Meditation Monday

I'm thinking: that the next 12.5 weeks are going to fly by before I know it and I'll be meeting my baby girl. I'm excited and not ready at the same time. So much to do around this little house of ours.

I'm reading: The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, Eat Fat Lose Fat by Sallon Fallon & Mary Enig (pretty much done reading it but I've been researching and finding things so that I can start the diet soon ... hopefully by next week!), Leaving by Karen Kingsbury and Shepherding A Child's Heart by Ted Tripp.
I'm listening to: Madie pretending to read a story ... over and over again! And Delia drawing on the chalk board.
I'm learning: a lot about homeschooling! And I'm super excited about it. =) My eyes are being opened to the different methods of homeschooling. And I'm realizing that there isn't a perfect method. Which is hard because I want to do all or nothing of something. I need to find a balance of options. I think I'm slowly getting there.
I'm watching: nothing new. Jake's been working from home at night and I've been researching curriculum so we haven't been indulging in our usual nightly show. It's been nice. I actually feel like I'm getting more done ... because I am. =)
I'm cooking: beans beans beans. This Friday we are having Supper for 6. It's something we do through our church. Three families get together three times over three or so months. We are hosting this time. I'm planning our menu and looking forward to spending time with these two great families.
I'm buying: presents. I have a problem. I am obsessed with Excel spreadsheets. I know I know! NERD ALERT! So the other day I made an excel spreadsheet with everyones (extended family included) birthdays. I'm always sending birthday presents or cards late and I HATE it. So hopefully this will help me be on time. So anyways Zulily.com (great deals!) had a few things I couldn't resist for a few of my nephews and neices and my own children too. I even got a couple of Christmas presents for the girls. =)
I'm thankful for: my husband. Last week I was not feeling well because of allergies and he was able to come home and help quite a bit! Thanks JAKE!
I'm creating: more spreadsheets....
I'm praying: for Jake's cousin Don. Don is in the hospital with pneumonia. He's on the mend! YAY!
I'm planning: to get this house in tip top shape before company comes Friday. And hopefully to get this school room organized!
I'm looking forward to: Friday with friends, the possibility of my mom coming this weekend and an IKEA trip on Saturday. We are hopefully going to figure out how to make our kitchen more kitchen-like. =)
A picture to share:

Sept. 2011

Thoughtful Thursday ~CONTINUED~ Our Homeschooling Journey ... So Far (Part 3)

 PART THREE

So that brings us to now. After I planned out the rest of this school year I realized that I needed to figure out next years curriculum before the new baby is born. Because I'm afraid like the last two times that I will be too overwhelmed by everything. I plan on starting in Sept. That means we will have a newborn, a 2 year old, a 4 year old and a 7 year old ...& a (still very much a puppy) dog and a kitty. I get scared just thinking about it. =) Okay. Not really but it sure did give me the motivation I needed to figure things out before hand. I don't want to cram the whole year into a few months like the last two times. I want to be able to have a bit more wiggle room. Be able to plan some field trips around our lessons. And just relax a little while we go through the school year. And hopefully NOT MOVE! The moving really gets me. I'm tired of it. But I'm also tired of not living in our OWN house ... living somewhere that we can't make our own ... but that's another story. =)


So I got online and started planning out the curriculum for 2nd Grade and Pre-K (because Madie will be doing WAY more this year). I figured I would just use the same workbooks we had been using. So I worked out the numbers in excel, calculated it all out and showed Jake my plan. My plan consisted of:

For Delia:
Bible Quest for Bible
Horizons 2nd Grade - Math, Phonics & Reading, Spelling & Vocab., & Penmanship.
Lifepacs 1st Grade - History & Geography & Science (Units 6-10)
Lifepacs 2nd Grade - History & Geography & Science (the whole set)
Draw Write Now for Art
Teach Yourself Piano for Music
and a long list of books to read-aloud.

For Madie:
Bible Quest for Bible
Horizons Preschool Kit
Draw Write Now for Art
and the same list of read-aloud books as Delia.

