This year is starting off fun!

I am sort of apologizing but... then again I am not. Am I? :) I wanted to say that I am posting about our school again! Lately my posts have been about school or field trips or school or... well school! But really our days have been filled to overflow levels with school!

We are loving every step this year. I think I was doing great things last year and making progress but I felt we were missing the silly fillers you get in school. The crafts and such. I know I am not naturally crafty - I do like a fun and EASY craft but I do not inspire craftiness. I need a how to book. So anyway, this year My Father's World has added that finishing touch to our learning.

I've actually seen HC progress in LEAPS, in regards to reading, because the fun is a distraction for her. It is her reward. If she reads the 3 or 4 sentences required each day then... she can learn about apples and make her very own apple book that even LOOKS like an apple! What a reward! :) My girl loves to create! :) Step 1 - know your student! (By the way - she is reading sentences with 5 or more words in them!)

In addition we've added a more challenging math curriculum to our daily lessons. The curriculum supplies a math program but... I am sold on a particular math already. 'They' say whatever method you use for teaching Math you should keep using throughout your schooling - math is a subject that requires consistency. If you teach addition in way A you cannot jump to way B without some difficulty.

Anyway, I knew I was sold on Right Start Math and so I didn't bother with the curriculum supplied by My Father's World. So HC is now on lesson 11 of Right Start and is doing very simple addition - she just doesn't know she's solving problems. She giggles with glee when I pull out the circles for her to use. She gets to break a whole number into 2 pieces. So in the big circle she puts the #5 and then gets to try to fill in the two smaller circles with pieces of 5. So they could be 2 and 3 or 4 and 1... you get the picture! She loves it!

We were making such progress that I called a friend worried that I was not having problems. We skipped level A of math and jumped right into level B. I was worried I missed a few key filler lessons. She encouraged me that if HC were learning it and having fun.... what's the problem?? :) Duh!

Then there is language. HC has already memorized a poem and has learned what a noun is. She knows the difference between a common noun and a proper noun. She is learning to re-tell stories to me. She is really impressing me! Not to mention the language challenges her in handwriting too! Double YAY!

Then the handwriting in the curriculum is great too! It is a reminder of what we did last year. I also let her trace letters when she struggles with it. This has helped her tons. I write out sentences for her to trace and I hope by the end of the year she will be able to do copy work. That would be a big win. She can write all of her letters but her confidence isn't strong in that. I decided if she traces my writing she will become more excited that she sees the result.

This post was SUPPOSED to be about our field trips! There have been several worth sharing. I guess I found something on my mind that I could actually post about. It seems lately my time for putting my thoughts down in my blog have been fewer and fewer. I know the act of teaching my kids is way more important than a well expressed post. Seeing the aha moments and seeing JB come to the table EVERY day, since we studied Apples, to 'do' school with us... these are the moments I cannot miss! So excuse the fluffy pictures. That may be my only source of sharing for awhile. Well... I feel better now that I got all that off my chest! What a wonderful school year this has been so far. It has truly been a joy!

Apples, Nests and Turtles

Our last three lessons were really fun! We cut an apple in half and found a star hiding within! HC and JB LOVE apples and they thought this was funny! HC made an apple book and made and apple tree page. She really thought the book was a neat idea! It was fun watching her enjoy this topic. She learned that "If she stays in Jesus - she will have MUCH fruit!"

She drew an apple tree in each season.
The nest lesson was fun too! The blue page is her depiction of a tree with a bird and nest within. She drew a fish, a cow, a dog and a bird on the orange page. Then she drew a matching 'habitat' for the animals. She loves using the word 'habitat' lately!

Don't look at the expression on HC's face for a measure of her like/dislike of this unit. She was not so excited about posing for me. But she is holding a nest she decided to make with scraps we had lying around. The house is a house book she made with a picture of different animals in their homes - a reminder that 'God takes good care of me!'.
JB got in on the nest action. He decided to participate in this lesson. It is always optional for him. If he is up to obeying instructions - then he is able to do the fun stuff! He had fun making the different crafts with us! I love when he joins the fun.
The next lesson was about Turtles! "I will not quit; I persevere!" This is another phrase that has stuck around the house. Anytime they push through a situation they encourage one another for persevering! It has become a motivator for both of them. Especially when they catch each other persevering!
They painted paper plates and made a turtle of their own! Such fun. This was a 2 day project.
Ta-dah!!! Notice the bow on HC's turtle. Her turtle is a she turtle.

