Here are the interviews that I had with the kiddos the other day...idea shared by Danielle @ Meet the Dubiens.
I think these interviews would go great in our yearbook that I hope plan to make at the end of each of our homeschool year.
~ H
Monday, September 19, 2011
Week #3 and interviews
So we are starting week #3 of our homeschooling. The kids really do seem to enjoy the learning and I enjoy spending time with them. I even enjoy the planning and preparing part of it...I know...it's the OCD that I have. We finished school today in our normal two hours but as I am down here spending some time on the computer to check my emails and Facebook, the kids want to continue with their learning. E-pie even said, "This is a good time for learning." She is currently practicing her writing on the white board while C-bear plays with the pages we have made. I feel really blessed that they feel this way right now and hope that this love of learning will continue as we continue.
Here are the interviews that I had with the kiddos the other day...idea shared by Danielle @ Meet the Dubiens.
~ H
Here are the interviews that I had with the kiddos the other day...idea shared by Danielle @ Meet the Dubiens.
~ H
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
More homeschooling stuff!
Welcome to our homeschool classroom! I just wanted to take a moment to show you around...
I feel very blessed that my sweet Hubby sacrificed this room which was once his office and our guest bedroom so that we could have our own special space to do schooling. He is now in a MUCH smaller space. It could be classified as a cave...a man-cave. I know we didn't absolutely need it in order to learn, but it does help my OCD nature to have one ;) It still serves as a guest bedroom, though. This was an unfinished basement room that my talented Hubby and In-Laws renovated.
We would like to purchase an American flag for our home and a small one for our classroom but until we do, this is what the kids see when we do the Pledge of Allegiance. It's an image on my laptop. :O
I couldn't find the calendar pieces from my teaching days so I just created some. E-Pie writes in our date each time. C-Bear looks out the window to check our weather. We sing the days of the week song to the tune of Addams Family and the Months of the Year song to some tune I am not sure of. I borrowed these two parts from Erica over at Confessions of a Homeschooler.
On our Bible board, we have a short scripture each week to memorize and we review past ones. I get the Awana Bible verse printables fromJolanthe over at Homeschool Creations. During the week, I will randomly ask them to recite it. If they do, they get a small piece of candy. I plan on having them use the scripture as copywork in the near future. It's also a place to put up what we did in Sunday School Class.
After MUCH deliberation, I finally decided that this would be the best planning set-up for 2 kids for me...right now. I got the form from Donna Young's website...she's got A LOT of free forms, planners, and great advice.
I got the cool activity from Homeschool Share. They have a lot of great resources to use for unit planning and Five in a Row series.
I hope you enjoyed the tour!
I just had interviews with both of them today during lunch. I will post their interview soon. :D
~H
I feel very blessed that my sweet Hubby sacrificed this room which was once his office and our guest bedroom so that we could have our own special space to do schooling. He is now in a MUCH smaller space. It could be classified as a cave...a man-cave. I know we didn't absolutely need it in order to learn, but it does help my OCD nature to have one ;) It still serves as a guest bedroom, though. This was an unfinished basement room that my talented Hubby and In-Laws renovated.
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| Our own classroom |
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| Kids' work wall and word wall, still growing ABC tree, and their very own computer station! |
We would like to purchase an American flag for our home and a small one for our classroom but until we do, this is what the kids see when we do the Pledge of Allegiance. It's an image on my laptop. :O
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| Our daily calendar time |
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| Our Bible Board |
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| My daily planner..."keeps me sane" binder ;) |
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| This is what a week looks like...no, didn't fill it all out yet...not that on the ball yet ;) |
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| working on cutting...doing pretty well I might add |
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| working side-by-side...love it! |
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| So proud of his accomplishment! |
I got the cool activity from Homeschool Share. They have a lot of great resources to use for unit planning and Five in a Row series.
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| Great work! |
I just had interviews with both of them today during lunch. I will post their interview soon. :D
~H
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
What a blessing!
I have to admit...I still wasn't completely sure that I should 100% be homeschooling my children. You know...we all have our weak moments.. usually after my mental meltdown...is this really what God wants me to do? To be with my children all day when I can be like this????
Well, this first week has been pretty stinkin....GREAT!
Well, it wasn't all perfect but it was the answer that God gave me that made it so great. I always had the feeling that I wasn't really spending "time" with my children even though I was a stay-at-home mom. I mainly did the things that I needed to do to make the house run smooth and care for my family (which also has its own importance), made plans of one sort or another so I could run all over the place with my kids in tow, and then I would come up with more things for me to do while feeling like the kids were sometimes in the way. What a completely different feeling I have had this past week since we started. I have been devoting 2+ hours each day with them...NOT while trying to do a million other things (like check my Facebook or emails) but just with them. We work on handwriting, coloring, counting, reading, etc but it's just us and no other distractions. I know God was trying to tell me this is what I was missing out on...my children!
