tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44800100634341957752024-03-05T00:08:33.373-08:00Finally HomeschoolingMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-27659516086570344542011-08-30T11:06:00.000-07:002011-08-30T11:06:28.233-07:00When a Dad's Work Pulls Him Away<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vCTa5_gNvjXlIPW1qoqt_eWLTcSrYLAtcuPuyQxbUvylUbiwKnuxPz57MPtCS32xaVnJHr2JLNut6m3aZ1317x05DgCBEDibGmttk8I9uCN8qHrcYeuA57-TWRCiU0zFRw-o66NXXec/s1600/boom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vCTa5_gNvjXlIPW1qoqt_eWLTcSrYLAtcuPuyQxbUvylUbiwKnuxPz57MPtCS32xaVnJHr2JLNut6m3aZ1317x05DgCBEDibGmttk8I9uCN8qHrcYeuA57-TWRCiU0zFRw-o66NXXec/s320/boom.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I don't write much about our life beyond homeschooling, but my husband's job is one of the reasons we love the flexibility of homeschool! In my husband's industry, he pretty much works away from home; like plane rides away from home. Each job is 4-6 months long with crazy long hours and not a lot of opportunity to sneak back home.<br />
<br />
It's heart breaking for him. He misses those accidental moments with his daughters....with me. He misses the drop in visits from friends and family. He misses the house we've worked so hard on. He misses so much.<br />
<br />
We started contemplating moving somewhere a little less insane (money wise) so maybe we could reinvent how we grab our income and he could be home more. At that exact moment in time when we were finally brave enough to make the move, it became abundantly clear that we needed to stay put.<br />
<br />
At what cost? We'll find out...I guess.<br />
<br />
I know this is our new normal (not too much filming going on in SoCal these days), but it's tough. I've been pretty good about not whining. We've seen some amazing places. <br />
<br />
It's just so darn hard.<br />
<br />
I'm ready for a break.<br />
<br />
Here are some things that we have tried to do to make the away time go a little faster:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>FaceTime (gotta love iPhone!)</li>
<li>I still wait on big decisions (and even not so big decisions) until I speak with him</li>
<li>I try to keep the house running so he doesn't have a long list of honey-do's when he gets home</li>
<li>The big girls text him regularly and even though he really is <a href="http://speedracer.com/">Speed Racer's</a> dad (a total Ludite), he'll text back</li>
<li>I keep it positive (or try to) for both his sake and for the girls' sakes</li>
<li>I'm realistic and open with the girls on how difficult it is on everyone - it seems to keep the difficulty from growing into a monster-sized pity party</li>
<li>I try to be super frugal so the money he makes goes as far as it can</li>
<li>I try my best to keep my whiny days to myself (or to a dear friend) - my husband already feels horrible because he can't be home</li>
<li>When we visit, we do our touristy stuff while he is at work so when he is "home," we are with him - we are happy to just be with him</li>
</ul><div>So we trudge through our own unique way of defining family. We are thankful for the work. We find the stamina to support each other and we pray. We pray a lot!</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-39834820265882410702011-08-25T20:01:00.000-07:002011-08-25T20:15:54.041-07:00Our 4th Grade Curriculum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp0dmB7tztn4cDcJUXkmKDdRm6Lmpm-YVcob16FdFUUCFR1T7SvB3RUog5bPrw7EpOvVdF01qsHuLp_UMroKhrTvHV6d7kkgYVO-jmzJwiyxdMCp7bWLuBqfFnUhXzfDcczHImpYdVJX6/s1600/currChoices11112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp0dmB7tztn4cDcJUXkmKDdRm6Lmpm-YVcob16FdFUUCFR1T7SvB3RUog5bPrw7EpOvVdF01qsHuLp_UMroKhrTvHV6d7kkgYVO-jmzJwiyxdMCp7bWLuBqfFnUhXzfDcczHImpYdVJX6/s1600/currChoices11112.jpg" /></a></div>I'm not really ready for school to start this year. As not at all ready. I'm feeling a little accomplished in that I've narrowed down our curriculum for this year...pretty cool in that we start on MONDAY! Ugh!<br />
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<b>LANGUAGE ARTS:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMDLiBiG19eNTubhVPqv1NW4SV2hLW3RgZ85txOAgoxQnKqFSZNt_f58AzZ0ZgBYnaTC6lvAS0J-Cf9Q8eYb1os4orvMoG0FRQaZWar2TG7hg9Z9FzKQ50VMLCgknAzSQNdWRKo_OgIgw/s1600/fll4wb-small.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMDLiBiG19eNTubhVPqv1NW4SV2hLW3RgZ85txOAgoxQnKqFSZNt_f58AzZ0ZgBYnaTC6lvAS0J-Cf9Q8eYb1os4orvMoG0FRQaZWar2TG7hg9Z9FzKQ50VMLCgknAzSQNdWRKo_OgIgw/s1600/fll4wb-small.png" /></a></div><br />
Last year went pretty well for us so we are going to stick with what worked for T and add a little extra (<a href="http://www.criticalthinking.com/series/097/index_c.jsp">Editor in Chief</a>, <a href="http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=00127">Word Benders</a>, <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2009/12/vocabulary-with-latin-roots.html">Greek & Latin Roots</a>) here and there.<br />
<br />
For grammar we will use <a href="http://www.easygrammar.com/dg4.html">Daily Grams 4</a> (a nice little 5 minute warm up to the day) and <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/first-language-lessons-level-4-student-workbook.html">First Language Lessons, Level 4</a> (T <i>loves</i> diagraming sentences...really). I think we are supposed to use Daily Grams with Easy Grammar, but First Language Lessons just seems to work for us.<br />
<br />
<b>MATH:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlCKPkFjnxFGNhU7z5X7iQ4MkLR856Tgl7gaqRaW4jlY7hk6xcZ7Xo9aPZjuN5TTpnLJ0MCvfBEVMEwqLfoS9x83IEba8P5D6duDInVApcvywHTkuqYO-I3coJZGNzUHW3tK4IThcOwhO/s1600/math5coversmall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlCKPkFjnxFGNhU7z5X7iQ4MkLR856Tgl7gaqRaW4jlY7hk6xcZ7Xo9aPZjuN5TTpnLJ0MCvfBEVMEwqLfoS9x83IEba8P5D6duDInVApcvywHTkuqYO-I3coJZGNzUHW3tK4IThcOwhO/s1600/math5coversmall.gif" /></a></div><br />
Last year we used <a href="http://www.mathmammoth.com/">Mammoth Math</a> (loved it!) and supplemented with lots of games and books. It was a great year and it reignited T's love of math. So, of course, this year I'm going to mix it up. I know. I'm nuts. It just seemed as though Mammoth Math 4 would need a whole lot of additional teaching to keep up with our state standards. I am in no way asserting that our state's standards are the be-all for math, but she is ready for more. So....<br />
<br />
We are using <a href="http://teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Math5.htm">Teaching Textbooks 5</a> and will supplement with <a href="http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Mathematics_Textbook_4A_STD_ED_p/pmstdt4a.htm">Singapore 4</a> (last year we supplemented with Singapore and it seemed like a good balance).<br />
<br />
If you do decide to use Teaching Textbooks, be certain to use their placement tests. My not-really-a-math girl placed higher than I thought she would. I may end up bumping her up to 6 mid-year (thank goodness for our charter school's financial support of our curriculum!!). We'll see.<br />
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<b>GEOGRAPHY:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt7xLQTQupuyrctulYiUxFcIxSvrp8XyW5T8g5cSh4pNFZtYSQ7ZdimGYtVmVZakPxK5ZrQLaWJcQAIxZ44rrTcLh8GV_RIziR_0jUHMAzEa8pIqqwOUpK-hj9gBEGLZzZnPQMGBlDYmN/s1600/geo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt7xLQTQupuyrctulYiUxFcIxSvrp8XyW5T8g5cSh4pNFZtYSQ7ZdimGYtVmVZakPxK5ZrQLaWJcQAIxZ44rrTcLh8GV_RIziR_0jUHMAzEa8pIqqwOUpK-hj9gBEGLZzZnPQMGBlDYmN/s1600/geo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We have worked on geography the last couple of years just through our travels and history. This year I wanted to be more deliberate in our study. We are going to try <a href="http://www.timberdoodle.com/Daily_Geography_Grade_4_p/215-304.htm">Daily Geography Practice, Grade 4</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>HISTORY:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-4RIvVIMzyoICyPeOF1su4FY_X4qxcUogS_w18HR4tX98BUNIl0W7aUSFEKh4I4JYT-dLeeE2Vk0KnqVe729bQ1J1FnJk20LJEQ4bVaBQz00nOXT8xbtKRxiecku08df4woTjl9OfSS3/s1600/sotw4coverbetter_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-4RIvVIMzyoICyPeOF1su4FY_X4qxcUogS_w18HR4tX98BUNIl0W7aUSFEKh4I4JYT-dLeeE2Vk0KnqVe729bQ1J1FnJk20LJEQ4bVaBQz00nOXT8xbtKRxiecku08df4woTjl9OfSS3/s320/sotw4coverbetter_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We have fallen in love with The Story of the World. This year we will use <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/the-story-of-the-world-volume-4-the-modern-age-paperback.html">The Story of the World, Volume 4</a>. There are some weeks that we just read, talk, and take the test (boring) and other weeks we do a bazillion activities (fun!) to go along with the chapter. I like the flexibility and I'm thrilled that we'll be going through it again.<br />
<br />
<b>SCIENCE:</b><br />
<br />
We will create our own science units again this year. Last year was a ton of fun and <b>we</b> learned a lot. Our topics this year will be water/oceans/waves, chemistry, and horticulture. We are going to include some our homeschool friends in our studies so it should be even more fun this year.<br />
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<b>ART/MUSIC:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwGypfpfwAvywevML2LRnSCkwl6rC4iPC8xqnB-AC-s12AAVmUHuzoEy0VV9RlvekSn46j3ufkTjsqMTgTzOI8TM0kzmlyt8ec_74jogXJPs0A0UVy0sJrW3Xkpm3Xu5FCfeEABIhyphenhyphenWv5/s1600/harmony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwGypfpfwAvywevML2LRnSCkwl6rC4iPC8xqnB-AC-s12AAVmUHuzoEy0VV9RlvekSn46j3ufkTjsqMTgTzOI8TM0kzmlyt8ec_74jogXJPs0A0UVy0sJrW3Xkpm3Xu5FCfeEABIhyphenhyphenWv5/s1600/harmony.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I cannot recommend <a href="http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/2011/06/announcing-hfa-grade-4-modern-art-and.html">Harmony Fine Arts</a> enough. We loved her guidance last year and we were thrilled to visit museums and actually see some of the artists' work. It was like a celebrity thing. The rest of the museum visitors thought we were a little nuts...but whatever.<br />
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<b>KEYBOARDING:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyG-WW_NnBhkmRIDfjvdR2dI6iJdplIk3kUJAIuPD9uV9ALiFNtNiRJCslTGfgnjQu2Hoi01VkNUu_Xxij27bBNOH71SWp_3_JM49oYMIjSeteOgcYIdh3p6z7lvEuM8qdG_v1D_mETIc/s1600/typing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyG-WW_NnBhkmRIDfjvdR2dI6iJdplIk3kUJAIuPD9uV9ALiFNtNiRJCslTGfgnjQu2Hoi01VkNUu_Xxij27bBNOH71SWp_3_JM49oYMIjSeteOgcYIdh3p6z7lvEuM8qdG_v1D_mETIc/s1600/typing.gif" /></a></div><br />
We are going to keep working with <a href="http://typingpal.com/">Typing Pal</a> with a <strike>little</strike> lot more diligence this year. I even have it on <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bw2pPIsGnWBmN2RkOWRlNDMtMGYwNS00ZjQ2LWIwMGEtMTlhYTE3MzM3MTM4&hl=en">my schedule</a> so I don't blow it off. : /<br />
