For today...January 30, 2013....not 2012 like I thought it was yesterday. If you're my FB friend you already know that I took some time yesterday trying to remember what year it was and then settled on 2012. I later realized my mistake.
On my mind...various friends and family going through trials (lots of prayer for lots of people all the time here), a unit study on Alaska, a unit study on the Iditarod, parenting, homeschooling high school, getting in shape, what should I eat, Guys and Dolls songs, squirrel!...as you can see, my brain is very full!
Around the house...the new chore system is working really well for getting the house pretty clean once a week, but the day to day pick up and dishes and laundry is mostly on me. I'm okay with that though. We're at a good place. I've tried to quit nagging the girls about their room...it's often a huge mess. We just made one simple rule--if and when you get invited to go somewhere, you can't go if your room is not clean. They have a pretty busy social calendar so this is working well.
From the schoolroom...we are trucking along really well with all of our studies. I'm working on putting together a unit study on Alaska since we're going there in June. I waver between making it an all out big project with a lapbook and lot of activities or just reading a bunch of books about it. We're starting with a bunch of books. I've found some good read alouds that we'll start with and we'll see how it evolves from there. First up will be learning all about the Iditarod, I put a bunch of books on hold and one documentary that is supposed to be really good. I am thinking about putting together a research packet that they will work on either together or independently where they fill in basic facts about the state and the history of Alaska. That requires work and time though...I don't mind the work but I'm lacking in time. We are still plugging away at the Latin but getting more confused by the day. Part of me wants to just quit but I'm not....at least not yet. I'm thinking that maybe eventually it will all come together and we are learning. All the endings are just soooo confusing!
On my iPod...Matilda the Musical! I bought the whole CD, we already had a few of the songs so I just completed the album. I love it! Especially the first song, Miracle. So good and so funny! I hope to see the show someday. I think it's only playing in London right now but they are working on bringing it to Broadway. I also love, love, love Sara Groves, I listen to her when I'm not listening to Matilda.
What I'm reading...I'm quickly flying through a bunch of books that I have been wanting to read for a long time and that just sit on my nightstand because I continually get new, more interesting books from the library. I've banned myself from checking out books from the library until I can get these read. So far I've read Carol Burnett, a book by Erma Bombeck, Sixkill by Robert Parker (my grandmother recommended it and gave it to me a few months before she died and I hadn't read it yet), a book by Chad Varga that Hannah got for free when she attended his event at a local church, and now I'm reading Peace Child by Don Richardson. It's a book about missionaries to the primitive tribes in New Guinea in 1962. It's been highly recommended and so I'm finally going to read it. I started it a while back and didn't finish it so I'm starting over. After this I only have a few more and then I can put some new books on hold again at the library. :0)
A few plans for the rest of the week...going to a homeschool conference this weekend, time to learn all about homeschooling high school. Hannah has a list of questions for me to find the answers to!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Random Pictures from My Phone
This picture has to be one of the funniest awkward photos ever. This is Landon and Dawson at the science center. They are both incredibly cute in real life...here, a little weird looking. I love it and it makes me laugh.
Joe has been tackling the arduous task of memorizing his multiplication tables. This is stressful for him and it seems daily I am looking for new ways to make it less stressful for him. We've worked on the trampoline many days, eaten peanut M and M's, I make silly pictures on my iPhone using the Pixy Me app, do Learning Wrap Ups, flash cards on my phone, watch Schoolhouse Rock videos, and anything else I can think of. Below are two of the silly pictures I made him.
I found the above picture of Grace on her new camera. Wow...she's beautiful and too young to look this beautiful. I like the picture below where she is still just as beautiful but looks her age--11.
Love baby butts! This little guy has his own version of crawling and he spends a lot of time perched like this.
Joe and I have enjoyed doing Star Wars Mad Libs, he can't resist using farting, pooping, gassy, and so on in most of his stories. They can be really funny. Below, a few of the kids in my Sunday school class last week. They made this really cool design with pattern blocks.
I think it's funny to get "Director Farts-A-Lot" on Amanda's Tarbucks drinks whenever I get there before her.
I spent last weekend scrapbooking, I have some pics for a big scrapbook post but here is a page from the theatre book I was working on.
