Homeschooling Zorro!
• Sunday, November 8, 2009 - Boys and Their Toys
Most of my years as a mom has been spent acquainting myself with the toys boys love. Many of you may understand some of the love-hate that can go with that whole process. Take, for example, the plain and simple Lego. I love the hours of entertainment my boys have with their thousands and thousands of Legos of every size, shape, and...I'd say color, but most are standard issue Star Wars gray and black. The hate part of these toys is what happens to my vacuum cleaner when it has finally sucked up just one too many Legos. *sigh*
So, on to the topic of this entry: Bakugan. I won't begin a debate on the merits (or lack thereof) of the game itself. I'm just talking about the little plastic balls that turn "critter" when they are rolled. Moms who have these things in their homes know they are a combination of Happy Meal meets Transformer meets card game meets bowling. (At least, that's my take at this point.) Lucky me. These have been in my home for a very short time, and they have wreaked more havoc than I'd like to admit.
First, these things are small. They are pocket-sized and, for some bizarre reason, thoroughly entertaining and enthralling to a boy. Maybe this is why they seem to be everywhere I look? They appeared under the covers at bed time, so they had to disappear. When they appeared at the home schooling table, they disappeared. When they appeared at home school group, they disappeared. When they appeared at church--you got it--they disappeared! (Sensing a theme here?)
Home school group was Friday, and I confiscated the "critters" right before I left town for a ladies trip to Springfield, Illinois, for a Beth Moore conference (another topic to be sure). Well, wouldn't you know it--the little buggers ended up in my leather tote bag the whole time and continued to roll out of my bag repeatedly, causing them to expand/explode at various times when I was not in the mood. I can't even count the number of times I put the critters back into ball form at the hotel on Friday night! I would close one, and another would explode. See? These things really are everywhere I turn!
Today the critters were confiscated before service (all six of them). My Dashing Hero determined I should be the keeper of the critters in (where else?) my leather tote bag. This wouldn't be a problem if I weren't carrying my Bible, pen, and other necessary church things in my bag. Between worship songs and sermon, it was bound to happen. The leather tote toppled...and out came six little balls out of my bag. Yep. They exploded all over the aisle, popping like popcorn all over the floor.
Moms watching knew I had recently confiscated them, I'm sure.
But, really! Really? What did I do to deserve this moment in life? I would have left them in the middle of the aisle, but I knew people would probably be tempted to punt them in the direction of the stage thrust to score a goal...or maybe that's just me.
*sigh*
Boys and their toys.
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• Nov. 4, 2009 - Hello All
Posted By Dot
Well hello everyone. It has been awhile since I have posted here. I got on Facebook and don't get over here much anymore.
School is going good. Teaching Textbooks is working out good for my son for math. He is able to do it without any help from me and it is a good thing cause that stuff is just going right over my head. It is probably cause I have no interest in learning it, but I won't tell him that. lol He is really doing quite well. I am so proud of him.
Lets see, I got a quilt top done and will try and post a picture of it real soon.
Son got his first deer this youth season. It was an 8 point buck. Let me tell you that was alot of work cutting it up and putting in the freezer. But got it done.
I got called for jury duty this month. Really dreading that. I tried to get out of it cause of homeschooling and they said no way.
Son got his desk finished too. It turned out really nice. Here is the before shot.
 And now the after picture
 We finally got a dry week this week. It is so nice not to be fighting mud every time you go outside.
Well that is what has been up with us . So until next time, here's hoping you all are doing well.
Dot |
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• Nov. 3, 2009 - When dreams become cloudy....
Posted By Encouragement Along the Way
Of all the places I could choose to write about this, here seems to be the perfect place. Maybe becauseyou know my heart better than most, maybe because "Encouragement Along the Way " is the title of my book and my blog. Venting is something I do very rarely and these words are not writing in anger, more befuddled and confused than angry.
You see I discovered the other day that my publishing comapany no longer exists. I was not told it was no longer in business. I was not notified that they were no longer distributing my book. Truth is I don't even know if my book is even available anywhere any longer. The original file, the publisher did not return. You see I wrote an email requesting I be mailed a case of books. I was planning on a book signing prior to the Holidays. After all this is the time people are most likely to buy a devotional. Anyway, the email was returned adressee unknown. So we went to the Publishers website.. It was gone! Without any notice it was completely gone.
When my first publisher sold the company, we had great correspondance, decisions were made and new contracts exchanged. The new publisher well, that has never been the case and it breaks my heart. I expect Christians to behave honorably. And that has not been the case, not even respectfully have I been included in this dissolving of my ..."MY" book.
I am told it is mine to do with as I please. Find a new publisher, self publish, or e-book it. I am open to the Lord's direction. Valerie posted this verse on her FB today, and I knew it was God speaking to my heart.
We rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love. Romans 5:3-5
This is my prayer,my focus, my desire. This hope is the only hope that does not disappoint. So today I am developing character, praying to forgive and waiting for direction. After all, it was never ever my book, the heart of it, the words in it ,they were always the Lord's. It is His to do with as He chooses.
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• Nov. 2, 2009 - Swine Flu!
Posted By EclecticEducation
| Ugh! I've had a rough month! My 2 sons came down with the Swine Flu on Oct. 7th and I followed on Oct. 8th. My kids are doing ok. I am still fighting to get well. That is why I haven't written at all for so long. I've been very sick. I've seen the doctor's 4 times and had to get chest X-rays. They say if my cough is not better by the end of the week, I may be getting more X-rays. *sigh* I was having trouble eating and couldn't keep my food down. I lost a total of 12- 14 pounds and I was getting dehydrated. If I hadn't started keeping my food down over the weekend, my husband was suppose to take me to the hospital on Sunday night. Luckily, I started keeping it down!!! I think I am finally on the mend, but I still have a ways to go, so my post may be light for another week or two. Hopefully by then, I'll be doing better. |
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• Oct. 27, 2009 - Homeschool Toolbar Blog Launch Giveaway - Discovery's Planet Earth
Posted By Tiany
To kick off the launch of the Homeschool Toolbar Blog a pretty nifty giveaway is underway!
http://homeschooltoolbar.blogspot.com/
Discovery Channels Planet Earth! An $80 Value
This version is exclusive to the Discovery Channel Store.