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<b>BIBLE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvE6bbGbgNquYHCQAz3nWtIgZEMPjHnny95Xse8bxjha1RjTrxQir5B_YukL1CJLt2uDsZeQRM_ZqqwZMIjq-mQRSOANrxcRzMZ8JffiNZ9Y_8rEOLU1AAm3itRln6rK5aUIC1ILyStnG/s1600/tgsab-small_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvE6bbGbgNquYHCQAz3nWtIgZEMPjHnny95Xse8bxjha1RjTrxQir5B_YukL1CJLt2uDsZeQRM_ZqqwZMIjq-mQRSOANrxcRzMZ8JffiNZ9Y_8rEOLU1AAm3itRln6rK5aUIC1ILyStnG/s1600/tgsab-small_1.png" /></a></div><br />
We went to a homeschool conference this year (my first) and heard Susan Wise Bauer (loved her!). We stopped by her booth and found that she had a bible workbook, <i><a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/telling-gods-story-activity-book-pdf.html">Telling God's Story, Year One</a></i>. It seems to be in the same vein as The Story of the World with activities for each chapter. The book is set up to be a group (Sunday School-ish) or a homeschool workbook. We may slow it down and do a chapter every two weeks. <br />
<br />
Boy, it seems as though we've added quite a bit since last year and have yet to cull anything. Yikes! We may end up slowing down a lot of the extras. We'll see. Last year she was wanting more. It's always a struggle to find that balance. Thankfully with homeschooling we can have the flexibility to be....well....flexible!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-89011590210544675652011-06-25T22:30:00.000-07:002011-06-25T22:30:19.636-07:00Just Like Riding a Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqloTPvPapmLHWD4HQ0ZD7Z6luu69vyJp7rgAXp9H2PtuGl7SV14IfnMxrOgh0wttT16Pd9vYAw2Ezhkb5lG274RjGSrymoy2DU_p22DKTXJe548M05I7PznPhnpgoMmzQ4WrvRDbaI8KB/s1600/bike2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqloTPvPapmLHWD4HQ0ZD7Z6luu69vyJp7rgAXp9H2PtuGl7SV14IfnMxrOgh0wttT16Pd9vYAw2Ezhkb5lG274RjGSrymoy2DU_p22DKTXJe548M05I7PznPhnpgoMmzQ4WrvRDbaI8KB/s320/bike2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So, I've learned a little bit this year.<br />
<br />
My 9 year old learned a little bit, too. She learned her times tables, long division, how to diagram sentences, all about the moon, our planets, our stars, and energy. She discovered a love for fractions and writing. She also finally learned how to ride a bike by herself....at 9 years old.<br />
<br />
I have to admit; I was a bit embarrassed that my 9 year old could not yet ride a bike. However, every time I tried to teach her it was a lesson in frustration. I would run behind her, holding the bike up as my little passenger coasted. As soon as I let go, she would topple over to the left....to the right....it didn't matter. She just couldn't grasp it.<br />
<br />
Last summer, I gave up. I was proud of myself for not being the creepy, guilt-producing mom. I just stopped offering it as an activity. <br />
<br />
To be honest about it, I kind of forgot about being embarrassed. I didn't really care that she couldn't ride a bike. That is until I saw a little 4 year old peddling his little heart out on a family bike ride. *sigh*<br />
<br />
Then a couple of weeks ago she asked for me to pump up the tires on her bike. Hmmm. Ok. I did. She hopped on and I took my place behind her and we began the same game as every other time. It wasn't going to work. Surprisingly, I still didn't care. I just told her to coast around and when she felt comfortable, to peddle.<br />
<br />
I went inside.<br />
<br />
I got my coffee mug and heard a shout, "Mom! I'm doing it! I'm doing it!"<br />
<br />
Yes, she was. She was riding her bike. <br />
<br />
That was it. She just needed to do it on her time. She needed to do it when she was the driver and not just the vaguely participating passenger.<br />
<br />
And, looking back, her mastery of most everything has been in her time. She stopped nursing on her own, she walked when she was ready, and she potty trained when she was ready. This last year she mastered long division in a day after she had mulled it around for a week or so and then asked me how to do the "big" numbers. The same thing happened with fractions. I didn't really <i>teach</i> her. I just <i>guided</i> her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NrmwgwxatGYP_yp5D3x9sZ62UErpd59UWRE0y_r3euF0tvVF_mPYZuQ-eAl8aVscRhjTRGeKA0uEwKVqNr_H0Z5lME5fnvI1UCNzlAIDVX7Mm1eO2gplmEh2tQenA9yqwqqOuab2sso0/s1600/lifeoffred.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NrmwgwxatGYP_yp5D3x9sZ62UErpd59UWRE0y_r3euF0tvVF_mPYZuQ-eAl8aVscRhjTRGeKA0uEwKVqNr_H0Z5lME5fnvI1UCNzlAIDVX7Mm1eO2gplmEh2tQenA9yqwqqOuab2sso0/s320/lifeoffred.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T reading her <i>Life of Fred</i> book while I'm shopping for flooring</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There were some things that I forced the readiness upon her. Things like swimming. She knew how to swim before she was a year old. She hated every minute of it, but we live in So. Cal. where everyone (including us) has a pool. She learned to swim. And <i>now</i> she loves it and she loves the pics of her as a baby swimming, but there was no way she was "ready" to learn to swim that young. I don't regret teaching her that one!<br />
<br />
I hope that I've learned to wait for her readiness to be the driver. I hope that I'll remember how easy it is to teach when your student is primed and ready for the learning. I hope I'll remember that homeschooling is just like riding a bike. Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-17982834937651290672011-04-24T20:24:00.000-07:002011-04-24T20:24:58.663-07:00Confessions of a Serial Curriculum Checker Outer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEZ59exsKxTDyOAz0TcOnYrnHYr1ZlDbMkGLLVgTMHXJmMipSLLsEpS-kxAJ16cnoUIXq1xsGAv5WFC4ovETk4syxICtn6l1QVf3mEjylNU57bcQCqxXdCm2IVBWbMc5rMl4K38A5cJSN/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEZ59exsKxTDyOAz0TcOnYrnHYr1ZlDbMkGLLVgTMHXJmMipSLLsEpS-kxAJ16cnoUIXq1xsGAv5WFC4ovETk4syxICtn6l1QVf3mEjylNU57bcQCqxXdCm2IVBWbMc5rMl4K38A5cJSN/s320/books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I must confess I had an epiphany last week.<br />
<br />
In regards to curriculum for our soon to be 4th grader, I need to do a lot less <b>looking</b> and a lot more <b>doing</b>!<br />
<br />
Intentions don't equate to learning.<br />
<br />
Great ideas without implementation don't equate to learning.<br />
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Unused curriculum doesn't work either.<br />
<br />
I'm all about getting new ideas to keep things exciting, however lately I've been spending much too much time looking through options for next year. I am distracted from the business of finishing 3rd grade.<br />
<br />
So much of this homeschool thing is so deliberate and takes such willpower. I suppose it's time to grow up and try on some of that maturity my years on this earth were supposed to give me.<br />
<br />
It is time for me to focus on the job at hand.<br />
<br />
I am putting myself on a curriculum research time out.<br />
<br />
Starting now.<br />
<br />
Poor T. Her holiday is over.<br />
<br />
Happy Monday to her!!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-44675264800901037672011-04-16T17:30:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:19:38.394-07:00Energy-rific Science Unit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBTpUHuY8jh3NYENtdhBb9s2B4k4ptF5EmCc4aaVpk3Lecva_XSFYjGvchm5shOraLxSMZ6kUTRJOA8tWARo4DDvYjdrm2WF0kdpmQGtrfjhOYMLtU0rSqOwOCGMvR_HHbgUk6YQrvpOx/s1600/P4160160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBTpUHuY8jh3NYENtdhBb9s2B4k4ptF5EmCc4aaVpk3Lecva_XSFYjGvchm5shOraLxSMZ6kUTRJOA8tWARo4DDvYjdrm2WF0kdpmQGtrfjhOYMLtU0rSqOwOCGMvR_HHbgUk6YQrvpOx/s320/P4160160.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For 3rd grade we are going about science our own way.<br />
<br />
Last year was our first year homeschooling and we followed our state standards (California) and used the same curriculum that our local schools use. We slept through the year. Ho hum.<br />
<br />
It took me a little while to realize that homeschool doesn't mean doing the same thing as a class of 35 kids, just at home.<br />
<br />
I'm learning.<br />
<br />
Slowly.<br />
<br />
For science this year, we chose to focus on three big units. Each unit would focus on Physical Science, Earth Science, or Life Science.<br />
<br />
We studied <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-mission-moon.html">moons</a>, <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-planet-study.html">planets</a>, <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/11/galaxies-and-stars.html">stars, and galaxies</a> during the first bit of the year for Earth Science. Now we have just finished studying different forms of energy for Physical Science. Next we will dive into the human body for Life Science.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJGmLeMkRQuQ5VV4N89kDRi0T4LoZ6eYDPEYbx8I651nELp5ABTf9d3Wajd44Ispn4P-aawEDh1IK0ieBmIUeKWL4ymGVSwHh5grSZb76gTPSt_DbrxXwSas7JAwLcoTmDIUbVGlxM6G5/s1600/P3090047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJGmLeMkRQuQ5VV4N89kDRi0T4LoZ6eYDPEYbx8I651nELp5ABTf9d3Wajd44Ispn4P-aawEDh1IK0ieBmIUeKWL4ymGVSwHh5grSZb76gTPSt_DbrxXwSas7JAwLcoTmDIUbVGlxM6G5/s320/P3090047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For our Energy Unit we focused on sound, light, electrical, and thermal energy. T ended up with a folder full of notebook pages of all of our different experiments and a paragraph or two. She was super proud to show it to our charter school teacher.<br />
<ul><li>For SOUND energy we learned about air, echos, and sound waves </li>
<ul><li>We played Marco Polo as a form of our own echo location </li>
<li>We made our own instruments with cardboard boxes and different sizes of rubberbands </li>
<li>We made our cup and string telephones and T experimented with hanging different objects on the string </li>
</ul><li>For LIGHT energy we learned about the visible spectrum and tried to sing the rainbow song with "indigo" and "violet" instead of "purple" (we weren't very successful)</li>
<ul><li>We did one of <a href="http://www.eequalsmcq.com/LabNotesArchive.htm">Mr. Q's labs</a> with a glue stick and a flashlight to talk more about why the sky is blue (have I mentioned how fun <a href="http://www.eequalsmcq.com/">Mr. Q</a>'s labs are...well they are F U N!)</li>
<li>She also found out <a href="http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/New_CoolStuff_Articles/cool26.aspx">how our radiometer </a>works. Doesn't everyone have a <a href="http://www.arborsci.com/prod-Crookes_Radiometer-463.aspx">radiometer</a>? No clue as to why we have one.</li>
</ul><li>For ELECTRICAL energy we learned a lot about static electricity (I mean this <i>is</i> 3rd grade)</li>
