Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Homeschool–Curriculum

There is definitely not a right or wrong when it comes to choosing a curriculum for your homeschool.  It varies with each family and very often with each child.  I’ve only barely touched the surface with the list below.  We try to integrate both Thomas Jefferson Education and Charlotte Mason methods in our homeschool, neither of which are a ‘curriculum’ in and of itself.  We still choose what books and methods work best for us.  And quite honestly, it changes with circumstances.   

Popular Curriculum Choices:

A Thomas Jefferson Education

-A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille

-A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion by Oliver DeMille, Diann Jeppson, and Rachel DeMille

Charlotte Mason

-Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling Series Vol. 1-6 by Charlotte Mason {These can be read online at http://amblesideonline.org/}

- http://www.charlottemasonhelp.com/

- http://milestonesacademy.com/

-A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola

Montessori

-Google “Montessori Activities”

Unschooling

-No direction, no structure. Learning is all child directed.

Sonlight Curriculum (Full Boxed Curriculum)

- http://www.sonlight.com/

K12 (basically public school online)

-Teacher from school district is involved in checking on progress.

-Absolutely free (including computer)

- http://www.k12.com/

Five in a Row

- http://www.fiarhq.com/

Classical Education

-The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education At Home by Susan Wise Bauer

- http://www.welltrainedmind.com/

Unit Studies

-Just Google “{whatever subject} unit study}”

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Pictures, Marathon, Friends…WOW!

**WARNING:  High volume of pictures… and a video… but first there’s a whole lot of babbling!  Warned again.

It was one of those weekends!  Jam-packed and so much fun… yet so much drama! 

First off, I took the kids to get their pictures taken.  My mother-in-law had given each grandchild $50 for the new school year.  Since we homeschool and we don’t get the traditional school pics every year I decided to have some taken. 

That was an adventure!!  I was worried about doing it by myself with the boys… Anthony had to work.  When I had first mentioned having pics taken to C he asked if they would give him a shot. 

I opted not to tell him that pictures are sometimes called ‘shots’…

He was satisfied at ‘no’.  So, that morning we gathered up a few personal items to take with us for the shoot.  Each child brought something meaningful to them.  For C I chose to bring Anthony’s cowboy hat and boots since C is always wanting to wear them.  We brought B’s Utah jersey, a football, and Anthony’s UTE helmet because seriously, the kid LOVES football!  And he’s got a pretty great cheer for the Utes! 

The girls brought their own things; American girl dolls for K, gymnastics outfit and doll for A, and a stuffed Goofy for H. 

The photo session went remarkably well!  Boy was I glad for that!  The boys cooperated and thought it was so funny when the lady did her shenanigans to get them to smile. 

Shenanigans… don’t you just love that word?

Anyhow, then of course there was “The Sale”.  UGH!  How I hate that part!  She had to explain to me every stinkin’ package and show me every stinkin’ special effect they could do with the photos.  I told her I was very limited in my funds.  I wanted the $3.99 per sheet deal and I was NOT going to go over $50 total! 

She didn’t care… she still went on and on about how great this package would be and that effect would be.  I didn’t physically roll my eyes but in my mind my eyes were rolling all over the place.  I knew what I wanted already!

Meanwhile, the boys were getting extremely restless so I sent K to the front of the store (Target) to buy a pack of M&M’s for each of them.  But of course the rest of the kids can’t possibly sit patiently next to me and wait… Oh no, they had to go with her. 

She came back… leaving the rest of them at the checkout to ask if the M&M pack was the right size.  Like I care what size!  Just get the M&M’s and get back here!  Silly goose.  They finally come back, eat their M&M’s, lady is still going on and on, and the boys are out of control.  K was kind enough to follow them around for a few minutes and then….

Here she comes, crying… with a fan thing stuck in her hair!  NICE!  It just doesn’t get any better.  C had got this little candy fan stuck in her hair while trying to show it to her.  We had to cut it out.  Never a dull moment!

And the lady STILL went on.

I was finally able to order what I wanted (didn’t go over the $50, hooray!) and we left.  PHEW!  Got that one out of the way.

Can’t wait to pick up my pictures tomorrow.

Now let’s talk friends… and a marathon.

