Scientifically Speaking

My son is doing great with his schooling so far this year. Everything seems to be just the right level for him. I always fret a little over this every year. I want to challenge him without killing his love of learning.

Well so far so good.

This is what he says to me the other day.

Richie - "Mom, I'm really glad I'm learning science."

Me - "Oh really?"

Richie - "Yea because now I can talk scientifically"

Me - "You can? What do you mean?"

Richie - "Yes, like right now my tissue cells are fried"

This is in reference to the sunburn he got while out on the fishing boat with his dad.

Saving Dinner For Busy Homeschoolers

The new school year is in full swin around here. It has been a good couple of weeks.

I had almost forgotten just how busy we are this time of the year. Tuesdays are the only days we are home for a decent chunk of time all week.

Last year the one thing that really made everything bearable was my crockpot.

You heard correctly. It doesn't matter how crazy my day has been, or how long I've been away from the house, because I know that when I walk through that front door I'll smell some yummy goodness coming from the kitchen. It is comforting to know that there will be a nice meal waiting for us when we get home, regardless of what time that may be.

So, I say that my crockpot has been the number one most appreciated tool around here during the schoolyear. It is so much easier to put dinner together first thing in the morning before any of the days events even begin.

And my husband definately appreciates having a home cooked meal. If it weren't for my crockpot we'd be eating a ton of fast food, which my son would love.
So tell me what is your favorite crockpot recipe? I am always looking for some new great recipes.

Blogger Friend School

Class is back in session. I am so excited about this years Blogger Friend School.

I really enjoyed participating in this last year and getting to know so many people better. It also was a wonderful way to really get to know myself better in some ways too.

The class of 2008-2009 is just getting underway.

What is Blogger Friend School you ask? Well each week on Tuesday they post a new Blog writing assignment. You then have a week to complete the assignment and add your link to the Mr. Linky.

There is an added incintive to completing all of the assignments. They are also having a Back to School giveaway. The giveaway is for 2 beautiful Hardcove nature book and a nature journal.

I do hope that you'll join in the class. I look forward to getting to know everyone better.

Week #1

Our first week back homeschooling went as well as it could have.

With Kalene having intense volleyball pratices 3 days a week, school is what it is. We just fit it in where we can. Richie and I did school on Monday and Wednesday in the car outside the building that practices are held. It really is amazing how much can be accomplished when you are stuck in such a small space with no outside distractions for 2 full hours. It has also given us the opportunity to just talk about things together. I am appreciative of this time with my son.

Richie is doing very well. As I could have guessed he gets up early and gets straight to work. No major complications have come up yet. He is actually enjoying the things I thought he wouldn't, like Lifepac Language Arts and Testprep.

Kalene has been very responsible with her time. She has a huge block of time taken by volleyball, and this week she also begins soccer. So she is aware that time is valuable. She has worked hard without complaint, so I'll take that as a sign of the way things will go this year.

She also left for a mini Mission trip to South Carolina to help a Childrens Home on Thursday. They cleaned the facilities and did yard work. They left at 8:00 pm for the 14 hour drive down. As soon as they got there, they got to work. Sunday after church they stopped for a few minutes at Myrtle Beach before heading back home. She came home at 7 am today and I picked her up for volleyball at 8:45. She is sleeping now.

That was last week. I am curious to see how this week runs.

Our Trip To The Lake

I realized that I hadn't shared anything about our trip to the lake. Some friends from church offered us the use of their lake house. This was such a generous offer. And so we took it.

It was just one of those laid back weekends. It consisted mostly of eating, sleeping, fishing, and swimming. But it was exactly what we needed. The last couple of vacations that we have took have not been the relaxing type. This one was just that.

There was nowhere to go and no rush to do anything. We really enjoyed ourselves. The only complaint was that it just wasn't long enough.

Here is the house we stayed in.

Lots of just hanging out together.

The big fishing trip!

Wordless Wednesday

We made our back to school trip to the Office supply store to pick out new supplies. We do this every year as a way to get excited about a new year starting. The Mr. Potato Head notebook shows him all put together funny and says Why Be Normal?

Check out more Wordless Wednesday posts here.

A Major Step Towards Independance

Kalene is going to be fifteen this year. She is constantly reminding us about the single most important thing that will take place this year. She will be starting driver's training. I can hardly believe it. I look at her and how grown up she is becoming everyday. I am so proud of who she is becoming.

Okay, back to the thought of her driving, which by the way is a littleoverwhelming. Not because I think she won't do well, but because it is a reminder to me that she is one step closer to being on her own. Yes I know I'm probably overreacting.

We are plnning on letting her drive my car when she is able and getting me a new car. Her closest friend has a grandpa who gives each of his gradkids a brand new car when they turn 16. So far he's given a Mustang and a Charger. So Kalene thinks maybe this will happen for her. Well there are no rich grandpas around here looking to give her a brand new car.