It basically consisted of a bunch of workbooks. I was okay with this until one day not that long ago I received a catalog from Sonlight in the mail. This catalog changed EVERYTHING! Sonlight is a Christian homeschool company that specializes in literature-based curriculum programs. I had seen their catalog before, had clicked around their site a few times but didn't actually read the information. All I saw was the price and knew there was NO way we could EVER use them.

This time it was different though. I practically read the catalog from cover to cover. And something clicked. I began to realize that a bunch of workbooks just wasn't the route I wanted to take any longer. I mentioned it to Jake and he agreed. So I dove in head first and began making a spreadsheet in excel laying everything out. Sonlight isn't a cheap curriculum so if we were going to do this I wanted to make sure I did it the cheapest way possible. Being a literature-based curriculum there are a lot of books involved which is why it is understandably more expensive. So I looked into how much it would cost to just buy the Instructor's Guides and get as many of the books from the library. I looked into how much it would cost to buy the books used or from another book store like Amazon or Half.com. I looked at everything. And in the end the cheapest option was obviously using the library. But I quickly realized how hard that would be. I would have to make sure I requested any books needed at just the right time so that they were available when I would need them. Plus I'd have to pack us all up and go get them. That didn't sound very appealing to me. I know it's going to be hard for a few months after the baby is born to go anywhere with out Jake's help. I can do it ... I'm just not sure that I want to.

So the next option was to look at buying the books somewhere else and low and behold it was actually more expensive to do it that way. So after more talking with Jake and showing him all my impressive nerdy spreadsheets we agreed to go with Sonlight. One thing that also helped us make our decision was the fact that Sonlight has a payment plan. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to afford to do it. I placed the order. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get the box in the mail. Now I had Delia's 2nd grade year all planned out ... I mean literally. Everything is all scheduled out for you. So nice! And I just needed to merely plan out something for Madie's Pre-K. I really wanted to just get her the Pre-K curriculum through Sonlight but I don't know that I can spend that much money for preschool. Plus if I take the time now to plan something out for her I will be able to do it. I just have to get to planning!

After all that time spent figuring it out (we're talking days and days of crunching numbers, etc) I was sad that my work was done. I wanted to figure something else out. I wanted to keep planning and working out numbers. I clearly was not ready to stop "learning". I requested a TON of homeschooling books from the library. I only wish they had come before I had put in my order through Sonlight. Especially this particular book by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise called The Well-Trained Mind A Guide to Classical Education at Home. I'm only on the third chapter and I'm so excited. My eyes have been opened and my heart and mind are ready to learn. I'm finally ready to absorb it. To learn and figure out this style of homeschooling. I just wish I had done it earlier.

While I'm sure Sonlight will be fine. I'm sort of wishing I had learned more about the classical approach before I jumped in and ordered it. I'm wondering now if I could have taken a more classical approach on my own. Sonlight isn't technically classical as they don't follow all of the rules of the Trivium but it is a lot closer to it than all those workbooks I was using. Which don't get me wrong, they worked and we did enjoy them. But I'm ready for a new approach.

We received our Sonlight box last week. It was exciting and fun. And I really liked most of what I saw. Some of our items were backordered so we are waiting on a few more things. Delia especially enjoyed seeing all the books. But I am not letting her read any too many of them yet. She just can't help herself though. She loves to read.

There are a few things I don't agree with though. I'm fairly certain I will be returning the books they required for Bible and using a different curriculum for Bible time. I think we'll use the same curriculum we used this year. The kids all really enjoyed it.

I may also be returning the Science portion that I bought. There are a few things in it that I don't agree with and would rather find something I don't have to worry about. But I will look through it some more once we get the rest of our books and I can see it all laid out.

Once I've finished reading "The Well-Trained Mind", I'll return to the topic of homeschooling and share what I've learned. Until then this is the end of our Homeschool Journey ... the end of the stories up until now at least. Our journey through homeschooling is only just beginning and I can't wait to see where it takes us and to share it all with you (whoever you are!)