More than five years in the making, Planet Earth redefines blue-chip natural history filmmaking and continues the Discovery Channel mission to provide the highest quality programming in the world.
Award-winning actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver narrates this 11-part series. You'll be amazed by never-before-seen animal behaviors, startling views of locations captured by cameras for the first time and unprecedented high-definition production techniques.
Features:
- 11 episodes and bonus materials
- A behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, technology and danger that went into the making of this incredible series
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes on each episode
- Bonus disc featuring 'The Future' documentary – a three-part companion series revealing the vulnerability of the natural history of earth.
- Format: DVD
- Number of Discs: 5
- Run Time: 10 hours 3 minutes
Plus the Best of Discovery Collection Volume 4 Valued at over $75 (if purchased separately), this fourth edition of the Best of Discovery series includes 4 DVDs featuring four of Discovery Channel's recently acclaimed programs including "A Panda is Born - Baby Pandas first year"!
- Format: DVD
- Number of Discs: 4
- Run Time: 5 hours 44 minutes
Entering this giveaway is super easy, visit the NEW Homeschool Toolbar Blog and enter to win!
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• Oct. 25, 2009 - My daughter and her husband renew their vows
Posted By Encouragement Along the Way
• Oct. 14, 2009 - What I have been up to lately
Posted By Dot
Well as usual it has been busy around here. I have been doing quilting between schooling and everything else. Plus I just painted a picture of a dophin on my wheelcover for my van. Here is a picture of both.
 Also you just have to see what my son wrote on the board the other day cause he was bored sitting at his desk. lol
 I thought that was so cute.
Oh, and another thing happened. We found out a couple weeks ago that my hubby's son that just got married on the 29 of Aug, his new wife is pregnant. So we are going to grandparents. They are just thrilled to pieces. I was hoping they would wait a little bit and get to really know each other better first but am happy for them non-the less.
Well I am going to get some dishes done now. So hope you are all doing great. Have a great day.
Dot
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• Oct. 4, 2009 - Long Lost and Hopefully Not Forgotten
Posted By Christy
I thought I would just check in this morning. I haven't posted in a long time. I haven't been feeling good lately but that wasn't an excuse for before. I just really didn't feel like I had anything good to blog about. Good things have happened, I just didn't feel like putting it all down. I don't know how much I will be around but I would like to try to come in and do something. I really spend a lot of time at Facebook now too. It is just so easy. Oh well, we will see what happens.
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• Oct. 3, 2009 - Make Homeschooling Fun
School does not have to be a drag! There are many ways to jazz up your homeschool, allowing your child to have fun and get a good education. Here are some tips:
1. Use living books instead of textbooks when possible. Children can get into stories much easier than they can a dry textbook. Use the living books as a jumping off point to learn more about the subject. You can build an entire study around the book.
2. Make lapbooks or an interactive notebook to go along with your studies. Most children love colored paper, stickers, colorful markers, cutting and pasting. Use this love to do something creative, fun and educational.
3. Use puzzles. Puzzles require thought and so they are educational, in among themselves, but if you do a puzzle of the United States, the World Map, fine artwork or something, then you have an added benefit. By studying the pieces, your child is learning the parts of the map or is studying the fine detail of that makes up the artwork.
4. Go on nature walks. Studying nature not only teaches your child about the world around them, but it helps them develop important observational skills.
5. Play games. There are some games, like Made for Trade , that are made to be educational even though they are fun. Then there are games like, Monopoly that were not made for educational purposes, but still have many educational components. Games are a wonderful way to have fun, but learn also.
6. Add movies and videos to your school day. Ok, I know this is a controversial one, but I truly believe there are some awesome shows and movies that teach. A few that my son loves are Word Girl (teaches vocabulary), Cyber Chase (math), Magic School Bus (science), Liberty's Kids (American History) and Between the Lions (Reading). Now obviously, you don’t want to try to watch them all in one day, but one or two of them a day a few days a week is a good balance. Kids love the idea of getting to watch tv in school and a lot of the educational shows are packed with information. It’s a good use of the 30 minutes.
7. Make sure art, nature, music and physical activity is a part of the daily activities. These extras are fun as well as good for your child.
8. Make scrapbooks for learning. These can be for history, science, geography, or even art. It’s a fun and educational way to display what your child learns and they can get creative putting it together (if they are old enough).
I hope these tips help you make your homeschool fun as well as educational!
A Craft Apron and Craft Bag you can order for your child:
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• Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - The Ancient Wonders of the World--According to a Boy
This year has been a bit of a review of the Ancients before we move into the Middle Ages, etc. At this specific time we were challenged to remember the list of the first few Wonders of the World.
Me: Can you list the first three Ancient Wonders of the World?
Bell Pepper: The Great Pyramid. The Hanging Gardens.
Habanero: And the hand writing on the wall!
Me: Son, these wonders are the larger-than-life, man-made wonders that we know of in history. There is a list of the Natural Wonders of the World, though, and those would be God-made, I suppose.
Habanero: Come on! A hand popping out of nowhere writing on a wall! THAT'S a wonder! And, it sure ain't NATURAL!
You know, he just might be right. . .
In other news, our handsome Bell Pepper will be turning 11 years old. Would someone mind informing me of how that could have happened while I wasn't looking?!?
Have a great week, friends!
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