The other feeling I have had was that I was not the same organizedfreak fiend and disciplined person I used to be when I was teaching. I felt somewhat lazy and couldn't get myself together unless it was down to crunch time and then I usually would be a mess...especially towards my family. This has been a feeling I have had going on almost 5 years now! Lately, I have gotten the organizing groove back and even my discipline...waking up before the kids so I could be ready and also have alone time before starting my day. What a difference it has made in my attitude. Who knows...maybe I will even throw time for exercise in there one of these days???
But I have found that since I have organized my day better (because if I didn't, I would not be able to teach and run a household), I have been able to get A LOT more done or at least I am better at prioritzing what needs to get done instead of feeling either like"I need to get it all done" or "I give up! There's just too much to do." Confession: When we got back from our trip to Destin, I let the rings in my toilet sit there for almost another week before I got to them because there was more pressing things to do...like start homeschooling. Right when we got back home from Maine in July, I cleaned every toilet in the house because I couldn't stand the rings and it was way past my bedtime. I know...but I am working on it. It's a great feeling not to be controlled by your housework. I will try to remember that more often ;)
My homeschool friends made fun of me because they thought I needed a homeschool intervention. With being gone so much this summer, they thought I had holed myself up in my house to make sure everything was perfect for my homeschool before I would even start. Yes, I can be a little OCD...I have the "clear the table off before I can get started" syndrome. But I realized that I can not have every little plan and laminated card in place before I begin to teach my children. I have a (somewhat clear) goal of what we are doing this year and I can improvise and create as we go along. AND it's fun because there's not a whole lot of pressure on me or the kids. We even get to cuddle during Calendar time...C-Bear and E-Pie LOVE that.
I just know that God has sent me an answer to the uneasy feelings that I have had. No, I don't have everything about homeschooling figured out yet but I am trying not to fret over the small stuff. I am relying on God to guide me through each day and I hope that I remember to look to him every day for everything that I need. I know that I will enjoy, I mean really enjoy this time with my kids who are growing up too fast for me. Yes, I will still have the rough/bad/crazy days but that's ok, too. I know this is where I am meant to be for now.
~ H
Well, this first week has been pretty stinkin....GREAT!
Well, it wasn't all perfect but it was the answer that God gave me that made it so great. I always had the feeling that I wasn't really spending "time" with my children even though I was a stay-at-home mom. I mainly did the things that I needed to do to make the house run smooth and care for my family (which also has its own importance), made plans of one sort or another so I could run all over the place with my kids in tow, and then I would come up with more things for me to do while feeling like the kids were sometimes in the way. What a completely different feeling I have had this past week since we started. I have been devoting 2+ hours each day with them...NOT while trying to do a million other things (like check my Facebook or emails) but just with them. We work on handwriting, coloring, counting, reading, etc but it's just us and no other distractions. I know God was trying to tell me this is what I was missing out on...my children!
The other feeling I have had was that I was not the same organized
But I have found that since I have organized my day better (because if I didn't, I would not be able to teach and run a household), I have been able to get A LOT more done or at least I am better at prioritzing what needs to get done instead of feeling either like"I need to get it all done" or "I give up! There's just too much to do." Confession: When we got back from our trip to Destin, I let the rings in my toilet sit there for almost another week before I got to them because there was more pressing things to do...like start homeschooling. Right when we got back home from Maine in July, I cleaned every toilet in the house because I couldn't stand the rings and it was way past my bedtime. I know...but I am working on it. It's a great feeling not to be controlled by your housework. I will try to remember that more often ;)
My homeschool friends made fun of me because they thought I needed a homeschool intervention. With being gone so much this summer, they thought I had holed myself up in my house to make sure everything was perfect for my homeschool before I would even start. Yes, I can be a little OCD...I have the "clear the table off before I can get started" syndrome. But I realized that I can not have every little plan and laminated card in place before I begin to teach my children. I have a (somewhat clear) goal of what we are doing this year and I can improvise and create as we go along. AND it's fun because there's not a whole lot of pressure on me or the kids. We even get to cuddle during Calendar time...C-Bear and E-Pie LOVE that.
I just know that God has sent me an answer to the uneasy feelings that I have had. No, I don't have everything about homeschooling figured out yet but I am trying not to fret over the small stuff. I am relying on God to guide me through each day and I hope that I remember to look to him every day for everything that I need. I know that I will enjoy, I mean really enjoy this time with my kids who are growing up too fast for me. Yes, I will still have the rough/bad/crazy days but that's ok, too. I know this is where I am meant to be for now.
~ H
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Homeschooling: ready for the new year
So we have officially started our homeschooling! Our travels have now been completed...whew, what a summer of traveling! Now we can get back into routine and have a little more structure, something both the kids and I thrive on. Gotta have the prerequisite first day pictures! :D
Our day (this year's curriculum) consisted of:
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| using little curves from Handwriting Without Tears to make silly ears |
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| Finally, snacktime! |
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| Picture of her Mat Person |
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| Can you spot his Mat person? It's somewhere in there ;) |
- Calendar Time/Bible
- Handwriting with Handwriting Without Tears
- Phonics using Explode the Code
- Math using Right Start Mathematics
- Five in a Row Reading (Not a learning to read program but more of a love to learn as we read program)
I will post pictures of our classroom, soon!
