Easter

I hope you all had a great Easter. We sure did! Between Good Friday Camp and the Easter egg hunt we had a great time. I'll be posting lots of pics soon. Today I'm cleaning all of Easter away:)
I'm also doing some lesson planning that I didn't get to do last week.
I'm very tempted to take the next three days off to do just that and start school on Thursday.

We are going to focus on math and reading for the next few weeks and since the weather is getting nicer we'll have lots of nature study trips and crafts.
For music we are doing Vivaldi The Four Seasons, Spring my favorite!
Check back soon for pics.

March update

March has turned out to be a busy month for us, not because we have tons of stuff to do but because we've been sick. Yesterday I got the chills at Church, I came home and had to call Dh because all I wanted to do was lay in bed. I thought I had the flu, I didn't get out of bed today till after 11. A6 got breakfast ready for herself and her brother!! She knows Mommy is not feeling well. X3 took another super nap almost 4 hrs, it seems after he uses his energy to play or be outside or whatever as soon as we get home he needs to take a looong nap. His body is still recovering I guess. It's so hard to tell with him. One minute he's jumping around playing, the next he's passed out on the couch. I hope we will all be feeling much better by the time Nina and Granpa get here.

I have pictures of A6 at her dance class trip, I'll be posting them as soon as I get them from the phone. The dancing thing is out, she had fun at the dance studio but she is not interested in learning how to dance anymore.

We also went to the YMCA this past Saturday. The Daisy Scouts had a pool trip. It was only for an hour but she had tons of fun. Dh and I talked about it and we decided to make her a member of the Y so that she can take swimming lessons. It's a lot cheaper if you are a member.
I can still be there with her while the lesson is going on, I just can't get in the water which is fine with me.

Dh bought the movie Enchanted yesterday, it was wonderful it's so funny and romantic! A6 is watching it as I write this. X3 is playing in his computer. A6 tells me he's been playing games that are too difficult for her to play. Boys just seem to do much better with computer or video games than girls for some reason.

This week we have Good Friday Camp then on Saturday we have the Easter egg hunt and bike race, I hope the weather is nice for the egg hunt. No rain! Sunday of course is Easter. Dh has a special meal planned for Easter, he's going to get to use his new toy a dutch oven or French oven.
I think it takes like 4hrs to cook. This should be interesting!

Holy Week

It's been a while since I posted anything, X3 got the stomach flu, he was vomiting all night which meant that we were up all night. He's feeling a little better. It's a good thing we have this week off because of Easter, we have lots of books to read but that's all we're doing.
A6 just got back form a dance class. The Daisy Scouts had a dance class field trip. She is not very flexible, she enjoyed the class okay, but told me she doesn't want to do dance class.
Well, dancing with the stars is about to start, I'll finish this post later.

What we are doing in March Part II

We had a busy week. Since we were sick the week before some things didn't get done, so this past week I've been playing catch up. We just finally got all the laundry done and put away.
The warmer it gets the more we want to be outside! Library day was wonderful as well.
We just got all these books about Easter and egg hunts, I'm still looking for St Patty's day one.
COOP went really well, I can't believe we only have 2 more Fridays of it. The kids are really going to miss it. We've been talking about having a Park day for the kids after COOP is done.
I would love to do something like that!




This week we are rowing The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Since next week is Holy Week we are going to have it "off". Which means we are going to be doing Easter activities and we'll keep reading Easter books just for fun!!! It's funny, we seem to do so much better when we are doing school things "for fun". A6 is really getting there as far as reading. I had this book schedule for last week but A6 wanted to do another one instead. So last week we read Albert. It has to do with Cardinals building a nest on Albert's hand. She loved it and even read a little bit from it.

We are done with HWT Letters and Numbers for Me. I asked A6 if she wanted to start the next one, My Printing Book right away or wait till Aug and she chose to wait. She gets to do writing everyday anyways, so we can wait! Her writing is getting much better as well. She flips some of her letters and numbers but I've been told that's normal.

I've been thinking about music lessons, specifically piano lessons. I found this site KinderBach, which other Moms that I know are using and I really like it. I like the fact that you can get away with using just a keyboard to teach piano. A6 has a huge keyboard she got for XMas.
She can learn the basics then when she is older and wants to continue we'll pay for actual lessons.
I guess eventually we'll have to buy a real piano... that's what tax refunds are for!!
I've heard over and over again how learning how to play a music instrument helps kids do so much better academically. Also learning a foreign language! Thank God we don't have to pay anybody to teach her that!!

