tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53877309441324845052024-03-08T13:24:35.816-08:00The Simple Life of EightStandinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-63440437609115500162011-12-30T23:42:00.000-08:002011-12-30T23:47:10.387-08:00Have you been looking?Have you lost us? <br /><br />I have had several folks messaging me, not realizing that my blogging has moved!<br /><br />We had so much technical trouble here that I decided to move on...<br /><br />to here:<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://travelingthenarrowroad.wordpress.com/">TRAVELING THE NARROW ROAD</a><br /><br />come drop by for a visit when you have a chance. *smile*<br /><br />May your new year be full of blessings! ~SheriStandinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-26168788494546450082011-08-14T22:33:00.000-07:002011-08-14T22:41:33.863-07:00ok...it's not quite ready to take off yet...
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<br />but our bags are getting packed and we are getting ready to move over here:
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<br />TRAVELING THE NARROW ROAD ~ <a href="http://travelingthenarrowroad.wordpress.com/">http://travelingthenarrowroad.wordpress.com/</a>
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<br />Changes are in the works (ie dear husband will be a random author on our newest blog, sharing much about faith, fellowship, & fatherhood)
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<br />I will still be doing most of the usual postings of home, school, & marriage that you are all accustom to. =)
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<br />I am a very slow learner, so please be patient with our newest project....
<br />Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-8582105907653663662011-07-27T12:24:00.001-07:002011-07-27T12:31:51.339-07:00Dear Readers,<br /><br />I will be taking some time off...<br /><br />mainly because I simply don't have time to hassle with Blogger & it's many faults.<br /><br />I need to get our house in order.<br /><br />I need to focus on school starting on Monday.<br /><br />I need to get my family settled into our *new* normal.<br /><br />Then... hopefully in a few weeks, I will look into Wordpress, and begin the switch over...<br /><br />I LOVE this time of year and enjoy posting about the fresh starts of a new school year. <br />I hope to see you all again by September. =)<br /><br />Blessings,<br />SheriStandinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-5891492088871045892011-07-24T16:45:00.000-07:002011-07-24T17:46:12.621-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fh1NT8f_KGc/TiyvDwaaxBI/AAAAAAAABlU/6uo8wblQBkI/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633069713003824146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fh1NT8f_KGc/TiyvDwaaxBI/AAAAAAAABlU/6uo8wblQBkI/s400/DSC_0321.JPG" /></a> Curriculum Outline for...<br /><br />HISTORY:<br />American- 1800's<br /><br />Our main focus will be on the Oregon Trail & the Civil War.<br /><br />Read alouds, projects, & activities will be used from the library, Robinson Curriculum, a few resources from here<br />(<a href="http://www.hshighlights.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=37&ccSID=099cd4217a8b556a4db416c118a5f3a4">http://www.hshighlights.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=37&ccSID=099cd4217a8b556a4db416c118a5f3a4</a>)<br />and here<br /><a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/TTS/Early19thCentury.htm">http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/TTS/Early19thCentury.htm</a><br /><br />fyi- this doesn't sound lovely, but blogger sucks, which is why I am stuck with black plain font and can't hyper-link the sites I am sharing... I WILL be changing to wordpress oh.so.very.soon!! grrr... insert *fakey-smile* here, lol<br /><br />SCIENCE:<br /><br />1st quarter- Astronomy<br />2nd quarter- meteorology<br />3rd quarter- geology<br />4th quarter-biology<br /><br />random resources that we will share in our Monthly Goals update.<br /><br />LITERATURE Goals:<br /><br />TJ- Swiss Family Robinson (RC)<br />Where The Red Fern Grows<br />Hans Brinker (RC)<br />Slave Dancer<br />Summer of the Monkeys<br />Grasshopper Summer<br /><br />Katie- Dear America 1800's series<br />5 lil Peppers series (we tried to start last year) (RC)<br />Finish up the Little House on the Prairie series.<br /><br />LANGUAGE ARTS:<br /><br />McGuffey Readers,<br />Language Lesson from<br /><a href="http://www.cyncesplace.com/l-arts">http://www.cyncesplace.com/l-arts</a><br />& Daily Grams<br /><br />MATH:<br /><br />TJ- review Saxon 7/6, then move to Pre-algebra.<br />Still deciding if we want him to stay w/ Saxon or use Math-U-See.<br /><br />Katie- finishing Arithmetic 3 (Abeka), then moves to Saxon 5/4.<br /><br />FINE ARTS:<br /><br />will share details in our monthly updates.<br />We will still focus on 1 artist, poet, & composer per month.<br /><br />ELECTIVES:<br /><br />TJ- woodworking, sandcastle art, welding, & basic mechanics.<br /><br />Katie- Piano, sewing lessons, sandcastle art, & drawing.<br /><br />FOREIGN LANGUAGE:<br /><br />Continue French, begin Spanish...<br /><br />BIBLE:<br /><br />New Testament studies.<br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br /><br />On a side note:<br /><br />I will also begin to homeschool Savannah (aka "tutor")<br />Savannah is a girl whom I use to care for from when she was itty-bitty little til she began school.<br />(I also babysat for her younger siblings for many years)<br />Savannah struggles with sensory issues and is diagnosed with functioning Autism. She is going into 6th grade, but we are going to begin her homeschool journey at her learning level, establish routines, and help her to create social skills & boundaries. I will be sharing her journey as well in our Monthly Goals update.<br /><br />On a 2nd side note:<br /><br />Andrew is in transition from 'Learning w/ the Littles' status, to the bigger kids updates on l.i.f.e. Academy. For now, I will be sharing his goals & progress via L.I.F.E Discovery updates which is still geared towared the youngest, but thought I better re-phrase the title. I want Andrew to want to be big. ;^) At the same time, I will be doing some preschool activities 3 days a week with Bryson & his friend, Dustin.<br /><br />hmmm, now if I could only pull my house together from the move weeks ago!<br />oh, btw, school starts Aug 01, yep 1 more week to get 'er dun! ;^)Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-82894700510178239562011-07-18T23:40:00.000-07:002011-07-19T00:30:38.434-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJjqpZ0oKXg/TiUrO0dilKI/AAAAAAAABlM/ipLBv3HDCsI/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954442697381026" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJjqpZ0oKXg/TiUrO0dilKI/AAAAAAAABlM/ipLBv3HDCsI/s400/DSC_0284.JPG" /></a> First things first...<br /><br />Nickolas is "18"!<br /><br />Now a young man with a future to grasp and reality to face...<br /><br />*pictured clockwise beginning w/ the back of blondies head~<br />Bryson 3<br />Andrew 6<br />Mikayla 9 (katie-girl)<br />Nick 18 ;^)<br />TJ 14<br />Joe(y) 22<br />Travis (friend)<br />Jenna (Fred's littlest sister)<br /><br /><div><br />Jenna made Nick cupcakes for his birthday. They are 3 1/2 months apart in age. Nick is older. *grin*<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kW8huYVCESY/TiUrOTsAKqI/AAAAAAAABlE/EgfKneDjElw/s1600/CSC_0311.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954433899670178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kW8huYVCESY/TiUrOTsAKqI/AAAAAAAABlE/EgfKneDjElw/s400/CSC_0311.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Nick had gone to the fair all day with friends, but we ended this night with our own version of STOMP (<a href="http://www.stomponline.com/show.php">http://www.stomponline.com/show.php</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CoxYLJaJams/TiUrOCliXYI/AAAAAAAABk8/iRPdznzswm0/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954429309148546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CoxYLJaJams/TiUrOCliXYI/AAAAAAAABk8/iRPdznzswm0/s400/DSC_0277.JPG" /></a>)<br /><br /><br />Dear Husband had to work on some rhythm skills with some of the children first. *smile*<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N50jJvMwUOQ/TiUrN4GaDqI/AAAAAAAABk0/aVezkXPUu1U/s1600/DSC_0280.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954426494226082" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N50jJvMwUOQ/TiUrN4GaDqI/AAAAAAAABk0/aVezkXPUu1U/s400/DSC_0280.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Soon Joe joined in with another rhythm,<br /><br />and Dad rapped it up with the best beat in town.<br /><br />The Dad that can break dance is also the dad who has the skills with rhythm... Go Figure!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTe1LIc4Tc/TiUq3DugNDI/AAAAAAAABks/SlZImHb40Pw/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954034478199858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTe1LIc4Tc/TiUq3DugNDI/AAAAAAAABks/SlZImHb40Pw/s400/DSC_0298.JPG" /></a> ON TO SUMMER TOPICS...<br /><br /><br />Our weather is cloudy with a chance of rain... every day! still.<br /><br /><br />Bryson needs to wash his "motorcycle".<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xjqJfcaIE1A/TiUq28WJHtI/AAAAAAAABkk/2cJOxl2nke4/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954032496975570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xjqJfcaIE1A/TiUq28WJHtI/AAAAAAAABkk/2cJOxl2nke4/s400/DSC_0293.JPG" /></a> So Sissy joined him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cjkr9q1QyUU/TiUq2UePmxI/AAAAAAAABkc/3LVoBsik8Qk/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954021793536786" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cjkr9q1QyUU/TiUq2UePmxI/AAAAAAAABkc/3LVoBsik8Qk/s400/DSC_0291.JPG" /></a> Then the event was followed by a "tune-up" for the said motorcycle. This was some serious stuff. I am waiting for his front wheel to fall off...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QrnsFQgp68/TiUq2MS118I/AAAAAAAABkU/HccRt7TfvZk/s1600/DSC_0307.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954019598227394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QrnsFQgp68/TiUq2MS118I/AAAAAAAABkU/HccRt7TfvZk/s400/DSC_0307.JPG" /></a> And for those moments when it does begin to pour outside...<br /><br /><br /><br />fyi... apparently this is a maze of "lazer beams".<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CUU0u5uLNY/TiUq1x_rc2I/AAAAAAAABkM/8Du8itsLGN0/s1600/DSC_0310.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630954012538532706" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CUU0u5uLNY/TiUq1x_rc2I/AAAAAAAABkM/8Du8itsLGN0/s400/DSC_0310.JPG" /></a><br />It felt more like a spider web to me.<br />;^)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The transition has been slower going than I had hoped for, but we are bumping along, getting settled into our place. I suppose it doesn't help when we volunteer/go to VBS for double shifts (a.m. & p.m.) the second week we are back in town. *sheepish grin*<br /><br />The littles are adapting well to the changes (house, schedules, routines, people, etc). The biggies are comfortably set. Katie, well, she's been a bit more off than I expected. I will be making a mommy/daughter date to clear up some expectations (from her and me). She's been needing a lot more nurturing and attention than usual. <br />so I whisper to myself<br />...slow down...embrace...communicate....<br /><br />funny enough, I've been needing more nurturing and attention than usual, and dear husband is enduring it, but his time is divided amongst so many things right now that I really need to lower my expectations for this season of transition...it's just so much more easier said than done...<br />so I whisper to myself<br />...relax...pray...smile...<br /><br /><br />This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.<br />Psalm 118:24<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-39717069317683740202011-07-09T20:52:00.000-07:002011-07-09T22:06:08.551-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi1JuwFWZr0/ThkjTKoDlaI/AAAAAAAABkE/Gm_Zr1T5u3A/s1600/DSC_0274.