Olivia's Wolf report

Olivia's video report. There are a few spelling errors and I don't believe that one wolf can eat 300 pounds of meat. I think that was suppose to be 30 lbs.
Anyway, I think she did a good job.

Asking for Trouble

Asking for Trouble (London Confidential)
by Sandra Byrd

What’s a girl to do when she moves to a new school in a whole new country?
Savvy and her family move to England for her fathers job. Starting a new school is hard enough but in a new country makes it even more tough. Some of the kids and neighbors seem nice but standoffish.

Savvy has a few hard decision to make in the quest to win friends and be excepted in a group. I’m a big sap, and the loneliness Savvy feels did make me tear up. This book has a good biblical message, but it isn’t preachy and doesn’t slap you in the face.

Both dd and I enjoyed learning about how things in England differed than here in US. We found some of the candy mentioned in the book at World Market to try which was fun. In an interview with the author about why she decided to set the series in London she says “I think, at heart, we are all fantasy travelers, excited about visiting new places - especially places that speak English! London is such a fun, cosmopolitan town. They speak English, but with an enchanting accent that American girls often imitate because it sounds so, well, posh!  We love their royalty, their history, the fact that they are both very similar and yet different from us. The girls who read the London Confidential books may not be able to visit London in person this year, but they can go there via the book. And then plan the REAL trip to follow.”

This is a book aimed at tweens/teens. I say tweens because there isn’t anything in this book that wouldn’t let my 12 yo read. My 15 yo dd read this book in one day and really liked it as well. Both dd and I want to continue the series. We have discussed what we would like to see happen with the main character. Will Savvy join the youth group? Will friendship with Penny ever grow? Will she get the cute boy? Sandra Byrd states, “The final two books in the series release on September 1, 2010 and talk about good friendships and bad, why it's important for Christian girls to stick with only liking, even crushing on, Christian boys, how to persevere in times of trouble, and taking your first adult steps in your faith. When girls open any of the books, they'll find a girl who is a lot like them, with dreams and hopes and fears like theirs, and God who works things out in ways they would not have imagined.  There are friendship ups and downs, school ups and downs, guy ups and downs, family issues and lots of fun. I wanted to write books that would be fun to read, and yet still be meaningful. I hope the girls find the books to be just that.” We are looking forward to seeing what will happen. 

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Real World Parents

Real World Parents: Christian Parenting for Families Living in the Real World
By Mark Matlock

Excellent book! Fear based parenting can lead to legalism, help your kids ( and yourself) see their part in God's story line, rather than operating in the story line the world tells them is true. I don't agree with some of the first 2 chapters but after that it is a wonderful book.

Where I disagree with the author is that the world isn’t getting better nor is it static, that is not the nature of sin, sin causes degeneration. True there aren’t “new” sins, but the world has gotten so far from God and His holy standard that many sins are excepted as normal, not harmful, or are a valid choice.

Once I got past the first 2 chapters I really loved the message of this book. It is all about teaching yourself and your children a Biblical Worldview from Gods point of view.
Mark Matock has a heart for youth and teens. He has several other workbook Bible studies for teens that I plan on getting for Emilie.

I really like media analysis guide, helping kids and self to make wise choices with all forms of media be it TV, music, web and books. The Story Worldview analysis will be used in our literature classes.

Each chapter has a few questions for digging deeper that would make this great for a Bible study for parenting/and or worldview. I wholehearted recommend this book.

Thank you TB&B Media for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Finding Easter at Walmart

The Hardwick family of Creation Sensation were stuck in Walmart for a few hours after picking up a screw in a tire. This little Easter video is what come out of their boredom. Enjoy and remember!

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us.

Homeschooling for the Rest of Us: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work by Sonya Haskins is a wonderfully uplifting and encouraging book for those of us that aren’t perfect and are a long way from it.

This book is affirming and validating homeschooling parents that they *are* doing a good thing even when things go wrong. This book really is needed in the homeschooling community where everyone likes to brag how their children are excelling in academics. My kids are not super big brains and that is OK. My house is decorated with educational posters, time lines, calendars and marker boards and that is OK. My kitchen counters have a few piles of newspapers ( current events)a sink of dirty dishes and a dishwasher of clean dishes ( home life skills) and that is OK.

We are home educating for the glory of God and not ourselves, and that’s more then OK!

