Friday, April 30, 2010

Homeschool 2009-2010

This has been a GREAT! school year for us. Lots of our goals accomplished but still many more to be realized. The beauty of homeschool is that those goals can carry over from year to year and aren't grade level specific. Our goals were simple this school year: Learn, Give and Grow. Lauren is off the charts. I'm pretty sure she's on a great academic road for learning and achieving her goals and God's assignment for her life. Next year is even more exciting and she's asking for even more academic challenge. Very exciting.

Jackson is on his way to Kindergarten. I'm so glad we waited to send him. He's so much more ready for learning in a classroom setting than last year. Not sure how long he'll go to Public School before we'll bring him home. In my mind, 3rd grade will be his first year for homeschool but again, the beauty is flexibility. I love that I have choices.

Emily is doing well. Despite all of her challenges she's learning and growing. I'm looking forward to next year and spending some more one on one time with her. We have boundaries determined for us when it comes to school. Those boundaries set by Epilepsy. When she is in seizure mode there is no going forward. Lots of read aloud books. I look forward to those one on one times next year when Jackson will be learning and challenged at TCA.

The next school year is really shaping up for my children. Speech for both the girls, co-op for Emily, College Pathways for Lauren, Kindergarten, writing club, volunteering, the opportunities are endless.

Thought I'd list out our curriculum for next year: More to get it on paper than because I really think you care....

Math U See
History Odyssey- Middle Ages
Excellence in Writing
One Year Adventure Novel-Literature
Science- TCA/Co-op
Art-TCA/Co-op
Barton Spelling
Bible- Kay Arthur


Still undecided about Literature for Emily. Thinking of Son-light for her since they have a ton of read-alouds.

We have definitely decided on Tapestry of Grace for our main curriculum through High School. For Lauren she'll take Math, Science and an elective at College Pathways through High School. It feels good to have direction. To see the benefits and successes of this crazy idea of homeschool actually working.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

In the end

In the end what will my kids remember about me?

I want them to remember I love them most of all.

I want them to remember that I wanted to spend time with them.

That messy rooms and dishes in the sink just meant I would rather do something with lasting memories.

But I also want them to remember that I made them clean it up and help with chores because everyone has a part.

I would hope they would see I chose to stay home with them because I couldn't stand to be away from them and that's why we haven't been to Disney or take European vacations.

In the end I hope they don't think about all the things we didn't purchase for them. I hope they felt comfortable enough to to talk to me about things. Understanding that I am not perfect and that I made mistakes and was a woman looking for answers on how to be a good mom, a good wife.

I hope they see Jesus in me and that I love my Saviour. When they hear old hymns I hope they remember me.

In the end I want there to be nothing left to say. We've said it all. Times up and no regrets.

Monday, April 26, 2010

LIke Sweet Honey....


Let your speech be full of grace, seasoned as it were with salt, so that you may know how to respond to each person.



Did not live up to that today.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Purge, Purge, Purge.

Minimize.

Live with less.

Do with Less.

Be satisfied.

Be content.

The opposite of poverty is enough... not excess.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Just when you thought it was safe

Did you know bratwurst can move back and forth on their own when they are on the grill. They absolutely can- if I had a video of it I'd post it. The bratwurst started rocking back and forth on the grill. Perhaps they had an air pocket in them that kept deflating and expanding because of the heat. I have no idea but they were moving and it was weird (scientific conclusion inserted).

I flipped one of them over and it rolled off of the grill pan onto the fire. Since I'm such a fast thinker under stress (sarcasm inserted) I managed to escape the fire catastrophe, barely. What is absolutely the most ironic part of this whole episode is that I was just espousing the wonders of having a grill pan on my stove.

The whole scene deserved to be on America's Funniest Home Videos.
The dimensions of my laundry room are so small I wonder if we can still classify it as a room. It's actually not a room but a walk-through from the house to the garage. Not very tidy or efficient. Trying to organize it and arrange it so it fits our laundry needs-not just a place to store stuff. My ultimate goal is to get my laundry room downstairs and have it look something like this:



I'm looking for cabinets this summer at garage sales to put above the washer and dryer instead of a shelf. I think it would be much more attractive. Right now it's horrible. :( I'll take pictures as we go on this journey and if you know of anyone getting rid of cabinets----- I'd love to take them off your hands.

Get This Dressed-up Laundry Room Look | How to Create a Dressed-up Laundry Room | Photos | Laundry Room | Workspaces | This Old House

Get This Dressed-up Laundry Room Look | How to Create a Dressed-up Laundry Room | Photos | Laundry Room | Workspaces | This Old House

Friday, April 16, 2010

Two posts in two days..... Must be chatty

Actually, not chatty today. Just throwing around an idea and really thinking that I'm on to something. I don't want to divulge anything because, well, it's not fully formed. Sort of like the cupcakes I bake. They tend to be flat in the middle- the cupcakes.

I am spending next two months getting ready for a garage sale. This one is going to be the biggest one I've ever done and I'm going to promise myself not to bring anything back into the house. It's over for a ton of items in my house. I plan on doing a little bit each day so that I'm not completely overwhelmed when the time comes around. Lots of things to sort through and let go. Loved it once and now it's time to go...on to another home or the goodwill.

Well, I have 30 minutes to get to a student's house and my hair is wet and materials not gathered. Need to stop being chatty, continue to bake my idea and get busy.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

My 201st Post and Pantry Week

Can you believe I've had 200 things to say. I'll be the first to admit that most of them are not Pulitzer Prize material. It's still fun to look back though and see my thoughts over the past two plus years.

Seems to be common theme this week. It's PANTRY WEEK. What is Pantry Week you ask? Well, Pantry week is an attempt to be good stewards of the food we've already purchased and an attempt to limit new grocery spending. The food is usually quite creative and sometimes tasty. Tonight I created a new dish (loosely based on Carole's Chicken Spaghetti recipe) and it's baking as we speak.

Pantry Chicken Spaghetti

Chicken
Mushrooms
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Cream of Tomato Soup
Cream Cheese
Velvetta Cheese
Chicken Broth
Garlic Posder
Parsley
Wortchesire Sauce
White Wine

Cook chicken in broth and white wine, add mushrooms, parsley. In another bowl stir together soups and cheeses. A dash of Garlic Powder and Worthcesire Sauce. Mix with cooked spaghetti.... bake in oven. :)!

Not low fat or low in calorie but used up a ton of ingredients that would have gone bad and tastes Yummy. Notice I didn't list measurements.... The idea is to make it like a sauce so use your best judgment and taste along the way! :)!

Tomorrow Night- TACO's....
Saturday Night Roasted Chicken, Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes
Sunday- Pork Chops, baked potatoes, green beans
Monday - Chicken Tenders, Homemade Fries, Corn, Fruit Salad
Tuesday- Pork Chops Grilled, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Wednesday- Spaghetti
Thursday- GROCERY STORE :)!

Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches. Breakfasts will be cereal until it's gone, waffles, pancakes and eggs.

Wish my family luck. Can't wait to see an empty Refrig and Pantry. It will be fun filling it up again knowing we wasted very little.