school day 78

school day 77

school day 76

school day 75

cleaning
math
20 min read
narnia

projects

Full Scale Noah's Ark Coming!

This is really tremendously exciting!

AnswersinGenesis.org is organizing ARK ENCOUNTER, which is a project to build a full scale ark!

We have been so blessed by Tom Dooley's The True Story of Noah's Ark.

Historical account of Noah's Ark starts in Genesis 6.

school day 74

math
narnia
projects
Awana

school day 73

Sarah's tiger had an owie so she built him a hospital.

Math
Narnia
projects

Tuesday evening group, Philip made some paper airplanes...

school day 72

Finished Magician's Nephew
Started reading Lion Witch Wardrobe
20 min reading

school day 71

Pour rain

Can't remember what we did...
Math
Science
20 min Reading

MB came in late afternoon

school day 70

Played Take Off (geography)
Watched HTSB dvd (last episode) & did assignment/crossword puzzle
Math
Millers
20 minutes of reading

school day 69

Lots of rain!
played Apples to Apples
Great way to play: 3 players, deal 5 cards to each player who is in the hand (one person is the judge, don't deal theirs), two players put in their best card, judge hand, then each player uses remaining 4 cards to make a silly sentence!
Math
Trip to library

Awana

Focus is getting to know kids, enjoying each other, winning their hearts, it was a superb day!

After last night's Tuesday group, I am feeling better...I think I have a better idea what is going to work for us. A quasi-delight-driven-unschooling-eclectic homeschool. Academics are important but not the priority. I know what I need to be doing for the next few weeks. After the new year I will allow myself to re-evaluate but not before then.

school day 68

Guitar songs
Science-Outdoor Secrets
Math
Finished Mr Popper's Penguins

school day 67

Yes, this is Sarah's birthday, I think her 2nd birthday.

Queen Frownie!

Today was a horrible day.  I was winging it and the kids weren't responding well.

We managed:
morning proverb
science lesson 2 from outdoor secrets SCM
math
bible dvd & lesson
how to study Bible
and 20 min reading

Seems like a lot but everything was a very very short lesson.

school day 66

Dan is really into making up games and he's pretty good at it, too!

This is a dice game.

We started Discover 4 Yourself, Children's Bible Study Series: How to Study Your Bible, for Kids today.

I purchased the dvd and one book. The kids (10 and 7) really seem to like it! And thus starts a 6 week study on "How to Study the Bible"!! I wish the dvd came with a set of printable pages though, it is difficult for me to copy them.

We'll start each day with our Proverb of the Day and breakfast. Our first school subject will be this dvd each day into the new year.

HTSB (How to study the Bible)
Math
The Millers (workbook is now optional)
Calendar Book

school day 65

Math
Calendar Book

school day 64

Starting back from vacation yesterday was not a school day. Though I'm pretty happy to say that we are back into our routine which is really awesome. I thought it would take awhile.

Vacation did several wonderful things for us. One of which is that the kids seem to be a little more "free and peaceful". They are working their through the day without stress and finding playful and useful things to do on their own. Playing=learning! Useful=learning!

No one has yelled or been irritated today. I like this and want to work with this throughout the rest of the week.

We did math today. Moving the Proverb for the Day reading to the breakfast table.

As I look back, it is simply miraculous that we are doing some things we didn't used to do. Like our breakfast time together. I really enjoy that. And lunch, too. We review our Awana verses at lunch each day but not on weekends. What a delight is really is to have them at home!

today's joy-the rain cycle

OK, so I'm in a space right now where I'm questioning my methods since I started reading LOL. One thing that has been a cool thing we've done is this Calendar Workbook...once a day the kids mark down something to do with the weather and for November we note if it was "dew, dry or frost". We haven't had our first frost (that I know of) which is weird, so we have "dew" everyday.

Sarah said, "what's dew"? I googled it and read the definition and she said, "Oh, (in a knowing way) I know the rain cycle".

Really?

She explained the rain cycle quite eloquently. I was very impressed that she knew it well enough to explain it and suggested that she draw a picture of the rain cycle. She gladly agreed and proceeded to draw with crayons, standing up at the table and SINGING. Happy heart!

"Honey, where did you learn the rain cycle?"

I expected her to say "school" and put my homeschooling efforts to shame, because as of today I feel like she hasn't learned anything (not true, but it FEELS like that)...