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627568021552993698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi1JuwFWZr0/ThkjTKoDlaI/AAAAAAAABkE/Gm_Zr1T5u3A/s400/DSC_0274.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Complementing<br />a<br />Compromise.<br /><br /></strong>I am not sure I have explained our exact living situation as of yet. I have been a bit vague due to waiting for the details ourselves.<br /><br /><strong>Here are the facts:</strong> <br />All <strong>6</strong> of our children are living at home for a very special season. I will enjoy every.minute.of.it cuz soon enough two of my man-child's will be moving on... <em>the oldest is taking a hiatus while preparing for bigger life plans, and son #2 is still in the throws of which way to head in life's many options after recently graduating. </em></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSG4NsE7HmU/ThkjS-gjD7I/AAAAAAAABj8/MoJWj_IT15c/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG"></a><em></em></div><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;">Gramma "M" is moving in with us also. This would be my dear husbands mother. This is where the title of this post comes in. I downsized much when I packed out belongings 2 yrs ago. I do admit to probably an overabundance of books, but hey, I still have another 15 yrs of homeschooling to go. Gramma M has had a life time of treasures to collect over her blessed years. I knew downsizing was going to be more difficult for her. Every item she owns reflects a memory, or a quality, which makes it hard to let go. Can I say that she has been quite the trooper?! My husband (bless his heart) is a facts-n-logic man, so "things" in general have no purpose to him. He sees over 1/2 our belongings as non-essential (which is about right), thus not necessary... I, on the other hand, encourage that some "things" make our hearts smile, encourages a cozy home environment, and reflects a little about our personalities. <br />So dear Gramma M & I have been compromising our belongings.<br /><br /><strong><em>We use</em></strong><br />my dishes (<em>hers are not children friendly, lol</em>)<br />her pots & pans,<br />our furniture,<br />her TV's,<br />my tupperware,<br />her baking dishes...<br /><em>(you get the idea).</em></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2fsvs2EbDro/ThkjSau1t4I/AAAAAAAABj0/vHl0ONLgN3Q/s1600/DSC_0275.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 266px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627568008696543106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2fsvs2EbDro/ThkjSau1t4I/AAAAAAAABj0/vHl0ONLgN3Q/s400/DSC_0275.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;">So when it came to <strong>decorations</strong>, we once again compromised.<br /><br />I love <strong>clocks</strong> *grin*<br />Here is just a simple lot unpacked.<br /><br />She adores <strong>Hummels;</strong><br />figurines, wall photos, music box.<br /><br />I think when all is said & done,<br />these "things" will complement each other.<br /><br /><strong>Just as being a family,<br />with different personalities,<br />quirks, interests, & gifts<br />complement the true meaning of our</strong> <strong><em>HOME</em></strong>. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>So how big is our new home?</strong> </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;"><br />Well, after sharing living space in a small home with my parents (<em>bless their hearts!),</em> this house feels rather large, but really is of modest size. <br /><br />Technically, it is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath home. but... it also has a huge bonus room, an office, and a "salon" aka formal dining room.<br /><br />This is plenty abundant for us! <br /><br />The big boys get the bonus room (man cave),<br />Katie has her own room,<br />Gramma M has her own room,<br />Fred & I share a room ;^D,<br />and the littles are floating a bit as of yet. <br /><em>(See how honest I am *hee*) <br /></em><br />We are using the formal dining room as a school room,<br />the downstairs closest stores all the busy toys,<br />and the littles use the little landing pad at the top of the stairs by our room as a mini-play area. <br /><br />As for sleeping, the youngest 2 are in our room for now, quite frankly because they would be anyways, regardless of us choosing a room for them. There will be a futon available in sissy's room for them to sleep in, and also a bunkbed in the man cave... I really wasn't joking when I said that they were floating, eh? ;^)<br /><br />Will share pictures of our home once we are completely unpacked...<br />our office is full, but effecient;<br />the family room is simple and spacious;<br />the garage, once cleared out from the sorting, will give us a work-out area;<br />and if I, personally, keep our individual items down to neccessity,<br />I will be able to use our rather large walk-in closet as <strong>a prayer room</strong>.<br />You know, <em><strong>a place set aside to spend with the Lord</strong></em> before each day begins.<br />I figure as busy as I am going to be, this will be a must to keep my priorities and sanity in check. *<em>smile</em>*</span></div><br /><div><br /><div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-87127426843271260602011-07-06T18:52:00.000-07:002011-07-06T19:21:41.556-07:00<strong><span style="color:#003300;">Discovering Treasures</span></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LrRASOJ_xbM/ThUTTtZIRiI/AAAAAAAABjc/waJy6CT9O3Y/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424538792740386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LrRASOJ_xbM/ThUTTtZIRiI/AAAAAAAABjc/waJy6CT9O3Y/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;">in our new backyard.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ybi862jEwHE/ThUTTUIIePI/AAAAAAAABjU/myZvilcA6cc/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424532010563826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ybi862jEwHE/ThUTTUIIePI/AAAAAAAABjU/myZvilcA6cc/s400/DSC_0242.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#003300;">We have found ...</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdsHmJU0Dq4/ThUTFwk-xUI/AAAAAAAABjM/8JNwRcRNpls/s1600/DSC_0244.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424299129587010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdsHmJU0Dq4/ThUTFwk-xUI/AAAAAAAABjM/8JNwRcRNpls/s400/DSC_0244.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#003300;">lots & lots of STRAWBERRIES.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;">I'm dreaming of smoothies & strawberry shortcake. yummy! </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxgDuw7lRYg/ThUTFETZlnI/AAAAAAAABjE/fvb5xRXVwQM/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424287244686962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oxgDuw7lRYg/ThUTFETZlnI/AAAAAAAABjE/fvb5xRXVwQM/s400/DSC_0243.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;">Besides two strawberry patches, we also have....</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Bnk8TVYU4/ThUTEl_GwjI/AAAAAAAABi8/ReeBgsCcOqk/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424279106503218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Bnk8TVYU4/ThUTEl_GwjI/AAAAAAAABi8/ReeBgsCcOqk/s400/DSC_0246.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#003300;">an apple tree...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgtS_3PmPoI/ThUTEI3CLyI/AAAAAAAABi0/IwBORNIzkTo/s1600/DSC_0247.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424271288020770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgtS_3PmPoI/ThUTEI3CLyI/AAAAAAAABi0/IwBORNIzkTo/s400/DSC_0247.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#003300;">a cherry tree...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXaDSm24g40/ThUTD9XlOHI/AAAAAAAABis/xVUvwDuq90Q/s1600/DSC_0261.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626424268203309170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXaDSm24g40/ThUTD9XlOHI/AAAAAAAABis/xVUvwDuq90Q/s400/DSC_0261.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#003300;">Grapes....</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#003300;">and a pear tree & apricot tree that I haven't taken pictures of yet.<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#003300;">Yes... we have 4 fruit trees, a grapevine, and 2 strawberry patches<br /><br />in a teeny tiny backyard. *smile*<br /><br /></span><em><span style="color:#660000;">The move is going well. I have to say that we have spent the last week downsizing!! After living with very minimal material things for 2 years, it was quit the shock to adjust to all our stuff that has been in storage for these past 2 years. And to think I DID downsize when I had packed it all. oh my! I do have to remind myself we had lived in a decent sized home (back in the day)with LOTs of storage space. <br /><br />This new home is beautiful & spacious too,<br />just less nooks & crannies to hide things in, thankfully.</span><br /><br /></em><span style="color:#003300;">Hope to share more soon, but I'm off for now to unpack some more boxes...</span><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-19835162960604514332011-06-24T20:57:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:49:05.326-07:00<strong><span style="color:#000099;">GRADUATION<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">~Homeschool Style~</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyAO3Mr3Edk/TgVeUJgNKNI/AAAAAAAABic/FCYWRv4OGWM/s1600/DSC_0233.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003410083326162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hyAO3Mr3Edk/TgVeUJgNKNI/AAAAAAAABic/FCYWRv4OGWM/s400/DSC_0233.JPG" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Our<br />Panoramic<br />View...</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apQgFuEDb-I/TgVeTp7f4yI/AAAAAAAABiU/4Btlv0ag2Rs/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003401607865122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-apQgFuEDb-I/TgVeTp7f4yI/AAAAAAAABiU/4Btlv0ag2Rs/s400/DSC_0232.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">360 degrees<br />of scenery...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63sJ21kapp8/TgVeJYxpT4I/AAAAAAAABiM/BMU8Lvt63yU/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003225204445058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-63sJ21kapp8/TgVeJYxpT4I/AAAAAAAABiM/BMU8Lvt63yU/s400/DSC_0227.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">in the Pacific North West...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzBStP9iVS4/TgVeIwKBwjI/AAAAAAAABiE/niJsedUn8Nk/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003214300856882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tzBStP9iVS4/TgVeIwKBwjI/AAAAAAAABiE/niJsedUn8Nk/s400/DSC_0226.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Including a beautiful view of the Sound, along with some random rain showers...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiTCnoF80cA/TgVeIpfwLPI/AAAAAAAABh8/M1l_DAaG6HI/s1600/DSC_0209.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003212512931058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiTCnoF80cA/TgVeIpfwLPI/AAAAAAAABh8/M1l_DAaG6HI/s400/DSC_0209.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#000099;">Followed by our favorite sports stadiums; </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Qwest Field<br /></strong>&<br /><strong>Safeco Field</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">...and as we come around full circle...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02PWpSGqo2g/TgV19pcotJI/AAAAAAAABik/VZ37t5O8xJo/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622029411800364178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-02PWpSGqo2g/TgV19pcotJI/AAAAAAAABik/VZ37t5O8xJo/s400/DSC_0232.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-24Vv44DVou8/TgVeH0TvABI/AAAAAAAABhs/8N8VpZwxjgs/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622003198235443218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-24Vv44DVou8/TgVeH0TvABI/AAAAAAAABhs/8N8VpZwxjgs/s400/DSC_0201.