Weekly Wrap Up, 2012, Week 13

Little notes I write myself, so that I can remember each precious day!  ('Cause the days are long, but the years are short!)

Prideful or prejudiced?  Neither! 

Sunday...
It was so good to be in church this morning!  Afterwards, we came home for a nice lunch of leftovers.  We had a little time for resting before we had to be back for Trevor's children's choir practice.  We also made a trip to Target.  Grace and I had time to watch some Jane Austin on BBC, thus inspiring the above dress that Grace pinned together with safety pins!  (She wants a Regency style dress made for her, but we need a seamstress. Hint, hint, Nana :-)

Pretending to be an accomplished young lady. 

Monday

Suddenly the weather is cooler, but still very pleasant.  I rode my bike today after lunch.  In the morning, we had gym class, a quick trip to the library, a stop for Great Harvest bread, and back home for lessons.  The evening went quickly as Jeff got home late.  We ate our late dinner of salad and garlic cheddar cheese bread and had smoothies for dessert.  Ryan's Latin and another history book arrived.  Next week I will order the last of next year's books when they are on sale! 

Grace's latest.  (She says the glass has grape juice in it.) 

Tuesday...

Because of a freeze warning, I had to bring in Grandpa's geranium, which by the way is wildly out of control!  That makes me so happy.  It's a living link to a man I miss so very, very much.

Today, I want to get a lot done with our lessons.  We babysit this afternoon.  I will catch up the laundry while the kids entertain our little friend.  Then, I'll take Grace to dance.  I think we'll have a "mock" Moroccan chicken with mashed cauliflower and brown rice.

I've started thinking about our week off next week for spring break.  I don't usually take a full week off, but we've done so well that I think a week off will actually do us some good.  I wish we could go somewhere, like a beach, but I've never been able to do such a thing, even as a child, we could never get away for spring break.  It is not my lot in life!  (I say with self pity as Facebook friends are about to dash away to Florida.)  Silly me!  I think it is just the taxing season getting to me.  I really want to go camping!   

Target practice time! Only with Dad, of course.

Wednesday...
It turned into another lovely day after a cloudy start.  I think the high temperature reached in the 70's.  We got a lot of reading done.  I got caught up in one of our readers and ended up reading the whole thing to myself.  Oops.  I have always found the kings of England very interesting and we are up to Henry the VIII, what a scoundrel!

Dinner was excellent, by the way.  I made oven roasted potatoes, a crustless quiche with spinach and ham, and cut up apples.  I think that this will be back on the menu soon.  Despite the crust being my most favorite part of a quiche and despite not having cheese, the quiche was very good.  

AWANA went well tonight.  My kids were happy that it was their favorite theme, walking wounded.  All the kids got into it.  I never saw so many kids with head injuries!  *wink* 

"My sister did it to me!" 

Thursday...

Today, another fantastic weather day, I want to ride my bike after lunch and before our little friend comes to play. (Done.)  If we work hard this morning, today could be our last day of school until after spring break next week.  So, the school books will get put away, if all goes well. (It did.) 


I made Asian Honey Chicken with brown rice and mixed vegetables for dinner. 

Distinguished. 

Friday...

*Yawn*  Storms kept rolling through, waking me up all night.  I think we have a tiny bit of reading to finish the week strong.  I need to give Ryan his science test and grade his weekly essay.  I plan to walk in the morning or ride my bike, if the weather cooperates.  (Rain is predicted.)  We will have to go get groceries, but otherwise today will be mostly relaxing. In the afternoon, a roofer is coming to give an estimate on a new roof, so glad I don't have to pay for it.   I am going to make a homemade pizza for dinner.  I want to tidy the house, but that doesn't sound very relaxing!  We may invite neighbor friends over to play. 

AWANA flag ceremony, Trevor with the AWANA flag. 

Saturday...

First official day of spring break!!!  Jeff works.  We do our best to get through the day.  Most likely we will tidy the house, because after I wrote all that about Friday, I started to feel less excited about cleaning!  I do know that we will be watching some Deep Space Nine before bed tonight.  Dinner will be determined after I go shopping today (Friday.) 

Have a great weekend!
Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Love

These two know how to love others. 

^" Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 ESV







 

Today I Am...

Bees for my dad. 

Happy... that Jeff located my missing prescription sunglasses after they'd been missing a couple weeks!  I was really getting worried that I'd never find the new, expensive things!


Excited...to have "new to me" curtains in the kitchen.  A friend was giving them away and asked us at bunco last week if anyone wanted them.  Well, they were the perfect fit and color for my very own kitchen so I took them!  I love the burst of red to cheer my north facing kitchen. 

Pleased...that more of our school books have shipped at last.  Now I just need to order from one other company that is having a sale in April. 