She answered,

"Blues Clues"

school day 63

58 - Tuesday Nov 2
59 - Wed
60 - Thurs
61 - Fri
63- Mon Nov 8
63 - Tues Nov 9
Wed decided to take 2 weeks off

I'm reading Wisdom's Way of Learning, also Lifestyle of Learning by Marilyn Howshall. I need some time to digest and evaluate what parts (all, some, none) I am going to incorporate.

In starting this grand adventure, I find myself "double-minded" (but more like quadruple schizophrenic!) and I'm swayed by this wind of reason and by that. So I need to ground myself...and one thing I've needed to grasp IS HOW FAR WE'VE COME in such a short time. As I look BACK, I'm encouraged because looking ahead is somewhat (terrifying!) since I just don't know how this is all going to turn out.

One thing I am extremely confident about...I have zero faith in the public school to accomplish anything near to what we're going for, so I don't have to be intimidated by that ever again.

So I will continue to post our vacation days, we've already been having a lot of fun! Dan and I have great challenges of Tank Battle and Backgammon...he kicked my butt at the game of LIFE, too!

Pics are from one of our morning table time, Daniel was building with his crayons.

what happened?

OK...what happened?

I was posting daily and then-stopped.

Now what do I do???  I'm a master at sabotaging my perfectionist behavior...Ms Perfectionist wants to ditch the blog and start over...BUT Ms MakeLemonade says, "don't worry, just KEEP GOING despite the fact that there's a HUGE HOLE in the school days unaccounted for!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Move over, Ms P! Onward!

Photo is Sarah with her Lava Glitter Slime...we just finished reading "Caddie Woodlawn" together.

tuesday nights

This was my first Tuesday night meeting up north. It was dark and wet and we were 20 minutes early!

The kids LOVED it. I LOVED it. Can't wait to go again next week.

Photos are after Campbell's baptism. M & A treated all of us to doughnuts down the street, it was such a lovely day!

campbell's baptism

Campbell was baptized in the Catholic church today. It was a gorgeous day!

influential parenting seminar #2

Today was my 2nd seminar and it was really awesome! I've been going through my notes and want to make some comments here on the topics.

more on this later

Photo is Sarah's "train" that turned into a fort for dad's birthday. LOVE the no-soliciting sign next to the doorbell!

school day 58

I continued to purge but the kids did do a list of individual studies today but not a normal day. Went to the park because the weather was GLORIOUS! About 70 today...balmy and sunny! Sent in our ballots, hope you voted, too!

Only a few more very short chapters remaining in Pilgrim's Progess! We have SO enjoyed it and will certainly read it again together.

school day off monday

We took today off. I needed to have some time to purge out the perfume room. John has been working a lot so here's the kids saying good night on the phone.

Cursive First arrived and I scanned most of the sheets...I am excited to use the practice sheets with Sarah. She is very excited to be learning cursive! I think everyone enjoyed not having a schedule today. Kids played and watched Sonic videos which was just fine because I was able to focus on this very gray and rainy day.

Thanks to Mr G who helped us get the flat tire fixed at LS. And it was FREE! Thank you Lord!

ms creativity

Over the past few days, Sarah has been creating faces from the Usborne Big Book of Playtime Activities. She does this during Bible reading and I think she had done a wonderful job using sticks to make puppets! She did her own puppet show for us earlier today.

school day 57 friday

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD-this was so enjoyable! It is sad to see it come to an end!

Proverbs 20-22
Narrated Bible-Tower of Babel
Old Testament Lapbook
History-ok I'm not happy again...working on how to teach history
Spell to Write & Read
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch

Outside: Small Castle Park and V Park-oh how we LOVE the Small Castle Park! A truly glorious, sunny crisp autumn day!

Specialist: Wisdom & the Millers

Dessert & Devotions: Awana, Pilgrim's Progress for Kids

school day 56 thursday

Proverbs 21
Narrated Bible-Jesus Turns Water to Wine
History Lesson 8-Tower of Babel
Old Testament Lapbook
Spell to Write & Read + cursive
Memorize His Word software
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch: Awana

Outside:

Specialist: Art Lesson 2

Today We Read:
8pm Dessert & Devotions: Pilgrim's Progress for kids

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school day 55

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Proverbs 20
Narrated Bible Reading-Jesus Tempted
Old Testament Lapbook
History Lesson-True Story of Noah's Ark
Spell to Write & Read-cursive with Sarah
Time Attackz Daniel, Memorize His Word
Math U See
Calendar Book

