Spring Break started with a bang this year. We closed out the Beauty and the Beast Jr. production and I took some friends to see Beastly. Which at the time seemed appropriate given our B&B production, except that it was ghastly. the kids, as in teen kids, liked it. However I kept waiting for Mrs. Potts to pop in and sing...there's something here that wasn't there before... It definitely was a movie for the redbox.
I plan to sleep in all week, catch up on some house and garden projects, read some trashy romance novels, go to the beach, maybe pancakes at Deleon Spring, a night at Disney to catch the fireworks, and Harry Potter & Narnia at the dollar theatre. So what is on the agenda for your spring break??
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day 9
I'm blogging from Maddy's new laptop in the school room. My sister went to a MAC, so she gave Maddy her old laptop. Maddy's previous laptop was also Lyns's but it met an untimely end when it crashed to the floor last fall. I had decided not to get her a new one since she is a bit clumsy and irresponsible with electronics, however with the amount of online classes she really did need a new computer. So this one is not allowed to leave the table in the school room.
This week is going much smoother on the school front. Maddy has indeed taken my warnings to heart and is getting her worked accomplished in a timely manner. After my breakdown last week I have really soul searched regarding my philosophy of education. I completely went against the beliefs I held to even consider sending her to school. Don't get me wrong school is not some great evil, and I actually enjoyed the front office staff when we went. Over the years I have watched other home school families and have developed and imitated a philosophy of learning based on their results and ideology. It is hard to understand this not knowing the families I speak of but one of the families I am talking about has had a hands on, love of life and learning approach. Her children study art, dance, classical music and even put out a monthly publication by the kids. The children are accomplished musicians, well rounded academically, and are in high school taking college courses. When you meet these kids they have a zest for life, and are a joy to be around. I have known this mom to take her daughter to play violin on the street cornor downtown, help her daughter put on an annual camp at their home, encourage the childrens editorial ventures, and in general foster a place of learning and creativity. All of that said this not the norm, I can never hope to be even 1/4 of what this family has accomplished. However I can admire and strive to develope this philosophy of education. This weekend I have recommited myself to a fun and alternative form of education. I was feeling burned out, they were feeling burned out and it just hasn't been fun... My goal for the rest of this year is to continue teaching Maddy time management skills while enjoying the process of educating her. We will still use virtual classes, and Sonlight. She won't be getting off that easy, but I hope to bring in the fun. In fact I changed one of her assignments this week to incorporate her love of theatre and a writing project.
I am also actively gardening again. I am planting seeds today for my starts, and not a minute too soon. The news had a story last night about record crop prices since there was a crop failure in Mexico. They expect produce to triple in price. Get your hoe!!
I really need a good childrens bible recommendation for Liv's age. Her language arts has her looking up verses and Maddy's old bible has such small print that it frustrates her. I also need, need, need the skip counting 100 sheep tape. However I really would like it to be on cd so I can put it on Liv's ipod. Does it come in cd form? If not how can I get it from tape to cd format??
Well I am off to go get my cute little nephew. He is mine for the night ;)
This week is going much smoother on the school front. Maddy has indeed taken my warnings to heart and is getting her worked accomplished in a timely manner. After my breakdown last week I have really soul searched regarding my philosophy of education. I completely went against the beliefs I held to even consider sending her to school. Don't get me wrong school is not some great evil, and I actually enjoyed the front office staff when we went. Over the years I have watched other home school families and have developed and imitated a philosophy of learning based on their results and ideology. It is hard to understand this not knowing the families I speak of but one of the families I am talking about has had a hands on, love of life and learning approach. Her children study art, dance, classical music and even put out a monthly publication by the kids. The children are accomplished musicians, well rounded academically, and are in high school taking college courses. When you meet these kids they have a zest for life, and are a joy to be around. I have known this mom to take her daughter to play violin on the street cornor downtown, help her daughter put on an annual camp at their home, encourage the childrens editorial ventures, and in general foster a place of learning and creativity. All of that said this not the norm, I can never hope to be even 1/4 of what this family has accomplished. However I can admire and strive to develope this philosophy of education. This weekend I have recommited myself to a fun and alternative form of education. I was feeling burned out, they were feeling burned out and it just hasn't been fun... My goal for the rest of this year is to continue teaching Maddy time management skills while enjoying the process of educating her. We will still use virtual classes, and Sonlight. She won't be getting off that easy, but I hope to bring in the fun. In fact I changed one of her assignments this week to incorporate her love of theatre and a writing project.
