Tot School

I haven't done a tot school post in a while....and sorry, I don't have pictures, but here is what Bear has been doing for school:

Activities:
playdoh - with cookie cutters and small rolling pin and butter knife
"writing" with pen and paper
beans/rice/lentils - scooping/pouring, etc.

Books:
My goodness, he has decided that he wants to be read to all the time. We are having to fight about it because I can't just sit here and read to him 24 hours a day. He wants me to though! Some of his favorites right now are:
The Wheels on the Bus (a book version of the song, we sing it!)
The Grouchy Ladybug
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
John Deere Alphabet Book
The Little Engine That Could
The Digger Book
The Little Engine Book
Pajama Time
O Me, O My, O Dinosaurs
And we will be going to the library tomorrow to trade the 2 we borrowed for more. If he will let me (The Wheels on the Bus is his FAVORITE - a library book LOL).

He also loves playing in the sandbox that my dad filled for him the other day. Greg and Bear are out there right now. There is something about a sandbox that makes little guys (and medium sized guys!) very happy :)

TV Shows:
Bear still won't sit for most shows and I don't push him. There isn't any need for him to sit in front of the TV for hours at a time. He likes Imagination Movers and Handy Manny on Disney. Sometimes they will buy me and Greg a little school time, sometimes not.

Potty training is really a no go. He doesn't want to wear the pull-up but he doesn't want to use the potty. We are trying to feel our way around this. I didn't have any trouble training the other two.....I guess the last one has to be difficult!

For more tot school ideas for your tot, be sure to check out Carisa's site!

Molly's Money-Saving Digest - October

If you haven't ever checked out Molly's Money-Saving Digest, this month is the perfect time to do it! The theme for October is "What Can We Learn From the Great Depression?".



As always, Molly includes many practical resources in her digest. This month these include part 2 of a couponing article by Amy Howard (very practical!), Keeping a Positive attitude (very important during difficult times), ways to purchase yard-sale items and resell for a profit, frugal meal planning and a weeks worth of the author's family's meals (with recipes!!!), parenting advice and making something out of nothing. I loved those articles (especially making something out of nothing....I can feel ideas brewing!) but my favorite part of this issue is the anecdotyl stories from those who lived during the Great Depression. I find it inspiring to realize that life can be lived fully and joyfully during difficult and trying times.



Once again, Molly Green has treated us to a wonderful bit of lifestyle changing wisdom. You can check purchase Molly's Money Saving Digest HERE.

Proverbs 22:17-21

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?

Yet, another good reason to have the Word of God hidden in my heart. I want to be able to share God's goodness, mercy and truth to those who come before me. God, help me as I strive in this goal to become closer to You!

Why Scripture and Bible Study are So Important

2 Timothy 3:15-16
....and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Acts 17:11
These were more fairminded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

I Peter 2:1-2
Therefore laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

I am choosing the following verse as my theme verse for my life:
Psalm 86:11
Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.

This verse is the goal for my life....I have such a long way to go!
Titus 2:3-5
the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

I have such a long way to go! The Word of God has been washing over me lately and I feel like such a new person :)

Some Thoughts

God's holy Word is an instrument He uses to guide, comfort, correct, rebuke and teach us.
When we love God with our mind and commit His Word to memory, He uses those pieces of Scripture as instruments for our growth in Him. When we store His Word in our mind, God draws from what we know and uses just the truth we need......at just the time we need it.....and in just the way we need it!

Elizabeth George
Loving God with All Your Mind

I just finished the above book during my quiet time today and found this to be an important truth. I hope that it encourages you, like it did me, to find time to hide God's word in your heart.
Have a great day!

Today

As I look out my window I see: grass in the front yard and it looks like rain

Sitting next to me: a glass of water and Sadie my cocker spaniel

I hear: the sounds of the washer and dryer - and Sadie licking herself!

