From the Mousetower

What we do-organization

2010-09-10T15:21:00.002-04:00

I have been reading about all the different organization systems for homeschoolers. Everything from chore charts to workboxes to computer trackers. Some days I feel like I have tried them all, now as we enter our 5th year of homeschooling (really 5 years- good grief, I could have sworn we just started last year!) I realize that we have a system that works for us.

First we pile. Hey don't knock the pile. Piles can save lives (or take them if they get out of hand)
We pile all our books that we will use that day next to our desks.

Next we pick and choose. I let the kids pick what subjects they want to do and in what order. The only time I have them wait or skip to a subject is if they are going to be doing it together. But even that isn't that often because unless they are to be playing a game together, they can usually figure out what they need without their sibling to help.

After that, the list. For English, the kids have a list of what activities they need to accomplish that week as part of the curriculum. As they work though the list, stuff is checked off. It makes all of us feel better checking things off.

Finally, put it away. As they finish with each subject they put it back in their desk so at the end of the morning (or afternoon) they just have to put their desks away and the living room is neat and clean again for playing Wii or watching TV or playing a game of Harry Potter Legos.

As for how I track what we did each day (because some years I get the awful evaluator who wants proof of "regular and thorough instruction") I have a daily calendar and I make a note as to what was done.

Today's looked something like this:

T-Reading comp. Chap 3
L- Science 43-45
T- Science 44-45
L- Reading comp.
Descriptive sentences
T- IEW Lesson3a

Obviously we did more than this but as an example I'm sure you get it.

February

2010-02-22T23:36:00.003-05:00

Here it is, the end of February, and I have plans for next year on the brain. I know it is too soon but I can't help it.

I am working with my local homeschool group to set up a co-op. There is so much to do. Between planning the location, figuring out forms, classes, age groups and rules, I wish it was just planned and ready to start. But honestly I love plans. They make me feel secure. They are like lists but more long term.

So my friends and I have been working on this co-op, which leads me to start to think about next year's curriculum. It is a big year with Boyo going into 4th grade and Girlie in 2nd. We will finally be done with speech (hear the singing? between 1 to 3 afternoons a week have been taken up by speech for the past 4 years!)

Some stuff I want to cover next year:

--I really want to start a good writing program with Boyo. I think by now he really should be writing paragraphs that are more than 3 or 4 sentences. So we will spend lots of time on that next year. I plan on using IEW and Myths and fables or US History.

-- We have been working on a $1 Target book about the states, next year I want to go more in depth and really cement that in. I don't need for the kids to know all the capitals (though that would be cool) but I want them to know all the state names and have a good idea where in the USA they are located. Not sure what curriculum I want to use for that.

--I think we have a good language arts program so we will continue on with that. Queen Homeschool

--Singapore math is working well for Boyo so we will stay with that. We might try a more spiral type approach for Girlie as she is still struggling with much of it, maybe saxon or horizons

--We will continue with Latin as the kids love it, we might add in Spanish but maybe not, it depends on life :)

--I want to do Chemistry next year, we tried it out and the kids loved it so it is definitely on the to do list.

-- History, hmmm, well Boyo has enjoyed the workbook I got for him at BJ's and he won't finish it this year so he is covered for a while. Girlie has enjoyed doing the lapbooks on different topics so we might continue with that otherwise I'd love to do Beyond the Page with her. I really think she'd like it.

Well that is as far as I have gotten. Need to work out the budget, research different ideas, oh and sew for Gulf wars, Celt wars and Pennsic so I can afford these goodies.

Night at the Museum

2010-02-21T21:43:00.005-05:00

Lately the kids have been working on a lapbook about the movies- Night at the Museum and Night at the Museum 2. We got it from we3kids. This is a wonderful lapbook with more than just the usual minibooks with a "read and report" mentality. There are informational paragraphs (to save mom much of the research) but there are also wonderful activities to go along with certain topics.

For example in the movie there is an Easter Island head ("Got some Gum-gum, Dum-Dum?") and in addition to reading a paragraph about the heads in the lapbook, the kids are encouraged to make their own.

Boyo's Moai

Girlie's Moai

We have all really enjoyed this unit. Thanks we3kids for making it!

Our homeschool day

2010-02-20T00:56:00.002-05:00

I love seeing how other families plan their days. What stuff do they do? How do they organize their kids? Do they ever get done with dishes and laundry?

So in the interest of transparency here is a typical day right now, in February, in 2010, with a 6 and 8 year old. Because as we all know typical changes -often!

Sometime between 8 and 9 am: The kids get up, lay on the sofa watching TV, drinking chocolate milk, eating cereal.

8:30-ish: I get up and have breakfast, cuddle the kids, review our plans for the day.

9 -ish: Pull out all the school books, make 3 piles (Boyo, Girlie, and both) and start school.

12:00 : Take a break for lunch Usually by this time Girlie is done with all her workbook work.

12:30: Back to school concentrating on whatever subjects the kids have to do together (science, unit studies) When Girlie is done, she goes to put away laundry, empty dishwasher, clean bedroom etc. then she can play. Boyo goes finishes up whatever else he has to do.

1:30 : School is usually over and we can head for the library or to speech class or run errands.

4:30: Home from errands or whatever and the neighbor girl calls. Kids go out to play and I get a break.

5:00: Contemplate dinner, clean up the house, get on the computer, etc.

6:00-ish: Kids home, Dinner time, Hubby comes home too.

8:00: Kids sent off to playroom to watch movies or read books or play quietly.

10:00: Lights out for the kids.

12-1: Bed time for me.

I am not strict about a schedule other then we have a set amount of work to get though each day. When that work is done- the kids can go play. This works for us. It may not work for another family, and that is ok too.

knitting olympic update

2010-02-19T23:58:00.003-05:00

Ok, sorry there are no pictures. That is how I roll, I want to wait and show you the finished thing all at once. So far I have 13" done (I started at the bottom of the sweater) plus the pouch pocket is all made and grafted on. Another 3 " and I stop to make the arms. So far this sweater is going really well. Though it occurred to me that Hubby has been working out and thus has bulked up in the pecs. This might have changed his 40" chest size.

Oh well I am past the point of no return on the sweater so he'll just have to live with it if it is a little tight.

Yarn Harlot's Knitting Olympics

2010-02-12T01:06:00.003-05:00

So I decided to do Yarn Harlot's knitting Olympics My goal is to knit a sweater for my dear wonderful hubby using the wallaby pattern (sans hood) in reclaimed yarn from the "sweater that was much too big" tm I have 17 days to get it done starting 9 pm Friday. Yay!!

So far I had Boyo frog the "sweater that was much too big" tm It was much yarn!! It is all balled up and I even did a gauge swatch so everything should work out right. Did I mention that I am changing the pattern from straight stockinette to a moss stitch? Well it gave me 8st/2inch instead of the 9st/2 in but as this yarn has a tendency to shrink when washed and hubby likes stuff big. I should be alright.

I am using lion brand wool ease in hunter green.

Feel free to join in! Click on the yarn harlot link to get full directions and all. Good Luck.

Thanks Patty

2010-02-03T00:11:00.005-05:00

I am a crafter. I scrapbook (a little), I knit (all winter) and sew (all summer). I am content with that.

But let me tell you about my friend Patty. She is an artist. She has had her work published and is even a contributor to an e-zine. She makes amazing papercrafts. The things Patty can do with paper and a cricut would blow your mind. Each birthday, holiday and anniversary, I wait with bated breath for the next wonderful card she will send. We have actually kept some of her cards for years.

Knowing Patty's skill set, and not finding anything that I liked for the cover of our civil war lapbooks, I begged her for a favor. I asked her to make some paper dolls and decorations for the kids to use. Honestly, I gave her practically no guideline other than whatever was made for Girlie, she could assemble herself. After all Girlie is a crafty type kid. I knew Patty could come up with something better than I ever could have thought of.

And she did! Patty not only made nifty silhouettes for Boyo, but she sent 4 different paper doll soldiers for Girlie to assemble. Each came in their own envelope with a picture of what they would look like all put together, and all the bit and pieces cut out and ready to be glued.

The kids were so excited by the details and loved putting the dolls together. Girlie even let Boyo assemble one and put it in his lapbook, after they played civil war battle of course :)

My favorite part about these dolls is the attention to detail, not just historically but practically. All the pieces were big enough that 6 year old fingers could glue them without help and there were neat extras for each doll- a canteen, sword, bayonet or gun.

And if all that wasn't enough, she sent me a card in the package. it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! She took my "mousetower" name and made this... oh there just aren't words. It is sophisticated, whimsical, and oh- just look for yourself.

How perfect is this!!

Patty- You are amazing. Thank you for taking the time to make these dolls for the kids, for giving them something tangible to cement some of the ideas we talked about with the civil war soldiers, and for every card you have sent us in the more than 12 years I have known you. And thank you Eric for helping with the research, I look forward to seeing you in August.

Thursday 13

2010-01-28T13:02:00.002-05:00

I really like this meme. I mean really. It fills my need for lists and gives me a schedule so I don't neglect my blog (like I did after a 2 week vacation in August when I went to visit it and wondered why it hadn't been updated.) It gives me a chance to share my thoughts and expound on stuff that I hadn't thought about that hard. But this isn't the topic of today's Thursday 13 (mostly because I ran out of stuff at 5)

Today's topic is......sewing. I like to sew, I have been doing it since I was a kid but didn't really take off with it until I was in high school. I taught my son to use the sewing machine at 4 (my daughter at 5) . So I present 13 reasons why sewing is useful.

I get to use my creativity.
I am making something that can be used by my family.
When I get the fabric for free, I can make new clothes for the kids for the cost of my time.
On patterns that I know backwards and forwards, I can whip them out in no time.
My kids (and family) appreciate homemade stuff.
I can sell some of the stuff I make and earn a little extra money.
I can do it at home without having to send my kids away.
I can make things that actually fit my super skinny boy without being too babyish.
I can make things that fit my daughter that are not hoochie
Sewing makes it easy for people to shop for me, they just buy gift certificates to fabric stores.
It is kinda cool to know how to fix that expensive outfit you bought when it rips the 3rd time you wore it.
My kids love when people ask where they got their pants, shirts, dresses and they get to say "Mama made it for me."
I can't hear people calling for me when the sewing machine is going. :)

Thursday 13

2010-01-21T22:42:00.003-05:00

I love lists so this meme might become a weekly thing.

13 reasons I love my husband (probably should save this for nearer to Valentine's Day but why waste love) -- in no particular order...

He provides well for our family.

He is steadfast.

He plays with the kids.

He gives me insight into things that I never really think about.

He plays a mean guitar.

Sometimes he can break things down well enough to explain stuff to the kids.

Sometimes he needs to to translate for him, or them.

He buys me all the yarn or fabric I could want, never having said, "Don't you have enough?"

He is supportive for homeschooling even if he thinks I am too easy on the kids.

He eats what I make for dinner before he critiques it.

He talks to me about his game or work even though he knows I don't understand it.

He listens to my concerns, worries or venting and only tries to give a solution if I ask for one.

He loves me.

5 fingers of thanks

2010-01-19T00:37:00.004-05:00

On the eve of another trip to the hospital for Girlie, I found this meme and I feel the need.

I have a wonderful and loving family.

We have medical insurance that has made all these Dr. visits and what not affordable.

My husband has a great job that he enjoys.

I get to homeschool so my kids learn how important family is.

I have enough food that I don't have to make the trip to BJ's until Wed. at least.

Prioritze

2010-01-13T15:23:00.003-05:00

We are working on a money lapbook (I will post later with the resources for that) but one of the minit books asks the kids to list what is a necessity and what is a luxury. It was very interesting to hear the discussions that took place as we figured out what we need and what we want, plus how to reconcile some thing that really do belong in both categories.