<ul><li>We did some <a href="http://www.delta-education.com/siansplash.aspx?subID=5&menuID=17">Science in a Nutshell</a> experiments with acrylic rods and rubber rods. Most of the experiments revolved around charging the rods with different types of material. Sort of fun. It was priceless, though, in preparing us for....</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bowers.org/index.php/art/exhibitions_details/46">The Ben Franklin Exhibit</a> at our local museum. Now <i>that</i> was fun. At least the static electricity exhibit was fun. We got to see a bunch of middle schoolers shock each other and scream and fall to the ground with all of the drama they could muster. It was nice to see T's understanding of the exhibit</li>
<li>T put together one of those light bulb kits exploring circuits...then she added a sensor so it would only turn on when it was dark (she wasn't 100% successful on that last bit, but she tried, and she learned A LOT about circuitry).</li>
</ul><li>For THERMAL energy we did a bunch of experimenting</li>
<ul><li>We <a href="http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/New_CoolStuff_Articles/cool26.aspx">heated a hangar</a> by just bending it back and forth - it got surprisingly hot</li>
<li>We also <a href="http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/New_CoolStuff_Articles/cool26.aspx">stretched a rubber band</a> while touching our upper lips - guess what? Hot again. Shocking, I know.</li>
<li>T watched the difference between in dropping food coloring in hot water and cold water. A <a href="http://www.andybrain.com/sciencelab/2007/11/23/heat-is-energy/">super easy visualization</a> of how warmer water molecules move faster. </li>
<li>She donned some safety googles (swim goggles) to <a href="http://www.andybrain.com/sciencelab/2008/01/16/hot-air-takes-up-more-space-than-cold-air/">see how hot air takes up more space than cold air.</a></li>
</ul></ul><div>T and I have had soooo much more fun with science this year. The added bonus is that I feel as that even though we may not be covering as many subjects each year, we are digging deeper into the subjects we are studying.<br />
<br />
I am so thankful for the encouragement I have found online to encourage my science-minded daughter. I officially tip my hat to Susan at <a href="http://toddlerplanet.wordpress.com/">Toddler Planet</a> as I continue to follow my daughter's lead (and sometimes even encourage her) to explore the sciences. Science is not my natural affinity, however I appreciate the creativity and level-headedness that T exhibits while she investigates her interests. This year science has gone from least-favorite-just-get-it-done to The. Best. Subject. Ever.<br />
<br />
How about you? What do you do for science in your homeschool? Is science looked forward to in your homeschool week or is it the dreaded subject?</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-42151120818966018292011-03-29T22:24:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.419-07:00Time Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQxfPrD-s50dlEqN_rWjJEcr3CWDJyoU49tG8Laa_nRm8Ox0BRa2bGsooKBkx0oa7G8d8wrPd2vVyBVYHCw5qixbWvde9eBhzI5c4Evr1eKyTe7eWrG7e2HvAjs-ljLhNh_Yiy603piv-/s1600/timeout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQxfPrD-s50dlEqN_rWjJEcr3CWDJyoU49tG8Laa_nRm8Ox0BRa2bGsooKBkx0oa7G8d8wrPd2vVyBVYHCw5qixbWvde9eBhzI5c4Evr1eKyTe7eWrG7e2HvAjs-ljLhNh_Yiy603piv-/s320/timeout.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I guess I needed a break.<br />
<br />
I just wanted to explain my absence a little bit. I mean it <i>has</i> been over 3 months!<br />
<br />
I said too much in my <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-think-hurt-motivated-me-to-homeschool.html">last entry</a>.<br />
<br />
I needed some time to redefine what I was trying to do with this blog and I've come to the conclusion that I am not a very good deep-dark-feelings sharer!<br />
<br />
Soooo...I'm going to focus on homeschool and the fun things we've been doing.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned. More fun is to be had.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-71748780516901102212010-12-15T22:35:00.000-08:002011-04-18T22:21:23.211-07:00I Think Hurt Motivated Me to HomeschoolI know it's Christmas and it should be candle light, candy, and family. All warm and fuzzy.<br />
<br />
But of late I have been thinking about why we homeschool. There are a gazillion super cool positive reasons (one on one instruction, getting deeper into most subjects, slowing down when we need to really understand something that may have been lost in a classroom, a childhood, time for imagination, the connection, and on and on and on). I somehow have been focusing on why <i>I</i> needed to homeschool. Why <i>I</i> needed to step out of my then mom culture.<br />
<br />
Let me tell the story of a heart ache. <br />
<br />
When our older girls were in elementary school we were part of a large tight knit group of parents and kids. We had gigantic 4th of July parties, late nights around fire pits, snow days (we live where it doesn't snow, so we brought it in and made it a party), beach days, PTA, and days lounging in pools.<br />
<br />
We always had our pile of kids with us. They mostly got along. They played complicated games while trying to include everyone's passion. At one point it was army men vs. cats (with costumes and face paint, of course). <br />
<br />
It was good.<br />
<br />
There was one girl that lived in a family with more chaos than was within my comfort level, but I thought that was just me that saw it that way. The family was an important part of our group. We loved them all; giant warts and all. <br />
<br />
For many more reasons than the chaos in which she lived the girl decided to kill herself with her father's service revolver. Dead. In a moment. Dead. At 14.<br />
<br />
She had just spent the night with my daughter. In our home. She sat with us. She laughed with us. She seemed at the edge of a decision. I thought that maybe she was deciding to choose a boyfriend over soccer. If only.<br />
<br />
I. Had. No. Idea.<br />
<br />
Of course it was a shock. Of course there was/is grief. Of course.<br />
<br />
What I didn't count on was the fall out. I didn't count on losing our entire friend base. I didn't count on that girl's mother making a living talking about how friends need to not keep secrets about suicide. (For the record, I totally agree....however, that was not the girl's story.)<br />
<br />
I understand how grief takes on a different shape and feel for everyone.<br />
<br />
We poured our hearts out to that family. We cleaned the room after the police left. We sat with them through the nights. We drove them to view their daughter and to finally pick up her urn. <br />
<br />
One day I was sitting with them and they had someone come and take the door to her room away. The blood had soaked up through the bottom of the door. Her blood. I wanted to leave. I stayed. I stayed because they needed company.<br />
<br />
The mother needed to find a point of blame. She chose us for some of it. Our friends triaged and continued to support the grieving family. I think I understand that. We were a bit of collateral damage.<br />
<br />
Two years later it was time for T to start Kindergarten. We have an awesome, wonderful elementary school with brilliant, caring teachers. The same teachers that taught our older girls and the girl. However, because of the nature of the gazillion kids per class a parent really needs to be involved in the school. <br />
<br />
I did it. Sort of. I couldn't invest fully in that connection. T went there for Kindergarten and 1st grade. That was it. On my most honest days I recognize that I was too hurt to fully invest in the mom culture at that school.<br />
<br />
I know. I'm selfish. On the other hand, homeschooling has been the most amazing ride so far. I love it. T loves it. I'm making new connections where I can, but now I know her experience at school is not dependent upon how quickly or deeply I get involved.<br />
<br />
I think I am finally ready to reach out a little bit more. A baby step. I am feeling more confident with homeschooling. I was also slapped in the face with a little reality that next year there is a very good chance that both older girls will be away at college. It is time for me to dip my toe in my new mom culture. T and I are going to switch our schedule a bit to accomodate some outside classes and a few of those park days with our local homeschoolers.<br />
<br />
It may be finally time to embrace the new us. The us without the girl. The us with the big scar on our hearts. It's ugly, but it's healing.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-14302039481758414372010-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:002011-04-18T22:22:06.768-07:00WFMW: Call in the Reinforcements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XtkSKkuDFHxD0TvgDxmVo_hy37rAdECrCY7W7rAJcFJYNzcUTlNb9sj31hKD9MTtzD3kfcBsvDLWr4HJ_xm03vNo1-6uEtx4v4KzoM48Wxpd8_C1x3He6Zxazy13eSUOybI3fqKvq6dE/s1600/wfmw_Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XtkSKkuDFHxD0TvgDxmVo_hy37rAdECrCY7W7rAJcFJYNzcUTlNb9sj31hKD9MTtzD3kfcBsvDLWr4HJ_xm03vNo1-6uEtx4v4KzoM48Wxpd8_C1x3He6Zxazy13eSUOybI3fqKvq6dE/s1600/wfmw_Christmas.jpg" /></a></div>There is quite a story that goes along with T's addition to our family. The short version is that she demanded to be born. Her next closest sibling is 10 years older than she is.<br />
<br />
I had the awesome joy of having two teenage daughters and a toddler at the same time. It was...an interesting time.<br />
<br />
We have three daughters and each one is very, very unique (I wish there was an "understatement" font)! I can barely keep up. I am sometimes overwhelmed with my inexperience at homeschooling, with parenting...with life.<br />
<br />
In those moments when I'm certain I can't cope with 3rd grade homeschooling, one of those unique big sisters scoops up my mess and takes over. They teach her things that I never would have thought about. They have embraced this home learning thing to its fullest.<br />
<br />
