My oldest daughter had a birthday yesterday. She has entered the double digit years, she is now 10 years old. This year we let her have a few friends over for a sleepover. She had four girls come, but only two stayed the night.
They had a lot of fun. I think their favorite thing to do was play twister. We had a fire in the evening with marshmallows to roast for smores. They were up way later then is good for any soul!
For supper last night they had hot dogs, mac and cheese (the recipe I posted here), watermelon and corn on the cob. For breakfast I made up little ordering tickets and Charlotte acted as the waitress taking everyone's orders. There was eggs, sausage, mini donuts, zucchini muffins, and blueberry muffins, along with fruit and drinks. Everything was premade except the eggs. which made it easy for me to just plate the food and serve it. Today for lunch before they left we had a light tea party type thing.
Dan set up the tent in the backyard and they slept out there. They woke up this morning and came inside just before it rained and then had to pull their stuff out of the tent before the rain got it wet. It poured! There has been flash flooding all over and several sections of the freeway were shut done due to flooding and accidents from flooding.
I am thankful for my daughter and all she has meant to us these last 10 years. I am glad we were able to give her a special time to remember (although it will take Dan a few days to recover from doing too much).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE!!!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Tell Me About Your Homeschool Tag - Meme
This meme was started by Jacque at Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths. I thought it was a neat idea to get to know other people's homeschooing ideas. Anyone that wants to participate just post a comment here and at Jacque's site here.
I started homeschooling (years ago or year)
My oldest is 10 in a few days and has never been to school, so if you go by legal requirements I have been home schooling for 5 years, but really 10 if you think about it.
I homeschool __ of my children
I have three officially in school this fall (1st, 3rd, and 5th). However, they all learn at any age, so technically I could say all six.
I teach my children to read at age(specific age or not?)
I let them go when they are ready to read. Charlotte read at five, practically taught herself. Devorah waited till going on eight as she hated the thought of working her way through phonics and just wanted to go from not reading to reading (she now reads all the time). Abby is now 6 1/2 and is just starting to show signs of interest- guess what we will be starting on soon?
A few of my most favorite homeschool teaching resources are:
Anything by the Moores, An Old fashioned Education
Do you write out goals for school each year?
I have, but only what the state required of me. They want to have a scope and sequence for each child as to what you are teaching. Its for informational purposes only and it doesn't mean I have to follow them to a T. This year I will actually be doing more of a set curriculum so there is more set up ahead of time.
What time do you start school each day? Do you have a specific schedule?
We don't get up at any certain time, but when we are up the schedule follows as such- breakfast, chores, schoolwork, then playtime (with lunch thrown in when its time for it).
I have used ___ math programs. My favorite is:
No set math program so far. I have gotten books from the library and printed worksheets off the internet as well as used workbooks. This year we are going to try CIMT a free program offered out of the UK.
I have used ___ science programs. My favorite is:
Again, I haven't used any set program for science. We have watched videos, done experiments, read books, whatever comes our way.
I have used ___ grammar/english programs. My favorite is:
I have used Starfall.com, spellingtime.com (when it was free), worksheets
I have used ___ history programs. My favorite is:
No set program, just read books, watched videos, whatever worked.
What months do you homeschool during?
Mostly during the school year, but also whenever a teaching moment presents itself and I like them to keep reading and stuff throughout the summer.
Favorite homeschool method?
Eclectic, Charlotte Mason, following their interests
Do you/plan to homeschool all the way through high school?
God willing I will homeschool them all through high school.
Have you noticed specific learning styles in each child?
Not yet although I think the oldest is a book learner and the 8yo is more hands on.
Do you keep specific or general records? Or none, really?
I have to keep a portfolio of work for a teacher to look over. I always type up what we cover each day so I can make a list of all the learned over the course of the year.
Do you teach Bible, art, journaling, phys. ed.?
Yes to all, although I count playing in the backyard as phys. ed. I am going to be trying a new phys ed program that I got online.
Where do you like to shop for homeschool books and resources?
I try to get everything mostly for free- the internet, the library, etc.
