Well, to all my homeschooling family and friends...a new year is about to begin. I know a lot of us do a sort of year round schedule, taking breaks throughout as we wish. So there is no official start date or stop date. Luckily I have the BEST homeschool reviewer who is an amazing advocate for homeschooling and acts as our liaison with the schoolboard. She makes our lives SO much easier!
I want to do the SONLIGHT curriculum with JD-6 for first grade. It is incredibly expensive, though. Good news is that they now offer payment plan options which we will probably take them up on.
I will probably stay with Horizons math for now, JD seems to like it and it works well. WE also play a lot of math games which I include as curriculum as well.
For science...what to do? JD loves science and we have been kind of doing a lot of reading about science-whatever interests JD at the time...space, nature, plants, germs, anatomy, dinosaurs, etc. We have lots of science books and experiments books, and have done a few simple experiments. But for my bipolar personality the unschooling method seems to be a huge struggle. I need something routine, planned out. Ready to go. Clear concise goals to work towards and achieve. So for science, I don't really know what to choose.
For history I really want to do Sonlight. I love their literature based theory and approach. It also encompasses reading as a subject and includes readers. But I am confused about which level readers to choose for JD. He is already reading chapter books like Call of the Wild unassisted and has great reading comprehension. I am not sure whether to put him in level 1 advanced or level 2 intermediate...or even level 2 advanced?? I don't want to push him too far ahead though. Even if he is capable of reading at a 3rd or 4th grade level, I want him to build a very strong reading foundation and build on that. I don't want to get readers that are super far ahead of his grade level, and have him miss something from the 1st or 2nd grade learning readers. I am thinking level 2 intermediate. He can always choose to read books at any level on his own time, which I am sure he will since, like his mommy, he loves to read. Which is a wonderful blessing! I think reading is the key to learning and unlocking the mysteries of the world, history, literature, science, etc.
I also want to do a lot of hands on things as well. I find it a little hard to make everything fit into one day since I also have to work at home full time, at least 6 hrs per day to help pay the bills. Thank You Jesus for my parents' offering me a job as a web tech for their online business. It is because of them, and God, that I am able to afford the luxury of staying home with JD and homeschooling!!
For phonics we have been doing Explode the Code which we will probably stick with. I want to get him involved in art and music, but I do not really know where to turn for that. Music lessons would be great but we don't have the money right now :( We have some basic art supplies, but I am not great at artsy stuff. I need help in that area. I don't know where to begin facilitating art for a child.
I may get a spelling/handwriting book with scripture called A Reason for Handwriting. Last year we read and wrote down scripture directly from the Bible, practiced letters, and Explode the Code also has a lot of letter writing practice.
For physical education, we try to go outside for active play (bike riding, running, playing with kids, etc) for at least one hour a day. We usually make it 2-3 hours, but that makes it hard on my work time. We did group soccer last year which he loved, but I think I missed the sign up deadline this year which he is very upset about. I am awaiting an email back to hear if we can do late signup.
What else is there?? Now I see the benefit of doing an all-in-one curriculum like Bob Jones, or Alpha Omega. You can get it all together from one place in one package and know nothing is missing! But I want to make sure I have the best there is out there for every subject!
So...I will make updates on what we decide and purchase. I am looking forward to starting Sonlight asap! Justin in so eager to learn and loves it so I want to foster that love for learning in every way possible!
Love to you all!
JMS
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Great Year for Visiting Family!
Hello All!
This has been a busy and exciting year! We have been blessed that we have been able to visit our family in North Carolina a record number of times this year, compared to past years. We have had many wonderful family events to attend and have enjoyed every minute of our time together.
Our first visit was in March when we went down to celebrate my husband's 30th birthday! That Saturday Neville ran his first 5K race (since high school). My family is really big into running. My brother JM and his amazing wife, RM, have been running for years, since high school as well. My stepmom-CM, brother-DM (aka Bear), sister-WM, stepsister-RS, and her fiance' J (who has been a family member for 12 years :) have all taken up a love for running as well andB all competed in the race also. My son JD, Little D, and I all jog/walked the 1 mile fun run afterwards. The super cool thing was that almost everyone in our family who ran the 5k won the race in their age class!! Isn't that amazing? It was a lot of fun and a big opportunity for Nev to rediscover his passion for running. Thank You to CM and RS for encouraging him to return to the sport he so loves:)
So our first visit included a wonderful birthday party for Nev. And I have to say how very much I appreciate my parents and family for truly loving my husband just as one of their own children from day ONE. They warmly accepted him into our family and lavished their love on him without hesitation, and it has made me feel so loved by them. It has really brought us closer. My parents are the greatest in-laws and grandparents ever.
