So - what's the skinny on my jumping ship??

Well - there are several reasons that I am leaving Facebook. The biggest one being I am just trying to prioritize in my life right now and its not fitting. It just takes up too much of my time and I'm neglecting other areas of my life. I wish I could just back off a little, take a short break, only get on Facebook on Thursdays (ANDREA!!!!) or some other such option - but unfortunately - I'm an all or nothing kind of gal.

I have tried to wean myself off of soda many times. I can't do it - it's cold turkey or fully IV'd turkey. I prefer the IV, but have to stick with cold. I cannot keep soda in the house - or I drink it. (And yes, I do have a six-pack of Pepsi sitting on my counter!).

It's the same with Facebook - if I don't delete it, I will be back. Not just once a week to catch up, not just once a day to see what everyone's doing. But every time I have a free "moment" and sit down...my moment turns into a few moments.

So, there you go. I just told on myself.

I hope to keep this blog updated as much as possible. I plan to include Tannerisms (of course!!) - and Lizzieisms and Hunterisms!

I have all of three people that SOMETIMES read this blog - hopefully with my shameless plugging on FB, some more will join the ranks!!

Blessings!!!

How Many Times Can One Change The Direction of Their Blog?

Ask me next year!

Well, many know that the kids are back in public school. It is working for now - tho', I admit that I'm already counting the days until they are home again. Already looking into 6th grade curriculum choices for Hunter...only a year and a half! Truly, tho', this is working for us for now. It may not be perfect, but we don't live in a perfect world...

I am planning to turn this blog BACK into a family/kids/school update blog! Hope to make it a journal, of sorts. Pics and stories - especially Tannerisms. (I really need to write a book about that kid!).

It may take me a few days (read: couple of weeks!), but hope to give the blog a whole new look!

Blessings!

A New Schedule

Well, I wouldn't go as far as calling last week a bust. We got some good school in - and I think they learned something. But I found that there were WAY too many interruptions and I wasn't getting enough one-on-one time with each child. So - we're going to try something new...

I've decide to set up centers. Our centers will be:
Free Reading - self explanatory
Games - all educational
Flashcards - all educational
Crafts - their chance to be creative!
Typing - for Lizzie and Hunter
Science - books and activities pertaining to current topic of study
History - " "
Handwriting
Free time - they can choose free time ONCE a day, and get to do whatever they want non-educational (except TV or non-ed computer games)

So - I have also changed our subject schedule. M-W, we will hit Math and Language hard. I will spend 1.5 hours with each child to cover both subjects (45 min. each). During that time, the other two will choose centers - in 15 minute slots. They will each have a timer so they know when to move on! Thursdays will be Science and History - and we'll spend a couple of hours each working on our current topic of study. This time will include reading, reviewing, crafts, experiements and even some field trips. Fridays will be homework, catch up, field trip and library days.

Subjects covered:

Math
Language (includes: reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
Science
History (includes: US History, US Geography, plus)
Bible - Bible is M-Th before anything else!!!

I feel pretty good about our schedule...hope that it sticks and we get alot of learning done!!

Tuesday and Wednesday!

Some pics and conversations from our first couple of days in school!



Tanner had the following answers on his Bible worksheet (he dictated, I wrote it down).

Q: Write one or two sentences that tell what God's special creation (man) can do that animals cannot do.

A: (in list form) read, buy food, drive cars, smell (well, some animals can't, he said!), talk, open doors, fireworks LOL

When asked what bone God made woman from, Tanner answered - in all seriousness - "The funny bone"...but after laughing and before correcting, he answered it correctly!

Here are a few pictures of our school day...sorry for a couple of doubles, posting pics isn't very user-friendly!

Edited to add: The craft that the kids made is the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria...

1st Day of School? nah...

Ok, so around 11:30 last night I realized some key items that needed to be done, didn't get done. So - today will be Last Day of Prep...sigh.

So - we're keeping school hours and getting it done completely! And we're also getting a visit to the library in as well. Tanner is READY to start, so I'll work with him on a few review items.

Until tomorrow...hopefully I'll have some pics to post!

School Starts Monday!

Yes, I do still exist. Yes, I still have 3 great kids and Yes, we are still homeschooling.

Well, it's time for another year of school!! I'm excited to get started! I think that this year will be quite a bit different from last year. We're going in a whole different direction - and I'm hoping that it will be more fun for the kids.

To start the year, we'll be studying the following:

Math - we'll be using MathUSee this year. I'm really excited to get started on this curriculum. I'm sure some of you remember the issues we had last year in math. Poor Hunter and Abeka math just did not get along. I've hears SUCH good things about MUS, I'm excited to get started! (guess that means I need to look at those DVDs and learn it myself now!! nothing like procrastination)

Language/Reading - we're using www.lessonpathways.com

Science - we're starting out with The Human Body, with books purchased from Mardel and various online resources (lessonpathways). We'll also study Weather, Electricity, Magnetism and other subjects, tbd at a later date.

History - A Child's Story of America, Native Americans (using online and library resources), Missouri History, US States/Capitals (books, games and flashcards from Mardel). We'll also be looking into Medieval times due to special request from Hunter!

Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting

We'll also be doing lots of arts and crafts - and learning some sign language.


I'm looking forward to getting our year started. Stay tuned!!

Happy Monday!!

Well - this day is certainly going better than anticipated!! The past couple of weeks have been very trying for me - for personal reasons that I won't go into here. But our reaction to life is our choice - and I'm choosing to see the positive and I'm choosing to be thankful for all that I have. A wonderful husband that works so hard and sacrifices much to provide for his family. Three GREAT kids that I adore. And even more importantly - a Father that loves and forgives, even tho' I DO NOT deserve it. It's such a blessing that God doesn't give us what we deservce...instead He offers mercy.

This week we are looking forward to Jeremy coming home. He'll be back on Friday around dinner time! The kids have missed him alot! We've enjoyed being able to see and chat with him over Skype - but it's so much better in person!

This week we're forging on in our lessons. In Science we're learning about Ponds...it's, of course, not the ideal season for going to a pond, but I'm hoping to revisit the subject by lapbooking a little later this year. We'll try to visit on then!!

We're finishing up familiarizing ourselves with the United States of America. This morning I had them name all the states that they knew - and I only had to help out on about 4 or 5. I've decided to not push for memorizing in alphabetical order (we will still try to learn the song, only now, just for fun!). We are going to work on some Massachusetts history before heading back to our book - hoping to put together a lapbook on MA.

We are reading our Egermeier's Bible Story Book and absolutely loving it. The kids never want to stop!! We talked about Jacob and Esau today - Tanner referred to "Seasaw". Too funny.

Math and Languagae are going really well for the kids. Hunter has some catching up to do, but he's doing great. Lizzie is flying right through it all...and learning alot!

We've got some field trips coming up that I'm excited about! Next Monday, we're going to go to the Museum of Science in Boston. This is not only exciting because we're 1) getting out of the house, 2) getting to go to Boston (we've not been at all yet!) 3) we get to ride the train in to Boston, but its also very exciting because Dad gets to go with us! The pass from the library that is saving us a substantial amount is also awesome! On the 23rd, we're going to a planetarium! I've never been to a planetarium, so this is exciting for me as well!

Well - I guess that's about it for now!!! Happy Monday!!