What resources have you been itching to try?
If I had the money I would probably buy all kinds of stuff, so it is a good thing I don't have the funds!
*Do you use and/or like to use E-books?*
I use a lot of public domain books that are online as well as e-books. I think thhey can work just fine.
Do you have anything to add?
I just want to tell women to learn to relax. You are not going to teach them everything they need to learn as there is no way you can cover it *all*. The goal is to raise them to be lifetime learners so that they will be able to go back later on in life and learn what they need that wasn't covered at home. Follow God's direction and do your best, the rest will come.
Another Book Done
Yes, that's right, after complaining about never having time to read I just read a book in a few days. It wasn't a small book either, it had 279 pages in it.
The books title is simply Cooked. It is an autobiography of Jeff Henderson. He started his life on the streets of L.A. and quickly fell into the drug selling scene. Eventually at the age of 24 he was arrested and sent to federal prison for 19 1/2 years. While in prison he fell in love with cooking. He was released after something like ten years and as soon as he got out he started working his way up the chain with cooking, honing his skills as he went. He is now the executive chef at the Cafe Bellagio in Las Vegas, his life completely turned around from what it once was.
The book is a good look at what life is like on the streets for most inner city kids. It shows the mentality of the streets as well as how easy it is to feel entrapped in it all. It had some really good insight into what prison life is like as well as how hard it can be to come out of the prison system and try to start over.
Dan and I deal with a lot of people in those types of situations and it was good to get the perspective of someone who had been there, done that and had overcome it all. I can more understand the mentality of those we know who are messed up in all the criminal/drug/street life and the issues they deal with.
The only big drawback of the book is that Henderson uses the language of the streets when he recounts what happened when he ran the streets- meaning there is some bad language throughout the book. If you are looking for a book to read for pure enjoyment I don't think this is the one to pick. However, we are in the inner city looking to reach those in situations similar to Henderson's and it was good to see his perspective on things.
The books title is simply Cooked. It is an autobiography of Jeff Henderson. He started his life on the streets of L.A. and quickly fell into the drug selling scene. Eventually at the age of 24 he was arrested and sent to federal prison for 19 1/2 years. While in prison he fell in love with cooking. He was released after something like ten years and as soon as he got out he started working his way up the chain with cooking, honing his skills as he went. He is now the executive chef at the Cafe Bellagio in Las Vegas, his life completely turned around from what it once was.
The book is a good look at what life is like on the streets for most inner city kids. It shows the mentality of the streets as well as how easy it is to feel entrapped in it all. It had some really good insight into what prison life is like as well as how hard it can be to come out of the prison system and try to start over.
Dan and I deal with a lot of people in those types of situations and it was good to get the perspective of someone who had been there, done that and had overcome it all. I can more understand the mentality of those we know who are messed up in all the criminal/drug/street life and the issues they deal with.
The only big drawback of the book is that Henderson uses the language of the streets when he recounts what happened when he ran the streets- meaning there is some bad language throughout the book. If you are looking for a book to read for pure enjoyment I don't think this is the one to pick. However, we are in the inner city looking to reach those in situations similar to Henderson's and it was good to see his perspective on things.
Thursdays (LATE) Thankful Thirteen (6)
Oh I am so woefully behind! I have to admit that Thursday completely slipped by me. I didn't even remember my thankful list till Friday. Then I spent most of Friday running errands and getting caught up on life so I didn't post anything at all. Here is my list, a few days late but here none the less.
1) The kids and I went and visited some friends this week. The family has nine children and the younger four are very close in age to my older five. (Mine are 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 on Monday, hers are 2, 4, 7 and almost 11.) Us mommas got to visit and talk while the kids played.
2) God provided for another month's mortgage payment. Dan has been without any regular income at all for 10 months now and God has continued to provide.
3) I am thankful for all the effort Dan puts out to get things done around the house despite the amount of pain he is in all the time.
4) My little chubby boy Ben who turned 5 months this Thursday. He is growing strong. His weight on Wednesday was 20# 12oz with diaper and clothes on. That means he has gained almost 10 full pounds since birth.
