Weekly Wrap Up---Week

Monday---

We started off the school day by watching an episode of Daniel Boone.

 

We did :
math,
handwriting,
handed out new reading assignments for the week:

Kate- The Borrowers

Matt-Just So Stories

Emily- The Bears on Hemlock Mountain

Writing with Ease,
FLL2
and FLL3.

We started our next bible lesson: David disobeys God.  I always have a hard time understanding this story!  I know that David was as sinful as I am... but it is just a hard story for me.  I always have the attitude of disgust towards David for "messing"  up the way he did, vs the GRACE God had for David and myself!

We watched this animated video of King David.

We started our next science chapter--- two more to go.  This week we are learning about GERMS!

The books we read for this chapter are:

What Are Germs

I Know How We Fight Germs

Germs by Ross Collins--- very, very cute read!



We went over our history review cards and worked on our states.  We also worked on the presidents!

We also went over the Mozart biography

... I had Kate and Matt read it and we started a timeline of his life.  We also started a lap book

Mozart lap book
Mozart color page
Classics for Kids website

Tuesday---

We did:

FLL2
FLL3
Writing With Ease
Memory Work

Math

Science- we finished up the second crossword puzzle. 

Bible- we finished up the story of David and Bathsheba- I went a little more in depth and had a good lesson on why women should be modest and girls responsibility and boys responsibility to shield their eyes. It was a good talk!

We worked on our Mozart lap book and listened to a few different sonatas  .  The kids seem to enjoy listening!



Wednesday---
We started Solomon in Bible-

We did:

Math

Science class as the museum:
Food Pyramid, Food chain and Dissecting craw fish!  FUN

We started the Magic Flute, but it was in German and we just couldn't do it.  I am trying to order it in English or at least with subtitles.  Dave walked in as we started it and on his way out his attitude was basically.."sorry you are having to go through this Carrie- thanks for educating our children!"

This isn't the one we tried to watch, I cannot find a pic of it.

We also are watching King Solomon's Mines (for fun) but I opted for the one made in 1950.  I MIGHT let them watch the other one but haven't decided.  :0)

Thursday...

We got a late start today... I don't know why, but we did.  It's all good though!  Once we got started we really hit it hard, minus a break for lunch (my mom came to take us out to Hickory Hollow- a favorite bar b q place in the Heights)

We did:

math
FLL2
FLL3
Writing with Ease

Kates vocabulary test for IEW-

Matt started a new book- The Lost World  by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (abridged version)  I think I am going to give him the unabridged one and see how he does...

Matt also did a writing assignment- he didn't finish it so we will show it next week

All three kids spent time on Typer Island:

We also are starting a baking unit, a way to work on measurement with all three kids!  We wont finish it this week though.

In looking for my baking stuff I found this website, it is cooking across America a recipe for every state--- very neat!


We finished up our Science questions ---only ONE chapter to go!!!

We did memorization
Bible- Solomon and his wisdom...

We also worked on our Mozart lap book, we are adding a quick study on terminology for writing music.

Emily is going through her easy readers ONE last time before she gives them away (mommy takes them out of her box!)  She is very excited!

And that was our Thursday!

Friday...

We got up and going.
We left to meet Brenda so she could do a reading test on Emily-- just to see our progression from the last time she tested, which was a little over a year ago.

She has mad GREAT strides and this momma is HOLDER HER BACK!  I need to step up the game for the girls and quit assuming she cant read "x"! 

 While Brenda tested Emily, I got to help Sweetheart (Kaitlin and Sweetheart really did it on their own) dissect an owl pellet and see what the owl had eaten!  YUM YUM!

After our own lunch- of NOT MICE--- we headed to my sisters to do history!

We read the Constitution... yes I know my three children under age 13 having read the Constitution.. SHOCKING!  That might be more than some congressman have done!  :0)  Everything else in history will be followed by a history post--- I've got lots of books to list! 


We finished up our art study of John Singleton Copley.. we are using this book to study American Artist!

We started science at Amy's but really just everyone was done so we will finish the experiment here over the weekend. But we watched THE GERMINATORS

and we are growing back bacteria with this kit from Steve Spangler Science...

We will be able to show our bacteria growth on next weeks wrap up!  AND we will be done with science minus another class at the museum!  YEAH!

SO that was our week-- busy as usual! 

GO check out everyone else's week at Unsocialized Home Schooler!

