Gotta love the questions kids ask sometimes. We were driving in the car today to go to a belated Valentine’s Day party with our homeschool group when my four-year-old said, "Mom! I need to ask you a question." She then proceeded to ask, very seriously, how many teeth cats have? I told her I didn’t know, but that we could look it up when we got home. It’s 30, by the way.
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"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." ~ General John Stark
There’s something about the new year that gets me in a planning mood. Inevitably I end up doctoring our school process a bit, too. Each year, though, I feel like I get a bit closer to that elusive perfection. My most recent idea change came after listening to archived episodes of a podcast called "Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008" (downloaded through itunes). I was inspired by Jim and Sheila Carroll of Living Books Curriculum. They follow a Charlotte Mason philosophy, which really intrigued me. I took a look at their programs, but alas, as they are they wouldn’t be a good fit for us. I will be adapting some of their ideas, though.
Currently I’m working on 4th grade. I’m putting together a 36 week program divided into four 9-week quarters. I’m following The Well-Trained Mind four-year history/literature/science cycle combined with cultural literacy ideas from The Core Knowledge Foundation.
The time period is 1850 – present and we’ll be covering literature, art, music, and history in that time period. Story of the World, Volume 4 will be our history spine and I’ll add living books (fiction and non-fiction) to flesh things out more and make history come alive. I’ll have dd pick history projects from the SOTW Activity Guide as well. Literature selections will be a mixture of classics to be read aloud and adaptations of classics to be read independently. I made selections based on The Core Knowledge Foundation’s Books to Build On, The Well-Trained Mind, and Jim Trelease’s The Read Aloud Handbook. I’m excited.
We’ll be keeping our writing (Writing with Ease), handwriting (Handwriting without Tears), and spelling (All About Spelling) programs. I’m going to switch dd to First Language Lessons 4 next year (this year she is doing Growing with Grammar 3). I’ve come to really love First Language Lessons 1/2 for my younger two and think it would work for my oldest as well.
In math we’ll keep on with Math U See. For science we’ll be reading biographies and doing science experiments from Janet VanCleave’s Physics. We’ll use Usborne art books for art history and appreciation. We’ll use A Joyful Noise for cultural literacy songs and Meet the Composers for music history and appreciation.
Religious studies will focus on church history and the Doctrine and Covenants using the church publication, Doctrine and Covenant Stories. We’ll also start Lively Latin.
I’ve got the first nine weeks worked up so far. I’m excited!
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"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." ~ General John Stark
Now I’m coming back home. (Name that tune!)
So…a lot has happened. We added a new baby in June. My husband’s parents have moved in with us (they live in an apartment we built for them in our basement). The kids are all older since last I wrote.
Probably the biggest change for us (aside from the new baby) is my recent diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease and stroke-like migraines. At the end of September the left half of my body went numb. I went to the ER and they did a CT scan, but didn’t see anything that looked like a stroke. I was given some migraine meds via IV and sent home.
After a visit with my family doctor and a recurrent episode of stroke-like sensations, I had an MRI of my brain. They found a mass of something and told me to go see a neurologist. The neurologist said the mass in my brain is fairly common and nothing serious. He ordered more tests to rule out more serious problems before attributing these symptoms to migraines.
After an MRI of my neck, I was told I have an enlarged thyroid. I saw an endocrinologist who ran some labs. My tests came back positive for Hashimoto’s Disease, which is an auto-immune disorder that causes my body to attack my thyroid. My thyroid compensates by growing new cells to replace the ones that my body kills off. The result is hypo-thyroidism. I have a follow up visit this month. Eventually I’ll need thyroid medication. I had an ultrasound of my thyroid to make sure I don’t have cancer (I don’t–whew!). I’ve been feeling quite fatigued lately, but I’m not sure how much that is a result of the Hashimoto’s or the fact that I have five children. 
The really hard thing has been getting 1-4 or more migraines every week. I decided to start taking a migraine preventative. I’ve been on it for a little over a week and it may be helping. I’ve only had two migraines so far.
Song(6) has been sick with a stomach bug today so I’ve got to process the laundry (again) in my efforts to that clean up. The kids really want to get the Christmas decorations out. I told them that we’ve got to spiff up the house a bit first. There’s really nothing festive about decorating clutter or garbage. 
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"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." ~ General John Stark
I realized yesterday that I’m now 20 weeks into this pregnancy. That went fast! I’ve been busy (what mom of four kids isn’t?).
We’re still plugging away at school. I had typed up a really cool detail about how I’m organizing our studies now, but accidentally deleted it. Ugh. I really do want to share it, though, so I’ll type it up again.
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"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." ~ General John Stark
I know that the good people of this land realize the importance of preserving the Constitution. Many express that they desire to do so, yet these same people vote directly against it by electing individuals who enact laws and policies that undermine our Constitution!
Some of these elected officials ignorantly whittle away at the Constitution because they simply do not understand the document or how to apply its underlying principles. Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney is perhaps an example of this when he said in a debate that he would have to consult his lawyers as to whether or not he could declare war.
Other elected officials knowingly violate Constitutional principles. The Constitution, at its essence, prescribes a limited Federal government. At this point, neither mainstream Republicans nor Democrats act in a way to actually implement a limited government. Both parties have expanded government and would choose to expand it further. They simply disagree on which areas to expand. Vote for McCain or Huckabee and you’re voting to (unnecessarily) increase the military. Vote for Clinton or Obama and you’re voting to increase (unconstitutional) entitlement programs. Some would work to increase government all around. The larger the government becomes, the less freedom we have.
I no longer identify myself with a political party. I identify with the Constitution of the United States of America! I’m a constitutionalist. I will fight forever for true freedom, real Liberty as our Founding Fathers and Mothers did before us!
They were not afraid to give up their lives to fight for freedom. Patrick Henry’s fervent speech where he declares "Give me liberty or give me death!" was not a mere sound byte or talking point–he was in real danger of being killed for his beliefs!
They were not afraid of hard work or failure. Naval hero Captain John Paul Jones, while on his sinking ship, defied the enemy’s demand to surrender with the declaration "I have not yet begun to fight!"
I refuse to stand idly by while those around me work to destroy the Constitution and liberty itself!
I will never give up!
I will not vote for anyone who does not uphold the Constitution!
I will not accept the "viable candidate" options presented by the media!
I will vote for freedom, liberty, and the preservation of America’s Constitution!
I will vote for Ron Paul!
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"Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils." ~ General John Stark
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