T is learning German courtesy of her oldest sister (yes, that's our <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/the-mercy-house/">All About Spelling</a> board that we love). She can now count and ask a few basic phrases.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2T0B8hotgbQDMCTFpz8bIMyxovmU_wr2vN9cUaZzL2h5qB7GZoIX26tKc9ozSyXdQPxbGlWJnA-xJqsQNK20rzNDvFpdfkTUJB8prp9PCr0egKGX5X4q4a_P_uRks2RIyp-_uvyYeUPR/s1600/PA080097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2T0B8hotgbQDMCTFpz8bIMyxovmU_wr2vN9cUaZzL2h5qB7GZoIX26tKc9ozSyXdQPxbGlWJnA-xJqsQNK20rzNDvFpdfkTUJB8prp9PCr0egKGX5X4q4a_P_uRks2RIyp-_uvyYeUPR/s320/PA080097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She has learned the art of art. My oldest sees the world differently and tries her best to get others to understand her vision with any medium available. On T's Christmas list this year is a piece of art to admire (T's words, not mine).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbUJDobmId_EhPufNp0uuYwNUxwQmvdbjqTmB0mQ37Zbctc9749dU9ew7KaLHMsdvtqNVp9QWUaEoPGikjYw-A9ZilIqWFhIfkKxFKZTVSV2b-CYv_aLNWMM87jetEJWQqFWknprfPxuL/s1600/PA080100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbUJDobmId_EhPufNp0uuYwNUxwQmvdbjqTmB0mQ37Zbctc9749dU9ew7KaLHMsdvtqNVp9QWUaEoPGikjYw-A9ZilIqWFhIfkKxFKZTVSV2b-CYv_aLNWMM87jetEJWQqFWknprfPxuL/s320/PA080100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>She has learned to appreciate a good story from her other sister. When math gets too complicated (read: <i>I've</i> over complicated it), T goes to her for a better explanation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPA5MmsTmfG50hr7GVyML8ToOu3b9E4ohiqbay0pRFkk2HYpt7kIkO35xceW0DtPzUpix_p4aXJa7yD4KAVPhyphenhyphenL1rrX59KV5kHN25h6CSFwIhkRX0BdXXsKS3CAeXR22IAywBHy8l3pDo/s1600/PC060260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPA5MmsTmfG50hr7GVyML8ToOu3b9E4ohiqbay0pRFkk2HYpt7kIkO35xceW0DtPzUpix_p4aXJa7yD4KAVPhyphenhyphenL1rrX59KV5kHN25h6CSFwIhkRX0BdXXsKS3CAeXR22IAywBHy8l3pDo/s320/PC060260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>T has also been taught cartwheels and handstands from the nutty middle sister. I love it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wak3Elr13wuGieiWrTHocrNjkzaneCZFkHWJzPUASS3A5BmG8x9-qza9pMujxpv5hF1K2ZnVjS6-Xr9fpzy2MEdIcox3Crir5tWI4LbNqfxf3OMymi1oLBkdmaYxUJyzg4v7bbW72jol/s1600/PA120122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wak3Elr13wuGieiWrTHocrNjkzaneCZFkHWJzPUASS3A5BmG8x9-qza9pMujxpv5hF1K2ZnVjS6-Xr9fpzy2MEdIcox3Crir5tWI4LbNqfxf3OMymi1oLBkdmaYxUJyzg4v7bbW72jol/s320/PA120122.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It's so nice to have olders that remember what worked and what didn't for them as they were learning the same things that T is at this age.<br />
<br />
It is nicer that they have enough pity on me to take over when it's obvious I am in need of reinforcements.<br />
<br />
I highly recommend having older kids around to help with your younger ones. Or at least some friends to take over some homeschooling when you have reached your limit. In my experience, taking breaks is highly productive (or at least that's what I tell myself!).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>See what works for others at <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/">We Are That Family</a> and <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/2010/12/wfmw-gift-wrapping-center/">Works For Me Wednesdays</a>! Don't forget to check out <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/the-mercy-house/">The Mercy House</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wearethatfamily">Shop Mercy</a> this season of giving.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-38545337330363811692010-11-12T13:14:00.000-08:002011-04-18T22:19:24.911-07:00Galaxies and Stars<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW_E7Sgfv8TLa8KRkgyMPeGKfA47YEHObw8J85tkigbIMbFOe8WK2CrYWIMuK1iTggTALDPIsuz1oPG7Whn15VnHT3awAGwvttEKDjayv_9_lBIUKOSm6RUS_gsMRHgISOz0zFPL5afSn/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW_E7Sgfv8TLa8KRkgyMPeGKfA47YEHObw8J85tkigbIMbFOe8WK2CrYWIMuK1iTggTALDPIsuz1oPG7Whn15VnHT3awAGwvttEKDjayv_9_lBIUKOSm6RUS_gsMRHgISOz0zFPL5afSn/s320/star.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>These last couple of weeks we went far, far away to a .... <br />
<br />
I know. I couldn't help it.<br />
<br />
We are working on finishing up our Space Unit. We wanted to finish it before the final Space Shuttle launch on November 1. Our <a href="http://www.columbiaspacescience.org/">local space museum</a> is having a shindig for the launch and it seems as though that would be a perfect end to our unit. Thank goodness it was delayed because we were too!<br />
<br />
T already learned about the <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-mission-moon.html">moon and its phases</a> and the <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-planet-study.html">planets</a>, now it's on to galaxies and stars. We began by learning about galaxies.<br />
<br />
Like a true innovator, I borrowed some ideas from the <a href="http://theforestroom.blogspot.com/2010/04/stars-and-galaxies.html">The Forest Room</a>. To demonstrate the expansion of the universe, we blew up a balloon to measure the distance between the letters to compare it with the deflated measurement. (*Hint: blow up the balloon to write the letters first, then let the air out to measure the deflated distance.)<br />
<br />
T used white paint and glitter to describe the different types of galaxies (thank you, <a href="http://theforestroom.blogspot.com/2010/04/stars-and-galaxies.html">The Forest Room</a>, again!). Can you tell me why I thought glitter was a good idea....and why I thought the kitchen table would be a good place to craft? We are still bedazzled.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbHvOZIykrtZD9FDxM-md62hKf3zwHefVDoQH25-_k15AZ0N2RPj_G0vxKlX3fgd-09L-qVSs_do-ZpM3ss8kYlIepVhNgmzUrAXmRngM2QNG6T3py7c0KxTNXhSK3puU21Gg533-DEW0/s1600/Photo+on+2010-11-12+at+13.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbHvOZIykrtZD9FDxM-md62hKf3zwHefVDoQH25-_k15AZ0N2RPj_G0vxKlX3fgd-09L-qVSs_do-ZpM3ss8kYlIepVhNgmzUrAXmRngM2QNG6T3py7c0KxTNXhSK3puU21Gg533-DEW0/s320/Photo+on+2010-11-12+at+13.09.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>Then she learned about the constellations, found some favorites, and learned how our night sky doesn't stay the same.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapMMqUVx6T5Si37n-RLUpmpZS-8hdLtyQdhNPOWa7tU-laO20K9noCIVgDm2KIyQosTR8zgReQol5BPpuB5KxqoXZVgw0Q8VlV3ScsMt1-TQAOCzOEeFBQEfQJuuxr94RFhcdyrRZ01lj/s1600/PB100207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapMMqUVx6T5Si37n-RLUpmpZS-8hdLtyQdhNPOWa7tU-laO20K9noCIVgDm2KIyQosTR8zgReQol5BPpuB5KxqoXZVgw0Q8VlV3ScsMt1-TQAOCzOEeFBQEfQJuuxr94RFhcdyrRZ01lj/s320/PB100207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In yet another nod to <a href="http://theforestroom.blogspot.com/2010/04/stars-and-galaxies.html">The Forest Room,</a> <s>we</s> I decorated an umbrella with that super stinky permanent silver paint pen. I used chalk first to draw out some of her favorite constellations. Then I went over it with the super stinky permanent silver paint pen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlfBzEAhLOgZgKZQmc9x0wcG_gS9FFAu_gF9rAixfb_KyhzKOl6JkJbZY8UAxewR4NaoQ3t1P65G2aQCViFuLVeUYzuPCvRUs2BhtECnuksLeKpQOY9XrE16n2jUJ44dE5S-Fa_Y8lpU2/s1600/PB100206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlfBzEAhLOgZgKZQmc9x0wcG_gS9FFAu_gF9rAixfb_KyhzKOl6JkJbZY8UAxewR4NaoQ3t1P65G2aQCViFuLVeUYzuPCvRUs2BhtECnuksLeKpQOY9XrE16n2jUJ44dE5S-Fa_Y8lpU2/s320/PB100206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It conveniently sprinkled a little for us so T could actually use the umbrella.<br />
<br />
Here are some of our resources for our stars and galaxies unit. Our total journey beyond (moon, planets, stars & galaxies) has taken us over two months of pretty consistent work. If you want to see more, here is our <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-mission-moon.html">moon unit</a> and our <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-planet-study.html">planet unit</a>.<br />
<ul><li>My go-to resource, <a href="http://jimmiescollage.com/">Jimmie's Collage</a>, for her <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/spacelapbook">Space Lapbook</a> info (love her!)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/R.E.A.L.+Science+Odyssey:+Earth+and+Space+Level+1/039410/1287506577-551547">R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey - Earth and Space, Level 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm">The Lab of Mr. Q - Life Science</a>, free downloads (super fun!) - check out his <a href="http://eequalsmcq.com/LabNotesArchive.htm">free lab notes</a>!</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kingfisher-Science-Encyclopedia-Charles-Taylor/dp/0753452693">Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia</a> (always a fav!)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm">NASA/JPL Cal-Tech</a> has a great kids' page and is another great resource for images</li>
<li>Images from the <a href="http://hubble.nasa.gov/multimedia/astronomy.php">Hubble Space Telescope</a> (unbelievable!!)</li>
</ul><div>Next we are on to study electricity, color, and sound. It seems as though our conversations about stars and their energies and lifespans have naturally led us in this direction. We are fortunate to have the flexibility to follow our interests. What a blessing homeschooling is for us! <i>I'm</i> learning so much!!</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-27316651461095016052010-11-11T19:44:00.000-08:002011-04-18T22:22:06.769-07:00Fitting Square Pegs...or Not<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTXlnz2ZCHhoTks1ON4PdNdlo3hE1d7Lgn8rBJfLP4T5tuTLa4bI1LbodamqOtIQ65-JbAghfvXU9t1bFD6kwz5GXOupu_fM6kgzoBMEYdf62xpAzVmOonZ7WtMERsKI_D6ExGXUQVdes/s1600/square_peg_in_round_hole_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTXlnz2ZCHhoTks1ON4PdNdlo3hE1d7Lgn8rBJfLP4T5tuTLa4bI1LbodamqOtIQ65-JbAghfvXU9t1bFD6kwz5GXOupu_fM6kgzoBMEYdf62xpAzVmOonZ7WtMERsKI_D6ExGXUQVdes/s320/square_peg_in_round_hole_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by ePublicist/Yoel Ben-Avraham</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have a houseful of square pegs.<br />
<br />
There was a time when I tried to make them round, but their edges were too sharp.<br />
<br />
Then I made excuses for them as if I were round and I knew how they <i>should</i> be.<br />
<br />
Then I gave up. Kept my head down. I tried to encourage them in their squareness and comfort them when they noticed they weren't round.<br />
<br />
As they grew older and I appreciated who they were becoming more and more, I stopped keeping my head down.<br />
<br />
Now I look around. I'm bursting with pride at my square pegs making their own way like frontiersmen. <br />
<br />
I keep my mouth closed though. Their paths are unique. How could I claim to be an expert on square-peggedness? <br />
<br />
I just know I can love and appreciate them.<br />
<br />
I'm so glad it really <i>does</i> take all kinds to make the world go round!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-43387724147716315692010-11-08T21:50:00.000-08:002011-04-18T22:19:24.912-07:00Our Planet Study<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5TygqUDgHub_MhxwCSFNGvFahKrN7q-dEIq5lPzyWTRL9xQV-3-1DWShnqpI1lXXvc_E7rd5JVjmOTp-QX0-fBEV_6_tDUkmP2WmilQfT3r0fpEQp9RYJuQpiCXSYopmYFvs4MWFOUG3/s1600/Photo+on+2010-10-18+at+17.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5TygqUDgHub_MhxwCSFNGvFahKrN7q-dEIq5lPzyWTRL9xQV-3-1DWShnqpI1lXXvc_E7rd5JVjmOTp-QX0-fBEV_6_tDUkmP2WmilQfT3r0fpEQp9RYJuQpiCXSYopmYFvs4MWFOUG3/s320/Photo+on+2010-10-18+at+17.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our planet study was loads of fun!<br />
