Palm Sunday

With the beginning of Holy Week, I find myself reflecting on how my time is being spent these days. Our days have been filled with the busyness of life with too much on our calendars and not enough time with our Lord or his word. We will be spending the week doing some cleaning from the inside out of our home and ourselves in preparation for Easter. Wishing you all a very blessed Easter. See you soon.

I Guess So....

Tonight K-Doodle asked if she and I could have ice cream cones and watch a movie when we got home from taking C-Sunshine to a friend’s house. “Sure thing”, I said. We stopped to get ice cream cones at the grocery store on the way home. After getting in the car, she asked “Can I eat an ice cream cone now?” “I guess so….” I said. “What does that mean, I guess so?” was her response. She had a confused look on her face. I told her that it meant yes. But it actually meant, no, but you can anyway. How many times I have used the expression. I guess so. We should not be guessing. We should not be giving permission, but attaching guilt to doing it. We should be giving direct decisive answers. Yes or no. Keep it simple. K-Doodle gets that.

Barb's great GiveAWay

Barb-Harmony Art Mom has a great giveaway this week. Check it out by visiting Handbook of Nature Study. Make sure you get her free Signs of Spring notebook page as well as viewing her spring Nature Studies. Sign up and good luck. Hope you win...and me too!

Pre Conference Curriculum Plans

Since I will inevitably change my curriculum list for next year following the convention in April, I thought that I would post my pre-convention plans here on the blog and see how they change. Once I get into that vendor hall with all that eye candy (a/k/a new book choices!), plans change. So here is what I am thinking as of late.

C-Sunshine (age 10)
Math
Saxon 6/5 (although I really like Teaching Textbooks 6 too)
Language Arts
Language of God D (CHC)
Wordly Wise 3000 - Book ?
My Catholic Speller D (not sure if I will use this again)
Language Lessons for the Elementary Child - Book 2 (Queen)
Some kind of writing or just continue with natural writing (journal, letters, book reports)
Spelling Wisdom - we use this as copy work for handwriting so it is also spelling

K-Doodle (age 7)
Math
Saxon Math 2
Language Arts
First Language Lessons
Pathway Publishing - sweet phonics about an amish family
Explode the Code - Books 3-5
Handwriting without Tears Cursive
My Catholic Speller A (CHC)

Subjects we do as a family
History/Geography
The Story of the World 1 & 2
Mapskills E and B (CHC)
This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall
Science
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the 5th Day (Apologia Science Young Explorers)finish up)
Exploring Creation With Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day
Nature Study & Notebooking - atleast 2 times a week with monthly trips to a local nature center
Art & Music Study and Notebooking
Ambleside Online Artist Study - Free Charlotte Mason resource online
Ambleside Online Composer Study
Mater Amabilis Picture Study - Free Catholic Charlotte Mason resource

Okay, so those are my thoughts for now. Along with a family devotion time and bible study. Let's see how much they change. :)

Day Book March 16th

FOR TODAY March 16, 2010

Outside my window...

Another gloomy "end of winter" day. Spring wants to come out to play, but old grumpy winter won't let her yet.
thinking...
of all that I need to do before we end out to our homeschool co-op this morning.

I am thankful for...

for home schooling mom's who keep blogs! I have found some fantastic blogs this past week which I have been exploring full of great ideas and fun activities. I am so appreciative for those mom's taking the time to share.

From the learning room...
we took a break yesterday because big sis is home from college this week. We will probably have a modified week this week.
From the kitchen...
It's still closed.......: ) I did bake yesterday, but am still lacking the desire the meal plan. I need some inspiration, so if you know of any great meal planning blogs, please share!
I am wearing...my blue floral PJ's. (again :)
I am creating...
homeschool plans and book list to take with me to the upcoming homeschool conventions. I want to try and be a bit more organized this year. Last year was my first one in my six years of homeschooling and I was like a kid in a candy store! And a bit overwhelmed.

I am going...
totry and revamp my exercise schedule and really start working on a wellness plan.
I am reading...
Recipe books, trying to find inspiration.
I am hoping...
to spend some quality time with my oldest home from college. Making memories with my soon to be college graduate.
I am hearing...
the tick-tock of the living room clock. Everyone else is still fast asleep....ah, peace.
Around the house...
trying to find a place for everything and put everything in it's place.
One of my favorite things...
My new bird feeder. A Christmas gift from my girls. Just wish the birds would find it.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
homeschool co-op, soccer practice, art class, a field trip to the Coca Cola Museum (possibly) or a trip to the mall with big sis, big consignment sale this weekend
Don't forget to get your own Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Pi Day!

Enjoy all things round. Check out this great post from Forever Geek. Have a restful Sunday. :)

Explorations in Antiquity Field Trip

Yesterday we went on a spectacular field trip to the Explorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange, Ga. It is a museum of daily life in Biblical times and I can't rave about it enough. If you live close or travel close by, it is well worth a stop and a visit.

When we first arrived, all the children were given a head scarf to wear for the day. Just as they would have worn in Jesus' time.

Next we took a tour of a typical home during this time. They were really tiny, but efficient. Not a lot of time was spent indoors during the daytime.

This is a picture of the small stable attached to the house.

This is a picture of the judges chair which was just inside the gate to the village.