I am also actively gardening again. I am planting seeds today for my starts, and not a minute too soon. The news had a story last night about record crop prices since there was a crop failure in Mexico. They expect produce to triple in price. Get your hoe!!
I really need a good childrens bible recommendation for Liv's age. Her language arts has her looking up verses and Maddy's old bible has such small print that it frustrates her. I also need, need, need the skip counting 100 sheep tape. However I really would like it to be on cd so I can put it on Liv's ipod. Does it come in cd form? If not how can I get it from tape to cd format??
Well I am off to go get my cute little nephew. He is mine for the night ;)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Day 6 & 7 or 8 ?
Oops, I think I missed a few days of blogging.
Well we went to the Rep today and saw the play Anne Frank and Me. It was very similar to the movie The Devil's Arithmetic. It had the same premise and was very poignant. After the show the actors came on stage and reviewed the facts of the holocaust and interacted with the audience. It was a full 2 hours, and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it back to get Liv from co-op on time.
Liv and I attended Ethan's Valentines Day Party on Monday, however when I dropped him off this morning I forgot it was Princess/Pirate day, so he was not in costume ;(
Sunday we went to church with some friends and met their new pastor. Afterwards we went out to my mom's to make some Valentines, and have a fondue party.
Baby Jake made his mom a Valentine ;)
I know this is a lame post but I have been crazy busy trying to be super mom and make all these special V-day memories. I have a good post coming tomorrow on school!
Well we went to the Rep today and saw the play Anne Frank and Me. It was very similar to the movie The Devil's Arithmetic. It had the same premise and was very poignant. After the show the actors came on stage and reviewed the facts of the holocaust and interacted with the audience. It was a full 2 hours, and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it back to get Liv from co-op on time.
Liv and I attended Ethan's Valentines Day Party on Monday, however when I dropped him off this morning I forgot it was Princess/Pirate day, so he was not in costume ;(
Sunday we went to church with some friends and met their new pastor. Afterwards we went out to my mom's to make some Valentines, and have a fondue party.
Baby Jake made his mom a Valentine ;)
I know this is a lame post but I have been crazy busy trying to be super mom and make all these special V-day memories. I have a good post coming tomorrow on school!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Scared Straight
We have had a little bit of a rocky week of home schooling. I was sick last week and we were behind in our schedule. Last week Maddy didn't complete any work, and was starting this week off in the same manner. By Thursday when I came out of my room and saw her playing Just Dance on the wii, I had had it! I calmly announced that I would be enrolling her in our local middle school in the morning. If she wouldn't do her work for me then she could do it for them. They could keep her in a room, at a desk, and let her know when she could break for drinks and restroom. She cried and begged and moaned and I think therr was knashing of teeth...And then the calm settled and she announced to facebook that she was going to school...and then the cute boy in theatre said he went there...and she got up the next morning and straightened her hair...and then we got in the car, and she said, "Are you really taking me to school??" She totally thought I was bluffing.. So we got to school, and I made her pose in front for her first school picture for the scrap book...
And I walked in the office told the receptionist that we were homeschoolers and I needed information on enrolling a student. He sent us to the guidance office, and I spoke to both the 7th and 8th grade guidance counselors. Maddy sat outside the door so the whole time she was sure I was enrolling her, and then she was called in to go over what a day in the life of an average student looked like. The counselor advised me to call the homeschool office to enroll her and then we were off. We went to breakfast to discuss how her life would be changing, and how cherry she had it making her own schedule at home. I finally put her out of her misery and told her she would not be attending this year, HOWEVER, if she did not take some initiative I would flunk her at her evaluation and then place her in middle school next year back in the 7th grade. Maddy was not in trouble so much for her quality of work, but lack of self motivation. I feel that a key part of being priviledged to study at home is to be self motivated in your studies and online courses...so hopefully this has made an impression!!
