A Bit of Friday Fun!

The kids and I had a great day on Friday.  It was busy but lots of fun! 

We started our day with a trip to the dentist.  The Lil' Chef and Little Bits had dental check ups and cleanings.  Computer Girl and Alpha Boy had their appointments last week.  I am happy to report we had NO CAVITIES!  Yippee!

First time to the dentist.  He didn't like it but he didn't scream.  That's a plus, right?!

All clean!

Checking out the chompers.

After the dentist I was going to take the kids to one of our favorite local parks, but I stumbled on a new park while I was in route.  Well, it isn't a new park, but new to us.  I really loved this park.  It has all my favorite park elements - not crowded, shade and cool slides, swings and climbing equipment.  The kids really liked it too, BTW. 

This was the merry go round.  Pretty cool except for the kids kept falling off.  Of course they were having too much fun to care about that. : )

Alpha Boy had just finished using the mega phone.

The Lil' Chef just climbed up to the top and was pretending to claim the land.

Once we got home from the park, we had lunch and then went to the pool for a few hours.  I really enjoy hanging at the pool with the kids.  They are finally at the age where we can all go into the big pool together as long as I hold Little Bits.

Relaxing during rest period.

We got a silly picture in before I took the "nice" picture.



I took this picture in front of a really old tree that had very cool roots.

  

The boys were kind enough to water my legs for me.

The girls.

Playing in the pool.  Our pool has an awesome little persons pool.

Being at the pool and park wore everyone out so we came home and watched a movie until The Hubs got home.  

It was a great way to end our first week back to school.  We all had a chance to relax and recharge.

I Will Glory in My Redeemer

by Steve and Vicki Cook

I will glory in my Redeemer
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails
And hung Him on that judgment tree

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who crushed the power of sin and death
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb Who is my righteousness
The Lamb Who is my righteousness

I will glory in my Redeemer
My life He bought, my love He owns
I have no longings for another
I’m satisfied in Him alone

I will glory in my Redeemer
His faithfulness my standing place
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me
My feet are firm, held by His grace
My feet are firm, held by His grace

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who carries me on eagle's wings
He crowns my life with lovingkindness
His triumph song I'll ever sing

I will glory in my Redeemer
Who waits for me at gates of gold
And when He calls me it will be paradise
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold
His face forever to behold


I have come to really love this song.  Hope you enjoy it too! 

You can listen to it here.

Back to School! Well sort of.

I have gone back and forth with the idea of going back to school in August, mainly since it is so hot and my kids don't really play outside during the day anyway.  I figured out that if we stick closely to my school schedule this year we will be done by May 1, which is just about the time I am mentally done anyway.  However, I also know that this is my plan and it may not be the Lord's.  So we shall see : )

This is Little Bits, he was sorting bears.  He loves to do this.

This year we finally did it!  We started some school this past Monday.  I decided that we aren't going to get back to everything right away, just the basics and some reading.  Right now we are working on phonics, grammar and math.  We have continued reading through the summer and Bible is not considered school for us so we've been doing that all along anyway.

Alpha Boy had just finish a letter matching game, which he really enjoyed.  Not real sure why he was being camera shy.  I just love how kids think as long as they close their eyes, no one can see them.

"Fine Mom, I'll smile." 

My goal for us is to school in the morning and then still have time to play in the afternoon and evening.  We are also not schooling on Fridays except maybe for some math, so there is still plenty of time left over for play. 

Computer Girl doing her Daily Grams.

So far the kids are enjoying Easy Grammar, it is a nice switch from Abeka.  Although I am still trying to figure out if I am going to have them do the Easy Grammar Workbook AND the Daily Grams.  Any input on this would be appreciated. 

Little Bits was 'playing school" with his big sister.

As far as math goes, The Hubs and I decided that instead of going full force with our math books we need to take some time to brush up on our math facts, well not us but the kids.  You know how it goes, kids always seem to forget some of their math facts during the summer, at least our kids do.  I sometimes wonder if all that pool chlorine sucks them right from their brains.   Just wondering.

Having fun and gettin' creative!

For reading, the kids and I are working on The Hedge of Thorns and some books about birds.  The boys get a HUGE stack of books to browse through before their naps and the girls are each working on their chapter books.

The Lil' Chef brushing up on her drawing skills.

The girls also started their Draw to Learn: The Life of Jesus books this week and I think they are wonderful!  They are not that into them yet, but maybe in time they will learn to love them.  Regardless I am going to have them persevere through them because I think they are great for a personal devotional!

P.E. - They love to jump on the trampoline.  Today they jumped FOREVER, they did relay races and turned the back yard into an obstacle course. 

With it still being summer, I haven't been setting the alarm clock, instead we've been sleeping in a little.  We are getting things done but just a little later in the day than I would like, still I have vowed to not to start setting the alarm until after Labor Day.

Most of us LOVE bugs.  We like to collect them and check them out for a few days before letting them go.  This week we got to watch a mom and baby leaf bug.  They were really cool.  This of course opened the door to going online and looking up many different bugs.  We even enjoyed watching a dancing stick  bug on Youtube.

I am still working on getting used to schooling 3 people this year and keeping Little Bits busy at the same time.  Alpha Boy did some school last year, but he wasn't technically in kindergarten yet, so it wasn't every day.   
My plan has been to do school with Alpha Boy, Computer Girl and then The Lil' Chef.  I feel like Alpha Boy and Computer Girl need to school early while they are happy, have energy, and are focused.  If they do their school later I can tell a big difference in their attitudes and their performance. 

The Lil' Chef is the type that is up and doing school before my feet hit the floor, most days.  She is very self motivated but I still need to help her with some math and grammar.  As soon as I wake up, and I really mean AS SOON AS, she wants my help.  This has been difficult because I like to first at least have a cup of coffee with in arms reach.  Then, I like to make them breakfast and while they eat, I read Bible. So at this point, I am just still trying to figure out  going to pray about where to place every one's "mom time" for school. 

