Sep. 2, 2008 - Our First Real Day of Homeschooling
Today is the day where the rubber officially met the road. We played at homeschooling last week by working on our Webkinz unit study. But today was the day we started our book work.
I got up right after John left for work, and Amanda was not far behind. Katie got up once I told her I was making hash browns for breakfast.
We got started on phonics and grammar at 8:30. I quickly discovered that the grammar book we chose is for 7th-12th graders, so I had to scrounge around and find some grammar stuff online. PTL for Scott Foresman!
We did a glyph for September, and listened to 3 Skippyjonjones books on CD. Both girls worked on math, and we finished out Webkinz lap books.
We were done by 11:30. Okay, once again I felt guilty because we were done already! We started an hour after Public School and finished 2 hours before. I know, I know, we are one on one. But, it's still going to take time for me to understand that I can actually do this!
I guess it is a good sign that Katie told her Dad that school was fun today.
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Aug. 27, 2008 - Day 3 of Not Back to School Week
Yesterday we were bums. We did a bit on our lapbooks and watched and movie and listened to the rain.
It is still raining this morning and the girls are still asleep. Katie put a bucket outside last night to see how much it would rain. I guess that counts as science huh?
We spent a family night watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Sunday night. The girls loved it and are singing the songs. Katie and I checked the book out at the library last night, so we'll read a loud some today.
More work on our Webkinz lapbooks, and reading about raccoons and monkeys. Tonight starts Wednesday night church - choir and missions.
I am still trying to squelch that voice inside of me that is saying my kids are going to be useless, ignorant, truants. Amazing how deep the school indoctrination goes.
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Aug. 26, 2008 - Feeling Guilty Tuesday
Well, our local PS has been back in session for 2 days now. And, even though we don't technically start until 9/2, I am already feeling guilty.
Yesterday we met a local homeschooling group for lunch and bowling to celebrate "Not back to school day." The girls had fun, and so did I. We also worked on our Webkinz unit study and lapbooks, and read.
Today we worked on our lapbooks a bit, and pretty much vegged out because it rained all day. Thus, the guilt.
Katie was on the phone with one of her PS friends this afternoon, and she said she had fun while her friend said she was bored at PS. Katie told them we went to lunch and bowling, and had been working on lapbooks and reading.
Okay, so why the guilt? I suppose I feel like we should be doing SOMETHING, anything, that resembles school. I mean, how do you tell if they are learning anything if you don't have a paper to prove you studied it?
Well, John did ask the girls their bowling scores last night at the dinner table. Then he asked Katie to figure out her average per frame. Can we count that as math????
I have read all the books, and know that Katie is going to have to decompress from PS, but what about me? Where's my PTA card???? Where's the sign up sheet to volunteer as room mom? Oh, yeah, I already AM the room mom.
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Aug. 25, 2008 - Our First Official Day
Hooray! Public schools have started back this morning, so I suppose we are now "officially" homeschoolers!
I was up to watch the bus go by at 6:20 AM (Yes, 6:20), and the girls are still snoozing at 7:45 while their former classmates are sitting in their first class.
I am positively giddy over the fact that we are at home. It feels so free, and fun!
Once the girls get up, we are going to do some housecleaning, and work on a fun unit study on Webkinz. We'll start our official book work next week.
We might even go to the library - during the day!
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Aug. 19, 2008 - Advice Column
Got this in my email and thought it was cute:
Why men don't write advice columns
Dear Larry:
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband
in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a mile down the
road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back
home to get my husband's help.
When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the
neighbor lady. I am 32, my husband is 34, and we have been married for twelve
years.
When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an
affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was
let go from his job six months ago, and he says he has been feeling increasingly
depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the
ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling and I'm
afraid I can't get through to him anymore. Can you please help?
Sincerely, Jane
-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Jane:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of
faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel
line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold
and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the
problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery
pressure to the carburetor float chamber.
I hope this helps.
Larry
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Aug. 18, 2008 - Organizing Monday
I have spent my morning tidying up from the weekend, starting laundry, and getting some things ready for our upcoming school year.
I hung the bulletin board in the kitchen, and the white board. Not sure how much we'll use it, but it's up there.
Then, I got out the "new" copy of Explode the Code I ordered for Amanda from an independent seller on Amazon. Imagine my surprise when I find that half the book is already completed! I am NOT erasing all that, so I ordered one I know is really NEW from CBD.
Ugh. I can't remember if it was listed as new, but I know it did not specify that pages were marked! This is the second time I have gotten something from an independent seller that is unusable. The first was a Scott Foresman Reading workbook. It was not only marked up, but there were pages missing!
Well, live and learn. I have one seller on there that I know sells good quality items. Guess that will teach me to go with the lower price.....
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Aug. 14, 2008 - It's downright amazing......