We told her that we'll put in a new CD Player. Maybe some pink furry seat covers. She thinks that is is an old lady car. But if we were to put in a little vw turbo and maybe a few other things from Turbochargerpros.com, then maybe we can try to make it more teenager friendly. But she'd better be grateful she will have any car to drive around.

Homeschool Help

I want to let you know about Homeschool Tracker a free record keeping tool that is available to all homeschoolers. I know that many people already know about this, but in case you are one who doesn't, this is for you.

Back when I first began homeschooling another homeschool family had just come out with the record keeping software that they created to help them keep the neat records that the state required of them.

I downloaded the free program and used it for 2 years. This is completely user friendly and you can tweak it to fit your homeschooling style.

I Need Your Creative Input

What are some of the fun ways that you start off a new school year?

Do you have any special traditions? I am thinking of some special ways to make our first week back memorable. I would love to hear some input from those of you who do these special kinds of things with your kids each year.

The truth is that I am not very creative. So please help me with some ideas.

Thanks

Homeschool Freebie ~ Currclick

This weeks freebie is from Currclick. They are offering August Book Bag for free this week only. This is what Currclick has to say about this great back to school freebie.

"August Book Bag, the first of Teacher Book Bag's monthly publications, is filled with unit study activities. Twenty apple activities take you through all of the subjects as well as age groups. The same can be said for the twenty sunflower activities. Add to that an art study of Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh and you have 129 pages of fun, educational learning experiences. Bar graphs, pictographs, story wheels, a book to make, mapping activities, timelines, personal weather trackers, calendar materials, comparison charts, an author study on Virginia Burton, quilting activities, life cycles, an art lesson, a sunflower clock, oodles of yummy recipes, and many more activities are included. It may say August, but it can be used year round and for years to come."

This sounds like a great way to start off the new year. Lots of fun activities.

While you are picking up you free download don't forget to check out everything else that Currclick has to offer. Especially since they are having an amazing back to school sale. Their super low prices just got much, much lower. 10%-70% off hundreds of titles. But you'll want to hurry because this special sale only runs through the end of August.

Just click on the button below to be taken to the Currclick site and have a look around at all the wonderful things they have to offer. If you can't tell I really love this site.

Going Away

So we are leaving today for a little vacation to the lake.

I am really looking forward to this. Our last vacation was to Chicago. And we had a blast while we were there, but it was a go, go, go kind of vacation. This is going to be a much more laid back and relaxing vacation.

A friend of ours has offered us the use of their lake house. They call it a cabin. But I have seen pictures and it is a 2 bedroom lake house.

I am eager to get there and spend a long weekend just relaxing. I imagine that we will do lots of swimming, fishing, boating, cooking, and eating. It will be the perfect end to a great summer. And a nice way to start the new school year on Monday.

Wordless Wednesday

Freebie ~ The Olympics

I am actually pleasantly surprised by how much we are watching the Olympics here at my house. This is the first year that we have really gotten into them. I first caught my daughter wathing them. So out of curiousity I began watching as well. I can definitely say that I am hooked after watching Michael Phelps. That man is not human. We all think he must be a merman. My son has been watching the Olympics instead of Disney channel which I am so happy about.

Okay on to the freebie. If you would like to add the Olympics to your schooling then you have got to check out this site. You'll find activities for geography, math, puzzles, and more. This would be a great way to incorporate the Olympics into every area of your homeschool.

Microsoft Vista

I have to tell you a little bit about my new love. When I first found out that I was going to get a new laptop I was excited. I was mostly looking forward to the ability to be portable. I had no idea just how much more I was going to get wit this new computer.

The most noticable difference is the fact that it has Microsoft Windows Vista. I had heard bad reviews from other people I know. But it is so totally awesome. I love it. I don't know what those people are talking about. Personally I woder if they have ever had the chance to use this new operating system

I also purchased a new desktop computer a while back just before the new Microsoft Vista was scheduled to be released. Because I purchased it when I did Microsoft sent me a free upgrade to Vista once it was released. I still had not installed it because I was not sure if I would like it.

Well, let me tell you that now that I have had the opportunity to use Microsoft Vista I cannot wait to get it installed on my desktop as well. My kids are excited to be able to use it as well. It is such a user friendly system with great new features. The desktop is much improved along with the ability to toggle between windows. I am also impressed with the parental controls.

I Will Survive!

I got this from an email list and thought it was too cute not to share.


This is to be sung to the tune of "I Will Survive"

Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor

Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss



I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling)

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!

Inspirational

This is a new book of poetry. I have always been drawn to any kind of poetry.

There just is something so beautiful about the way the written word can sound. When I was a teenager I would spend hours and hours writing poetry. I loved to see how I could put words together in a way that noone else would ever think to do.

Now I thought I was pretty good at writing back then. But after checking out some of the inspirational poetry that Ozell Adkins has written in his book Inspirations Volume I: Poetry with Purpose.

Ozell Adkins has put together a volume of well written work to help you get over the slump that may come. It seems lately like there is no shortage of bad news in the world around us. Like maybe things are out of control.