<br />
We are using a bunch of different resources, but mostly <a href="http://www.pandiapress.com/earth_space_level1.htm">R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey: Earth and Space</a> this time. This is our first experience with it and we are <i>loving</i> it! I appreciate that it is so hands on. Actually T appreciates it the most.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcfupYwvS_XRtiu6UJngqyIcGXqGpmoQM3C9cEht4MrjolnmPv5T3iIafhRni7fTVDpZBOOwnkExsRvmGUGpjalOA3zkww6LKzHHj0PNFeYOMNJI57hDFMjwcIiv6Juv_wSed0jkFQAwi/s1600/P9270056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcfupYwvS_XRtiu6UJngqyIcGXqGpmoQM3C9cEht4MrjolnmPv5T3iIafhRni7fTVDpZBOOwnkExsRvmGUGpjalOA3zkww6LKzHHj0PNFeYOMNJI57hDFMjwcIiv6Juv_wSed0jkFQAwi/s320/P9270056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T's Pringle Oven</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For our planet study we:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>watched <a href="http://billnye.com/">Bill Nye's</a> (I love him!) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Nye-Science-Guy-Interactive/dp/B001IVT2RM">The Planets</a></li>
<li>watched <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-School-Bus-Space-Adventures/dp/B000089QB3">Magic School Bus' Space Adventure</a></li>
<li>read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Mars-Sally-Ride/dp/0517709716">The Mystery of Mars</a> by Sally Ride & Tam O'Shaughnessy </li>
<li>did R.E.A.L. Science's Uranus experiment with egg cartons, checkers, and chop sticks (we tried to measure the "terrain" of the closed egg carton (different numbers of checkers in each egg hole) by poking and measuring with a chop stick.</li>
<li>did R.E.A.L. Science's Mars experiment by making our own red dirt with sand, water, and steel wool.</li>
<li>did R.E.A.L. Science's Mercury experiment by making our very own solar oven with a Pringle can. We cooked a hot dog!</li>
<li>designed our cover (top pic) from the idea on <a href="http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2010/06/outerspace-watercolor-painting.html">Art Projects For Kids</a></li>
<li>and memorized R.E.A.L. Science's Planet Poem</li>
</ul><div>After we had explored each planet, we gathered all of our lab notes and pictures in a notebook with her own cover art. T is very excited to share her planet notebook with our charter school teacher. And I'm super excited that she's excited. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Next, we are on to galaxies and stars! </div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-85382577991718502772010-11-05T10:53:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:21:09.618-07:00Swapping Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMHhj3Hxij38L0ROOpt5kMDY_XD3EoYN7f8nlYEnhAFbIvct9ZXzR3od98qUszYdB9x5tpIwiCInXSjLPsIxfn6YzrbYKK56u6JzxrbG3P_GeRtaU9P_IPml5YJLl39wVgcmw86_0wPDs/s1600/picturebook-swap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMHhj3Hxij38L0ROOpt5kMDY_XD3EoYN7f8nlYEnhAFbIvct9ZXzR3od98qUszYdB9x5tpIwiCInXSjLPsIxfn6YzrbYKK56u6JzxrbG3P_GeRtaU9P_IPml5YJLl39wVgcmw86_0wPDs/s1600/picturebook-swap.png" /></a></div>An amazing thing happened last year. We participated in Zoe's <a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/international-postcard-swap-for-families/">International Postcard Swap</a>. We received postcards from all over. We tracked them on our world map and I patted myself on the back for the excellent geography lessons. We felt good, happy, and fulfilled.<br />
<br />
Then the earthquake in New Zealand happened and my little girl's world got smaller. She remembered getting a postcard from a family who lived in the very city hit the hardest. We were able to pray for that family not knowing how they were doing after the earthquake. We were able to do that just because of Zoe and <a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/">Playing by the Book</a>!<br />
<br />
Then she (Zoe) came up with the brilliant idea of a picture book swap, <a href="http://www.playingbythebook.net/perfect-picture-books-by-post-faq/">Perfect Picture Books by Post</a>. We were all about it and super excited when we were matched with a family in Germany (my oldest is a German major).<br />
<br />
Our package came the other day. I wish that my camera took better pictures (or that I took better pictures with my camera) because the envelope was colorful and wonderful and...I have no pictures. I also feel a little creepy that I just sent mine via Amazon because my world is crazy and I couldn't carve out time during business hours to go to the post office. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBNAQzMyXem9zja4A65f0lSNe6giNY8zkxfwazt6bngtGACr5zHq2an7T8sIiIokjVaakkNIsz8HCKqz_sT5wb8RGJqSQAEcxtS99U42PYRu778MRTDeMF8x7hh9qAUtAeDiORGwtn0tN/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBNAQzMyXem9zja4A65f0lSNe6giNY8zkxfwazt6bngtGACr5zHq2an7T8sIiIokjVaakkNIsz8HCKqz_sT5wb8RGJqSQAEcxtS99U42PYRu778MRTDeMF8x7hh9qAUtAeDiORGwtn0tN/s320/cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The book my partner sent was perfect for us. It was something that my oldest could read and translate with no issue. The subject was adorable and the illustrations caught the spirit of the cat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
See the cat was looking for someone specific to dance with and it was NOT the hamster.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DAd3LVOUKTUX1Sz2HRNcDaUnqNbmgV9-FIzzYwgX55N8Fc7wqzDYvfmZN_qXFELWE6c95XiP3J_MjvQ2W_UVaeut6f6yEmLeNfcabK7VCcQjOR2NNGpxSiEiML4k5_pjoOyfXqHbYkjy/s1600/hamsterNo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DAd3LVOUKTUX1Sz2HRNcDaUnqNbmgV9-FIzzYwgX55N8Fc7wqzDYvfmZN_qXFELWE6c95XiP3J_MjvQ2W_UVaeut6f6yEmLeNfcabK7VCcQjOR2NNGpxSiEiML4k5_pjoOyfXqHbYkjy/s320/hamsterNo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was all quite unfortunate until he found....HER!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWAWKu-FPrfgy2edMjsgt53AvDZQWWe0RbDHvgovsP_bS9-mMjatmb98vBupBynPS-y1jzlfMLv5g6JTnfiUC9QXtyXoNqf9n792evh-SRo_EmKiAmuCs8jqC0XNvl_cMFF4VkO01RDsI/s1600/pawkiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWAWKu-FPrfgy2edMjsgt53AvDZQWWe0RbDHvgovsP_bS9-mMjatmb98vBupBynPS-y1jzlfMLv5g6JTnfiUC9QXtyXoNqf9n792evh-SRo_EmKiAmuCs8jqC0XNvl_cMFF4VkO01RDsI/s320/pawkiss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>True love! *sigh*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwnvbzTyfyClYR75_Y05fLzEJEDOpl2txQpGjsCgxxL6W0Gza2ewVwhz3DaCHRBCp-k3lGbB9NnweE7yUQ6pmbVYiEre31AN4tchVdfDceBfwgCeQzEokdNP7hfwfUwOqRFQkg8v7C0Os/s1600/catLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwnvbzTyfyClYR75_Y05fLzEJEDOpl2txQpGjsCgxxL6W0Gza2ewVwhz3DaCHRBCp-k3lGbB9NnweE7yUQ6pmbVYiEre31AN4tchVdfDceBfwgCeQzEokdNP7hfwfUwOqRFQkg8v7C0Os/s320/catLove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My favorite bit was watching my oldest read aloud to my youngest. My youngest wanted to hear it in both German and English. She decided the book was much better in German.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Lw7mzrHaB-eKKNSVG4EV5Q4sJxA7ohPDpqcsC-eI6pqlmugjlw89NHhxNQLfcWbIL7E13oDV7fNfTaO7YZB1cSvEumAy0No3f36kuz0E96Tt_AoKWBnGsAwiHbI1dAgtuwyVBGu2LzX4/s1600/ETread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Lw7mzrHaB-eKKNSVG4EV5Q4sJxA7ohPDpqcsC-eI6pqlmugjlw89NHhxNQLfcWbIL7E13oDV7fNfTaO7YZB1cSvEumAy0No3f36kuz0E96Tt_AoKWBnGsAwiHbI1dAgtuwyVBGu2LzX4/s320/ETread.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've had so much fun participating in the swap! The whole process was loads of fun; the girls deciding which books for us to send, receiving our swap, and reading our swap (again and again).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks Zoe and thank you Kerstin!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-88044478100054323902010-10-21T21:59:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:22:06.769-07:00Sunday We Walked for CHOC & the MASHER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNxgkrTnWIqkFz7dKFPZlVhyphenhyphen35nSkx1SW9K35IysScRp62Ews6uk0tgIG5J99zP2GL49qFqOWeccR_paShJsnQ38f3mXG2U1OW1GIgEjUZ0Nf4IKQEK-DUqF1sCqFIdyLDNhWoB5zd-Y0/s1600/mashersign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNxgkrTnWIqkFz7dKFPZlVhyphenhyphen35nSkx1SW9K35IysScRp62Ews6uk0tgIG5J99zP2GL49qFqOWeccR_paShJsnQ38f3mXG2U1OW1GIgEjUZ0Nf4IKQEK-DUqF1sCqFIdyLDNhWoB5zd-Y0/s320/mashersign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On this past Sunday, we were privileged to walk the <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/choc-271554-disneyland-team.html">CHOC Walk</a>. We walked with Team MASHER. <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/johnmash/journal">John Mash Jr.</a> had walked in CHOC Walk for many years when he thought he was a survivor of childhood cancer. Since he couldn't walk this year, Team MASHER did.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iHhesyD17jx_pqY7zZMQe4LwwRlJryef9jC919ewBldU0vdiqzZYVf-xwxrm3Wj7nkMBRZtr64XO1Z7K4o0ASXStsisY7BG39IrUdt47W7KUmJ96IZDKhsdxSu8w9E8IyhTv7E7W9MJD/s1600/choc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iHhesyD17jx_pqY7zZMQe4LwwRlJryef9jC919ewBldU0vdiqzZYVf-xwxrm3Wj7nkMBRZtr64XO1Z7K4o0ASXStsisY7BG39IrUdt47W7KUmJ96IZDKhsdxSu8w9E8IyhTv7E7W9MJD/s320/choc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the over 750 people walking for Team MASHER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We walked this year for John and his family. I mean, really, what else can you do? Maybe John's family will look back one day and take comfort in those that supported them in this little way.<br />
<br />
John's family's prayers changed from "cure" to "compassion." Tonight their son entered the gates of Heaven.<br />
<br />
I just couldn't imagine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKR3E_5c3hmKW9qV9Kw-aE5rrArmwuPz2huME6DIm5gAo-Mor_PgSesmUzPpzf0Y-Z42q0EAMYW1TYodslPbBICX7P-to2P2o4bjqEs14UKWsspFR1X3hcf3nfH6QLiiB5jd6HeXZ7s65/s1600/cancersucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKR3E_5c3hmKW9qV9Kw-aE5rrArmwuPz2huME6DIm5gAo-Mor_PgSesmUzPpzf0Y-Z42q0EAMYW1TYodslPbBICX7P-to2P2o4bjqEs14UKWsspFR1X3hcf3nfH6QLiiB5jd6HeXZ7s65/s320/cancersucks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-36863869571346413122010-10-19T22:02:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:23:10.395-07:00WFMW: Healthy Donuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGfPmPl5czkfFX7c9iFpgjexDP_w-aLkK_an_tFzyUAXeIcra-ZLCuvFjlEIEPdvoI8OoHGnQONCFQXVkA1EfPuY0MmpjWm2UQn2JFH0M40wxbEfVtEZ64GPxNYZZzDm4fEBmW5JrmnlS/s1600/wfmw-300x198.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGfPmPl5czkfFX7c9iFpgjexDP_w-aLkK_an_tFzyUAXeIcra-ZLCuvFjlEIEPdvoI8OoHGnQONCFQXVkA1EfPuY0MmpjWm2UQn2JFH0M40wxbEfVtEZ64GPxNYZZzDm4fEBmW5JrmnlS/s1600/wfmw-300x198.png" /></a></div>Donuts. Doughnuts. However you spell it, "healthy" isn't normally a word to go with it.<br />
