Imperfect Family

I try not to complain too much on this blog but man today was a rough day. I don't know if it's just me (maybe I am being grouchy or what) but the kids really drove me nuts today. I love being a stay at home/homeschool mom 99% of the time (well ok more or less) but there are moments I feel like ripping my hair out.

For some reason today I had to repeat myself more than twice to get them to settle down or do something. Then of course they wanted to whine about doing their school work. It just seemed like they had to push my buttons.Now I guess I really shouldn't complain because they really are great kids. They hardly ever argue and usually (notice the word usually) behave and listen to me. Today wasn't one of those days though.

Nobody seems to believe that the boys can act up. I have friends tell me all the time oh your kids are so well behaved. All the moms in my chapter of MOMS Club also love the boys and they get invited places all the time. Don't get me wrong I am glad they are well behaved and glad people like them but it feels so weird when they compliment our parenting skills LOL. Because they do misbehave at times or make wrong decisions. I don't want people to think we are all perfect. I am far from Mrs. Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver or any other family show of that era and my family isn't perfect either.

My oldest is at that stage where he thinks he knows everything and will argue with me (or at least try to ) about anything and everything even if I know better. Either that or he gets very sarcastic and even though he isn't trying to can come off like he is disrespecting me. So I have to try and correct him in that area. Don't get me wrong he is a very loving and compassionate person. He would do anything to help anyone out. There are times though that he and I butt heads.

My youngest....well he is likes to be clingy and whiny at times and though he's gotten better in the whiny area but when he gets tired it comes back with a vengeance. He is also a very loving compassionate person but sometimes (especially with his school work) he likes to be so clingy and wanting me to do everything for him or with him.

Then there is me who sometimes gets moody and no matter what anyone does it seems to be wrong LOL. Sometimes I can be the biggest kid in the room. I want it done my way and even then it might not be good enough. I too have a big heart and a compassion for people and would do anything for family and friends. But there is another side of me that isn't so nice and very hormonal. I call her Mrs. Dragon and when she comes around it's safer for everyone if she stays in her room by herself till she gets over herself.

My husband...well anyone who has a husband knows there are things you can complain about a husband. From not putting their dirty laundry in the hamper to not helping out more with the kids. But I digress. My husband is a a good man and does more than a lot of husbands but he isn't perfect either.

I really hope no one thinks we are a perfect family. If they were to come in our  home they would be so sadly disappointed. They would see kids and parents that argue sometimes and do things not all that great too. I am really ok with being imperfect (well if you asked Mrs. Dragon you might get a different answer LOL) and I don't judge anyone else for their imperfectness either. We all have our issues and that is ok. Thank goodness God loves us anyway LOL.

How I went from complaining about my kids to imperfectness I don't know. I told you I am a rambler and tend to write all over the place. A writer I will never be LOL. Good thing I just write a blog for myself and not for anyone else. If you read it I thank you and hope I don't confuse you too much with my many twist and turns. If no one reads it then hey at least I have my own little diary LOL.

Homeschool Memoirs #11

 
Please click pic. to find out more.

 

THEME:

“This week I’d like to invite you to share your favourite field-trip that you’ve been able to go on since you’ve started homeschool. I’d encourage you to include photos, but you don’t have to.”

I guess our favorite field trip has been the Natural History Museum a few towns over from us.  It has a lot of  different things to see and learn about.  Not exactly Creation based but we still have a good time going.  When we go on field trips Chord likes to bring his sketch book so he can draw the different things he see's.  He just loves to draw :).  We have gone there a few times and I know we all look forward to going again.  They also have a planetarium that is so cool to see too!! We all could spend all day there LOL!  Here are some pics from one of the times we went.  I hope you enjoy.

Laundry, Bunk Beds and Stress

Not much going on today.  Hubby went with us today to the Laundromat because he had to go to Michigan Works to update a few things so he can get his extension on Unemployment. 

While I was folding laundry he helped with school work by having Jarod read to him.  Jarod did really well.  He's really coming along in his reading.

When we got home we finished up school work and cleaned the boy's top bunk.  See we don't have a lot of room and the boys don't have a closet in their room.  So some of their big "Star War" ships were up there.  The boys have shared the bottom bunk for a while now.  Even when it wasn't all full of stuff they liked to sleep in the same bad. 

Hubby bought an extra bin to put at least most of them in and the rest on top of them (these are big ships.  Got them on E-bay :) ).  So now they have the top bunk again.  They were really excited about it now though.  I think they are getting older and need their own space.  I am glad we cleaned it up for them. 

Jarod is now sleeping on the top (he really wanted to LOL) and Chord is sleeping on the bottom bunk (Which he prefers anyway).  Besides they are both getting to big to share one twin sized bunk LOL.  Nice to have a little more room too I think.