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">...the sun peaks out for a moment.<br /><br />After all, it is summer, right?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">If you haven't guessed yet, this is our view from the </span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Space Needle.<br /><br /></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">So, what does graduation look like for a student that is homeschooled?<br /><br />The advantage of homeschooling is that you can personalize not only their education, but create a graduation that truly fits your student's personality.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Nickolas...<br /><br /></strong>our gifted athlete, with a competitive drive within.<br />Thoughtful,<br />practical,<br />with a spark of <em><strong>humor & charm</strong></em>.</span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><br /><br />He opted out of:<br /><br /><em>Senior pictures;</em></strong> he prefers </span><a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2010/10/l.html"><span style="color:#000099;">THIS</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> picture. It reflects his senior year, his dog, his moments in soccer, his schooling.<br /><strong><em>Graduation announcements;</em></strong> we even bribed him with the idea that some folks may even send money as a congratulations of a job well done. He preferred not to have the extra attention.<br /><strong><em>Graduation party; </em></strong>again, not eager for tons of attention, he shrugged this idea off.<br /><br />So what did we do?<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><em>I pondered his relationships with other folks, his interests, his personality...<br /><br />then came up with a plan of celebration.<br /></em><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>3 Surprises:<br /></strong><br />1) Biggest brother, JOE, along with TJ, took NICK to a concert.<br />A Christian Rock Concert w/ <strong>The Newsboys, The Disciple, & Kutless</strong><br /><br />2) A senior grad & dad overnighter at the <strong>Great Wolf Lodge</strong> with Nick's </span><a href="http://www.studyinbrown.com/gallery/nick-18th-birthday/"><span style="color:#000099;">best friend</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"> & his dad.<br /><br />3) A dinner at the <strong>Space Needle</strong> with us, the parents. We invited Nick's bestest friend from public school (<em>which they were in the same class Kindergarten - 3rd grade</em>). I thought it fitting to have his last "field trip" be with the friend he had his first field trip with. <em>*grin*</em> </span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>This is where we handed him his Diploma & his high school transcripts.<br /><br /></em></strong>We are so very proud of Nick. He has worked diligently, as some things did not come easy. He has been my faithful slow-n-steady learner.<br /><br /><em>Always respectful;<br />listening & learning,<br />absorbing & applying<br />more knowledge than he lets on.<br /><br /><strong>Congratulations Nickolas,<br />grasp the future and make it as you wish,<br />believe in yourself,<br />and trust God always, </strong></em></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em><strong>We love you!</strong><br /><br /></em></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-71080504009134433362011-06-23T15:27:00.000-07:002011-06-23T15:52:27.686-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M9Tg2DIuiZM/TgO-FeNjjnI/AAAAAAAABhk/2M3_PXL7mUY/s1600/DSC_0132.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621545761107054194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M9Tg2DIuiZM/TgO-FeNjjnI/AAAAAAAABhk/2M3_PXL7mUY/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#660000;">Our Yearly<br />School Schedule</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;"><em>One of the fabulous things about home-<br />schooling is the ability to create your own flow of how you want to enjoy your seasons.<br /></em></span><span style="color:#660000;"><br />We don't school year round, although we seem to always continue to learn.<br /><br />For many years we followed the school district's schedule. After all, what else was there? I soon realized I didn't appreciate all the extra days off at their convenience- holidays, teacher in-service, etc- This was interrupting our own routines.<br /><br />2 years ago I began to outline <strong>our own school year.<br /><br /></strong>We began the 1st Monday in August. This is 4 weeks earlier than our public school peers. August is hot, and boredom sets in...so we choose to begin school. We follow a 9 weeks on (equal 1 quarter), 2 weeks off format. The 2 weeks off gives us time to finish a book, get paperwork in order, add a few field trips, & regroup for our next quarter.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;">Conveniently, with starting in August, our Christmas break lands just right. And we wrap up our school year in mid-May, which just happens to be when we have state testing, and this works for us!<br /><br />Getting out 4 weeks earlier than public school gives us the opportunity to explore adventures before all the crowds set in. *smile*<br /><br />For those who homeschool,<br />how do you approach your school year?<br /><br />and for those whom don't homeschool,<br />how do you adjust to the random days off the school district needs? </div></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-10494024406764334632011-06-21T16:21:00.000-07:002011-06-21T19:20:22.460-07:00<span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Routines</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Since I have been on the topic anyways, I am linking up to <a href="http://from-my-life.blogspot.com/2011/06/tri-moms-routine.html"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Tri-moms</span></a> to share our schedule. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">With our impending move (<em>did I mention we are moving? *smile*) </em>, I've had time to ponder how our schedule will best fit our family. Our outline for the past 2 years has worked well because we have not had any distractions. With us now heading back to our hometown, there comes activities, friends, and....church. Ofcourse these are favored choices within our family dynamics, but I want to stress balance in our lives. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>Daily Schedule:</strong><br />I struggle with wanting to start early. I *heart* mornings! I love <a href="http://6arrows.blogspot.com/2011/06/morning-routine.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Kathi's hours</span></a>. That works for me, but my life isn't about me. My children adapt better with a slow-n-gentle start. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">I also recently read about a mom choosing afternoon hours for schooling, which I think is a fabulous way to adapt to one's family. Yet, for us, attention spans begin to wane around 2 o'clock. <br /><br />So, we are some where in the middle. Ideally, I like our day to begin around 8, but we tend to flow with the circumstance. I intend to rise early to enjoy my sanity, er, some quiet time. <br /><br />Come August 01, here is our school routine:<br /><br /><strong>Mornings:<br /></strong>(<em>older kids / the littles</em>)<br />Morning routine<br />Bible w/ breakfast<br />Math 1 hr/ 1 hr exercise for me<br />History 30 min / Circle Time<br />Science 30 min/ Story w/ craft<br />Language Arts 30 min/ Activity Time<br />Recess for ALL. 30 min.<br /><br /><strong>Afternoons:<br /></strong>lunch clean up/ Andrew's reading lessons<br />Fine Arts/ Quiet time<br />Spanish & French/ still quiet time (hopefully)<br />Jurisdictions (chores) for all<br />Free time til Dinner<br /><br /><strong>Evenings:</strong> <br /><br />A family read aloud, I'm leaning towards C.S. Lewis this year.<br />and a literature book read before bed as down time.<br /><br />Here is my faint <strong>Daily Flow</strong> chart:<br /><em>The camera wouldn't focus :^/ </em></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqJmvWWS98E/TgEn6XRTFII/AAAAAAAABhc/0Mi28U6xM68/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620817693567554690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MqJmvWWS98E/TgEn6XRTFII/AAAAAAAABhc/0Mi28U6xM68/s400/DSC_0160.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I simply penciled in school & quiet time. It gives Grandma M an idea of what we are doing w/o getting bogged down by the details. I intentionally left Saturdays empty. We'll just place sticky notes on any activities or plans that arise.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">*</span><span style="color:#000066;"><em>Tomorrow I will share how our yearly school schedule is laid out.<br /><br /></em>Now I must confess I find it amusing that many of us homeschooling families are discussing routines, school or otherwise, while many families are just beginning to embrace their summer break with not a thought about the first day of the next school year yet. <br /><br /><em>It is even more amusing to think that during my own summer breaks when I was young, I was planning, preparing, and teaching...my stuffed animals. Roll call and all *grin* Hey, give me a break, I was an only child for many years, and a latchkey kid...atleast I stayed out of trouble *hee*</em></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-7691829233902275532011-06-20T21:45:00.000-07:002011-06-20T23:14:43.619-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiPSC8z4NFU/TgAi3a_2IFI/AAAAAAAABhU/XlBi-UDc4MU/s1600/DSC_0144.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620530670493638738" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiPSC8z4NFU/TgAi3a_2IFI/AAAAAAAABhU/XlBi-UDc4MU/s320/DSC_0144.JPG" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#330099;">My Lil Ballerina...</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#330099;"><em>I may have been caught in the rain showers chasing after roses for our ballerina; she, on the other hand, showered us with her grace on stage.</em></span></p><br /><br /><p><strong><span style="color:#330099;"></span></strong></p><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNHko3KnvdI/TgAi233mjCI/AAAAAAAABhM/Vn-FMYLL3j4/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620530661063822370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNHko3KnvdI/TgAi233mjCI/AAAAAAAABhM/Vn-FMYLL3j4/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#330099;">We loved watching her in<br />"<strong>Sleeping<br />Beauty</strong>".<br /><br />She <strong><em>curtsied & twirled</em></strong> as a courtyard lady;<br />she swooped and swirled as a minion (bat);<br />followed with a final performance as a "lady in waiting".</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The Calm before the Chaos</span></strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30OdJaaPfF4/TgAi2S6vOaI/AAAAAAAABhE/qlZUFAeVliQ/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620530651144862114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-30OdJaaPfF4/TgAi2S6vOaI/AAAAAAAABhE/qlZUFAeVliQ/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Most things are now packed and ready for our big move. Now the boredom begins to set in...</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Unless, ofcourse, you have a fun dad...<br /><br />What does your husband do with <strong>marshmallows</strong>?<br /><br />Mine happens to like those gigantic campfire ones to teach the kids how to make "<strong>taffy</strong>".</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_lmV4KlBLI/TgAi12SXYcI/AAAAAAAABg8/Qm2Dc6A109Q/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620530643459334594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_lmV4KlBLI/TgAi12SXYcI/AAAAAAAABg8/Qm2Dc6A109Q/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I just prefer not to watch as they enjoy their ooey-gooey-icky-sticky mess. =)<br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Preparing:<br /><br /></strong>I have pulled together a monthly meal plan. It's simple & rotatable (<em>is that a word? hmmm</em>).