Our second visit was for CM's 50th birthday party which was the first week in June. That was a love-filled visit as well. We also did a 5k race that Saturday before the party, and attended the Quay festival downtown. We had a lot of fun. On Sunday we got to go and visit my brother JM and RM's new house. They are officially first time home owners!! It is so exciting:) The house was gorgeous and incredible. So cozy and homey, so full of color and personality. So perfect for them. The backyard was large and had a myriad of wonderful organic fruit and vegetables in the garden, as well as flowers and huge trees! It was like a dream! We got to stay all day and really talk, which was a perfect day for me. I LOVE my brother. He is probably my favorite person in this world. (In addition to my husband and son) And he could not have married a more delightful, beautiful, intelligent, passionate, brilliant, focused, loving, amazing young woman. RM is also one of my favorite people, and a woman whom I aspire to be like in my life. They also took us out to lunch at this delicious restaurant called The Flying Biscuit. If you have a chance to go there, DO!! It was incredible! Thanks R&J!
My son JD was so overjoyed to get to spend time with his uncle DM that he was torn up when they had to leave. It broke my heart to see his face with streaming tears and quivering lip. It was so sad, and also a testament to how much he loves DM.
By the way, my son's name is JDS. He carries the namesake of three of my family members. He is named after my brother, who is also JD, and named after my father, D, and also after my brother, D (aka Bear). I know it is confusing, but bear with us. That is why I always have to post the relationship before the name ie: brother JM or son JD so people know who I am referring to, LOL!
Trip number 3 was the weekend of July 4th. My stepsister RS married her soul mate and my decade long brother-in-law in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. I WILL someday own property there!! It is like no other place I have ever been. They got married in this tiny little church in Valle Crucis, NC. A town so small there are no hotels. CM and Dad treated us to a room in a Bed and Breakfast which was the nicest and most perfect little place I have ever stayed. I don't know if I can ever be happy at a hotel again, the B&B was so quaint and lovely, the surroundings were so gorgeous and green. Nature all around us, we fell asleep at night with the windows open, listening to the babbling brook nearby. Windows open in July you ask? Yes!! It was 20 degrees cooler up there, it was a slice of heaven! Imagine laying in bed listening to the babbling brook, and chirping crickets, watching fireflies outside the window, and the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees. The window sheers billowing in the breeze. Waking up refreshed after a good nights sleep and heading downstairs for a 5 star gourmet breakfast of the most delicious food you have ever tasted! Wow. The owners were some of the nicest people I have ever met. JD had been carsick on the drive up the mountain, and we had quite a mess to clean up when we got there. I was afraid it would be a big problem, but Tessa jumped right in to help, whipped him up some Sprite to settle his stomach, let us use her hose and laundry...she was amazing. The day we left Bernard took out his firefighters uniform and let JD try on the hat and coat. He was thrilled, to say the least! I can't wait to see them again, and hope we can go back and visit once a year!! I don't even have words to describe the experience. One of the MOST fun family times we have had.
The wedding was incredible. It was the epitome of JB and RS. It was so unique and had so many details that I had never seen before. Everything from the custom yet simple dress RS had custom made (with pockets, smile) to JB's seersucker suit, to the way RS had her hair braided in a circle around her head. They had the reception in this amazing little Apple Barn with wooden cathedral ceilings, and ribbon strung around the edges of the room, where people brought their favorite pictures of R&J throughout their lives and hung them up around the room. They were both so full of love and emotion, I have never seen a young man so in touch with his feelings, and so willing to weep freely. It was beautiful. My dad played a song on guitar for their first dance (at their request, which was SO nice) and also sang for them (which no one in our family has EVER heard him sing before, no not even along with the radio). My dad was incredible which was no surprise because he is a phenomenal blues guitarist and composer. As we all watched the newly married couple dance together, gazing into each other's eyes, hands wrapped around locks of hair, whispering affirmations into ears, tears streaming, one could just FEEL the electric emotion radiating throughout the room. My dad even got choked up and emotional seeing them mouth along the words of the song they asked him to play and being so wrapped up in each other at that moment. It was stunning, awe inspiring. I was so sad that no one had been videotaping. That would have been the greatest wedding gift we could have given them. It was so simply perfect, I wished that I had chosen to have a wedding ceremony, the outpouring of love from everyone, and seeing the memory these 2 created...I can't imagine anything more perfect for 2 becoming 1 flesh.