Friday is the MOMS Club® Membership Meeting so once again I am having to get the Newsletter ready for print.  We are still working on it but this month I am not getting stressed out about it.  I figure I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.  So if it doesn't get done they can't really blame me for it :P.  I am learning not to stress the small stuff (really trying anyway LOL). 

So how about you?  Do you get stressed easily? (Oh I sure can on certain things). What is something that really stresses you out? What do you do to chill out? LOL.  I was just curious to see if I am alone or not LOL.

MOMS Club® Breakfast and Homeschool Ramblings.

Well today was a good day.  We didn't do much other than school work but after the last few days it was nice not having to run around.  Tomorrow morning it's off to my friends house.  Boys will come with me.  We are having a board and new member breakfast for MOMS Club®.  We are starting with the new members since Jan. 2008.  I think this will be a good way to get people to mingle with each other and feel more comfortable.

Homeschooling has been going well with the boys.  Chord is having problems a bit with subtracting when you have to borrow.  It's not really that he can't do it but I think he get's impatient and just does it without doing it and getting it wrong.  Then of course he has to go back and redo them.  When I tell him he has to borrow he does great and gets them all right.  It's just he doesn't want to do it I think LOL.  He can add (Carry over and all) and multiply the smaller numbers just fine though.  He's actually starting to learn a little bit of Pre-Algebra so I don't know why he just doesn't like to subtract with borrowing.

Jarod is really doing well with learning to read.  He took another Phonic test today and aced it!! I thought he would be harder to teach Phonic but I almost think he was easier than teaching Chord.  I don't know if it's because when I was teaching Chord we were newbie homeschoolers and  I was just getting frustrated.  Or if it's just easier LOL.  Chord is an excellent reader now but I just remember thinking he's never going to learn to read LOL.  I guess I am more relaxed with teaching it since we have now been homeschooling for four years though.

I think I am going to have to really go over the memorization facts of adding and subtracting.  He can do them but it he has to really think about them.  I was horrible in math so I really would like to see them understand it better than I ever did.  I think I will make a game of it though so it doesn't become more "work". 

Everything else they are doing really well in.  I love that now that we have been doing it for a while that we have our own flow of things.  Sometimes we start off at the same time but I am not really talking about time but we have a natural way we do things.  We are comfortable with each other and it's not a big fight to get through the school work.  I know we have our little school room but it's more for us a place to relax without distraction and really learn together.  Sometimes we get sidetracked with something else and it's ok.  I never feel rushed or that we need to catch up.  I know they will learn things when they are ready.  Not when I am ready :).

When we first started homeschooling I was a typical newbie LOL.  Not saying all new homescoolers are like this but a lot are.  I was making school at home instead of homeschooling.  Boy was that a hard first year LOL.  The longer we homeschool the more relaxed I have become and realizing just how much they learn without me having to do a whole lot.  I am more of an observer and helper, than I am a teacher.  I never really realized how much they can teach themselves.  Sure I am there to help them along the way but they can do a lot on their own.  They are becoming so independent as I watch them.

Well I have probably board you to tears reading this.  That is if anyone reads it LOL.  Thank you fore reading it though if you did :).  I hope you are having a great week!!!

Cleaning Bug

Well We didn't end up going to Church yesterday because our Jeep is acting up.  Looks like it might be the Alternator again.  This time it's over charging (we are thinking) thankfully since we just got a new one put in not too long ago it's on Warranty so it won't cost anything to get it fixed.  It better not anyway ugh.   Harlow has to doing things to start school so it's not the best time for it to break down but then again when is a good time right? LOL.  So pray he can get it in tomorrow and fixed!

Since we didn't get to go to Church I seemed to have gotten into another cleaning mode LOL.  Since having that post on yesterday on where we like to study I realized our school/playroom needs to be cleaned out and reorganized.  See it's a pretty small room so it's not like I can fit a lot in it.  So the boys and I once again went through their toys. (Man they collect a lot of toys fast.) So now most of their toys are back in their room. (the ones we aren't going to give away or throw away.) 

I still have more to do to it tomorrow.  I need to go through the closet and then hopefully stick one of their totes(big one too) of cars in there since they won't have enough room in their room for that.  Then of course vacuum it all out and then put the big corner desk that's in the living room and move it back into the school room (I haven't had a desk in there for a while now) and I will put my laptop and school stuff on the desk while Harlow is going to use my small desk for his computer since he doesn't have as much stuff as I do LOL.  Then I will just have to rearrange the boys desk and I will be happy. (for now LOL.)