This book needs to be read by everyone who struggles with keeping up with the perfect family. Not every family that seems perfect on the outside has it all together. I think this is a big problem in the homeschool community. We all struggle but feel we can’t share this struggle publicly for fear people will think less of our abilities to teach, our children’s ability to learn and the validity of homeschooling in general. That’s a lot of pressure!

I encourge all fellow homeschoolers to share your stuggles, you will be surprised how many other families stuggle with the same time.

Thank you Bethany House for this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Flowering Cross

The Flowering Cross
by Beth Ryan is a new Easter book for children.

Katie's family ministers to a cranky old neighbor by showing the love of Jesus to him over a long period of time. One Easter Katie invites “Papa Jack” to church. Surprise! Papa Jack says yes.

Because of the love and commitment to minister to crabby old Jack, he was able to see the love of Jesus in this family,and wanted it for himself. Katie's church decorates a cross with flowers as part of the service. The flowering of the cross has been traced back to the 6th century. It is an especially striking and beautiful way to symbolize the new life that emerges from the death on Good Friday. I never knew of this tradtion. I really like it. Directions are included to make a small table top cross for your own family or to give to others.

This is a touching story that you can share with your children to teach them that just loving people can soften their hearts and prepare them to accept Jesus into their lives. Some people are only an invitation away from Jesus!

“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” John 13:35 and Galatians 5:14 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Thank you Thomas Nelson for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book give away winner

Tracy is the winner of the Finding Inner Peace booklet.

I have not been able to contact her. Tracy, if you're out there please email me.

If I don't hear from Tracy by Friday, March 12, I'll draw another name.

Update- March 17, 2010
I've been unable to contact Tracy to send her the book Finding Inner Peace, so I drew a new name. Susan is the winner!
Susan if you are out there, I need you to contact me so I can get your book sent out to you.
Thank you ladies.

He's Everything to Me

He is Everything to Me
Words and music by Ralph Carmichael

In the stars His handiwork I see,
On the wind He speaks with majesty.
Though He ruleth over land and sea,
What is that to me?


I will celebrate Nativity,
For it has a place in history,
Sure, He came to set His people free,
What is that to me?

Til by faith I met Him face to face,
And I felt the wonder of His grace,
Then I knew that He was more Than just a God
who didn't care,That lived away out there and .....
Now He walks beside me day by day,
Ever watching o'er me lest I stray,
Helping me to find that narrow way,
He is everything to me.
(repeat 3 times)

We sang this song at church camp. I've always loved it.
I'm looking for another song we sang, An Attitude of Gratitude, but have been unsuccessful.

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther (Lost Loves of the Bible)
by Ginger Garrett is an intriguing blend of the biblical account of Esther, Persian history, and fiction. This story of Esther is told in First Person narrative in a “dear diary” form. Esther is a young Jewish girl who has lost her parents and has been raised by her older cousin Mordecai. When current queen Vashti falls out of favor, King Xerxes calls for all available girls to be brought to him for the chance to win his favor. After a year of training and beauty treatments it is Esther’s time to meet the King. King Xerxes’ imagination is captured by her beauty, wisdom, and purity and he chooses for Esther his queen.

Danger and conspiracy are all around Esther as people close to the King deceive him. Neither Xerxes nor Esther are truly safe.

There are a couple things that I wasn’t satisfied with in this account of Esther’s life. I wasn’t all that fond of the feelings she held for Cyrus for so long. I didn’t like that she waited so long to tell Xerxes that she loved him, I didn’t like the timing or the words she used. I didn’t like the the ultimate traitor at the end.

It was a good story, not racy or too sexy. It made me cry which is a sign of a good story. My 14 year old daughter is reading it now. The whole time reading this book I did have visions of the movie "One Night with the King".

Some people have posted on Amazon about recipes and beauty treatments included in the book, my copy had none of those things.

The other books coming in the series about Jezebel and Delilah are of no interest to me at all. An idol worshipping murderer and a traitor, lier and deceiver are not women I want to read about. These women are not the heroines of their stories.

Thank you to David Cook and TBB for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A sonnet by Shakespeare

CXLIII.

Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch
One of her feather'd creatures broke away,
Sets down her babe and makes an swift dispatch
In pursuit of the thing she would have stay,
Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,
Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent
To follow that which flies before her face,
Not prizing her poor infant's discontent;
So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee,
Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind;
But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me,
And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind:
So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,'
If thou turn back, and my loud crying still.