I smell: nothing really

I am reading: 2 Samuel, Loving God with Your Whole Mind (Elizabeth George)

Projects I am working on: quilted tote bag, knitted hood, decluttering the house

What I am looking forward to: a trip to the zoo

I feel: content and happy

Almost Time for School

This year, those words send dread to my heart.

Usually I love the beginning of school. New books, schedules and things to learn (yes, I am a nerd!). This year, school means that Lee gets on that big yellow bus at the end of the driveway. I don't like that......not one little bit.

I am attempting - for myself and the sake of the rest of the family - to control my emotions and steer my attitude in a direction that will lead to JOY. So, here is a list of things I am thankful for this year..........

1. I still have Greg and Bear at home
2. Lee will know his bus driver in the morning and many of the kids at school already
3. We have orientation tomorrow night so we can meet all the teachers
4. Lee and I can't argue anymore about how much work I assign
5. Greg is very excited about school this year - he gets to pick science topics :)

For school this year - Greg is in 4th grade. We will be using Sonlight Core 4 as our spine for history/reading/read-aloud/Bible. We are jumping off the Intermediate Language Lessons wagon (although I still love it!) and giving Writing Tales a try for language arts/grammar. All About Spelling (Greg is on book 3) and Italic Handwriting round out Language arts. Greg will be finishing up Saxon 3 and moving into Saxon 4/5 sometime around Thanksgiving. For science we will begin studying penguins using Hands of a Child's lapbook as the jumping off place.

I bought a cute little science experiment book for ages 3-12 about creation. I am hoping to occassionally have some stuff from there to use with Bear. I am also setting up tot-boxes (like tot trays except with no tray). You can see how that works HERE. So far, I haven't set up much in that area and I really need to get to work on that....my heart just hasn't been in it this year.

So, I think that we are ready for school :) Lee is ready and I am ready for the waiting to be over with....lets just get it started and move on . Prayers for the 1st day (Friday 21st) are appreciated! Have a great day!

Getting ready

As always, we were busy this week. Monday - Wednesday was the usual stuff (cleaning, taekwondo, dietician). Thursday the boys and I had dental cleaning and Norman did some car shopping......we found a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan that we loved but the price was a little high. Then we had lunch on the go and made it to Newton to register Lee for school. Then back to Effingham for Taekwondo and Lee's birthday dinner at Ryan's (a week early).

Friday, Mom, Bear, Lee and I went shopping in Mattoon while Norman and Greg went fishing. The day ended with a very grouchy Bear and an exhausted me. Saturday we got up bright and early to go to Newton and get football equipment. Then to Effingham for groceries and school supplies shopping. Then home, where I spent the afternoon suffering from grouchy kids and a migraine. Bear wouldn't nap and we both collapsed in bed sometime after 7. I feel better today.
As a side note - don't go to walmart on a Saturday! I almost always shop on Monday afternoons so I didn't realize what a mad-house Walmart is on Saturdays. It was packed and Bear wasn't the only kid in there screaming at the top of his lungs. It was miserable.

School supply shopping is expensive! I have almost hit the dollar total for each kid on what I have spent on Lee for school registration and supplies. While homeschooling, I spent about $500 a year for both kids. So far, for Lee, I have spent $70 to get him registered and first 20 days lunches and another $150 in school supplies. And I spent another $50 on clothes the day before for him. Throughout the year will be more money for lunches (or extra grocery money for lunch from home). I think it will end up costing me more to send him to school than homeschooling ever did! Not to mention the increased sports (that cost $$$) and extra curricular activities (that cost $$$). I am wondering if I should just send them my bank account number??? Crazy stuff. Unless you qualify for reduced rates, lunches, etc. it is NOT cheaper to send them to school. It might look that way, but it isn't.

Today we are heading to church. I am hopefull for a quiet afternoon at home. Maybe everyone can be in a good mood today!

I Samuel 1-7

This past week I began reading through I Samuel. Our Sunday School class is studying this as part of the Bible Bee competition being held later this year.....at our church the older youth class is with the adults.

