Hair

I'm so not a hair person...I really need a new style, cut, whatever you want to call it.  I'm not scared to get my hair cut, I'm just scared of finding a person who won't give me an awful haircut.  I never really experimenting doing my own hair growing up so basically my hair is down or it's in a ponytail.  

My daughter does not want to cut her hair at all.  I think she wants to be like my mom and have hair down to her knees.  She usually wears it in a loose, low ponytail parted right down the middle.  We really want her to go and get a hair style that will really look great on her.  She doesn't want a cut, so we compromised.  She found this book: 

On her own, she's done about 4-5 of these easy hairstyles for girls and can't wait for her friends to come over, so she can practice on them. 

All the girl needed was some instruction, confidence and a little practice...

The big smile is my favorite part!

Tie Dye School

I found a tie-dye kit at Target on clearance for under 3 bucks a couple of months ago.  So, we invited our new neighbors over and had a fun time making some new shirts.  My kids will probably wear these until they fall apart. 

Our colors bled a little probably because my hands got tired during the whole wring it out under cold water until you see no dye.

Week 1--Check

We finished our first week of school...ahhhh, it feels good to be back! 

Some reflections: 

Friday was much harder than Monday.

My older kids are to the age of grades...they need the accountability.  So we're doing grades for subjects that lend themselves easily to that and then we'll adjust from there.  (I'm not ready to come up with rubriks yet)

My house was really clean this summer.

Letting them do all their independent work first does not work for us anymore.   Scattering teacher-led subjects throughout the day goes so much more smoothly or even doing teacher stuff first. 

We need some PE in our day.

We had planned on teaching/taking classes at a local co-op, but that fell through for various reasons.  So now our Mondays are really open.  I'm excited about that (after being pretty disappointed) and got input from the kids on what they'd like to do out of the ordinary.  Their suggestions:  science, geometry (fun math), history.  My thoughts before their input:  fieldtrips, swim lessons, archery practice, cooking.  I was surprised to say the least that they just want more...science, math, history.  That's pretty cool. 

This is the first year I've tried to keep the kids to a loose time schedule (7:00 AM - until done).   All my children are morning people, they are up early and their brains are awake.  I'm not a natural morning person...so to be awake, showered and ready for them...I wake up between 5:00-5:30 AM.  This is torturous, but it's really good for all of us.  I think natural inclinations (night owl, morning person) can be overcome.  I just wish they would sleep in on Saturday mornings!

I'm glad God puts barriers up in our path when it doesn't want us to go there!

Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths. 
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

Michael is in love with glue!

I'm really glad I decided to cover Physical Science this year.  I forgot how much I enjoyed formulas and physics.   (Rubber bands and a target to teach about potential/kinetic energy)

We do Bible first. 

All in all, it was a great first week, especially since I've had time to blog and cook almost every day!

I am more organized this year than I've ever been...that feels good! 

It's going to be a great year!

Preschool

I knew before the end of last school year that I would need to start some kind of preschool experience for Michael this year.  I have a 6th grader and a 5th grader, so he is exposed to concepts way above his head.  He just comes along for the ride and by osmosis is learning.  He wants to write, spell, do math all because Tera and Daniel are doing it.  What a blessing he wants to imitate them!  So preschool should be easy....NOT! 

I've seen a couple great articles lately about incorporating little ones into the school routine

Big and Little:  How to Homeschool with Little Ones in the House

What to Do with Little Ones While You're Homeschooling

I started by actually planning Michael into the schedule.  Tera and Daniel each have Michael time on their assignment sheets...they read a book to him each day and alternate between different activities (counting, colors, alphabet, game--I assign specific activities).

 

I'm doing Letter of the Week activities with him using Lesson Pathways as a springboard--it's easy, planned out, has all the links in one place. 

I'm also doing Bible activities with him that go along with what Tera and Daniel are doing in our new curriculum Through the Bible with Your Child. He's been memorizing Genesis 1:1- "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."    We are studying the days of creation this week:

Day 1:  God made the heavens and the earth and separated light from darkness.

Day 2: God separates the heavens from the earth

Day 3:  Plants...I pointed that out as Michael ate his fruit and veggies.  I'm learning it doesn't have to be hard.



Day 4:  Sun, Moon and Stars

He loves looking like the big kids, so workbooks, dry erase, coloring and any kind of notebooks last for at least a few minutes. 

We also have all kinds of other things in our arsenal:

beads

puzzles

tangrams

counting bears

popsicle sticks

legos

k'nex

play doh
flashcards

tons of books

a bunch of random activity sets

The newness wears off quick and attention spans are short, so  I saw the need to institute the rule:  If you don't do the activity Mommy provides, you go play and get nothing else.  It worked!!!! (long enough for me to do this post, so that's pretty successful)

I'm sure we'll change things up as we go along this year.  I feel like I'm learning all over again.  I've never done the preschooler/older kid thing.  Tera was a kid that always wanted to do "school".  Daniel played alone most of the day until he started Kindergarten, so I never had to entertain him during Tera's first years. Michael is a whole new ball game.  It's going to be fun and exciting!  I learned today not to leave our science worksheet laying around...Michael found the scissors.  Like I said, fun and exciting!

Water Olympics

For more pictures and game ideas, check out The Forest Room

First Day of School 2012

2012

                               2011

2010

2009

                                  2007

RIP Summer 2012

Rest in Peace, Summer 2012

You've been an interesting summer to say the least....

You seem to come slowly into our lives and leave all too quickly.  Before we knew it, you were over.  Oh, how I wish we would have cherished each of your precious days more. 

We made lots of fun memories....vacation, museums, friends, holidays, library trips, and you've given us zucchini galore.  Summer has brought changes into our immediate and extended families. 

Officially, you've just begun but since we start school tomorrow, you'll only be a visitor into our routine.  We'll still enjoy your sno-cones and ice cream, complain about your heat and bugs and eat the fruits of your climate.   We'll try to carry your carefree attitude with us as we begin a new year, but it won't be quite the same. 

So, we say good-bye to you, the past regrets and the could-have-beens and look to a bright future where the slate is clean and the pencils are sharp.   

Bowling

Daniel cashed in his summer tickets for a bowling trip.  So Tera, Daniel and I headed over to the local bowling alley earlier in the week.  When we arrived, there was a school bus in the parking lot...uh oh!  We went in to check and they did have lanes open.  After bowling 2 pitiful games with no guard rails (or whatever you call those things), we asked the guy to put them up.  Our game improved immensely, go figure!  We all left feeling pretty good about the experience...we all at least got one strike or one spare. Although, we're no professionals...I guess we're not too pitiful!