The Homeschool Mother's Journal...

I can not believe it has been over a month since I last posted.  This summer is flying by so quickly!!!  And, still so many thing that I want to do and places we want to visit.  Better start tackling the list soon or the whole summer will be gone.

I am once again linking up with Weird, Unsocialized Homeschooler for the Homeschool Mothers Journal, you can find it here if you want to join in also.
 
 

IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK...
We had the pleasure (for us anyway) of having my hubby home with us all week.  While it was unfortunate for him (he was in quite a lot of pain due to a sprained thumb).  We have not had him home for a whole week for at least a year.
IN OUR HOMESCHOOL THIS WEEK...
We have relaxed quite a bit the past couple of weeks, we are year round homeschoolers (we have just lost our direction a little).  Elyse has continued to do her math work for at least 3 days a week, but Haven's school has pretty much slacked completely off.  We are reading a lot, we started the Summer Reading program through our library and that is keeping all of the girls pretty entertained.  I also made BINGO cards with lots of fun activities on them for the girls to use so the "I'm bored" statement doesn't become part of their everyday lingo.
PLACES WE ARE GOING AND PEOPLE WE ARE SEEING...
We met up with a group of friends at the Children's Museum this week, the girls had so much fun and I was completely worn out when we left there.  Hubby was a trooper, he went with us and at times it looked like even he was entertained being there.  Planning to go back again this week, they have a series that aligns perfectly to Galloping the Globe which we will begin in the fall.
MY FAVORITE THING THIS WEEK WAS... 
Not being on any type of morning schedule at all.  I would not like survive if every week was without a schedule but one week a year is actually kind of nice.
WHAT IS WORKING/NOT WORKING FOR US...
The BINGO cards I mentioned earlier have been a wonderful hit for us, there are rules(isn't there always) that the girls have to follow before they can begin working on their cards, namely, their room has to be clean and breakfast has to be eaten.  Then they are free to begin the activities on their cards.  It has been so fun watching them try new things and revisit old activities that they used to think were boring.
QUESTIONS/THOUGHTS I HAVE...
I am so glad I finally decided on a math curriculum for Elyse, I chose Bob Jones...I know, I know, it wasn't even one of my original choices but I am so excited to begin it in the fall!!
A PHOTO/VIDEO/LINK OR QUOTE TO SHARE...

This is not a recent pic. But I couldn't resist sharing.  I just found an old sd card that had pictures I had completely forgotten about taking.  This is my oldest and middle children about 2 years ago.  Wow, time flies!!
 

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.