We've now finished our 8th week of school. Today begins week 9!! I am proud of our momentum this year. We are really keeping to a great schedule.

I've lost control of the reigns...

Now JB's doing it too! ho hum!

I have carefully organized and kept the kids rooms in order for so long. Last year (or the year before - foggy memory on this change with HC) HC began to take over the 'order' of her room and can I tell you - I see PILES of cluttered mess! My battle has been... do I take over or do I let her make a mess of things and bring my way of doing things into light when she looks for the missing toy that she HAS to find NOW and say... "That's why Mommy had certain types of things in certain drawers.. so we always knew where they were." Yes - how lame am I to try to slam a 5 year old for a messy room but - I hate the cluster of clutter in every nook in her room. And don't get me started about the state of her dresser drawers!

Now - I was looking to see if we had any wipes left in this house (because wipes are GREAT for getting deodorant marks off of black fabric and in picking up laundry my deodorant made a mark on my freshly cleaned shorts). Anywho... I went into JB's room to look for wipes. He is the last one in need of them so... this was a great place to start the search. I opened JB's cabinet in his room. The one that was ALWAYS so orderly and I could guarantee finding exactly what I needed in 2 seconds or less - it was a wreck. Clean clothes mixed with dirty clothes mixed with toys! It is already bad enough that when I go into JB's room I find random clothes thrown about the room from a sudden need for a wardrobe change (due to JB trying to match his clothes to Daddy). So his floor is strewn about with a mixture of dirty clothes and clean clothes and who knows WHICH is clean or dirty these days!

And to answer the glaring question of "why is this new news - the condition of his dresser?" My kids are responsible for putting away their laundry after I fold it. I hang their items that require hanging but THEY put away their laundry. So that is why I didn't know of the chaos I found in JB's cabinet. They do have good habits but I want them to want organized space without me bullying them into that habit. Is that a ridiculous thing to hope for? I find it hard to know when I should push my way on them versus letting them learn what's best on their own. I know - I've only begun to fight this battle. It will spread to many areas before I know it.

I am losing control little bit by little bit and I do not enjoy this (I guess that's better than losing it all at once). My kid's nice clean rooms are becoming pits of randomness right before my eyes. When do I play the Mommy card and make them do what I want? Or is it just best to give them the chance to find their way of 'organizing' their own rooms. For now I am trying to give freedom but.... I am screaming for order inside!

Fast sore throat remedy...

Saturday evening I had tomatoes with fresh garlic and salt/pepper. After partaking of my garlic tomatoes I partook of some fresh salsa hubby made. It was made with fresh onions and garlic. Very strong. Saturday night I went to bed (after a SUPER win by LSU) and had a slight sore throat. It wasn't due to cheering my team on... it was a real sore throat.

I woke Sunday morning feeling lethargic and I had a stuffy nose. To the average American (we are conditioned to hit the decongestant bottle and not think past that) it would appear I was getting worse. The entire day Sunday I had no appetite and felt tired. I ate another dose of chips and strong salsa and took a nap. Steve was wanting me to eat lunch but my appetite was gone.

I woke from my nap feeling the same. A few hours passed - we had dinner but I was only up for trying grilled cheese and homemade chicken noodle soup. Within an hour I felt 100% better. Then I ate dinner! Feeling even better!

Normally I, like most other humans, would have thought I was heading down hill and about to go through a few days of recovery. My sore throat felt like fire! But the truth is we often feel worse before we 'feel' the true healing symptoms. I am glad my husband felt the urge to make salsa 'out of the blue' before my sore throat manifested itself. The fresh garlic and onion are what helped soothe my sore throat (although it did further the throat burn at first - no pain no gain).