A New Chore System
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Seven Quick Takes
1. After a long weekend I am actually feeling ready for this week. I think I need a three day weekend every weekend. Two days just isn't enough. I spent many hours of this long weekend getting caught up on scrapbooking. I've given up on scrapbooking our daily lives, I use Shutterfly or Snapfish and make photo books--anywhere from one to four months at a time. My shelves are full of these and full of memories. I do try to keep up with a few books that I "hand scrapbook" though. One is a theatre book. Actually, books, since we are on the third one. I have scrapbooked every show since Hannah started theatre 6 and a half years ago. These books are a treasure that get looked at and shared a lot! I also make a scrapbook out of the Christmas photo cards that we get every year. It is really fun to look back at these too and see how families have grown and changed over the years. I have many families that are represented every single year. I love that. And, lastly, each kid has a book and I do a two page spread each year. I try to choose pictures that say something about their year and their interests, hobbies, friends, etc. It's also a great place to capture my favorite pictures of the year. The last few years I've worked on these scrapbooks once a year--in January. I get all caught up and don't touch them for another year. So, that was my project this weekend. There were lots of other things that didn't get done this weekend but I don't regret one minute that I spent working. Next time you're over, feel free to look at a scrapbook. :0)
2. I'm determined to have a really good, complete school week this week. There are three things that too often get put on the back burner....Latin, Science (with G and J), and Art. I'm hoping to tackle all of them this week! Latin and Science every day and one art project. My plan for accomplishing this is to....drumroll please....close my laptop. I am continually drawn in to checking and responding to e-mails, checking FB, blogging, reading blogs. I do have down time in the school day when all three kids are engaged in independent work but not much and I waste it on the computer. I'm waking the kids up after this blog post and I'm shutting this laptop until we are done. I'm not much at self discipline but I'm challenging myself.
3. Another thing that we don't do enough of is go outside. The weather is just perfect this time of year and I don't take the time to get the kids out and take walks, bike rides, take our school work to a park...going to work on that.
4. I sat in on 15 minutes of rehearsal last night and got to see Joe in his solo song, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat." He is so cute I just couldn't stand it. And so confident and so loud and it still just shocks me how he shines on stage. My introverted (not so much anymore) kid...is a theatre kid! Craziness. All of you local blog readers should come see the show. My three will all be in it on Saturday, March 2. :0)
5. When I go to bed at night I can't wait to wake up and drink coffee.
6. I really, really want to see Les Miserables. I wish it would hurry up and peter out in the theatres so I can see it in the dollar movie. I also really want to read the book but it's huge and I don't think I can tackle it at this time in my life. When I was in college I read lots of classics and loved them. One of my favorites was Anna Karenina, loved that book! The thing with classics is that you have to have time and hours and quiet to really get into the story. They aren't fluff and you have to think while reading (at least I do). I don't have any of that these days which is why I spend my time reading books that are pretty easy reads with great stories. Someday I will read Les Miserables though. Someday.
7. It's time to wake up the kiddos and head into this day! Happy Tuesday!
2. I'm determined to have a really good, complete school week this week. There are three things that too often get put on the back burner....Latin, Science (with G and J), and Art. I'm hoping to tackle all of them this week! Latin and Science every day and one art project. My plan for accomplishing this is to....drumroll please....close my laptop. I am continually drawn in to checking and responding to e-mails, checking FB, blogging, reading blogs. I do have down time in the school day when all three kids are engaged in independent work but not much and I waste it on the computer. I'm waking the kids up after this blog post and I'm shutting this laptop until we are done. I'm not much at self discipline but I'm challenging myself.
3. Another thing that we don't do enough of is go outside. The weather is just perfect this time of year and I don't take the time to get the kids out and take walks, bike rides, take our school work to a park...going to work on that.
4. I sat in on 15 minutes of rehearsal last night and got to see Joe in his solo song, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat." He is so cute I just couldn't stand it. And so confident and so loud and it still just shocks me how he shines on stage. My introverted (not so much anymore) kid...is a theatre kid! Craziness. All of you local blog readers should come see the show. My three will all be in it on Saturday, March 2. :0)
5. When I go to bed at night I can't wait to wake up and drink coffee.
6. I really, really want to see Les Miserables. I wish it would hurry up and peter out in the theatres so I can see it in the dollar movie. I also really want to read the book but it's huge and I don't think I can tackle it at this time in my life. When I was in college I read lots of classics and loved them. One of my favorites was Anna Karenina, loved that book! The thing with classics is that you have to have time and hours and quiet to really get into the story. They aren't fluff and you have to think while reading (at least I do). I don't have any of that these days which is why I spend my time reading books that are pretty easy reads with great stories. Someday I will read Les Miserables though. Someday.
7. It's time to wake up the kiddos and head into this day! Happy Tuesday!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Simple (Ha!) Woman's Daybook....
For today...January 18, 2013
Outside my window...it's cold and dreary and I LOVE it. It's been in the 80s for about 2 weeks and that's just not fair. We only have a short time of year where we get cool weather and I feel cheated when it's warm like that.
On my mind and in my prayers...most of what is on my mind and in my prayers can't be put out there because it's not my business to share but let's just say that teens are on my mind and in my prayers. I know so many teens going through really big stuff and it just seems like Satan is waging an all out attack on our young people. I recently heard a statistic that said that something like 75% of kids "lose their faith" once they leave home to go to college or into the work force. I don't know where the statistic came from and I know that you can't always believe statistics and all that but there must be some truth in it. I think the biggest problem is that a lot of christian kids are being raised in a christian bubble--christian home, christian friends, christian music, christian movies, etc. More and more I am thinking that this is a big mistake and I am trying not to make that mistake. I want to walk in this world with my kids, live out a christian life of integrity in the midst of darkness and teach them to do the same. We need lots of prayer and wisdom!