Necessities:

Food
water
a home
electricity (for heat since we use electric heat)
a car (necessary for us as we live 5 miles from town and there is no public transport option, a Luxury for Oma who lives in the city with buses and the ability to walk where she wants to go)
a job
gas (to make the car go LOL)
education
clothes

Luxuries:

Wii
computers
TV
sushi
nerf guns
homeschooling
soda

Things that are both- ie we could do without but they make life worth living

Daddy's guitar
yarn (originally a necessity according to Girlie because it makes clothes to keep us warm)
field trips
ice cream
cell phone

Originally the Guitar was on the luxury list but when Hubby came home at lunch and saw what we were working on he insisted on the third category and he did a great job explaining the importance of the third category- "it makes your soul happy and if your soul isn't happy there isn't a point to living"

I love when Hubby shows that side of himself.

Question of the week

2010-01-11T22:56:00.002-05:00

I saw this over at Wayzley and though I should do it too.

What activities outside of Homeschooling are your children involved in? (also include kids ages please)

How important do you think having your kids in extra-curricular activities is?

Would your kids do less, more or the same amount if they were in a traditional school setting?

My answers:
This is hard for me to answer since everything we do is part of homeschooling. Both my kids (8 and 6) do scouts, art and a cooking class and at the moment that is it. In the past they have done Gymnastics, swimming lessons and soccer.

I think it is important to do outside activities, I would love to have Boyo in Gymnastics or Rock climbing. I would love to have Girlie in a drama class. But the money isn't there for Gymnastics and Girlie isn't old enough for the play productions in my area.

If my kids went to traditional school I think they would only do scouts or scouts and one other thing since traditional school takes up so much time that even if I was working and could afford it, there wouldn't be time to do it.

Thursday 13

2010-01-07T15:11:00.003-05:00

I saw this meme and it spoke to me. Will it speak to you?

Make a list of 13 things you like about homeschooling:

I see my kids for more than a couple hours a day
I can celebrate their triumphs and help with their weaknesses
I get to learn all kinds of new stuff.
We stay in our PJ's as long as we want.
Play dates that happen during the day so that night time is for family
Seeing the love and respect my kids have for each other
New books, new manipulatives
Field trips!
Co-ops and shared teaching
Not being tied down to a schedule if something more fun turns up.
Play dates that involve whole families so that no one is left out.
Creative learning time (Mythbusters marathons count as school, hours spent arranging and decorating a doll house can count as school)
Being with my kids!

Civil War

2010-01-05T18:08:00.003-05:00

We have been working on a Civil War Lapbook after an impromptu trip to Gettysburg PA to see the battlefield.

When we are finished I will try and post pictures of the completed project but in case I forget here are the resources I used. They might be helpful.

Lapbooks Parts:
Dynamic 2 moms http://dynamic2moms.webs.com/warbetweenthestates.htm
Wonderful, even-handed approach. We used many of their components. Boyo used the Gettysburg address for copywork.
-Causes for war
-Weapons
-Map
-Other names for the war
-Famous people North and South
-Clara Barton
-Harriet Beecher Stowe
-Matthew Brady
-Gettysburg Address
-Cotton Gin
-Cotton Boil
-Harriet Tubman
-Slavery and the road to war

Homeschool Share http://www.homeschoolshare.com/civil_war_lapbook_templates.php
We used a few from here. Not a bunch since Dynamic Moms was so complete.
- Buglers
- Uniforms
-Eat like a soldier (involves cooking)
- Hardtack and Johnny Bread Recipes http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/civil_war/recipes.pdf

Then there were the books from the Library :

Harriet Tubman, a woman of courage / by the editors of Time for kids ; with Renee Skelton.
Minty : a story of young Harriet Tubman / by Alan Schroeder ; pictures by Jerry Pinkney
An apple for Harriet Tubman / by Glennette Tilley Turner ; illustrated by Susan Keeter
Harriet Tubman : the life of an African-American abolitionist / by Rob Shone & Anita Ganeri ; illustrated by Rob Shone.
Dadblamed Union Army cow / Susan Fletcher ; illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root

Red Legs : a drummer boy of the Civil War / by Ted Lewin
Charley Waters goes to Gettysburg / Susan Sinnott ; photographs by Dorothy Handelman

These 2 books are about a re-enactment, and as re-enactors this very inspiring and made lots of sense to my kids.

The Battle of Bull Run / by Deborah Kops
Welcome to Addy's world, 1864 : growing up during America's Civil War / written by Susan Sinnott

DVD- Harriet Tubman [videorecording] / NEST Family Entertainment and Rich Animation Studios
Voyagers

There were many more books but these are the ones I haven't returned yet. Since we live very close to Gettysburg there was an ample supply of books to choose from at the library.

Last trip to the Hospital

2010-01-05T17:58:00.003-05:00

The last time I posted about going to the Hospital was a couple days before Girlie's first visit. Now the night before her 3rd visit, it seems that we are old pros. Girlie is excited to go (can you believe that?) Thank Heavens for the Doctors and Nurses as they have been wonderful each and every time.

The medicine they give her seems to make her not remember much of anything after taking it until hours later when she is back home. I love that!! The first time on it she saw fairies for about 2+ hours. The second time she seemed to come out of it quicker and there were no fairies. I think that was because of the IV. We will see how she does with it tomorrow.

I really commend the Doctor and the hospital staff. They have gone above and beyond to make this an easy deal for Girlie and me.

Please tomorrow morning send good thoughts our way as we go though what is hopefully the last test.

Random thoughts

2009-10-02T10:10:00.003-04:00

Realizing that some days, lists and random thoughts just happen when blogging (see the Yarn Harlot)

1. At some point continuing on when the outcome doesn't look good could be a sign on character. Continuing on with a sweater which has already been proven to be more than 12" too wide with the hope that washing it will cause it to shrink up is possibly not the character I want to project on the world.

2. I'm still not ripping out the sweater (for the 4th time!)

3. Unschooling is a wonderful way to teach kids when Mama is sick with a cold.

4. Watching UK's "You are What You Eat" just makes me hungry.

5. Girlie's girl scout troop is hoping to go camping in the spring if we can raise enough money from the cookie sale. We are looking at going here- Plus go tubing on a local river.

6. Girlie has decided to be a songwriter, Boyo has moved on from wanting to be a policeman- I think.

7. At some point I have to buy more yarn for the too large sweater.

Flats

2009-09-27T12:20:00.003-04:00

We have just joined a yahoo group that trades Flat Travelers. These are little cut out "people" who go to different places and have adventures. Sorta like Flat Stanley

Currently we have Flat Baxter, Flat Owen and Flat Nan visiting us. What I like about this idea is that you don't have to plan special stuff to do with the flats, just regular day to day stuff for your part of the world/country. Flat Owen is from Indiana, so while the farm life around us might not be new or different for him, the woodpeckers and squirrls might be. Also it is fun to see how different families work. One family who is hosting a flat drives a 15 person van with 8 car seats.

We will be trading flats back next week so we will get to see what adventures our flats have been on while they have been on vacation and then send them off again.

To join the Flat Trravelers Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flat_travelers_homeschool/

College of homemaking

2009-09-21T22:58:00.003-04:00

OK I am still working on the College of Homemaking stuff. So far it is going well.

Projects:
1. 2 knitting projects in the works, Getting closer to done on the mitts and almost to the armholes on Hubby's sweater.
2. I made Baking Soda biscuits. I liked them, the kids ate them some and Hubby wanted me to buy a sifter. Since I now have a sifter I'm going to try it again and see if they turn out better.
3. Make an embroidered item: Still working on Hubby's Russian Garb. I just need to do the embroidery at the bottom.

As it is getting colder here, Hubby's sweater is a priority.

Oh and as a "yay" (something good that you do for yourself or others) I make the kids a list of what school work they have to do each day. I have started making one for myself with housekeeping chores on it.

Today's chores were -

Wash the windows inside and out-- done
Laundry Remember to get the stuff from the line before dark --done
Practice Violin -- done
cook some beans to freeze-- done
Make all the beds -- done

I figure 5 chores that I don't normally do a day will eventually lead me to better habits and a cleaner house.

Girlie

2009-09-20T13:11:00.005-04:00

I was thinking last night about Girlie's birth. It was a traumatic experience for me- I don't know how Girlie took it, I can't remember. After being induced I had a short-ish labor (5 hours), no drugs except that sleeping pill which the nurse promised me would let me sleep during the early stages of labor (not really) and ended up in the OR after delivery. I'm guessing the hospital birth was a better plan than the birthing center with the midwives.

One of my favorite pics of Hubby and Girlie. Both taking a nap. I'm guessing the birth was traumatic for them too.

If you look close you can see Girlie smiling. Sorry for the quality of the pics. I had a terrible room for recovery.

Girlie is now 6 years old and I am amazed at how she has grown and changed. She is a sweet, loving, funny, opinionated, dramatic, "balls to the walls" kinda girl.

As we are getting ready for a test at the hospital next week, that will require Girlie to be sedated, if you have a moment please send some good wishes her way, and for Hubby and I too, as we are all a bit concerned over the procedure. Even though we have been assured that it is "routine" and "nothing to get excited about" she is our baby and the thought of what is to happen is scary.

My fighter boy

2009-09-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

It has been a long week. Between scouts (girl and boy), schooling, dentist visits (oh yuck thy name is dentist) and generally crummies I am ready for the weekend. So now that we have made it to Thursday I thought I'd share some lovely pics my sister took of Boyo in July when he went for a visit.

Boyo is in Red

And if you can't win.... Retreat with style!

College of Homemaking

2009-09-14T11:56:00.004-04:00

I found this cute blog a while ago and the owner is setting up a "College of Homemaking" co-op. I figured it was worth a try. My homemaking skills are pretty good- no comment on the housekeeping ones. But I thought that it would be fun.

You can check the blog for the older list of requirements for the degrees but if you join the yahoo group (where all the fun is!) you can see the newer 21st century version with requirements that are applicable to us today -facebook, renewing books online, programming parental controls.

My tasks that I am working on:

1. Knit an item -- I have 2 in progress, Raven's Xmas mitts and Hubby's knotwork sweater. I know at least one will be done by Dec. Hopefully both!!!

2. Learn to quilt or make a quilted thing -- This will be done when I teach the girl scouts for the Quilt it try it

3. Make baking powder biscuits. Planning that for dinner tomorrow. We will see if that happens.

Do you remember the day?

2009-09-11T09:21:00.004-04:00

For every generation there is an iconic day. For my husband it is the day of the moon walk. He remembers watching it in his house in Cuba as a 4 year old. I can see him sitting watching on that old TV looking very much the way Boyo looks but probably with a better tan.

But for me, my iconic day is Sept. 11, 2001. And like everyone else today I think back to where I was when I heard. I was 8 months pregnant working at Catholic University in Washington DC. Hubby was home on sabbatical watching the talking heads on CNN. He called me at work and told me about the first plane. Honestly my first thought was "What a terrible accident, I wonder what was wrong with the plane?" Followed by a brief prayer to protect the people and that there wasn't a child care center in the building. When hubby called back a little while later, he said there was a second accident, and still confused (like many women with a baby in their belly- my mind worked oddly) I thought, "Guess that pilot shouldn't have been rubber-necking the other crash." Then hubby said it was terrorism and he was coming to get me.

By the time the towers fell and cell service was cut, the University gathered in the main hall with the priests and there was a prayer service going on. All of the staff and I were in the balcony watching and praying when a call came into the receptionist desk. It was hubby and he was downstairs.