I do not pretend to never take meds - I am guilty of that from time to time but when I seek the natural remedies I often find a truly SHORT lived illness! Lately, I am finding myself leaning towards googling a home remedy BEFORE falling back onto my crutch of prescriptions. So far - all illness is fleeing quickly! Thanks Steve for wanting salsa! The little inner nudges are often not acknowledged and I know the salsa was my healing salve!

LSU WINS OVER AUBURN!!!!!

I love the "Mad Hatter"!!! What a coach! Every year I love him a little more. Saban had my heart but now Les Miles is winning me over little bit by little bit!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!

Nothing to Worry About

There is no need to worry - I haven't had any further blog trouble.. I am just feeling a bit exposed lately and felt the need to hide out. I am content with the friends I've met in blog-land and so I feel like keeping my blog private. I've opened it to friends only and this makes me feel better. Maybe it is due to the whole Governor Palin thing - her email being hacked into. I don't know. All I know is I don't feel as free to be me with my blog open to random hateful people and I do not want to argue any of my beliefs. I just want to feel free again. After that last intrusion from the unwanted blog visitors last summer I have felt a bit cautious - watching every phrase so as to NOT offend. I just decided there was no need for that! So I took my blogs back! I feel better already!

If for some reason I have left someone off my list and they ask you about my blog. Please ask them to email me and I will add them back on. I tried my best to keep my regular readers informed but I am SURE I've left someone out by mistake! Please let me know - this move wasn't meant to disconnect from anyone. It was only meant to keep my world to myself again! :)

Love you all!

Milk and Cookies

There is a local church that is beginning their Kindermusik program and we have signed JB up for the fun. I am sure we are missing some key elements that make Kindermusik the fabulous program it can be.... but for us it is a great fit. There are a few kids and JB is able to have a class that is only for him. Here he is with his instrument - the instrument came with a spoon but... JB doesn't understand why it doesn't have a drumstick. So he substituted his drumstick for the spoon. JB was shaking the jingle bells. I find myself telling him "Listen to the teacher JB. Don't talk about this or that.." to only find that he is telling her something about the lesson they learned last week. I guess I need to listen more to what he has to say rather than assume he is not focused.
The teacher brought towels for the kids to use during the dusting/scrubbing song. He loves this part! He scrubs EVERYTHING!!!!
Best part of all... this class is ALL his. He doesn't have to be overshadowed by big sister. He is free to be the expert while she is full of questions! A nice change!

My fun loving JB - he is truly a bundle of goodness!

Refreshed... Renewed... Ready to face another year!

Last Thursday I took a little trip! I met up with some friends to be refreshed! I have been on retreats within the last 3 years but I was not making the ground I knew was possible. Once you know the depth of love and refreshing of God - it is hard to be satisfied with smaller doses. The retreats were nice but did not leave me feeling as though I really pressed in as much as I knew I could. I often left those retreats a touch frustrated knowing there was so much more that could be and yet we were only skimming the surface. As I loaded up the car and began my journey to a retreat I had been waiting for desperately... I realized it has been 4 years since I had been to a really life changing retreat. Four years is a LONG time when you think about it. The best thing of all was that I KNEW I would leave truly changed!

Here I am as I was leaving (heading to the beach): From the picture above to the picture below was a long way. Sure - I drove five hours and yes that is far but I changed so much in the short weekend away! I left the beach renewed and with the knowing that the coming year would be exciting. I feel I am beginning this year with a full tank. I arrived to the retreat destination sputtering into the parking lot (figuratively of course) and left feeling as though I had overcome many of the familiar battles I faced within. Ones I had been struggling to fight over and over again. To see a true change in my heart was the answer I cried out for many times, to feel different - to feel my heart renew. What a precious gift God gave me by letting me truly feel the tenderness of my own heart. Our last night there I felt He allowed me to feel how injured my heart was - as though a touch would cause me to buckle and fall to the ground, feeling discouraged once more. By the end of our final night I felt strong. I felt as though He truly renewed my heart. He changed me and let me experience the feeling of that change. Old wounds were healed.. truly healed. The achi-ness and void is no longer there. I even feel as though my tools were sharpened. Sure - I've been trained and taught how I can overcome the daily battles we all face but I had become weary and tired from what seemed to be battle after battle. When you feel you experience battle after battle after battle and when you turn around to take a breath - another battle ensues... your tools begin to dull. You begin to tire from the constant beatings and you begin to forget the power of the very tools you hold. I am stronger now! I am stronger! I am STRONG!!!!!

Here is a picture of me and my roomie on our last night:

K and I roomed together and haven't seen each other in almost 3 years. God allowed old connections to be renewed and He even allowed me to return to the very house I last experienced major breakthrough in. They did not realize it was the same house but I felt like God did that just for me. We later realized it was the exact same house with a few changes on the bottom floor, after previous hurricane renovations. God allowed me to return to a familiar place with familiar faces. Some were new faces and some although familiar the distance of the last 3 years has removed the familiar comfort they once held. So I had a big comfort of just being in the house again. I tell you God is in the details of our lives! Just take a careful look at the things in your life and you will begin to notice the personal touch He adds that means something to you and you alone. That is how He is! Sentimental - precious - detailed!

When I arrived home the kids had a ribbon for me to break through as I entered the door! They were so glad to see me - they both colored me a welcome home sign too!
They were both so precious! I love my babies!!!!

I am so glad to come home to such precious little ones with a full heart! They deserve a whole Mommy - not a fragment of a Mommy. I can even see a peace settling over both of them lately. I know I was becoming edgy with them. Less patient. After a day of their needs I needed a break each night so I could be prepared for their needs the next day. Of course a break was rare but my husband is hands on and often took the lead so I could regroup for the demands of tomorrow. I decided to hug and love on my babies upon my return. I decided I would hold and hug them until they were done (thankfully we were taking a week off from school during this time - it was a perfect fit). After 1.5 hours with HC she finally filled up. JB took less time to fill his love tank but I can see they are less draining on me. That is unfair for them when I am dragging through life. I am glad to say I am whole and am fully here again! YAY!!!!! It is nice to be fully in the moments of life again! How could I have let things get so distant?! I pray I will have such times of refreshing at least once a year! It is clear my whole family needs me to take such breaks! Thank you God for such a refreshing time! I pray you each have a chance to experience the same depths of refreshing!!!!

Gasoline Panic

I took the kids to our Homeschool park day today and received a text message from my husband telling me to fill up my tank. Usually my sweet husband fills up my tank for me (and he isn't one prone to unnecessary panic) and so I wasn't sure why I needed to take on this task but... I figured he had a good reason. I knew Ike was lurking in the Gulf and figured it had something to do with that.

Before I knew it there were multiple pockets of parents discussing their journey to the park. They noticed gas prices go from $3.54 to $3.99 as they passed station after station. The lines were long and the demand was surging. I began thinking - we are not in danger or anything. I am used to this sort of panic in Louisiana when hurricanes are on their way. We are usually preparing for the worst case scenario - in case the power stays out long term and we need to get to safety or something. This experience isn't new to me but the fact that we are not in danger and the panic is surrounding us is new. We are not in imminent danger but we are experiencing the panic here! Kind of crazy.

I finally waited through the line at a gas station after passing two stations that were totally OUT of gas!! I found a place where it was $3.68 and I decided to wait in line. The kids were wiped out from our day at the park and taking a nap so I quietly waited my turn. I was three people deep in line, and every pump was with at least 3 waiting behind the one pumping gas, and it was finally my turn. I then see this sign as the pump S..LOW..LY pumped fuel into my van. I had a half tank but... I was hearing rumors of soaring prices. After I filled up I heard from a friend who saw prices at $4.19 per gallon.
As I drove by another local gas station (because the one I was at was difficult for me to photograph) I snapped a shot of the lines in/out. This is so crazy to me! But I guess what happens in the gulf DOES affect all of us! I pray Ike is not the monster they are predicting!
We are praying for you all - friends in the Gulf area!!!