My brother, father, JB, and several others made toasts and we were all overcome with uproarious laughter (is that even a word?). It was too much fun. They had the most incredible photographer and I cannot wait to see pics. They even went over the the river and waterfall to take pictures. Remember that babbling brook we could hear from our B&B...yep, that's the one!
So we had overwhelming emotions all the way from one spectrum to the very polar opposite, it was exhausting. Thank God for my brother J&R for being there to lend me a shoulder and a loving smile. They were my saving grace.
So after all the wedding fun, we headed of to Morganton to visit my best best bestest friend SR, and her beautiful daughter VR with whom we celebrated her 4th birthday!! We spent 2 whole days laughing and playing, splashing in the water, jumping on the trampoline, watching tom and jerry...and after kid bedtime, having long girl talks and staying up all night. Pondering our long term health, and watching Crazy Sexy Cancer (GO watch it!) and discussing the benefits of a raw food diet. I love my girl! We also watched Taken with Nev and loved it as well. We cooked vegetarian food together, prayed together, just shared time loving one another:) SR always insists that we take her bed, and goes out of her way to take great care of us!
After our visit ended we took VR with us to see her grandma near our destination a few hours away. We spent the night with my parents in their uber comfortable "lovers suite" in the basement. They have THE most comfortable king size bed in there. I have never had such a hard time waking up, and that says a lot considering I have a hard time getting up every single day, lol!
We talked some more, and CM loved on me and encouraged me, which was so comforting and appreciated. I will never refuse a positive affirmation or loving gesture! The boys (Bear and my JD) slept in Bear's room in a tent! They had a ton of fun; Bear is such a great uncle. He and WM both do a wonderful job taking care of, spending time with, and entertaining my sweet JD. He told me before we left, this house is my favorite place! Awww I so wish we lived closer.
Though I am torn, because I so want to live on the same street at my best friend CL and her sweet homeschooled boys, EL and RL. CL, ML, & their boys are some of the yummiest and most extraordinary people I know, and some of my favorite people! I need to see their faces and hug them in my arms very soon. I mean, not a want, this a NEED people!! 8 years apart is TOO long! These people are like my family!
The next morning we packed up the car and brought my sister WM with us to visit our Papa at his beach house in OBX, Nags Head, Outer Banks. It is so fantastic there. Sand, surf, family, what more could you ask for? My aunt J, uncle M, cousin K, and nephew K were all there as well. We had a blast. My Papa really went above and beyond, out of his way to show us a great time. He cooked his world famous meatballs and Italian sausage for us, his incredible oriental chicken, yummo!! We even had a crab pickin! He took us out to eat at this great little place called Blue Moon! I didn't get quite as much one on one sister time with WM as I had hoped for, but it was a great trip. We LOVE the beach and went everyday! The water was really rough though, so we had to be super careful. But it was a lot of fun. Nev and M, JaM and the girls went jet skiing, and loved it. And JaM (who is a swim instructor and teacher) taught JD to be comfortable with water in his face and actually put his face in the water and blow bubbles!! I have been trying to do that for 6 years! She was incredible, and it was so unbelievable to see JD feel so comfortable doing it. She has some fantastic skills!
On Sunday we said our goodbyes, and made the 6 and a half hour trek home.
I was getting increasingly sick and found out Tuesday I had pneumonia, which was a drag. But after some antibiotics and breathing treatments, now the fluid is mostly gone and I am feeling much better.
It has been an exciting and fun filled month of July, and year of 2009 to be honest. We will be seeing the family again for my cousin MM and her fiance Jer's wedding in October. We will be staying at a house rented by my parents near the beach, since her wedding is in VA. But it'll be too cold to go in the water :) I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. We have a lot of fun together. I am so happy my family has come kinda full circle and found a place where we can all relate to one another, love each other, and get along so well. It is a HUGE blessing from God. If I had just one wish, I would wish my mother, Stephanie, could be here to enjoy it with us. I love you mom. We miss you, and carry you with us everywhere we go in spirit.
I hope you all are having a great fun filled summer as well!
MUCH LOVE and MANY BLESSINGS to you ALL!!
Jen
This has been a busy and exciting year! We have been blessed that we have been able to visit our family in North Carolina a record number of times this year, compared to past years. We have had many wonderful family events to attend and have enjoyed every minute of our time together.