It is a terrible feeling seeing the destruction of hate while holding a new life in your belly. On one hand there is terror but the other hand is hope. Can I protect this baby? What will his life be like? Will he grow to be an adult or will hate cut him down like so many others? Or will my child make the difference? Will he find a way to solve these problems? Will he grow up as a protector to the people he loves?

Two years later when September 11th rolled around again, I again held a new life, this time a 7 day old baby girl but my feelings were different. There was still the terror, but it was a more common new baby terror. But with the strides our country had made in only 2 years I was hopeful. I knew my daughter would have a good chance, I prayed that neither of my children would ever be touched by hate. And as a sat feeding Girlie, I remember marvelling at the loss so many had felt and the pride at what had been accomplished since then.

Now 8 years later, I still pray for those families. That they have found peace, that all the mothers who had newborns or were pregnant with their husbands in the towers have found a way to survive and to thrive. But most of all, I pray that something like this never happens again.

It's Magic Try-it Lapbook

2009-09-07T13:50:00.008-04:00

Ok first off I am sorry I have been gone so long. We had a huge family vacation and with getting back into the whole schooling thing... well let's just say it took a bit of time.

But for your enjoyment I have finished a Magic Try-it Lapbook. This lapbook is based off the try-it from the River Bluffs Council http://www.riverbluffs.org/PDF_WhatsNew/WhatsUPPatchProgramBooklet11408/ItsMagicPatchProgram11408.pdf

This council is dissolving so it is tricky to figure out where to order the try-its so I will help you out. :) You have to call them directly at (618) 692-0692 / (800) 345-6858 and ask for the store. Then ask for the It's Magic try-it. They currently have them in stock for a dollar and change.

The other council own patches are here http://www.riverbluffs.org/PDF_WhatsNew/WhatsUPPatchProgramBooklet11408/WhatsUpPatchProgramBooklet11408.htm

They will not be available after Oct. so Order them quick!!

I used left over minit books from other projects to create the books for my daughter. So the PDF books might look different.

Here is a picture of the inside Girlie's Lapbook. Picture of the front is at the top of this post.

Here is the link to the PDF for the lapbook and as always I hope you and your family enjoy making it. Please drop me a note telling me what you liked/didn't like.

Magic Try-it Lapbook

Where do I get the try-its?

2009-07-25T15:59:00.004-04:00

It has been asked if my Girlie is a Juliette (a girl scout without a troop). She is not, only because I was given the gift of BFF's mom who is also a homeschooler. She was in a homeschool troop before she moved to my little corner of the world and when she called Girl Scout Central she was given to someone who knew I homeschooled. This lead to BFF being in Girlie's Daisy troop. After finishing our Daisy year *(Daisy should only be 1 year not 2 IMHO) we left our Daisy troop and helped to form a homeschool, multi level Troop. We have 2 daisies, 3 brownies and 2 Juniors.

My family uses Scouting (boy and girl) as the spine for our curriculum. To that end, history, science, community studies and so forth are all introduced and as we move through brownies and Juniors they will be reinforced.

As to where I get my resources, well pretty much all of them are online.
http://www.scoutmom.net/program/tryit.htm a list of many different council's try-its
http://www.scoutmom.net/program/badges.htm same list for Juniors

You can search at different council sites for "council's own" and find all the fun and different try-its, patches, badges and so forth. And with a little forethought you can go though them and find which stuff relates to wherever you are going on a trip or what your intrests are as a family.

For example my family is going to camp for a week (yay pennsic!) The try its that Girlie will work on are :
outdoor skills
Take a Hike
Renaissance
On stage
Archery
Medieval Maidens
American Frontier
Sewing
Navy Pride
Leave no Trace

Patches (open to any level):
Jr. Ranger
Women in History

We will not complete all of these patches and Try-its but more likely do one or two requirements for each thing and then do more at home. This camping trip is just such an opportunity to get so many things knocked out, between sleeping in the "wild," having access to literally hundreds of people who the kids can talk to including Navy personnel, park rangers, historical re-enactors, researches, and so on.

All it takes is knowing what patches are out there and making a bit of a plan as to what can be learned.

First Aid Lapbook

2009-07-09T17:09:00.005-04:00

We have completed our first Brownie try-it lapbook --Birds. Girlie learned a lot about them, which I guess is the point of try-its. Sometimes we rush though the activities but I am not that concerned about it since she loves to go back through the lapbooks and reread them. I figure that helps cement the knowledge.

Anyway with the first brownie lapbook completed under our belts I have started to put together resources and activities for the next lapbook- First Aid.

Here are the requirements for the try-it. http://store.gscsnj.org/store/product/14662/FIRST-AIDE-TRY-IT/

Instead of re-inventing the wheel I wanted to see what minit books I could find to fit the requirements of this try-it for free online. I was surprised to find so many of them.

Here is the list of links to what either meets the requirements or is a nice addition to flesh out the unit.

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/camping/first_aid_kit.pdf

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/camping/prepared.pdf (Expansion)

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/officer_buckle_and_gloria/call_911.pdf
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/tornado/first_aid.pdf
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/petunia/first_aid_basics.pdf
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/care_and_keeping/Sports%20Safety.pdf (only the sprain minit book)
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/petunia/community.pdf glue in the pictures of who would use first aid
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/petunia/emergency_wheel.pdf (Expansion)
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/leprechauns_dress_weather.pdf
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8271621/First-Aid-minit-Books

Be prepared isn't a requirement but I think it is a good expansion to flesh out the unit, also a good thing to get the little minds working if you plan on taking your kids camping.

The Emergency Wheel teaches about what to do in an emergency so even though it is not a requirement I think it is important.

For the sprain Don't forget R.I.C.E. Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate

The only things not covered by all the wonderful free minit books I found is care for shock and burns and also what things to be aware of in certain weather. To that end I added my own minit books to the list above so that these topics would be covered.

My plan is to work on this book with Girlie over the next little while. I'll post pictures when we are done.

Twitter and Pennsic Sewing

2009-07-03T18:03:00.003-04:00

I can't be the only person who has long indepth conversations with herself while sewing. Especially sewing at the machine without the TV. Also I can't be the only one who cracks herself up as she enters the 4th hour of Tabard sewing with odd thought.

As I sat sewing some things occured to me. Mny of my favorite blogs now have twitter and while I decided I am just not that dedicated or interesting to use twitter I played tweets though my head as I sew.

Hour 1 : Cut out all the red tabards, double checked that that I had the right sizes for the guys.
Hour 1.5: Started to sew using black thread
Hour 2.5: Sitched to red thread
15 minutes later: Is it just me or does C&C dual duty thread not seem as good as it use to?
Hour 3: Up stairs in front of the TV pinning while watching Deadliest catch
Hour 3.1: Oh watch out for that wave!!!
Hour 3.5: I am so glad I am not his mom- what a potty mouth! 3 tabards pinned, 2 edges pinned
Hour 4: Back at the machine, back to red thread

I just don't see that as an interesting afternoon to anyone.

Great news for Reading

2009-06-29T19:56:00.004-04:00

I just got an email today from my favorite reading program *ever* Progressive Phonics. It seems that they have found a sponsor and are now offering their wonderful books, not for the $10 I paid as a teacher but for Free, Yep you read that right F-R-double E, Free!

Can you tell I am excited? I thought that this was a great system when I wrote about it back in January. But now 6 months later I can see the progress that girlie has made and it is impressive. 6 months ago she fought her way though Bob books (Mat sat on Cat) and now she is reading beginner chapter books. Boyo wouldn't move out of the books with pictures until this year so she is doing really great.

If you are teaching your little one to read, try these books. You will be amazed at the progress!

Phone

2009-06-21T17:42:00.002-04:00

I have a new phone!!
The phone I had was older than Boyo and had chew marks from when he was cutting teeth. It was time for a new one.

Verizon had a deal with hubby's work to get a discount so we not only got me a new phone, Hubby got one for himself too!! Yay! Now we don't have to share and I might be able to actually get a hold of hubby when I want him (insert laughter here as if Hubby would answer).

I am so excited about the phone!!

misplaced priorities

2009-06-18T10:28:00.002-04:00

The other day I had only 1 kid. I like when I can get one on one time with a kid but that is not what this post is about.
Kidlet and I went to BJ's to get some gas and I saw things that made my blood run cold before it started to boil.
On the other side of the pump was a mom. She had her 10 year old son pumping the gas for her (issue 1) while she had her toddler out of the car (issue 2) near the pump (issue 3). When her son was done she told him not to top off the tank, "it is bad for the environment" (issue 4) Both kids got in the back set and Mom drove away from the pump (issue 5).

Issue 1: 10 year olds should not be pumping gas. Especially at a busy gas stations. If they really need a job skill at 10, how about weeding or gardening? Stuff that won't kill brain cells or put them in danger from unaware drivers.

Issue 2: Why get a toddler out of the car for the 5 minutes it takes to pump gas? You just have to buckle them back in which takes another 5 minutes. If they really need to get out and stretch their legs, unbuckle them but keep them in the car. Little people can run fast and at under 2 1/2 feet drivers wouldn't be able to see them if they ran into the road.

Issue 3: Little kids brains are developing so why expose them to toxins that kill brain cells (fumes from gas).

Issue 4: What mom cares about the environment when she puts her own kids at risk like that? Yes one shouldn't top off the tank, I guess, I mean I do it, but whatever. But then why is she playing fast and loose with her kids?

Issue 5: Both kids got in the back and mom drove off. Little kid was not buckled or even sitting down when she started the car and drove. Older kid did get the little one down and buckled but is it his job? Did a 10 year old have this toddler? I am all for siblings helping out and I have had Boyo help Girlie buckle but I don't move the car until everyone is buckled in. It is my job as the mom and the driver to make sure everyone is buckled and safe before I move the car.

I was so annoyed at this mom! I;m sure she didn't see anything wrong with how she was acting and it isn't my place to judge other people. Tell me what you would have thought if you saw what I saw. Was I far off the mark?

Summer Fun

2009-06-09T09:32:00.002-04:00

Life has given me a special chance this summer. Since I will only be working minimally, I will have lots of time to do fun and interesting things with the kids. Since you know how much I love lists- here is my summer to do list.

Go to the free movies at the movie theater with the kids
Make 15 tabards before Pennsic
do park day at the creek regularly
Boy scout camp
Girl scout camp
Pennsic (maybe 2 weeks!!!)
Summer reading program at the library
Make new summer garb for Hubby
Make new garb for me (new dresses with embroidery!!)
pick fruit at Bauger's
Take a playdate to a horse farm (and hopefully avoid the hospital due to allergies afterwards)
Spend time doing Math with Girlie
Spend time reading with the kids and having them do quiet reading everyday
More Playdates!!

Latin

2009-05-29T19:46:00.003-04:00

We have decided to teach the kids Latin. We started last year with Minimus but I got more out of it than the kids. Now we are trying again with Getting Started with Latin. I love the approach that GSWL takes. Each lesson takes a whole 5 minutes and reviewing previous lessons is still in the under 15 minute range. We have knocked though the first 5 lessons on the drive home from speech (10 minute drive).

I love that each lesson is on one thing. Not tons of words or lists of words with topics and confusion but literally 1 thing. Lesson 1 introduces "Nauta," which means sailor by the way, and that is it for lesson 1. By lesson 3 you are making sentences, not great huge things but simple stuff like "Sum nauta" (I am a sailor.) When we combine lessons 1-5 with a couple words I remembered from Minimus we were able to make more sentences.

We are not teaching the kids Latin so that they will get a better grasp of grammar (though it won't hurt I guess) or so they can have an easier time when they move to Spanish (still a good thing). We are teaching them Latin so that they will have a bigger vocabulary and score better on their SATs. Well that and it is more fun to hear Paene advenimus? rather than Are we there yet?