<br />
Until now.<br />
<br />
Check this out:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZTwA7mEy6QHVDhaFAQ54xdM74gMORSXrLs_FTKMjdfBmbdxzvGjLeaE1WaDep7ofuF6zNBQP28ybqSg4XuUPvat4TPM5cHZBk-QO-xJdHxO7uKOSbsF4h5gMc1M12GcT9THC1v5b32DT/s1600/PA070092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZTwA7mEy6QHVDhaFAQ54xdM74gMORSXrLs_FTKMjdfBmbdxzvGjLeaE1WaDep7ofuF6zNBQP28ybqSg4XuUPvat4TPM5cHZBk-QO-xJdHxO7uKOSbsF4h5gMc1M12GcT9THC1v5b32DT/s320/PA070092.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know you wish you had my super cool photo skills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Here's what you need:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>toasted bagels (we got Thomas' Thin Sliced Bagels)</li>
<li>Nutella (yum)</li>
<li>sprinkles</li>
</ul><div>Here's what you do:</div><div><ul><li>toast</li>
<li>spread</li>
<li>sprinkle</li>
<li>eat</li>
</ul><div>There you have it. A snack of awesome proportions. Enjoy!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Don't forget to check out <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/">We Are That Family</a> and find out what works for everyone else on <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/2010/10/wfmw-a-shoebox-tip/">Works-For-Me-Wednesdays</a>!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-22715211450797849272010-10-18T17:02:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.420-07:00I Love/Hate This Blogging ThingI do have a love/hate relationship with this blog.<br />
<br />
I do so love that I can write things down.<br />
<br />
I do so hate that I should do so on a regular basis.<br />
<br />
I do so love that I have a place to go when my world slows down enough for me to write.<br />
<br />
I do so hate the angst and anxiety I feel about saying too much, about revealing too much, about being honest and transparent.<br />
<br />
But...now that I've ignored it for a month or so, I have a new found desire to write. it. down.<br />
<br />
I have an excuse for my absence. I do.<br />
<br />
C O N S T R U C T I O N<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqHtI2RYEQJVlrLmdURqODICLaZYqa8P6OrnrLGOQFZ9zjhamz11eOHPs55LgXOgqhC3_JFrXcKyLbgldwkWKNRdvPw98xOU3IZOH_cLS5GTo5gcWJSaUGbsRAyrWnai0wRjwtXipK5V9/s1600/PA110114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqHtI2RYEQJVlrLmdURqODICLaZYqa8P6OrnrLGOQFZ9zjhamz11eOHPs55LgXOgqhC3_JFrXcKyLbgldwkWKNRdvPw98xOU3IZOH_cLS5GTo5gcWJSaUGbsRAyrWnai0wRjwtXipK5V9/s320/PA110114.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBypFLs3CRXo5xalI5AtEiAW6M78z5FvI8xRlI9Q_lHKXQPe37j79RMGFx6Nw_o99PlhiC_gvrYSMCpiJIedsDpvoHq5ZBvzuerwDkEZs1RovMwoqlgM2jWEcYhaM2FXuAUIA2yoQLQovK/s1600/PA130127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBypFLs3CRXo5xalI5AtEiAW6M78z5FvI8xRlI9Q_lHKXQPe37j79RMGFx6Nw_o99PlhiC_gvrYSMCpiJIedsDpvoHq5ZBvzuerwDkEZs1RovMwoqlgM2jWEcYhaM2FXuAUIA2yoQLQovK/s320/PA130127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is my backyard. This is just the very beginning.<br />
<br />
It is supposed to rain this week.<br />
<br />
Of course it is. This will no doubt be the wettest winter in the recorded history of SoCal. That's the twisted way my self-centered mind thinks at times. The SoCal drought will officially be over because I am trying to construct a little something in my backyard.<br />
<br />
Yep. Healthy thinking here.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-45908501844257852942010-09-15T00:24:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:23:23.991-07:00WFMW: Burn Out Remedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEgLnDVA6DKSPPlX6u9IWRRNye7JCUZsDm0jaftoFbZeC8PlfPjIWVNb9MPf-odPwe1mlYiWmb4VUCfb52q4RuLHGvfPy-xI_oQdkPWwTV0g8qiA6KhrjTwhY_lg28_k9mNrNEQjZODeg/s1600/wfmw-300x198.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEgLnDVA6DKSPPlX6u9IWRRNye7JCUZsDm0jaftoFbZeC8PlfPjIWVNb9MPf-odPwe1mlYiWmb4VUCfb52q4RuLHGvfPy-xI_oQdkPWwTV0g8qiA6KhrjTwhY_lg28_k9mNrNEQjZODeg/s320/wfmw-300x198.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">This school year (ha! All three weeks of it!) I have tried to keep things more hands-on and less book work. The end result is a happier kid, but a mom that is a bit stretched outside her comfort level.</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">It's hard work to not have a pile of papers at the end of the day. Seriously. It's much easier on my check-off-the-list kind of mind to have tangible evidence of "work."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Documenting <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-mission-moon.html">throwing marbles in flour and eating Oreos for science</a> is WAY outside my realm of comfort. But I trudge on. Until I don't.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">In the midst of this gigantic (to me, of course) shift in philosophy, we are trying to add on to the house. I had no clue how much had to be done before the plans are even submitted to the city. Every day there seems to be something that requires my immediate attention. Every day? Every couple of hours.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Oh yeah...and my husband is working out of state .... again (thanks, California for your awesome tax incentives to businesses!).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">So all of this whininess to say I had it last week. Had it. Done.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Then...some wonderful friends invited us to Crystal Cove. We ditched school and had ourselves some R & R.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">For those of you not in SoCal, Crystal Cove is a state park with a bunch of cottages from the 40's. People leased these cottages for years and years and years until the Irvine Company sold the land (and the cottages and the leases) to the State of California. The State kicked everybody out when their leases were up and turned it into the park that it is now. On the first of every month, you can try to reserve one of the cottages. Most people book 6 months out. After going, I believe it may be worth it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">We parked across PCH (busy highway) and walked down this little trail. It felt like what I remember California being when I was growing up. Well, except for the pavement. That seems a bit TOO SoCal, but it <i>was</i> convenient.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfOVT0a2uxGlyJqONVmwiU0GAuRZfctidp0kUW6307zXMB5zO6jxZ4Arwd0SQANzOf3X3v6Db_3bYjN__1A9I17lKe6Etl3pohdRd4FE1ZMHmIruImb2MLFmUQpHqaRda5ObpEkuG-p_Y/s1600/P9090014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfOVT0a2uxGlyJqONVmwiU0GAuRZfctidp0kUW6307zXMB5zO6jxZ4Arwd0SQANzOf3X3v6Db_3bYjN__1A9I17lKe6Etl3pohdRd4FE1ZMHmIruImb2MLFmUQpHqaRda5ObpEkuG-p_Y/s320/P9090014.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px;">Then we walked through a tunnel decorated by all kinds of fun things (including a dolphin birthing circle with blood and everything -- interesting) to get under PCH.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JIPnTjNuDAKjWv-UZJ-AmkEQRZ5HyN_rp-xINiA1VYyYrCszP61dJRESOL3ZDubH7OV7V4bMKhyphenhyphenk86xeSkI2Xk_t6UUAWTQVz_bo0H7-x4Ffsda2pmAk825WmvRiFRUdo_SbtI7FO6zc/s1600/P9090015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JIPnTjNuDAKjWv-UZJ-AmkEQRZ5HyN_rp-xINiA1VYyYrCszP61dJRESOL3ZDubH7OV7V4bMKhyphenhyphenk86xeSkI2Xk_t6UUAWTQVz_bo0H7-x4Ffsda2pmAk825WmvRiFRUdo_SbtI7FO6zc/s320/P9090015.jpg" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12px;">Then to the beach. The lovely beach. The perfect beach with the amazing tide pools. My camera ran out of batteries, but we saw a bunch of starfish, rock fish, a bazillion hermit crabs, sea anemones, and other tiny fish that darted away from our shadows.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j0H1rCBGteKo518Fc_M30EV43fFsp-H-_itxr5b4b_WARHSy7WEHYE3K52B8UtFHVxfLAq17-bI_VsJa4MwM4FWBQDw6M83aVUYbEAE_zvLuhD3gWelb0ayl2K75r5PqcjLwK0Uy-2Ll/s1600/P9090016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j0H1rCBGteKo518Fc_M30EV43fFsp-H-_itxr5b4b_WARHSy7WEHYE3K52B8UtFHVxfLAq17-bI_VsJa4MwM4FWBQDw6M83aVUYbEAE_zvLuhD3gWelb0ayl2K75r5PqcjLwK0Uy-2Ll/s320/P9090016.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T fell on the slippery rocks and got algae all over her...she was not pleased. <br />
Thank you starfish for making it all better! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">So when it gets too much, put down the list, take a deep breath, and get outside. See what's bigger than yourself. It's guaranteed to put things in perspective. Guar-an-darn-teed!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out <a href="http://www.wearethatfamily.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #669922; text-decoration: none;">We Are That Family</a> and find out what works for everyone else on <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/2010/09/wfmw-linky/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #669922; text-decoration: none;">Works-For-Me Wednesdays</a>! And check out <a href="http://wearethatfamily.com/the-mercy-house/">what she's doing</a> with the <a href="http://themercyhousekenya.org/">Mercy House</a>. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDzL6PFiIf9eg7LYIqd-4zD3TncG80ssuJ1S78zzffi1CcIukniI1ATSlwTA89FdcNdSlHcAjPWjkxdGk7FA7sBn434qEaG7KHfBPeUbBdUATaaQa2raGol7Ko21BnzucdhNlun-a8R66/s1600/mercyhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDzL6PFiIf9eg7LYIqd-4zD3TncG80ssuJ1S78zzffi1CcIukniI1ATSlwTA89FdcNdSlHcAjPWjkxdGk7FA7sBn434qEaG7KHfBPeUbBdUATaaQa2raGol7Ko21BnzucdhNlun-a8R66/s320/mercyhouse.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-56843876178223514682010-09-03T17:17:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:19:24.912-07:00Weekly Wrap Up: Mission Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eoS8pEp2FfalcQBynINtMwEOgbBaaqyNR4etEOj01PIUyoMKsW4N6Vi_S-w1loc2AxTIRcTXvjluXdjerLPcPA1gKYoawPqjF7jRVjWleJeuy9uhYIypRRh_XiLadRh50s6IFAhBneTt/s1600/Weekly+Wrap-UpBlue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eoS8pEp2FfalcQBynINtMwEOgbBaaqyNR4etEOj01PIUyoMKsW4N6Vi_S-w1loc2AxTIRcTXvjluXdjerLPcPA1gKYoawPqjF7jRVjWleJeuy9uhYIypRRh_XiLadRh50s6IFAhBneTt/s320/Weekly+Wrap-UpBlue.png" /></a></div>This week we've been working on all things Moon. I must say my goal to be more project oriented has worked so far.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdXNjFjj0f2mTEzOPOCDMmx4QyAK-S6P8qq9EYX3w0ShyiyZBvOCMwlQ6HMp5aLlPD1wbe_qYrlvldgH8xHMzCi21aBkwY0z2vPWrb-T-YmPGdt6P9sHhUoYFLiO3ZzFtKFStupZ_pl8L/s1600/P9030010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdXNjFjj0f2mTEzOPOCDMmx4QyAK-S6P8qq9EYX3w0ShyiyZBvOCMwlQ6HMp5aLlPD1wbe_qYrlvldgH8xHMzCi21aBkwY0z2vPWrb-T-YmPGdt6P9sHhUoYFLiO3ZzFtKFStupZ_pl8L/s320/P9030010.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't those sort of/kind of look like the phases of the moon? Maybe?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This week has been a lot of fun with science moving to the end of the day because it is so happily anticipated. Well....that and the fact that it tends to last a long, long time (by T's choice).<br />