Friday Anthony took the day off because we were going to Logan for a marathon on Saturday.  Lucky for us we have some friends that live there.  Even better is the fact that they live ON the route itself!  The very end of the route which means no driving for me in a town I know next to nothing about. 

It isn’t often that we are invited to stay at someone’s house.  I mean, really… we are a big deal!  And I don’t mean in the sense that we are really cool.  More like we are hard to take on.  We are very rarely even invited to someone’s home for an evening, let alone overnight! 

So when Kevin and Tiffany were generous enough to invite us to stay, along with some other friends of ours (that Kevin and Tiffany don’t even know), we were forever grateful.  They are seriously the coolest people ever!  Unfortunately, I got pictures of all the kids and all the husbands but not a single one of the wives.  WHAT WAS I THINKING??  This is a highly sophisticated one of Kevin.

Kevin

C and their little boy were instant friends despite the fact that it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen them.  We met at the Brigham City open house before heading to Logan.  C and their little guy held hands for much of the tour.  I had originally planned on staying in the car with the boys thinking they would be asleep by then from the ride.  After all, it WAS nap time.  So, I wasn’t dressed in my Sunday clothes.  The boys were not asleep and they were not happy about staying in the car. 

We all went in… jeans and all.  I’m such a heathen! 

The temple was beautiful and C made sure to introduce himself to every usher we came across.  “I’m C!” 

Some of them were really cute about it and others just wanted to hurry him along.  I was shocked that both he and B did so well.  The last temple open house we tried was a bit chaotic with them.  My little boys are growing up! 

Oh wait… these are the same boys that ran around Target like mad men.

Anyway, after leaving the temple it was off to Logan. 

Tiffany immediately set to work making a spaghetti dinner.  Homemade sauce, breadsticks, salad, the works!  By the time it was ready, our other friends had just arrived.  He was also running the marathon.  They had a babysitter for their little ones.

Breadsticks

Kevin and Tiffany insisted on serving us which I felt a little odd about.  So we sat… and as she brought the pot of spaghetti in she ‘TRIPPED’!  **GASP!**  She told A that she had tripped her and the food had spilled all over the table.  A’s face was beet red and I couldn’t help but laugh.  It’s like when someone falls and you immediately laugh but you don’t know yet if they’re hurt… like that. 

Then Tiffany said she might as well finish it off and dumped the rest on the table.  We were all laughing but not really knowing whether we should be.  Then Kevin reached over for the bowl of spaghetti in front of Anthony (minus the meat) and dumped it out, too! 

And then it all made sense… there were forks on the table but no plates.  It was all done on purpose. 

I SO WANNA TRY IT!  Who can I try it on?  I guess if you’re reading this I won’t be trying it on you ;)

Spaghetti Dinner

We all gathered our portions in front of us and chowed down.  So fun!

The kids had fun playing before and after dinner as well. 

A Jumping

B Helmet

B in Goggles

C in goggles

H Jumping

Little K and C

Little K

Sleep was much better than the last time we were away from home.

And Saturday was the marathon!  Anthony had taught me how to track him on Endomondo so I would know when to take the kids to the top of the street to watch for him.  That was about mile 24. 

It still weirds me out to think that people run that far… for ‘FUN’!  Really?  Is it really ‘fun’?  To each his own…

That 24 mile mark is also a water station so the K was all about helping any way she could.  That is until Anthony came by.  She planned to run the last couple of miles with him. 

K at drinks

H helped by handing out fruit. 

The other kids just played and waited. 

B waiting

waiting

Then C realized what K was doing and wanted to join in as well.  I am so bummed that the video didn’t capture the cutest part.  Just after it rang (stupid 800 number!) and shut the recording off, a guy grabbed the water from C, thanked him, and C turned around and yelled, “You’re welcome!”  Then he walked up to me and said, “That guy said thank you, Mom!”  It was priceless.

Water Boy 2 

Water Boy

The 800 number people couldn’t have waited another 30 seconds… REALLY?  GRR!

There were lots of interesting runners.  Like the barefoot guy and the blue hair guy. 

barefoot runner

Blue Hair Runner

Finally, Anthony came by.  He surprised C and took a cup of water from him and ran off.  K was off as well. 

high five

Anthony and C

And that’s when we had a meltdown.

