Sonlight Garden

Happy Saturday

 I believe we are in summer mode now, at least for this upcoming week.  The older children took the SAT test this past week. It was a good experience for them and I think they handled it really well considering they have never sat for one these tests before.

Joe left for Boy Scout summer camp this morning where he will work on four merit badges. He will be working on Swimming, First Aid, Orienteering, and Fishing(which is all he wants to do these days :0). This will be a great week for him. He will be learning a lot and it will be total hands on and that is how he learns best.

Today, and the beginning of next week we will pick up and clean. We may go catch a movie as a treat mid-week, and then I will gather my notes and the thoughts in my head and start to lay down our plans for the upcoming year.

 Our main focus this year will be writing. Mainly in the form of narration. Our grammar, spelling, and vocabulary  will be pulled from this. We are going to keep a journal for each subject and fill them up with their narrations, dictation, and drawings.  At the end of the year this will be a beautiful record of their learning because it will have been created by them.

 We will continue on with Teaching Textbooks for math. This program solved our math "issues" which was our focus last year.

 I am officially adding Patrick this year which is so exciting for me. Patrick is a great thinker. When you explain something to him he will sit for a moment, you can see the wheels turning. He comes back with very thoughtful questions and observations. I want to plan out a fun, memorable year for him. I know Catherine will not want to be left behind, or Amelia for that matter, so I will include them also.

This year will consist of books. Lots and lots of beautiful books. I am so looking forward to the possibilities. I love a new year! Happy Saturday.

You have got to try this!!

 

Dear Mr. inventor of "Dark Chocolate Dreams", Can I just tell you, that you are a genius and I love you!! (not in a "love you" want to marry you, but in a "love you" you are awesome kind of a way) Lunch is fun again! Our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will never be the same. Dark Chocolate Dreams and Marshmallow Fluff...delicious!!! The possibilities are endless!!! Thank you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart stomach.

Run, don't walk to your nearest Publix. It is in the organic/health food department. (even better!!) Trust me on this one.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday June 8, 2009...

Outside My Window...It is sunny and green. I can see the horses in the run waiting for us to give them hay and feed.

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I am thinking...I really need to start messing with Daisy. (Daisy is our mini Jersey heifer who is going to have her first calf in September) She has not had as much human interaction as our other dairy cows. If I don't start getting her comfortable with me she will be a bear to milk come calving time.

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I am thankful for... a homecoming this week!!!

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From the learning rooms...portfolios are done. I need to get them signed and sent and then we can move on. The second half of the school year we hit the basics. We had less subjects but more time for read alouds and we were able to dig a little deeper. I learned less is more. This has me inspired for our upcoming year as I think about our days.

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From the kitchen...I am almost through our two weeks worth of meals. I am hooked on the book Once a Month cooking. Having our meals planned out has been a life saver while Terry has been away.

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I am wearing...a t-shirt and running shorts, my sneakers, and my bad haircut :0)

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I am creating...batches of cold tomato sauce. We have a bunch of tomatoes from the garden. I hope this will freeze well.

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I am going...no where today

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I am reading...Real Learning and Educating the Whole Hearted Child. I am refocusing myself and what I want the children's education to look like. I am officially adding another student this year.

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I am hoping...and praying for discernment as to where God wants our family.

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I am hearing...all is quiet at the moment.

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Around the house... It needs some tidying but it is not terrible.

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One of my favorite things...Popcorn, root beer floats, chips and salsa, and watching basketball with the children. Go Magic!

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Boy Scouts, Orthodontist, Big grocery shopping trip, and getting Joe and Terry ready for Boy Scout camp

Here is picture thought I am sharing... Patrick's Nature Journal

 

stop by Peggy's to participate

small successes

 

The vanis still clean. Woo Hoo! This is miraculous. I have been a stickler about "what goes in the van must come back out". Dolls, books, socks, etc. So far so good.

I received the Seton catalog in the mail and I believe this is the first time in our homeschooling career that I have not been tempted to sign up with them. I have nothing against Seton. I just feel like we have hit a groove as far as what we do here day in and day out. It feels good.