To go with our Latin, I made a notebook page to keep track of the words we learn. It is designed with 2 sheets on one page. I printed off about 10 pages worth of sheets (10 words) and cut them into half sheet pages. Then they were bound into a small book that the kids decorated to give them a sense of ownership. You can do as I did or keep them 2 on a page and just hole punch and put into a binder. Whatever works for your family.

The link to the Notebooking Page:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6533417/Latin-vocabulary-notebook-page

Please if you use my stuff. Leave me a comment so I know it was useful to someone. Thanks!

Home from Sapphire Joust

2009-05-25T12:40:00.004-04:00

First a thought about today- As the Baroness of Care Bear (not the real name but funnier) mentioned yesterday. As a Medieval recreation society, we play at war. But there are those who are fighting the good fight and serving far from home and loved ones. Let's give them a moment in prayer or good intentions or thought that they may be safe and protected. May they come home whole and hale. May they be forever remembered if they do not.

Now to the playing at war...

We were at Sapphire Joust this weekend to some fighting, camping and general good times. This was the first camping trip for both kids that wasn't Pennsic and they both loved it!!!!!

Boyo authorized and fought in his first tournament. He is in Red.

He fought double sword the entire tournament and did exceptionally well with them.

And he won the division!!

Boyo with his prize, a treasure box full of chocolate. There was a bit of a mix up at the first court but it was all straightened out and Boyo had a large cheering section with Heads and Anglesey there to support him. The populous made funny comments when he walked down to the Baron and Baroness. Silly things like "Awww, he's so little" "look how cute he is!"

Then when Boyo took a knee in front of the Excellencies (he all but disappeared from sight given his size, hopefully Ursas got a picture of that) There were more Awws.

It was a wonderful presentation for Boyo and he was so proud!!

Some of the mix up was because Boyo wasn't identified as Hubby's son. All the paper work on him was under my name so Boyo is trying to decide on a medieval name.

His choices...

A. Boyo of Headclan

B. Boyo Borsson

C. Boyo the conqueror.

Personally I am voting for A or B as Girlie could be Girlie of Headclan or Girlie Borsdotter.

Log your vote and I'll try and convince the boy.

Birds Lapbook

2009-05-20T14:40:00.006-04:00

Sick kid is better so here is the bird Try-it lapbook I have been working on. This one is a bit different from the Chemistry one in that it is more fleshed out for a homeschool unit. I added some minit books based on Konos activities in addition to the activities for the try it.

For the try-it requirements- http://www.gsvsc.org/pdf/ourowncouncil/ooc_tryit_birds.pdf

and http://www.gscwm.org/pdfs/OCO_ForTheBirdsTryIt.pdf

For the lapbook- http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6163781/Bird Lapbook for unit and try-it

I hope you like it and please leave feedback if you pick it up. It is nice to know that someone else is using my stuff.

More bird related good stuff- http://notebookingnook.blogspot.com/2009/04/freebie-bird-notebooking-pages.html

http://www.notebookingpages.com/index.php?page=Free-Science-Experiment-Notebooking-Pages Part of the way down the page.

http://abcteach.com/free/b/birdnotebook.pdf

http://www.notebooklearning.com/2008/04/bird-mini-books-for-notebooking-or.html

Lapbooks and sick kids

2009-05-18T17:27:00.002-04:00

Well I was hoping to put up the birds lapbook file to go with the Birds try it that I have finished planning but life got in the way. Girlie started yesterday with a 103 fever and after a trip to the doctor today (I hate that the Dr. isn't open on the weekends) we find out she has a UTI. This is not her first one by any stretch of the imagination but it is the worst one she has had so far. So hopefully she will be herself again tonight or tomorrow so I can post the lapbook for you. Please send good thoughts Girlie's way, she isn't much fun when she is sick.

Public Apology

2009-05-15T11:45:00.004-04:00

I would like to make a moderately public apology to my wonderful, loving and understanding sister.

I am horribly, terribly sorry that your birthday gift (that had problems right from the get go) is suffering from SSS.

For those of you not in the know, this is Second Sock Syndrome. It is what happens when you try a new pattern that can't be done 2 at a time and while it is a fun and interesting pattern, it is tedious the second time though.

So, sister dear, even though I love you and cherish that you took time out of your busy week to visit Girlie when she was in your neck of the woods, your gift has been set aside for the quick feel good of ribbing on the monster sweater for hubby. My hope is that I will get bored of ribbing soon and the second sock will revive my interest. If not, I set the goal of completing them by Pennsic.

So next stop Amazon. Thank you for setting up a wish list for those of us who have SSS and planning issues.

You loving sister

Chemistry Try-it

2009-05-10T19:20:00.005-04:00

I am so please to announce I made a lapbook to go with the Black Hawk Council's Chemistry Try-it.

As I told you yesterday, Brownies can earn try-its at the national level or from different councils. The Chemistry try-it I found is out of a council in Wisconsin and is a great introduction to chemistry. Since I plan on using try-its as my homeschool curriculum I need a way to record and document what Girlie and Boyo learn. I have found Lapbooks are a great way to do this.

So without further ado...

Chemistry Try-it lapbook

For the council's requirements- Chemistry try-it Requirements

Scouting - Homeschool style

2009-05-09T11:08:00.005-04:00

Since Girlie is moving up to Brownies. (yay do a happy dance!) I have been checking out the try-its that she can earn. This past year we used Boy's beltloops for parts of our history and science curricula. As I research the different try-its I feel confident that I will be able to do the same thing for Girlie.

Plus I discovered some really cool stuff! There are 60 try-its available through GS-USA. There are at least that many available through the different councils around the country.

Huh? you ask. Well there is the national over-group. Then each area has its own council. This area is usually a couple counties. For instance the nation's council is for Washington DC, Montgomery, Frederick, Charles, Calvert and PG county in Maryland and some other counties in VA. I have to say I think that is a really big geographical area except for the fact all the highways are centered around DC so it is pretty easy to get to the different areas.

Anyway, the GS-USA has try-its and each council can develop their own try-its also which are sometimes made available to troops outside of that council area. So using what I have found online for the different council try-its Girlie (and by extension Boyo since they will both do the work even if Boyo doesn't get a try-it) should have lots of variety and learn so much stuff next year.

Since the homeschool troop is small and just starting out, I will end up paying for the try-its but I have found there are tons on ebay and since each patch is only $1 or so plus shipping, I still figure that it won't be too high a cost for all the knowledge the kids will gain plus it is cheaper than some of the boxed curricula I looked at.

graphics from www.scoutmom.net

Bridging to Brownies

2009-05-07T14:43:00.007-04:00

It is getting near that time of year. Bridging time. Boyo will soon move to Bears in Cub Scouts and Girlie will move to Brownies.

In Boyo's old pack they gave the boys new handbooks, kerchiefs and slides. We only had to buy the hats. I hope they do something similar in this new better homeschool friendly pack.

Since Girlie is moving to a new troop (yay this one is just homeschoolers and I am not the leader!!) I get to fund the change in uniforms.

This is where I get to have fun. It is like a huge treasure hunt. I try to find some of the stuff on Ebay so I can get a deal. I also check freecycle and then I comparison shop the online stores for the rest. I love the hunt! So sue me I don't get out much.

I am so pleased that we are moving to a homeschool troop, plus Girlie will be with BFF so we will be able to move at "homeschool pace". But best of all BFF's mom will be the one planning the meetings so that will be one stress off me.

The only child

2009-05-04T11:48:00.003-04:00

This week while Girlie is at Oma's (being a much adored only grand) Boyo is home with Mama being an only. So lacking the need to rush off to speech or Girlie to get her brother up and moving at 8 am, it has been a slow start. We do have some stuff on the list to do today, like the library and work but so far other than breakfast this is what Boyo has accomplished.

Yep, he is gaming. Diablo to be exact. I jumped on the computer to print off a lapbook for him to work on this week and he jumped on too. On the plus side he did get dressed and now that I have everything together for schooling, he will save and log out before we hit the library. I have a feeling that Boyo will be doing schoolwork at work today.

Pittsburgh

2009-04-30T06:15:00.002-04:00

Today we are off to Pittsburgh to visit my mom in her new house. Girlie will stay the week while Boyo and I will be back after the weekend.

I am excited about Girlie getting the opportunity to be the first one to stay, even though the thought of not having her around for 10 days is worrying to me.

Since we are still doing school, (20 some days to go!!) I packed up Girlie's books and speech work and wrote directions for how they are to be used. Hopefully Girlie will do her work without too much trouble so that she and Oma can spend time exploring.

My sister

2009-04-24T22:27:00.003-04:00

For her entire life my sister has had to share her birthday with Willy Shakespeare. Well, being born more than 300 years later will do that, I guess. Really most people don't know that April 23rd is his birthday or that it is also the day that he died, but that is neither here nor there.

For my entire educational career people have told me how great ol' Willy is and how there is no higher literary works that his plays. Ok sure. Good themes but how sad is it when the movie is better than the book? That is just not how it is suppose to be.

That all being said in honor of Willy (a day late because that is just how I roll these days) I would like to share with you my favorite Quote (actually it is the only one of his stuff I like and I recite it for the kids every Halloween)

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

I would like to thank whatever person who decided to print that bit on school folders back in 7th grade. That is the only reason I learned it.

And for my sister, well she is quite a wonderful writer in her own right, not Willy but that just means her stuff is actually good. I invite you to check out her latest work. It is near and dear to me since it is about homeschooling.

Lilka's Dream

Happy birthday (again a day late but still)!!

Girlie Talks

2009-04-20T06:03:00.003-04:00

For those of you who haven't heard Girlie talk in a while, Listen to how good her speech has gotten!!

It is a very short clip but her speech is so much better, we still have a ways to go though.

The weekend and Wikki stix

2009-04-19T11:23:00.004-04:00

I have been sick this weekend. Sorry to share but I don't get the whole lay on the sofa and not move for hours kind of sick very often. This was it though. I feel much better today by the way. So other than updating you on my life what did this have to do with anything you might ask.

Well while I was sick on the sofa, Girlie opened her present from the homeschool fair. I had gotten her a big package of wikki stix which are wax covered strings that can be molded and shaped in to different things. See picture above.

Speaking of the Homeschool fair, BFF-Mom and I had a wonderful time. We met up with one of her friends and shopped together. I found some cute history comic books for Boyo and I have at least a grade and a half of math for each of my kids. We are also going to try some Charlotte Mason Language Arts this year with a nifty workbook from Queens Homeschooling. Each kid has one. The link shows the one Boyo will use. We have used Charlotte Mason LA before and Boyo learned a ton but he didn't like working from one book into a notebook. Boyo prefers workbooks for LA and math (he actually told me so) so that is how we roll.

I also picked up a creative writing program for him as the LA I chose is heavy in grammar, picture study and copywork but light on creative writing. I choose Write on Target to develop his creative and functional writing. I like that they use graphic organizers and they give a sample in addition to the prompt. Also because each grade level covers the same topics, just in more detail, I could use the same program for both kids for Girlie's 2nd grade and Boyo's 4th grade years.

2009 list

2009-04-16T16:20:00.005-04:00

So here it is April, everyone has paid taxes by now. If not, you are late buddy!! So what's new?

I am going to the homeschool fair tomorrow. I've had 2 mama's nights out this week. Well one was to check out a new homeschooling option and one was the boyscout round table but I didn't have the kids with me for the first and someone else watched them for the second so I was mostly kid free.

But I was reminded to check my list to see how I have been doing on my goals for this year. Here is the list again in case you forgot: (updated with what I have accomplished- I even figured out how to do strike though!!)

~~Research insurance coverage for private speech therapy~~

Learn to cook 2 new recipes that picky hubby will eat I have 1 so far

Put all recipes that picky hubby will eat in a binder so I will know if it is an actually thing he has tried and liked.