Chore Before: Vacuum
Lunch 1pm: Awana

Outside: Small Castle Park

Awana

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school day 54

phoo
Tuesday List

Lunch: Awana

Outside: nope, rainy mist and cold

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Science: Moody God's Creation video

Listened True Story of Noah's Ark
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Today We Read: Charlotte's Web

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school day 53

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Proverbs 17
Narrated Bible-Noah's Ark
History Lesson 2
Spell to Write & Read
Memorize His Word software
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch: Awana, read Wind in the Willows

Outside: quick trip to library after dark, cold & windy

Specialist: Story of the Orchestra-Bach

Today We Read: Wind in the Willows

8pm Dessert & Devotions: Pilgrim's Progress for kids

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cats kit

We have a terrific library system.

I've asked the kids a few times, "what do YOU want to learn about?"

Both are interested in CATS.

The library will put together KITS on pretty much any topic...and our CAT KIT is ready to pick up! I can't wait! They will LOVE it!

Update: 10/30/10-the cat kit is adorable, but really for kids under 5ish

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mr. whittler

We took our very first family camping trip with some church friends in August.

As we sat by the campfire (the glorious campfire!!), Daniel noticed Josh whittling.

A few weeks ago Daniel told me he'd like to "learn how to whittle".  I'm thrilled! It worked out for me to order him a book on whittling...the 10 most important things about whittling are ONE thing...a sharp knife!

John took him out on the front porch tonight and they whittled together. Some nice spears came out of the time together. 

I'm really proud of his workmanship and his interest in doing something new. I could see his confidence bloom right in front of my eyes!

school day 52

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Proverbs 16
Narrated Bible-Noah's Ark
Old Testament Lapbook
History Lesson 1
Spell to Write & Read Step 6
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch 1pm: Awana

Outside: Big House Park with wheels

Specialist: Wisdom & the Millers

Today We Read: Wind in the Willows

my image lightbox

school day 51

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Proverbs 15
Narrated Bible-Noah's Ark
Old Testament Lapbook
Spell to Write & Read Step 5
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch 1pm: Awana

Outside: Blue Park

Specialist: Library

Today We Read: Bears on Hemlock Mountain, Alice Dangliesh (entire book)

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school day 50

Breakfast: The Phantom Tollbooth on CD

Proverbs 14
Narrated Bible-Noah's Ark
Old Testament Lapbook
Spell to Write & Read Step 4
Math U See
Calendar Book & Writing Page

Lunch 1pm: Awana

Outside: Dentist (me)

Specialist: Music (Story of the Orchestra)

Today We Read: finished Courage of Sarah Noble, Alice Dangliesh

June-2 days
July-10 days
August-7 days
September-19 days
October-12 days and this blog starts on Day #50 Oct 20

These "school day" posts are for me.

I want a place to jot down what we do each day academically. No burden of adding photos, just fast text to document each homeschool day. For me and for record keeping...for posterity.

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annual trip to pumpkin patch!

Campbell's first trip to the pumpkin patch! And next year he'll be toddling around!

Last year was so yucky and rainy that we didn't go to the pumpkin patch. We carved pumpkins at Auntie's house. This year our trip was glorious and sunny, though the previous weekend was a cold, dark downpour! It was very busy this year and we enjoyed having MB with us! Nana, Dan and Sarah in the corn maze!

Sarah LOVES getting her face painted. Next year, I'll make sure to think of others first and stand in line when no one has to wait for us!

Sarah Slinger! John ALWAYS gets a prize for slingin' his pumpkin into the target, but this year SARAH was the only one to hit the bullseye! What a Slinger she is! For her prize she selected a bag of Kettle Corn-yum!

 

today's truth-schedule

Wow.

I just realized something.

I've been trying to fit my life into a schedule, a list-to no avail-FOR YEARS. I remember the futility of trying to live by little blocks of time in college, as a newlywed and a mom. I felt like I had to schedule those chores, the work day, the preschool coop...get all that on my daily planning sheet...but now I know the secret!

The Lord doesn't wish for me to live by a daily schedule of neat little blocks of time! He wants me to live according to the will of His Spirit! As I'm listening to Him speak through my conscience, I've been released from that futile endeavor! (I am still planning my month and then my week, but when it comes to the DAY, I'm allowing Him to guide me).

Here all this time I thought it was "Godly" of me to work up a schedule for my own daily life and now as I begin to homeschool. I've felt defeated because I've never been able to get a daily schedule on paper let alone FOLLOW it!

