 wks of peace while he is staying there.

Not much else to report.

We are back to class and working our way thru Language Arts and Social Studies this month.  Joey also is doing a science class at the Library and took part in 'MAD SCIENTIST' Saturday which was a class on Robots. He didnt enjoy the class but I think the legnth was too long. 3 hrs is a bit much for an 'unschooled' child but hey... we dont know these things until we try it.  Next month we may try a different class.  Joey seems to prefer Art type classes so I will look for that as well.

Next week we are going to Ohio on Thursday for my sisters wedding. I will be home on Sunday and Joey will be staying for 2 more weeks.  Im going to use that time to clean and organize the house.  Joey will continue with schoolwork while in Ohio.  My goal is to complete the 2nd grade Language by the holidays and slowly introduce 3rd grade math and science.  Im holding back on those subjects hoping to bring everything to the same level.    Well a mom can hope  can't she?

Not much else is new here....

Its official, we have started schooling again. Slow and tedious but we have started.  Joey is doing 2nd grade writing and languages. He will beging 3rd grade math and other 3rd grade books.

We have been super busy doing errands and a couple classes.  Thursday Joey went to a kids cooking class, they made fruit punch with real fruit and confetti bars which is cookie dough baked with lots of gooey stuff on top (marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate chip pcs etc.)  It was very yummy and I enjoyed the samples they brought the parents.  Today, Saturday was art class.  They made this adorable door hanger with a monkey on the front.  The kids used paints, wood pcs and more paint.  It was messy and so fun. While at Michaels they were clearanced out the summer crafts and items.  We got several good things PLUS a handmade floral wreath and M&M'S stationary (from the $1 bin) for $14.00  The summer floral wreaths were 90% off... so it was a grand total of $3.99.  No way was I going to leave that.

After some more errands we ended up at the Teachers Store. Joey got a 3rd grade science book plus a 3rd-4th grade "solution to bordeom" book. This book has brain teasers and puzzle type activites that are still learning based.

Tonight I think we may stay in, do a couple crafts and then some school work.  I also need to get the house clean and decide if we are moving or not (probably not).  I also can wrap some of Joeys B'day presents if time permits.

Its so hot here we haven't even been going to the pool.  Hopefully it will cool off soon and we can head up there for the afternoons.

Catch ya all later.

Joey started with some school work Sunday Night. Just a few pages in his Writing and Language Arts books.  He knows the material but he likes to goof around and give me the wrong answers at times. So for now we are sticking with 2nd grade books.  He needs to learn to give the correct answer. Dont get me wrong, we will have lots of fun and activities this year as well but if he wants to progress at a rapid pace I need to feel confident he knows the material.

We are signed up for a kids cooking class on Thursday at our Rental Office.  It should be fun, I cant wait to take lots of pics and post some details.  Its also getting time to registar for library activites, science clubs and theater shows... im soo excited to start filling up the calendar with activites and outings.  Somedays I think I have as much fun as Joey does.  Who would have thought the SCIENCE CENTER would be great, the ZOO is wonderful etc....  We are also waiting for the weather to cool off so we can get back to the beloved Zoo.

I am working the early shift at work 6am-230pm which means we get home early but I also have to get up before 5am!!!  Im headed to bed.