Our first visit was in March when we went down to celebrate my husband's 30th birthday! That Saturday Neville ran his first 5K race (since high school). My family is really big into running. My brother JM and his amazing wife, RM, have been running for years, since high school as well. My stepmom-CM, brother-DM (aka Bear), sister-WM, stepsister-RS, and her fiance' J (who has been a family member for 12 years :) have all taken up a love for running as well andB all competed in the race also. My son JD, Little D, and I all jog/walked the 1 mile fun run afterwards. The super cool thing was that almost everyone in our family who ran the 5k won the race in their age class!! Isn't that amazing? It was a lot of fun and a big opportunity for Nev to rediscover his passion for running. Thank You to CM and RS for encouraging him to return to the sport he so loves:)
So our first visit included a wonderful birthday party for Nev. And I have to say how very much I appreciate my parents and family for truly loving my husband just as one of their own children from day ONE. They warmly accepted him into our family and lavished their love on him without hesitation, and it has made me feel so loved by them. It has really brought us closer. My parents are the greatest in-laws and grandparents ever.
Our second visit was for CM's 50th birthday party which was the first week in June. That was a love-filled visit as well. We also did a 5k race that Saturday before the party, and attended the Quay festival downtown. We had a lot of fun. On Sunday we got to go and visit my brother JM and RM's new house. They are officially first time home owners!! It is so exciting:) The house was gorgeous and incredible. So cozy and homey, so full of color and personality. So perfect for them. The backyard was large and had a myriad of wonderful organic fruit and vegetables in the garden, as well as flowers and huge trees! It was like a dream! We got to stay all day and really talk, which was a perfect day for me. I LOVE my brother. He is probably my favorite person in this world. (In addition to my husband and son) And he could not have married a more delightful, beautiful, intelligent, passionate, brilliant, focused, loving, amazing young woman. RM is also one of my favorite people, and a woman whom I aspire to be like in my life. They also took us out to lunch at this delicious restaurant called The Flying Biscuit. If you have a chance to go there, DO!! It was incredible! Thanks R&J!
My son JD was so overjoyed to get to spend time with his uncle DM that he was torn up when they had to leave. It broke my heart to see his face with streaming tears and quivering lip. It was so sad, and also a testament to how much he loves DM.
By the way, my son's name is JDS. He carries the namesake of three of my family members. He is named after my brother, who is also JD, and named after my father, D, and also after my brother, D (aka Bear). I know it is confusing, but bear with us. That is why I always have to post the relationship before the name ie: brother JM or son JD so people know who I am referring to, LOL!
Trip number 3 was the weekend of July 4th. My stepsister RS married her soul mate and my decade long brother-in-law in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. I WILL someday own property there!! It is like no other place I have ever been. They got married in this tiny little church in Valle Crucis, NC. A town so small there are no hotels. CM and Dad treated us to a room in a Bed and Breakfast which was the nicest and most perfect little place I have ever stayed. I don't know if I can ever be happy at a hotel again, the B&B was so quaint and lovely, the surroundings were so gorgeous and green. Nature all around us, we fell asleep at night with the windows open, listening to the babbling brook nearby. Windows open in July you ask? Yes!! It was 20 degrees cooler up there, it was a slice of heaven! Imagine laying in bed listening to the babbling brook, and chirping crickets, watching fireflies outside the window, and the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees. The window sheers billowing in the breeze. Waking up refreshed after a good nights sleep and heading downstairs for a 5 star gourmet breakfast of the most delicious food you have ever tasted! Wow. The owners were some of the nicest people I have ever met. JD had been carsick on the drive up the mountain, and we had quite a mess to clean up when we got there. I was afraid it would be a big problem, but Tessa jumped right in to help, whipped him up some Sprite to settle his stomach, let us use her hose and laundry...she was amazing. The day we left Bernard took out his firefighters uniform and let JD try on the hat and coat. He was thrilled, to say the least! I can't wait to see them again, and hope we can go back and visit once a year!! I don't even have words to describe the experience. One of the MOST fun family times we have had.
The wedding was incredible. It was the epitome of JB and RS. It was so unique and had so many details that I had never seen before. Everything from the custom yet simple dress RS had custom made (with pockets, smile) to JB's seersucker suit, to the way RS had her hair braided in a circle around her head. They had the reception in this amazing little Apple Barn with wooden cathedral ceilings, and ribbon strung around the edges of the room, where people brought their favorite pictures of R&J throughout their lives and hung them up around the room. They were both so full of love and emotion, I have never seen a young man so in touch with his feelings, and so willing to weep freely. It was beautiful. My dad played a song on guitar for their first dance (at their request, which was SO nice) and also sang for them (which no one in our family has EVER heard him sing before, no not even along with the radio). My dad was incredible which was no surprise because he is a phenomenal blues guitarist and composer. As we all watched the newly married couple dance together, gazing into each other's eyes, hands wrapped around locks of hair, whispering affirmations into ears, tears streaming, one could just FEEL the electric emotion radiating throughout the room. My dad even got choked up and emotional seeing them mouth along the words of the song they asked him to play and being so wrapped up in each other at that moment. It was stunning, awe inspiring. I was so sad that no one had been videotaping. That would have been the greatest wedding gift we could have given them. It was so simply perfect, I wished that I had chosen to have a wedding ceremony, the outpouring of love from everyone, and seeing the memory these 2 created...I can't imagine anything more perfect for 2 becoming 1 flesh.