And I walked in the office told the receptionist that we were homeschoolers and I needed information on enrolling a student. He sent us to the guidance office, and I spoke to both the 7th and 8th grade guidance counselors. Maddy sat outside the door so the whole time she was sure I was enrolling her, and then she was called in to go over what a day in the life of an average student looked like. The counselor advised me to call the homeschool office to enroll her and then we were off. We went to breakfast to discuss how her life would be changing, and how cherry she had it making her own schedule at home. I finally put her out of her misery and told her she would not be attending this year, HOWEVER, if she did not take some initiative I would flunk her at her evaluation and then place her in middle school next year back in the 7th grade. Maddy was not in trouble so much for her quality of work, but lack of self motivation. I feel that a key part of being priviledged to study at home is to be self motivated in your studies and online courses...so hopefully this has made an impression!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Day 3
I haven't had my coffee and it feels like it is 6 am due to the rain. I am tempted to crawl back in bed and steal a few more zzz's. I love a dark rainy day. I can hear the rain beat down on the tin roof of my chicken coop. There really isn't much more you can ask for except maybe a cup of coffee to miraculously appear. For years I have been saying I would buy a coffee maker with a timer so I wouldn't have to get up and make it each morning. But alas my coffee maker has yet to die and I'm practical like that!
* The kids are in the living room playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii. I am counting that as PE for the day, so see I am not shirking school.
* We finished the Giver yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised. I had originally felt that the content was above Maddy's ability to understand. If we had not read it together I still believe it would have been. It is definitely a book that needs discussion and analyzing to fully understand. For myself I really had to analyze my philosophy of education. It was easy to disregard this book as too mature, and go on, however I have always taught Madeleine with whole living books. This one offered the opportunity to explore and broach many new topics. It was an introduction to what would happen if a society did not value life, and we were able to draw quite a few parallels to today's societal issues. So all that said it was a good choice for us.
* It has been a while since I have given a chicken update. We have six chickens in our coop. 2- red stars, 2- barred rocks, 1 australorp , and a white cochin. We are getting 4-5 eggs a day which is phenomenal for winter. The girls have all settled down and rarely make a peep. It's raining right now so I can hear them in the coop making a purring sound every now and then.
* My life is so boring right now. I am having a hard time thinking of anything to post... I have to go make some coffee, and then off to target for some valentines supplies.
* The kids are in the living room playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii. I am counting that as PE for the day, so see I am not shirking school.
* We finished the Giver yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised. I had originally felt that the content was above Maddy's ability to understand. If we had not read it together I still believe it would have been. It is definitely a book that needs discussion and analyzing to fully understand. For myself I really had to analyze my philosophy of education. It was easy to disregard this book as too mature, and go on, however I have always taught Madeleine with whole living books. This one offered the opportunity to explore and broach many new topics. It was an introduction to what would happen if a society did not value life, and we were able to draw quite a few parallels to today's societal issues. So all that said it was a good choice for us.
* It has been a while since I have given a chicken update. We have six chickens in our coop. 2- red stars, 2- barred rocks, 1 australorp , and a white cochin. We are getting 4-5 eggs a day which is phenomenal for winter. The girls have all settled down and rarely make a peep. It's raining right now so I can hear them in the coop making a purring sound every now and then.
* My life is so boring right now. I am having a hard time thinking of anything to post... I have to go make some coffee, and then off to target for some valentines supplies.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Day 2
I have my cup of coffee, the dishwasher is going, and Maddy is finishing up the Giver for book club today. All that said I really should be sitting with Liv teaching Math/Spelling/grammar/science, or any combination of those. Her room does need cleaning so I'm not really wasting time...
* I have book club coming this afternoon to discuss a book I haven't quite finished, to a house not quite clean. Everyone has loved this book. Maddy loves it, however I am not sure that a lot of the ideology can be understood at their age, especially with parallels to our modern societal struggles. We have discussed a lot of new ideas and concepts, but I think another 2-3 years would have made this a really profound book for her. I think Sonlight has this scheduled again for us in high school so I am sure we will re visit this book with new eyes. But like I said she is really enjoying it.