In no way am I saying that a routine or a written schedule is evil! Hear my heart...I'm learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and He recently has been directing my days...I don't NEED A SCHEDULE! So for today, that is a nugget of truth I learned...there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (or those who can't fit their life in a box!!) Hallelujah!

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today's joy-schoolhouse rock!

Ah, Schoolhouse ROCK.

I was about 5 when the first ones hit TV in 1973. "Three is a Magic Number"..."Figure Eight, if you skate"..."Conjunction Junction, what's that function"..."Lolly Lolly Lolly Get your Adverbs Here"..."Interjection, Shows Emotion"..."Gabriela Sasparilla, and she found and Aardvark and now he is hers and we're so happy"...

It warmed the cockles of my cockles to watch Multiplication Rock and Grammar Rock with my kids today.

Today's Joy? Schoolhouse Rock!

image used with permission? yes or no

tuesday toilets

This hurts...my pride.

Part of homeschooling (living and learning at home) involves chores at our house. Every other Monday was to be "bathroom day". I have been "diligently" taught the kids how to do the toilets.

As the Lord is parenting me (and then me parenting my children as He parents me) He is teaching me how completely off the mark I've been in my methods and attitudes.

Here is the email I wrote to my friend explaining what happened...

Hi B,

I don't believe I've kept you up to date on what's been going on in my heart as a result of meeting you and Marilyn (there's a lot!) so I want to take a moment to share one incident with the purpose of encouraging you, being transparent and testifying to God's goodness and power.

The Monday after the seminar I attended was our "toilet day".  We've had a housekeeper for a very long time but needed to free up funds since we started homeschooling.  So now I have to get it together to do my own toilets and housework. She left me in July.

So I thought it would be good "character training" to teach the kids to do the toilets with me. Homeschoolers do plenty of chores, I've read, and I want to be a "good homeschooler". Plus, I had read somewhere that a mother who does this has the added benefit of when she gets sick, they children know how to do these tasks and the house continues to run smoothly. How prudent.

So I purchased the needed supplies (I didn't own a toilet brush) and told them every other Monday at 3pm we'd be cleaning the toilets together.

So we all gathered with empty trash bag in hand, toilet brush, toilet cleaner and adorned ourselves in bright yellow rubber gloves.

So first off, I'm NOT especially good at, uh, being concise. We actually watched a YouTube video on someone cleaning a toilet before we started! (you might call this a UNIT STUDY!!!!)

SINCE I WAS DOING THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME TOO, I WAS A HORRIBLE TEACHER.

"No, do it here. NO, do it THERE. Spray this first, NO, DON'T TOUCH THAT! Here, let me do it. No, you do it."

I became more and more irritated as I could not control them and they bumped their clothes on the dirty parts, I got mad because they didn't spray enough cleaner, I yelled because they didn't "get it all" or hold the paper toilets correctly and were lazy getting all the surfaces wiped.

OH MY GOODNESS, it was AWFUL!!! (I think you can see the sad situation!)

I barked at them, shamed them, yelled at them and threatened them. WHAT A GOOD homeschooler I am, teaching my kids how to clean the toilets. (!)

Oh, the utter despair we all felt! And the hurt I had caused, which I thought was GOOD. (sick!)

So, here's the story...

That Monday after my first seminar, I heard my conscience telling me "to do the toilets by myself". I let the kids cozy up to a movie while I did the chore.

It did not take long before I heard the Father guiding me to do certain things.  I was so pleased to be hearing and obeying! He started by telling me to do "extra" cleaning that I didn't want to do...like cleaning out the trash can...you know, the kitchen garbage can gets stuff in it and on it and occasionally IT needs to be cleaned. I had to get hot water and really scrub to get it clean and I was a little miffed that I actually had to obey and clean and go to the extra effort and time because I HATE cleaning at all. As I wanted to shortcut here and there, He was very specific that he wanted it PERFECT. Though I obeyed in action, my thoughts were angry and rebellious. I finally got the kitchen garbage can sparkling!  I had done a good job. I had listened and obeyed. Now I could rest. (my husband was thrilled with a clean can!!!!)

But there was more to do. Upstairs, he told me to CLEAN THAT ONE TOO...well, it was a big job to get the kitchen can spotless and I was angry that He was demanding I do it again for the bathroom can!!  And along with the 3 toilets that needed to be done!