Then of course after the school room is all done I am going (with the boys help of course) to tackle the boys room.  Try and get things a little more organized in there hopefully.  It's really hard since the bedrooms are just so small.  That I will either start tomorrow after I am done with the school room or Friday. 

After that of course I will have to go through and really clean the living room, bathroom and Kitchen but they should be a lot better to go through since they are at least kept up on for daily cleaning (key word usually).  Our room I will probably get to soon as well.  Not a lot to be done there except a little more organized.  So you can say the cleaning bug has bitten me.  At least for now LOL.  So what have you been up too?

Today was a little more relaxing than the weekend was. Just good ol' laundry day. Other than schooling the boys and cleaning up a bit not much was done today. Which was good. I love doing things and going out with the boys/family and all but it really is nice to have a day to not do too much. I know my limits so I know I at least need two days out of the week to not have to be any where. Other wise I just get cranky LOL.

Sometimes I think with homeschooling you tend to over due yourself because you want to do so much for your children and there is just so many things to do that can really help kids learn. Fun things at that. I have in the past over done myself (and the boys) and it ended up making none of us very happy. So in the now four years we have been homeschooling I have learned when to go out and do things and when to just enjoy being home with nothing much to do. It's a good thing too since the gas prices are so high.

Tomorrow the only thing we have is Church in the evening hours so it will be another relaxing day. Then Thursday is when I am going to my friends but that is ok too since we always have a good time together even when we aren't doing much :). I hope everyone is having a good week so far!!

Homeschool Moments

Well we are back to schooling again. Tuesday we didn't do a lot because they had a play-date but they did do a bit. Yesterday and today we did more things. It's been going pretty well since I am slowly getting back into full swing I think. That and because we have done some school work here and there through the summer.

I have noticed with each year I have gotten a little more relaxed with their schooling. I no longer fear if they are learning or what people will think. Now I know they learn even when we aren't sitting down and doing "book work".

Homeschool Moments is the name of my blog. To me a Homeschool Moment isn't so much about our school things but about everyday life. It could be as simple as going out for a walk and watching insects and animals or reading a good book with the boys on either side of me. Sure we have some book work but I have realized that isn't all there is to learning. No, I am not terribly organized (actually not at all LOL) but I like that because we can drop what we are doing at the moment and pick-up something else. Last year we were learning something in Chord's History book but we dropped it and started to learn more about the Presidents. Especially George Washington. Why you ask? Because that's what he wanted to learn about. He loved learning new things about George Washington and reading books about him. I didn't necessarily grade him on it we just read about him and talked about him. I knew what he was learning and to me most importantly he was loving to learn. I don't know what exactly sparked his Interest in George Washington but we followed it through and I think he learned a lot from that. This year I would love to do the same. I hope the boys come up with new and exciting things they want to learn about. Why follow a textbook through if there is so much more than that text book? Sure his History Book might have covered George Washington eventually but it wouldn't have gone into that much depth and I don't think he would have learned that much.

For our family I have learned learning isn't so much a formula or levels but a way of life. Textbooks can be useful but life can really show us that much more. This is why I call my blog Homeschool Moments :).

Well today we started schooling officially I think LOL. We have been doing work on and off through the summer. Now I am hoping to keep things going from here on out. Tomorrow we will do a little bit of schooling because they have a play date with their friend. The one that got canceled before. They have been really looking forward to it so I don't want to have them too much work. I know since we are starting early anyway (and have done some already) they won't be behind.

Tomorrow I have to laundry as well. So I will have to get up a bit early and get to the Laundromat get that done and then come home put the clothes in the house (some of the shirts will still be wet because they can't be dried) and then get the boys around and out to their friends house. It should be a good time. For boys and for me since the mom is my friend too LOL.

I hope everyone has a good week!

Homeschool Questions

Ok so over at I'm Just Sayin she has some questions on homeschooling. It's a respectful post about wanting to understand the reasons why people homeschool. Keep in mind everyone has different reasons of doing so but I thought I would answer her questions on why we have decided to homeschool. So here are her questions and my answers :).

1. What was your motivation for homeschooling? There were a lot of different reasons. They change all the time. Was it based on religious reasons? My hubby would probably say yes LOL but for me that wasn't an issue really because I could teach them about our faith at home. So I guess that would be a yes and no answer? LOL. Was is it based on curriculum - did you want more freedom in choosing what your children were being taught? Yes, I guess you could say it was because I have one child who learns things quickly and another child who is a very hands on learner. So this way I could teach them at their level and not where the schools think they should be Was it based on socializing - wanting to have more control in the people with whom your children came into contact with? Another yes/no answer for me LOL. My boys will eventually see bullying (and they have) and other behavior issues of which we don't agree. I like it that we can train them on how to deal with these situations before letting them handle it all on their own. Was it based on logistics - the nearest school being 20 miles away? No What made you finally decide to go this route? Hubby and I talked about it a lot and I did a lot of research on it. We thought at least for now (who knows in the future :) ) this was the best option for them. Will we always homeschool? I can't say for certain but I and they are enjoying it while it lasts :D.

