Homeschool Mother's Journal- March 1

Wow!  It's March!  :-)

In my life/homeschool this week: Another good week at the Home to 4 Kiddos.

On Monday, Kiddo #4's sewing lesson was cancelled.  Her teacher was sick.  Kiddo was disappointed, of course, but certainly understood and is hoping that Miss Ilsa is feeling better soon.

We are continuing with our special activities for Lent and reading some beautiful books together.  I wrote about some of these things in my Monday post that you can read here.

On Tuesday, I hosted my weekly recipe linkup.  As of this writing, there are 67 recipes and counting shared!  Wow! It is the most ever for my little blog hop.  :-)  You can see my chocolate chip banana bread recipe and all of the others here.

Kiddo #4 started a powerpoint all about her and her "pigies."  I can't wait to see it.  The animations so far look terrific.

The Kiddo's Italian lesson was also on Tuesday.  One of the activities the teacher did with them was to give them bananagram letters and have them spell as many words in Italian as they could.  What a fun idea.  :-)

On Wednesday, Kiddos 1 and 2 had their online class while Kiddos 3 and 4 worked on division with remainders.  They got it and quick!  :-)  I also posted some random photos on my Wordless Wednesday post that you can see here.  On Thursday, I also posted some fun photos and asked for your prayers for my husband's grandmother.  You can see that post here.

On Thursday, the Kiddos played a game that I had bought last week.  It is definitely my Favorite Resource this week.  I had decided to cash in my container of coins and got enough to surprise the kiddos with this game and a couple of others things that we needed at the store.  How awesome was that!  Coins do add up.

The game is called "Name that State."  It is a fast-paced fun way to learn U.S. geography, state capitals and some basic facts about each state.  They had a lot of fun.  Hey!  What a concept!  Learning can be fun.  :-)  :-)

In my class at church on Thursday, I continued to work on a lapbook with my students. (yes, I have introduced them to lapbooking and they love it!)  We also saw a film about Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.  It was animated, but very well done.  I want to look into the title so I can try to pick it up for my children.  Kiddo #1 had his Civil Air Patrol meeting.  He is thrilled about an upcoming opportunity to fly in a C-130, among many other trips and activities coming up soon.


What I'm reading: "Holey, Wholly, Holy"  "The Interior Castle"

A photo or quote to share:  "As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst... 'Repent and believe' Jesus tells us.  What are we to repent?  Our indifference, our hardness of heart.  What are we to believe?  Jesus thirsts even now, in your heart and in the poor-- He knows your weakness.  He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you."-- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up February 22

It has been a good, but busy week.  :-)

In my life/homeschool this week: Sunday, hubby, the kiddos and I went to an outdoor show after church.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids got to do archery, watch a live show with wolves and see a lot of other exhibits.  You can see more photos of it here.

Monday was President's Day.  Hubby was home, so the kids and I had a day off with him, enjoying getting some things done around the house.

We put up our Kind Words Cross.  You can read all about it here.

Tuesday was a good day getting our work done.  I posted my weekly recipe linkup and shared Kiddo #4 baking her Whole Wheat Brownies.  They were really good!  Come by and see her recipe and all of the other recipes that were shared here.  There are lots of good ones!

The kiddos also had their Italian lesson.  They are learning so much and it is a wonderful experience to witness first hand when the lightbulbs go off, or when they are able to have simple conversations with each other in another language.  Too cool!  :-)

Wednesday was a great homeschool day-- lots accomplished.  You can see more photos of it here.

Our Lenten bean jar is getting more and more beans in it.  The Kiddos are making a conscientious effort to do kind deeds.

On Thursday, Kiddos 3 and 4 had their online class.  They are really enjoying it and learning quite a lot.  Kiddo #4 also published her homemade still-image photo "movie" to YouTube.  I am very proud of her.  She planned a story, acted it out *one frame at a time* and photographed each and every one. (several hundred photos).  It is really quite sweet.  If you have six minutes to spare and would like to watch it (you can always just fast-forward to the end), you can see it below.  The end with two of the dolls giving the other a present is just too cute to miss!  Now Kiddos 1, 2 and 3 are getting all kinds of ideas for publishing their power point presentations in this format!  You have to love and encourage that kind of excitement.  That is what makes the journey of homeschooling all worth it!  :-)

Thursday evening had us with our classes at church (I teach, Kiddos 1 and 2 are teenage helpers and Kiddos 3 and 4 are in classes) and Kiddo #1's Civil Air Patrol.  He is really enjoying the experience.  They have some wonderful activities planned for the upcoming months, including going aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York and staying on Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.  He can't wait!  :-)

I have some fun planned for Friday, including a new game on the states.  I'll be sure to take photos!  lol.  :-)

How is my 3 in 30 coming along?