...what one can find when one moves furniture in kid's rooms. I am playing rotate the furniture today, and was moving the desk out of Katie's room to the bonus room. (For those of you who don't know what a bonus room is, it is the Southern version of a basement - a room built over the garage - I'd rather have a basement.)
When I then moved the rest of the furniture around in her room to make more space, I found:
* the lost stylus to her Nintendo DS
*the other ankle support for the soccer shin guards she handed down to her sister
*a hairbrush
* assorted trash
I then went into Amanda's room and moved the computer into the bonus room on the freshly moved desk. Then I moved the desk in Amanda's room out to be recycled into bookshelves. After juggling furniture around in her room I found:
*most of my teaspoons
*several Littlest Pet Shop Pets
*a hairbrush
*a bag of cheetos
*assorted trash
I have not tackled her closet yet because I am afraid of what I might find in there. I need to save that for another day. She does a great job cleaning her room - at least we thought so - until we discovered half of our dishes and silverware in her closet along with her dirty clothes. 
Well, at least the room looked good.
Now it is on to the bonus room tomorrow. It has become the repository for all things which do not currently have a home. I am purging big time, and setting things out to take to the yard sale our church has each fall. All of the proceeds go to state and national organizations that fight World Hunger.
John has already taken over one van load full, and I have a bunch more stuff. I am going to take one box/tote a day in the bonus room and purge some more. It is actually kind of freeing to get rid of stuff.
I also purged the bathroom drawers and cabinets today, along with my makeup. I had about 10 cutesy little makeup bags I am donating to WH - you know those ones you get free with purchase? Guess I purchase a lot!
Here is a link to our church if you want to check out the World Hunger information.
Blessings!
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Aug. 13, 2008 - I Will Survive!
Someone posted this for me on our local support group message board. Maybe you've seen it before, but I hadn't, so I am posting it here for your singing pleasure. Drop the disco ball.....
Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor
Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss
First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
’Cause I’m not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we’re nuts,
but they don’t even bother me
Come on, let’s go walk out the door.
We’re on the road now,
'cause we’re not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we’d be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I’d give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we’ll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They’re not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you’d better call ahead first
’cause we’re probably busy!
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Aug. 13, 2008 - Olympic Girl Seen but not Heard
Interesting side note to the Bejing Olympics - the little girl who captivated the audience in the opening ceremonies was not the one actually singing. The singer was deemed not cute enough to appear.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/12/oly.kids/index.html
This is just plain sad. The first picture is the little girl who appeared. If you click to picture 2, you will see the singer. She is just as precious and real. How sad that she wasn't allowed to be seen.
But, would we be any different? What image do we send to our little girls here in the US? You have to be this thin, this tall, have this color hair, wear this brand. I suppose we can throw stones at the Chinese for choosing the picture perfect little girl to be out front, but I don't think the US would be any different.
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Aug. 11, 2008 - Buenos Dias Monday!
I have decided to add some basic Spanish to our curriculum, so I have spent the morning searching for free resources. I have printed off posters for the alphabet, numbers, colors and days of the week. I guess it would help if Amanda could actually read the English words first.
I started taking Spanish in 2nd grade and continued until I graduated from HS. I actually got to the point where I could read Spanish without having to translate it into English in my brain. Alas, 33 years and diminshed gray matter has reduced me to being able to speak a few phrases (Donde es el cuarto de bano - an ever important phrase to know!) understanding snippets of rapid fire conversations and reading a bit.
I can still read an pronounce most words, so I am thinking we can get through the first year with free resources. I like free. Free is good - or bueno!
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Aug. 8, 2008 - Friday
Amanda wants to get her ears pierced. Her little friends have them pierced as well as her sister. I think she will do fine, but we leave that decision to Daddy.
Speaking of Daddy, things are in an uproar at the bank where he works. He has known for the past couple of days that something was afoot. Today he found out that his Boss' position has been eliminated.
Now John will have a new boss and more employees. It is stressful, but we are thankful he still has a job. We will be praying for his boss and family.
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Aug. 6, 2008 - Do I have Six Heads?
We were at the neighborhood pool the other day. One of our older neighbors was there. She knows we are homeschooling this fall. So, she asked if we were ready to start. I told her yes. Then she asked if we had all our books.
I told her we had some curriculum for math and grammar, and we would use the library for a lot of our studies. "Then came the question - "You mean you don't have to use a curriculum sent to you by the state.?" Uh, No. "I am surprised Dr. G (local school superintendent) would allow that!" Uh, he has nothing to do with homeschooling. "Really?" Uh, yes!
I suppose I should get used to people looking at me like I have 6 heads. Homeschooling is just so foreign to some people, and many think it is just school at home. I know people do school at home, and some states have curriculum you can choose to use at home.
But part of our reason for homeschooling in the first place was to get out of the school mindset, and love to learn. Wonder what kind of looks we'll get when we are out and about during the day when school is on?
