Things have been super busy the past few weeks and we have been doing school "light". I had a great opportunity to pick up a second job until Dec 31. It is a lot of work and I am gone from home so much, but in the end we will have a tremendous amount of debt reduced.

I will be back more consistent after the first of the year.

Week 3

This was a really hard week. We have kept our eyes glued on TS Fay all week, the weather has been lousy, and there have been lots of distractions to our routine.

We went Wednesday afternoon to see what the beach was like with Fay approaching. The children had never felt the wind like that. It was fun but it was as close to storm time as I would want to be there. The storm moved so slow that it was not until Thursday night that the bridege was closed. I wouldn't let the kids out on the beach. The wind was enough but the blowing sand would have been an issue. These pictures were taken on Jekyll.

By the time Thursday afternoon was here, all of us were tired of being in the house and everyone was cranky. It all resulted in a Friday that was almost nothing but chores to help settle out the attitudes. It always amazes me how the love chores so much when they are in trouble!!

Week 2

No details again this week but I need to get the time together to get our curriculum on this blog! We did, however, have a really great week. This is a fairy ring that we found in our neighborhood.

Back to school

Not much to say here as it is super busy because I am still organizing the year, but we are starting...

While I was busy with the boys, Eliza got into the make-up!

Wordless Wednesday July 9, 2008

Sea Turtle Release

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center released a turtle last week. They made an event out of it. The turtle, Dylan, was rescued as a hatchling and has lived most of her life on Jekyll Island at the Tidelands Nature Center and then the GA Sea Turtle Center. She did live for a brief time at the GA Aquarium. The tide was ridiculously low the day she was released. It took a bit for her to actually swim off (I think because she couldn't get in water deep enough). But she did swim off, and now even has a radio device on the top of her shell.

Double click the picture to get a better view. They are posting updates on her progress here http://www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org/index.html

Lane Packing Company

We stopped at Lane Packing Company on our trip to Alabama over the 4th. They have an elevated walkway that you can go over and see the entire process for sorting, washing, and packing the peaches. Interesting that they use an optical scanner to sort them according to size.

http://www.lanesouthernorchards.com/

Wordless Wednesday July 2, 2008

Eliza has planned her wedding

Eliza decided this morning that she would plan her wedding. She is 4 and a half...
On some Friday at 10:11 am
Cake: strawberry whipped cream pie
Groom: Maybe Nate or maybe a boy that I haven't met yet
Hair: Pigtail braids with a twist
Food: Steak and strawberries, hot dogs; Mom to cook food
Music: Conjuction Junction; Bothers to play piano and violin
Pictures: Daddy to take
Dress: Mommies wedding dress
Flowers: Pink and purple flowers
Location: Indoors so there will be no gnats
Honeymoon: Hawaii
Guest List: Grammy and Grandaddy, Uncle Chris and Aunt Amy, Uncle Steve and Aunt Kerry, Nate's family

Wordless Wednesday June 4, 2008

The Georgia Aquarium

The GA Aquarium was amazing!! The whale sharks, the belugas, the number of touch tanks...it was worth every penny and I would go back any chance we get!!

The Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts

Super cool place to spend an afternoon in Atlanta! The kids did the puppet workshop and got to make their own puppets. We attended the current puppet show which was Cinderella Della Circus. I was really good. What a super fun day!!
http://www.puppet.org/

The Varsity

You can't go to Atlanta and not go to the Varsity...Right?!

Atlanta

One of the things about being in Atlanta was seeing all the damage from the tornado they had in downtown a few months ago. If you double click and enlarge the picture you can see all the broken windows in the Westin Hotel. It was amazing!

We had breakfast with my family in the hotel lobby and my brother came exploring with us for a couple of hours. This shot was taken from the overlook at his work. After going there, we walked over to the CNN building and did the "Inside CNN" Tour. It was fun. I would do it again, even at the kids young age. I think Alexander being the oldest got the most out of it. Still it was really cool.

High Falls State Park

We decided to stop on our trip to Atlanta and let the kids play for a while. We had never been to High Falls State Park (just south of Atlanta). I was a short steep hike down to the bottom of the falls and it was just what we needed after being in the car several hours and then going to the hotel (where there was no pool and the kids would have to sit with a babysitter while we went to the rehersal dinner).

Nathaniel kept catching lizards that were sunning themselves on the rocks. He is holding one in this picture.

Wordless Wednesday May14, 2008

Wordless Wednesday April 23, 2008

Wordless Wednesday April 2, 2008

Where Have I Been?

I had surgery in March and have been MIA. I had to have a bone graft taken out of one side of my foot and put in the other part. I had a fracture that has not been healing since November. I have been in a cast or such since the break, and now I cannot put any weight on my foot for 6 weeks...

This has been very painful surgery and I am weary from the whole process. We do school in the bed...oh my...I want to start our nature studies more than I can even say!!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday...sort of...

My sweet dh had my wedding bouquet remade for our anniversary last week.