~~Knit a new sweater for Boyo~~

~~Knit a baby sweater for Jessica's bun in the oven~~

~~Repaint the living room or at least touch up the spots that need a second coat~~

Hang the DVD cabinet

~~Organize school stuff~~

Buy bookshelves for living room

~~Buy baskets for daily school stuff, one basket per kid, so the daily getting started will be easier~~

Separate the kids into their own bedrooms

Paint the kids' bedrooms

Put curtains in all the windows of the house

Dry clean curtains for living room window

Get the right kind of hardware for living room curtains and hang them

Blog at least 3 times a week Trying but I =can't think of much to say

Offer the Andrew Lost lapbook templates to the homeschooling community for free

Post knitting pattern for bitty baby socks and bitty baby sweater from sock yarn

~~Make Girlie a dress to wear to the girl scout Daddy-Daughter Dance~~

Get Jessica's recipe for Mac and Cheese

Make everyone entire new wordrobes for good linen and wool for Pennsic

Boyo's List
1. Lapbook the entire Andrew Lost series and get it bound
2. ~~Finish Singapore Math 2B~~ and 3A
3. ~~Take a reading level placement test~~
4. Finish History Curriculum
5. Learn to knit with 2 colors
6. ~~Learn to play chess (to earn the cub scout belt loop)~~
7. Fight at practice every day while at Pennsic
8. Become a better, more detailed writer

Girlie's List
1. ~~Learn to read at a 1st grade level~~
2. ~~Take a reading level placement test~~
3. Learn to speak well enough to not need speech therapy
4. Take a tour of the local elementary school in case she does end up there
5. Learn to count to 100 using English words (thirteen instead of 10-3)

So I am not as far as I was hoping to be by April but I am not too far behind either. I think I will move the kids and paint thier rooms this summer when I can have the windows open (better than doing it in the winter!)

So little by little I hope to chop down my list. How is your list going?

The Quarry

2009-04-09T15:02:00.010-04:00

Boyo at the quarry

BFF's middle brother E. overlooking the quarry.

Today we had a field trip to a local Quarry with Boyo's cub scout pack. Girlie and BFF were the tag-a-long Daisy contingent.

It was a wonderful time! The kids were taken to watch the entire rock process. First, we watched them blast some rock loose from the walls of the quarry.

Before:

Notice the 12 holes drilled in formation? The blasting caps and other boom making things are in those holes. Yep, I know, really technical terms. I was wrangling a kid when they were talking about the explosives.

After:

To see it in action- Sorry my camera only shoots for 5 seconds and I am just figuring it out. Turn on your sound. The biggest laughs you hear at the end are Girlie.

After the explosion, we drove into the quarry to get a closer look at the different machines and to watch the guys (only guys, didn't see any female workers) load up a truck full of the rubble from the explosion.

Then we got back into our cars and drove to the crusher (Sorry again, I deleated those pictures by accident) When the rubble was dumped on to huge conveyor belts and moved this way and that to a big orange box that rattled and shook. This crushed the rocks into smaller chunks for landscaping stone. It it also crushed the rocks smaller into aggregate for concrete or asphalt.

We were given a chance to pick though some rocks that were dumped into a special field for us. Many of the boys found Calcite crystals, along with bits of quartz and marble. Some of the boys even found Metabasalt (metamorphosed basalt) which they called coal since it is dark and layered looking, like coal. (Many kids in this area have coal stoves so it is normal for black rocks to be found, they just assumed that all black rocks of a certain size and look are coal. The difference was explained between coal and metabasalt. The main difference being that coal will burn in a stove and metabasalt won't).

Thank you L# Quarry for the wonderful field trip! (I'd put the real name of the quarry but I have privacy concerns.)

Homeschool Plans

2009-04-05T13:53:00.002-04:00

It is that time of year... Spring flowers start to peak out of the ground, bird reappear and the homeschool curriculum catalogs flow.
Over the next week or 2 I make my lists, research my options, price check, compare and converse about homeschool curriculum, all leading up to the Mache Cric fair. This is the one chance many homeschoolers get to hold the curriculum and books in our hands, get the "feel" of a program and talk to people who are knowledgeable about the products.
There are so many different programs out there that it is really had to choose one, let alone talk to another person who might know about it. The unfortunate part is that the fair only lasts 2 days. If you see something you want, and you don't want to have to pay shipping on it, you have to get it then. So this doesn't give you a lot of time the really think on products.

That all being said, I spent the last month figuring out what products I wanted to look at close up, what I think will work best for my family and what levels I think my kids will be at come September.
Of course all that planning was blown out of the water when I looked closer at a program and saw that they had changed it for the newest edition.

So my new plan (subject to review and change)

Language arts from Queen Homeschool for both kids. I like the Charlotte Mason Language arts method.
Singapore math for both kids
History co-op with BFF's family using lapbooks from Homeschool share and Homeschool Journey
Science Co-op also with BFF's family Noeo Science Chem 1+2 (depending on the kid)
BFF's mom is going to teach Art history since she has the posters and knows what she is talking about.
Music- I am still working on, maybe a book on recorder since we have 2 already (and ear plugs!!!)

I like to have a plan, and this is a framework. The kids will also do Library science classes and other co-op classes as they are offered. Girlie will continue with Speech Therapy, plus both kids will have Scouts. I think it sounds like a good year.

Science- Human Body

2009-04-05T13:32:00.008-04:00

We have been working on the Human body for Science. So far we have covered blood, lungs and heart. Our project Friday was to figure out how all these different parts go together.

We traced Girlie on some banner paper and Boyo and Girlie colored it. Then I cut of the body parts and name tags for the different parts and the kids worked together to put them all on the body.

And because I didn't show you pictures of Boyo's new hair cut...

Before After

Which do you like better?

Happy April Fool's Day

2009-04-01T12:25:00.002-04:00

I'm not a big prankster, mostly I am the butt of jokes.
Girlie got me with a good one today though. I got home from work late this morning and it was all quiet. I knew Boyo would still be asleep since he was up gaming until 11:30 pm but I expected to hear the TV on for Girlie. The living room was all quiet and there was a pile of blankets on the sofa but that was all I saw. When I sat on the sofa to watch a little news before getting schooling stuff together, Girlie popped out from under the blankets and scared me.
She thought it was funny, I laughed too but it took a couple minutes for my heart to start beating again.

Leapster meets Didj

2009-03-30T08:45:00.004-04:00

We have been a leapster family for a while now. My dad bought the kids one a while back and since then Boyo has progressed in math by leaps and bounds. Girlie has done well too but it really isn't her medium.

When the kids were little they watched the Leapfrog DVDs and that gave them a good idea of how the whole reading thing worked. The Leapster handheld games did the same thing for boyo when it came to multiplication. When we hit that section in his math book, I was so surprised that he already knew almost all the basic facts that he breezed though the end of the book with no problem.

But like all things, Boyo became too advanced for the Leapster games. So last Christmas I looked at getting him a Didj, being the next step up from Leapster without crossing over to a Nintendo DS which doesn't have educational games. But it was too expensive and the reviews weren't that great and it was too new so there were kinks to be worked out.

Last week when the kids and I were at Walmart (don't judge me it is a small town) we went for a walk through the toy aisle and low and behold- the didj was on sale for more than $40 off!! After a brief chat with Hubby, I picked it up and also an extra game for Boyo.

Boyo spent 3 days playing it consistently before the batteries wore out and had to be charged.

So There is the pros and cons for the Didj

Pro

Educational

Great graphics

ability to go online to change or adjust the level of difficulty on the problems

adaptable -it can be scaled back to Girlie or made tougher for Boyo

Lots of different math games

Cons

Expensive

not a lot of games yet and most seem to be math games

Most language arts games are not aimed at boys (Nancy drew is the only spelling game I have found)

doesn't come with a cover like the Leapster so screen can get scratched up.

All in all I really like the games, I wish that it could use the old Leapster cartridges but I see the difference in quality in the graphics so I understand why it can't be so. I really hope they put out more games and continue with more of the older grades (3+).

Princess Power

2009-03-25T16:22:00.006-04:00

Hands of a Child was ever so kind of offer me a lapbook to try out and review. Girlie and I wanted to have a special day with BFF so with this lapbook in mind I called, made plans, printed and cut and got everything ready.

Armed with markers, construction paper, glue sticks and snacks, it was time!

Girlie kept a watch at the window for BFF to arrive, then once she was at the door it was a case of "I want to hide and surprise her." Eventually everyone who was staying was here and those who were leaving left. It was time to start!

Princess power is broken up into 2 mini lapbooks. One is on fairytale princesses and the other is on real live princesses. Since we all know that Girlie is a princess, it was easy to make the real live princess section about Girlie and BFF. The different secions we put on different colored pages.

We read a version of Sleeping Beauty that was different than one the girls had heard before, then we discussed how it was different and filled out the different minit books. After getting though all the wonderful minit books on the fairy tale princess, it was time for a break.

After a snack and some playtime, we pulled ourselves back together and started on the Girlie and BFF part. It was great fun listening to them talk about the different questions,

"Where were you born?"

"At a hospital, I came out of Mommy. But Boyo made Mommy cut open."

Once they finished all the minit books about them, they decorated the books while I fixed lunch. As I set out a lunch picnic in the living room, they finished up and I stapled all the pages together into a book. (we use construction paper pages stapled instead of file folders- it just works better for my family).

The girls played the rest of the afternoon and when BFF's mom came back, the girls didn't want to separate as they had been having so much fun.

I heard later that BFF's dad loved the lapbook, and Girlie was excited to show it to hubby and tell him all about her day.

Girlie liked that she could continue the fun on her own with the puppets that come with the lapbook. The stories that she came up with are incredible.

Princess Power

2009-03-20T08:46:00.001-04:00

Hands of a Child has offered me the chance to test one of their lovely lapbooks. To that end, Girlie, BFF and I are going to have a girls day working on "Princess Power." We are going to lapbook about a fairytale princess and then do a seperate section on the little princesses we know (Girlie and BFF). I spent the past day or so cutting out many of the lapbook mini-books and getting everything ready. I hope the girls have a good time with this project.

Pittsburgh

2009-03-16T09:18:00.000-04:00

My mom took me and the kids to Pittsburgh over the weekend. It is always such an adventure to go to the big city.

Saturday Risko kept the kids at a yarn store. Boyo has a "job" there pricing balls of yarn. Girlie helped him. From what I understand it was quite an adventure. There was the yarn store, food, parks, and finally back to the hotel. (thank you hotel staff that recognized my kids even if you didn't recognize the woman they were with and let them all back into the room- 2 thumbs up!)

Sunday my mom the kids and I went down to the strip district. It is a great fun sort of place. We explored the green grocer, the fish market, a Pittsburgh Steeler merchandise store (nothing in the kids sizes other wise they would have been sporting some steeler stuff today). Compared to our little town where food is either from the farmer's market , BJ's or Weis, this was a fantastic experience!

Girlie has decided that we should all move to Pittsburgh. She feels a real attachment to the town.

I told her maybe Daddy will take her to visit next time there is a business trip to CM.

Happy Friday the 13th

2009-03-13T08:41:00.000-04:00

As I was walking out of work this morning I wished one of my little guys a Happy Friday the 13th and since my kids were there (Hubby is off to Gulf wars), they asked why I said that.

Which lead to a conversation on the Templars, which lead to the King Phillip, which lead to the Holy Grail, which lead to crucifixion, which lead to the Da Vinci Code, which lead to rites and obligations of a Rabbi, which lead to sang rial, which lead to the Pope, which lead to Medieval Homeland Security issues, which ended with "What do you believe?"

And to think our drive home from work only takes about 4 minutes.