My brother, father, JB, and several others made toasts and we were all overcome with uproarious laughter (is that even a word?). It was too much fun. They had the most incredible photographer and I cannot wait to see pics. They even went over the the river and waterfall to take pictures. Remember that babbling brook we could hear from our B&B...yep, that's the one!
So we had overwhelming emotions all the way from one spectrum to the very polar opposite, it was exhausting. Thank God for my brother J&R for being there to lend me a shoulder and a loving smile. They were my saving grace.
So after all the wedding fun, we headed of to Morganton to visit my best best bestest friend SR, and her beautiful daughter VR with whom we celebrated her 4th birthday!! We spent 2 whole days laughing and playing, splashing in the water, jumping on the trampoline, watching tom and jerry...and after kid bedtime, having long girl talks and staying up all night. Pondering our long term health, and watching Crazy Sexy Cancer (GO watch it!) and discussing the benefits of a raw food diet. I love my girl! We also watched Taken with Nev and loved it as well. We cooked vegetarian food together, prayed together, just shared time loving one another:) SR always insists that we take her bed, and goes out of her way to take great care of us!
After our visit ended we took VR with us to see her grandma near our destination a few hours away. We spent the night with my parents in their uber comfortable "lovers suite" in the basement. They have THE most comfortable king size bed in there. I have never had such a hard time waking up, and that says a lot considering I have a hard time getting up every single day, lol!
We talked some more, and CM loved on me and encouraged me, which was so comforting and appreciated. I will never refuse a positive affirmation or loving gesture! The boys (Bear and my JD) slept in Bear's room in a tent! They had a ton of fun; Bear is such a great uncle. He and WM both do a wonderful job taking care of, spending time with, and entertaining my sweet JD. He told me before we left, this house is my favorite place! Awww I so wish we lived closer.
Though I am torn, because I so want to live on the same street at my best friend CL and her sweet homeschooled boys, EL and RL. CL, ML, & their boys are some of the yummiest and most extraordinary people I know, and some of my favorite people! I need to see their faces and hug them in my arms very soon. I mean, not a want, this a NEED people!! 8 years apart is TOO long! These people are like my family!
The next morning we packed up the car and brought my sister WM with us to visit our Papa at his beach house in OBX, Nags Head, Outer Banks. It is so fantastic there. Sand, surf, family, what more could you ask for? My aunt J, uncle M, cousin K, and nephew K were all there as well. We had a blast. My Papa really went above and beyond, out of his way to show us a great time. He cooked his world famous meatballs and Italian sausage for us, his incredible oriental chicken, yummo!! We even had a crab pickin! He took us out to eat at this great little place called Blue Moon! I didn't get quite as much one on one sister time with WM as I had hoped for, but it was a great trip. We LOVE the beach and went everyday! The water was really rough though, so we had to be super careful. But it was a lot of fun. Nev and M, JaM and the girls went jet skiing, and loved it. And JaM (who is a swim instructor and teacher) taught JD to be comfortable with water in his face and actually put his face in the water and blow bubbles!! I have been trying to do that for 6 years! She was incredible, and it was so unbelievable to see JD feel so comfortable doing it. She has some fantastic skills!
On Sunday we said our goodbyes, and made the 6 and a half hour trek home.
I was getting increasingly sick and found out Tuesday I had pneumonia, which was a drag. But after some antibiotics and breathing treatments, now the fluid is mostly gone and I am feeling much better.
It has been an exciting and fun filled month of July, and year of 2009 to be honest. We will be seeing the family again for my cousin MM and her fiance Jer's wedding in October. We will be staying at a house rented by my parents near the beach, since her wedding is in VA. But it'll be too cold to go in the water :) I am looking forward to seeing everyone again. We have a lot of fun together. I am so happy my family has come kinda full circle and found a place where we can all relate to one another, love each other, and get along so well. It is a HUGE blessing from God. If I had just one wish, I would wish my mother, Stephanie, could be here to enjoy it with us. I love you mom. We miss you, and carry you with us everywhere we go in spirit.
I hope you all are having a great fun filled summer as well!
MUCH LOVE and MANY BLESSINGS to you ALL!!