Thoughtful Thursday ~CONTINUED~ Our Homeschooling Journey ... So Far (Part 2)

PART TWO

I knew I had to do something more for school. Delia was 5 after all. She should have more structure to her day and use that little brain of hers. So I looked online and found a few workbooks. I decided on Horizons Kindergarten Phonics & Reading Kit and Horizons Kindergarten Math Kit for Delia's first non-official "official" school year. I say "non-official-official school year" because she was only 5 and in the state of California you do not have to register as a homeschooler until your child is 6.


I had great plans to stretch the workbooks throughout the whole school year. Starting in September and ending in May or June. We sort of started in Sept. but remember I had a new baby, a 2 year old and a 5 year old and we had recently moved and everything was CRAZY!

Things started to settle down after the new year. I was able to focus a little better. Jude was sleeping through the night for longer periods and I think even in his own room at this point. So I sat down and scheduled out the rest of the school year. I had Delia doing 4 lessons a day. 2 of each subject. She excelled at it. She enjoyed it. She learned. And it was great. We were also going to the library at least once a week. She was reading on her own and reading ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! We made it through her Kindergarten year and celebrated by getting ice cream on the VERY LAST DAY! She had done all the lessons, was a better reader, and knew basic math.

In July we moved again. Jude was almost one. Madie was 3 and Delia was 6. I got online towards the middle of Summer and planned out the curriculum for the next year. FIRST GRADE! I couldn't believe I had a first grader. Since she had done well with Horizons I decided to use them again. So we got Horizons 1st Grade for Phonics & Reading, Spelling & Vocab., Penmanship & Math. We also got LifePacs 1st Grade Science (the first 5 units of 10) and History & Geography (also the first 5 units of 10). At first I wasn't that impressed with LifePac. I didn't really like the structure but as I started using it more and more it was easier and she really enjoyed it. Madie even enjoyed listening in and would answer questions too. So September rolled around and I got really sick. So we put off school for a week or so. We finally started in Mid-September. I was beyond frustrated. Delia and I tend to butt heads. She would fight me on things, cop an attitude, not listen, want to do it her own way ... I'm not entirely sure where she gets it from ... ;) Anyways, I was DONE! I was seriously contemplating putting her in school. I would NEVER do public school though. So I was looking into the private school here. I only just kinda looked. Because I already knew we wouldn't be able to afford it. And I knew that deep down it wasn't what I wanted to do. We continued doing school time but it was not very consistent. I had lost my zeal somewhere along the way. I had no motivation and was just plain unhappy with everything.

Looking back I think part of the reason was my hormones. Jude was still nursing and my body was trying to get back into balance again. Then I got pregnant for the fourth time in 7 years. Which may not seem like a lot but it is when it's your own body doing all the work and factor in that you are pregnant for 9 months each. It takes time baby.

Anyways. So here we were pregnant again ... a new house, a 1 year old, a 3 year old, a 6 year old, and a puppy. I had to figure out how to get around this new city. I was trying to get in a walk for the dog every day with three kids on our busy street. I was trying to do Pre-K with Madie and 1st Grade with Delia. And it just wasn't happening. I was tired from being pregnant. I was missing our old city (only 30ish minutes away). I was overwhelmed with housework, laundry, and KIDS! And feeling secluded and without any help.

And so we slacked majorly on our school time. We did it here and there. But mostly we just survived. Then like the last time things got better after the new year. I was able to focus more. I wasn't as tired because I was in my second trimester. I planned out the rest of the school year so that we could finish by early July. And we started doing school everyday. Delia was enjoying it. Madie was enjoying doing some school time. And I was enjoying it too.
(stay tuned for PART THREE)

Thoughtful Thursday ~ Our Homeschooling Journey ... So Far (Part 1)

Thoughtful Thursday ~ Is going to be a new addition to my blog. It will hopefully be a way to get me back on here and blogging more. I need a place to put down my thoughts and Facebook isn't really ideal because I can be quite long-winded. ;) And lately I have had a lot on my mind. So I plan on sharing it ... to whoever it is that actually reads this. This may or may not happen every week. It just depends on how much I have to say. For today I will be blabbing on and on about our homeschooling journey ... so far.