2. Don't hate me for asking this. How to you handle socialization? LOL I don't hate you and this question is asked a lot. We are involved in many things so they don't have any social awkwardness :) What steps do you take to make sure your children are around other children and adults? We have play-dates of many different age of kids, I joined a homeschool group and a MOMS Club® also the boys are with us all the time so they can interact with adults well because they see how we interact with them. We go to the Library for Library activities and they have church friends. Are you active in a home school group? Not as much at the MOMS Club® but we do, do things with them at times. Do you spend a lot of time at church activities? Yes Maybe you utilize the local Y for activities and they meet friends there? I could go to the Local Y but I haven't as of yet. Just haven't had the time with everything else we do.
3. Do you use the public school system for any part of your child's routine? No Some children here come to the school for band or chorus, or maybe for science class. Do you send your child to the public school to take advantage of any of their programs? No, but one day I might who knows :)
4. Do your children begin and end school at the same time each day? usually but if something comes up then we alter our days. Do they have a strict schedule, at least as far as waking up and reporting to the school area of your home? If not, when/how will you transition your children into following a more rigid schedule - awaking at the same time each day so that they can follow a routine outside of the home like for college and work? Sometimes and sometimes not. As for preparing them for when they work or go to collage that can be done with any routine really. What I mean is if they were in sports(hopefully I will get them in a sport right now money is tight though.) or if they had an appointment of some kind they would need to be there at a certain time and have to get up and go. With the MOMS Club® that I am in they do certain activities at certain times so we need to get up and be there by then. This would be the same for appointments and sports etc. There is a lot of things you can prepare them for this. I could go on but then it would become a long long post LOL.
5. How many spelling bees has your child won? Oh, I'm kidding. We all know most of the recent national spelling bee winners have been home schooled children. I just wanted to throw a little funny in there? LOL good one and no they haven't won any hehe!!

6. Do you have a sense of humor? I sure do hehe :). It's probably a little late for me to ask that but...
7. Where do you find your curriculum? Do you shop for it and order it? Do you create your own? I get most of our stuff from www.rainbowresource.com . It has a lot of different curriculum so I pick and choose what I think will work (still haven't found the perfect curriculum yet LOL) we use a little bit of everything. I also print free stuff on-line and use the Library a lot ! :D
8. Do you have any worries at all about teaching your teenagers the higher level math and sciences? I, for one, could not teach chemistry to my children but I could probably teach them calculus. Is this a concern for you? No, because by the time they are older they will be doing more independent work and not need me as much. There are teachers book that help explain things and what I don't know I will find someone who can help :) or get a tutor. More than likely though they will find the answers they need on their own. Also as they get older at the age of 15 or 16 I believe they can start taking some collage courses at the local collage. They can learn things like Calculus or Chemistry there.
9. What bothers you the most about the reputation home schoolers have? What things do you hate to hear people say about you for your choice? I really hope you don't say that it's my previous post. It used to be people saying lack of socialization but I just laugh any more at that because if they knew my kids they wouldn't even ask (most people when meeting us have no clue they are homeschooled). Now I think because of the California ruling what bugs me is needing a teaching credentials to homeschool. If they would only bother looking at what the statistics of homeschooling they would see that teachers credentials have no bearing on homeschooling. Besides I have a class of two not 15-30 and most of the teachers I know (I am friends with a few ) will tell you that they are teaching things they didn't even major in at all.(like a math major teaching English)
10. Be honest, do you, at least in your mind sometimes, judge those of us who choose public school? No, because then I would be judging a lot of my friends and they wouldn't be my friends LOL. I think parents do whatever works for their family and homeschooling isn't the end all :). Do you ever think we are making a bad choice for our children? No Are you vocal about that disapproval? No, because I don't disapprove :).
11. Is "home school" one word or two? I've seen it both ways. With spellcheck, it shows it as ONE word when used as a verb, but two words when used otherwise. Please enlighten me. It can be done either way. I think we have made it pretty much one word though. It's just something we do LOL.

I hope that has answered your questions for at least my part of it and how I feel about it all. Other's will have different reasons but those are mine :). I hope that has helped in some way to help you understand.