<br /><br />I have created a chore chart, implementing our morning routine, jurisdictions, & evening routine. Just so you know, this makes me <strong><a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/search/label/Happiness%20101"><span style="color:#6600cc;">smile</span></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">#41</span></strong>.<br /><br />Besides our typical daily school schedule, I put the "<strong>flow of our day</strong>" on poster board, with the adaptability of placing sticky notes on any changes out of the norm. This is with the intent of letting Grandma M. see how our days flow. We are a busy bunch, and I can see how the chaos could be confusing. This way she doesn't always have to chase me chasing someone else to ask what our plans are for the day.<br /><br />And since I am such a planner, (<em>you did know that about me, right?), </em>I have already laid out how I would like our belonging to be set in our new house.<br /><br />I am especially thrilled with choosing to use our formal dining room as our school area. I am leaning towards <strong>simple & natural.</strong> Many ideas are dancing in my head....<br /><br />and then their is <strong>school planning</strong> to ponder in this week of down time. We love, and will implement the <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/search/label/RC"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>R</strong>obinson <strong>C</strong>urriculum</span></a>. Our hot topic is of our foreign language studies. Several of us want to continue <strong>French</strong>, several others want to begin to learn <strong>Spanish</strong>. We have friends we will see quite often who will be learning Spanish due to possible mission work in the years to come. This would be fun to learn together. My quandry comes in the possibility of a multi-lingual approach.<br /><br /><strong>Other things knocking on my door...<br /><br /></strong>1) I've been asked to go to a Zumba class at our church...every morning. This disrupts our school schedule, or maybe not. The littles can go with me, the older kids can do their scheduled math hour while I am gone. Honestly, I need the exercise. really!<br /><br />2) I am excited at the thought of offering Bryson's little friend to join us for preschool hour(s). Let's face it; songs, fingerplays, crafts, and stories are more fun with a friend.<br /><br />3) I have been asked about homeschooling someone else's child. I.am.praying.about.it. This is not a new offer, it is something that was being pondered before <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Move"><span style="color:#6600cc;">the move</span></a>.<br /><br />4) <strong>to co-op, or not.</strong> 4 moms, <em>including myself</em>, may rotate Friday mornings to teach our own beloved topic. In other words, I would have one morning a month to share nature studies with a lovely bunch of children. Katie & I had wanted to begin a <strong>Nature Club</strong> anyways, so this may just be the right approach. In turn, I would have 3 other friday mornings a month without the littles. They would be off having fun doing creative arts, food crafts, etc.. and quite frankly, I like the thought of some quality time with my older boys. =)<br /><br />5) my biggest contemplation is the desire to begin to <a href="http://unplugyourfamily.blogspot.com/p/unplugging-our-family.html"><span style="color:#6600cc;">unplug</span></a> our family. I will save the details for another post, but really, this tugs at my heart...<br /><br /><strong><em>So, What's been knocking at your door?</em></strong></span></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-62584781418810571272011-06-19T15:50:00.000-07:002011-06-19T16:17:29.983-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emWl7ZW_0fQ/Tf59z6ZqZ-I/AAAAAAAABg0/b8OR__e2O_4/s1600/DSC_0153.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620067715808651234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emWl7ZW_0fQ/Tf59z6ZqZ-I/AAAAAAAABg0/b8OR__e2O_4/s320/DSC_0153.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Treasure Hunts....<br /><br /></strong>lead to a box...<br /><br /><br />filled with candy.<br /><br /><strong>Daddy's favorites</strong>:<br /><br />gobb-stoppers<br />whoppers,<br />Nerds,<br />Junior Mints,<br />Sprees,<br />Mike & Ikes,<br />Reeses Pieces,<br />& Hubba Bubba Gum!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FmmkT9bO4U/Tf59zkVmiHI/AAAAAAAABgs/oEJdWX52h-E/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620067709886040178" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FmmkT9bO4U/Tf59zkVmiHI/AAAAAAAABgs/oEJdWX52h-E/s320/DSC_0148.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Needless to say,<br />the kids were all over daddy in the hopes that he would share. =) **<em>note that Bryson's mouth is already full of candy, he's quick like that.<br /><br /></em>This daddy style dessert was followed by a fantastic steak supper for us all.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><br />I am grateful to have such a fabulous dad for our children!<br /><br /><em><strong>Dear Fred,<br /><br />Thank-you for your incredible patience,<br />your thoughtful guidance,<br />your wise opinions,<br />your energetic fun,<br />and your endless love to us all.</strong></em></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Happy Father's Day<br /></strong><strong><em>We love you!!!</em></strong></span><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-84476783888509771272011-06-16T00:33:00.000-07:002011-06-16T00:48:19.037-07:00<span style="color:#330099;"><strong>Random Rant...<br /><br /></strong>soooo,<br />is anyone else <strong>dislike</strong> blogger right now? <br /><br />So rumor (too lazy to look up the facts- any volunteers?) has it that Blogger changed some of their codes. If you have blogger, and you don't use a pop-up comment box, fellow bloggers cannot leave comments. really. and it is annoying. after all, I've got so much to say to other lovely folks, right? ;^)</span><br /><span style="color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330099;">My other aggravation with blogger is that "<em>spacing</em>" is a huge battle. The more you try to correct it, the more wacky it gets. At this point I'm just throwing perfectionism out the window *hee*<br /><br />So, <strong>I have a question for my faithful readers...<br /></strong>What do you use? and do you like it?<br /><br />I am seriously thinking of changing things up around here (ie switching blog resources). I need easy-peasy and inexpensive. <br /><br />Also needing to update our blog "title". We've spent the last few years with more than our "simple 8". Title ideas anyone? really, I am not creative in that area *sigh*<br /><br />~Sheri<br /></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-45308951788605079252011-06-15T00:49:00.000-07:002011-06-15T01:43:18.124-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNMuPVmgxik/TfhmxCQo_wI/AAAAAAAABgU/jcG3H-tF3Jo/s1600/DSC_0920.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353527750983426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNMuPVmgxik/TfhmxCQo_wI/AAAAAAAABgU/jcG3H-tF3Jo/s320/DSC_0920.JPG" /></a> <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Rocketry~ </span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">backyard style.</span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></strong></p><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000099;">We had studied rocketry in April & May.<br /><br />Our first easy-peasy experiment was "<strong>blow rockets</strong>". We placed a skinny straw into the tube of the rocket, and BLEW. We explored theory of the angle of the fins, and the amount of fins used. </span></p><span style="color:#000099;">Next we attempted "<strong>pop roc</strong>kets" by using mini M&M containers.</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s96Kt9-2AaI/Tfhoh1Ff7CI/AAAAAAAABgc/J-Jaq2Q3P04/s1600/DSC_1047.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618355465539808290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s96Kt9-2AaI/Tfhoh1Ff7CI/AAAAAAAABgc/J-Jaq2Q3P04/s320/DSC_1047.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Add water, insert alka-seltzer, seal lid on, and voila..<br /><strong>FLOP</strong>...as in flopped over! </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><em>not.so.exciting.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">So, I bought fuji film. Yes, real film. It comes in a white canister. *<em>smile</em>*</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ItL6KyvYGAY/TfhmwO5Zs3I/AAAAAAAABgE/SKL6YkOZegM/s1600/CSC_1159.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353513963303794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ItL6KyvYGAY/TfhmwO5Zs3I/AAAAAAAABgE/SKL6YkOZegM/s320/CSC_1159.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Got our protective eyewear on.<br /><br />Had a<br />stopwatch<br />to record<br />'time to blast off'.<br /><br />Dad judged the distance of the 'take off', while we tried a variety of water levels, amount of alka-seltzer, and even tried soda (pop).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">It was too fast to catch it well on camera,</span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ww8PyDAOQ3Q/Tfhu0ysvEAI/AAAAAAAABgk/LpNPkV18cfY/s1600/DSC_1150.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618362388386353154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ww8PyDAOQ3Q/Tfhu0ysvEAI/AAAAAAAABgk/LpNPkV18cfY/s320/DSC_1150.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#000099;">but it was fun, and the kids thought it was great. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXZC9lJSfe0/Tfhmbe9K2qI/AAAAAAAABf0/h5iJ2AfJGEE/s1600/DSC_1193.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353157496822434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXZC9lJSfe0/Tfhmbe9K2qI/AAAAAAAABf0/h5iJ2AfJGEE/s320/DSC_1193.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">Our last event in this series was the "<strong>sling rocket</strong>". </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Do you see Katie's on the ground? That hot pink 'stick' in the ground. That was a flopped shot. *hee*</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">These were <strong>so much fun</strong>!! </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDIsXdkd5UA/TfhmbLyO9GI/AAAAAAAABfs/eJwuGRQzLYE/s1600/DSC_1191.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353152350680162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDIsXdkd5UA/TfhmbLyO9GI/AAAAAAAABfs/eJwuGRQzLYE/s320/DSC_1191.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">They go so far, we ended up heading to the local elementary school to use their field. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Basically, it is a fancy paper airplane that you use with a good rubber band. (<em>yes, we did snap a few in the process, stings pretty good after about the 3rd time) </em></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">We had a good contest amongst us all.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-upavEOvYanE/TfhmajELUOI/AAAAAAAABfk/N2zUQpzGSx4/s1600/DSC_1196.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353141420085474" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-upavEOvYanE/TfhmajELUOI/AAAAAAAABfk/N2zUQpzGSx4/s320/DSC_1196.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">and the littles would chase after them as the flew across the field.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Here is an upclose view. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFVjSisa11o/TfhmXs1Mr6I/AAAAAAAABfc/e6MmuT5EUTQ/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618353092502007714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFVjSisa11o/TfhmXs1Mr6I/AAAAAAAABfc/e6MmuT5EUTQ/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#000099;">Can you tell we are a 'color-coded' family?<br /><br /><em>Rockets, events on the calendar, school folders,</em></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>Yep, everyone has their assigned color. Interesting right now though, cuz Andrew *likes* blue, which has always been TJ's color, so we've been going with the dark/light variety.