* We are all well in our house now. We spent 10 days recovering from the flu. Usually I do not get really sick, but this time I was in bed for 5 days. It really helps to have a teeenager about. Maddy never caught the bug, so she was able to help keep the house from falling down. Mike also has the immune system of superman. He never, never, never gets sick. I think he may have a new appreciation for my job ;)
* I am so behind in school! A week and a half off the master schedule, which is written in ink, is making me crazzzy! (Look Amy, I used a which clause ;)) I purposefully lesson plan in ink so I would be more likely to stick to the schedule, however that also makes me neurotic about catching up and checking off! I am pretty sure I am going to drive Maddy crazy this week/weekend catching up.
* We are participating in theatre 3 nights a week right now. Maddy loves it, and Liv has found her groove. We are at a local theatre now, and it really has been a positive move. I think Maddy may attend theatre camp this summer. Right now they are practicing for their upcoming Beauty and the Beast performance. Maddy is a Silly Girl, and Liv is a wolf.
* I am planning my spring garden. I have had a horrible time getting spinach to grow this winter. I hope to get to lowes today and buy some new spinach seeds, some soil and some pots to start my seeds. Maddy left my seed tray with all my new packets outside in the rain, so I am not sure if they will even work :( I feel like I am behind already in the spring garden. Gardening here is so tricky. We have been experiencing erratic weather, and I am sure we will have more freezing before spring.
* I am seriously thinking about taking the sink out of my laundry room and adding a second washing machine...
* Some more household projects for the spring are: Ripping up carpet and laying tile/hardwood, painting my bedroom, painting a chalkboard wall in my hallway to the dining room, planting 500 million ferns in the front yard, finishing the fence to Mike's area.
Ok enough procrastinating, I need to go clean my house and make some goodies for this afternoon.
* I have book club coming this afternoon to discuss a book I haven't quite finished, to a house not quite clean. Everyone has loved this book. Maddy loves it, however I am not sure that a lot of the ideology can be understood at their age, especially with parallels to our modern societal struggles. We have discussed a lot of new ideas and concepts, but I think another 2-3 years would have made this a really profound book for her. I think Sonlight has this scheduled again for us in high school so I am sure we will re visit this book with new eyes. But like I said she is really enjoying it.
* We are all well in our house now. We spent 10 days recovering from the flu. Usually I do not get really sick, but this time I was in bed for 5 days. It really helps to have a teeenager about. Maddy never caught the bug, so she was able to help keep the house from falling down. Mike also has the immune system of superman. He never, never, never gets sick. I think he may have a new appreciation for my job ;)
* I am so behind in school! A week and a half off the master schedule, which is written in ink, is making me crazzzy! (Look Amy, I used a which clause ;)) I purposefully lesson plan in ink so I would be more likely to stick to the schedule, however that also makes me neurotic about catching up and checking off! I am pretty sure I am going to drive Maddy crazy this week/weekend catching up.
* We are participating in theatre 3 nights a week right now. Maddy loves it, and Liv has found her groove. We are at a local theatre now, and it really has been a positive move. I think Maddy may attend theatre camp this summer. Right now they are practicing for their upcoming Beauty and the Beast performance. Maddy is a Silly Girl, and Liv is a wolf.
* I am planning my spring garden. I have had a horrible time getting spinach to grow this winter. I hope to get to lowes today and buy some new spinach seeds, some soil and some pots to start my seeds. Maddy left my seed tray with all my new packets outside in the rain, so I am not sure if they will even work :( I feel like I am behind already in the spring garden. Gardening here is so tricky. We have been experiencing erratic weather, and I am sure we will have more freezing before spring.
* I am seriously thinking about taking the sink out of my laundry room and adding a second washing machine...
* Some more household projects for the spring are: Ripping up carpet and laying tile/hardwood, painting my bedroom, painting a chalkboard wall in my hallway to the dining room, planting 500 million ferns in the front yard, finishing the fence to Mike's area.
Ok enough procrastinating, I need to go clean my house and make some goodies for this afternoon.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Facebook killed the blog....