***I feel like I need to add here, that I haven't been having a quiet time for a long while....I am so blessed to have spent the last week's worth of mornings with God. If you aren't having a quiet time right now I urge you to try to find some time in the morning. I guarantee that your day will be blessed for it!***

I thought that I would share some thoughts I gleaned from my notes this week on the above passage. I may not do this every week, but it helps me to cement things in my head and I hope it blesses someone else!

As someone who has suffered secondary infertility, I feel a real kinship with Hannah. I remember the longing for a child, and at the time, I already had 2.....I can't imagine her longing! I find it interesting that after Hannah poured her heart out to God that she felt comforted as she left. God works in amazing ways and we very rarely have to wait to know if He heard our prayers!!!! God did allow Hannah to conceive but I imagine that feeling of comfort she had as she left the temple probably meant a lot to her. The strength of Hannah's character also amazes me. She promised God that if He would give her a son, that she would return that son to Him. When Samuel is born, she gave him to God, just as soon as he was weaned (probably around age 3). Can you imagine giving your son to a priest far away to raise as a BABY??? The son that you longed for and pleaded with God for??? Hannah kept her promise and God blessed her for it with more children. Hannah continued to love her son. She made him a new coat every year and took it to him when they went to temple. I have a feeling that Samuel knew exactly how much his mother loved him.

Even as a child Samuel worked in the temple. The examples that were around him were not good (Eli's sons), but God blessed his work (I am sure his mom was praying for him!) and his favor with God and man increased. God spoke directly to Samuel, at a young age, giving him insight into what was going to happen to Eli's family. I have noted that God will only put up with so much disobedience before the punishment begins. I feel that I have been disobeying God in many areas for long enough!!!!!

Next, God spoke to Eli about the evil that was in his family. As God ordained, Eli's sons were killed in a battle with the Philistines. When the news came to Eli, he fell over, broke his neck and died. Eli's daughter in law also died in childbirth after hearing the news. The ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. They quickly learned that there were consequences for having possession of the ark of God! After 7 months of possession, they had enough of the illnesses and destruction taking place and sent the ark of God back to Israel. 50,070 Israelite men were killed after some dared to look inside the ark of God. God always punishes disobedience in His people!!!!

Samuel once again urged Israel to return to the one true God. How many times does God have to chase me down and drag me back to Him? I am ashamed to say too many times. After they turned back to God and served Him he enabled them to defeat the Philistines. Samuel was made judge over them.

That's about it. If you would like to comment, please do. I am always open to learning more about God through discussion of His word. I am eager to begin this weeks study. I tasted a little of what I will be reading in Sunday School and can't wait to read it for myself!

Have a great week!!!!

Big Dreams, Creative Designs

Dreams and Designs
by Donna Campos

I am not the "creative" mom. I try but it is a struggle and I have to work very, very hard to come up with even a mediocre arts/crafts assignment. Donna Campos is a very creative person. Her creativity shines in her book Big Dreams, Creative Designs.

Donna incorporates children and arts and crafts stuff into making useful things that are very practical to our homeschools. Included in her book are ideas for making a school calendar, puppet theater, desk partitions, index card activities, file folder timelines and more. All of her projects use things that are very inexpensive and readily available. Donna encourages her readers to think outside the box and use the things that are available in your home. She also encourages readers to take her ideas and run with them, expanding them and making them your own. My favorite chapter was on how to repurpose household furniture for easy organization and storage of homeschool "stuff". You know, the stuff you don't know what to do with....or that isn't easily available to use. That stuff!

If you are looking for new ideas for your homeschool, take a look at Donna's book NOW at The Old Schoolhouse Store. It is available for $12.45

Working On

I managed to get chores and household stuff done in short order today. Probably had something to do with the fact that Bear and I got up just before 6:30 today. So we started early and stayed busy.