<br />I figure that's one way to compromise. ;^)<br /><br /></em>With the mix of all this fun</span><span style="color:#000099;">, we read a good Rocketry book, viewed a variety of educational videos, and even watched some fun shows from "Myth Busters"<br /><br />In conclusion,<br />we had a <strong>blast</strong> with this study!</span></div></div></div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-69164599353331988212011-06-13T22:58:00.000-07:002011-06-14T01:03:51.627-07:00<strong><span style="color:#660000;">These Economic Times</span></strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOeyYN-KPuM/Tfb9XByCn4I/AAAAAAAABfU/YU6J8TzSv2I/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617956157248413570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOeyYN-KPuM/Tfb9XByCn4I/AAAAAAAABfU/YU6J8TzSv2I/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-at3rNdUEbAc/Tfb9W1gJd9I/AAAAAAAABfM/vu0VTjTUres/s1600/DSC_0136.JPG"></a><br /><span style="color:#660000;">National deficits are high,<br />gas prices are ridiculous,<br />taxes are not fun...<br /><br />but when it all comes down to priority,<br />family is what matters.<br /><br /><em><strong>Our time with my parents are coming to a close;<br />they are embracing every moment left.<br /></strong></em></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">A common topic that I have been overhearing lately is about "kids" still living at home. Ofcourse, this is meaning adult kids. I hear rants about kids sucking it up and getting on their own; get 6 room-mates if you have to, etc. While I don't promote the lazy adult child sitting in a basement doing nothing all day, I also don't encourage our children to move out at all costs!<br /><br />Is it just ME? or just our family? that has hit difficult financial times a few times in their life? If you haven't...consider yourself blessed...and look to bless others.<br /><br />Here's my personal "adult" journey through interesting times:</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><br /><strong>1984-<br /></strong>I moved out when I was 17. Not because I wanted to. My mom was my very best friend. (yes, I was that cheerleader type person with way too much energy w/ an endless smile whom had more friends than was necessary, but my mom was tops!- <em>which is a whole different post, lol</em>)<br />So, why did I move out so young? I started school early- 5 yrs of age in 1st grade- thus I ended school early. So what are we 'suppose to do' when we are finished w/ highschool? Move Out, right? I didn't have a clue what I wanted out of life (<em>cept to marry Mr. Right and have children-which was clearly not in the near future</em>). So I went to Beauty School. Someone offered a place to stay and do this, so I did it. <em>btw...this career was more fun than work.<br /></em></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong><br />1988-</strong><br />thrilled to be pregnant, not so thrilled with some ugly stuff of marriage & divorce that occurred all within a dragged out year. I was left high-n-dry (<em>gratefully so</em>), and worked oh.so.very.hard. I knew I would be "<em>moving back home</em>" at the end of this pregnancy. I pre-bought everything I needed for this baby with the tips I made from cutting hair. I had a ridiculous amount of diapers stocked up (<em>really!).</em> Then came December, and the blessing of a precious new baby boy. *smile*</span><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>1989-<br /></strong>took a 'leave of absence' from my job. No income, and thanks to the ex, no medical, thus I went on welfare. I think I got about $300 a month. I was not in for a free ride, and insisted to pay my mom "rent" and to help with groceries. I did the bare minimum of anything cost wise, used the money wisely, and embraced the beauty of motherhood for a few months before heading back to face reality of life. 6 months on welfare, not proud moments, but blessed all the same.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>1990-<br /></strong>returned to my job- my mom followed- and we ended up "room-mates" for a season. I was adamant about splitting the bills. Integrity mattered. =)<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>1991-</strong><br />married, learning to trust someone else with the finances. Funny too, cuz he made way more money than I did. <br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>1993-</strong><br />Husband became jobless, and our 2nd child was born. During this 6 month season, we moved in with my mom to regroup our circumstance. A husband, a wife, and 2 young children all in one room, and grateful. Interesting enough, dear husband changed career directions, starting at a bare minimum wage... just a couple more years later, we had child #3, and I became a stay-at-home mom.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>1999-</strong> Job is fine. Father-in-law is moving to Alaska, and needs someone to rent out his house and look over his property. This is in another state, but only an hour away move. It didn't effect Fred's job, so we agreed to help.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2002-</strong> child #4 is about 18 months. Finances for the first time are great (for us). We get a new van, and our own home!<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2003</strong>- a.very.long.union.lay.off. We lose medical benefits. Child #2 gets his appendix out 2 weeks after this took affect. We also lose our home to foreclosure; move into a townhouse.<br /><strong>2004</strong>- unemployment benefits run out-0 (zero) income for 6 weeks. I find out I am pregnant w/ child #5 (our only surprise, btw). Kindness of strangers in our community help us through this. A church paid our mortgage for 2 months!!! Our utilities were paid anonymously that month. I then began to run a full time daycare (I had already been watching 2 lil ones, but it had been more for fun) not by planning it that way, but by God answering prayer. We needed food on the table, and I wanted to stay at home. Several families had been referred my way for childcare. I also was able to maintain an on-call job for a law firm. I did haircuts on the side. And the church we began to attend offered my a janitorial job, which could be on my own schedule and the kids could come with me. God is so cool! Fred was working odd jobs, and wasn't getting paid for one of them. We ended up filing bankruptcy. He finally found a 'non-union' job in his field. 2 weeks before medical benefits kicked in, child #3 had an emergency room visit w/ stitches to the head, and.the.very.next.day, child #1 got his appendix out also! Grateful for income, but our accrued debt was very daunting. (we did get things reduced, and paid off, and eventually became debt free)<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2006-<br /></strong>Fred gets a job offer to help start up and run a company. This comes with a work truck, a huge pay increase, & fabulous benefits... all to take a risk to get this company up and running. The best offer was that the owner of this company was a Christian man wanting to run this company on Christian morals (and lots of prayer). Within 6 months the company had a strong start.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2008-<br /></strong>I was able to begin a new season in life of letting go of the daycare kids (which, btw, was emotionally difficult, I just loved those kids) and begin to enjoy the simple moments of mommy-hood. <span style="color:#000099;"></span><a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html"><span style="color:#000099;">Child #6 was born; My husband set this blog up for me</span></a>; <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2008/10/joeseph.html"><span style="color:#003300;">Child #1 was moving out</span></a> and starting his own 'adult' journey.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2009-<br /></strong>Job expansion took us out of state, and near family. With the crashing housing market, dear mother-in-law lost her 30+ yr career in escrow. I believe God's timing is not by coincidence, and we felt blessed to help pitch in financially while she sold her home.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2010-</strong> <br />Still in transition of landing a permanent residence, my parents ask us to stay w/ them through this season. We help w/ bills, they share their home; family bonding is strengthened.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>2011-<br /></strong>Job expansion is reduced, things are slower, but still steady, & we are grateful to move back to our hometown (where the kids were raised). We have offered for my dear mother-in-law (G'ma M) to come with us. She is quiet and lovely; hopefully she will survive our busy-ness, lol. We also have big brother Joe, who would appreciate rooming w/ his brothers for a season. He is wanting to save up some money for 'future plans'. *grin* </span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">Should we tell him to suck it up and find 6 roommates ??? or be blessed by fellowship, creating stronger bonds with our younger ones (whom adore him btw), and receive more help around the house? <em>If he's 'our Joe' that we know, he won't be home much anyway. A girlfriend, helping w/ local ministries, and a job will keep him busy enough. </em></span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>So I guess the moral of my story is that some days we need some help, and some days, we will find that we need to help others. <br /></strong><em><br /></em></p><br /><br /></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-78798106001777879642011-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:002011-06-07T19:09:34.157-07:00<strong><span style="color:#000099;">What are your days looking like?</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KtkEayRQlA/Te7TNsDGhBI/AAAAAAAABes/HAaJhWlrIS4/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615658017493517330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4KtkEayRQlA/Te7TNsDGhBI/AAAAAAAABes/HAaJhWlrIS4/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">We're pretty laid back right now.<br />Can you tell?</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Sissy is reading in her spare time. Never mind that it is a school text book and that we are on summer vacation. (<em>and that</em> <em>we don't even use textbooks for school anymore, lol</em>).</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5v-Zh1AhVo/Te7TNdfuZlI/AAAAAAAABek/G7ofV00xk8Y/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615658013587039826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R5v-Zh1AhVo/Te7TNdfuZlI/AAAAAAAABek/G7ofV00xk8Y/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Andrew is enjoying being, well, Andrew! Loves the simplicity to just play, imagine, do. <em></em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>~psstt...He's secretly learning to read, as I have caught him reading zoo, boy, so, go, & stop. Random? I kinda think so? He knows waaayyyy more than he lets on. I'd like to think it was because of Asperger's, but really he probably inherited that trait from his dad. *smile* </em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx7JBNggBE4/Te7TM_tQYTI/AAAAAAAABec/HfQ-NAEY6xw/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615658005590729010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx7JBNggBE4/Te7TM_tQYTI/AAAAAAAABec/HfQ-NAEY6xw/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">The littlest brother had fun helping make spaghetti this week. They even took turns<br />"stirring" which doesn't always come so easily. =)</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The Calm....<br /></span></strong><span style="color:#000099;"><em>before the storm...<br /><br /></em>sort of...<br /><br />Things here are pretty low key. The weather is still Pacific North West Wet. We are slowly packing up our things, mostly our school books, since everything else has lived in storage for 2 years. Katie-girl doesn't quite know what to do w/o me coming up with "all the fun things to do". We are having to get creative for fun while packing up all the fun things. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">I am excited to be moving! <strong>I love a fresh start to getting organized!