Sense and Sensibility

The classic Sense and Sensibility (Insight Editions) by Jane Austen is, well a classic. But the new Insight Edition with all the little extras takes it to a new level for a new generation.

The extra tidbits of information on every page cover historical and cultural information of the time period,facts about Austen’s life, themes of faith, and my favorite, comments on the books characters and plot.It’s these (and more) little facts that make reading so satisfying. They really give the reader a depth into the time, characters and the authors point of view of all of it.

Also included are discussion questions that will make this book perfect for my homeschooled high school student. I plan on buying the Pride and Prejudice Insight Edition.

This book was provided to me free from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Revolve 2010 Review

Revolve 2010 (Biblezines) This is a colorful and interesting concept. The New Testament in the accessible form of a “teen magazine.” Short vignettes covering a variety of topics that are of interest to teen girls.Some of the topics include, make-up, fashion, boys, music and movie stars.

While the little snippets are a fun read, there isn’t a lot of “meat” offered here. I wouldn’t even say a lot of “milk” either. I would hope that by the time a girl is a teen that she would be ready to handle some more in depth study on the topics. I mean hey the Word of God is right there contained in the magazine, let’s use it. I did really like the character study that looked like a Facebook page. I may use this idea in our homeschool Bible study.

My oldest daughter (14) likes the graphics and the short articles but like me would like to see fun Bible quizzes, study guides, character studies, and how to personalize the Word of God daily in her life.

This has great potential to be a wonderful tool if it included more substantial Bible application.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for providing this book for review. Visit. http://booksneeze.com to join Thomas Nelson as a book reviewer.

Planning for next year!

I received Bella’s curriculum for next year this past week.
It is Sonlight Basic 2 (World History), 2000 edition. I’m pleased.

There are several reasons why I bought one so old. First it was less expensive, the older editions of the Instructors Guide (IG) where cheaper to begin with, I don’t know why they have nearly doubled in price since I used it, 6 years ago. Are they any better? Contain more information? I’ve not a clue, so if I can get it cheaper that fine with me.

The second reason I wanted an older version is that I already have many of the books for the older edition. Sonlight has changed the books with the IG, so again I would have to buy more books if I went with the newer IG. It’s all about being a good steward, being thankful with what I’ve got.

I didn’t get Sonlight Science nor the Language Arts. I don’t like the LA, and even though I LOVE Usborne books (I sell them, mostly to myself) I didn’t want to pay for a IG. I like my Science to sort of go with our History.

So I sat down last night and wrote what the history topic was for each week-
Wk1-5 Egypt
Wk 6-13 Greece
Wk 14-18 Rome
Wk 19-24 Dark Ages- Middle Ages
Wk 25-30 Reformation/Explorers
Wk 31-36 America/Industial Revolution/Westward Movement/WWI

So our Science will be the following topics
Wk 1-5 Deserts
Wk 6-13 Human Body
Wk 14-18 Geology
Wk 19-24 Plants
Wk 25-30 Oceans( Bella was given the choice of space or oceans)
Wk 31-36 Insects

I love Rod and Staff Spelling, so will stick with it. I’m still thinking about what to do for Grammar. Wondering if I should go with something premade like Rod and Staff, or teach it myself with literature/Bible verses and something like Grammar By The Book.

Finding Inner Peace During Troubled Times

Finding Inner Peace During Troubled Times: Living in the Presence of God through Prayer and Meditation by William Moss, is a very short booklet that reminds the reader that Jesus has promised us peace, but it is our part to accept that peace that God offers. It is a quick read, with lots of room for notes as you study the Bible on your own. One might want to use this booklet as a stepping stone for a personal Bible study on peace. Mr Moss is very sincere and genuine in his writing.

This is a good message for believers, but there is the missing part that one must have already accepted Jesus sacrifice on the cross for our sins to have access to the true peace that passes all understanding.

I did enjoy it and it was a good tool to use to focus on the peace that God has promised.

Thank you B&B Media Group for this review copy.
For an author interview contact B&B Media at 1-800-927-0517 Ext. 104 106, or 109

I have one copy to give away in a random drawing. Just leave a comment and you will be entered.

Snowball Sale

Winter Sale at Notebooking Pages!

2nd grade lesson plans

Week 17 lesson plans

February 12!

Today Olivia turned 12!
Pictures soon!

Snow!