Going to... ride my bike with Grace!  It's supposed to be a lovely day.  Jeff got "my" bike out of the storage barn yesterday.  It's not exactly my bike.  Grace's long legs took my vintage bike from me!  I have my mom's bike, but it's just a bit too short.  Oh well. 

Annoyed...that my sweet Grace doesn't like her picture taken and placed on my blog!  I tell her that no one really reads my blog, no offense to those who do, so why be so camera phobic?

Starting to think... that summer will be here before I know it and that means just one thing, highschool is not too far behind!  Heaven help us!  (And I really do mean that!) 


Enjoying... another busy week of good things:  gym, art, dance, AWANA, babysitting, karate, and getting together with friends. 


How about you? 
~Jenn

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 12,

Little notes I write myself so that I can remember each precious day, 'cause the days are long, but the years are short!  (Gretchen Rubin said that last part.)

A treat. Mine was tart, but refreshing. 

Monday...
The last day of winter is here.  It's 80 degrees and sunny AGAIN!  I am so spoiled now that I can't even imagine going back to the 60's that a couple weeks ago seemed like perfection!  :-)

Ryan is with Nana today.  I miss him, but know he is having a grand time.  The younger two and I had a pretty good day together.  First there was gym class and a stop on the way home to get our Great Harvest bread.  Then we had a yummy lunch at home.  The kids did their math on their own, both getting all questions right.  :-)  Next, we sang a couple hymns, because churches don't teach them these days.  We continued our reading in Acts, while Grace illustrated for us on her flannel graph board.  We read poetry.  We read in our history spine, The World of Columbus and Sons.  We read a chapter of Leonardo da Vinci and a chapter of The second Mrs. Gioconda.  The kids did their language arts on their own while I cleaned up lunch and hung some clothes out to dry.  This is pretty much our typical Monday. In a bit I will take Grace to dance class.  While she's in dance, I'll read.  Dinner is started already.  We're having pinto beans and brown rice with steamed broccoli and fruit. 

A picture just doesn't do it justice! 

Tuesday...

Sunny and in the mid 80's!  Grace and I took our walk a bit earlier today so that we'd beat the heat.  I still can't believe that I just said that in March.  Ryan got right to work on his mostly independent studies.  Grace, Trevor and I kept on reading away.  Grace and I are having a great time reading about all the kings and queens and their sinful lives.  History is entertaining!

Our little friend comes this afternoon.  The kids keep her occupied and I think they enjoy their time with her.  I think it is good for them to spend two afternoons a week caring for a youngster under my watchful eye.  

Tonight is my bunco night.  I'm making homemade chicken tenders, green beans and fruit for dinner here.  Not sure what I'll be served at my friends' house, but I do know that I will have to behave myself.  :-)

This is what happens when I say no to screens. 

Wednesday...

Ditto on the weather.  Now, I am really beginning to think we are going to have to mow the grass soon.  I've never mowed in March.  Not once.  This is the last sunny day for a couple days, as rain is on the way tomorrow and Friday. 

Today is a bitter day.  We're going to a 21 year old cousin's funeral.  Young persons funerals are beyond difficult.  I did not know her very well, but her mother and aunt are close family.

I hope to get some reading with the kids done today before and perhaps after the funeral, but I'm not so sure it will happen.

Tonight is AWANA.  I'll make (whole grain) pancakes with real maple syrup before we go.

Grace's new pencils!

Thursday...

A mixed bag of weather today.  It stormed a little, but was still warm, in the 70's.  We continued with our lessons in the morning, making good progress.  Our little friend came in the afternoon.  I made a huge salad, fruit salad, and bread for dinner.  Kids went to karate.  Uneventful day.  Praise the Lord!  Even the laundry is caught up.  *grins* 

Looking at a spider climbing up behind me! 

Friday...

Woke up to a gentle rain, but still very warm in the 60's this morning.  We need the rain.  I am supposed to meet my friend to walk this morning.  We'll see how the weather is in a few hours. 

I need to finish our reading for the week.  We are on week 31 of 36 weeks of our Sonlight curriculum.  I plan to go to the end of May, so for a few weeks, we will concentrate on other subjects, like spelling, perhaps?  We really need to! 

Dinner?  I must think of it now!  Options are dwindling.  I really need to go to the store, but there is no time or energy for that.  I will thaw a package of chicken and see what happens!  Perhaps the dinner fairy will arrive in time to save my sanity?  Getting dinner made and cleaned up before small group is a job.  PB& J would work for me!  

Tonight we have our small group over.  The house will need some work, nothing major.  I am out of *gasp* coffee, so at some point I will have to get some before tomorrow morning or else! 

Saturday...

Jeff works.  It's one of the last of the Saturdays to work though.  We're counting down.  Only 3 more after this week!  I'll have to get food, because tonight, friends coming for dinner.  :-) 

Sunday...