</strong> <em>I almost thrive on it.</em> *hee* My dear husband is not such a fan, lol. Bless his heart, he is hanging in there well. He's needing to help his mom some as she will be living with us too. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">I try not to think about what we are going to do with 2 households of "stuff", oh my! </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">I, er, my husband, downsized us quite a bit when we moved up here 2 years ago...<br />gave away our TV's, couches, some desks, a foosball table, etc...<br />so we are pretty low key...<br />i hope. </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>What am I most excited about with our new house?</strong> </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">3 toilets! </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">and that we will be using a formal dining area as a school room. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">A whole room for school! </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">now THAT is my kind of fun! </span><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-88067778480230813442011-06-01T22:28:00.000-07:002011-06-01T23:24:20.657-07:00<strong><span style="color:#000099;">Somedays are simply...</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>about having fun!</em></strong></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVQvCPZI44I/TecmBI2bxlI/AAAAAAAABeI/QktHBe1ZFqM/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613497261538133586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EVQvCPZI44I/TecmBI2bxlI/AAAAAAAABeI/QktHBe1ZFqM/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Sharing Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is fun! </span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nGr6IMl_nM/TeclgZO0egI/AAAAAAAABeA/QeaAyVTh3mE/s1600/DSC_1186.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613496698999699970" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nGr6IMl_nM/TeclgZO0egI/AAAAAAAABeA/QeaAyVTh3mE/s320/DSC_1186.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Finger-<br />painting<br />any.<br />way.<br />you.<br />want<br />is fun!!</span><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtpKnoFSEbU/Tecip-dOQoI/AAAAAAAABdo/DQ5GvwrgAAI/s1600/CSC_1165.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613493565076161154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtpKnoFSEbU/Tecip-dOQoI/AAAAAAAABdo/DQ5GvwrgAAI/s320/CSC_1165.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">'Making leggo weapons' in the name of entertaining littlest brother... is fun!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Today was my day to have some fun...</strong><br /><br />I had the blessing of meeting a bloggy-friend in real life today...<br /><br />We are nearly the same age...<br />yet she has homeschooled nearly twice as long as I have<br />and has twice as many kids as I have.<br /><br /><strong>Thank~you <a href="http://imghanaadopt.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">Mama D</span></a></strong><br /><em>for finding time out of your busy days to visit with me....<br /></em></span><span style="color:#000099;"><em></div><br /><div></em>~She is as lovely in person as she is portrayed on her blog <em>*smile*<br /></em></div><em><br /><br /><div>and yes, this is the same sweet lady who encourages me with my </em><a href="http://imghanaadopt.blogspot.com/2011/05/takin-care-of-mama.html"><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">'Takin' Care of Mama'</span></em></a><em> series. </em></div><em></em></span></div><span style="color:#000099;"><em></em></span></div><span style="color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000099;">For sometimes it is just plain nice to have someone to share the journey with.<br /></p></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-98196041648227182011-05-29T21:11:00.000-07:002011-05-29T22:30:03.904-07:00<span style="color:#000099;"><em><strong>Shining His Light...<br /></strong>and breaking statistics.<br /><br /></em>This is a testimony (of sorts) about broken families and God's love.<br /><br />I was raised in a broken home.<br />My dad was a druggie.<br />My 1st step-dad was a drunk.<br />My mom, although young & naive & making poor decisions,<br />was always loving. She always did the best she could do in the circumstances she found herself (& I) in.<br />Which led to my being raised in my teens by a single, hard working mom.<br />In turn, I helped my mom raise my little sister.<br />We are 11 yrs apart, and the best of friends.<br /><br />As an adult, my own family began in a broken state.<br />A rushed marriage, a wanted child, and a much needed divorce found me all at the age of 22.<br />My blessing in the rubble of the choices I made, was my first born son, Joey.<br />Another disguised blessing came when this son was about 8 months old.<br />I met my dear husband Fred.<br />He also came from a broken home.<br />We entered a marriage not knowing what marriage was, or even what love was for that matter. We "knew" we loved each other, but it would take many years to truly begin to know what that really meant.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;">After years of walking away from Christ, or atleast neatly tucking Him away so I could do all the fun things I thought I needed to do, I found my way back around to Him again. Years later, Fred, within his own journey, came to be saved.<br /><br />Our son Joe had been raised in a loving family, but he knows, remembers, our non-Christ-filled days. We also opted to let him go through the public school system via his own request. (Since this blog shares much about our homeschool journey, I figured I should share that.)<br /><br />Many things we have cared, shared, & mentored to this specific son. After all, he is the guinea pig of our parenting, right? We were both raised w/ loving moms, but this newer experience of having a Father to help guide us, put us on a learning curve. We have listened to God earnestly, and have learned much, and we have continued to share the values placed in our hearts to all our children.<br /><br />1. God cares, we matter.<br />2. Walk the walk; don't just talk the talk.<br />3. <strong>Always shine His Light in all circumstances.<br /></strong>4. Are you going to be a <a href="http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Back-to-the-Bible-Radio-Program/Teens-Are-Walking-Away-from-Their-Faith.html">statistic</a>? <em>You know, the one that gives the ridiculous high percentage to say that children that are raised in a Christian home will walk away from their beliefs somewhere between 18 and 22?<br /><br /></em><strong>Our Joe is now 22</strong>.<br />In high school he ran into little trouble (<em>although not a perfect child, lol</em>), and made tough decisions that took me awhile to realize. One being that when one of his bestest childhood friends (whom came from a fabulous Christian home) began to make poor choices (ie partying) our son chose to hang out with different friends. One friend he hung out with was not a Christian, but a great kid none-the-less. His name... Chris.<br /><br />Well, I am pleased to say that not only has our son broke the "statistic", but has also been sharing His Light along the way. Chris not only is now a Christian, but it going to seminary for a BA in Theology Pastoral Counseling. <em>*smile*<br /><br />Here is Chris's attempt at blogging... </em><a href="http://christophersphilosophicbrain.blogspot.com/"><em>http://christophersphilosophicbrain.blogspot.com/</em></a><br /><br />I think he is doing a fine job, and it is wonderful to see young men stepping up to make a difference in others lives...<em> even if it is simply to <strong>shine His Light</strong>.</em></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-51416229789850395632011-05-28T18:07:00.000-07:002011-05-28T18:28:11.982-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEXG9P7byro/TeGdbMarxyI/AAAAAAAABdA/oT9ZMPrRftE/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611939701195523874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EEXG9P7byro/TeGdbMarxyI/AAAAAAAABdA/oT9ZMPrRftE/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Our <strong><em>Precocious Princess</em></strong> is at it again...</span><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#330033;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#330033;"><strong>Katie-girl</strong> is always finding things on a whim to do. You know how many kids whine the infamous "I'm bored"...<br />Yeah, well, my dear daughter always has a way to "find" something to do...</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#330033;">and wants it to be done...NOW.<br />;^)</p><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keWEz1O6m0Q/TeGda93bIrI/AAAAAAAABc4/yQR3-FLtYaU/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611939697289536178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keWEz1O6m0Q/TeGda93bIrI/AAAAAAAABc4/yQR3-FLtYaU/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#330033;">So today it was to find a new recipe.</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ov_tIOsW1o/TeGdahQueGI/AAAAAAAABcw/QmSlqjk64hE/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611939689611032674" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ov_tIOsW1o/TeGdahQueGI/AAAAAAAABcw/QmSlqjk64hE/s400/DSC_0044.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#330033;">She came up with the idea, looked up the recipe, watched a 'how-to' video, printed out the recipe...</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qn9GdAoV3EI/TeGdaehZuqI/AAAAAAAABco/6K_I4TZi2SQ/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611939688875670178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qn9GdAoV3EI/TeGdaehZuqI/AAAAAAAABco/6K_I4TZi2SQ/s400/DSC_0055.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#330033;">...and Viola....<br /><br /><strong>Home-made<br />Fortune Cookies<br /></strong><em>complete with Biblical encourage</em>ment.</span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-11704305683472690372011-05-27T11:10:00.000-07:002011-05-27T13:17:31.317-07:00<span style="color:#006600;"><strong>RC...<br /><em>and what our year looked like...<br /></em></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Go <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2010/06/school-year-1010-11-will-begin-in-5.html">HERE</a> to for the details of what RC is.<br /><br /><strong>This is what RC looks like in our home.</strong></span><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;">There are no textbooks...<br />no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">lapbooks</span>...<br />no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">quizes</span>...<br />nearly no tests (<em>we do have spelling/vocabulary tests</em>).<br />No more loose papers,<br />nor stacks of workbooks,<br />nor stacks of papers to correct,<br />and <strong><em>no more CHAOS</em></strong>!<br /><br /><strong>What do we do, you ask?<br /><br /></strong><em>...simply read</em>.<br /><br />We read good old fashioned books. The quality of the content in these books has opened my eyes at how much the educational system has been watered down over the years, both in education and morals. Not to say that all curriculum out there is bad; <em>I'm just saying that we have found a better choice for our family.</em></p><strong>Someone asked about boredom.</strong> No thrills, frills, etc... <em>We are only a year into this new journey called RC, but thus far <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">boredom</span> is certainly not something we have ran into</em>. Instead we have discovered that letting go of busy work lets us focus on content, and the quality of the books keep them interested.