Jen
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Royal Rangers Dad and Son Fishing Extravaganza!
This Saturday morning JD and Dad got up early to meet the Royal Rangers at our church to go on a fishing trip. Royal Rangers is like Christian Boy Scouts. We were all excited that daddy was able to be off work today so that he could accompany JD on this fun dad and son trip.
When everyone arrived at church, they got on the church bus and took their lunches that loving moms had packed, ready for an adventure! The RR leader, brought the fishing poles and bait. The guys agreed to catch and release instead of keeping the fish, since the neighbor was so nice to let them use his pond for this excursion!
This was JD and Daddy's first fishing trip! Mr. T had spent some time in RR class showing th boys how to hold the pole, and how to cast the line. We didn't have a pole, and luckily the church provided a few extras for the boys and dads to use if they didn't own one.
Allergies were a factor and dad was a trooper even though they were attacking him hard! Thanks Babe for hanging in there and making the day so speical for JD!
My men caught one fish! It was so cool! JD tried several times to cast the line out, and had a hard time, so daddy cast the line. JD helped with the worms, asking who needed one and held them squirming in his hands! I love it:) When the fish took the bait, Dad felt the line pull and JD helped him reel it in. JD and Dad both held the fish and looked at it carefully looked at it. They kept it out of water for only about a minute since the fish needs water to breathe.
They had to hold the fish carefully and keep the sharp fin spikes laid down, so they wouldn't stick you. JD says they were like the tips of knives, ouch!! The fish was flapping around in their hands! Silly fish:) The fish looked similar the the picture below. It was a sunfish with a little yellow on it. It was about the size of two hands and weighed about 8oz.
Then Mr. J came over and helped my men remove the hook from the fishes mouth and JD threw the fish back into the water and watched it swim away.
It was a wonderful first fishing trip, and a very fun day!
Our Day at Grandma MJ's Farm!
Last Wednesday, we had an eye appt for mommy (annual diabetic retinopathy check-up), so afterward we stopped at grandma's house since it was closer. Mommy's eyes were fully dilated and it was a very sunny day, so she was having a really hard time keeping her eyes open with all the painful sunlight. It was just barely bearable with both pairs of sunglasses on. The great news was that doctors said my eyes looked great, and there was no sign of damage! They went as far as to say that I had the healthiest eyes they had seen all day! Thank You Jesus!!
When we got to grandma's, she was still at work. We took some carrots out to the horses. They love some yummy carrots! First we fed the treats to the full size horses, Maverick, Mable, and Amber. Then we fed the ponies, Jake and Savannah. And then we fed the minis (miniature horses), Valentine, Honey, and her baby Rocketman. He is getting so big now, he is a year old, no longer a foal.
Later after grandma got home, we were sitting out on the deck looking at the horses, and we noticed that was some kind of animal on the far side of the fence. We kept looking and watching, and we noticed the white, brown and black colors just like Rocket. So we all went out to see if it was him. And it was! He had squeezed through the fence and gotten outside the fence! Oh no! So grandma went around one side and we went around the other to try and coax him out and catch him before he got away. He and his mother, Honey were whinnying and upset at being apart.
That was the one thing that kept Rocket from running away...he wanted to stop and munch the green grass, and most of all, he is desperate to be with his mother...he gets really upset about being separated from her. He wouldn't let us catch him! He is kind of like a teenager now, he was acting out and throwing a little man fit! He wouldn't let grandma put his halter on. All of the sudden he bolted off, and grandma yelled for us to open the gate so he would run in to get close to his mama again. And he did! So JD helped mommy open the gate and let Rocket in, and then close the gate again to close him in. He was so proud to help save the day! He was our hero!
Then Rocket still wouldn't let grandma halter him or catch him. It took a long time, but she finally got him after 30 -45 minutes or so. Then grandma walked him around the corral on the lead. JD asked if he could walk him on the lead too. So grandma taught him the right way to do it, and let him try. And JD did a great job! It was a lot of fun :) Mommy was sad she didn't have her camera.
After all the horsie drama, JD HAD to go over and run around in the arena. He trots and gallops around and makes horse sounds and pretends to be a horse himself! It is super cute. While we were in the arena we looked at the tiny pieces of gravel in the arena, and all the little weeds and plants around the edges, and the coolest thing was these teeny tiny helicopters we found!! We recently found helicopter seed pods in the church parking lot, and they were cool to watch spinning around and around! And these tiny ones in the arena were less than half the size! But they still spun around just as well! So we kept some in JD's Ranger Rick bug container. We are gonna look online to see exactly what type of local tree these two types of helicopters came from.