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Aug. 4, 2008 - Monday Morning
It's Monday morning. Things to do. Laundry awaits. Joy.
VBS crafts went well last night although we had an issue with the theme iron ons for the t-shirts the kids brought. Hope that gets ironed out tonight. (pun intended).
I am confronting an issue with Katie that I am not sure how to handle. I keep trying to sneak learning in and trying to get the kids to understand that learning is a continual thing not something we do during "the school year". Amanda is more receptive, but probably because she only we to PS for K.
Katie, however, keeps putting up a fight. "It's summer!" "I don't want to do any school/read/learn until school starts". Ugh. I am already getting frustrated and our school year isn't here yet.
I got some books about China and the Olympics, and a lapbook template, so we can watch the Olympics and learn. Katie is digging her heels in about this as well. Now, I am not planning this to be a sit down and study kind of thing. But more fun and learning associated with watching the Olympics. I hope I can figure out what is going to spark her interest!
Getting her to read is another issue. She just hates it. But, she did say something the other night that I was glad to hear her say. When John asked her why she doesn't like to read, she told him he doesn't read. And, he doesn't - he is a tv watcher. Maybe this will spark him to read more?
I am also stressing because on the message boards I frequent, it seems like there are more and more posts about confrontations with officials, or questions being asked. Then there is the new ruling in Washington, D.C.. Maybe Satan is trying to make me rethink our decision to homeschool?
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Aug. 2, 2008 - God's Big Backyard
VBS is upon us! it begins tomorrow night, and today I am finishing up preparations for the Grade School crafts. Tomorrow after church and lunch, we'll head back to church and start decorating and getting craft items and rooms set up.
This is the first year I have actually been in charge of and area for VBS and I am stressing a bit. I hope the crafts will be fun, and that I have everything I need.
Here is some info on God's Big Backyard:
http://www.vacationbibleschool.com/vbs2008/
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Aug. 1, 2008 - If Mama Ain't Happy......
I was doing a section in Cultivating Contentment a Women of faith Bibkle Study the other night, and this particular section really rang true to me. The thrust of the section is about complainers. "A nagging wife annoys like a constant dripping." Proverbs 19:13 NLT, was the first verse.
Now, honestly, I am not a big nagger to my husband. In fact, I probably am the opposite and don't speak up when I should. But, I do harp on the kids at times. Hmm, anyone else do this?
As I was doing this, one of the questions was "How does a woman set the temperature in her home? How can she affect the moods around her?" Oh boy. The old adage "If Mama ain't happy ain't NOBODY happy" popped into my mind. Funny, I always used to think of that saying as meaning if Mama isn't happy somebody's in trouble.
I suppose that could be true, but in the light of this study, I realized that if I am not happy, everyone gets cranky around here. If the girls and I have a bad day, and I tell DH about it, he comes home in a mood, ready to read the girls the riot act.
That, of course, causes them to be in an even better humor than they already were having to deal with me, in a state. Can we say it all goes downhill from there?
Another of the verses was Proverbs 21:19 "Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman." I bet when I am in a mood everyone else wishes they WERE in the wilderness.
Do you have any friends or family that just have a negative take on everything? I do. I see thei negativity being reflected in their children, teenagers and grown children. Makes me stop and think that my attitude does carry a lot of weight here at home.
Now I am not suggesting being a Pollyanna all the time. Sometimes you just have to let it go and let it out. Then you have to let God have it (easier said than done at least for me!). But maybe I need to reflect a bit more at times, and not "sweat the small stuff".
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Jul. 30, 2008 - This N' That Wednesday
Today we took our homeschool card over the the girl's old school so they could make a copy and have it on record. We don't want the truant officer on our steps. (Do they still HAVE truant officers?) It was interesting that the principal smiled and wished us well. Don't know why I thought I would run into lots of questions and resistance.
I still feel so scattered about what we are going to do this fall. I have curriculum for the girls, but am leaning more towards a Charlotte Mason/ Unit Study/ Unschooling approach. Is that even possible? Or is that what is called 'Eclectic Schooling"?
I have a set curriculum for math and for Amanda's phonics. But I am leaning more towards reading & unit studies for history, science, social studies, reading, writing etc. Part of me wants a set curriculum for everything and a nice pretty little workbook and teacher's guide. But, I know in my heart, that if this is going to work, especially for Katie who has been in PS for 5 years now, it has to be less structured.
I also want to be able to follow their passions. I think part of raising our kids is seeing what special gifts and talents God has given them, and helping them pursue those. Mine are still young of course, but part of the reason I wanted to homeschool was so their God given talents could shine. I just don't think you can see that in the PS box.