American History... the in between week (week 16)

We have taken a two week break from American history for me to get the next 7-10 weeks planned. We have gotten through the revolution and are moving onto the building and making of the country! It is a very exciting next 7 weeks! We get to hear from our Founding Fathers.. the why, the thought, the importance that was placed on this word or that word. The agony they went through to make it perfect, yet knowing it would be flawed. These men were not perfect men. These men were NOT all brilliant men. These men were not all Christians. These men loved the idea of this country and these men had literally given their blood for this country. I am so excited about the next few weeks!

In the meantime I have had the kids going over some things that we needed to skip over simply from time constraints. We couldnt possibly fit EVERYTHING in!

We watched Miss Betty Tours: Washingtons home town of Alexandria, Virginia

We also read a book on Benjamin Banneker! He did so many amazing things in his lifetime! It was said in Miss Betty's movie that John Adams preferred reading HIS almanac to Poor Richards!


We watched 1776... a musical on the American Revolution. There were some hisotical inaccuracies but still wonderful and the kids will remember the songs and parts of the musical!

The kids have read a few more books:

Boston Jane

George Did It

Our next 7-10 weeks will most likely cover:

1787 - Constitutional Convention

 
           The Founding Fathers
1787 - Federalist Papers

1789 - The First Inauguration

1791 - Bill of Rights

1792 - The White House

1794 - Whiskey Rebellion

1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts

1801-1815 - Barbary Wars

1803 - Louisiana Purchase

1804 - Lewis and Clark

1811-1814 War of 1812

1811-1814 Creek War

1820 - Missouri Compromise


along with

Washington (1789-1797)
John Adams (1797- 1801)
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
James Madison (1809-1817)
James Monroe (1817-1825)

and keeping up our state study



Whewww...

Stepping out, but without fear.

“We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our dis-obedience will cause us to miss.”
                                      ---When Woman Say Yes to God, by Lysa Terkeurst

I saw this quoted out of a book on See Jaimie Blog...

WOW.

That is absolutly what I do.  I mean rarely do I think... what will happen if I disobey--- I am always concerned with what will happen if I DO obey. 

"What will people think?"
"Will someone think it is wrong?"
" I didnt really hear that!"


Often before I will obey I am like Gideon, making God wet the fleece.

PROVE IT TO ME GOD THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO.

So often when that still, small voice prompts me.. I stifle it.  I ignor it.  I don't take action... I take time to examine what it is telling me to do and talk myself out of obeying.

How many blessings have I missed because of my fear, disobediance, and disbelief?


David and I have stepped out in faith in our marriage a few times.  We have listened to the still, small voice and we have obeyed. 

BUT so many other times we have not!  I wonder how many times God spoke to both of us and we both ignored it and didnt communicate to one another what we felt we should do.   If we had only taken time to talk to one another we might have KNOWN.  I think that is simply another reason why communication is so very important in marriage... we need to be able to share those innermost urgings, the deepest thoughts, the seeds of desire God places in us.

My sister in law is an amazing artist and my brother said something the other day about not waiting until the day he could support her by allowing her to work at it all day-- she works outside the home currently.  I was mega touched!  At one point in the conversation I said, "isnt it hard to be responsible for some one else's dreams?"

IT IS.  As married people, we are responsible for each others dreams, desires and ultimately our calling in life from God.  We need to work to make those things happen for each other.  If it means clamping down on the finances so husband can work at church part time- DO IT.  If it means putting up with late nights so husband can do "x". DO IT.  If it means not keeping up with the neighbors so that mom can stay home with the kids... DO IT.

I digress.

In a marriage you have to listen to each other.

In our MARRIAGE to God we have to listen!  We have to hear HIS desires for us.  We have to hear HIS plans. We have to make sacrifices and tighten our belts and work long hours to do what HE asks of us.

But we cant if we are not willing to step out in faith.  We cant if we fear obediance.

GOD is good all the time.  He has plans to prosper us... not to harm us.  He knows the steps...

We need to start trusting more.  Without abandon.  Without fear.  Without anxiety. Without question.


What is God saying to you that you are "not hearing"?

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands...

    We went to Hermann park while Kate was in art-- it was a beautiful day! We parked and walked FOREVER to get to the park-- then just played and played!  There is this fountain and it is a giant granite (I assume its granite) ball and the water is running all over it, so cool.  I cant say I have ever noticed it before... although I have been to the park a lot! 

    Emily cried when she realized she would have her patch on... she keeps saying she looks ridiculous-- which I dont know that ANYONE has said anything to her.  But I told her the park would be pretty empty and that she absolutely did NOT look ridiculous!  After a few minutes she was busy playing and didnt say another word about it!  When I showed her the pictures all she said was, "I wish I wasnt wearing the seahorse patch, I could have worn the flower one."  So I guess she got through it just fine!

It was a good day!