I haven't really been doing too much the last couple day's other than being hot LOL.  Sunday we didn't end up going to church because hubby wasn't feeling well. It was such a lazy day.  I slept for a while and honestly didn't do much of anything.  Today was a little better LOL.  I didn't go any where but had more energy and did clean up the house some (not that it's that bad since I really cleaned it not too long ago).  Yesterday I didn't do my exercises like I should have.  I tell you I just had no energy ugh.  Today I did though so that's good.  Today I also did some school work with the boy's.  I am going to try to get back on track with that.  We have been out and about lately that I haven't gotten to it.  But the boy's really need it I think.  They seem to have a better attitude about things when they do their school work.  They will have Wednesday off though because they are going swimming again at the pond.  Hey that's P.E. right? LOL.  Then later we are going to the car show again (they have it every Wednesday from 6-9).  So they are learning about cars LOL.  So shop class you think? LOL.  In Michigan we don't have to report to anyone or anything so I really don't have to count anything.  More for my benefit than anything else LOL.  So how was your weekend? 

More on Homeschooling

Ok since I know a certain person (Anne) is considering homeschooling. I thought I would post a little more on it. As most everyone knows homeschooling is different for each family. For my family, and I would even say most families that homeschool it's become a way of life. It isn't so much about ok we do this subject at this time and that one at that time as it is about spending time and learning with your children. Sure some (me included on this one) use books to teach but that's not all we do either. Even for those of us that aren't unschoolers I think it's safe to say that we have used it on occasion. Meaning we learn from life as well. Whether that's going outside and watching the ants make their holes in the ground and carrying their food on their backs or going to a Museum and having your children become interested in mummies and Ancient Egypt. Something this simple can become a learning lesson. These things might not initially be for learning purposes or a lesson plan. But, when you see your child/children have that interest in these things you may stop whatever lesson you are doing to pursue a new one or you might start planning for that next lesson plan.

Homeschooling is also flexible. You can hold "school" any time of day or if you are an unschooler there is no set school time. If your child/children learn better in the morning hours you can do it then. If your child/children learn better in the afternoon or evening hours you can do it then too. You can make it as structured on unstructured as you want. It really all depends on you and your family needs.

As for my family we have a little structure and lots of unstructure LOL. We wake-up at seven a.m. (at least this year this is how we did it lol). Mainly because that's when the boy's get up anyway LOL. Then we eat breakfast and usually at eight a.m. we start schooling. But there are day's where we have to be places like the dentist, doctors or field trips where we don't get to the "typical schedule". Those day's we either finish up when we get home or do something on the road or a less school work day. There are even day's where we just didn't get to do "school" work. Doesn't mean we didn't learn anything that day. Just we didn't get paper work done LOL. Other than our start time we really don't have a schedule. I let the boy's choose what subjects they want to do. We cover all the subjects just I let them pick what they want to do first, second and so on. This makes them feel more in control of their learning. In Science and History I usually let them pic what they want to learn about too. In the last couple months we have been learning about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.

Just remember for those new to the homeschooling world to take it easy. You will really be surprised on how much your child/children learn without you having to worry about every minute they are "learning". Don't try to over due yourself. You don't have to have your child/children in every social event or every museum tour. Do what is natural for you and your family no matter what that may be. In the beginning I think most of us mom's try to over due it and that will cause burn out. So just remember to that if you are tired from going here and there and every where then more than likely so is your child/children. Learn to read your body and your kids. This will help you into knowing what you can and can not do. Just because you don't get involved in every activity or social grouping doesn't make you a failure at homeschooling. Just means you need time to just be.

I know some of you are thinking well Jody you are always doing this and that LOL. Yes, I know we do, do a lot but that's just who I am. But even I know my limits. I know when I've had a busy week or two that I too need a break. In fact the last two weeks I haven't done a lot. I have done some but not a lot. Like I said too that it's just who I am. I like keeping busy for the most part but I would be that way anyway even if we didn't homeschool the boy's. Just stay true to who you are and who your child/children are. This will be the best for you and your family. Your family doesn't have to look anything like mine.

One more thing I want to say. Since I have been homeschooling my house is never super clean LOL. I think that has a lot to do with because I like to be out and about LOL. But especially if you are new to homeschool don't expect to have the house spotless. This is an adjustment period and it will be hard to do all! Now some homeschooling families might do fine in keeping up house work and homeschooling but again every family is different. This doesn't make you a bad mom or wife either. Just means you know what you can and can't do. I usually do better with cleaning the house in the summer months when our school work isn't as much and we are more relaxed.

If this seems jumbled I am sorry LOL. I am feeling a bit tired today for some reason (I think it's the weather lol) so I hope it came out at least understandable LOL. I hope everyone is having a good day!!

What is Homeschooling?