So Happy Friday the 13th, may you not have any Kings out to get you. And for the Templars- I'm sorry for your loss.

Hair Day

2009-03-07T22:52:00.000-05:00

So after taking the pictures of the kids and Mr. Bunny the other day, Girlie got fed up with the hair falling in her way (if she had tucked it behind her ear it would have solved the problem) but being 5 and a rather impatient sort of girl, she took the scissors and did some damage.

Friday we got it fixed. Here is Girlie before-

Notice the hair on the left side of her head? Hours later it was missing (surprisingly the stuff hanging in her eyes in the picture was still there. The logic of a 5 year old mind astounds me)

We went to the local hair cutting school and they couldn't figure out what to do about Girlie's fallen locks until I suggested this...

Owl Pellets and Mr. Bunny

2009-03-05T15:05:00.000-05:00

We have had a great homeschool day. Currently Boyo is working on an animal study of animals in the woods. It is handy that we live in the woods, he can just look out the window or explore in the woods to get a feel for the subject.

One of the projects we are doing relating to woodland animals is dissecting owl pellets. Boyo and Girlie have done this before at the library science class. (Best thing ever that the library offers free science classes and runs then twice, once for the general public and once for homeschoolers). Two Christmases ago, Boyo got a owl pellet kit in his stocking. Yes, Santa believes in education. So today we cracked it open and started dissection. It was fun for Boyo and I. (Girlie watched as she ate lunch). We found a bunch of ribs, a couple legs and at least one jaw.

And for those who wanted more pics of Mr. Bunny:

Snow and lack of water

2009-03-02T17:07:00.001-05:00

I have been trying to curb my whining. At 32 years old I am sure it is annoying to everyone so I try to count my blessings instead.

I am thankful I have a job. (Even it is means I have to drive in snowstorms at 6 in the morning)

I am thankful it snowed (because without a well pump there is no water and I could melt to snow to make water to use to flush the potty)

I am thankful I read and memorized all the little house books as a child (so I can think about how bad it could be)

I am thankful to have wonderful friends who come over even after a long day of getting ready for 6" of snow to say "yep, looks like the well pump is dead."

I am thankful for friend who understands that I really want a flushing potty but I will wait until tomorrow, with good grace, because I know Mr. Fix-it Man was up at 1 am to push snow.

I am thankful for my plumber, who is off spending the money he earned off us in November replacing all the pipes in the house, so that I could catch a quick visit with my friend.

I am thankful that it is March and the snow can't last much longer.

I am thankful that the well pump decided to go now rather than in Aug when we'd be at Pennsic.

I am thankful that my kids helped me shovel and melt snow today. We actually have the driveway clear!!

I am thankful for Hubby who stayed with the kids this morning rather than have them catch a ride with my boss to me at work in the snowstorm.

OK it does feel so much better to be thankful than whining. I challenge you to think of 10 things that you are thankful for when the world seems very heavy.

Mr. Bunny

2009-02-24T12:50:00.001-05:00

We are pleased to announce our new family member, Mr. Bunny.

He is 10 weeks old and a very laid back kind of bunny. The kids have been great with him, very gentle and responsible. In fact a new sense of maturity has taken over Boyo. He was up yesterday before I got home from work in the morning (I do an early shift at work that gets me home at 8 am or so.) And not only was he up but he had gotten breakfast and gotten dressed. He had also feed the bunny. I couldn't believe it! Of course it was another 30 minutes before Girlie put in an appearance.

Phenomenon

2009-02-24T12:41:00.000-05:00

I had heard of this phenomenon. This older child helping younger child learn. I knew some families depend on it to get everyone schooled or just to survive, but I knew eventually it would happen in my home but I thought it would be later and in math.

But as I sit here loading pictures of our new (first ever) pet into the computer I realize this phenomenon is happening upstairs on the sofa. Boyo and Girlie have sat down together to practice Girlie's reading. I love hearing Girlie read and Boyo is not pushing or butting in. He is guiding and only giving the word if she doesn't know or mispronounces it. I am amazed and feeling the love as it were.

Little Travelers

2009-02-21T15:14:00.000-05:00

I found this cute movie about 2 girls who visited the British Isles at the library. Girlie watched it and was amazed. The girls in the movie narrate their adventures as they travel though Scotland, England and Ireland. They also visit Aran Island (my favorite segment).

After we had to return this DVD to the library, we requested the other 2 movies that they have made, Bali and Japan.

Right now the kids are upstairs watching Japan. I love how fun these DVDs are. They are just at a kid level and a wonderful introduction to the country. Because the girls in the DVD are the narrators there is a little bit of difficulty understanding their voices some times. But when compared to my kids it isn't too much of an issue. I wish they were captioned though.

I just checked their blog and they are in the process of making one about Iran and probably Germany.

To order these cute movie or check out trailers, go to: Little Travelers

Playdates

2009-02-20T09:49:00.000-05:00

Boyo and Girlie has a playdate with BFF and her brothers the other day. As we were pulling into their lot, Boyo announced that he loved going to BFF's house because it was the "best place ever." When I pressed him on why he likes it so much I discovered a few important things

Boys are different that girls.

Boys, when put in groups of more than 1, will play war. (though they seem to play it with imaginary friends too)

War games are very important to male child pecking order and social structure.

I have stunted Boyo emotionally because even though he has all the swords he could want; he didn't have guns, or bombs, or know how to blow a bugle call to charge.

Easter Eggs that break when you throw them release "sharp-nal."

Boyo looks pretty darn cute in a WWI helmet.

Most homeschooled boys know, in theory, how to make gun powder and they all would like to try.

Most homeschool moms answer the question of "can we make gun powder?" with one of 2 answers. A) Why don't you talk to Dad about that? or B) Well that would be an interesting experiment but Homeland Security might get upset so we better wait until (insert some time far in the future or a location where it might be more acceptable).

I would have loved to get pics of the boys playing but I was enjoying Mommy time with BFF Mom and I forgot my camera.

2009-02-17T12:49:00.000-05:00

I have been working on stream of consciousness writing with the kids. Well I've been working up the nerve to do it since spelling that doesn't include vowels gives me the heebie-jeebies. But I want to try it. I'll start first

Outside My Window... Bushes. I'm in the basement and we never open the windows.

I am thankful for... My kids, my hubby, my job that works around my homeschooling, my friends and family and elves that clean Daycare rooms after 3000 people have tromped through.

We are learning... the black plague, Butterflies, fractions, division, using the abacus, reading and Saladin. Next week we move to Joan of Arc, woodlands animals and the food pyramid. Oh and Continental knitting.

From the upstairs... Listening to the kids play superheros. I love to hear them negotiate which superpowers they have. "You can turn things to glass but I break things with my brain"- Girlie

I am working on... self striped socks from knitty. I have 2" left to go on the cuff and it is taking forever. They are odd construction a la Cat Bordhi.

I am reading... Little Big Mind by Marietta McCarty It is about introducing philosophy to kids.

I am hoping... to trade rooms with Hubby and move his stuff into another room so I can make the basement into a schoolroom/playroom.

Around the house... lots of Girlie art work

One of my favorite things... when the kids empty the dishwasher. I have simple dreams.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... Scooby Doo thing at the library today, work, focusing on phonics and math with Girlie, working on the striped socks and hopefully getting them done so I can start a sweater for hubby next week.

Update on 2009 list

2009-02-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

So here is my list I started in January. The colored parts are the things accomplished. (I still need to figure out how to do a strike though on blogger)

Here is my plan for 2009 (and sub lists for Boyo and Girlie)

Research insurance coverage for private speech therapy
Learn to cook 2 new recipes that picky hubby will eat got 1 so far
Put all recipes that picky hubby will eat in a binder so I will know if it is an actually thing he has tried and liked.
Knit a new sweater for Boyo (the one I made for Xmas was too small, I plan on frogging it and redoing it)
Knit a baby sweater for Jessica's bun in the oven
Repaint the living room or at least touch up the spots that need a second coat
Hang the DVD cabinet
Organize school stuff
Buy bookshelves for living room
Buy baskets for daily school stuff, one basket per kid, so the daily getting started will be easier
Separate the kids into their own bedrooms
Paint the kids' bedrooms
Put curtains in all the windows of the house
Dry clean curtains for living room window
Get the right kind of hardware for living room curtains and hang them
Blog at least 3 times a week In process
Offer the Andrew Lost lapbook templates to the homeschooling community for free
Post knitting pattern for bitty baby socks and bitty baby sweater from sock yarn
Make Girlie a dress to wear to the girl scout Daddy-Daughter Dance
Get Jessica's recipe for Mac and Cheese
Make everyone entire new wardrobes for good linen and wool for Pennsic

Boyo's List

Lapbook the entire Andrew Lost series and get it bound
Finish Singapore Math 2B and 3A Almost done with 2B
Take a reading level placement test
Finish History Curriculum in process
Learn to knit with 2 colors
Learn to play chess (to earn the cub scout belt loop)
Fight at practice every day while at Pennsic
Become a better, more detailed writer In process

Girlie's List

Learn to read at a 1st grade level
Take a reading level placement test
Learn to speak well enough to not need speech therapy In process
Take a tour of the local elementary school in case she does end up there
Learn to count to 100 using English words (thirteen instead of 10-3)

So this is where we are a month in. I figure it isn't too bad. We are working at the list a little at a time, and I try not to add anything too it, though I might make a new an improved list for the spring if I get more knocked off this one.

Daddy Daughter Dance

2009-02-15T20:07:00.000-05:00

Last week was the Daddy Daughter Dance. Hubby took Girlie and they both had a great time. It was fun to hear about the dance from both of their perspectives and then from other dads who were there.

Before Girlie and Hubby left, Girlie was so excited to see her BFF. They had been on a playdate a few days before and had a plan to make sure they found each other and that the Daddies met. According to hubby, Girlie found BFF and they ditched the guy to make crafts.

I made Girlie's dress. It is Ottobre Design spring 2003 item 19 I used size 115. (on page 5) I used flannel backed satin and purple sparkly organza. Girlie called it her fairy elf dress.

I have been on such a knitting kick that I had forgotten how much fun it is to sew clothes. I might need to do some more sewing before too much longer.

Warm Weather

2009-02-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

It is suppose to get up to 50 degrees today. That is practically spring-like. Of course the thought of spring brings on consignment sales which is were I was at 6:30 am this morning, on my off day when I could have slept until noon! But Girlie needed a new coat (found one for $1) and Boyo was in need of pants that didn't have holes in the knees (got 3 pairs)

But my best purchase was this:

Plaid pants made from midweight cotton (think golf pants) Throw a tunic over top and Boyo will be ready to do Bar-Bar in the Bog. And how much did these little darlings cost (besides getting me laughed at as I squealed with glee) only a buck. Can't do better than that!

And in honor of Pennsic (less than 6 months to go) here are some photos. Cue heroic music.

I still can't decide who is a cuter warrior, Boyo or Hubby.

Another tooth

2009-02-06T11:06:00.000-05:00

Boyo lost another tooth.

This makes 6 teeth gone from his darling little head. And Girlie has a loose one too. When did my babies decide to grow up?

Boyo lost his bottom two teeth at 5. It was almost exactly a year (to the week) before his lost the top ones. We are still waiting for one of those to grow all the way in.

By the way, the newest one lost is the hole on the bottom.

Boyo is already talking about how he is saving his $1 that he will get from the Tooth Fairy. (Boyo likes to save money. Girlie likes to spend it. Oh well.)

When we had our first Tooth Fairy visit, Hubby and I talked about what the going rate on teeth was and we each had different stories on what we got. I remember one year I got a new book, and for the teeth I had pulled, I got $5. Hubby was lucky to get quarters.

How much did you get from the tooth fairy?