Snow is a rare thing here in Texas. Flurries started around 9am. It didn't take long for the snow to thicken up. It's been snowing nonstop since 9:30ish. It has been hard to keep the girls on task for school, but they knew that tomorrow was scheduled as a free day, so they worked well today. They are all outside playing right now. The last "big" snow we had was on Olivia's 6th birthday. She turns 12 tomorrow!

I am thankful I have a cozy, snug home. I'm thankful for hot chocolate, chili, and a husband that went to the store for milk.

lesson plans

Bella's 2nd grade week 16 schedule

Bella has enjoyed Sonlight much more than the other girls did. I am very pleased that I was able to find the IG ( instructors guide) for next year.
It is "Basic 2" A one year intro to World History, 2000 edition. Which is just what I was wanting. I don't have all the books but I have many for this "Basic" and many from "Basic 1" ( 2003) so I will modify the plans to work for us.
Again Bella will be reading many of the "read alouds" as "readers" since she is way beyond Owl at Home and Fire Cat.

Not sure if we will stick with Learning Language Arts Through Literature. I'll be working on getting some sort of flow to science using Usborne books. I've heard many wonderful things about the Apologia Elementary Science, so that is a possibility. Another option would be to use the science topics from Learning Adventures Vol. 1, since they would "go along" with the history.

February Beginnings

It has been grey and gloomy here this past week. Lots of cold rain. Not a whole lot to report.

Last weeks menu:
Roast Chicken
Tacos
Chicken Chowder
Italian Beef Sandwiches
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Chili

Next Week menu:
Pork Chops
Chicken something
Hamburger something
Another chicken something
Steak on Friday for Olivia's birthday. She will be 12! Hard to believe how fast my babies grow.

My brother started Chemo and Radiation tx this week. Thanks for any prayers on his behalf.

Starting to think about next school year. We will be starting a new curriculum called Far Above Rubies. Both Emilie and Olivia will be doing it. Bella is really flourishing using a modified Sonlight schedule this year, so I plan on doing something similar next year. Which reminds me that I need to post her weekly schedule, but that is on the other computer so I'll get to it later this weekend.

My Illinois family heard me state that I'd rather have my feet cut off then exercise. It's true, I hate cardio, but I do like weight/strength training. I found a book called the Cardio Free Diet and have started the workout routines. I really like it. I've not gotten crazy about counting calories or points. I think this is something I can stick with, I really like it. It doesn't take forever to do, only about 20 minutes, 3-4 times a week.

Rediscovering God in America

I received a free copy of Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History by Newt Gingrich, from Thomas Nelson as a book reviewer.

Like it or not our nation was founded on Biblical principals that are etched in the very monuments of our nation. After taking the tour of our national monuments through this book there can be no denying that yes, our founders knew Who it was that gave each man their freedoms and “unalienable rights.”

I found this book very educational and fascinating. I doubt many people realize just how many of our great founders and leaders over the years relied on, and thanked God. My copy did not have any colored pictures but I know the newest edition does have colored photos which really makes the book come to life for the reader.

We will be using this book in our homeschool to reinforce that even if current political correctness says we are no longer a Christian nation, we can stand firm knowing that this country and our founders held a different, higher standard.

Getting caught up

Already January 17 2010, and this is my first entry.

Been getting back in the swing of school. Even if the girls don't admit it, I think they were ready to do somthing.
Our first week back went well. Here is the Second Grade lesson plans for weeks 11, 12, and 13. This is for weeks 14-15.
For History we all spent the week watching Drive Through History/America, Foundations of Charater. These are really great. Fun and loaded with important information. I've started taping them from TBN, and hope to watch at least once a week even if they don't coordinate exactly with where we are at in American history.

Started our yearly cleaning. So far we have cleaned all the window sills and washed the kitchen cabinets.

I've been reading a lot. I'm really loving the Redwall books. Crazy I know, but some youth literature are some of my favorite books.

*~*~*~Menu~*~*~*
Roast
Oven Chicken
Pork Chops
*Jerk Chicken Nachos
Fish
Tacos

*Jerk Chicken Nachos
Ingredients
6 tortilla chips
3 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups marbled cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons jamaican jerk spice, divided
1 red bell pepper
1 lime,
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sour cream, plus
1 teaspoon additional jamaican jerk spice (optional)

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange tortilla chips in a slightly overlapping layer on a cookie sheet.
2.In a bowl, combine chicken, cheese and 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the jerk spice; diced bell pepper, juice of lime and zest of lime. mix gently.
3.Sprinkle chicken mixture evenly over tortilla chips.
4. add snipped cilantro
5.Bake 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted; remove.
6.If desired, combine sour cream and additional jerk rub in resealable plastic bag; trim corner to allow sour cream to flow through. Pipe sour cream mixture over nachos.