C's fit

Apparently C thought he would be able to run with Anthony when he came by also.  Instead we had to head the other way to get to the finish line.  Anthony and K crossed and we were waiting for Nate.

  Finishing

K finishing

C with Dad

That’s when C decided he was hungry.  He ordered a hot dog.  Unfortunately for him I hadn’t brought any cash with me at all.  My purse was at Kevin and Tiffany’s house.  So he just stood there with hunger in his eyes.  The lady finally gave him a pack of Starburst.  Anthony apologized for not having anything to pay with.

  Hungry

Nate crossed, we took pics, went to The Pizza Pie CafĂ© (gotta try it if you haven’t!), then headed home… TO THE UTAH VS. BYU GAME! 

Kevin and B

Anthony and Nate

More about that in another post.  I’m pooped!   

 

 

Monday, September 10, 2012

Homeschool–Tips and Advice

Here are a few things I have learned over the years as a homeschooling mom. 

With homeschooling there is no typical day. Every day is different and sometimes unexpected things pop up. Only one out of ten days (if that) turn out exactly the way you planned it.  Expect delays and changes.  They are inevitable!

No family is exactly the same. The dynamics of each family is different, therefore you need to plan accordingly. DO NOT try and copy someone else’s daily schedule. You need to figure out what works for you.  Take ideas from others but don’t get down on yourself if it doesn’t work for you. 

Have fun with it! Don’t stress the small stuff. If your child is not ready to learn something it’s ok. Just because one child learns to read at 4, it doesn’t mean he/she will be a better reader than a child that learns to read at 6. The potty training analogy: A child that potty trains at 2 is not a better potty goer at 25 years of age than the child that trains at 4 or 5…. just sayin’.  :)

Expect that every child will be different. We (Brooke & Anthony) have three girls with three very different learning styles. One is extremely visual, one is auditory with a dose of photographic memory, one is kinesthetic/visual… hearing something means next to NOTHING with her. This is why we don’t believe you can plug 20+ children into a classroom and expect that the curriculum will work for all of them.

Relax! Your child/ren will learn. You don’t need to cram facts or worry that they are behind. Let your child learn at his or her own pace. They WILL learn it whether it be now or later. It really doesn’t matter when. Students teach themselves. You are only there as a mentor.

Get Dad, grandparents and other family members involved. They have so much to offer! 

  • Anthony has taught the kids so many things that I could never have taught them myself. 
  • Anthony’s Dad is into nature, birds in particular.  Because of his influence K is able to identify many birds by their calls alone.  And if she sees a bird she is able to tell us what kind it is almost without fail.
  • My mom comes over once a week and teaches K and A to sew.  That is something that I never learned to do even though my mom has a phenomenal talent for it! 
  • A neighbor of ours taught the girls to crochet… several years ago.  Another thing I never learned to do.  And just this week they have been crocheting up a storm! 

 

I’ve got a couple more posts in this homeschooling series but I don’t want anyone to think that we feel that EVERYONE should homeschool.  We absolutely do NOT think that.  I am just so grateful that the option is there for us.  The public/charter/private schools absolutely serve a great purpose in our communities.  Homeschooling is not for everyone.  In a home where both parents work it is most likely not even an option.  And there are a hundred thousand other reasons that homeschooling may or may not work for you.

Having said that, I do have to say that I think that in order for ANY educational route to work for ANY child, the parents need to be as involved as possible.  Especially in those younger years.  Maybe join the PTA, ask a lot of questions, sit down and do homework together, etc.  Show an interest! 

 

I hope that if you’re considering homeschooling you’ll research it all that you can.  If you have any questions for me I would love to answer them.  Please email me or leave a comment. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Back to School Healthy Eating Campaign

Last week while going through my emails I ran across an email from Tillamook… as in the CHEESE!  I don’t know about you but I’m pretty sure they have the best cheese around.  There are some close seconds but if I had to choose a winner, Tillamook takes the cake.  Or the cheese? 

They are doing a Back to School Campaign to promote kids eating healthy.  It’s so easy to have certain junk foods on hand for after school snacks or to stick in their school lunches but what about the healthy stuff?  Are we, as parents, doing all we can to make sure our children get the best nutrition possible?  I’m not saying we should NEVER allow our kids the sugary, sweet stuff they enjoy but maybe just limit it to special occasions.  Keep the treats as an actual treat… not the norm. 