On my needles

2009-02-02T14:42:00.001-05:00

So last night I finally finished Boyo's Christmas sweater. This sweater has been blessed in all kinds of ways.

I started it last year with a different pattern. The weather got warm so I put it away about 1/3 done.

I started it again in Nov. to make for Christmas. The previous size was too small so I had to frog it all the way back and go up about 3 sizes.
I finished it in plenty of time for Christmas (about a week), but on Christmas day when I had Boyo try it on it was too small!
I frogged it all again and tried a different pattern.
I was able to salvage the sleeves from the other sweater but I used every bit of the green yarn I had.
A year later the yarn was discontinued.
I had just enough Green for the whole sweater and a small ball of black left over.
It fits great!!

The Pattern I started with- The Wallaby. Last winter my mom made my entire family (except me) wallaby's for Christmas. Hubby and Girlie still wear theirs often. http://www.nakedsheep.com/wowaknpa.html

The Pattern I ended up with- I made it myself with the pattern generator. I love this generator as I can use the same principle for sweaters for everyone from Hubby to Max (Girlie's Bitty Baby) http://www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html It is a bit confusing the first time but after you do one, the rest are easy-peasy.

More on Johnny Law- Reprieve

2009-02-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

So all that I have fussed about, written my Washington people about and told everyone who has listened about is now being given a reprieve for a year. Yay, Glory and Hallelujah!
Basically everyone who makes stuff for kids has an additional year to get their ducks in a line. This is also to give the small mom-and-pop shops time for their manufacturers an/or suppliers to get their stuff tested and approved. IE curriculum providers will be able to have the ink and paper manufacturers do the testing on the components instead of the mom-and-pop shops being forced to do the testing which would have killed them.

Ice and Snow

2009-01-28T16:26:00.000-05:00

As I have said before, our driveway is very steep and in general not fun. When we have ice (like today) It quickly becomes impassable. We cope with this by parking at the bottom of the hill and trying not to have to leave the house.

With the kids though, it is easier to load them in a sled or put them in snow pants and have them slide down the hill. Better than risking them slipping and falling and cracking their heads on the ice.

Of course eventually it will all melt, but in the meantime the kids love the chance to slide on the ice.

Sushi

2009-01-27T11:48:00.000-05:00

When hubby and I were dating, many a night would be spent at Sushi Chalet. We loved the all you could eat buffet. It made the drive over there worth it. Now that we live in the hinter-lands sushi is hard to come by and with 3 of us eating it (Girlie won't touch it, Boyo can pack it away) it is nothing to spend $50+ on a meal (not counting the happy meal for Girlie).

Guess how excited I was to see one of my favorite bloggers doing a cooking guide to sushi taught by a real sushi chef!!! After all importing the materials has got to be cheaper than $50 a pop, right?

Ok I teased you enough. Here is the link to Pioneer Woman and her Sushi chef, Cody.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Put 'em to work!!

2009-01-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

It snowed. Well, it was actually on Monday that it snowed, but still. When it snows I have to park at the bottom of our steep driveway. I also usually get stuck doing the shoveling out. Hubby claims it is because I am home more than he is. We won't discuss that bit of logic.

Anyway after walking down the hill in the dark and icky for 3 days, I cancelled school and told the kids to shovel.

They did.

It may not look steep but where the driveway looks like it ends, it actually drops about 6 feet and does a turn.

At last it was warm enough to melt away the last traces of snow. Yay for 50 degree weather!!!

Hopefully it will be that warm tomorrow as we do the Klondike Derby with the cub scouts. I'll try to take pictures.

More on the CSPIA

2009-01-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

Well I bet you are tired of hearing about this. I even had someone me send the the snopes.com report. Well snopes was wrong. They didn't do their homework.

Yes you can resell used clothes, books, toys and what-have-you for kids but, and this is a big but, the seller is liable if any of those things don't meet the new testing requirements.

Also all the little shops that make custom or specialty or not hasbro/mattel type products have to test their stuff and this is financially impossible for many of these businesses.

Here is a great little movie that explains the problem http://ceska.typepad.com/little_ida/2009/01/craftsbury-kids-cpsia-interview.html

Then check out this http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/archive/cpsia-cultural-genocide-another-win-for-congress/ This law will create "cultural genocide" for the Native American culture. If you can't raise your children and dress them in a way that promotes your family's beliefs and culture, then the next generation will not learn the culture and it will die.

For the Native American's (or any group that dresses children in a non-walmart way for certain events or reasons) how are they suppose too allow the kids to participate? Well if they can make their own or if they have heirlooms in which to dress the kids, then they are fine. But for people who don't have means to make their own or hand-me-downs. They are out of luck.

And along those same lines, my family does medieval re-enactment. Luckily I am blessed enough to be able to sew and make our stuff but what about the parents who have more money than time or don't have the skills. What are they to do?

Thanks for the pic Ursus Boyo is in Red

This law has such far reaching consequences that haven't even really been considered. Please write your washington people and ask them to fix the law!

Remembering Big Al

2009-01-18T12:21:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about my grandfather today. He passed away last year.

When my sister and I were born, I guess he didn't want to be called Grandpa, or pop-pop, or any of those sorts of names so we called him Big Al. At over 6" tall in his prime, it sorta fit.

Anyway as I was saying, I was thinking about Big Al today as Boyo was trying to convince me that at 7, he is old enough to make a bow and arrow and all he needed was flint.

Do we have any flint Mama? Oh it's a rock, do you think there is any out in the yard?

I'll put a coat on (cough, cough, wheeze)

I said no. He went off to another project from the Dangerous book for Boys So far in the past 40 minutes, aside from the previous conversation, he has made a paper water balloon and was banging out Morse code on the floor to see if I understood him (nope).

So how did all this make me think of Big Al you might ask? Well, Big Al was an impressive man and while he had his faults (seriously old school thinking, caveman mentality on some topics). He was always up for trying new things.

At 70 years old he went on a canoe trip with my family and instead of coasting along and relaxing (like the rest of us), he paddled the entire time and made it to camp 2 hours earlier. A few years before he died, he bought a new computer. In his effort to learn how to work it (as it was different than the one he had previously) he reformatted the hard drive at least 2 times that I know about. Big Al was all about learning. When he heard that it was important to continue learning and taking classes as one gets older, he took it to heart, by taking celestial navigation at least 3 times before he passed. He never gave up.

Big Al was the product of a mother from Denmark and a father from Sweden. Both fresh off the boat. While he didn't teach us much about Sweden or Scandinavia in general, the genes were there. It wasn't until I met a boy from Sweden in high school that I learned that the "humpf" of Big Al's was a Swedish thing. Then hearing my baby boy do it at a year old, and knowing he hadn't heard it from Big Al, I knew it was carried on the genes.

I know Big Al didn't have much use for us girls, but he was happy to see Boyo. I wish he could have lived long enough to see Boyo now that he is "interesting." (Big Al would have let Boyo outside to try and find flint even though it is snowing and the ground is frozen. That was how he rolled.)

Favorite Things

2009-01-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

I am having one of those days when I feel whiny and cold. I started this post with a poem about how much I hate baseboard heaters but I wanted something more up beat (and less whiny). So I will count my blessings instead. I suggest that everyone take a minute and count their blessings. There doesn't that feel better?

I have 2 wonderful kids.

I have a loving and generous husband.

Girlie is making wonderful improvement in speech.

The insurance will cover 30 visits to a speech person in a calendar year.

I have a sister who sends me yarn.

She sent to good stuff!!

I have a mom who will drive 35 miles each way to see the kiddos play soccer.

I get to keep my kids at home with me.

Cuddles whenever I ask.

Wifi!

A husband who understands that while I will share my cereal with the kids but I don't like to.

Friends who have been homeschooling long enough to be able to answer questions and mentor me.

Games day!! Wonderful social time for the moms and kids.

My father who so kindly provided the wifi for Christmas this year. Thanks!

The people on Noggin who taught my kids so many important things (though they really need a news ticker so the parents can know what goes on in the world)

Pinky Dinky Doo- who taught Girlie what assume meant without using any bad words. (hey you try to think of a meaning without using the word a@@)

My hubby who supports my homeschooling the kids.

I am thankful that even though my boss at work is harping on cutting costs, he hasn't laid anyone off yet and is actively looking for more ways to generate income.

New friends who have kids the same age as Girlie and Boyo.

Hubby's work which has said that there is no worries, no lay-offs and no cut-backs.

Friends that I have known my kids entire lives.

Girlie finally being potty trained.

Big Al for providing the genetics that gave my kids the "humpf" that is so endearing and frustrating at the same time.

My mom who would drive to vist weekly when Girlie was small.

Affordable linen (the fabric store)

Boyo's health

Girlie's personality

Ok that is all I can think of now. Not too bad for an off the top of my head kinda thing. What is on your list?

More on Johnny Law

2009-01-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

More discussion about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008:

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has weighed in - Homeschoolers will not be affected too badly by the new law. http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/20091130.asp Basically, used books, toys and clothes are safe to be resold as long as the person selling has the done their best to make sure they are safe. So no selling recalled things. Isn't that just common sense?

Oh but it gets tricky. What if an item was recalled and unknowingly donated. Is the resale shop suppose to check every item against the recall list? The purchase date isn't included when stuff is donated, how would they know? And if it did manage to slip through and was caught or made a child sick, the resale shop is liable. http://www.narts.org/NARTS_CPSC_PR.pdf

Even the libraries are getting involved. The law is written as to be retroactive so all the kid books on the library shelves would have to be pulled and tested. This would be a great expense not to mention think how long it would take the books from all over the country to filter though the 3 (yest there are only 3) testing sites! It would take years. http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

So the libraries have issues, the resellers don't have issues unless they let something slip through. But for people who make things for kids; new things, not resold or used things, there are still issues. Even though as a producer of kid stuff, you try and make sure the buttons are sewn on really well on toys or clothes, that the fabrics and yarn you choose are the best, there is still the need to get your products certified to be safe. As a new seller this would be horribly expensive.

Moms who make kids products (home based businesses mostly) have banded together to file a lawsuit against the testing requirement. http://reformcpsia.org/2009/01/class-action-lawsuit/ The petitioners want the language of the law changed so that it isn't so vague to cover products (like clothes and books) that are not likely to have any lead content anyways.

With a bit of prayer, luck, positive thinking, and writing your congress people, this law could be fixed. Please do your part.

Mitten tree Mittens

2009-01-11T12:53:00.001-05:00

I have been in a mitten mood. I guess it goes along with girlie's fun-gly socks. Might just be a knitter thing though. Anyway I adapted a pattern (Dullan Mittens). Really, I tried it her way first and while it is very easy, as a sock knitter I disliked her thumb design. Plus, I just had read Favorite Mittens by Robin Hansen and I wanted to try out one of her techniques. So I combined the two and tweaked and here is my pattern. It is named after the tree at the library where one can donate mittens, hats and scarfs for Shepard's staff.

Special Techniques- "Roll the fleece" This pattern requires roving. I bought mine at Knit one for $5. There was enough roving for 2 pairs of mittens.

Tear off a bit of fleece as thick as your knitting needle and about 6-8 inches long.

Wrap fleece around yarn in between stitches, sorta like when carrying a color while doing fair isle.

Gauge- 6 stitches to the inch on size 5 needles

Materials- worsted weight feltable wool, wool roving, set of 4 double pointed needles (DPN)

Directions- Cast on 40 stitches over 2 DPN. Being careful not to twist the stitches, join in a round. Work in K1P1 for 2 inches. Knit the next row increasing 6 stitches evenly around.

Start rolling the fleece around yarn and knit 9 rows. At the beginning of needle 1, start working the thumb.