Our one family day. Not sure what we'll do after church.  I think Trevor has choir practice in the evening, so there won't be a whole lot of time.  Maybe we'll just hang out. 

Waiting for art class. 

I hope you've had a good week. 
Thanks again for reading,
Jenn

It's Worth It

Please indulge me this sentimental post.  I sense the years left with my children slipping by so quickly.  Fortunately, I have very few regrets about the time I did spend with them as little children.  I gave myself wholly to their daily needs.  I am so thankful that I can say that I like who my children are and am thankful that I was able to give them the gift of home education. 

It's just that only one short year ago, he was just a boy.  (But he seemed so big.)I look at that picture and I see just how much he has matured this last year.

At age 13

And in the course of this short year, a young man emerged!  (Although his taste in cake decorations did not change.) *grins* 

Two weeks ago, age 14.

I knew this would happen.  I saw it happening to others.  Two years ago,I remember telling myself that in a couple of years, Ryan would morph into a young man.  I tried to prepare myself. 

Two years ago at 12, just a baby, really. 

In two years from now, he'll be even more transformed than he is now!  Why don't they warn mothers at their baby showers that they'll blink and that little baby will be all grown up?  (OK, they did tell me, but I couldn't comprehend!)

So, I'm trying to hang on to the last years with my last "baby"...

He's only 10, but 29 is just around the corner!  I don't even want to think about Grace being 13 this summer.  (Suddenly, I feel old and really nostalgic.)

Just 4 years ago

Just 4 short years ago! 

Again, what saves my sanity is that  I have very few regrets.  Keeping them home all these years has been a blessing to our whole family.  Any sacrifices we have made have been worth it all.  I never regret giving up my nursing career.  I am thankful that I do not look back and wish I had spent more time with them.  I do not think of it as giving up anyway.  I received so much in return.

If you home educate your children long enough, you will run into so many people who say, "I could never do that!"  I usually just smile, they probably wouldn't understand the joy and peace I receive knowing that I have found contentment in being at home, serving my family.   It's such a short time.  It's worth every thing to hear my 14 year old tell me, as he's watching the school bus drop off some kids, that he loves learning at home.  He loves being with me.  *melt*

It's worth it.

Wordless Wednesday: Tuesday Edition (LOL)

Happy Spring to you! 

Next Year's Books

It's that wonderful time of the year when next year's books start to arrive!  They are all crisp and new, with so much promise.  (Well, not all new, but close!)

Here is what we've decided to use, so far.


Trevor, age in August, 10, 5th grade 
Grammar:  Abeka (finishing book A, should be in book B by midterm)
Spelling:  Spelling Wisdom, book one  (This is new for us.) 
Science: Exploring Creation, Zoology, part 3
Math:  Math U See Epsilon (just started, so may finish midterm)
History/Reading:  Sonlight Core H, second part of World History
Music:  children's choir at church
PE:  archery, homeschool gym, karate
Bible:  Sunday school and AWANA


Grace, age in August, 13, 7th grade
Grammar/Writing:  Young Ladies Course in Writing
Spelling:  Spelling Wisdom
Science Exploring Creation, Zoology, part 3
Math:  Teaching Textbooks, finishing 6, starting 7 soon
History/Reading:  Sonlight Core H, second part of World History
Art:  Indy Drawing School
Dance:  Instep Dance Ministry at church
PE:  archery, homeschool gym, karate
Bible:  Sunday school and youth group
*Grace also works in the nursery at church, faithfully each week.  I need to count this as Child Development or something!  


Ryan, age in August, 14, 9th grade
English 1 (Lifepac)
World History, part 2 (Sonlight & Steam's of Civilazation)
Geoghraphy (Lifepac)
Math U See Algebra 1 (already started this, so might start Geometry around Christmas)
Latin 1 (Getting Started in Latin by Linney)
PE:  archery, karate, other classes offered at community center)
Literature (tied into history)
Computer (Language C) Coding (online class)
Bible:  Sunday school and youth group

I will be looking for some fine arts options for Ryan.  He might just take an art class or pottery at the community center.  He's also expressed interest in photography. 

Thankfully, the big high school question has been dealt with.  The principal and I will be working on record keeping this summer.  I want to get our system in place.  Jeff and Ryan are working on a blog together as well.  They want to encourage others that it is possible to homeschool highschool.  I'll get a link when it is all ready for you.  :-)

This summer, I want to keep the kids working on their math at least 3 times a week.  We will also be working on spelling, the younger two.  For Ryan, I want to get him a logic class to do this summer or maybe health as an elective.

It's all very exciting and yet, makes me think summer will fly by!

Thanks for reading!
~Jenn

***Update, we bought a French immersion computer program yesterday!  All will get a chance to learn at their own pace.  (Not Rosetta Stone, too $$$)