Weekly Report: February 11-15

Well, this was to be the back on track week and I think we did very well. Alexander was doing very well on Monday, even though he had been throwing up on Saturday night. I really don't know where the throwing up came from because what we had was the flu but still...Oh my, this has been one very sick household. Nathaniel was still running a 102 temp by Tuesday and had developed bronchitis along with the after-effects of the flu. I had the bronchitis along with Nathaniel so were were a rough looking bunch. So, I guess my point here is that I am amazed at how much school we were able to get done!

By the end of the week we were low energy but doing much better and back on track. Valentines was on Thursday of this week and our anniversary was on Friday.

Math-Alexander got Saxon 47-50 completed and nathaniel did 43-45. Math is much less of a struggle as Alexander is now in a good routine and realizes he must do this and he must do this well. He never wants to "do" anything unless he sees the purpose. We have had many talks about how you have to do math and you have to do it well. I think he is starting to believe me...finally!

Reading/Phonics-Alexander got 2 lessons done in 100EZ, and Nathaniel completed one. Alexander worked in his ETC book 1 and completed the book.

Grammar-FLL lessons 22 and 23.


History-We did chapter 10...all of it...

Extra Activities-Does going to the doctor count?? Eliza went to dance. Alexander made it to his 2 basketball games. All three kids made it to karate 2 days and the boys had a great chess lesson.

Wordless Wednesday: Summer

Weekly Report: February 4-8

We got off track this week due to a terrible virus that hit the house. We had a slow start on Monday and there was a lot of whinning. I should have known that something was in the works. I spent a large part of the day Tuesday at the doctor with Alexander with 104+ fever. I would not have normally taken him in but I was afraid that he might have strep. Turned out not to be strep, but some flu-like type virus. He was sick through Wednesday and was just really low energy Thursday. By late Thursday evening, Nathaniel and Eliza started with the high fevers...poor babies...

Here is what we did get done...

Math: Both boys got 2 math lessons done and Eliza got one done.

Reading: Alexander got 3 lessons done and Nathaniel 1 in 100EZ.

Grammar: FLL 21

History: Chapter 10 SOTW, 2 of the 3 sections completed.

Extra activities: We had a narrow window and got chess and one karate lesson done. Alexander got to play his basketball game before getting sick and that is about it. I think we only practiced music once this week. We had tickets to The Wizard of Oz play at a local theatre and we had to give thme away.

Next week the focus will be "back on track".

Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Report: January 28-February 1

We have found our groove and I am going to go with it as long as we can. At this point reading and math are my priorities. I would like to get 4 lessons from FLL done per week and 2 chapters from SOTW. These are lofty goals but that is what I am trying. I re-read WTM about science and I am going to do an abreveated version of the science course for first grade. I will list that as a seperate post. I will try to get it started next week. I am starting to think about next year and what we will be doing. As it is, we will need to do some sort of school thorugh the entire summer. Not really a bad thing, since it is so brutally hot here most of the summer months.

In the meantime this is what we did this week!

Math: Alexander completed 41-45 and Nathaniel completed 36-40. I ordered the math games from RightStart so Alexander can get some extra practice in the coming weeks (months). Eliza did lesson 4. I am just not going to push her on this and let her do this as we and she are able.

Reading/Phonics: Both boys did 2 lessons in 100EZ and worked everyday in the ETC book.

Bible: Why can't I get with this a little better?? We only got one lesson done this week...

History: We completed chaper 9 in SOTW including narrations, maps, and supplemental reading.

Grammar: FLL 18-20 for the boys.

Extra activities: This was the week of chess for a variety of reasons. In the end the boys had 2 private chess lessons this week and then played in the chess tournament this weekend. It was the first time that Alexander played rated and he did VERY well. It was a highly competitive tournament and he was fourth on the board by the last match. He was 3-2-0 for the day. Nathaniel played in the junior novice division and did AMAZING. He was in with kids K-5th, so there was a huge spread of ages. He went 0-1-4 for the day. I am so proud of them!!

Each of the boys also had a basketball game each. Eliza and Nathaniel and Eliza each had dance class and all three kids did karate-Eliza twice, boys three times. The boys practiced well this week and had great music lessons. I have asked the music teacher to push Alexander a bit more as I think he needs this...we'll see how it goes.

Weekly Report: January 21-25

Well, we are staying on a roll around here and I am so glad. I am still trying to decide what we are going to do about science but everything else is moving along very well.

Math: Alexander completed 36-40, Nathaniel completed 31-35, and Eliza started Saxon K and completed lessons 1-3.

Bible: We completed 3 lessons...we need to do better!

Phonics: Alexander completed 2 lessons in 100 EZ Lessons but he started the ETC set. I felt good about him working on this and gaining some confidence. Confidence is key for him at this point! Nathaniel also did 2 of the 100 Lessons and began ETC in the "Get Ready" set of A, B, and C books. he completed the entire A book and Began working on the B book.