JD was eager to continue our nature walk, and bug hunt. So we took the dogs out into the back yard and searched for bugs to catch in the bug container so we could look at it with the magnifier on the top. We stayed away from the bees and wasps, and talked about how for the most part those bugs will leave us alone if we leave them alone. They will only bother us or attack us if they feel threatened. We didn't get any ants, and we soon began to realize how difficult bug catching really was. We had a hard time getting the bugs into this little cylinder container. It was cool, thanks to Chick-fil-a! Had little breathing holes in it and a magnifying glass top to look at the bugs close up. JD says it is a "bugs eye view." Haha! Thats my yummy boy for you :)
Finally we did catch a bug and close the container without smashing any of its body parts (this worried me) and we had no idea what kind of bug it was. We didn't know the name of it, and we looked it up online and saw a picture of the same bug. It looked like a daddy long legs, with those long delicate spindly legs, and had wings. It is called a Mosquito Hawk. It was flying around, landing on the grass and when we placed the bug container on top of it the bug climber up the side allowing us to close the lid safely.
This was an adventure for us! It was so refreshing and fun to spend the day outside and enjoy the nature that God created, and just enjoy the fresh air! We love going to grandma's house! She loves us and cooks for us, and we like to help her with the animals. They are a lot of fun to play with. Thanks Grandma MJ!! We love you <3
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Just getting started
Today Mommy found Booksavers. Which needless to say was not a great thing, because mommy loves books, and there were so many great books for 50 cents, $1...Mommy got a little out of control. But we are very excited about all the learning which will take place! JD loves to read, just like his mommy and is so happy about al these cool new colorful adventures to explore! We bought our first homeschooling material the other day at the Home and the local homeschool store (which I adore). We bought a science experiment kit with 50 experiments! And also a hands on science book about Coming to know your Creator through the majesty of the nature He created, that looks like too much fun. We bought horizons Kindergarten math book 1, and a math centers activity packet--I think it is a little to school-ey though. I see why it was on clearance. JD enjoyed the first activity, but it will not be a lasting project that we come back to I don't think.
We borrowed a bunch of books from the library (as usual) and we found some really cool science books like Vicki Cobb's Science Experiments You Can Eat! And The Moon Seems to Change. Mommy was super excited about some knew teaching philosophy books she found. The freshness of the perspective and ideas were life altering! Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore have amazing books, especially The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook, and Better Late than Early. They have 60+ years of experience as homeschoolers and have continued their research and advocacy in the field. They break it down in simple terms and tell you how to teach your children the low-stress, low-cost way with great effectiveness. They help you know what your child needs and does not need in order to enjoy their education, and to be successful in life academically, emotionally, spiritually, socially...this is by far the best resource I have come across so far. After biting my nails over which curriculum to choose, I have decided to use The Moore Formula because it has been proven time and time again for over half a century.
I recommend anything by Bev Bos! I was fortunate enough to learn about Bev during my 90 hr course at MCCA when I was studying for my preschool teaching certification. Her ideas and philosophies about teaching children through art inspired child-led learning just blew me away! I have been in awe of her work ever since.
Also In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong--really insightful info about how to find your child's primary learning style, and how to teach to multiple intelligences. Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto really opened my eyes about the underlying dangers that come with conventional schooling--things above and beyond my fears. Ruth Beechick's The Three R's is a classic as well as her Language and Thinking for Young Children. Homeschool Your Child For Free by LauraMaery Gold is an awesome collection of resources including internet, and others. It is jam packed with great ideas for every kind of learning style, every possible subject of study!
These books just further opened my eyes and breathed into me a new outlook about the untold possibilities that lay before us in our endeavor to spend our lives learning together, and loving one another in the way that I know God has intended it for our family.
That's not to say that I didn't have my doubts. I felt like a pendant hanging from your rear view mirror as much swinging back and forth I did on such a continual basis. I really just wanted what was best for JD. And I had a very hard time figuring out what that was. After 3 years of trying to find the answer, I just fell down at the feet of the Savior and cried out for His will to prevail. I was exhausted from searching and researching for opinions on what was best, information, expert advice, etc. And I finally realized that only HE had the answer. Only HE knew what my son needed most. As I knelt there at His feet, He softly reassured me that I already knew the answer. He told me that I doubted myself, but if I just trust in Him, and have faith to follow through with what he had placed on my heart so many years ago...even when I couldn't see the end result...if I put it in His hands that He would give me the tools, and the skills that I needed to be a great teacher for JD. And suddenly all my fears about JD being very social, and needing other kids, all my worries about not being able to meet his needs--they were all gone. Because after such a long time trying to find the right answer, I knew that God had spoken it to me directly in the very beginning. Every time I swung in the other direction, He always sent something along to realign myself with His will. I kept coming back, and everytime I looked into homeschooling, it just felt right. Everytime I spent time with other homeschool families, I just knew that this is what I wanted, and more importantly what God wanted for the health and happiness of my family.
Well I better get to bed as we have a field trip tomorrow with our homeschooling friends: Set, Ch, JD, and us moms and dads! We are going to Washington DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival, and the weather is warm and perfect!!!
A very special thank you to Chelita and Matt Lundell, and their beautiful homeschool boys, Elijah and Remy Gauge. Chelita-you were the first person I ever met that spoke to me about homeschooling. You planted the seed, girl! And seeing how passionate you are about teaching your boys, and how loving and precious your family is...I always had you all in the back of my head, and in my heart reminding me that Homeschool was God's plan for harmonious families who love to learn together! MWAH!! I LOVE YOU!!!
Lovieees!!
Jen
We borrowed a bunch of books from the library (as usual) and we found some really cool science books like Vicki Cobb's Science Experiments You Can Eat! And The Moon Seems to Change. Mommy was super excited about some knew teaching philosophy books she found. The freshness of the perspective and ideas were life altering! Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore have amazing books, especially The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook, and Better Late than Early. They have 60+ years of experience as homeschoolers and have continued their research and advocacy in the field. They break it down in simple terms and tell you how to teach your children the low-stress, low-cost way with great effectiveness. They help you know what your child needs and does not need in order to enjoy their education, and to be successful in life academically, emotionally, spiritually, socially...this is by far the best resource I have come across so far. After biting my nails over which curriculum to choose, I have decided to use The Moore Formula because it has been proven time and time again for over half a century.
I recommend anything by Bev Bos! I was fortunate enough to learn about Bev during my 90 hr course at MCCA when I was studying for my preschool teaching certification. Her ideas and philosophies about teaching children through art inspired child-led learning just blew me away! I have been in awe of her work ever since.
Also In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong--really insightful info about how to find your child's primary learning style, and how to teach to multiple intelligences. Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto really opened my eyes about the underlying dangers that come with conventional schooling--things above and beyond my fears. Ruth Beechick's The Three R's is a classic as well as her Language and Thinking for Young Children. Homeschool Your Child For Free by LauraMaery Gold is an awesome collection of resources including internet, and others. It is jam packed with great ideas for every kind of learning style, every possible subject of study!
These books just further opened my eyes and breathed into me a new outlook about the untold possibilities that lay before us in our endeavor to spend our lives learning together, and loving one another in the way that I know God has intended it for our family.
That's not to say that I didn't have my doubts. I felt like a pendant hanging from your rear view mirror as much swinging back and forth I did on such a continual basis. I really just wanted what was best for JD. And I had a very hard time figuring out what that was. After 3 years of trying to find the answer, I just fell down at the feet of the Savior and cried out for His will to prevail. I was exhausted from searching and researching for opinions on what was best, information, expert advice, etc. And I finally realized that only HE had the answer. Only HE knew what my son needed most. As I knelt there at His feet, He softly reassured me that I already knew the answer. He told me that I doubted myself, but if I just trust in Him, and have faith to follow through with what he had placed on my heart so many years ago...even when I couldn't see the end result...if I put it in His hands that He would give me the tools, and the skills that I needed to be a great teacher for JD. And suddenly all my fears about JD being very social, and needing other kids, all my worries about not being able to meet his needs--they were all gone. Because after such a long time trying to find the right answer, I knew that God had spoken it to me directly in the very beginning. Every time I swung in the other direction, He always sent something along to realign myself with His will. I kept coming back, and everytime I looked into homeschooling, it just felt right. Everytime I spent time with other homeschool families, I just knew that this is what I wanted, and more importantly what God wanted for the health and happiness of my family.
Well I better get to bed as we have a field trip tomorrow with our homeschooling friends: Set, Ch, JD, and us moms and dads! We are going to Washington DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival, and the weather is warm and perfect!!!
A very special thank you to Chelita and Matt Lundell, and their beautiful homeschool boys, Elijah and Remy Gauge. Chelita-you were the first person I ever met that spoke to me about homeschooling. You planted the seed, girl! And seeing how passionate you are about teaching your boys, and how loving and precious your family is...I always had you all in the back of my head, and in my heart reminding me that Homeschool was God's plan for harmonious families who love to learn together! MWAH!! I LOVE YOU!!!
Lovieees!!
Jen
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