PART ONE:

Homeschooling is a wonderful thing and I enjoy it immensely. Jake and I agreed long before our first baby was born that we would school our children at home. And having only one child for almost 3 years made it fairly easy to instill the early learning skills. And honestly I didn't really realize I was teaching her anything until she had already learned her alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, had memorized a few books all by the age of 2.5. Around this age I started teaching her the letter sounds which she picked up just as quickly as everything else.

Then almost a month shy of turning three her little sister was born and things happened a little slower after that. We still worked on some stuff and read a lot of books but I wasn't actively teaching her anything new. This was also when we lived in the dreaded "moldy" house. We all got really sick and that didn't help things.

We did do some workbooks while she was 4 but not anything super consistent ... or at least I can not remember. Then at about 4.5 I bought a Hooked On Phonics set from Target. We worked everyday and she was reading before she turned 5 and hasn't looked back. At 6.5 years old and in 1st grade she is reading at a 5th grade level ... though she doesn't necessarily understand the words; she can read them. =) And that seems pretty good if you ask me.

Now that Delia was 5 I started to get a little bit more serious about homeschooling. I wish I had been more serious earlier but the circumstances didn't allow for that I suppose. There are so many homeschooling moms in my church that I have tons of help and information and answers to my many questions from ladies I look up to and who have been where I am and have homeschooled their children (some through high school) ... and have done it well. So I talked to a few of them. Got a bit of advice and couldn't grasp any of it! I was SO not ready to learn about ALL the different styles of homeschooling. I just could not wrap my head around it. It was all so overwhelming.

I can remember borrowing a book and barely glancing through it because it was so overwhelming. I didn't know where to begin. I didn't know what I was reading. There were words I had never heard of before. "Trivium" was one of them. "Classical" was obviously one I'd heard but without looking into it I judged it and assumed it was old and didn't see why I would use it. In my sleep deprived mind I couldn't figure it out. So I didn't.

Keep in mind that at this point we had moved every year or less (and still have). This greatly impacts how things get done and every time you move it messes up the whole equilibrium of your house. I think I've been behind on laundry for the last 3 houses ... but that's another story.

Less than a month after we had moved for the 11th time in 7 years Jude was born. Madie was 26 months. It was her 3rd move. Delia was 5. It was her 7th move. I never really felt like we moved into that house. In fact I was so stressed about it that I had to go in for monitoring because my blood pressure was high and normally it is quite low. I realized why my blood pressure was high later after the stress put me into labor 3 days early. But again. That is another story.

(stay tuned for PART TWO)
 

Jude ~ 20 Months

Taken with my phone. =)

I'm thinking: that I need to figure out a bunch of activities for the kids otherwise this Summer is going to be really boring for everyone. I'll be busy with the new baby and with the amount of "We're bored!" and "What can we do?" statements being asked it's going to be a long Summer!

I'm reading: Eat Fat Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig and a bunch of various homeschooling books and a few sprouted cooking books.
I'm listening to: the birds chirping outside, Jake typing on his computer (he's home today because I'm sick), and bored complaints from my daughters.
I'm learning: a lot about eating healthfully and can't wait to start my new "diet".
I'm watching: We've started watching Bleak House as suggested by a dear friend. We also recently watched the first episode of Great Expectations ... having not read the book before it was NOT what I had expected but I like it.
I'm cooking: cooking ... what's that? The usual. I know that a bigger kitchen wouldn't solve ALL of my problems (because I have a lot of other problems ...) but it would solve some of my cooking problems. This little bitty cramped kitchen of mine offers NO inspiration or motivation. There is just simply NO room ... and I HATE it ... Yes, I said it ... HATE! Sure there are a few things I like ... okay maybe not. Jake and I have talked about it though and we are planning on making it work. We are brainstorming ideas to make it a more usable space. I just hope we can figure it all out before the middle of July.
I'm buying: lots of coconut products, desiccated liver capsules ... yes liver capsules, kombucha, hopefully a grain mill soon! and other various things.
I'm thankful for: my husband who can stay home every once in awhile if I"m feeling sickly and help take care of the kids.
I'm creating: a well organized school room/play room/office.
I'm praying: for this sweet baby to be healthy and continue to grow.
I'm planning: to buy some sort of curriculum for Madeline next year. Otherwise I'm afraid I won't get much done with her between Delia being in 2nd grade, a newborn and a 2 year old. If I don't have something scheduled out for me she'll be in preschool FOREVER! ;)
I'm looking forward to: this week of warm, sunny weather.
A picture to share:

I'll take a tuna sandwich, please. Hold the relish.