<br />
Last week we started a moon journal. The cloud cover has cooperated and T has been able to record each night's moon. <br />
<br />
While we were on the phases of the moon, T made some Oreo moons. Needless to say this project didn't last long. I had lots of teens wishing they were studying moon phases on that day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCwQdCIdGgI10XEjjaAHMJhGWVB9sz7Pu7aieLAb4UU5TCGX89t67OajJjmjGM_roOr2Y84Xf-OSfjU_rDUDEfiwI92QrYtqc0mYimdo6rbg7EFa2-EzWabvPcMu4q-avMBb-fWOB6bJe/s1600/P9030011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCwQdCIdGgI10XEjjaAHMJhGWVB9sz7Pu7aieLAb4UU5TCGX89t67OajJjmjGM_roOr2Y84Xf-OSfjU_rDUDEfiwI92QrYtqc0mYimdo6rbg7EFa2-EzWabvPcMu4q-avMBb-fWOB6bJe/s320/P9030011.jpg" /></a></div>We talked about the surface of the moon and created our own craters with a pie tin, some flour with a fine mist of cocoa sifted over the top, and a marble (meteoroid).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpc7NUle_Vi5fuV6Si-bTNW7cJ5TlmJvUShWs6pDpppA5xpFo_3vJ5Zhj2i33Fbi1eUIvAMAXRoRmrfiMCHH80IikGSnBU7XEfkQi9iynysyiZ94fbiE0eIOIzugFyLl1bmhFtkWgAjMt/s1600/P8310002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpc7NUle_Vi5fuV6Si-bTNW7cJ5TlmJvUShWs6pDpppA5xpFo_3vJ5Zhj2i33Fbi1eUIvAMAXRoRmrfiMCHH80IikGSnBU7XEfkQi9iynysyiZ94fbiE0eIOIzugFyLl1bmhFtkWgAjMt/s320/P8310002.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T's meteoroid marble tossing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBthYYZ78KSzBeaIKS-w26SxJYD7jCsyzwY1kvP7laGK-OmGXGIMzPWzYV5liEVHuYGejMqjD5b7_Q67k46_qy0HsuWolz5FwW3yw_bTpRoOE884n1-NLt4YLEM85jAlnTNVZ90NevPuB-/s1600/P8310005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBthYYZ78KSzBeaIKS-w26SxJYD7jCsyzwY1kvP7laGK-OmGXGIMzPWzYV5liEVHuYGejMqjD5b7_Q67k46_qy0HsuWolz5FwW3yw_bTpRoOE884n1-NLt4YLEM85jAlnTNVZ90NevPuB-/s320/P8310005.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That would be a "crater!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We will be working on our Moon poster next week. T is cutting out cardboard Oreos and using a glass to make her circles on white paper before cutting into the different moon phase shapes.<br />
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Of course, we did other fun things like learning how to round in math by going to Starbucks and adding the order for mental math (rounding was a <i>big</i> help then!). <br />
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After our recent trip to <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/08/our-alaskan-adventure.html">Alaska</a>, T decided to not just gather state facts, but to write a paragraph about the beauty she witnessed. I love how self motivated she was for that....I came home from the post office and she had taped it to the garage door for me to see! It made me happy to my toes!<br />
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I'm still trying to figure out how to make grammar fun and exciting for both of us. We are enjoying the Daily Grams (a big hat tip to <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2010/09/review-easy-grammar-and-daily-grams.html">Kris</a> for putting that on our radar!)....but....well....a piece of paper kind of pales in comparison to the other hands-on learning we've been doing this week. Any ideas?<br />
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How was your week? Check out what everyone has been doing at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschooler's <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-one-with-all-blood.html">Weekly Wrap-Up</a>.<br />
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Happy Labor Day!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-10461602163282592542010-08-31T23:50:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:22:06.769-07:00Parenting "Adult" Children<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvHQXhYfQTOc2x96eLQxUhyphenhyphenywV9nYOXVNrZQqYTo3di2J7EzmmNz-giRWoh4z1Ra-uzDyD8cUKv7Klc5OdHLNwN97CnV5Bi2v2PczX9GUY6xerNASjzm7o0etKKsK2xB6gD66PGkhKf-K/s1600/anxiety-200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvHQXhYfQTOc2x96eLQxUhyphenhyphenywV9nYOXVNrZQqYTo3di2J7EzmmNz-giRWoh4z1Ra-uzDyD8cUKv7Klc5OdHLNwN97CnV5Bi2v2PczX9GUY6xerNASjzm7o0etKKsK2xB6gD66PGkhKf-K/s320/anxiety-200.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.sharingmachine.com/index.php">SharingMachine</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am conflicted and constantly checking myself in regards to parenting my oldest. I mean when do you stop mothering them?<br />
<br />
I admit I am one angst filled mama. <br />
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I worry when she drives (not that those <s>three</s> four accidents would be any reason to worry!). <br />
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I worry that she is too blunt with her friends. She isn't always one to participate in social norms. It is a very big part of what I love about her, but I do hope that her friends have the same tolerance as we do.<br />
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I worry that we haven't done a good enough job in helping her understand money. I trust that she has an amazing work ethic, but she can also spend with that same laser focus.<br />
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It appears that most of what I worry about are the things <i>I</i> haven't spent enough time or energy teaching or encouraging her. <br />
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I believe I need to get over myself.<br />
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She is a competent adult. She will be moving out someday soon. She will make her own way. I'll get to experience a different relationship with her. <br />
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Yep. I need to just get over myself.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-56611977218544298942010-08-14T15:49:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:18:36.507-07:00Our 3rd Grade CurriculumLast year had quite the learning curve for me. I am so list oriented that there were times when I forgot about the learning and just focused on the accomplishing. <br />
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A lot of what we used last year wasn't a great fit. I wasn't confident enough to change midyear, but I did give a bunch of different stuff a try at the end of the year. Most of the new stuff that we have chosen to use this year seem to come from Kris at <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/">Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a>. Thank you, Kris! T especially thanks you!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b>ENGLISH/GRAMMAR:</b> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KzQls4lupW4a7vdKhqau2S7eWRLmrUkGSMGTd-ziLQeLYCxebRFu4aGwH1IsGz6hm8x-dShEj-iMW1kSWmO8YpB3-IEKP4nUrRcsSKrA1Fj_2sF5TSug60BW9kmXNDw9Y5BLcveyHkBm/s1600/lang.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KzQls4lupW4a7vdKhqau2S7eWRLmrUkGSMGTd-ziLQeLYCxebRFu4aGwH1IsGz6hm8x-dShEj-iMW1kSWmO8YpB3-IEKP4nUrRcsSKrA1Fj_2sF5TSug60BW9kmXNDw9Y5BLcveyHkBm/s320/lang.gif" /></a></div>We enjoyed <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/first-language-lessons-level-3-instructor-guide.html">First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind</a> last year and we'll use level 3 this year. It's funny, T did a great job utilizing what she learned in her writing...if only you could decipher what she was spelling!<br />
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This year, however, I've only purchased the Instructor Guide. We ended up not using the Student Notebook last year because the lines were much bigger than her writing. She found it easier to use her <a href="http://shopping.hwtears.com/product/Regular_Notebook_Paper/paper">Handwriting Without Tears</a> paper.<br />
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We are also going to use <a href="http://www.easygrammar.com/dg3.html">Daily Grams</a> (grade 3). I found that they were a great way to start the day and fun review for T.<br />
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<b>WRITING:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbOa05PMDPX-c_i8U8QVGORFVpBC1W1vT3XnlBCN29yG55RfhRhFJjs6k694OXgeQg-9Rp5JC3Y75nJoxkCCKfP5Dyss3dWdwmKS7BF9rMqO7H6KJtU7c8uw2EW48UKxcWLE92qwdGEwt/s1600/stepupstopsign.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbOa05PMDPX-c_i8U8QVGORFVpBC1W1vT3XnlBCN29yG55RfhRhFJjs6k694OXgeQg-9Rp5JC3Y75nJoxkCCKfP5Dyss3dWdwmKS7BF9rMqO7H6KJtU7c8uw2EW48UKxcWLE92qwdGEwt/s200/stepupstopsign.gif" width="86" /></a></div><br />
This year we are going to stick with <a href="http://www2.pylusd.k12.ca.us/glk/jlaurich/StepUpToWriting.htm">Step Up to Writing</a>. Last year we used Writing With Ease, but it was a bit monotonous for us. We will continue to use the narration skills we learned last year when we do our history.<br />
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I am also going to try to encourage more creative writing. We are working through <a href="http://smallworldathome.blogspot.com/p/wordsmithery.html">Small World's WordSmithery</a>. Last year, her program reignited the passion lost while we struggled through Writing With Ease.<br />
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<b>SPELLING/VOCABULARY:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-jHwR3DCW4E7_yY5XBg3914gFqM8U-omd_8ZqzCpffY9GpnBVDMo4qwYxw7ZyMM6pZQ92O-7C_i12hhttMkeVc0U8bMaGnIhvNxD1eAn8lwJR9e-pA-bOeFCj5RJZZM1O55bJhE-4z1Z/s1600/allSpelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-jHwR3DCW4E7_yY5XBg3914gFqM8U-omd_8ZqzCpffY9GpnBVDMo4qwYxw7ZyMM6pZQ92O-7C_i12hhttMkeVc0U8bMaGnIhvNxD1eAn8lwJR9e-pA-bOeFCj5RJZZM1O55bJhE-4z1Z/s320/allSpelling.jpg" /></a></div>We are going to try out <a href="http://www.all-about-spelling.com/">All About Spelling</a> (level 3). We weren't thrilled with our choice from <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-semesters-curriculum.html">last year</a> and are ready for a change.<br />
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For vocabulary we will continue using our <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2009/12/vocabulary-with-latin-roots.html">fun folders</a> for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Latin-Roots-Gr-4-8/dp/0881603813">Greek and Latin Roots</a> by Trisha Callella. It was relatively painless and she has been able to use what she has learned in other areas. I love to see the relevance!<br />
