What do you do????

This is a repost from Little Things from Texas...


How long have you homeschooled your kids?

Literally since Kaitlin was born. We had our first Thompson open house when she was like 2!

Did any of them attend public school?

No, and we have NO plans to start! :)

Did going into public school make it easier or harder to begin homeschooling them?

N/A

Do your kids attend co-op or other schooling (Pre-K)?

Not a co op, but we have always gotten with other home schoolers for learning activities, classes and things.

What activities do your kids attend outside of the home?

We currently do AHG (American Heritage Girls- a Christian scouting group), A book club, classes at the Museum, field trips, Boyscouts, horse lesson

What do you drive (or what is your transportation method)?

A 1998 Suburban, hopefully will be a newer model in July!

Do you have another occupation?

Um yes, doctor, CEO, nurse, nutritionist, teacher, secretary, spritual advisor, public spokesperson, public relations, banker, CPA, house keeper, taxi driver....

What is your husband's occupation? Does he work a set schedule or shift work, travel, etc,?

Computers. He has a set schedule, although he often works late or on weekend so that he can be on the computers when no one else is working.

Does your husband help much?

Um, I love you hubbie! No. I dont expect much help from him, meaning I dont ask that he do a specific chore like dishes, or laundry. I do ask he take out the trash, which is usually does. I pretty much do all else. INCLUDING THE YARD! Which I did this morning! But if I ask him specifically to do something he is not a complainer and he does it cheerfully. Usually.


Do others help much?

The kids help a tremendous amount. They are truly awesome workers! We all work together to get the stuff done that we need to! My mom helps a little, probably not as much as she would but I sometimes find it easier to do things my self. I am a ball juggler! I do however except volunteers!

What type of computer do you use, internet speed, wireless or wired?

I have a Dell something or other. It is a desk top. I have a wireless printer which I love. We have high speed--- something I didnt give up with the Dave Ramsey thing.. I say once you go high speed you never go back!

Do you live in the country, town, suburb, or other? What state or region?

We live in the city, actually I live like 7 minutes from the city and that is only becasue of traffic, distance wise we are CLOSE! Oh yeah, the city is HOUSTON, TEXAS.

Do you like where you live?

Yes I do. Texas is rocking it right now! Best homeschooling laws, mostly conservative. Beautiful country!!!!! I have lived here my WHOLE life!

Do you travel? Do you like to travel?

Sigh.... I love travel. I wish I could travel OFTEN! I would travel anywere in the US. I have no desire right now to cross any borders! I love planning trips!!! I love seeing things!!!

I cannot believe my baby girl is turning 7

March 12 (yes it is the 12th for those wondering)

After many, many weeks or waiting, praying, being incredibly patient, having to be away from my two other little ones so much, having family and friends help so much, shocking the doctors with keeping her in me so long, and staying healthy myself for the most part!

Here she is....

Emily Elizabeth Thompson

No, I didnt just have another baby... just reliving this day 7 years ago!!!

She really does seem bigger this morning. I looked at her and she just looked older.

I asked her why couldnt she just stay 6 another year and she said, but mom I have been waiting years to turn 7!

Big birthday update to come....

Attentiveness

Attentiveness....
Our new character word is Attentiveness.

I picked it thinking I just wanted to work on the kids paying attention when I was speaking but there is so much more to it! I love this character trait!

Definition:

Attentiveness describes the concentration we apply to each of the five senses. It is the key to information gathering.

It means to show the worth of a
person by giving full concentration to his or her
words.

Here is the poem the kids are working on, it is by Character First

I will look at someone speaking
And I'll listen all I can.
I will sit or stand up straight
Like a soldier on command.

I will not draw attention;
I will guard against distraction.
I will learn to ask the questions
That will help me understand.

Commitments are important steps
To guard us from disaster.
And just to show we know them well,
Lets say the even faster.


Scriptures...

Matthew 13;15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:16 But blessed are you eyes, for the see: and your ears, for they hear.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let everyman be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.


I was talking to the kids yesterday and we were talking about why being or causing a distraction wasnt being attentive, and we discussed a soldier being at ATTENTION. He is not fidgeting, or looking around. His attention is solely on the Commander or whoever he is listening too.

We talked about how much more respectful it is to really pay attention to someone by:

* sitting or standing up straight

* looking into their eyes

* either repeating what they said or at least acknowledging them once spoken to

I am so pleased with how the kids are responding to all the character training. Simply opening them up to the words and definitions is wonderful, but taking the word and using it throughout the day in various situations is awesome! Dave is helping me pick the words that we use. And the other day I heard his say... was that thorough job? I so appreciated him remembering our character word and using it to train the kids! Very exciting stuff!

Good thoughts....

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Abraham Lincoln

Boggles my mind....

This is my new favortist thing! Boggle Jr. Travel! It is so little and compact and everthing fits in the bottom. I lurve it!

HOMESCHOOLER will travel!

Happy Texas independance Day!

I love my girls!

Dear Mr. Demme

Okay... I am a home school mom who doesnt mind all the work. I dont mind teaching three kids, I dont mind lesson plans, I dont mind any of it! I dont try to get out of doing any work, I simply do what I need to do. I am not always timely, and I mess stuff up but at least I DO!

All that to say this: when I bought Math U See ( and btw I have no issue with Math U See, I actually love the program, this is a ME problem) I thought cool, now I dont have to teach math.

I pop in the kids DVD and Mr. Demme himself will teach my kids math.

DONE.

Zip.

Zilch.

Nata'

Those are the things I though I would need to do for math.

DONT ASK ME WHY I THOUGHT THIS... I cannot at this moment explain it. I cannot at this moment tell you what went through my brain!

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... needless to say I am now teaching math.

Wow what a novel concept!

The kids are really doing fine... we arent having problems but I simply did not think I needed to teach them. I thought Mr. Demme did it all! I graded their stuff, I did some tests. I know basically what concept they were being taught but that it is it. NOW I am intimately familiar with all that Math U See has to offer...

like lesson plans for the teacher!

Oh and teaching tips for the teacher!

BTW............... just a little note about dry erase boards and markers. They are my best friend! I love them. They are great!

Happy Birthday to you... Dr. Suess

We got up on Tuesday morning and celebrated Dr. Suess by making green eggs and ham. The kids were a little like Sam I Am, until they tried the eggs and decided they simply taste like eggs!

The eggs look pretty yellow, but they were really green!

Little Miss Baker

So we have been giving the kids an allowance- which I dont like this word, we are thinking we are going to call it something else. I actually tell the kids Payday... anyway more thinking on that subject!

So anyway, they each get their Payday and Emily really wanted this baking set from Barnes and Noble. They get paid on the 1st and 15th just like Mommy and Daddy. So she saved for two paychecks to buy this set. She wanted it so badly!

When we were checking out she asked me if I had any coupons!

My little man is growing up...

We decided to stop our lawn service and actually do it ourself to save money... dont be fooled by Dave being outside while I do this! I was mowing the lawn! Dave came out when Matt wanted to learn how to do it!

He couldnt quite get it started on his own. I actually have a little trouble. This is my dads lawn mower we borrowed so I think I will get one that is self propelled when we go to buy. I also need a weed eater! Yes this is my territory, not Daves!

Noah and Diligence

This is our Noah's Ark Bible Story... We did this in conjuction with the Rainbow lapbook.

Our character word is Diligence.

Noah was a very diligent man!

I let the kids watch Evan Almighty. THEY LOVED IT. They caught all the references. the gopher wood delivery. The clock saying Gen. It was hilarious! If you have seen it Matt keeps "doing the dance"!

Rainbow Lapbook-Emily

Emily was working on her rainbow lapbook...her birthday party is now officially rainbow theme!

Kaitlins latest catch...

She was quite proud of herself... those buggers are fast!


*************disclaimer: no geckos were harmed in the taking of this picture***************