Did I mention we got a kitten a few months ago??
Her name is Ruby the Ditty.



Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - 30 - Stokke Explory

The last and final day of the Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway is for a super fancy Stokke Explory.

Enter here for your chance to win.

Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - Day 29 - 4Moms Origami Stroller

Only one more day left for the BIG HUGE Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway. The last two giveaway have been BIG ones ... I can't wait to see what tomorrows final giveaway will be. Sadly, I haven't won ... yet. I've entered a lot of contests and often win something. It's fun. =)

Day 29 is for the 4Moms Origami Stroller.
This stroller is SUPER FANCY. It even folds on it's own ... with just the press of a button.

Enter here for your chance to win.

After tomorrow I promise I'll be back to my normal ... er rather start posting some more interesting things and less stroller giveaways.

Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - Day 28 - Bumbleride Indie Twin!

This would be an amazing stroller to win. The Bumbleride Indie Twin is what you could win today during Day 28 of the Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway!

Enter here for your chance!!

Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - Day 24 - Bumbleride Queen B

Day 24 of the Baby Gizmo Giveaway is the Bumbleride Queen B! Such a neat stroller!! I'd push that. ;)

Enter here for your chance to win the Bumbleride Queen B in the color of your choice!!

Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - Day 23 - Peg Perego Skate 2012

Day 23 of the Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway is for an amazing luxury stroller by Peg Perego called Skate. This is one fancy stroller.

Check it out here and enter for your chance to win one.

Meditation Monday

I'm thinking: that I've been neglecting my camera for far too long now. It's been a long time since I got it out and took some fun shots of my kids ... and it's been even longer since I posted any!
I'm reading: Eat Fat Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig & Sally Fallon and those other books are still sitting by my bed waiting for me to read ...
I'm listening to: Delia work on her schoolwork and Madie sniffing because she has a cold or allergies or something.
I'm learning: about new approaches to homeschooling and I'm VERY excited to implement them next school year.
I'm watching: Jake and I watched the first and second season of Downton Abbey in a matter of weeks ... and now we wait for the next season which won't be available for awhile. We need another series to watch. Any ideas?
I'm cooking: the usual ... beans and maybe some rice.  
I'm buying: the usual stuff like toothpaste, dish soap, etc.
I'm thankful for: family and very excited to spend time with them this weekend. It's been 3 months since we went "home".
I'm creating: and organizing the house. I've been struck by the biggest nesting bug ever and decided this weekend to move Jude into the girls' room and make his old room into a play/school/office room. I've got lots of organizing to do but I'm so excited about it. And I think Jude like waking up with his sisters right there ... though I'm sorta sad he doesn't have his cute little boy room anymore. :(
I'm praying: for patience! I'm running very low on it right now.
I'm planning: to make some changes to my blog soon ... like a new header and more blogging.
I'm looking forward to: Easter this weekend with FAMILY!
A picture to share:

24 Weeks 3 Days (photo taken by Delia with my phone) =)

Sad :( I haven't been doing a picture each week like I did when I was pregnant with Jude. It's not too late though so I might add that to the changes coming soon.

Baby Gizmo YouTube Giveaway - Day 21 - Britax B-Ready Stroller

Baby Gizmo is STILL having their daily giveaway. And Day 21 (I've slacked and haven't been entering ... the shame!) is for a LOVELY 2012 Britax B-Ready Stoller. I would LOVE to have this stroller. It can be converted into a double ... which could be quite handy in a few short months.

Enter the giveaway here for your chance to win. And if you don't need a stroller ... then enter to win it for ME! =) I'd be your best friend forever ... ;)