Today I want to talk about homeschooling again LOL. I know you are all probably sick of me talking about it huh? LoL. Anyway I think people really have a misconception of what homeschooling is. Homeschooling is different for each family. Some are a more Classical homeschoolers. Some are homeschooling in the Charlotte Mason method. Still there are some that are Eclectic homeschoolers (which is what we are). Then there are Traditional homeschoolers, Montessori homeschoolers, Unit Studies homeschoolers, Unschoolers (seems to be very controversial) and then there is also the Waldorf method of homeschooling. There is also other's too but I would probably run out of room linking to them all LOL. But what I am saying is there is as many different ways to homeschool as there are many different children.

Homeschooling doesn't mean staying at the home all day long doing work at the kitchen table. Homeschooling can take just a few hours a day (if you unschool it's based on life instead of workbook and scheduled learning) because you don't have a lot of interruptions you would in a classroom like waiting for everyone to be settled and getting prepared and what not. Homeschooling also offers more of doing hands on things. For instance older children can do more volunteering outside of the home. It can also mean doing more hands on learning. Something as simple as watching ants work can be made into learning. It doesn't necessarily have to all come from books. Learning doesn't even have to take place in the home. It can be done any where and any time.

So as you can see we aren't locked in doors five day's a week eight hours a day sitting at the kitchen table doing school work. For our family we usually wake up at seven a.m. because that's when the boy's wake-up normally anyway LOL. Then we eat our breakfast and the boy's get dressed and brush their teeth. Then at about eight a.m we do some sit down school work. By eleven o'clock a.m we are usually done with that and if we don't have anything planned for that day the boy's might go outside (if it's a nice day) and play or we might find some games to play together or do a project together. Then when their friends come home from school they are free to go out and play with them. Other day's we might have things to do like go to a MOMS Club event like Create and Play or a play date with a friend. Other day's we might take field trips like to the Art Museum or the Zoo. Still other day's we might have more of an organized field trip with a homeschool group or with another homeschool family we know.

I just wanted to post this so that other's know (all though I know it won't be accepted by all but that's ok too) that homeschooling isn't school at home or not learning at all. I hope this clears things up for some.

I hope everyone had a good day!!

Summer Plans for our Homeschool.

Today Jarod finished all his Kindergarten Work. So he will be entering first grade. Chord still has a little more work to do but he's almost done too with his second grade work. This year I think I am going to still do some schooling through the summer. Not everyday or everything but just things to keep their memory of what they have learned. Like Jarod I will be doing more reading with him and working also on his math and handwriting. Chord will be working on his handwriting and his math and of course I will have him read during the summer too. I also have a music and art curriculum that I might start in Summer so when Fall comes they won't be overloaded with school work.

These won't be everyday (well maybe the reading) but I will space them out and make sure they are retaining what they have been learning. Jarod's math will be his flash cards that I got him. I have been really having to teach him visually and actively. We go out side and I make a chalk link from 0-10 and have him stand on a number and then I ask him a math addition number and he hopes how many spaces I tell him to get to the answer. I have also took coins and he counts them out as he looks at his flash cards. He is really coming around now to understanding what adding is. After a while I will do subtraction with him too. I just want him to really understand the concept of this first. For Reading I plan to get books from the Library that he and I can read together. This I hope will help him learn his phonics a little before we go in depth with it in his first grade work. As for writing I will just print stuff off for him to do.

For Chord's math I will probably introduce multiplication more. He knows a lot of the small number multiplications since he was in first grade but I want to make sure he understands this more and I have flash cards for him as well. Though he will do well with just looking at the flash cards or listening to what I am asking him. He is a very visual and auditory learner. I know he will catch on since he knows the basics of multiplying anyway. Then again for his writing I will just print some stuff off for him to do. He reads independently and chapter books and he loves reading anyway so I know that won't be a big deal. Then I will just ask him about what he is reading to make sure he is comprehending what he is reading.

We read from the Bible everyday (for the most part if I don't forget, I know bad mom LOL)so that is a given anyway. There will be day's where we won't do all these things but I think this year will be important to keep these things going. I have noticed the boy's behave much better when there is more structure in our day then when we don't have anything planned. Not to say we have every hour of the day planned but when they are having to do something everyday at some point they know what is expected and they focus on that instead of in total chaos. So during the summer we will do some school like work but it will be a lot more relaxed and we can do these things any time during the day, week or month.

Weekend and Monday catch-up. Friday we really didn't do too much. We just had a relaxing day. Yeah to finally get one LOL. I looked through the new curriculum the boy's will have next year. Seems pretty good. I might have to start some of it early. Chord tends to catch on really quickly. I got Bob Jones University Bible and English, Horizon Math, Bibloplan history for Ancient times, and God's Design for Life, The Human Body for science. I also ordered an art, music and spelling curriculum which should come tomorrow some time. So far I like them but we shall see when I start using it next year LOL. I haven't found our perfect curriculum yet even though we have been at it now for three years, for years next year.