My goals this month are to get our vacation photos from last September all printed out, get more of the afghan crocheted that I am making for a family member and to get more blog posts redone since my photos were all wiped out.

I have officially "fixed" 200 blog posts!  I have gotten to May 3rd done.  Phew!  All of the photos are back in to that point.  I am getting there!  :-)  A few more rows were done on the afghan.  I didn't get any more photos printed, as my toner ran out. (lots of homeschool projects to print!)  But, the new toners are now in the printer, so hopefully I can make up for it this coming week.  Come link up with Aurie and share your progress this week.

A photo or quote to share:  "Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life."- Pope Benedict XVI

"Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life: the one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast.  The other of satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache."-- Fulton J. Sheen

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- January 29

Last week was another spectacular linkup.  If you haven't gotten a chance to go back and see all of the recipe that were shared, you can find them here.

Yesterday (Monday) was my dad's birthday and my parents' wedding anniversary (yes, he still says that she was the best birthday present he ever got.  isn't that sweet?).  Kiddo #1 baked them a cake using his own recipe that he has tweaked from various sources over the last couple of years.  We all look forward to it on special occasions.  :-)

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat oven to 350.  Grease and flour baking pan.  Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl.  Mix well.  Pour into pan.

Bake oblong 35-40 minutes, layers 30-35 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean.  Cool.

Frosting
1/3 cup soft butter or margarine
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
About 2 tablespoons milk

Blend butter and sugar.  Stir in vanilla and milk.  Beat until desired consistency.  Spread onto cake when cool.

Linking up with the Gathering Spot, Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows,Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday,NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things, Modest Mom, Full Plate Thursday and Melt in your Mouth Monday and Show Off Friday and Tuesday's Table and Look What We Did and Titus 2sday,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Crafty Spices, Better Mom,Create with Joy, Thursday's Treasures, Tasty Thursdays and Wonderful Food Wednesday and Mondays with Countrified Hicks

Thankful Thursday- January 24

On this cold Thursday, I am thankful for many things including......

an awesome Chemistry program with fun experiments

a Kiddo who decided herself to make sugar cookie dough

and her brothers who happily joined her to make cookies

for animal cookie cutters found in the clearance aisle at the local market


for a fun and delicious activity on a cold winter's afternoon.....

Linking up with ,Lisa at The Army Chap's Wife, NOBH,Miscellany Monday, Raising Homemakers and Modest Mom and Raising Mighty Arrows,, Spilled Milkshake,Crafty Spices,  Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, and Just the Stuff Ya Know

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up December 14

Another week has come and gone!  :-)  First and foremost, I have to thank all of you who voted for my blog in the recent Homeschool blog awards.  I found out today, that my blog was in the top 10 and I am very humbled; I was in amazing company among all of my fellow nominees. What an honor! :-)
                                                        

It has been a good and busy week.  On Monday, there was sewing class for Kiddo #4 (she has been working on Christmas presents for everyone!) and her IEW class, along with our Advent activities.  It always warms this mama's heart to see one kiddo helping another.

Of course, Kiddo #1 making everyone a chocolate cake was a highlight, as well.  :-)

On Tuesday, we went to the Adventure Aquarium.  What an awesome trip!  We really enjoyed it.  I posted a bunch of pics here.  I also had my weekly recipe share.  Over 20 great recipes were linked this week.  You can see them all here, as well as my chocolate chip cookie recipe.  :-)

Wednesday was Kiddo #3's 11th birthday!  Our animal lover had one wish on his birthday-- to go to the zoo, so go to the zoo we did.  Another wonderful trip!  There were no crowds and the animals were active.  One of the best trips to the zoo we've had!

On Thursday, the kiddos worked on their Jesse tree ornaments as well as us continuing to read from "The Christmas Tree."  What a heartwarming story for Advent!  It is told from the point of view of the gardener of Rockefeller Center and how a tree, that was befriended by an orphan many years before, becomes a gift of love.

What I'm reading: "The Christmas Tree" with the kiddos.