(this is SO humiliating telling you this!!!!!!)

but I was determined to die to my flesh (in deed if not in thought) and I became MAD and saying really awful things in my mind which made me even MORE irritated. I found myself getting sloppy and trying to get away with not doing it as He told me to.  I was somewhat indignant that He was being SO petty about cleaning the garbage cans so thoroughly, telling me to "No, do it here. NO, do it THERE. Spray this first, make sure to get every little tiny corner..."

And then He spoke.

"Is this not what you do to your children? Do you not demand unnecessary perfection that burdens them? Do you not require so much of them that it frustrates them? Do you see how you are hurting them? My ways are not these ways."

I was shocked, surprised and speechless. I was not expecting His firm reproof in the midst of my obeying in deed (while rebelling in thought).

I quickly became broken as His piercing, loving questions sunk in.

Broken. Horrified. Mortified. Embarassed. Remorseful, sad, grieved and finally, truly repentant. I broke down in tears and agony for the pain I had caused them. I was blind to what I was doing until that moment.

In great humility and tears, I went to them immediately and told them everything that had happened. (they are fascinated at how listening to my conscience is resulting in ME BEING PARENTED, they LOVE it and it is helping them trust the Lord!)  I think they were concerned that I was crying and in emotional pain. But I could see on their faces, a wave of relief that the Lord Himself had protected them!!!!!!!! Forgiveness was immediate but the pain of hurting them still lingers as I write this.

And so many other things have been happening in the few weeks since we've met.  I'm soaking up what you are teaching me. I am SO aware how my flesh produces DEATH.  I'm motivated to continue in the Spirit, regardless of how difficult it can be. I am seriously eternally grateful for your teaching and time. Thank you!

cardboard architect

Today I attended a seminar on Influential Parenting.

It is very obvious to me that the Lord guided me there because I heard a message that convicted my heart.  More on this later.

The seminar was on loving (the opposite of selfishness). In spiritual terms (isn't everything spiritual?), the physical man (flesh) is by nature sinfule and completely self-serving. The born-again, regenerated man (spirit) is sacrificial love/servant.  I am so convicted that I am constantly self-serving.

So when my children want to do something with me, I often turn them down since my flesh or self-centeredness usually wants to do something else.

But when Sarah told me she wanted me to help her with her "house" today, I could not turn away. I want to love her with all I am and with all He is.

We had a blast! She LOVES making things, constructing things, building things. She also loves playing with any sort of humanoid, doll, animal and orchestrating social vignettes. I love her so!

influential parenting seminar

Today I attended a seminar by ladies with Influential Parenting. You can see them here: http://www.influentialparenting.org/

The way I found out about this meeting...I was on http://www.homeschooloasis.com/ and she kept referring to Marilyn Howshall and somehow I found the Influential Parenting site and blog. The site listed the event and when I read the blog along with the testimonials on the site, I KNEW I had to meet these people.

I wasn't wrong...(more on this later)

mixed signals

Daniel informed me today that guitar might not be the best instrument for him because he doesn't LIKE practicing it. He might like synthesizer or drums better.
OK, son, I heard you. We'll do what we can to expose you to drums and keyboards...maybe you'll enjoy practicing one of those?

first year homeschool curricula-snapshot

We've really had to hone in on what's important for this first year. I've cut out A LOT of what I had planned! I was so worried we'd have tons of time on our hands, but that really isn't the case at all.

Our priority is to: establish a routine and learn about God from the Bible. Math is an essential for us. Reading is essential. Those things are bedrock. For now, everything else is icing.

Now we build on that...
I love MathUSee so that has been going quite smoothly from the start. I LOVE how Steve introduces algebra throughout even the first Alpha book.

We have already gotten SO MUCH from Wisdom and the Millers. The workbook is excellent for my 5th grader. It is a little much for my 2nd grader so we just have her do what she can for each lesson. We do one chapter per week. Rod and Staff along with Christian Light Publishers offer what I consider "wholesome old-fashioned" Christian resources.

We also have the Responsibility series from Pearables. We do this once a week and since I'm a FAILURE at anything domestic, it has been a fun learning tool for ALL of us! We do one lesson from each once a week.

I have purchased a ton of books for history. I bought the HOW Adam through Messiah, then Simply Charlotte Mason's Ancient through Deut...I think we'll get into that after doing one or two weeks on Creation. There's a cool lapbook "Creation vs Evolution" that I really like. I think it is here.

I ordered several books off the Module I for history and I'm excited that we are finally underway as of 10/22! We did lesson 1 in Ancient through Deut from Simply Charlotte Mason.

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