One Thousand Gifts- A Practice in Gratitude-9

239. for a NEW TO US vehicle!
240. for a smile when you hear "scripture" in a song and recognize it
241. for half and half tea
242. for early mornings-- even if we are tired
243. for detangler!
244. for a new lesson planning idea
245. for reading amazing articles that help concrete some decision we have made in our life
246. for Gods still small voice  and being able to hear it
247. for watching your youngest read a book.. willingly, gladly, with excitement
248. for caterpillars... and children who find them!
249. for men and woman who stand up for what they believe.
250. for woman who held done the fort while their husbands were away for MONTHS writing our Declaration of Independence
251. have I said I am thankful for flip flop season...
252. truth.  I am thankful for truth.
253. a very inexpensive food processor that actually works!
254. a Sunday of absolute rest
255. ideas coming to fruition
256. cinnamon muffins.  YUMMO.
257. packages in the mail

how is this?

Brenda, shield your eyes and come look... is this better?

hey readers...

Please ignore my complete and total clashing sides and header... I am working on it! I am so terrible at all the html code stuff!!!!!

thanks for ignoring it!

Rescue van... coming to the rescue van!

Rescue 1:

So my Saturday really started at 11:00 last night when I got a call from Hubbie who was working downtown that the truck wouldn't start.  GOOD TIMES.  So I dragged three sleeping children out of the house and headed into downtown Houston.  We picked Dave up- had a little, bitty, itty argument about the truck being parked and left where the truck could get ticketed and towed.  Okay so it wasn't very little, bitty or itty... but whatever.  We MOSTLY got over our issue and decided to chance it. 

So we woke at 8:00 and headed out to get a battery and go fix the truck-- praying all the way that it HADN'T been towed.

It hadn't.

So we changed out the battery and headed home.  All was well-- besides my sanity on having spent MORE money on the truck-- money that we don't have and that stresses me out.  But whatever.

Rescue 2:

Down the street from our house a church was having a Spring Bizarre/ Craft show. Fun!  I decided to walk down there with the girls and check it out.  So we set out on our little mission and a little more than halfway there Kaitlin spots a bird on the sidewalk.  It was obviously hurt.

  We could not see a nest anywhere around so of course we had to rescue it!  Dave came with the van, a box and a towel to pick the bird up with

... we took it to the Wild Life Rescue Center on I10 by the big SPCA.

 They were very nice and even gave us a card that has the birds number on it so we can call to check on the birds progress!  FUN. (@ Brenda- they do an educational program and they have a hawk right in the room- you are literally inches from him, so cool!)

Our last rescue was fun... my mom saw a garage sale with these great chairs!  They are so sturdy!  No wiggle!  One has something broken- which can be easily fixed and they are all dirty and scratched, but because I am going to sand them and paint them it doesn't matter!  So we drove down to Pasadena to rescue them from furniture death! 

There are 6 of them and here is the before:

I got started on them this afternoon and already they are looking GORGEOUS even with just one coat!

So lots of rescuing going on today!  How was your Saturday?

Weekly Wrap Up-- week 32

This is the week--- I have lesson plans.  WHOO HOO.  I dont have a printer and I walked 2.3 miles to Staples (there and back) with the kids and did some copying!  A workout and I got my printer on!  But still I need a printer--- so it has been pushed WAY, WAY up near the top of the list, like near food and electricity!

But anyway, we have done schooling over the last two weeks-- but not lesson plan schooling minus some obviously THIS IS THE NEXT LESSON STUFF.

So I was really, really excited to start this week with lesson plans-- I accomplish so very much more with them.  I had library books ordered, I am aware of supplies needed for art and science, I know the kids have "x" new concept coming up in math, I have readers lined up, I ordered Netflix movies and have websites marked as favorites!  READY!

Monday--

We had to go back to deal with eye glass issues and pick up her sunglasses-- so it was top on my errands for Monday, we traded donut holes for a breakfast at the mall--- YEAH!  I had an issue with my tire pressure and spent almost an hour getting it fixed... so even with that whole hold up I still got home and started school at 11:30.  We got math, Bible review, writing with ease, First Language Lessons, IEW... and science lesson for the week started.  We also got chores done and walked  2.3 miles and that was all before 4:00!  It was just a good day!    We had pot stickers and rice for dinner and it was delicious!  Plus, bonus I got to be in bed at 8:30!  I didn't sleep until 11:00 but it was nice to not DO anything, to just lay in bed!

Patching went okay today... slightly better than the other days.  I let her have a break from DOING for a few minutes and she sat on the porch like this...

and 5 minutes later she was like this...

It really tires a girl out.  But once she woke up, she was good to go and scootered (we have had three not great falls while she was scootering with the patch on--- I guess it is peripheral issues and and just less vision to see or judge depth perception?)  She actually left it on past the 2 hours-- she starting watching a show the last 10 minutes and didn't say anything so I left it on for about 30 more minutes.  Our first day to go over 2 hours, but she wasn't fully engaged that whole time. 

Tuesday--
the kids got woken up at 6:00 and Matt at 6:30 due to chores not being finished.  I am trying to stick with this and hope it works.  I will say that punishment or not we have some GREAT days when we are all up by 6:00--- I mean I will look at the clock and it will be 9:00 but I have done SO much!  Guess that means I gotta get up earlier!

We did:
 Bible- the story of David building The City Of David.  Our verse this week is 2 Sam 7: 22,29   part of it says "There is None Like You", so I found that worship song on Itunes and we listened to it for a while--- Emily smiled when she heard the words and recognized them.  I love those moments!

Matt copied our verse and drew this at the bottom of the page... I loved it!

Math- we worked on multiplication flashcards and the kids did pretty well.  We also played Wrap around Addition just for fun and review. The kids REALLY enjoy math games, I just have to remember to bring them out more often!

BTW.. I want all the Wrap Around Games-- they have science, language and and for 1-6 grade.

Emily added something all weird the other day and I asked her to explain how she got that answer-- hoping I could see where she was coming from and she put a hand on her hip and tilted her head and said, "Mom, it is how I operate!"  I replied, "Well your operation got you the wrong answer!" 

The kids are all having measurement issues of some sort so Daddy is working with them in the evening.

Harmony Art Tuesday assignment is Fruit Salad:  I cant get this scanned... sorry!

 We also worked on Kates IEW-- she is doing topic sentences and has to write three paragraphs on a book vs. writing a paragraph about a paragraph like she has been doing.  So far we are doing okay-  I still want to just order the WHOLE program and if we hadn't bought the van we would have!  So it shall wait...

handwriting and memory work

then it was time for gymnastics and tap-- Emily did three hours!  She sleeps REALLY well after a 3 hour gym class! 

Wednesday...

We took a scheduled day off from school-- yes I know we just got in the swing but we couldn't miss the bluebonnets!!!  So we drove to Brenham and visited the Blue Bell Factory

 and took pictures in the bluebonnets on a short visit to Washington on the Brazos

 and we came back home!  It was a good day!

Thursday...

We started off with getting school done...

Math
handwriting
Science
Kids started new books:
Matt-

Kate- is reading a historical read Boston Jane

Emily- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

          and George and Martha

We got most of our science chapter done--- integumentary system (which in Latin means 'to cover')

We are also learning about Braille. We read a biography on Louise Braille

and read a simple book on the Early Life of Helen Keller--- after research I must say I was amazed at all she did as a grownup--I grew up LOOKING UP to Helen Keller and although I maintain that what she did with her disability was amazing I am saddened by what all she accomplished in her later life.  Of course I understand other mindset would be proud of all these accomplishment, but I just never knew until I researched how instrumental she was in the Suffrage Movement, Woman's Rights, Planned Parenthood (the earliest stages), and the socialist movement in America etc. 

So we simply studied her early years up to the point that she began communicating and had her breakthrough.  We attempted to find the Miracle Worker but could not find it on DVD without purchasing it.  .

And we are learning about fingerprints.  I bought this CSI: Fingerprinting kit. We had fun doing it together with friends!

We went to the library on Thursday to attend a Robotics Class... the kids had a LOT of fun!  Of course Matt especially but really they all enjoyed it.  We will definitely be looking into Robotics for next year!

The library also had chess every Thursday from 5:30-6:30, so we decided to stay and had a GREAT time for well over an hour being taught to play chess from a wonderful older gentleman, who has taught chess for many years. All the kids did really well, know all the pieces, the basic strategy of the game and want to go back next week to play again!

Friday---

We slept in a little but still got school started by 9:00. 

We did math, handwriting, finished our science questions, PE time and listened to Mozart

 We are also using this website: classics for kids

We also started looking at the artwork of John  Singleton Copley... he was an early American artist.  We are used this book to study all his artwork... John Singleton Copley in America

 

We also had our science class with friends today!  We each made a fingerprint card-

 

We also "captured" a print off a glass with fingerprint powder and a sticky sheet.  We talked about the different pattern types and looked for what patterns our own fingerprints had.

We also did a worksheet on braille to figure out a message...

And we did a crossword puzzle on Louis Braille.

We didn't accomplish everything on our lesson plan but we did a lot, we experienced a lot and we certainly learned a lot!