What I'm praying for: victims of natural disasters, those who are unemployed, ill, or suffering, my family, those who have lost loved ones, our nation, our military....

A quote or photo to share:

Just one of the many beautiful shots from the zoo.  :-)

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Field Trip Friday and Friday Connection.

Make Life Meaningful Monday- November 19

The kiddos and I had some fun baking this weekend.  We made glazed apple cookies (which they enjoyed down to the very last crumb, lol!)

chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies

chocolate chip muffins

and pizzelles

After sampling some, the rest of these were put away for Thanksgiving.  :-)  Perhaps we'll make some more apple cookies to enjoy on the holiday sometime this week.

I hope you had a wonderful, meaningful weekend with your family!

Linking up with On, in and around Mondays in addition to Wisdom Wednesday, Living Well Wednesday, Mom's Monday Mingle, Monday Mingle, Modest Mom, Crazy Mama, Homemaking Wednesdays and Raising Mighty Arrows

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up September 21

Another week in the books and I can say that my head is spinning a bit less, lol.  :-)  We're all getting back into the swing of things.

In my life/homeschool this week:  Monday was my birthday.  It was a fun day.  Kiddo #1 had his first Chemistry class.  Other than it being "too early," lol, he seemed to enjoy it.  After that, the Kiddos and I played hookie from school work and hubby and I spent the day with them at the park and out to lunch.  Hubby and I even got to go to the movies twice for my birthday-- once over the weekend and once on the actual night.  Wow.  :-)  We saw "Last Ounce of Courage" over the weekend.  I SO highly recommend the film.  It truly has to be one of the best films I have seen in years.  It was uplifting, inspiring, encouraging.....  We saw "Expendables 2" on Monday.  I did more laughing than I have in a long time.  It was funny to see the "action heroes" of my youth now in their 60s.  The rapport between them was hilarious, as well.

I posted some more pics from my birthday here.  I even got to have an ice cream sundae for dinner.  Can't get more fun than that, lol!  ;-)

On Monday, I also posted about our weekend-- trip to the zoo, Kiddo #4's "Chocolate Pigie" and Kiddo #1's RC club picnic.  You can see some awesome pics here.

Tuesday was an uneventful day.  Grateful that a bad storm averted our area, and we ended up with just rain. We stayed close to home and indoors most of the time, as I wasn't taking for granted the tornado watches that were being posted.  Got lots of school work done.  Kiddo #2 is really enjoying his Oceanography study and both he and Kiddo #1 are progressing well with their Algebra I.  Italian class was canceled this afternoon.  I understand that the teacher didn't want to risk coming out in severe weather.  The only time I ventured out was to take Kiddo #4 to sewing class.  Her teacher couldn't make it on Thursday, so rescheduled for today.  Kiddo put on the finishing touches on "Chocolate Pigie," sewing up the bottom and sewing his nostrils on.

I did host my recipe linkup.  Lots of awesome recipes shared this week.  I already tried one of them and will post all about it next week.  :-)  The party will remain open for the entire week, so if you have a recipe to share, please come and join us.  If not, come by and check out some good fall recipes here.

On Wednesday, Kiddos #1 and 2 started an online class with Homeschool Connections.  I am really pleased with not only the class, but with the WebEx feature that allows them to see and communicate with the teacher and the other students while simultaneously seeing the power point slide lecture.  It was a very nice day (one would never know there was any bad weather the day before), so the kids enjoyed lots of backyard time.  Have to love the feel and smell of fall in the air!  :-)  They also made me chocolate chip cookies and I got a belated "singing-to" for my birthday.  I posted about it and shared more photos here.

On Thursday, Kiddo #4 had her make-up lesson for IEW that she had missed on Monday.  She already was a very good writer, but today wrote a full rough draft for a paragraph that she is working on and is having fun while doing it.  Everyone worked diligently on their subjects and enjoyed more outdoor time, as well.  We were at church for our classes this afternoon.  Kiddos #3 and 4 take class and Kiddos #1 and 2 are volunteer helpers.  I am teaching 5th graders this year.  Pray that I can inspire these youngsters to get to know and love Jesus.  I made up a bingo game for them and brought in a fun film for today's class.

On Friday, after some school work in the morning, we will be heading over to church to help setup for our flea market, which will be held Saturday and Sunday.  The proceeds from the flea market help offset the cost of our Family Retreat in October, so we are really hoping it will be successful.  :-)

My favorite resource this week: Definitely the Saxon Teacher CDs.  These videos go through the instruction, practice sets and problems of every chapter in the math book.  This has been invaluable with Kiddos 1 and 2 in their study of Algebra.  They can work on it independently which is awesome.