Sewing fever

I'm *really, really* wanting to sew. I really want to sew some aprons. They are quick, cute and don't take a lot of fabric. I've been looking at apron blogs and flickr groups for 3 days! I have about 3-4 apron patterns somewhere... I found one while cleaning Olivia room! YEAH, it is the one I really wanted to make. Saturday I ordered A is for Apron. I'm looking forward to getting it soon.

Here are some others I like. Simplicity 4282 view C,
Butterick See and Sew 5274 View A, Butterick Waverly 5263 View A, C. I really like the big pockets and full coverage of this vintage pattern. This one is a lot like it too.

I adore the looks of the aprons at Stitch Through Time, but I refuse to pay that much money! So I scouring the web looking for patterns that look similar. I think I've gotten close with most of them

Do you think that this Amish Canning Apron, looks like "Grandma's Apron" and/or "Violet's Apron"?

*************update**************
I found 2 more patterns I knew I had.
Kwik Sew 3396
And "Winnie"
I also found a free apron pattern pdf.

Now I'm on the hunt for fabric.

Olivia's Room

Olivia has wanted to rearrange her room ever since she moved in. Today's the day! So far we have the bed, nightstand & dresser moved, cleaned under the bed & hung up clothes in the closet rather than the floor.

Pictures coming soon.

We had a great Christmas!

Pictures to come soon!

Well now I can't find the pictures on the computer and Olivia isn't here to help me.gggrrr

Product Reviews

Check out my product reviews. HERE

Making it easier

Tonight is the Faithgirls Christmas party. One of the activities the girls will be doing is decorating cookies. I really didn't feel like making "homemade from scratch" cookies so I just got Betty Crocker Gingerbread cookie mix and a Sugar cookie mix. You know what, it made the whole process a lot easier, and kept the stress level down. Emilie, Olivia and Bella appreciated that!

I don't think the girls will have any less fun decorating and eating these "almost homemade" cookies.

For more Christmas ideas and recipes check out the Online Christmas Party.

It's Started!

The Online Christmas Party is a blog meme hosted by Melissa Telling of Lilliput Station Adventures. It is a way for homeschool bloggers all over the world to celebrate the Saviour's birth by sharing some Christmas spirit with our online friends. It is a place to gather new ideas, new recipes, and maybe a few new traditions. It is our way of making the season a little brighter for those we have never met, but still feel as if we know. This year's party runs from December 6th through December 19th.

Christmas School

Christmas School begins today!

We stop our regular curriculum during December and do a special Christmas study.

Check out these 3 Different Christmas unit studies. This year we are doing "Good Christian Men Rejoice" and reading The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry. I've not found any cool thingy to go with it, but will just be doing some worksheets I found online.

I've done Jesse Trees several times, the graphic with The Glorious Coming are so neat. This Jesse Tree devotional is free with "ornaments" for children to color. There are a lot of other free devotions and ornaments online.


Last year we did an Inductive Advent study.
The "sisters" read a Christmas Carol and did A Reading Record with it.
I *loved* the set up of the Reading Record. Isabella did this Christmas Lapbook last year, by Lilliput Station.

I'm a sucker for Christmas unit studies. I've got other Christmas studies this past weekend. One was A Christmas Adventure. I also bought Symbols of Christmas Lapbook, a couple years ago.
I have the Advent Calendar Lapbook but haven't used it yet. I've never met a Lilliput Station product that I've not liked.

Christmas just doesn't come around enough for me to use everything. I probably need to stop collecting Christmas studies now.

For more Christmas ideas to share with your family visit the On Line Christmas Party!

