January in Florida - Great Idea!

We took a break and went to visit Nonno and Nonna in Florida over the last few days. What a great idea! The weather was about 20 degrees warmer and it was nice to wear short sleeves and play outside in the sunshine. Atleast the first day. The girls played Bocci with their Dad and Nono on Bocci courts right by the ocean. The breeze was just perfect. K-Doodle had a special interest in the game and both girls played very well. While we were walking the beach, Dad found a huge coconut that had washed up on the beach. When we opened it, it was full of salt water and not coconut milk. Bummer.
We also went to a flea market and visited family friends. These friends grew some of the largest lemons we have ever seen. What do you think?
K-Doodle and C-Sunshine learned a new Italian card game called Scopa (Sweep). The cards are really cool looking and a lot of fun to play with. I found a picture of them and you can order from Amazon. I plan to order a deck for our family card closet now. It was nice seeing the girls learn a game from their grandfather that he use to play as a boy in Italy that they can show their own children. We need to make sure that we keep playing it and remember how!

A Grangan Visit at last

Earlier this month, we were honored to have a visit from Grangan! The girls were really excited to show Grangan around our new town. While she was here, we took a trip to the Georgia Aquarium followed by a lunch at The Varsity. What is a visit to Atlanta without eating at The Varsity! Although many of us were sick (including Grangan) for most of her visit, we had a lot of fun and can't wait for her to come back and visit again. Next time when it is a little warmer. :)
Come back soon Grangan!

History - we are getting it done!

This year, we are using Story of the World Volume One again. This is C-Sunshine's second time around, although she remembers very little about it from first grade. I think she remembers some of the projects, but not much else. It seems "familiar" which is the response that you want. I must say that she is getting so much more out of it this year at the age of 10. Her narration's are getting quite long with lots of details. We use a lot of dictation and narration in the Charlotte Mason style for language arts. We love the LA materials from Queen Homeschool Supply. I think the combination of materials we have been using are really paying off in the way that C-Sunshine is writing these days.

K-Doodle is able to participate in the history read alouds and projects, and remembers quite a lot. I do truly see the benefit of teaching in a classical style. The first time around, I spent too much time worrying about projects and "getting it all done". I have learned to first get the reading done, and then work on getting the projects in the schedule. This has really been very freeing. I am not constantly having to worry about not having all the materials to "do" history. It use to not get done. Now we do our reading, coloring sheets, map work and when we have the time and materials - the projects! And guess what? We are actually making progress through the book. Who knew? I only mention this for those who might be struggling to begin science, history or whatever, because you might not have everything for the "fluff" of projects. Just do it - begin....the "fluff" will follow. :)

Forgot to Brag....... She got a 4.0!

I forgot to take bragging rights.... My oldest, Amber, made a 4.0 this last semester at college. Way to go Amber, we are so proud of you! I MADE her pose for this picture so I could share our pride. Hope you are having a good school week.

Simple Woman's Daybooks

FOR TODAY January 11th, 2010

Outside my window...
I see some lingering snow, just a dusting from our wonderful evening of snowfall. It is very cold and the only wildlife to be seen in our woods are the squirrels. The trees are bare and plentiful.
I am thinking...
of all that is to be done today. We had a pipe burst in our garage so there is much to clean up after as well as our normal duties today.

I am thankful for...

the plumber! And my wonderful husband who rushed home from work last night to rescue us from the waterfall in our garage.

From the learning room...
We are busy getting back into our rythum and getting back into a routine. Science is going great and History as we are back to doing them as a family. K-Doodle is so much happier now that the computer curriculum has been squashed. C-Sunshine is happier now that we are back into her school day life. Working on projects together and just being a family again makes happy children in my house.
From the kitchen...
Baking raspberry muffins today to replace the ones I just baked and put into the freezer for this busy week. They are gone already! Putting chicken in the crockpot soon with some potatoes.
I am wearing...
khaki pants and long sleeve shirt, white socks and my new slippers. Sorry Flylady, I just can't wear lace up shoes!
I am creating...
Nothing at the momemt. A mess?

I am going...
around in circles at times. :)
I am reading...
Once A Month Cooking and Freezer Assets
I am hoping...
that this week runs smoothly.
I am hearing...
Our puppy Lucy chewing on her toy.
Around the house...
Putting away the last of Christmas and trying to get things organized. Going to be digging and cleaning out those closets.
One of my favorite things...
Getting alone time with my hubby.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
homeschool co-op, religion classes, physical therapy, working out at the YMCA, homeschool game day, art class
Don't forget to get your own Simple Woman's Daybook.

Changing Mid Year

After giving the GVA (Georgia Virtual Academy) a chance for a few months, I am afraid that the public Virtual Schools are just that. A public education. They definitely teach to the test, even virtually, and my daughter was asking why God wasn't in any of the stories. What was I thinking? The one thing I did get out of putting my youngest in GVA, was the importance of tracking what we are up to. I am now using the homeschool tracker to keep tabs on lessons, field trips, reading and the like. I find the software very Charlotte Mason friendly. Also during my time of insanity (GVAing) I noticed that all I saw of my oldest during school time was her back. She was working independently and we were no longer doing anything as a family. C-Sunshine kept up with her normal curriculum which I can describe as classical - Charlotte Mason-ny. I think all of us really missed being and learning together as it should be.

In getting back to REAL learning, we have returned to The Story of the World and using Apologia Zoology 1 by Jeannie Fulbright. The girls had a blast making their Zoology notebooks together and reading stories together. We have returned to read-alouds that go along with our studies. Whatever I was thinking that GVA would do for me, it didn't. Or maybe it did. I think that I now see that after six year of homeschooling, I am confident that the materials that I choose and my lesson planning is far superior to anything that the public school system could do for us. And that taking God out of the school day is noticed by even a six year old. Having God mentioned in her daily lessons is important to her as well. So, if you ever thought of taking a break and doing a virtual public school - don't. Pray about it. I am sure that He will turn your focus elsewhere.

Blessings to you all.

Brrr......It's cold outside!

Just thought I would pop in and say hello. It is really cold here for Georgia. It has been cold all week with the high's in the low 30's and high 20's. At night it goes into the teens. I thought I left the cold weather in Illinois, but it followed us. We are spending the time inside trying to get the house back together after the holidays, catch up on laundry and doing some lesson planning. Hope you are staying warm where you are. We might get snow tomorrow!

Focus

Inspired by Elizabeth, I pondered the days ahead. What word could possibly enthrall all the hopes and inspiration of the New Year to come? What do I envision the year ahead to be for our family? Then it came to me......just to Focus. Focus on what is important. Important to our family, our Lord, our community. To let go of the small things that make me lose track of those important things. Focus....redirect our days, weeks, months and year to our creator and family. To focus on what God whats me to be doing. To let go of those time consuming things that take me away from family obligations. Focus on the mundane tasks at home that make the household run smoother for my family. Focus on our homeschool. Focus on raising caring, Christian daughters who have a relationship with Christ. Focus inward and outward. So in 2010, we will just.....FOCUS.

Wishing you all a very happy, blessed New Year.