A Few Projects to Do!

We are still here! I haven't forgot about you. I wanted to show you a few projects that the kids just did. The first one is a homemade Planetarium. It was for C's science but J wanted to make one too. Here's what you need:
Empty/clean salt carton or hot cocoa can, etc.
Nails of different sizes
marker
Hammer
Flashlight

Draw the constellations, stars (dots) on the bottom of can. (If using salt carton, you'll have to cut one end off.)
Use hammer and nails to make the hole for the stars.
When you're done shine the flashlight into the can. If using metal can you'll need to shine the light to the side of the can.

Was great fun. We're going to save it for a show and tell with other homeschoolers.

Next is a writing game.
It's called Word by Word. I got the idea from a library book.
Here's how it works. This is only to encourage kids to write so don't correct the spelling.

Works best with small group.

You'll need:
Writing paper
Pencil
Die

You start off by picking your title. Helps keep you focused on what to write about.
Each person takes turns rolling the die.
Whatever number you get is the number of words you can write.
So, J rolls a four, he writes four words. C rolls a one she adds one word. Then I roll a six and a write six words. Clear as mud?

It took us two days to write our story...The Mad Scientist Strikes Again. J had great fun and rolled right along with it. C who is 12 wanted to write her own thing. So she had a bit of trouble with being limited to what and how much she could write.

And last but not least is Solomon's Temple, made only as a ten year old will, with LEGOS!! What else is there?! This was for history. Picture by J too.

Oh, C made a very yummy cake (milk and honey) for her history project. I need to take a picture for you before we eat it all!

Weekend Clotheslines

They do laundry in the Bahama's?

Looks like they haven't used their line in a little while.

We interrupt...

We interrupt this scheduled clothesline post o actually talk about homeschool! We have changed things up a bit since vacation and it's working out great! Before we tried to do all of the subjects each day. Now we are doing "Block Scheduling" and really like it. So, every day we do Bible. M/W/F is Math and Lang. Arts, T/Th is Science and History. Doing math & science on the same day was too much. We do more work on each subject and everything is running very smooth. J actually is looking forward to doing Math and LA tomorrow! WOW!

Also, for his science we started a sketchbook. He had a hard getting a lot of the last few lessons. So we are doing a major review. So instead of Q&A he is making a book of his science facts.
Ex. Science (ecology) is the Web of Life, so he made a big web with yarn in his book. He has a chart of decomposers, consumers, producers & predators, etc. You get the idea. He LOVES it!


C is learning astronomy, and the night sky has been neat to watch. With Jupiter and Venus lined up under the moon. She is tracking star patterns in her book right now for about 30 days. We will check the same part of the sky every ten days to see how it changes.

Now, I must get off so I can take pics of them making their gingerbread house!

Here's one to hang your clothes on...

I love the colors here! This jumped right out at me! And notice there are no clothes pins...must be a dry, warm day...ahhh... Either they have a bunch of kids or don't eat much! LOL!

A thing of Beauty!

I love looking at photos of everyday things. When I looked up clothesline for an idea I had I was surprised to find so many beautiful photos! I'm going to share these with you. Hopefully you won't get bored!

I love the simplicity with this one and love the colors.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We are going out of town for a bit more than a week. So, I wanted to wish you all a

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Best All-around Husband

My husband never ceases to amaze me with his sense of humor and his stability. He is a hard working man who loves God and us!

Best Avoid the Camera Gal

Our Daughter does not like to have us take her picture. But our camera is full of self portraits by her!! LOL! She is a very responsible young lady who is a BIG help around the house!

Best Smile, Cuddler

You can sense that my DH's funny gene got passed down. Our son is always there to make you smile and to give you a hug!

A Few "Myths"

Since, we've started homeschooling we've come across some misconceptions about homeschooling life, albeit, most of them honest. This by no means is a rant (though I wanted to at times), only a clearing up of sorts. I totally understand that HSing is still very new to a lot of people.
1. No, our kids do not wear their pj's all day.
(I know some HSers do.) They have to get dressed before we start school. I am in my pj's for the first half of school...long story.
2. Yes & No, our kids get to sleep in. On most days I get them up at the same time. If they are sick or had a late night then I can let them sleep in a bit as needed.
3. Yes, we go to the public library to check out books. Someone, honestly, asked if for our library days we check out books from our own bookshelves. Honey, we are at the public library that they know us by name!
4. Yes, we get done most days by noon.
5. Yes, our kids get out and are able to socialize.
6. Won't it hurt them being around "Mom" all day? Our son benefited from being at home with "Mom" all day. When we brought him home from public school he actually became more boyish.
7. "Wow! I wish I was homeschooled. So I could play all day." Our kids have heard that more then once. For the record, they do get to play more then they did when in PS but they also have more chores and they have a full school load as well.
8. No, they don't have homework. Or you could say, it's all homework.
9. Yes, you can get an F. But it is rare and we can go over it right then and there, take time to relearn it. You do have to score higher the get A's, B's, etc.
There is probably more, but I won't labor you any further!

Do I have to...

"Do we have to do school today?" says Mom, in her head.

DD woke up on the wrong side, spilled breakfast...

Laundry's piled high on the couch...

I am fighting a head cold...

Time is going by fast already...

It's Tuesday and all I can think about is vacation...

I just want to curl up on the couch and read today...

But we need to do school, though I totally feel like this baby!

My "Mom" help - HS Memoirs #13

This is response to a post at The Homeschool Post.

Sometimes people ask me how do I do it all. Do I get tired of being around the kids all day. (Not most of the time.)

I am a person who loves her alone time, so is was an adjustment to bring the kids home from public school to homeshool. But the benefits far outweigh the price.

I do need to have "me" time. What do I do to unwind? I Digiscrap!! And I blog. Digiscrapping helps me create memories and it has really become a big hobby of mine. Blogging is like keeping a journal. Helps me "talk" and get my thoughts out.

For this assignment we were to also tell what scripture helps us. Gosh, where do I start? So here are a couple!

Each from Psalms

3:3-5 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

16:5 O Lord, you are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.

And Psalms 91

Have a Great day!

Woo Hoo Wednesday!

Okay, I know today is supposed to be "hump day" and that I would like to have some sort of "themes" to my posts. Soooo...I changed up Wednesday a bit. It was Web Wed. where I'd give you a cool web site...well, I don't know enough sites. LOL! So, (for now) I'm going to try to have jokes, quizzes, news tidbits, whatever, etc.
I found a quiz for you!
It's called Average Middle School U.S History
It's pretty easy.
I got a 9 out of 10 and the one I missed, it was like "Oh yeah!"
Good luck!
We don't have much going on today. So we are going to "hit" the books hard. I do need to run to the store for milk and the like. Church tonight! Have a great day!

Happy Veteran's Day!

History Alive!

We had a long day today. Really needed to get things done. The kids are still working on history. (it's 1:40) We are at the end of Egypt & the Exodus. Here are a couple of shots of them working on history. J's painting the parting of the Red Sea.

(sorry for the slant here.) C is doing a comic strip on the confrontation between Pharaoh and Moses.

I will post pictures of the finished products.

They have also been studying presidents. We found a great book at the library. They each picked one newer/older president and tell me about them. This is not for grades, just for learning, familiarizing, etc. I want to them to learn to learn, if that makes sense. Just knowing facts is one thing, but if you know how to learn then you can learn anything.

I think J is really getting the concept of multiplication!! Seems like we have been doing so much that our brains hurt!