Handwriting: Alexander completed the HWOT "My Printing Book" and Nathaniel continued to work in this HWOT book, completing the capitals and moving on to lower case.

Grammar: FLL 14-17 were rather painless and pretty quick!!

History: We completed Chapter 7 and 8 in SOTW including narrations, maps, and reading. I chose to do none of the extra activities.

Science: We read in a DK book called Rock and Fossil Hunter and we did an experiment called "Tough Newspaper" on the affects of air pressure.

Extra activities: All three children did karate twice this week. Each of the boys had a basketball game, and they both went to their music lesson. Ralph took the boys for a one mile run on Tuesday and Nathaniel had dance this week. The dance school was closed on Eliza's dance day for the MLK holiday. Friday was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Ralph took all three kids as I went off for the weekend to scrapbook. Alexander came in third for the Tiger Cubs and I completed Nathaniel's baby album.

Weekly Report--January 14-18

I wasn't sure if I could get two solid weeks in a row but I did it!! I keep thinking that year around school is the way to go as the kids just seem to get lost every time we take any time off. It just feels good to be gaining some momentum. I jsut want to keep it going!!

Ralph was off on Thursday and Friday of this week. I did math with the boys on Friday morning and then I took a quick trip down to Jacksonville to go to the homeschool bookstore. I still need to get a few things from Rainbow Resource but it was a productive trip.





Reading--Alexander made it through Lesson 49 in 100 EZ Lessons and Nathaniel made it through lesson 30. Eliza started on 100 EZ Lessons and did just first lesson this week. I can't believe that were are at the point of her reading!! The Book Mobile came on Tuesday and the kids picked out lots of books that we read this week.

Grammar--FLL 12-13.

Bible--3 lessons out of Beginnings II.

History--SOTW Chapter 6. This was the Old Testament and I didn't feel like we really needed to read a whole lot extra about this as they know these stories very well.

Math--Alexander did Saxon 30-35 and Nathaniel did 25-30. We did math 6 days this week as I feel the need to move forward. Also, it worked out that they were tesing on Monday's and that was just a bad thing. Eliza wants to "do" math like her brothers so I caved this week and I have bought and will start her next week on Saxon K. If my sanity can take 3 elementary Saxon programs it will be a miracle!!

Handwriting--Both boys worked in their HWOT books and Eliza in her pre-writing book that I am still not too sure about. I started Nathaniel on the ETC book A, which is as much phonics as handwriting but I'll put it here. he loves doing those kinds of workbooks and I think he will move quickly through the A, B, and C books.

Music--Both boys practiced well this week. nathaniel conitues to have a better attitude about the practicing and that makes all of us in the house happy!! Alexander is doing well also and I am glad that he is doing very well with his theory work as well as playing. Both boys had their music lessons this week.

Science--I am done, done, DONE with Apologia Elementary Astronomy!! I don't like it. The kids are bored to tears and revolt when I bring it out!! I will have something new by next week!!

Misc--We finally made the chicken mummy. What a thorn that has been in my side and I am glad that it is now done and sitting doing it's thing!! I also had the boys work on BrainQuest problems and Logic Links a couple of days. They like both and did well with them.

Outside Activities--Eliza and Nathaniel each had dance lessons once this week. All the kids made it to karate this week for the maximum lessons (3 times for the boys and twice for Eliza). Alexander had one basketball game this week and nathaniel had two. Both boys had their private chess lesson and did well. Alexander had Cub Scouts and began working on his PineWood Derby car.

Wordless Wednesday

January 7-12

It has been a difficult couple of months and we have been derailed more than a few times but we are back up and going strong at this point. We took time off but still did lots of reading and what not. Now it is back to the day in and out of school, and here is what we did...

History--We made it through SOTW Chapter 5 including narrations, map work and coloring. No easy thing for me, as I seem to have really gotten stuck here. I don't know why, but it was difficult for me.

Math--Alexander did Saxon lessons 26-29 and Nathaniel did Saxon 21-24.

Reading--Alexander made it through lessons 41-45 in 100 EZ Lessons. Nathaniel went from 21 through 25. We read aloud I Am the Mummy Heb-Nefert; Seeker of Knowledge; Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors.

Handwriting--Both boys did well this week and practiced daily. Eliza started a book that I got from Rainbow Resource called getting Ready to Write. I'm not so sure about this book. I think maybe she is ready to start with handwritting.

Music--Both boys practiced everyday this week. Nathaniel has started to find his groove and is getting better about practicing. Less fussing is always a good thing in my book!! Both boys had their 30 minute music lesson.

Grammar--FLL lessons 11 and 12

Bible--A rather slow start here as we only got two lessons in this week.

Science--I just can't bring myself to open that Astronomy book again!! So, we talked about crystals and solutions and made some rock candy.

Outside Activities--Eliza and Nathaniel both did dance class this week. All three kids made it to their karate classes this week. The boys both had a basketball game on the opening day of the season. They both also went to their private chess lesson. They only got one CrossFit kids workout in this week, but they were still very active.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday