Yesterday, we went to the library. We try to go every other Wed. I am one of those weird people who carry their camera everywhere and take pictures of everything! Ha! Anyway, this is where you can find us every other Wed. afternoon.

Man, I have been so busy to even blog about our HS adventures! Sorry! We started back to school last Mon. Things have been going pretty smooth! Yeah! We are reading *So Far From Home* from the Dear America series. DS & I are reading *The Trumpet of the Swan*(DD loves to listen along). I am slowly easing into CM. We have started studying Mary Cassatt. Next week I think I'll bring in poetry.

This morning DS wanted to skip ahead a few pages, in math, to the test. Okay sure, if you think you're ready. He did the first half. The second half totally stumped him. He knows how to do it. He just thinks too much and then forgets everything. Long story short. We closed our books. I took a shower then we went for a bike ride. DD does NOT like bike riding at all. So we cut my regular route a bit short. Poor thing has NO fat to burn, but muscles that need to be built. DS has been riding with DH on much harder rides then mine, so he was wanting to go longer. Again our DC are so different. We are on lunch break and will go back to Lang. Arts and Mary Cassatt after.

Soapbox Warning and an Important issue!

This is the second time I'm come across this in 24 hours. At first I didn't know what to think of it. I don't care what you political stance is, folks were are talking about books here. I am really still trying to grasp this. We are in America and they want to stop selling books!!!! I fear if this does go through, what more is to come? Ok I will stop here and let you read the email I got from a fellow homeschooler. (I deleted much of my ranting.)

The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned---
Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming, almost Orwellian, reality.
Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in production are required to include a "lead-free" certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale. What does this mean to the homeschooling family? Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books! Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army. Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child. No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" --libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included in "children's toys".) Just how serious is this new law? Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manufacturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause to be able to grandfather- in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead. I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book. (Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly violating Federal law.) So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that sells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business? Or your EBay business selling children's items? ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines: 1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc. gov/cgibin/ newleg.aspx Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30,2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPart sTesting@ cpsc.gov
2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-tion, just enter your zip code.http://capwiz. com/americanappa rel/dbq/official s/
3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.http://change. org/ideas/ view/save_ handmade_ toys_from_ the_cpsia
4) Sign the petition. http://ipetitions. com/petition/ economicimpactso fCPSIA/index. html5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.---For the complete story, read the following links:http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/cpsia. html Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and other rulings http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/legislatio n.html#summaries Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory requirements -- The use of forward effective dates appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009 http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/summaries/ 101brief. html Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be included in the testing of lead based products http://www.cpsc. gov/about/ cpsia/faq/ 101faq.html Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180 days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date can be found on our web site at http://www.cpsc. gov/library/ foia/advisory/ 317.pdf
Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's bookshttp://news. bookweb.org/ news/5695. html
There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pedtricianhttp://health. yahoo.com/ experts/childhea lth/3955/ is-there- lead-in-baby- books/

Since I didn't have a post yesterday I'm giving you two Hide and Seek photos.

Today we start back in school. The kids actually had a week & a 1/2 off. It feels good to get back on schedule. On a different note. I'm thinking about using some of Ambleside Online next year, a CM style curriculum. Anyway, they suggest starting kids out two years back. After looking at the book lists, etc. Our DC are only 1 year back! I'm going to hold off getting any of the books for a few months, maybe they won't be behind. You know (I think every HSing mom feels this way), I think sometimes "Am I teaching them enough?", etc. So finding out that I didn't have to start the kids two years back was a GREAT relief to me!

Hide and Seek Series

New photo Series

My new series is called Hide and Seek.

I wish I could say that I could this myself, along with the photos to come.

To All Of the Moms

This is a GREAT video. We hear it all of the time on a kid's radio program on Sat mornings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM&feature=related

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish each of you a VERY Merry Christmas! Thank you for reading my blog/s!

Mama Grinch

It's the first day of Christmas Vacation for the public schools here and probably all over America. Here at our house...We are having school (part of the time). I know, I know. So for the next two weeks I am the Grinch!! They will have days off, just not a full two weeks.

So in honor of my Grinchiness, here's a song for ya!

You're a mean one Mama Grinch.

You make your kids do school.

How could you be so evil.

How could you be so crueeeelll!

Mama Grinch!!

As you know long division has been a bit of a bear for DS. I have tried many different things. Anyway, the light has come on!!! I believe he's gotten it! Here he is working out the problem.
Notice it's money...which used to throw him.

Did I do it right?.....

YES!!!!! This makes it all worth it!

In other news. My dear friend, Anne wanted to to print out the Word by Word Story that the kids and I wrote.

The Mad Scientist Strikes Again

Today when I opened the window I saw that our yard was very, very strange. A man was wearing a purple hat, with a bag that stunk up the whole neighborhood. He was standing in a boiling pool from sobbing because he lost his book about bombs. Then he started banging on our door. I did not know why he was doing this thing. My dogs and the neighbors had noticed the smell and came to my rescue. When they came they captured the strange man. he went to the kitchen to tell why he had put the bomb in the tree to see what would happen. He was sorry that he was going to blow up the tree. We invited him over for chicken. The End.

This is what happens when you put a 10 yo boy, 12 yo girl and a mom together to write a story! LOL!! Again, this game is only to get the kids to love, interested in writing. we didn't correct spelling, etc.

We just did another writing game. The name escapes me.

Here's how it works:

Everyone thinks of something (animal, place, food)

Then we ask each other questions that can only be answered with Yes or No.

For example:

Subject is places. Q. Do you have to fly to your place?

Subject animal: Q. Does your animal have fur?

They wanted to do this game for awhile. We did 3 subjects.

Next we may try an arguing game. (Which they've been doing lately.)

In this game you have to argue your point. There is a judge.

You pick a topic ex. why Dogs/Cats make a better pet.

Then each of you write down 10 or so reasons to prove your point.

The judge then picks the winner.

Using the Force!!

The kids and I did our first "Nature Walk" yesterday. It went okay. They were not all to excited about it. I am slowly implementing the Charlotte Mason Method. Anyway, here's a photo I took of the Sleeping Indian. We also collected seeds that we will put into our nature book today.
Onto math. I am going to order Math-U-See for both kids today!! DS is really having a hard time with long division. So I took a step back the other day a went back to simple division. But this time we used the "force"!!! Haha! We used Legos and Star Wars Legos as manipulatives. He had a blast. I told him that there were so many kids and there was so many Legos. Divide the legos amongst each kid. We did have remainders too.

Icing & Icicles

Here's another one for you. Ok, here's a photo of the cake C made for history. It's called Yogurt Cake with Honey frosting.

It is the last piece. It went fast. J wants me to make it again. It's different but really good. It really sticks on you...all the honey!

Oh, do you have any ideas for photo series you'd like me to do?? Please tell me and I'll do my best.

Icicle

Okay...the dog is not part of the series, but he's just too cute not to show off. No this is not our dog. I need to remember this photo when I think it's too hot where we live! Yikes!

New Series

Some of you have mentioned that you liked my clothesline series. So, I've got another for you. Icicles.