Saturday, I went grocery shopping like every Saturday and then later went to my twice monthly Parenting support group. I have to admit though I just like going to be with friends not necessarily because I want parenting advice LOL. Not that my boy's are perfect or that I am a perfect mom but my boy's for the most part (they do have their moments trust me LOL) are pretty well behaved. So I enjoy "mom time" the most. It never hurts to learn some new things either though. So that was my Saturday.

Sunday, was of course Church. My cousin who had the fire was there too. So she and her family sat by us. It was nice chatting with her and seeing how big her kids have gotten. I don't really see much of my extended family so it was nice. She and her family are doing the best they can be in this situation so please if you all could keep them in your prayers I would be grateful. Thanks everyone!.........After Church we came home and had lunch and then went to my moms for the day. I hadn't been to her house in a few weeks so it was nice to be there with family. My mom and I are really close so it's always nice to see and spend time with her.

Monday, I let the boy's have the day off for Presidents Day and I also left to go to my friends house who also homeschools to show her the curriculum I got for the boy's next year. She wanted to take a look at them and see if she wants to order something similar. She has decided to get similar to me and some of other things too. We plan on during the summer time to get together and maybe share a few things. So how was everyones weekend?

Yesterday as you know was a busy day. Woke up and did the schooling part but then it was time to go to the boy's homeschool Valentines Day party. Hubby drove us first to my friends house because she was going to take us to the party and home since hubby works afternoons. Well Jarod decided he was too afraid of her dog to go inside LOL. We rent so we are not allowed to have animals so hence why he was scared. Usually Chord is too but he took it well this time. Jarod ended up going home with Harlow. Harlow was going into work late anyway because he had to go do somethings before he went to work. So we were at my friends house for a bit and then she drove Chord and I to the party. Later Harlow dropped off Jarod at the party too. The boy's had a great time! They never met these kids before but you wouldn't have been able to tell with the way they were playing LOL. The boy's really only knew my friends two kids but it was all fun for them anyway.

After getting home just before four p.m. I noticed my brother called so I called their house and got his wife so I talked with her for a while and then my call waiting goes off so I hang up from her and it was my dad so I talked with him a good while and caught up with each other (he lives in Arizona and I am in Michigan). I get off the phone with him spend a bit of time with the boy's and realized oh I should start something for dinner LOL then lo' and behold the phone rings again and it was my cousin. She told me about her fire (I posted about it last night) and of course I talked with her for a while. So dinner last night was quick and easy LOL.

Weird how some day's the phone won't ring at all, unless it's a telemarketer lol, and then other day's it rings off the hook. I am usually one that doesn't like to talk on the phone much either so it was very odd for me to be on the phone that much yesterday.

Today, we went to go get Harlow's eyes examined and get some new glasses. It went quickly though so that was cool. When we were paying for everything the guy doing it all was asking the boy's "why aren't you in school?" Chord proudly answered we're homeschooled. So then they guy asked them so who's your main teacher and they both pointed at me LOL. Then they all talked about what they were studying and other things.

I never know how someone will react when we say we homeschool but to be honest I don't think we have gotten very many bad comments about it. Either nothing is said or I get oh wow that's great you can do that LOL. I think the worst comment I got was back in our first year of homeschooling from a lady when she asked, Why would you do that? LOL. Didn't bother me but that was all she really said and it was a woman at the Laundromat at the time. She always talked to me after that so it really was no big deal to me. My mom was the only other one I ever heard anything negative about it but now she is our biggest supporter so go figure LOL. In general around here it seems homeschooling is accepted. I just wish there were more homeschool groups in my area but then again I did join the MOMS Club. Not a homeschool group but at least I can do things with the boy's through that. Maybe one day we will have more here. My friend and I have both been talking about making our own little homeschool group but not sure if we will or not. Just been talk so far. How was your day?

Not too much to report today. I am in a better mood than I was yesterday though LOL. So that's good anyway. Why does it seem like Winter lasts forever? Anyway today was good ol' Laundry Day. Not many people were there. In fact when we first arrived no one was there till just about when our laundry was about done in the washer. Even afterwards there were only a few people there. That's ok though because it made the boy's doing their school work go that much faster and less distractions.

After we got back I had to run to the Library to take back some books and to pick-up a book for Create and Play on Thursday. So I am finally all set for that. Create and play is a week early this month because so much other stuff is being done within the MOMS Club. Next month will be back to normal I hope LOL.

I loved watching the boy's play today. They decided that in their little world they would have a bank and a store LOL. They had boxes set up like counters and everything LOL. It was just too cute!! I have a couple entrepreneurs LOL. It was just too cute to watch.