~H
First Annual Family Trip???
This Labor Day, we spent the weekend in beautiful, stormy Destin. The only really nice day we had was the day we arrived there which made me so glad that Hubby took Friday off so we could head out early. We missed all the holiday traffic and had the beautiful vacation home ALL to ourselves before my family came at 2am that night. The rest of the time, it was windy, rainy, dreary, and filled with all sorts of disastrous weather warnings. We still managed to sneak in some pool time when the rain would stop briefly. At one point, the kids just swam in the rain for a bit. The home was BEAUTIFUL and room enough for ALL my family.
It was just nice getting to spend time with my family without interruptions. My mom, who always brings too much food, brought too much food. So we had plenty to eat, lots of good conversations or bad conversations turned good, rock band playing, and just good quality time spent together. We even squeezed in time for outlet shopping and wine tasting :D
I'm hoping that this is something that we can continue each year with my family (which consisted of our family of 4 and Spanky, my parents, my brother and his wife and her mom, my 3 sets of uncles with their wives and kids which totaled 20). I am already looking forward to our next family gathering but thinking maybe we should do a cruise so my family doesn't bring their entire home with them next time ;)
It was just nice getting to spend time with my family without interruptions. My mom, who always brings too much food, brought too much food. So we had plenty to eat, lots of good conversations or bad conversations turned good, rock band playing, and just good quality time spent together. We even squeezed in time for outlet shopping and wine tasting :D
I'm hoping that this is something that we can continue each year with my family (which consisted of our family of 4 and Spanky, my parents, my brother and his wife and her mom, my 3 sets of uncles with their wives and kids which totaled 20). I am already looking forward to our next family gathering but thinking maybe we should do a cruise so my family doesn't bring their entire home with them next time ;)
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| Spanky really seemed to enjoy the beach...just wished we knew that he wasn't allowed on it :O |
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| Private pool |
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| Spending time with one of her favorite little uncles |
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| games anyone? |
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| Hope you're hungry! |
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| Rock Band Babies |
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| Rock Band Oldies |
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| Spanky taking it easy |
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| Wine testing at Emerald Coast Winery |
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| my goofy little brother |
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| Honey, I think they said to sip the wine... |
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| I think this is the way pros do it... |
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| Awww... |
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| Me and the love of my life <3 |
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| Caught red-handed! |
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| Our beautiful home for the weekend |
Monday, August 29, 2011
Minnesota for the 100th
So after taking a 2 week vacation from our trip to Maine, we headed back out on the road. The In-Laws drove me and the kids up to Minnesota to celebrate hubby's grandmother turning 100 and a family reunion. We were gone for a week and a half. We got to meet up with the Maine Davises again and the kids picked right back up where they left off. It was really good to see all of Hubby's relatives again and for the kids to meet everyone and know that family is a BIG thing...literally and figuratively! It was the largest family reunion I have ever been too. It was wonderful seeing Great Grandma and having her see the great grandchildren. 100 years old... can you believe it??? The weather was gorgeous but the mosquitoes were mean. The kids and I packed heat clip-on mosquito repellent and that did a pretty good job.
We also got to celebrate someone special turning a year older. Here is a little message for my little girl:
We also got to spend some time in Minneapolis after all the family parties. We missed going out in the skywalks all over the downtown area. We will have to do that on our next visit. I will let the pictures tell you about the rest of our trip.
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| great grandma at 100 |
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| the siblings |
We also got to celebrate someone special turning a year older. Here is a little message for my little girl:
Five years ago, God blessed me with the perfect little girl.
An Angel to teach me how to be a better person and how to laugh and sing a little louder.
I am not deserving of her but am grateful that God knew exactly what I needed in my daughter.
Happy birthday to my sweet girl today.
Mommy loves you all the way to the moon and back.
She got to celebrate with her cousin at the Mall of America. We took her to lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe and then unlimited rides at the Nickelodeon Universe. She rode her first roller coaster. We picked Daddy up from the airport just beforehand and got to spend the day with him, too.
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| My little princess girl |
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| enjoying the ride with big cousin |
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| thinking about driving the car ;) |
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| someone knows how to zoom around |
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| so magical |
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| Lunch stop in Grand River, Kentucky |
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| Saint Louis Arch on a drive-by |
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| Meeting critters at a cousin's home |
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| enjoying the company of just-met family members |
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| having a good time at the party |
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| wow! |
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| checking out the rotating doors...yup, they work! |
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| i like the combination of a church among giants |
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| playing in the cityscape |
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| window shopping? |
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| grassy knolls in the middle of the city...pretty cool! |
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| made them look...told them spiderman was jumping between the tall buildings ;) |
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| visiting the beautiful home of their great aunt |
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| who's that pretty girl? |
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| Granny and Great-Aunt J |
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| serious discussion is happening |
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| LOVE THEM!!! |
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