<br /><br /><strong>Our Classroom Schedule:</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Morning:</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr writing</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr English (grammar, punctuation, & vocabulary)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr Science</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr Literature</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1 hour Math</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Afternoon:</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr French</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1/2 hr Fine arts</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Evenings: </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1 hr history(reading, map work, & sometimes history related activities)<br />This is intended as a family read aloud. I missed out on so much details of our history, that I am enjoying learning so much more through these quality books.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Fine arts is broken into days: <br />(<em>this is not RC, but I feel it completes what I want out school years to look like)<br /></em></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Monday is our official Bible lesson,(w/ scripture review the rest of the days)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Tuesday is our composer study.(we continue to listen to the musical piece all week)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Wednesday is our artist study.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Thursday is our poet study.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Friday is our Nature Study.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I do have a scope & sequence I have created to sort the extensive list of books that RC has on a list. The <strong><em>original RC way</em></strong> is to just simply start reading at the beginning of the book list, and work your way through. They do have different "levels" as you go through, but they are not to be considered grade levels as the easier books can be challenging in content at level 1 for a typical 1st grader, and level 12 is more of a college level reading. Non-the-less, I wanted an guideline to go by. So I sorted books by not only levels, but topics (subjects), and tried to find common ideas amongst the topics & grade level put together.<br /><br /><em>I will share the scope & sequence on a following post, along with how we implement the McGuffey Readers that are provided in the Robinson Curriculum.<br /><br /></em><strong>What about the cost of printing & binding books?<br /></strong>I like printing out the books. Admittedly, many books can be found in the local city library. Many folks opt for e-readers and download all the books from the RC list for free. <br /><br />Our printer was worth the investment; binding for me is pennies (duct <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">tape</span> & staples);<br />ink & paper are a cost, but compared to the money I was using for this curriculum or that, or this workbook or that, or this cool new method or that, the $$$ we will save in the long run for this quality education i<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">s</span> far worth it! For me, I will be getting 41 years worth of education out of this curriculum (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">counting</span> each students years left in home education)...discs, printer, ink, paper, staples, duct tape, & few late fees at a library might eventually add up to a $1000 over the years, but that is one inexpensive route in the long run.<br /><br />And if I am really blessed, I will be able to pass it along to my own grandchildren some day...<br /><br /><strong><em>education is a legacy worth leaving, eh? </em></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#006600;"></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-8603959277510714522011-05-27T09:07:00.000-07:002011-05-28T18:06:25.251-07:00<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxt5XR_H-ZY/Td_Mr93Yh2I/AAAAAAAABcg/O8-7R3T7tDU/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611428716440225634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxt5XR_H-ZY/Td_Mr93Yh2I/AAAAAAAABcg/O8-7R3T7tDU/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" /></a> <strong><font color="#330099">End of the Year Wrap Up...</font></strong></div><br /><br /><div><font color="#330099"><em>sort of...<br /><br /></em>While L.I.F.E. Academy is wrapped up for the 2010-2011 school year...<br /><br />Learning w/ the Littles will continue...</font></div><br /><br /><p><font color="#330099">Mainly because we aren't finished yet..as in.. </font></p><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlzqTke-yfM/Td_Mrkc78bI/AAAAAAAABcY/SUPkwZmviFI/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611428709618414002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlzqTke-yfM/Td_Mrkc78bI/AAAAAAAABcY/SUPkwZmviFI/s400/DSC_0029.JPG" /></a> <font color="#330099">we've only gotten to letter Mm so far this year. The alphabet needs to be finished, right? </font></div><br /><br /><div><font color="#330099"></font></div><br /><br /><div><font color="#330099">Admittedly, the littles were a bit overlooked while we wrapped up Nick's final year of highschool. </font></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><font color="#330099">Ofcourse, don't feel too sorry for those lil brothers as they've had their fair share of fun. <em>*smile*</em> I figure summer is a great time to finish up our ABC activities. I will take advantage of the nicer weather (when it gets here) to do outside lessons. <br />They won't be as formal as our usual planned year, as we are preparing to move in a few weeks,<br /><br />but we will have lots of fun<br />all in the name of learning. </font><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-51891750991402233772011-05-20T21:27:00.000-07:002011-05-20T23:48:16.150-07:00<strong><span style="color:#330099;">NATURE<br />in the<br />NEIGHBORHOOD</span></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtHK9XUB_JQ/TddSYIrg8dI/AAAAAAAABcQ/JiuEq9PfsLY/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609042435513577938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtHK9XUB_JQ/TddSYIrg8dI/AAAAAAAABcQ/JiuEq9PfsLY/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;">I decided to take the littles for a walk around the block. It is only about 1/3 mile, but there is plenty to observe in this simple neighborhood in the city.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;">Katie liked the fushia azalea's;<br />the boys liked the gray and white rocks.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPG-PZLLrrQ/TddSXmkwUmI/AAAAAAAABcI/zpnZhPKdisM/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609042426358420066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPG-PZLLrrQ/TddSXmkwUmI/AAAAAAAABcI/zpnZhPKdisM/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#330099;">Seashells were a treasure found.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81uD1sqWIP0/TddSXC2ygFI/AAAAAAAABcA/1B0qWUI9HsY/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609042416770383954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81uD1sqWIP0/TddSXC2ygFI/AAAAAAAABcA/1B0qWUI9HsY/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" /></a> <span style="color:#330099;">We thought this was a pretty fabulous Japanese Maple.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiHGH-mNhxc/TddSW8jQfjI/AAAAAAAABb4/sZocN3lBXow/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609042415077850674" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiHGH-mNhxc/TddSW8jQfjI/AAAAAAAABb4/sZocN3lBXow/s400/DSC_0018.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#330099;">And we learned all about detours...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#330099;">Interesting enough, we covered many topics in our 30 min walk...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"><strong><em>Bryson liked a variety of rocks;</em></strong> <em>pebbles, stone walls, red rocks, gravel</em>...</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"><em><strong>Andrew noticed the clear blue sky, felt the breeze, noticed the warmth of the sun when we would walk out of a shady spot, and heard birds chirping & planes traveling by;</strong> can you tell he is my sensory boy?</em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"><strong><em>Katie tried to name the few birds we saw</em></strong>; <em>crows, grosbeaks, & a hawk</em>.<br /><br />Halfway through our walk she spotted the hawk. By the time we got in front of our house, there was quite the "sky war" going on between the crows (a lot of them) and the lone hawk. Our hypothesis was that the hawk was too close to home for some baby crows. </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;">Not so sure I'm excited about more crows around here. Last year were enjoyed many birds in our backyard; starlings, robins, grosbeaks, & hummingbirds were common. Well, over the winter, we made those peanut butter pinecone bird feeders AND those stinkin' crows not only ate at the feeders, but took the whole pinecone at one time! It took a dozen or so attempts, but off they flew with their new feast! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFTM7bUtaH4/TddSWdFpG1I/AAAAAAAABbw/14C73Ut_Gh8/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609042406632135506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFTM7bUtaH4/TddSWdFpG1I/AAAAAAAABbw/14C73Ut_Gh8/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#330099;">We also enjoyed a moment in someones rock garden =)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#330099;">This was a fabulous after-lunch stroll, and we are thrilled with a little bit of beautiful weather!</span></div><span style="color:#330099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#330099;"><strong>So, what's in your neighborhood?</strong></span> <br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-78072850742747694672011-05-19T00:23:00.000-07:002011-05-19T01:34:49.041-07:00<strong><span style="color:#006600;">THE ROBINSON CURRICULUM<br />review...</span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywWfVNNJkzs/TdTIVqcg-6I/AAAAAAAABbI/3yFUEm2m2DY/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG"></a><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4C4vUbBNBzg/TdTVZ-JjmpI/AAAAAAAABbQ/aNQ5kvDmL6M/s1600/DSC_1232.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 336px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608342078139636370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4C4vUbBNBzg/TdTVZ-JjmpI/AAAAAAAABbQ/aNQ5kvDmL6M/s320/DSC_1232.JPG" /></a><br /><strong><em>About us:</em></strong><br />We began our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">home-<br />school</span> journey 9 yrs ago, and we love it! To get a quick recap of those previous years, go <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2009/09/homeschooling-is_25.html">HERE</a><br /><br /><strong><em>This year we <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">homeschooled</span>:<br /></em></strong>Nick- a senior<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">TJ</span>- an 8<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> grader<br />Katie- 3rd grade</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Andrew- kindergarten<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bryson</span>- TOT school<br /><br />First, I want to share a post I placed on the Robinson Curriculum group recently~</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;">"Does anyone else read <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">TOS</span> (The Old Schoolhouse) Magazine? I use to read it a lot. Great folks. Helpful ideas. I have gleaned fabulous information from them for 10 years now...<br /></span><span style="color:#660000;">but guess what? Today's topic from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Homeschool</span> Minute?<br />~Choosing Curriculum For Your Kids~<br />and what could interest me about that?<br />NOT having to read it!<br />Instead...<br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"><br />I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">doin</span>' the Happy Dance...<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;">and singing<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;">"I'm free, I'm free, I'm free,<br />Thank God we've found RC!"