Something is killing my zucchini. I am terribly sad about this. I thought it was bugs but I wonder now if they have a disease. We picked 2 a few days ago and the middle of one was a little weird.....not really bad, but not normal. I ate it anyway, LOL, but I wonder if they have a disease. The tomatos and peppers are thinking about blooming. Let me tell you, this garden has been nothing but a problem from the beginning. We may never pick a tomato from the silly thing :( I am afraid to dig up a potato and see what they look like.

I finished the big project of dividing the boy's rooms over the weekend. Today I made signs for the doors so they would know when they came home what was up.....they probably would have figured it out but..........
I also got new chore charts made. We rotate chores every 6 months so that nobody is doing the same ones all the time. They will begin with the new when they get home Thursday.

I am working on 2 book reviews. One for here and one for TEACH magazine. Watching Tougher in Alaska. I have always wondered about living in the desolate parts of Alaska. Probably not tough enough :) I know my limitations.....I like running water, sewer/septic systems, electricity. Still, I wonder.

Talk later!

What's New

Hello friends!!!!

We had a wonderful July 4th weekend. Norman and I went to the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. Yes, I did stand on a chair (to take pictures!). No, I did not take off my shirt.....(private joke). LOL It was a great concert. I am so glad that we went.

The boys stayed in KY for the last few days. We are going to fetch them on Thursday. I hate making a quick trip like that.....all the driving in one day makes me tired, but it has to be done. I miss them terribly.

Saturday we will be hosting our 3rd annual 4th of July taekwondo/friend cookout and fireworks show. I know it isn't the 4th but we were gone, remember? So it will be this weekend. I am sure it will be great fun.

School supplies are already out. Can you believe that? They were putting them on the shelves July 5th at Walmart in Paducah, KY. I am not thinking about that now.

Our side-by-side refrigerator decided it didn't want the water in the door to turn off so we have a slow drip leak.....thankfully it quit running a stream. That would have been terribly unhandy. The repairman should be here tomorrow.

So, I guess that is all here. I have some more TEACH reviews to do and possibly another one for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. As always, it will be a busy week. Looking forward to enjoying every minute of it.

Have a great week!!!!!

Preschoolers - Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning

Will you be "homeschooling" a preschooler this fall? Are you looking for activities to keep them occupied while teaching the older ones? The Old Schoolhouse has just the aid for you.

I received Preschoolers: Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning for review this week. As most of you know, I have made it through 2 preschoolers and am just beginning with another. I remember being frustrated years ago when I couldn't find age appropriate activities that made me feel like they might actually be learning something. I wish I had this resource then!

Written by several home-educators, this book is a tool to help you teach, occupy and integrate your preschooler into the daily life around them. From dealing with chores, educational ideas and encouraging free play all facets of preschool life is covered here. I loved the activity suggestions and plan to integrate many into our year (probably sooner!!). Although we aren't ready for them, I am excited about the file folder activities and games for early learning. I can't wait to use them with Bear.

Preschoolers: Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning will be available very soon from The Old Schoolhouse Store in ebook format.

Hello!

Yes, we are still alive! I finished and started some projects over the last week or so and have been cleaning/organizing and gardening so that is my excuse for not blogging.

We are getting ready to head to the garden in a few minutes. Although the weeds almost took over, we managed to thwart them and have most of our plants. We have baby zucchini and tomatoes. Dh tilled a section and we hope to get the sweet corn and green beans planted TODAY.

I finished the knitted wrap for my friend's birthday. And I finished the lone sock. And 2 baby hats (one white and one camo). I started a cowl (kinda neck wrap/hood thing), but had to restart because I got it twisted. I am having a lot of trouble not twisting 312 stitches to get them joined in the round. LOL I also cut out the pieces for a quilted purse I am making. Busy, busy!