Menu

Turkey Roll Ups-chopped turkey, diced celery, onion, shredded cheese, dried cranberries, miracle whip-roll up in crescent roll dough, bake.
Beef Stew
Chicken soup-going to make this one up-I'm thinking white beans, chicken broth, diced chicken, green chilies, green enchilada sauce, onion, celery
Hamburgers
spaghetti
pizza
Jerk Chicken nachos

Happy Thanksgiving

Praise God from whom all blessing flow,
Praise Him creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye, heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Menu

oven chicken
eggs and bacon
pizza
Thanksgiving feast-Turkey, which I brined in a mixture of kosher salt, crushed red pepper, black pepper, sage, sugar, and garlic.
Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, corn, asapargus, rolls, cranberry/sausage stuffing, pumpkin pie, apple pie, eggnog, and citrus punch.
Leftovers

Menu and More

2nd grade Lesson plans for this week.
2nd grade Reading list for the year-this reading list has a great age and interest range, can be used from K-3. Reading the books aloud for the K-1 or the older students 2-3gr can read selected books themselves, while others are still read alouds. The Usborne's IL Children's First Encyclopedia includes experiments and websites for diagrams, worksheets, online games and puzzles.

Menu
coconut chicken
chicken and dumplings
taco soup
spaghetti
pizza

~Vet Day Parade~
Here we come!


Here we are! Bella is on this 4H Clover Kids float.


Emilie and Olivia on on this TEACH float. Emilie is on the other side so you can't see her. Lindy is in the cab.


The rest of the TEACH float. We won 1st place for a non-profit group.




~My birthday pie~

A Psalm by Olivia

Menu and More

Mac and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Hamburger Potato pie

Chicken Fajhtias

Pizza

Week 10 Lesson plan Some may be wondering why I'm only doing 1 and 2 weeks at a time. I'm doing this so I can have flexability in our schedule, exspecially in math. Also I tend to add books at the last minute. I suppose once I've completed the whole year I can go back and make it one file.

Things Change

The first item to change is my age, today is my birthday. No big plans for today, except very minimal school for Emilie and Olivia. Bella's lessons don’t take long and I will be able to really focus on her today. My mother and gramma are coming up from Austin, not for my birthday, that is just a nice coincidence.

Tomorrow the girls are in the Veteran's Day parade, on 2 different floats. We will be going out to eat lunch with mom and gramma and the girls.

The trees are starting to change and the smell of fall is in the air. I love autumn, it is my favorite season. The girls have been spending more time outside this week, which is nice since we had nearly nonstop rain for 2 weeks. We did school outside yesterday.

Emilie and Olivia went to the Powerhouse Wednesday with a friend. They all loved it. Live youth band, lots of friendly nice kids. The girls didn’t feel excluded, but excepted. The knots of kids, enlarged, (they stepped back to make room for others) not turning their backs to keep others out. They enjoyed the lesson, Emilie really likes to have a good lesson. I’m thinking about letting them go once a month. I don’t feel it is right to abandon our church, but I do want them to have spiritual growth, feel a part of a group, witness other youth living for God, & witness youth’s authentic worship.

Bella told me this week, that this year in school is “really good, better than last year.” So I must be doing something right! When I asked her what she likes best, she listed everything except math, and she isn’t to fond of Language Arts.

After 8 weeks of LLATL with the “sisters”, we dropped it. None of us liked it, very little grammar work, not much creative writing. So I started back the Language Arts in our unit study- Learning Adventures. I know it was a “God Thing” that we started it back when we did, because when I opened it up, it was the beginning a whole new unit on newspaper writing. That coordinates with their literature section- reading a biography on Ben Franklin. The Fine Arts lessons are about cartooning. Both the girls love to draw and both are really good at manga, so that has been enjoyable for them.

This week we started reading the New Testament on a 90 day plan. Not sure if we will finish in 90 days but we are working on this. Emilie has read a lot of the NT herself, but not front to back all the way through. I’m excitied about this.

Weekly Menu & activities

grilled chicken sandwiches

chili or soup- something with hamburger

super baked potatoes, salad, leftovers

chicken spaghetti

pizza

Wednesday-AWANA

Thursday-TEACH (homeschool support group)

Friday-My birthday

Saturday- girls in Vet. Day parade.

2nd grade lesson plans

Bella's week 8 ( this week, 10/26-10/30) and week 9 (next week, 11/2-11/6).

The big girls won't have school on Novemeber 6, it's a holiday for us. Mom's birthday!