Tillamook is trying to get the word out there that eating healthy can be fun and delicious as well as trying to help feed the hungry.  If you have a great recipe or tip for healthy eating, they would love for you to submit it to them (by the 14th of September) and for each tip or recipe that is submitted, Tillamook will donate $10 to Feeding America.  Plus you’ll be entered to win a backpack full of goodies!!  I received one this week and let me tell you… it is well worth winning!!  

One way that I have found that helps my kids (even the older ones) eat more healthy foods is to cut it into smaller chunks.  Why does this work?  I know not… the cuteness of the chunks, maybe?  Another thing that makes it even MORE fun is to eat the chunks with a toothpick.  Something different from the ordinary fork.  Changing things up a little sometimes makes all the difference in the world.

Bite Sized

But wait, there’s even more… Tillamook is offering a 15% through this Saturday, the 14th!  Just head on over to the Tillamook Shop and use code BACKTOSCHOOL to get the discount.   

Bite Sized 1

Friday, September 7, 2012

Kids Gettin’ Their Craft On: TP Roll Bracelets

You know those hot summer days when the kids are just bored out of their minds and there’s absolutely ‘nothing’ to do? 

Yeah, we have those too.  Never mind the fact that we have toys coming out our ears and books that have yet to be read.  Those things just won’t do on ‘boring’ days such as the one we had a couple weeks ago.  Of course those days are over now (crossing fingers) that school is back in session and we are getting our homeschool groove on.  Ok, maybe only in a perfect world…

But a couple weeks ago, K and her friend found something to do on just such a boring summer day.  It was a miracle!  I didn’t even have to help them think of it.  They just asked if they could have some toilet paper rolls (that I’ve been saving for another project) and some yarn.

TP roll bracelets 

Sure!!  Why not? 

And this is what they came up with….. 

All they did was cut the TP roll in half to make two bracelets, snipped one side all the way down the middle to create the opening, then put a light layer of glue on the outside and wrap the yarn around.  Does it get any simpler?  I dare say not! 

TP roll bracelets 1

Once it’s done, simply put it on your arm like a cuff. 

Aren’t they cute?  Creativity at it’s finest! 

TP roll bracelets 2

**Note:  The only problem they ran into was that K flattened her TP roll out too much as she glued which made it difficult for it to stay on when it was done.  Keep it rounded as much as possible. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Oreo Layer Dessert

Oh Oreos…

What more is there to say?  Who doesn’t love a good ol’ fashioned Oreo?  Man!  I could really go for some Oreos right now.  Too bad we don’t have any :(

I was supposed to bring a dessert for the ward campout a couple weeks ago and in light of the Pinterest Challenge I was doing (Yes, I did it.  Maybe not every day but I did what I could and made a few yummy things) I looked up a recipe from my dessert board. 

I’m pretty sure it was a smash hit considering that it was the first dessert gone and trust me, there were MANY! 

And it was so easy, too!!  Didn’t even have to turn on the oven!  {Quality of pics is poor… I only had my cell phone handy}

Oreo Layer Dessert

1 pkg of regular Oreos, crushed (divided)

1/2 c. of butter

1 lg box of instant chocolate pudding

2-8 oz Whipped topping (Cool Whip)

8 oz. of cream cheese, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

Crush a whole package of cookies in a ziploc bag with a rolling pin.  Reserve 1/2 cup.  Pour crushed cookies into a bowl, melt butter and pour over crumbs. Stir and press crumbs into 13x9 pan. Make chocolate pudding according to package directions.  Refrigerate until set up.  Blend softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and fold in 1-8 oz tub of whipped topping.  Spread evenly over crushed Oreo layer in pan, then spread pudding evenly over cream cheese layer.  Finally, top evenly with second tub of whipped topping.  Sprinkle reserved crushed cookies over the top.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe Source:  House 344

Oreo Layer Dessert 1

Oreo Layer Dessert 2

Monday, September 3, 2012

In Memory of Harley Ice Cream

How I wish I had more pictures of our Harley.  She really was the sweetest dog you could ever know. 