I reorganized the kitchen school stuff. Still need to work on the living room. I am thinking of buys bookcases. We definately need some. I made myself a little reading nook in the dining room. Just a chair and a desk-turned-end-table. Put a twice folded red tablecloth on it and a pillow on the chair. Added some books to the table and it looks so relaxing. I can look out the window and just "be". What a blessing for me!

We are visiting family over the 4th. The older boys will stay at their uncle's house for another 2 weeks after we come home. I plan to reorganize/declutter/decorate their bedrooms as a suprise while they are gone. We are turning the playroom into a bedroom for Lee so they will be separate again. I think this will be for the best with Lee at public school, they both will need some alone time and will allow for different bedtimes. Bear isn't ready to join Greg yet, so he will have that room to himself for a while. LOL

I need to get the laundry on the line and head to the garden. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

School Organization

Sooooo, I have finally wrapped my mind around the fact that Lee won't be here for school this fall. But, just because I am losing one doesn't mean that I have any less work to do! LOL

Anyway, I need to get stuff organized. I am trying to set up a planner for me and an assignment book for Greg. I am also trying to get activities organized for Bear. He will be 2 this fall and I think he is ready for some more guided learning stuff. I am going to try to get several activities set up in small boxes or bags so that we can get out one at a time. Maybe we will try to do 2 a day or so. I think that I will start with him a week before "school" starts so that he is in the routine.

I need to go through school stuff and see what we have that we haven't used in a while. You never know what you will find stuck on a shelf around here. LOL

Otherwise there isn't much going on. 4-H projects are mainly done. Greg doesn't like to bake chocolate chip cookies.....to much effort and they are gone so fast.....now he knows how I feel :) Tomorrow Greg takes his cooking project and Lee takes his forestry project to judging. Greg will take his rabbit on Saturday. Then we are done with that for a while.

The rain here has been abundant. I haven't even been out to the mud-pit.....sorry, garden, in several days. We still haven't planted green beans or sweet corn. I also need to replant pumpkins, cucumbers and spaghetti squash. But I would sink if I was out that today.

I am still walking like a crazy woman :) I am up to 3 miles at a time. I have lost 21 lbs. so far. I definately feel better!

So, that is what is new with us. If I decide on a planner set up or get everything organized I will let you know! LOL

Current Events Around Home

Have you ever seen Mary Jane's Farm Magazine? This is the cutest magazine. It is girly, but practical. This issue showcased plums....from how to grow them to cooking with them. Makes me want to plant a bunch right now :) It is a magazine for the farmgirl in all of us.....recipes, gardening tips, craft ideas and home decorating. Everything is in here! I love it and am still drooling over my issue. It was the first but won't be the last!

How does my garden grow? Well, the hail Tuesday didn't help it any, but upon inspection this morning I think it will live. Actually the potatoes look fantastic. Only 1 cucumber is up and no pumpkins yet. I may go out and replant them tomorrow rather than wait.....the planting season is growing late. I pulled all of my red onions...there was only a handful. I don't know why we can't ever get a good stand on onions. Everything else looked ok. My flower beds look so pretty this year. I planted several perrenials so hopefully it is continue to look pretty for years to come. I need to get some more things to put in my hanging basket....the hail was hard on my wave petunias.

Otherwise, laundry is on the line. The guys are going fishing today so Bear and I are going to shower and then head to JCPenneys for a sale. We will probably end up at Menards and maybe Walmart for some beautiful fabric I saw yesterday.

Have a wonderful weekend girls!

How I Homeschool - Ebook

by The Old Schoolhouse

Have you ever wondered how other homeschoolers arrange their days and fit everything in? I do all the time! How I Homeschool takes a close look as 12 families share about their homeschooling journeys.

Each family is different and in different situations. It is amazing to me how many different ways there are to schedule a day! Finding what works for your family is the key, but it sure is nice to see what others are doing.....maybe you will find something that works BETTER for you.

Some of the contributing families use box curriculums. Some are "relaxed eclectic". Some have one or 2 children....some have 8. There are families that are just beginning their homeschooling journeys and a couple that have one or both parents that were homeschooled themselves! If that isn't "proof in the pudding" I don't know what is!