School Week

Click to see Bella's Lesson plans for the past week. And here are our plans for this week (10/19-10/23)

~Sisters~

10/12-10/16

Bible-AWANA, Missionaries

Literature-Calico Captive

Grammar-LLATL-dictation, creative writing

Math

History-New Jersey, N & S Carolina, Pirates, The Story of the Thirteen Colonies ch. 44, This Country of Ours Ch 38, timeline

Science-Test unit 2, Start unit 3, 4 experiments

Home Economics-Apple Crisp

I'm seriously thinking about adding MuGuffey readers.

Menu

~Menu ~

Beef Stew

Poppy Seed Chicken

Grilled Chicken

Tacos

Spaghetti

Pizza

What is Faithgirls?

Here are our Faithgirls lessons for the next couple months.

So what is Faithgirls?

I've been doing "Keepers" with my girls and off & on with other families for about 7+ years. I introduced our pastor's wife to Keepers of the Faith, last summer when they first moved here.
After spending a couple hours in my home looking at the vast curriculum choices available to homeschools, she ditched Abeka and pretty much ordered the whole Keepers catalog (along with Doorposts materials)! LOL.

Anyway, she loves the KAH concept and introduced it to the Ladies Ministry at church, asking if they would support it to train the girls in ministries. They agreed and I'm the director.

We meet just twice a month. We do AWANA on Wednesdays, and since most of the the girls go to PS I figured we'd get low attendance and/or uncompleted projects if we met to often. I also wanted them to do projects and "homework" at home between meetings. Part of their homework is baking for a ministry weather for their own family or different ministries at church.

I call the club, "Faith Girls" first because our church is Faith Baptist Church.

Right now we are learning to Bake. My girls have been baking for years, but all the girls voted for Baking. For the Bible/Spiritual lesson we are doing the Missionary lapbook from Hands of a Child.

After we finish with the lapbook, we will use the Polished Cornerstones from Doorposts for character/Bible lessons. I coordinated the character trait/chapters of the PC book with the KOF badges. I'll see if I can get that in a pdf soon.

just catching up

I've got some more simple lapbook templets here, here and here.

Menu this week:

BBQ chicken

Chuckwagon Soup

Roast beef sandwiches

jerk chicken nachos

pizza

We had a Faithgirls meeting last night. We had fun. Faithgirls is what we call the Keepers At Home program at our church. We are doing a baking unit, and studying Missionaries.

We made apple crisp last night and worked on our Missionary lapbook.

Tonight is AWANA.

Girls have had a wonderful attitude with school this year. It has been nice. I'm not always good, patient and kind.

Notebooking Freebie

I made a new notebooking sheet for Marquette, Jolliet, and LaSalle's explorations.

Free lapbook templets

I made some super simple blank lapbook templets. I have some more on another computer that I'll load at Scribd sometime.

Fall weather menu

Chili

Chicken & dumplings

Ham and green beans

Corn Chowder

Fajihtas

pizza

Was it worth it?

My review for The Well Planned Day homeschool/family planner.

Well, it is attractive. I like the monthly articles, I like that it is dated and includes a month at a glance calendar with the daily Bible reading at the beginning of each month. I like the weekly quotes, and catechism. I liked that it is spiral bound. And that is about all I like. Everything I could and have make on my own.

I didn’t like the shopping lists included in the planner. For one thing they are way to small. I also don’t like to mix my school stuff with my household stuff. My biggest complaint is the lack of space to write lessons plans. There is no way that more than 2 students’ work can be written in the space provided. I ended up making Bella’s planner separate. Also the space for “English” is way to small for even one student, since “English” is suppose to cover- reading/literature, spelling/vocabulary, grammar and writing. Now how all that is supposed to fit in a small box is beyond me especially for more than 1 student.

So it is not something I will purchase again ever. And the only reason I’m probably still using it after 4 weeks is because I paid $20 for it. I just hope I don’t get fed up with it and end up not using it in a few weeks, which would be a waste of money all together.

Learning at Home 9/21-9/25

Bella~

Bible-AWANA Matthew 6:9-13

Character-Hero Tales-Tyndale

History/Social Studies-Middle Ages, Industrial Revolution, Modern Times, People Around the World, John Oglethorpe

Science-Rainforest, Oceans, Waves, Currents, Coast

Math-word problems

Reading-Besty and Tacy

Literature-poems, James Harriot Bonny's Big Day & Only One Woof, fiction/non-fiction

Grammar-capital I, copywork

Spelling-Lesson 4; Explode the Code book 5

Free Reading- Clarice Bean, The Swan Princess

~The Sisters~

Bible-AWANA

Literature-Finished Amos Fortune, started Calico Captive

Grammar-Dictation, topic sentence, paragraph,

Math

History-Baroque Art, Charles I & Cromwell

Science-review and test

Home Economics-clean house, entertain guests

Free Reading-Emilie-Sister of the Bride, Olivia-Warriors Into the Wild

Another week of learning

Time sure is flying!