We first rescued her from the shelter almost 6 1/2 years ago.  Not knowing how old she really was… always guessing.  The people at the shelter guessed between 2 and 5 years old at the time.  The girls wanted to name her Ice Cream.  Anthony and I added Harley and her name became Harley Ice Cream.

I admit to being somewhat afraid of her at first.  She was supposed to be a friend for our then 6 month old puppy, Moe (Moseley Chicken Little to be exact), a black lab. 

Harley couldn’t stand Moe at first and she nipped at the kids a few times.  We considered taking her back but after about a month, she was sweet as pie!  The kids pulled her ears, pulled her lips, rode on her back and so much more.  Moe was still an annoying little pup but they became best buddies. 

She was not a normal dog.  Going potty on the grass??  Why do that when there’s a perfectly good slab of cement to use? 

Harley was also a barker.  We’ve had animal control called on us more than once for her incessant barking.  She would bark, then Moe would start barking, then they would both begin howling.  Oh man it was beyond frustrating but I’d give just about anything to hear it again right now. 

The barking stopped a few weeks ago.  Harley was too sick to even think about barking… however, she would still run around.  Go figure!

Over the past 2 months Harley went from being about 75 pounds to only 40 pounds.  She couldn’t keep anything down and she had problems out the back end, too, if you know what I mean ;). 

I had called around to different vets and found their prices just to walk in the door (let alone the testing) to be more than we could handle.  My mom decided that she couldn’t stand to see Harley in the condition she was in any longer and took her in last Wednesday.  After testing, IV injections of every anti-nausea/anti-diarrheal medication the vet had (none of which phased her in the least), some x-rays, and a three night stay in the doggie hospital, it was determined that Harley Ice Cream had cancer.  It was never officially confirmed because the testing and ultrasound for that would have been almost $400.  But all signs pointed to cancer and there was nothing that could be done. 

Anthony and I made the tough decision to have her put down.  She didn’t need to suffer anymore. 

It was heartbreaking to tell the kids because I had already been telling them she would be home the next day… then it became the next day… and the next.  I thought they would figure out what was wrong and we would bring her home and things would be fine.

Things were not fine.

Please excuse the quality of the photos, they are all taken with my phone.  These are pics of the kids saying their last goodbyes this past Saturday.  **Sigh** Breaks my heart!

Harley

Little C couldn’t understand at first why we were all crying walking into the room.  There was Harley and we should be happy!  It made me realize how simple life is for little children.  We tried explaining to him that Harley was going to go live with Jesus in Heaven. 

I took the kids back to the car for the actual ‘procedure’.  Anthony stayed with Harley so she wouldn’t be alone. 

We went to the park and got some ice cream to hopefully make the day a little brighter for the kids after leaving the vet.  We didn’t want them to go home immediately and just dwell on the fact that she was gone. 

Once we finally did make it home (after it had rained) there was a beautiful rainbow right above our house!!  (This pic doesn’t do it justice at all… remember it was taken on my phone)  We decided that it was Harley letting us know that she is ok.  She’s happy now and no longer in pain and I’m sure she’s not starving anymore.  I wonder what they serve in heaven…

rainbow

And we know she’s in heaven because… All Dogs Go to Heaven, right? ;)

C was so cute about the rainbow.  “That’s Harley, huh Dad.  She made a rainbow with her magic!”  He wouldn’t come in the house until the rainbow had faded completely. 

We all miss her but poor Moe misses her the most, I think.  He’s lonely, and kind of lost.  Poor guy doesn’t know what to do without her.

We love and miss you, Harley Ice Cream!!  

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Pink Taffy Designs Giveaway!!

I was so excited to be contacted by Pink Taffy Designs to help them in spreading the word about their AWESOME giveaway!  After taking a look at their adorable line of products for babies I am completely in love.  Check it out, I'm sure you won't be disappointed either.  Simply darling!

Welcome to the Pink Taffy Designs Giveaway Event! Pink Taffy Designs, an adorable baby boutique, will be giving away one of their most popular products - Wall Letters.

This giveaway will last for two weeks starting September 3rd and running until midnight, September 16th. You'll enter by using the Rafflecopter below to enter. We wish you the best of luck! And make sure give the form a minute to load :)





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