Today I had to process payroll for one of my clients and go visit teaching.  I woke up at 6:00 and started working on the bookkeeping and payroll.  Lots to do today!!!

I've been doing homeschool opening exercises with all the kids for the last few days.  They are enjoying my more lighthearted approach.  We sing several songs including hymns and especially songs from the children's songbook.  I ask each child to pick a song and it seems to go over very well.  

Today we reviewed 1 Nephi chapter 1 and read chapter 2.  I paraphrased for the little ones and then had them act out parts.  They really like to act out the stories!   I also tried to find a way to explain sin and repentance.  At first I asked them to remember how we planted watermelon last year and ask them what happened when mom and dad stop tending the garden.  They said lots of weeds came up and the watermelon died.  But when it looked like Captain and Princess my 7 and 5 year olds were not really getting it, I changed the visual picture to dirty shoes.  I told them that sin was like getting your shoes all muddy, stepping in dog poo, and stepping in gum.  We could wash the "sins" away, but it was hard work.  The dog poo smell would linger on the shoes for a long time and the chewing gum would be very hard to scrape off.  I paralleled that to different sins and how they "stain" our souls and asked them to remember to watch their paths closely so that they would not step into a pile of "sin".  They thought it was hilarious.  I hope the children understood.

Today is our 2nd day of Rick Fisher's math program today.  The workbook "Mastering Essential Math Skills: 20 minutes a day to success" seems to be a hit.   The review exercises are a good amount and mix of problems to help the girls continue to practice the key skills.  They are focused and attentive.  I have found it necessary to teach a lesson on the “new” skills introduced, but do so in conjunction with the dvd lesson that is included for each worksheet.  I think this is necessary because the dvd and worksheets don’t go to the depth adequately for the girls to understand the new concept.  So far this looks like a great program.  

It was another scorcher today.  I left the house at 11:30 for my 12:00 appointment with a counselor I’ve recently began to see.  I got to the office and found out that my appointment was for 10:00 a.m., but I had put the wrong time in my phone’s calendar!  I apologized and she asked if I would stay until she found out whether her noon appointment was showing up.  Her noon appointment showed up afterall, so I rescheduled for the following Friday.  Afterward,  I refilled our water bottles at the water store, went to Petco to purchase bird food and spray millet, and to the library to pick up a book I had on order called “How to Tutor” from Sam Blumenfeld.  I had to bring the water bottles in from the car.  My DH usually does that, but today he didn't.  Each 5 gallon water bottle felt heavier than the last.  I was tuckered out after getting those in the house.

We have switched Family Home Evening to Friday since DH is gone Monday nights.  We had a great time.  We put on a CD I got from the library today.  It contains recent pop music hits from Pink, Gwen Stefani, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson - songs we only hear when we listen to the radio which isn't often since DH has an ipod.  We listened to the music while DH did a slideshow for the kids of dinosaurs and animals that we projected onto a sheet.  Then we had a "laser show" using laser pointers on the ceiling and danced in the dark living room with flashlights.  I'm so glad my kids think this time with Mom and Dad is fun -- even my oldest who is nearly 11 isn't too "cool" for family night.  I am so blessed!

Breakfast:  Hot dogs (Weird huh?)

Lunch:  Bologna sandwiches

Dinner: Loaded baked potatoes with chili & cheese, apples, & bananas with whipped topping & drizzle of chocolate sauce.