I truly believe that facebook is the arch enemy of the blogger. I use to love racing to the computer anxious to see what all my peeps ate for dinner last night, who watched American Idol, and what was on for the days agenda. I would compose blog posts in my head while cooking, cleaning, often while in the shower. If only they had an App for that! You think it and then it's published ;) Then came the big "F" . Suddenly you knew what everyone was doing, when their birthday was, and their location at any given moment. It took seconds to scroll down the news feed and get caught up. You could do it from your phone, no longer chained to the computer. It was wonderful...the ultimate multi tasking tool for the busy mom. Often I had lamented how blogging would drag me away from schooling or waste the precious little time I had available. And ~**WALA~** along came facebook. It became easier and easier to neglect visiting my blog. I caught up with all my friends on one page. I could comment without typing in BOTSWANA. You could multi upload a file of PICTURES!!!!!!!!!! It was kind of like love... Not as personal as a blog, but a hybrid that was fulfilling my need at the time. Summer was crazy, I didn't need to be on the computer going down rabbit trails wasting my mornings, so my blog languished out in cyber space. Since I wasn't at the computer I didn't check my friends blogs. My phone still worked so I would chat but I am sure each time I didn't know an event they blogged about it was disappointing. I mean the best reason to blog is for an audience right?? But alas between cramming six virtual school classes, moving my sister home, and babysitting Jake, I needed a blog break for the summer. Well we can all agree summer is long over and I am ready to return.
The shine is off facebook, and I am ready for it to go away for a while. I truly do not care what everyone ate for dinner, just my peeps! I am going to take one day at a time and in order to get back in the habit post once a day for 30 days. By the end I should be back in the groove!
The shine is off facebook, and I am ready for it to go away for a while. I truly do not care what everyone ate for dinner, just my peeps! I am going to take one day at a time and in order to get back in the habit post once a day for 30 days. By the end I should be back in the groove!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Hannah....
Rode Rocking Roller Coaster twice! And Space Mountain!! I can attest to this I was holding her hand on RRC!! She wanted me to offer proof since many know her roller coaster aversion! She has now conquered ALL of Disney's roller coasters.
*Thunder Mountain
*Space Mountain
*Splash Mountain
*Everest
*Rocking Roller Coaster
YAY Hannah!!
*Thunder Mountain
*Space Mountain
*Splash Mountain
*Everest
*Rocking Roller Coaster
YAY Hannah!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Olivia aka Pippi Longstocking
After enjoying the Children's Theatre rendition of Pippi Longstocking we have had a bit of a problem here at home...
Liv has decided that the Pippi life is for her. She has taken to wearing mismatched clothes, stomping around the house, climbing the staircase bannister and announcing that she has no parents.
During school today she said, "I'm Pippi Longstocking!" Stood up on her chair, and refused to do her phonics.
After giggling a bit and reminding her that I would wear out her stockinged butt, she ran off to climb the the ottoman and then jump off. I told her I would be calling her dad. To which she stated..."I HAVE NO FATHER" and ran off...........
oooh...I think Liv and Joe are conniving to see how far they push before their mom's end up in lifestream..
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Netflix Instant play selections for the ancients- middle ages
These are all instant play selections
Crusade: A March Through Time
The History Channel- The Dark Ages- MUST SEE
PBS- InSearch of Shakespeare
Lady Jane- MUST SEE
Reign of Fire- just a dragon movie
PBS Egypts Golden Empire
PBS Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (long)
In Search of the Trojan War -GOOD
In the footsteps of Alexander the Great
The Hidden City of Petra
Clash of the Titans- older version
I will be adding to this since we are in the middle ages right now.
Crusade: A March Through Time
The History Channel- The Dark Ages- MUST SEE
PBS- InSearch of Shakespeare
Lady Jane- MUST SEE
Reign of Fire- just a dragon movie
PBS Egypts Golden Empire
PBS Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (long)
In Search of the Trojan War -GOOD
In the footsteps of Alexander the Great
The Hidden City of Petra
Clash of the Titans- older version
I will be adding to this since we are in the middle ages right now.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Netflix selections for History Early American - Civil War
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