But this book helps to put things back into proper perspective. It reminds us that God is totally in control. That everything has a purpose even if it is hard to see what it is at the moment.

We can't forget what the bible says about the whole matter.

Truly, “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to his purpose.”

A Pleasant Awakening

I had a pleasant surprise this morning.

After seeing Rich off to work and checking some things on the computer. I saw that it was only 7 am. I am having both of my nephews over for a sleepover with Richie tonight. So I thought I would just go back to bed for a little while and get some extra sleep. I know I'll need it :-)

I heard Kalene moving around at 8 o'clock. But I laid in bed and put the covers over my head. I knew that she wanted to go to her friends house before volleyball tryouts today. I told her she would have to get up early and do her chores without an attitude. So I wasn't completely surprised that she was up.

When she finally came in to wake me up it was 9 o'clock. She had been so quiet that I fell back to sleep. She asked if I would like some french toast that she was already making for her and Richie. So I rolled out of bed and had some breakfast.

She informed me that she had already done all the dishes and 2 loads of laundry (which is Richie's chore by the way.) She was heading to clean the bathroom and take a shower for the day. This from a kid that doesn't let her feet touch the floor before noon if she can help it.

She tells me as she's headed for the bathroom that she should make breakfast everyday because noone is crabby. I told her the breakfast was great, but it's really because she's not crabby.

So, here I sit writing this and she is out of the shower and getting ready to go. So I suppose I should take her example and get myself into a shower and ready to go.

*Today is the last day of tryouts. Praying that she'll make it, pretty confident that she has.

Wordless Wednesday

To view more Wordless Wednesday posts click here and here.

Extra Curriculars

Well it is definately beginning to feel like the schooling season is getting ready to start back up again.

Kalene started tryouts yesterday for volleyball. This is a huge committment each year, but it is also so worth it to me. She is benefitting in so many ways. She is learning to be part of a team and what it means to make a committment and keep it. She is also making some wonderful friends through this opportunity. I have been praying that the Lord would send her some real friends. This age can be so lonely for girls and it is even worse when they don't have any good friends their own age who like them for who they are. I have always taught my kids that they need to choose their friends and not let their friends choose them.

Also piano starts back up this Thursday for both Kalene and Richie. We took a bit of a break from lessons for the summer. We have been blessed to recieve piano lessons from a public school music teacher. Because the music programs keep getting cut in the public schools, she has time in between classes to teach private lessons. She is charging us $10 for a half hour lesson which is really a blessing because we may not have been able to provide this opportunity for our kids, but God provided it for us.

I also happen to know that art classes will begin here in a few short weeks. My kids are able to take classes from a wonderful man of God who is passionate about sharing his faith with the young. And he does so through these classes. First they are learning so much about different art techniques. And all during the class he is sharing stories of how God works in diffrent ways in everyones life. My kids love him and his classes. You can check out some of the work that they have done in his class on my sidebars.

I'm thinking that we could probably take a few field trips as well. Our local library systm has made available free entry passes to many museums. This is only good through the New Year. And we did take advantage of some of these last year. We definately did not get to see everything that we had planned on. So I have a few months to finish making the rounds.

These are just a couple of our extra curricular plans for the next couple of months.

Finally....A Start Date

Some very generous friends of ours from church have offered us the use of their vacation house which is near a very large and beautiful lake. We are so grateful, and very excited. This is going to be the perfect way to end our summer vacation and start off the new year.

We usually do school year round. However this year we took off a lot more of the summer than we had originally planned. I guess we all needed the break. It has been great too. Lots of late nights, and sleeping in. We have been in a total state of relaxation.

But I know that we need to get back into some sort of a routine soon. But it has been hard for me to choose a start back date for some reason. Maybe I'm enjoying the break a bit too much.

So when we were offered the lake house to use I thought what a perfect way to end the summer. So we will officially start hitting the books August 18th!

This gives me two more weeks of going back to bed after Rich leaves for work. It gives Kalene two more weeks of sleeping in until noon. And Richie has two more weeks of endless TV and Computer time.

It also gives me only two more weeks to get my act together. I feel that need some sort of plan this year. Nothing too rigid. Just a simple outline that can be filled in as we go along. I do not want to become the taskmaster mom or the curriculum slave. I must beware of these two traps!

Making Dreams Come True

Richie finally got the opportunity to do something that he has always wanted to do. He got to scale a wall. Really he has been wanting to try rock climbing. A local park has some mini rock climbing structures which he has loved over the past couple of years. But he stil wanted to do the real thing. So last weekend was his chance. We stood in line forever for his chance at glory.

While we were standing in line that kid strategized each side of the rock climbing wall so that he would know ahead of time which step he should or should not take. He already knew which side would be the easiest and which one he definately did not want to try. He was adament about making it to the top.

Well he ended up getting the side that he didn't want. But it was great because it was more of a challenge for him. I started praying when he began because I knew how devastated he would be if he fell before he made it to the top. He didn't fall even though he purposely made some risky moves, including jumping from one spot to another. He made it to the top, and it was awesome to see him accomplish a dream.