Thumb- K 12 stitches. Slide remaining stitches onto needle 2. Use the backward loop cast on method to make 12 stitches on needle 3. Thumb will be worked on needles 1 and 3.
Knit 7 rows of stockinette, remembering to roll the fleece around the yarn. Then start decreases.
Row 1: Needle 1- K1, K2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1. Repeat for needle 3

Row 2: knit

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 8 stitches remain total. Graft end or break yarn and thread though loops (2x) and tie off.

Hand of mitten- Pick up 12 made stitches, plus 1 or 2 stitches on either side of thumb (as needed to close gap) Knit 1 row remembering to roll fleece around yarn. Next row K2 tog on either side of thumb (as needed) 39 stitches.

Rearrange stitches to have 13 stitches on each of the 3 needles. Continue to roll fleece and work in stockinette until mitten measures 2 1/2 inches from thumb join. Then start decreases.

Row 1: On every needle- K2 tog, knit until 2 stitches from end, K2 tog
Row 2: knit

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 12 stitches remain total. Break Yarn and thread though stitches (2x). Tie off. Repeat for 2nd mitten

Knit an I-cord if desired to attach mitttens though back of a jacket.

Broken crayons

2009-01-10T16:44:00.000-05:00

A friend gave me a great idea of how to use all the broken crayons that breed in our house. She melted them into little patties and they are great for coloring or making rubbings.

Here is how we did it. First collect all the broken bits and peel off the paper.

Then fill a muffin try about 1/2 full with crayon bits and stick it in a 250 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Take out and cool, preferably outside. Once the patties are totally cool they pop right out and are ready to use.

Johnny Law

2009-01-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

I am not an alarmist. I try to believe that the people in DC have a clue (yes laugh at me). But this new law that will take effect on FEB 10, 2009 is over the top.

There is a law that is meant to reduce lead in children's products. Sounds good so far, right. It defines children's products as anything made for use by a person under 12 years of age. So think about that for a minute. That is pencils, notebooks, desks, stuffed animals, clothes, BOOKS, science kits, the list is endless. The only things given an exemption are electronic devices.

Now I agree there should not need worrisome amounts of lead in things that kids will eat, and I see the reasoning on jewelry or tea sets. We all know that they go in kids' mouths. But what kid over 5 really still eats paper? And who lets their little one ruin books and eat them to the point where the small amount of lead that could be in the pigments in the ink would make them sick. I think the paper would make them sick first.

Anyway here is the law- in pdf http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf Page 7 is where it gets interesting.

Here is a blog that explains this better than I ever could Learning at his feet

And here is one bit of good news. Before today, this law applied to consignment and used clothing and toys. Now re-sell stores are exempt.

This law, as written, will do terrible things to the small business community. Many mom-and-pop shops will be forced to close. I urge you to write to your people in Washington. Tell them that this is a bad idea for the economy.

Irish Cinderlad Lapbook

2009-01-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

We finished the Irish Cinderlad lapbook in plenty of time to show it off at book reports. Yay Us!!

One of the moms had never heard of lapbooking so for any of you know don't know, lapbooking is using a folder to hold a bunch of little "minit" books. Minit books are interestingly folded bits of paper that ask and answer a question or hold information on a topic. Well that is pretty not clear huh?

Maybe a better explanation is made by using a visual-

Here is the lapbook.

Forgive the data stick. It was to cover Boyo's name.

Here is the inside. You can see all the minit books.

The story summery is a matchbook, The amazing speckled bull is done with a fan fold. Vocabulary and where did Becon find? are both shutterfolds.

Boyo liked doing his book report in this format and loved showing it off to everyone who was there.

For more information on lapbooks, to find free ones, and directions on how to make your own, check out http://www.homeschoolshare.com/

Fun-gly Soccer Socks

2009-01-05T21:47:00.000-05:00

The kids are playing soccer. Yep for the next few weeks I get to sit near "those" parents. Actually except for one or two dads, I have found that soccer parents are as supportive as any other kind of parents. Of course it could just be that all the "newer" players are put on the same team so everyone on Boyo's team is as capable and excited as he is. Nice to have an even playing field. Too bad they play teams that have a clue.

Girlie is in a clinic for the 5 year olds. When I went out I bought shin guards but I wasn't thinking about socks. Really couldn't regular socks work? Evidently not. After making her play once in her brother's socks and once in Daddy's, I felt bad for the kid. So I knitted her up some lovely, fun-gly (fun but ugly) socks.

These socks were knitted magic loop style, toe up, two at a time (the only way to get the stripes to match). I used 5 different yarns. The lovely blue and green were left overs from my wonderful sister, the rainbow on the foot and the odd purple at the top were leftovers from my "clean out and get rid of it" mom, and the toe was leftovers from the socks I made for my sister for Christmas.

The socks are a tiny bit big in the toe and length of the foot but Girlie is only 5 so I figure that she will grow and even if she doesn't do soccer after this session, she'll have some interesting socks. 'Course I'll never admit I made them.

BTW I was smarter with Boyo's shin guards. His are built into the socks. How cool it that!!

Learning to Read

2009-01-04T21:00:00.001-05:00

To a homeschooler, or to a parent for that matter, not much is as important to a kid's education as learning to read. After teaching Boyo to read (there were days I thought he'd never get it) I find that he reads pretty comfortably at a 3rd grade level. Not bad considering that he is 7.

With Boyo we did the systematic phonics approach. First the -at words (cat, bat, hat) then the -ag words (bag, tag, lag) and so on. Then we introduced some sight words (and, the, said). Then with the help of MCP phonics and Leapfrog videos, he made it. He is reading. After a while he even found a set of books that he really likes.

With Girlie the challenge has been different. Even though I started them at the same age, Girlie just wasn't getting phonics. So we stopped and I let her grow thinking that it was because she is more immature than her brother. Then this past September I tried again. She memorized the sight words with no problem, but even though she has known all her letters and letter sounds since she was 2, she just couldn't blend them to make words. Plus even when she got the pattern for the words (ie. all the -at words; cat, hat, fat) because of her speech she couldn't say the words differently enough that I wasn't sure that she wasn't just saying the same words over and over.

So we stopped again. We gave up on phonics. I thought since the public school system, in their infinite glory, did away with phonics in the early '80's, and since I was just one of an entire generation who learned to read without phonics, there had to be something out there that teaches whole language and not phonics as the basis of their reading program.

Well there is and there isn't. There is nothing I found for a homeschooler that doesn't use phonics as its basis other than just reading with your kid. Pointing out the words. Letting your kid guess the next word in the story. So that is what we did.

Then once Girlie had about 30 words that she just memorized, I found these wonderful readers.

Progressive Phonics has these readers that you download and print off. The first few of each set are FREE!!! But it gets even better! (sound like an infomercial) These are short rhyming stories that are each about a page long. The kid reads the big RED word and the parent reads all the other words. Well, that is the way they are suppose to be used, we adapted it a bit.

When Girlie reads a page, we highlight all the words on the page that she knows. It doesn't matter if they are red words or not. If she knows the word we highlight it. Then we read the page. It is sometimes surprising to her when she realizes that every word on the page is highlighted. We try to read a new page plus an old page every day. When we finish a book I see if she can read the entire book (the highlighted words) and I pay her $1.

Yes we bribe our kids. I figure their job if to learn and I get paid at my job so they should get bonus if they do really well at their job.

We have only used the Progressive Phonics since November but she is picking up reading so much faster than before. We added in MCP phonics and while it seems too easy (should have gotten B instead of A) I think it is a good review and might even be helping with her speech a bit since it forces her to sound out the words.

2009-01-03T16:12:00.000-05:00

So the first day with my new 2009 to-do list and I already got one thing knocked off the list. (insert happy dance here!)

6. Repaint the living room or at least touch up the spots that need a second coat ( I colored it because I can't figure out the how to make it a strike through)

Yes the room is a mess and yes that is Boyo doing Girlie's makeup. At least they are watching the Discovery Channel. But I digress...

Once the paint is dry I need to get out the trusty stud finder (so many jokes come to mind) and figure out how to hang the DVD cabinet. I am feeling empowered so I won't go wake hubby.

2009 To Do List

2009-01-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it helps to have a plan. I like plans. They make me feel safe , and if my plan is for naught, at least I know I tried.

Here is my plan for 2009 (and sub lists for Boyo and Girlie)

Research insurance coverage for private speech therapy
Learn to cook 2 new recipes that picky hubby will eat
Put all recipes that picky hubby will eat in a binder so I will know if it is an actually thing he has tried and liked.
Knit a new sweater for Boyo (the one I made for Xmas was too small, I plan on frogging it and redoing it)
Knit a baby sweater for Jessica's bun in the oven
Repaint the living room or at least touch up the spots that need a second coat
Hang the DVD cabinet
Organize school stuff
Buy bookshelves for living room
Buy baskets for daily school stuff, one basket per kid, so the daily getting started will be easier
Separate the kids into their own bedrooms
Paint the kids' bedrooms
Put curtains in all the windows of the house
Dry clean curtains for living room window
Get the right kind of hardware for living room curtains and hang them
Blog at least 3 times a week
Offer the Andrew Lost lapbook templates to the homeschooling community for free
Post knitting pattern for bitty baby socks and bitty baby sweater from sock yarn
Make Girlie a dress to wear to the girl scout Daddy-Daughter Dance
Get Jessica's recipe for Mac and Cheese
Make everyone entire new wordrobes for good linen and wool for Pennsic

Boyo's List

Lapbook the entire Andrew Lost series and get it bound
Finish Singapore Math 2B and 3A
Take a reading level placement test
Finish History Curriculum
Learn to knit with 2 colors
Learn to play chess (to earn the cub scout belt loop)
Fight at practice every day while at Pennsic
Become a better, more detailed writer

Girlie's List

Learn to read at a 1st grade level
Take a reading level placement test
Learn to speak well enough to not need speech therapy
Take a tour of the local elementary school in case she does end up there
Learn to count to 100 using English words (thirteen instead of 10-3)

So it isn't as huge a list as it could be, but it still is plenty to work on this year.

Well at least she brushed her hair!

2009-01-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

As a family of long haired people, we have an ongoing battle with the kids to brush their hair. Either I do it and they cry or they do it but it is often still missing the "dreadlocked" areas. Girlie is particularly difficult when it comes to hair. In the past I have resorted to leaving scissors in her reach and saying "go ahead, do something." So don't judge me that she was 3 at the time.

Anyway now she has entered into the make-up and beauty phase. Which I was dead set against until it was pointed out that cosmetology is a good career and starting career training at age 5 isn't bad.

But I digress...

Last minute

2009-01-01T16:57:00.001-05:00

I just realized that the kids have book reports on Monday. Book reports is a class/club put on by a local homeschool mom for the benefit of our homeschool community.

Anyway January's theme is Alternative Fairy Tales. Boyo will be reading The Irish Cinderlad. Girlie was told to "read" Kate and the Beansprout but she wants to do the 3 little pigs. We will see since we don't have a copy of that story.

I am thinking of making a quick lapbook or having the kids do a diorama. Since it is due Monday afternoon and I work all day tomorrow and Monday we will see how much we get done over the weekend.

2009-01-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

Once there was a mom who, while on a search for homeschool resources and knitting patterns, discovered blogs. She tried to set one up, but her children were young and the idiot-proof, point and click technology wasn't quiet there so after 2 posts she gave up.

Then years later a friend set up a blog. A very busy and amazing friend who some how, between raising 3 little ones and running a business managed to find the time. So this mom thought, "If she can do it, so can I."

But then came the problem, what would this mom blog about? And that seemed to be an easier question than the search to find a blogging platform that was idiot-proof and point and click. Why she will blog about the kids, homeschooling and knitting!

So as I climb and clamber (knew the picture would be relevant somehow!) into the blogging world... Welcome to my Mousetower.