</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;">And that is exactly how I feel. <em>*smile*</em></span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;">Here is a letter I shared with someone who wanted a sincere opinion of the Robinson Curriculum.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">"Dear Friend, </span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">May I be completely honest with you? Indeed, I found much more than I expected through RC. I am stunned at the quality content of the books. I, personally, have learned more from reading a few of the History Autobiographies (on the booklist), than from my full 12 yrs in the public school. All those years glossing over the facts every holiday *<em>sigh</em>*...</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">Here have been the effects of RC in our home in the past year...</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">ds</span> 17- struggled for years with reading comprehension and became a reluctant reader. He has read more books (<em>willingly</em>) this year than all his previous years put together. The lack of pressure to do fact checks, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">quizes</span>, tests, worksheets, etc, left him to actual just read; to get lost in the story w/o the fuss of the other stuff.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">ds</span> 14 is our reluctant writer. I couldn't pull a sentence out of this child; I tried multiple writing programs, all w/ rave reviews, and he continually looked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">like</span> a frightened deer staring into the headlights...currently we have slowly progressed from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">copywork</span> to random writing on his own. I never realized the importance of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">copywork</span> (I though it was about penmanship, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">oy</span>!). Most importantly, his attitude has been positive w/ this approach.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">dd 9 is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">voracious</span> learner =) The girl is devouring books as quick as she can. The intelligence of the books are displayed in her vocabulary. These books are of quality content from the very beginning; do not underestimate the earlier part of the list if you have older students. </span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">ds</span> 6 (kindergarten) has <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Asperger's</span> thus this direct and simple approach has been best for him. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ofcourse</span> he is just beginning this journey so his *time* requirements are much lower thus far.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;">After gaining some real structure and calmness to our days (<em>I am of the over-planning kind of mom</em>) by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">RC's</span> simple, yet effective format, I can truly say we have gained much more from our education this year! A few hundred dollars investment for a lifetime of education is astounding. I now view (from my own perspective; not judging others) conferences, and curriculum fairs, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">homeschool</span> catalogs, and other <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">curriculums</span> as mass money makers. Oh sure, they provide and offer what they say they do; I am not particularly against any one of them; yet so much <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">fluff</span>, and complication, and rules, and continued purchases are in my past now, and I am thankful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">not</span> only to the quality of my children's education, but that I can also be a good steward of my husbands hard earned paychecks. "</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>So there's my perspective ;^)</em></strong></span></p><br /><p><em><span style="color:#006600;">I will follow up with a post of how we implemented <strong>The Robinson Curriculum</strong> to our daily life, along with a few other details... </span></em></p><br /><p><span style="color:#660000;"></span></p><br /><p></p>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-42035769279371951102011-05-18T09:41:00.000-07:002011-05-18T11:16:14.399-07:00HOME SWEET HOME<strong><span style="color:#660000;"><a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Move"><span style="color:#330000;">The move</span></a>~ the final chapter?</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#660000;">What a journey the last 2 years have been!<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">I was very comfortable in our small hometown...<br /><em>maybe too much so?<br /><br /></em>God led us to new adventures...<br />and we followed.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Nothing glamorous or fancy,<br />just simple lessons and new opportunities to learn from.<br /><br /><em>For my newer readers,<br />we went from tiny town to big city.<br />We had a comfortably large home w/ hot tub & swimming pool, and plenty of space,<br />to invading loved ones homes with all-of-us while our belongings stayed in storage.<br />The move came due to a job expansion.<br />The reasons for our chosen housing came for different reasons...<br />one was to help financially til a home sold,<br />followed by the request of my parents to stay with them in their home for a season.<br /><br /></em><strong>Life Lessons continue:<br /></strong><br />* Big City Life certainly throws a learning curve at you on a daily basis.<br /><em>(& no, I am not naive, trust me,<br />my childhood was full of 'reality checks' of worldly situations).<br /></em><br />* Our "family" continues to stay bonded through the changes.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* I had the opportunity to really focus on what I wanted our children to get from homeschooling.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* Katie-girl received 2 years of Ballet in a wonderful home setting.<br /><br />* I have gotten the chance to really get to know my (step)dad. He's a great guy. </span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* Thanks to my dear sister-in-law, we were taught 2 years of French; something we will continue to practice.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* Nick experienced soccer at a highly competitive level, and thrived.</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* Material stuff is optional, family is not. =)</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* My husband is my best friend. I have really good friends, some are quite priceless. Yet I am grateful that God has given me my perfect life-mate.<br /><br />* I have learned that circumstances change, but life always continues. We make it what it is with our attitude....</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* Grandparents are precious, and Aunties are very giving with their time and talents.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;">* <a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2010/10/church-less-family-in-godly-home-i.html"><span style="color:#330000;">Church</span></a> is what you make it.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>With all these lessons under our belt, changes continue...<br /><br /></strong>We are moving back to our small hometown. My husbands job continues, and we are grateful. The house we are to make our home is modestly large and eloquent. Not having the 7 of us living out of 2 rooms shall be interesting *<em>smile</em>*, the littles think this is normal. =)<br /><br />I am still pondering the use of a "<a href="http://thesimplelifeof8.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-are-they-doing-it-this-series-is-to.html"><span style="color:#330000;">family closet</span></a>".</span> <span style="color:#660000;">Ofcourse it would be on a bigger scale than our wee survival mode one we've adapted to. Got any links or ideas for this, please do share!<br /><br />We are in full swing of *social* planning;<br />co-ops, sports, & volunteering at VBS are all knocking at my door already.<br />I love these things, but am very well aware that <strong><em>I will need to prayerfully think out our days</em></strong>, and plan according to our individual needs as well as nurturing our bond as a whole.</span><span style="color:#660000;"><br /><br />All in all, I am excited to be a part of community again, <strong><em>all the while remembering to slow down, exhale, and appreciate the small, simple moments that seem to whisper by....<br /><br /></em></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#660000;"></span>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5387730944132484505.post-9190083731025637092011-05-17T12:34:00.000-07:002011-05-17T14:02:18.283-07:00<strong><span style="color:#000099;">Homeschool Year End State Testing Day!</span></strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22Ou4lqjtc0/TdLOKJC-KZI/AAAAAAAABaw/t8rdIrJ0Kw8/s1600/DSC_1173.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607771159652084114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22Ou4lqjtc0/TdLOKJC-KZI/AAAAAAAABaw/t8rdIrJ0Kw8/s320/DSC_1173.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">My kids (<em>on left</em>) are always happy on test day. It means it is the last day of school before summer break*.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Our dear <a href="http://www.studyinbrown.com/">friends </a>(<em>on right</em>) have been testing alongside us for many years. I have to admit there is something relaxing about seeing friendly, familar faces, which makes the "drive" worth it. When we moved to Washington (state) 2 yrs ago, the laws & requirements for us changed quite a bit, but the required 'test' was still the same, thus I choose to go to our familar testing center (<em>a church in our small hometown).</em></span></div><br /><div><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">All was not as usual this year though. We have been doing the CAT (California Achievement Test) for the past 9 years. This year, however, they threw us a curve ball and banned the CAT for the Terra Nova Test. In general, that is fine, but for a student that already struggles with testing, this is not so fine. </span></div><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><div><br />For my readers whom also homeschool, do you do testing? If so, what is your families attitude towards it? We do testing because it is required. I find it rather vague in exposing knowledge, but rather to know how to take the (a) test. <strong>The test does not reflect intelligence</strong>. After all, many of us parents have graduated from highschool, a few of us have a few years of college underhand also.... <em>so, years later, does it really matter what a predicate nominative or reflexive pronoun is? Better yet, diagramming sentences? Really, is that even necessary? </em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>My kids are graded on</strong>:<br /><strong><em>obedience</em></strong>~ to do their work that is required, and in a timely manner.<br /><strong><em>quality</em></strong>~ Neatness and effort matter.<br /><strong><em>attitude</em></strong>~ the kids don't necessarily have to like what we are learning, but respect for education is a must. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>We are on summer break*.</strong> <em>Technically anyways. ;^)<br /></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Our "school" year begins the first monday of August. We follow a 9 weeks on, 2 weeks off outline. With 4 quarters in our official year we usually wrap up our year by mid May. Thus our summer lasts about 8- 10 weeks. Interestingly enough, in the summer we still read, practice math, and do an abundance of science & nature projects, all in the name of <strong><em>*fun*</em></strong> </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"><em>What do your summers look like?</em></span> </div>Standinginhislighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04844920456617735600noreply@blogger.com5