X3 is doing good, still has a bit of a runny nose, he is using the potty all the time now!!!!! He refuses to wear pull ups to go anywhere, only to go to bed.

The kids are looking forward to Nina and Granpa coming for Easter!

What we are doing in March Part I

We are all feeling much better this week, the weather was beautiful yesterday! The kids got to go outside and play with their friends most of the afternoon.
I'm getting together a March reading list, since Thursdays is library day I decided to make a list of books to read for the month.
This month is all about Easter, bunnies, duckies, jelly beans!! Also about the real reason for Easter!
We have a lot of Easter books already, but It'll be fun to look some books up while at the library!
I'll be posting the list as soon as I'm finished!

Last Day of February!

It is leap day! is that what they call Feb 29..leap day? It's also my brother's birthday!

Happy Birthday Manuel!!

I'm still sick, can't talk at all, had to skip COOP this morning.
We had such a wonderful outing yesterday! We went to the library with other homeschoolers from our church. Then we walked to the Pizzeria. The kids has a GREAT time! Us moms as well.
I thank God that I get to see my kids build relationships with these wonderful kids.
We are planning to do this every Thursday for the next few months.

Tonight is the ladies Night Out, I'm looking forward to that!!!!

February got to me...Again

Every year I get really sick during the month of February. This year was looking good, but it got me. Sunday night it started and by Monday morning I was miserable. I laid on the couch all morning , A6 did a little bit of school, I have Make Way for Ducklings on a DVD so we were able to watch the book instead of me reading it. She picked a sentence from the book and drew the ducklings crossing the street, it was a cute drawing!

I'm not feeling that great today, I don't think I'll be going to the Ladies Bible study. I want to make sure I'm feeling better for Clubs, plus the weather is not going to be that great today, freezing rain followed by rain. What a way to end February.

Dark Side of the Moon

Last night while we were coming out of the church around 8:45pm we noticed a shadow on the moon. We were told that the Earth was casting a shadow on the moon.
Later I found this:
North Americans will be able to see a total lunar eclipse Wednesday. The next will be Dec. 21, 2010, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Web site.

A lunar eclipse only can happen on a full moon, when the moon, as it orbits the earth, passes into the earth’s shadow for a few hours, that's what we saw. When the shadow covered the whole moon it looked like it was 3D or something..it was great!!

Happy Birthday B_Pa!

Reading For Fun Week

I'm taking a break from FIAR this week. A friend from church lent us some kids books and A6 really wants me to read them to her. So instead of creating a lesson from each book, I'm just going to read them for fun, as many times as she wants me to.
Here's a list of the books we borrowed.

• Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
• Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
• Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II
• Tacky the Penguin
  
• Tackylocks and the three Bears by Helen Lester
• George and Martha by James Marshall
• Mr Putter and Tabby fly the plane
• Mr. Putter & Tabby feed the fish
• Mr. Putter & Tabby paint the porch by Cynthia Rylant

After we read each book I'll pick a sentence for her to copy and something for her to draw and that will be our school for this week!
We are going to keep reviewing the words she's learned so far using RME. As for math, we are still using manipulatives for adding and she seems to be getting that just fine!
I need to start thinking about what book I'm going to be reading the kids for COOP this Friday.

We had a busy weekend, shape and race set up, then the actual race, clean up... Dh crashed most of the day Sunday while watching the Daytona 500. My children were very disappointed Jr. didn't win. He's the only driver we know!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Thank you for the cards Nina!
Here is a card for you and B-Pa!

Snow, Ice and Rain

That's what we got in the last 48 hrs. Women's Bible study was canceled and so was Clubs.
No Valentine's Day party for us today:( So much for Club week. We haven't done much at home either. Yesterday the kids went out to play in the snow with their snowboards while I was shoveling and today their friends kept coming over to play.

Nothing exciting to blog about! That's February for ya!!!

The Patchwork Quilt

This week we are rowing The Patchwork Quilt. I haven't read the book, but I'm hoping it has something to do with making quilts! A6 has a quilting class this semester so I thought it would be fun to read books that have to do with making quilts!

It's been a busy week for me, X3 just started potty training which means I have to watch him like a hawk all day. I think he has the hang of it now, but if I don't remind him to go he gets there a little too late if you know what I mean.

This week is Club Week. Dh and I've been getting some stuff done for the kickoff of Club Week. Making display boards, digital presentations, baking cookies plus this week we are having our Valentine's Day Club party. Lots of baking for that as well.