5) My oldest two daughter and their love for their baby brother. I am always asking them to pick him up or hold him and they (almost) never complain. In fact they have made comments as to how much they enjoy their baby brother.
6) Some people have been putting air conditioning on their thankful list as the summer has been hot. I don't have that luxury, but I am thankful for others who have air conditioning and who invite us over so we can enjoy their air!
7) I am healthy with no major health issues. Too many women I know are suffering from fibro. or other such stuff. I have my aches but overall am healthy.
8) God giving me the strength to get through every day.
9) My daughter having the blessing of a girl's day out with Grandma.
10) My sister who, although she is older, likes to get my advice on things.
11) My younger sister who recently moved away but still sent up a birthday card to my oldest.
12) Taking the day off of housework and sitting around reading and such, realizing that things will not fall apart just because I let them go for a day.
13) Being able to connect online with other women who have a lot in common with me.
1) The kids and I went and visited some friends this week. The family has nine children and the younger four are very close in age to my older five. (Mine are 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 on Monday, hers are 2, 4, 7 and almost 11.) Us mommas got to visit and talk while the kids played.
2) God provided for another month's mortgage payment. Dan has been without any regular income at all for 10 months now and God has continued to provide.
3) I am thankful for all the effort Dan puts out to get things done around the house despite the amount of pain he is in all the time.
4) My little chubby boy Ben who turned 5 months this Thursday. He is growing strong. His weight on Wednesday was 20# 12oz with diaper and clothes on. That means he has gained almost 10 full pounds since birth.
5) My oldest two daughter and their love for their baby brother. I am always asking them to pick him up or hold him and they (almost) never complain. In fact they have made comments as to how much they enjoy their baby brother.
6) Some people have been putting air conditioning on their thankful list as the summer has been hot. I don't have that luxury, but I am thankful for others who have air conditioning and who invite us over so we can enjoy their air!
7) I am healthy with no major health issues. Too many women I know are suffering from fibro. or other such stuff. I have my aches but overall am healthy.
8) God giving me the strength to get through every day.
9) My daughter having the blessing of a girl's day out with Grandma.
10) My sister who, although she is older, likes to get my advice on things.
11) My younger sister who recently moved away but still sent up a birthday card to my oldest.
12) Taking the day off of housework and sitting around reading and such, realizing that things will not fall apart just because I let them go for a day.
13) Being able to connect online with other women who have a lot in common with me.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I finally finished another book!
It seems like it is taking me forever anymore to finish reading books. I finally finished one yesterday that I had been working on for quite awhile- The Hand of God, a Journey from Death to Life by the Abortion Doctor who Changed His Mind. Not only was it a long title :) but it was also a heavier read. The author uses a large vocabulary, he is quite a scholar, and the subject matter is rather serious. The book gives a real good behind the scenes look at abortion and how it became legal. The author, Bernard Nathanson was a cofounder of NARAL, had a big part in making abortion legal and performed tens of thousands of them himself. He knows the business and shows how wrong he was. He gives incredible insight into the gruesome business that many exalt as a woman's right.
Turn off the TV month
Quite a few Christian family groups have been advertising in the last couple months that August was deemed to be "turn off the TV month." They are challenging people to go one full month without a TV on. A few weeks agoI had mentioned the idea to Dan and he didn't seem too interested in it. Well, the day before yesterday he told me that he thought we should take part in the whole thing.
So, today was our first day without any TV (we are also not allowing any computer games or video games). The kids got out a charades game and we played that for a little while. Dan has listened to the baseball game a bit on the radio. I am interested to see how this month turns out as the TV has turned into more of a centerpiece in our lives then I think it should be. I will report back periodicially as to how things are going.
So, today was our first day without any TV (we are also not allowing any computer games or video games). The kids got out a charades game and we played that for a little while. Dan has listened to the baseball game a bit on the radio. I am interested to see how this month turns out as the TV has turned into more of a centerpiece in our lives then I think it should be. I will report back periodicially as to how things are going.
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