~Bella school week~

AWANA

History/Geography-Virginia notebook sheets, World timeline overveiw, Egypt, Rome

Science-Reading and notebooking about Volcanoes, Rivers, Mountains, Deserts, Grasslands

Math- counting by 5 and story problems

Reading- finished The Boxcar Children

Spelling-100% & Explode the Code book 5

LLATL- rhymes, opposites, copywork

Literature-Poems, rhymes, copywork

~Sisters school week~

Emilie said 2 sections in Journey (HS AWANA) and 1.5 sections in T&T

LLATL-The Eagle dictation, similies

Literature-Amos Fortune, Free Man-excellent book

History-Virginia state sheets, Native Americans, John Eliot-missionary to the Native Americans, Read Story of the Thirteen Colonies chapters 2 and 3, Time Line states studied so far-Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine.

Reading-Emilie read Alice in Wonderland Olivia is reading Harry Potter

Science-study questions, chapter summary worksheets

Olivia and Bella got a hair cut. Super Cute!

Started school

We started school last Monday. Our first week went very well.

Bella really enjoyed learning, and this week I'm adding more for her. I went back looking at all I have and found SL core C (which was K years ago when I used it with Emilie and Olivia.)I have most of the read alouds and the History/Geography books. Bella is way above the readers listed, so I'm going to have her read some of the "read alouds" as readers. They are all grade 3 and above reading level. She is reading Children's Encyclopedia IL for science and joining the "sisters" for Apologia General Science. She is doing Rod and Staff Spelling, Explode the Code 5, Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) Red book,and Math U See classic Foundations.

Sisters-
Learning Adventures- Literature,Grammar, Fine Arts
Truthquest History-American History, Government/Civics
LLATL-Tan book
Apologia General Science
Practical Arithmetic
Latin-we hope to add Latin this year
Nature Journals-we hope to do this year too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Menus
Grilled pork chops
Jerk Chicken Nachos
Mexican pasta shells
Red beans and Rice
Pizza

Happenin's

Our friends Temple and Hannah will be coming over this afternoon for a visit. It seems like it has been weeks since we have seen them. I think Hannah will be spending the night.

My mom has been with my gramma all week. My gramma had a knee replacement a couple weeks ago and is just getting worn out trying to take care of her husband as well as herself. She just can't do it. So my mother is helping them get him placed and settled in an assisted living center, just down the street from gramma's house. It is a really nice place. My gramma isn't ready to move into an assisted living center yet, she doesn't need as much care as her husband. It has been hard for all of them.

"The Grammas" and I are going to see a movie together Friday morning, "Julia & Julie".

Now onto a vent- a minor one. For the last 2-3 years back to school one subject notebooks have been 10 cents each, or $1 for a case. This year the price has jumped 150% to 25 cents for the same notebook. I know 25 cents isn't much, but an increase of 150% is outrageous! I'm glad I bought like 6 cases last year!

Speaking of back to school, we are practicing getting up early. None of us are morning people. I want to be, but it is hard! My plan is to use these 2 weeks before school starts to get into a habit of getting up for 7, getting the girls up by 7:30 and starting school by 8:30-9:00.

We have lots of activities going on this year. I pray that I don't burn out.

I got "The Well Planned Day" planner. I like it good enough. I don't think I'll purchase it again next year unless I end up liking more as I use it more. The price is pretty high, and I bet I'll still use my homemade sheets to some extent.

~~~~~~~~~~Menu~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taco Salad

Pork Chops

Chicken

Fish

Pizza

Menu and More

Beef Noodle casserole

Spicy Chicken Strips

Taco Salad

Grilled Chicken

Pizza

Last night was Bella's first Clover Kids Club, a 4H for younger children. My good friend Kay is the leader. This month they learned about recycling, they are to collect metal for a month then next month we will take the metal to a metal recycling center for a field trip. The owners are also a homeschooling family from our group. The meeting went well, and I think the kids all had a good time.

Church blog site

Check out our new church blog.
Faith Baptist Church