The Homeschool Mother's Journal...

I found a blog that does a link up every Friday called The homeschool mother's journal...it gives me the chance to recap my week...and you guys the chance to read how on target we are (or are not...depending on the week).

IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK...
This has been a pretty crazy week, we are down to only one vehicle (other than the motorcycle) and our refrigerator has been broken for a week now, we are currently waiting to buy one from a friend of mine, as soon as she is done using it.   I am so sick of eating out and eating things that don't require anything from the refrigerator I could scream!

IN OUR HOMESCHOOL THIS WEEK...
We homeschool all year long so this week has been just like all others except that I am also trying to plan for next year so we are adding some testing and assessing to the mix.  Elyse loves to test....not sure where she picked that trait up from, I have never tested her before because I hate testing...apparently she is ok with it.Makes me feel a little better about having to test her at the end of the year.

PLACES WE ARE GOING AND PEOPLE WE ARE SEEING...
The week ahead is a pretty boring week in that regards, I have no plans of visiting anyone that I am aware of.
MY FAVORITE THING THIS WEEK WAS...
A group of us homeschooling moms who are beginning to panic about next year got together to hash out plans for next year.  I loved being able to see what everyone else was thinking of using and letting our kids (all girls I might add) play together for H.O.U.R.S. uninterrupted and without fighting...how often does that happen?

WHAT'S WORKING/NOT WORKING FOR US...
Schooling year round...I love, love, love the idea of doing school for 6 weeks and then taking a week off all year...of course we take extended time as need be (illness, dr. appt., etc.) but knowing that we can make that time up during the off week works great with me!!!

HOMESCHOOL QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS I HAVE...
Why does it have to stress me out so much that I pick the *PERFECT* curriculum for math next year...it is second grade math, how difficult can it truly be?

A PHOTO, VIDEO, LINK, OR QUOTE TO SHARE...
with this being my first time ever doing this, I am going to list some of the phrases I use with my kids that apparently others think are wonderful, as I am constantly told they are going to use these sayings whenever they remember...

* I am constantly telling my kids to "remain calm" whenever anything happens, be it drama, an accident, etc.
* Since we don't use the word bu** in our house, I will tell the kids to find a home for their hiney's if it is time for them to sit.

I am sure there are others...as I think of them I will be back to update!

This post has been linked up to  
http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/

Mothers Day!

I have to say that my sweet little angels did it again.

I have spent the entire weekend on the couch covered in blankets and mostly sound asleep.  Yesterday Jamie had to work the whole morning.  I told the girls I was sick (which Elyse informed me she could tell I didn't sleep well the night before because my hair was crazy) and would need them to be quiet and play nicely, somehow we would make it through the morning without their dad.
Today during naptime Elyse made me a Mothers Day card, she then helped both of her sisters make one and she made one for her dad to give me.
I am so thankful that I don't get sick very often because I am pretty miserable and unable to do much when I am sick.  I was finally able to get up and get some (read very little) things taken care of around the house. 

Ahhh yes, garden time!

It has been a crazy month...between the wild rainy weather and the illness and passing of two of my grandfathers, I have accomplished very little in the way of schoolwork, or gardening for that matter...we did get some work on the lapbooks (our first ever lapbook).  The girls love them.  Thanks so much to Jolanthe for providing the worksheets...I have lots of creative ideas but no so much time...

We have measured the perimeter of the garden and are going to tear down the old nasty fence and replace that starting this week. We will be mapping out where our seeds will go also.  Then by the end of next week we should be able to start planting...not sure if it is too early yet or not.  Will Should probably do some research before we begin that process.

***for some reason my computer WILL NOT let me download pictures right now...I am going to try doing it from the laptop over the weekend and see if that is more successful.**

The greatest men I have ever known

This past weeks was one of the worst weeks of my life.  I lost both my great grandfather and my grandfather within 3 days of each other.  These men were two of the most influential men in my life.  They were there for me from the very beginning.  Most of my childhood was spent at one of their houses....I was with them more often than I was with my own parents.  Thankfully the story doesn't stop there.  I know that both of them were also my brothers in Christ, I will see them again some day.  That doesn't mean I am not sad and do not miss them terribly, I just know that they have received their promotion (as Alfred would say). 

It is times like these that I am so thankful to be homeschooling.  It is such a relief that we as a family are able to stop worrying about the mundane things of this world and focus on the more important values and lessons that can only be taught in real world situations.

Tomorrow we will begin our normal schedule and get back into the swing of things.  Both the kids and myself could definitely use a schedule again.  And, it is just in time to prepare my neglected garden for pictures and posts on Thursday for the Garden Challenge.  

Focus on Elyse

I love watching Elyse learn new things.  She is so concentrated and focused until that little light bulb goes and and you know...she has got it.  I have gotten to see that a few times the past couple of weeks.  We have been working on reading all year but she has just recently "gotten" that she no longer needs me to read her directions to her...she can sound it out on her own.  And, for a girl that loves independence...it doesn't get any better than that.  

In our grammer book we have been working on our initials...it has occurred to her that her initials spell 'end'...which to her little first grade mind has been the funniest thing ever.  

This coming week we will be focusing more on getting our garden together and probably possibly working on plans to build a chicken coop.  Will definitely be back to post pics of both of these endeavors.

When the Roll Is Called A Thunder

Camdyn loves to sing.  All.the.time.  She sings with us, with Aunt Betty and all by herself.

We have a nightly tradition of singing three songs before she goes to sleep.  She gets to choose the songs, I try to help her some nights.  Some of the songs she sings are just too cute to pass up.
 I love to hear the words that she sings.  Her newest song to sing, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder"...or as her version "When the Roll is Called A Thunder".  How precious.  The day is going to come when I have to correct those words but until then, I will just sit back and listen to her sing her own version. 

Gardening 101

We are embarking on uncharted territory this year...for us at least. We are starting a garden. We have tried for three years and this year we are going to do it. The ground has been tilled, weeded and is ready to go. Now, if only the weather would cooperate...one would expect nice weather this time of year. Not so much.





We had an awesome dig-in-the-dirt-kind-of-day a few weeks ago but since then we have had what I would like to believe is our last snowfall of the year.



The garden has been tilled once this year, and will be ready to be tilled again right before planting begins. As for the fence area, it clearly needs to be revamped so the rodents will not take advantage of our garden before we can.

I am so excited to begin this adventure. And can't wait to begin the lapbooks that will be going along with our discoveries through this adventure.