I've been doing a lot of housekeeping as well. Going through every closet, getting rid of stuff we no longer need. I think it has something to do with this new book I got a few weeks ago.
Two words...Martha Stewart, two more words... homekeeping handbook!!
I am no Martha lover but this book is great! It has a lot of great tips. Who knew that you should never use fabric softener when washing towels?!? She goes room by room with tips on cleaning, simplifying and organizing. More practical than fancy she has really great ideas. Cleaning the house is so much easier and yes enjoyable when you have the right tools for the job!
The book is over 750 pages, so there's a lot of info but it's very easy to follow. I like that the pictures in the book are all black and white. There's something old fashion about that.
Like I said, I'm no Martha but I'll take anything that will help me keep my home running smoother and more efficient.

Wiggly Worm by X3

The Rag Coat

This week we are rowing The Rag Coat. The first time I read this book to A6, a few months ago I cried at the end. I think A6 felt it was a sad book because it made Mom cry.

When she found out this was the book we were going to be reading this week she was not too thrilled. "I don't like that book, it made you cry". I had to assure her I would not be crying at the end of it. After every page she would look at me from the corner of her eye to see if I was crying. When I was finished she actually touched my eyes to make sure they were dry...too funny!

It is a wonderful book, some parts are sad but it has a very nice ending!

This is supposed to be our vacation week, but A6 wanted to do school so bad plus we have COOP on Friday. The girls are going to be learning how to make a quilt! Which is the reason why I chose the books I did for this month.

Giants Super Bowl Champions!

I remember back in 1990, the Buffalo Bills, no huddle offense, the best team in the league. Super Bowl Sunday, Bills and Giants. Everybody thought the Bills were going to be the champions. They were flashier, Jim Kelly, faster, Jim Kelly and they scored more points per games than the Giants and oh yeah, Jim Kelly.

The Giants won 20-19!

For the last two weeks it felt like 1990 all over again. All the talk about how awesome the Pats are, Tom Brady is god, nobody can stop the Patriots especially the Giants, by the way did you know Tom Brady is god?

Giants won 17-14!


We are the Champions my friend!!!!!

Birthday Pics

Here are some pictures of A6's birthday party. The day before the party A6 had a fever and was vomiting. The morning of the party she was feeling much better but I decided to let the other moms know that she had been sick the day before. Some kids are more susceptible to catching colds than others. I think she had one of those 24 hr bugs. Only half the kids showed up, which was great because even though she was feeling much better I didn't want her doing too much. She had a great time! After all the kids left she crashed on the couch for almost three hours!

She had a ballerina cake which half of it is still in the fridge:)

Little Nino's Pizzeria

This week we are rowing Little Nino's Pizzeria.
The book is about a little boy who loves to help his Dad at their small family restaurant, but everything changes when they move to a fancier place.

The are so many cool activities to do along with this book. I'm thinking we could make a pizza using construction paper, different color paper for the different toppings!! Then we could make a real pizza from scratch. The book also talks about feeding the homeless which is a great lesson for young kids to learn.

I'm going to take a break from Reading Made Easy. We hit a rough spot, she's having difficulty with the i sounds, so I decided to take the next week or two and just review what she's learned so far. Maybe do sentences from the books we are rowing and then go back to where we left off.

That's the great thing about homeschooling, if somethings not working you can put it aside and do something else!

My Little Girl is 6 years old!

The day you were born!

1st B-day!

You had no hair and you made a mess with that cake!





















2nd Bday!
A little more hair!






















3rd BDay!
You finally have a head full of hair! and a little brother.




























4th BDay!
You picked the cake yourself!!






















5th BDay!
Your very own Princess party!





























and look at you now! Six years old!























Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!

A New Coat for Anna

This week we are rowing A New Coat for Anna. It is the story of a little girl who needs a new winter coat. Her Mother thinks of a very unusual way to get the new winter coat. It's really interesting to see how a wool coat gets made, at least back then.
The story takes place right after World War II.
It is set somewhere in Europe.
So A5, soon to be A6 will be learning about Europe!
I don't think I'll talk about the war as much, other than to point out why the Mom had no money. When we row this book again in the future I'll get into that a bit more. We'll also talk about bartering, Anna's mom has to trade things in order to get the coat made.
As for science, we could talk about wool and sheeps, dyes... stuff like that.

Speaking of wool, I used my wool coat for the first time this morning. It was 10° this morning and windy, it is 15° right now. Dh took the garbage out as soon as we got home from Church, that way he won't have to go out there tonight in the COLD.
I bought some suet for the birds, the fat should help them stay warm in the next few days.

A5 soon to be A6's birthday is this week, I probably won't be posting as much this week because of it!