I got a really bad hair cut and I did not cry.  My hair is hacked pretty bad right now. I was going for the "stacked bob" look. I even showed her pictures. That is not what I got however. Oh well, it's hair, it will grow back right?!

What were your small successes this week? Visit Faith and Family Live to participate.

Cod Liver Oil Update

If you take Cod Liver Oil you may want to read this. We may have to do things a little different around here. I am going to have to further research this. Has anyone heard or read anything else on cod liver oil? I know, I know it is such an interesting topic. ;0)

Four Months

 

 

 

 

 

Alice in Wonderland

 

 Julia and Mary Jane had their ballet recital this past weekend. It was incredible. I cried. Watching them up on stage fills me with so many emotions. They simply amaze me. A lot of blood ,sweat, and tears went into getting ready for this. I am so very, very  proud of them.

 

All of Mary Jane's performance pictures are blurry. All of them :0(  She was adorable. It seemed she was on stage for almost all of the second half of the performance. Her class worked so hard and did such a terrific job.

 

 

 

small successes

 

I completely emptied out the van and vacuumed it. This was no small success I assure you. This was HUGE. I really wanted to just blow the whole van up and start over but my husband told me that was not an option. So, it is nice and clean now. I even took car seats apart and washed them. We will see how long it stays that way, although I made a vow to myself to never let it get that way again!

Inspired by Once a Month Cooking. I made up a two week meal plan and went shopping for it.(including breakfast and lunch)  I prepared some of the meals yesterday and froze them. This will be a tremendous help for our upcoming schedule.

We have had a fairly harmonious work week so far. It has been placed upon my heart to be encouraging to my children always. Even when a particular child cries and whines through absolutely every subject that is presented to them. Even when this child storms off to their room in tears and slams the door. The encouraging mom writes this child an encouraging note, places it in a ziploc baggie with some M&Ms and slips it under the door. The frustrated child comes out of their room with a smile on their face and a big hug for mom. It is amazing how well the day went after that. Encouragement. Patience. Success!!

What are your successes this week? Visit Faith and Family Live to participate.

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Tuesdy Edition

Stop by Peggy's today to join in The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY, May 19, 2009

Outside My Window... It is raining!! It is so great. Everything was turning brown, especially our pastures.

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I am thinking... about our state homeschool convention. I am going on Thursday and Friday. I am going to bring my oldest boy and my youngest boy :0) I love going to the convention every year. It is a good shot in the arm for me. I am especially looking forward to spending time with Joseph.

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I am thankful for... my husband, who works sooo hard for us and for our children who make me a mother. All of them make me a better person, I am so very thankful. (always thankful for this)

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From the kitchen.... spaghetti and meatballs tonight.

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I am wearing... khaki linen shorts and a white polo shirt and brown crocs.

 

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I am creating... plans for next school year ( I feel like I am always planning!) still

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I am going... to run this week. I did run last week!! It was AWESOME. Nothing improves my energy level and my mood like physical exercise. I forgot just how much this made a difference until my feet hit the pavement.

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From the learning room...  hitting the three R's this week. We are also going to be doing some Home Ec, big time.

 

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I am reading.... Nothing. I have put everything aside at the moment

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I am hoping... to get the children's work a little more organized for their evaluation next month.

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I am hearing... the washer and dryer, "Wishbone" on the TV. The "littles" playing.

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Around the house... It is actually not to bad. I need to stay on top of it though so it doesn't get out of control. We are having good friends come and visit us this weekend. We are so looking forward to seeing them and spending time with them. Terry is turning 40 this Sunday so we are going to celebrate!!

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One of my favorite things... a ticklish baby!! He is pure JOY!

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A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: 

lots of ballet practice, ballet recital this weekend, boy scouts, homeschool convention, out of town company, orthodontist, grocery store, the list goes on...

A picture thought: These flowers are in our flower garden. Unfortunately I don't know the name of them. Anyone? I think they are my favorite. They remind me of little fairies.

3 and a half months

 

I have yet to capture in picture the twinkle that he gets in his sweet, gentle eyes when he smiles.

 

 

Oh, I could eat him up!!