Here the girls are trying their hand at working the grinder to crush olives. This was pretty heavy and took a lot of energy to move. After the olives were crushed, they were taken to the presser.

Here is a picture of what they would use to press the olives for oil. The first "press" was the one weight on the log. This was used for the anointing Kings and other important people. The second press produced oil for cooking. The third press was for oil used for lamps.

The village well.
Here is a peek at a tomb. The bodies were laid out the same day they died. Family members would come and sit and used crying pots to mourn their departed loved one. When they filled up a pot, they would get another one. The more pots that were laying around, the better. It meant you were really loved. These were family tombs. When the next family member died, the bones from the previous family member would be tossed on the ground so that the family would always be together.
The tomb above is an example of what Jesus' tomb might have looked like. The stone would have been rolled in front of the passageway.

K-Doodle and C-Sunshine
Next we moved to the Shepherd's tent where we would make flat bread. This meal would be a typical meal for the shepherd's in the field.
We each got a ball of dough to roll and flatten.We rolled it.....And put it on the fire to bake on top of a metal top.This trip was so much fun and so informative. I can not give it justice here on my little blog. You will have to just go and check it out for yourself. Well worth the $10 admission fee. Parents got in free. Have a great weekend!

Will birdseed grow Mommy?

Today K-Doodle asked if she planted birdseed, would it grow? I had to tell her that I wasn't sure. I don't really know what kind of seed this particular bag is. So, she asked if she could try and see. First she found an old pizza box to use as her "pot". Then she borrowed some of her Daddy's potting soil and put it in the bottom of the pizza box.

Next she poked hole with her finger (or you can make lines) and put the seeds in the holes or lines.

We moved the pizza box to a sunny spot in the back yard.

Then K-Doodle put water on them by using a small shovel so that it wouldn't flood them.
We will now watch and wait and see what happens. Then we will know the answer. Will birdseed grow if you plant it?

Planning for the month of March

Here are a few of our plans for the month of March.

Around the House

• Clearing out the closets and donating unwanted items to charity.
• Working on a new chore schedule for the girls. C-Sunshine wants more responsibilities.
• Making a monthly rotating menu for Spring, including some freezer meals.
• A weekend of making freezer meals for those busy days of spring.
• Changing bed linens with lighter blankets and sheets
• Green pancakes on Saint Patty's day with lots of shamrock fun.
• Sew spring colored clothe napkins. (A Green Project)
  

Outside In Nature

• Plan and mark our square foot nature observation plot. We will be taking photo's and note booking the changes that we see there over the next few months.
• Clear a nature path in our back woods.
• Make and mount bird houses in our back yard.
• Plan and build a raised garden out back. Buy and plant seeds.
• Plant some spring flowers in front porch boxes. Plan flower garden.
• Weekly visits to our local nature centers including home school days.
• Daily outside play time to live, observe and breathe in NATURE.
• Ride bikes and scooters.
• Blow bubbles and draw with sidewalk chalk.
  

In the Learning Room

• Get items together and tagged for our homeschool group's annual used book sale.
• Write up a preliminary plan and wish list for the 2010/2011 school year.
• Decorate the learning room with shamrocks.
• Make a reading nook for K-Doodle with her own book basket, finger puppets and cozzies.
  
• Go through art supplies and replenish and refresh.
• Make paper flowers for spring.
• Update our Nature shelf for upcoming spring.

Spring is on the way......Isn't it?

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY March 1, 2010

Outside my window...

Right now the sun is trying ever so hard to shine through the clouds. Looks to be a somewhat cloudy day with some evening showers.
thinking...
of my daugher's upcoming graduation from college and all the things that need to be done in preparation for that big day.

I am thankful for...

for my family...and my extended family. There is nothing like your family to keep you grounded, help you out when you need it, and have the most fun with.

From the learning room...
we just need to get back to it. With the colds going around our house, each DD is missing a day here and a day there. We are getting a little farther behind in our joint studies such as science and history. This week we just need to focus on lots of reading and time together getting back on task. We will also be tidying up the learning space.
From the kitchen...
It's closed.......:) Not sure what I am doing here. I haven't even made a menu plan for this week. I am feeling the blahs. I need to go to Dawn's and check out what everyone told her to make for dinner!
I am wearing...my blue floral PJ's.
I am creating...
well, I am attempting to knit. My mom showed me while she was here and I would very much like to be able to knit some dish clothes

I am going...
to be working out atleast four times this week. I was successful at working out three times last week and want to make it part of our routine each week. I am also going to get out with the girls and do a nature walk this week and will post the details here later.
I am reading...
Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and my Lenten Journal
I am hoping...
that my hubby has a good week at this super busy time in his work schedule.
I am hearing...
air pushing through the heating vents. It's still cold outside.
Around the house...
Still working on my 40 bags in 40 days for Lent. I am hoping to do better this week. There is a lot of clutter tucked away in the corner and closets. Everything needs a home and a place or it needs to find another owner.
One of my favorite things...
My coffee maker. I NEED it!
A few plans for the rest of the week:
It depends on how K-Doodle is feeling. We have the following on the calendar, but we will see.... homeschool co-op, religion classes, art class, field trip to the Coca Cola Space and Science Museum, dental appointments
Don't forget to get your own Simple Woman's Daybook.