I always gain something from reading about the schedules of others. It always helps me to tweak mine. I laughed as I read about 2 families that didn't start their day until 10:00 a.m. That wouldn't work for us, but it reminds me that every one is different and there isn't a "wrong" way to homeschool.

As we went through our state-testing this past week I have realized that homeschooling is such a wonderful way to teach your children. Even though I see where I have went wrong with Lee (and learned from my mistakes - I hope) he did fantastic on his tests....above grade level on most things. If I made mistakes (and there were many) and he still did well, what does that say if I manage to get everything right next time? Homeschooling is such a wonderful way to interact and cement information for children. If you feel bogged down by the process or just need some fresh ideas for your school in the fall, head over to the TOS store and check out How I Homeschool. It should be available for purchase soon!

Update

Testing went well. Lee tested at or above grade level for everything. I was worried for nothing. LOL I was a statistic touter for years, but let me tell you, it is different when it is your child being tested. The what-ifs just keep coming. Lee is very excited to be entering Jr. High. I am excited for him, although I will miss him dreadfully while he is gone. We drove by the school today and I am hoping for a meeting with the principal before registration. Many thanks to my commenter.....I appreciate your view and experiences.

Changes

I hate change. However, our family is currently undergoing a very difficult change. It is a change that has been a couple of years in the coming and although I am hesitant to make it, my mother's heart knows that he is ready.

Lee will be going to public school next year. Tomorrow I will take him to be tested (a requirement in our district for any homeschooler entering public school). We will need to meet with the school's principal. Registration is in July. School starts Aug. 18th.

I would homeschool my children all the way through their school years and be blissfully happy. However, I am not able to provide the sports opportunities that my children (all boys) yearn for. Lee loves football so he will be playing in a junior league this fall. I think that he is also interested in playing in the concert band.

Greg and Bear will still be home with me for a few more years :) I can't bear to part with all of them yet. I think that although difficult at first, Greg will benefit by being able to develop his interests without the overbearing presence of his brother.

Lee and I have had some personality conflicts this year. I think we may be too much alike. Norman thinks that I don't like him very much, but that isn't true. I love him very much and I want the very best for him. I will always be here to help and guide him along the way. I am so proud of him and the deliberation he took to make this decision. He didn't make it lightly. He knows what he is giving up by being gone during the day but he is ready to spread his wings a little. It is time.

So, if you think of it, pray for us this summer. I am hopeful that the transition will be smooth. I am praying that we will enjoy this summer together. I am looking forward to what exciting things God has in store for us this year.

Hello!

Don'tcha just wish I would get with the program and post more often? Me too! Our internet has been wacky over the last few days and the weather has been so beautiful that we have been outside most of the time.

I weeded the potatoes and onions yesterday and planted tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, okra and a sweet potato today. Maybe there will be a garden after all!

Poor Norman had to fix the fridge today. We had a terrible water line leak but it was external (looked like a mouse bite - Where's Tiger???) but he got it fixed up quick and was still able to go to the lake this afternoon with the older boys. His PT is going well, although I am beginning to wonder about these people....they keep saying 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks - they started that 4 weeks ago and he is looking at 2 more weeks at least. We are thankful for insurance!

I finished a beautiful wrap that I was knitting on and am making good headway on the lone sock. I found a pattern for a hood that I want to make but first I have some baby knitting to do. My brother and his wife will be having a baby in September. Looks like a boy! No girls around here for the forseeable future.....I was hopeful though! I am gonna make some hats and a blanket I think.

The new diet is ok. I am walking alot. I have lost a total of 15 lbs. so far. I have walked 19 miles of my 100 mile goal (by July 24th). I need to start strength training - maybe today. Bear and I will walk after he wakes from his nap.

Otherwise, we are normal here. That's good, right? Talk later!