What I'm praying for: A local police officer was killed in the line of duty this week.  He leaves behind a pregnant wife and their 5-month old daughter.  I read part of her eulogy in the newspaper today.  It was so beautiful and full of faith.  I don't know them, but cannot help but be so incredibly moved and saddened by the tragedy and senseless loss.  I cannot help but think that that could have been me.  I was pregnant with 3 little ones when my husband shipped to Iraq for a year.  I still thank God for sending my husband home to us safely and realize more everyday just how fragile and short life is.  We never know the day or time.....

A quote or photo to share: My friend Theresa at Red Oak Road posted this quote on her blog this week.  She talked about the importance of children getting outside and enjoying nature.  "An environment-based education movement- at all levels of education- will help students realize that school isn't supposed to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world."-- Richard Louv in "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder."


Linking up with Create with Joy, Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up,  Favorite Resources, NOBH, Show-Off Friday and Learn and Link

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up April 27

It seems like as soon as a week starts, I am writing this week-ending post!  :-)  It has been rainy/dreary and cold here.  We had a warm winter and now a cold spring.  Go figure.  No plants in the garden yet.  I dutifully take them in every night and am even having to transfer them into bigger containers because it is just not warm enough for them to go outside.  Oh well.....onto the week!

In our homeschool/my life this week:  Monday started with a breakfast for my mom's birthday.  I talked about it here.  In the afternoon, there were music lessons for all four kiddos and Kiddos 1 and 2 had their last Biology dissection lab.  They learned so much and had some great experiences with new friends.  They culminated the year with a fetal pig.  Out of respect for Kiddo #4 who does look at the pictures on my blog everyday and who absolutely loves everything "pigie" related, I am not posting any close up or detailed photos.  I am so proud of her brothers who mentioned *nothing* about the subject of the lab (aren't they sweet?).  :-)

On Tuesday, baseball was rained out, but we got to bowl instead.  Triple digits abound and they had a great time with their friends.

Kiddo #1 baked my mom a birthday cake.

I also hosted my weekly recipe linkup.  You can check all of this week's delicious entries here.

On Wednesday, we started a new character quality study which you can read more about here and continued with our regular work.

On Thursday, Kiddos 1 and 2 continued with the "Freedom" study that I posted about here.  They were so excited to try Betsy Ross' trick of making a five pointed star with just one snip of a scissors.  It works!  :-) 

You can find the instructions on this website, which is also an amazing resource of all things American History.

Kiddo #4 had the guidance of her grandfather in doing her sewing homework and was very happy to continue work on her doll's nightgown at her lesson this afternoon.  :-)

Kiddo #3 read me a story today and I really enjoyed getting read *to* for a change!  :-)  He read me the story of Noah's Ark.  He then got the brainstorm to make a Power Point of the story, but using photos of my husband and I as Mr. and Mrs. Noah and he and his brothers were the three sons.  The beard he put on his dad was just TOO funny.  What laughter there was before bed with that one!  I need to ask him to put the presentation back on the computer so I can get a picture of it!  :-)

We also had classes at church and Kiddo #1 went to his first Civil Air Patrol meeting.  He really enjoyed it and is looking forward to continuing with the program.

Not sure quite what Friday will hold in store, but I know I am going to continue asking the kiddos to put together their "wish lists" of what they would like to learn next year.  So far, Kiddo #1 has come up with Astronomy, the Revolutionary War and airplanes.  Go figure!  ;-)

What I'm reading: 31 Days to Clean: Getting a Martha house the Mary Way, A Mother's Rule of Life

Who I'm praying for: My husband's grandmother is home from the rehab.  She has a bit of a road ahead, but has come SO far.  I am also praying for friends who have family members who are ill, unemployed or have other special intentions.

A quote or photo to share: "Teachers mediate too much. --Everything is directed, expected, suggested. No other personality out of book, picture, or song, no, not even that of Nature herself, can get at the children without the mediation of the teacher. No room is left for spontaneity or personal initiation on their part."--Charlotte Mason

I am definitely trying to get out of that mindset and allow for a lot of spontaneity and being led by their interests.  :-)

I just love moments like this when they are having so much fun together!  :-)

I am linking up today with Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap up.