In my cup....coffee and lots of it! I'm addicted and I'm okay with it. I go to bed excited about waking up and drinking coffee.
In our homeschool...we are plugging away and it's going well. My only complaint is there never seems to be enough time to do all that I want to do. I am trying to fit in Latin at least 3 days a week but already failed this week. We will do it today no matter what! The main problem is that I am letting the kids sleep in almost every day. It's 9 am and they are all three still sleeping. So, once again we are getting a late start. I am working on prepping a big unit study on Alaska because we'll be going there in June. I'll also be going to a homeschool conference in a few weeks, I'm planning to soak up all I can about homeschooling high school!
On my iPod...I've listened to nothing but songs from "Guys and Dolls" for the last week or two. I do have an iTunes gift card that I want to spend though. I am thinking I need more show tunes.
In the theatre...the kids started a new show last week and had auditions this week. They'll be doing "Guys and Dolls," and Hannah got her first big lead since she was Alice in Alice in Wonderland many years ago. Hannah will be playing Adelaide, a role that is perfect for her. She is a lounge singer who's been engaged to a crapshooter, Nathan Detroit, for 14 years and is tired of waiting for him to be ready to get married. She gets to talk in the New York accent she is perfecting (third show in a row using that accent) and sing some great songs. Joe is also a lead, he'll be playing Nicely Nicely--a crapshooting gangster who gets to also sing some great songs. Grace is a hot box dancer with all of her friends and is happy with that. She's holding out for a lead in the next show...we'll see!
What I'm reading...I have read quite a few really good books lately and they are listed on my sidebar. Now, I'm not allowing myself to check any new books out from the library until I finish the ones I own. So, right now I'm reading an autobiography/memoir by Carol Burnett and loving it. She is so funny and I absolutely loved her show as a kid.
Well, I have more to say but need to wake the kiddos up and start school!
Outside my window...it's cold and dreary and I LOVE it. It's been in the 80s for about 2 weeks and that's just not fair. We only have a short time of year where we get cool weather and I feel cheated when it's warm like that.
On my mind and in my prayers...most of what is on my mind and in my prayers can't be put out there because it's not my business to share but let's just say that teens are on my mind and in my prayers. I know so many teens going through really big stuff and it just seems like Satan is waging an all out attack on our young people. I recently heard a statistic that said that something like 75% of kids "lose their faith" once they leave home to go to college or into the work force. I don't know where the statistic came from and I know that you can't always believe statistics and all that but there must be some truth in it. I think the biggest problem is that a lot of christian kids are being raised in a christian bubble--christian home, christian friends, christian music, christian movies, etc. More and more I am thinking that this is a big mistake and I am trying not to make that mistake. I want to walk in this world with my kids, live out a christian life of integrity in the midst of darkness and teach them to do the same. We need lots of prayer and wisdom!
In my cup....coffee and lots of it! I'm addicted and I'm okay with it. I go to bed excited about waking up and drinking coffee.
In our homeschool...we are plugging away and it's going well. My only complaint is there never seems to be enough time to do all that I want to do. I am trying to fit in Latin at least 3 days a week but already failed this week. We will do it today no matter what! The main problem is that I am letting the kids sleep in almost every day. It's 9 am and they are all three still sleeping. So, once again we are getting a late start. I am working on prepping a big unit study on Alaska because we'll be going there in June. I'll also be going to a homeschool conference in a few weeks, I'm planning to soak up all I can about homeschooling high school!
On my iPod...I've listened to nothing but songs from "Guys and Dolls" for the last week or two. I do have an iTunes gift card that I want to spend though. I am thinking I need more show tunes.
In the theatre...the kids started a new show last week and had auditions this week. They'll be doing "Guys and Dolls," and Hannah got her first big lead since she was Alice in Alice in Wonderland many years ago. Hannah will be playing Adelaide, a role that is perfect for her. She is a lounge singer who's been engaged to a crapshooter, Nathan Detroit, for 14 years and is tired of waiting for him to be ready to get married. She gets to talk in the New York accent she is perfecting (third show in a row using that accent) and sing some great songs. Joe is also a lead, he'll be playing Nicely Nicely--a crapshooting gangster who gets to also sing some great songs. Grace is a hot box dancer with all of her friends and is happy with that. She's holding out for a lead in the next show...we'll see!
What I'm reading...I have read quite a few really good books lately and they are listed on my sidebar. Now, I'm not allowing myself to check any new books out from the library until I finish the ones I own. So, right now I'm reading an autobiography/memoir by Carol Burnett and loving it. She is so funny and I absolutely loved her show as a kid.
Well, I have more to say but need to wake the kiddos up and start school!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Cruise Pics Part 7--Harry Pics
Cruise Pics Part 6--Castaway Cay
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