Anyone else start school this week? How did it go? 

Man of Sorrow's! What a Name

by Phillip Bliss



Man of Sorrows! what a name

For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
I is finished! was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!



Just a reminder of what our Savior had done for us! It never ceases to amaze me, the great love that God had for us, while we were yet sinners, to sent His ONLY Son to die a painful death on that cross.  For me!  For all the wretched sins that I have committed.  What an amazing love!

If you watch the video of the song you will notice that it breaks into a part of a movie, that movie is Luther in case you were wondering.  A very good movie I might add.

2011-2012 Curriculum Choices Part 2 {LINKY}

As I said in my last post, I am really doing a mish mash of things this year.  Here is the complete run down:

Together as a Family:
Bible
My Father's World  (MFW) - We will be studying the Life of Christ and the New Testament.  Last year we used The Victor Journey Through the Bible and we have really come to LOVE it!  we read a chapter in the Bible and then we read the corresponding pages in The Victor, it is like a commentary of sorts plus it gives lots of history facts about the cities and time period - a must have in my opinion.

We will also pull from KONOS and I am sure we will continue with Keys for Kids, at least sometimes since the kids love to listen to them.

History
MFW - Rome to Reformation, the books that go along with it except we will use Mystery of History instead of Streams of Civilization.  KONOS - we will be pulling some fun activities from KONOS.  we plan on including lots and lots of living books.

Science/Health
MFW - Rome to Reformation which will include the study of the human body using The Body Book and planets using the Apologia book, Exploring Creation With Astronomy (Young Explorers). 
We are also going to pull in some fun projects from KONOS like dissecting a cow eye. Can I just tell you that I CAN'T HARDLY WAIT!!

Reading
We definitely read around here.   We do read alouds daily after Bible and then the kids have quiet time.  For at least a half hour I have the girls read and the boys look at books until they fall asleep for their naps.  We discuss our read a louds and I have the girls narrate their readings back to me. 

Art
My kids draw daily.  And craft almost daily.  I frequently have them color something to go along with what we are reading.  We also have several art idea books that we can pull from and the Abeka Art books that we complete projects from occasional.

Extra Curricular Activities I like to do stuff out side of the home but to many things can stress me.  I have been praying about speech, choir, soccer and piano lessons.  These are all things that I want to with me kids but I know that all those things would really be too much.  So, I have just been laying it before the Lord and asking Him what His will would be for us.   So far I think that all the kids will do choir, the girls will do speech and it looks as though the Lord is going to provide flute lessons for the girls.  I think for now soccer may be out. 

The Lil' Chef - 6th Grade
Bible
I am really excited to be adding Draw to Learn from Notgrass this year.  It is like a daily devotional that the children can use independently or together as a family.  Each lesson has a portion of scripture to read and then something for them to draw.  They have several of these to choose from, we are doing the Life of Jesus to coincide with our New Testament studies thru MFW Bible.  VERY EXCITED!!

Language Arts
The Lil' Chef is going to be using Easy Grammar & Daily Grams and Spelling Power. We are generally Abeka users but we are trying something new, I let ya'll know how they work out.  Lil' Chef is also going to continue with Institute of Excellence in Writing (IEW), which we reviewed last year.  IEW is a keeper by the way. 

Math
I am still on the fence about this one.  I really, REALLY, REALLY want to use Teaching Textbooks.  I really lack confidence in teaching math,  and it is not my favorite subject, so the idea of TT is very appealing to me.  After researching it, ALOT, and talking to a few homeschool mom's I decided that maybe it was not a good idea for us.  I have heard mixed reviews Teaching Textbooks, one of the not so great things I have heard is that many children do not test well in the upper grades which was a huge disappointment to me.  I had really hope to ride that little wave all the way thru high school but am now having second thoughts.  If anyone has had good experience with TT and would like to way in, please leave a comment.

As it stands right now she is going to use Abeka Math and continue doing Math Facts Now and Times Alive, which we LOVE!


Computer Girl - 3rd Grade
Bible
Computer girl is also going to include Draw to Learn - The Life of Jesus into her quite reading time.

Language Arts - She is also going to try Easy Grammar, Daily Grams and Spelling Workout this year.  I think I am also going to have her work from the IEW book at a very slow pace. 

Math
Computer Girl is using Mathematical Reasoning 3 from The critical Thinking Co. this year.  We reviewed another level of Mathematical Reasoning last year and LOVED IT!!  She will also be doing math drills using Math Facts Now and Times Alive.

Alpha Boy - Kindergarten
Phonics
Alpha Boy is going to continue using Sing, Spell, Read and Write, which  he really loves and BEGS ME TO!  I mean we aren't even doing school right now and it was a SATURDAY and he brings me his book to do.  I was thinking, REALLY!! 

I also decided, just last week actually, when visiting with some friends that I really wanted to incorporate MFW Kindergarten.  I really just wanted it to pull some of the hands on ideas into the letters that we are learning. 

Math
He is going to be using Arithmetic K from Abeka.  I am also adding in Mathtacular for some added hands on fun. 

Little Bits - Pre K
I don't do anything formal with this little guy.  We is more than welcome to hang with Alpha Boy and I when we do our Phonics and Math.  He is generally around for all our reading and I do read to him. 

I plan on setting up a workbox for him to have with lots of hands on goodies to play with.  I am going to include things like wooden puzzles, Play-Doh Cookie Monster Letter Lunch, Lauri Toys Number Puzzle Boards and Pegs and Lauri's Phonic Center

What is your family going to use this year??  Please link up and share with us.