I ran into a church friend yesterday who is also starting homeschooling with her oldest this fall. She is going the Classical Education route. She asked me how I was feeling about it all. I told her I pretty much run the gamut from wanton excitement to abject terror! You know, "This is going to be so much FUN!!!!!" and "Oh my stars! My children are going to be idiots!!!!!".
I've planned about as much as I can. Most of my work now is trying to get the girls to see that learning is part of everyday life, not something that happens August - June. Amanda is more open to this, but she has only done Kindergarten in PS. Katie still has the year all boxed off.
We are going to do a unit study on the Olympics. I have to get DH on board with watching the Olympics or we're never going to get anything out of it. Once enticement was studying China and getting to order out for Chinese food!
We'll be studying elections in the fall. The girls want to do a unit stufy on Webkinz, which I am working on at the moment. Amanda loves frogs, so I am sure we'll do something with that, and Katie adores Star Wars, which opens a lot of doors in science and history.
It all sounds good - I just hope I can carry it through!
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Jul. 28, 2008 - Lack of Motivation Monday
Why is that once I return from vacation I have no motivation? Isn't vacation supposed to refresh and recharge a person? I just can't seem to get moving.
I have laundry to do, and I need to work on the house. I am trying to declutter and organize before we start homeschooling. How did we collect all this "stuff" anyway?
On the upside, we received our official notice, and we are now an official homeschool! Yay!
I still waver between wanton excitement and abject terror about this entire thing. What an opportunity! Will I ruin my kids for life? Amanda seems so excited to get to follow her heart in learning. Will Katie always be so bored?
I guess I can only continue to pray about it and follow HIS lead.
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Jul. 26, 2008 - Back from the Beach
We just spent 10 wonderful days at a condo on Caswell Beach, NC. The condo belongs to some wonderful friends at our church, who rent it out at reasonable rates. Caswell Beach is near Southport, and is very non-commercial. We spent our time on the beach, in the ocean and at the pool.
We took the ferry to Fort Fisher and the NC Aquarium, visited the Brunswick Town Historic site, the nature center. We watched Tropical Storm Cristobal go over head on Friday and Saturday. We saw lots of wildlife first hand - pelicans, seagulls, racoons, jellyfish, a shark and a stingray that a beach fisherman caught.
On our way to Brunswick Town, we passed a marshy area with signs saying "Unlawful to Feed Alligators". I told John to pull over so I could take a picture, and lo and behold, there WAS an alligator!
The alligator is that black bump just to the right of the sign in the water. Those are his eyes.
The girls got their faces painted at a local ice cream shop. Gracie the Clown was top notch. No little rainbows on the cheeks for her! We ended up with a Princess and Spider Girl.
We all hated to leave, but it was a memorable trip!
*~*~*~*Please pray for the family of Daniel Lattimer. DLat was involved in a car accident on 7/16. The driver died at the scene. DLat fought a good fight, but went home to be with Jesus last evening. He was 18 years old. *~*~*~*
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Jul. 17, 2008 - Today's the Day!
We are heading out for our beach vacation! I am so excited! We get an extra couple of days, because our children's pastor had the condo booked for this week, but she has to leave early. Yay!
We are pretty much packed. We have our shell field guide, and notebooks to wrtie in. I have tons of books to read and crocheting to keep me busy. Oh, and the camera - lots of pictures to be taken.
I have been checking out free and almost free things to do in the area. There is a colonial historical site near where we are going. There is also a nature preserve with a touch pool. The state aquarium is just a ferry ride away, and the planetarium is nearby as well.
Looks like there are some free museums - a maritime one, and an art one. And, there are free concerts in the nearby town as well.
Well, better finish packing so we can head out when John gets home!
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Jul. 16, 2008 - What in the world was I thinking????
It is summer, and we are in summer mode. You know, more relaxed, less routine, sleeping later most days.
Well, a friend at church was heading to Mother Daughter church camp with her youngest, and her husband was headed out of town. So, she asked if the older daughter could spend the night last night. She and Katie are best friends, so of course we said yes.
Katie has also been attending VBS at another local church, with another friend her age at church. So, I invited this girl to spend the night as well. Just thought they might all have fun, and yes, I admit, it was a stab at being a "cool mom".
Things were going okay until 3:45 AM, when Katie came into our room whining. I asked her what was wrong and she said "I am tired and no one else will go to sleep!" Even my younger daughter, who I tucked into her own bed at 9 PM, was in on the ruckus.
I stumbled down to the family room, and read them the riot act - calm down and go to sleep. It got quiet pretty quickly, but alas, I was now hopelessly awake. I tried to go back to sleep, but ended up heading downstairs to read. I finally fell back to sleep around 6 AM.
The girls got up at 8:00. We were supposed to go to one of the free summer movies, but I am so not in the mood to deal with 3 ten year old girls and 1 six year old girl in a van and at a movie. They are making pizza for lunch right now, and then we head to the pool.
Remind me never to try to be the "cool mom" again!
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