Tomorrow I have to take Jarod in for his check-up. That's at 10:45 a.m. The only thing Jarod doesn't like about it is getting his blood pressure taken LOL. Why I don't know but we shall see how it goes. He's all caught up in shots I believe so hopefully he won't need to get any. I really hate when they have to get them. probably as much if not more than they do. I believe he is all caught up though. So how was your day?

Today was pretty much a lazy day LOL. First day all week I haven't had to run around or go any where. Tomorrow is another day though. The MOMS Club that I am in is having an Open House at a Library at 9:30 a.m. It's to advertise our club and get more mom's to join if we can. I have been a part of the club since we had decided to homeschool our boy's. So since Chord had just turned five and Jarod was three. I love being a part of it. I originally joined because I couldn't find any local homeschool groups in my area and I wanted the boy's to be around other kids and they have made many friends through it and also I have made a lot of friends too. Something I really wasn't used to since I grew up and an Army brat and we moved around a lot. Even after my parents divorced when I was 15 I never got really close to anyone. Sure I had friends but none that was really close. With the MOMS club I have met and became good friends with a lot of other moms. Some have even decided to homeschool their own kids or at least thinking about it and others that don't homeschool don't judge me for homeschooling mine. Lots of good friends. So what started off for something for the boy's has done wonders for me also.

Man it's been so cold here. I am so looking forward to spring/summer LOL. I just don't do well with cold weather and yet I live here in Michigan. Well at least we don't live in Alaska I guess LOL. I think I might have moved away to a warmer state if I hadn't gotten married to a man that loves the cold LOL. Oh well I guess I will keep the hubby though LOL. He did after all help produce our handsome little men ! :P.

Today we did school work but we did it a little later than usual. We didn't start school work till after lunch which is pretty out of schedule for us but I had to run a few errands and do a few things before we started. It went smoother than I thought it would. Usually if we wait till later in the day to do school work then the boy's get cranky and don't want to do their work but today they did really well. Tomorrow will be back on schedule though.

The water emergency was over in the mid morning so tomorrow I will be able to go to the Laundromat to do the never ending laundry. I just don't know how four people can make so much laundry LOL. It's not like all of us change our clothes every few hours so where does this laundry come from? Does it hide out till it's laundry day and then just show up in the laundry basket or what LOL. Oh well it will get done. Besides laundry isn't the chore I hate the most. The one I really don't like doing is dishes for some reason LOL. What's the chore you hate doing the most?

Yesterday the boy's asked for today off after my mom had said she was off work for Martin Luther King Jr Day. So I decided to go ahead and let them have the day off. I did tell them a little bit about Martin Luther King Jr. Next month we will do more on him and other's for Black History Month. I want them to know more than just about the more famous Black American people. So much happened both before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and after. I don't want them to know bits and pieces I want them to know as much as they can learn about many different people of many different races. That is yet another reason I love homeschooling the boy's. We can take the time to really learn about any given subject and get the most out of it and not worrying about getting to the next lesson or running out of time. I pray they will not only learn but love learning about new things no matter what the subject is.

Tomorrow was supposed to be Laundry day but there is a water emergency for the areas near here because of the cold weather the water is freezing. I could go to the town close by but it's so much more expensive to go there and I really don't like their machines. So hopefully I will be able to go to our normal place on Wednesday or if not I will have to just make it to that other town and hope for the best LOL. I hope everyone is staying warm!!

Today and Tomorrow and Everything in Between

Today was laundry day as it is every day LOL. I was a little slow to start so we got there a little later than usual but still got things done about the same time. Go figure LOL. The boy's got most of their school work done there. So we they only had a little bit to do when we got home.

Not much else going on today. Tomorrow I am watching my niece for a few hours. She is such a cutie! I haven't seen my brother or his family since Christmas so it will be nice to see them for a bit. My brother is dropping her off here at ten a.m. Should be fun and tiring all at the same time LOL. She is a good baby (she will be two in April) but babies for some reason always tire me out LOL. It's not like I have to chase her around or anything. I think it's just having a baby around that makes me sleepy LOL. Sometimes it seems like forever ago and sometimes it feels like only yesterday that mine were that little. Man they sure do grow fast don't they?!

Anyway before I get too sappy I will move on LOL. I also have to go to Crafts 2000 to pick up a few things for Thursday's Create and Play. I think the kids will have a lot of fun with that. I got off a website and idea for some indoor fun. I forget the website name so I can't link to it but for the play part of Create and Play I am going to buy some Styrofoam balls (of different sizes) and have a snowball fight with them indoors (safe area). This way it doesn't hurt anyone and it will be fun. Maybe it will be moms against kids or something LOL. We shall see how that turns out. So what does everyone else have planned?