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<b>MATH:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HBUU7KQ58AK0hrW71srXPl5sagh4TJOo_oMBo5HwNAxIEcwzyP9jmK9CCyDQhRFwepdfAzoHV2V3fhrGWFGG4xgqMecDCv0S30b2L-WfBz0oIs9wAzThKJX1svARKQYBr8bjMxQdeXoE/s1600/mm_cover_grade3Aworktext-s.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HBUU7KQ58AK0hrW71srXPl5sagh4TJOo_oMBo5HwNAxIEcwzyP9jmK9CCyDQhRFwepdfAzoHV2V3fhrGWFGG4xgqMecDCv0S30b2L-WfBz0oIs9wAzThKJX1svARKQYBr8bjMxQdeXoE/s320/mm_cover_grade3Aworktext-s.gif" /></a></div>This year we are going to play more...and use <a href="http://www.mathmammoth.com/">Mammoth Math</a> (grade 3 Light Blue Series). I printed some of the free worksheets for her and then ended up purchasing it through the <a href="http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?">Homeschoolers Buyers Coop</a> at a huge discount. We started using it at the end of last year after we had finished Singapore 2B and T enjoyed it. I think that I am going to have the whole thing printed and bound. Sometimes it's just easier for me to have it in hand rather than on the computer.<br />
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<b>SCIENCE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_nrO3fkVBIH6TD1TXzxrBju3kEV-edb2ebEKrnweYAiy5Mc2a3E95I5G-KuLEc4l9m1tlVqmiV78lIANgy8OjRImqwrruHiKE76U_kntOpGQHSS6pYUQe7XEpFy8bVLRKdCw-jIPVpK8/s1600/realsciLife.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_nrO3fkVBIH6TD1TXzxrBju3kEV-edb2ebEKrnweYAiy5Mc2a3E95I5G-KuLEc4l9m1tlVqmiV78lIANgy8OjRImqwrruHiKE76U_kntOpGQHSS6pYUQe7XEpFy8bVLRKdCw-jIPVpK8/s320/realsciLife.jpeg" /></a></div>I didn't love science last year. T didn't love science last year. Zero fun. This year I was thinking that I would try to develop my own science, but now I have cold feet and we're going to try <a href="http://www.pandiapress.com/real_science.htm">R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey</a>. I'm going to get Life and Earth & Space to fill in the blanks (she has already done a bit from both in the last two years).<br />
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<b>HISTORY:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwiaq5J1TOGvJYBdnDrFLdPHOklYxx7vKdPbwh5i1-1TyVI_7RpWBVEiaKkEabxY2ejV8y9YC6SRjD8WqYD5ymCAavNXBAVdINJ_mWwBMa6oMini_LhnRj7mrM9G7T4R20sqTc1ylXFHO/s1600/story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwiaq5J1TOGvJYBdnDrFLdPHOklYxx7vKdPbwh5i1-1TyVI_7RpWBVEiaKkEabxY2ejV8y9YC6SRjD8WqYD5ymCAavNXBAVdINJ_mWwBMa6oMini_LhnRj7mrM9G7T4R20sqTc1ylXFHO/s320/story.jpg" /></a></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We are sticking with <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/history-and-geography/story-of-the-world.html">The Story of the World</a> (vol. 3 Early Modern Times). We were maniacs last year and went through vol. 1 AND 2! We loved it. The not-very-creative me loved the <a href="http://www.welltrainedmind.com/store/activity-book-3-paperback-the-story-of-the-world-early-modern-times.html">student activity pages</a>. It was a treat and we just couldn't seem to help ourselves from going on to the next chapter. I don't think it was the wisest of decisions, though. This year, I think that we will try supplementing with even more books and activities in hopes of going deeper, not faster.<br />
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We mix it up with me reading aloud, T reading aloud, and listening to it read by Jim Weiss. We have supplemented it with <a href="http://www.sonlight.com/KH06.html">Sonlight's Book of Time</a> (a blank timeline book from 5,000 BC to the present) and their <a href="http://www.sonlight.com/7H44.html">timeline figures</a> (stickers to color). We also reference <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kingfisher-History-Encyclopedia-Editors/dp/0753457849/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281798559&sr=8-1">The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia</a>.<br />
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<b>BIBLE/MEMORIZATION: </b>I am still on the hunt for an appropriate Proverbs study. I am considering using the <a href="http://generationswithvision.com/Store/Product/141">Generations with Vision Proverbs Study Guide</a>, but I'd like to slip through it before I buy. I would like to tie in our study with memorization. We are big on memorization and will also memorize some poems and other verses from our Bible.<br />
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<b>ART/COMPOSER/NATURE:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Dc4XdsY34sJdUZ12zWqmgKNiyBot_3RMOioOzCz4wuFT-MqoZqKo9TXrcSxtlFcVtUxZPfKA604SfI7r0Zbu-WEjnUwoI3G-e6IjaZNLsH4F3f9oAWQ3n53GFqJzTz8C6Qsh8W8dFiH/s1600/harArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Dc4XdsY34sJdUZ12zWqmgKNiyBot_3RMOioOzCz4wuFT-MqoZqKo9TXrcSxtlFcVtUxZPfKA604SfI7r0Zbu-WEjnUwoI3G-e6IjaZNLsH4F3f9oAWQ3n53GFqJzTz8C6Qsh8W8dFiH/s320/harArt.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b> </b>We are going to use <a href="http://www.harmonyfinearts.com/index.php">Harmony Fine Arts</a> for music and art appreciation. We also took <a href="http://jimmiescollage.com/2010/01/new-year-new-calendar-new-art/">Jimmie's suggestion</a> to purchase the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Page-Day-Gallery-Calendar-2011/dp/076115759X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281820852&sr=8-1-catcorr">Art Page-a-Day Gallery Calendar</a> from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I tried to use this last year, but they were already sold out when I read her post. Ours for 2011 just came in the mail last week.<br />
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For our Nature Study we are going to use Harmony Arts <a href="http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/">Handbook for Nature Study</a>. She posts challenges each week and that seems about our speed.<br />
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<b>HANDWRITING/KEYBOARDING: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMO7s5AptV47bt_gLVZg70BgL9uNVY-FdqoeFq14teMzpgeZbIyT8gI9Lc07Bk3O3svKWTPuBu2k4-ghuzZy8QynA3oDpeh38CurqxmCbqjbjb55hH2qS7S7M-cSllbo3wN0MGz7g_-z/s1600/hw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokMO7s5AptV47bt_gLVZg70BgL9uNVY-FdqoeFq14teMzpgeZbIyT8gI9Lc07Bk3O3svKWTPuBu2k4-ghuzZy8QynA3oDpeh38CurqxmCbqjbjb55hH2qS7S7M-cSllbo3wN0MGz7g_-z/s320/hw.jpg" /></a></div><b><br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We will continue working through her <a href="http://www.hwtears.com/">Handwriting Without Tears</a> workbook, but I will quickly transition to an emphasis on keyboarding. I know that may be a cop out, but the act of writing is laborious for her. Her hands don't work as quickly as her brain. We need to find a work around for her.<br />
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<b>PE: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNR85-F_NAo9zoBugFCDE3SPwAyr5GMenr3d_P-1dDH3IdeX9NnfSk3Mf2_b2UeDp5kXWu_b5LLUbC1iH2ppWV7tvydA7uWWvtb1-otH-GI4HFA_ClnWdViK98FVTCB9LeRqN1iLxnWov/s1600/yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNR85-F_NAo9zoBugFCDE3SPwAyr5GMenr3d_P-1dDH3IdeX9NnfSk3Mf2_b2UeDp5kXWu_b5LLUbC1iH2ppWV7tvydA7uWWvtb1-otH-GI4HFA_ClnWdViK98FVTCB9LeRqN1iLxnWov/s320/yoga.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b></b>I would like to be more deliberate with T's PE this year. Last year she did swim team, but this year we are not going to always be in town so I need something we can take with us. So far I have hiking and <a href="http://yogakids.com/_product_93646/YogaKids_2_and_3_Bundle_-_DVD">yoga</a>. It's a start....right?!<br />
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So that's it. That is going to be our year. We'll be back in Alaska for the first part of the school year and who knows where for the rest. I am adjusting to our vagabond style of making a home...in fact, I may prefer it! I'm enjoying the new sites and I'm ok with our new definition of "home;" it's definitely the people, not the structure or the geography.<br />
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If you are interested, here is <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-semesters-curriculum.html">2009-2010 curriculum choices</a>.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-44257869230750811992010-08-09T14:36:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:22:06.770-07:00Our Alaskan Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB61JH0tAketXFJ0mF_nTI5V5Qrem5a0PhLR25bWZkJ_1P-Ps8LdFVds2hUG3fUyuglJLBRsJIp9pbehJGsZW8sij3BNf1NNY0veynzJpKIB2p8NXXokbZmwH1TyJ7KMWWQTKZoh7F9YU/s1600/P8070281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlB61JH0tAketXFJ0mF_nTI5V5Qrem5a0PhLR25bWZkJ_1P-Ps8LdFVds2hUG3fUyuglJLBRsJIp9pbehJGsZW8sij3BNf1NNY0veynzJpKIB2p8NXXokbZmwH1TyJ7KMWWQTKZoh7F9YU/s320/P8070281.jpg" /></a></div>Here we are in Alaska trying to figure out how to leave our home for the next few months and stay up here while my husband is working. T and I are headed home tomorrow, but we'll be back soon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6ZD9PI4lavw7SkWePWL74pARU4ur_nEZ6AgL1F8_sr9ltIydC79o5qCf3dLuwcqHMY8fZGfKIKLY2foRH1Yu1qeDp2kVJd0zzAAC6w93YH5uN7pKONh_zAlo259oL21ITjRGPmWk02AF/s1600/P8070267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6ZD9PI4lavw7SkWePWL74pARU4ur_nEZ6AgL1F8_sr9ltIydC79o5qCf3dLuwcqHMY8fZGfKIKLY2foRH1Yu1qeDp2kVJd0zzAAC6w93YH5uN7pKONh_zAlo259oL21ITjRGPmWk02AF/s320/P8070267.jpg" /></a></div>Alaska is gorgeous. We went north on the highway a bit and discovered that they have crazy-beautiful parks right along the highway. Stranger still is that it seems as though everyone drives the speed limit!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIvgtoHZXhDeb3-R0V4bqOidRzYGZe4jBqAjE-uwFfdHtlhLFHivFpTOJ7Dl7_SHh1Cqi5XNLZEKcuhiagIIYVS-M1UT6b3_9slv3q9DXhgFxkowgOdNNzpgwrZsBVJRiYhUJ6G16_LDG/s1600/P8040207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIvgtoHZXhDeb3-R0V4bqOidRzYGZe4jBqAjE-uwFfdHtlhLFHivFpTOJ7Dl7_SHh1Cqi5XNLZEKcuhiagIIYVS-M1UT6b3_9slv3q9DXhgFxkowgOdNNzpgwrZsBVJRiYhUJ6G16_LDG/s320/P8040207.jpg" /></a></div>We've seen moose on the side of the road and pet moose at a <a href="http://www.reindeerfarm.com/">reindeer farm</a>. We learned that caribou and reindeer are basically the same creatures; one's just domesticated (like horse v. mustang, I guess). Did you know that the males, females, and babies all grow antlers during the summer? The only thing that grows faster is bamboo. The antlers have a blood supply so it's a way for them to cool down in the summer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUOzuckl69ExVywoGhM5yd1sRLe_Pibx0yt2czMuDjvIieabEnKnAkbbHoIWRVw1mxqqfpEhYCyPog1YyuEBBqrpGE4p8l6y-s1hS0mZaxuX3c7uOaHHfM6bW2U6A2awnfgYJZ5VE689L/s1600/P8050254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUOzuckl69ExVywoGhM5yd1sRLe_Pibx0yt2czMuDjvIieabEnKnAkbbHoIWRVw1mxqqfpEhYCyPog1YyuEBBqrpGE4p8l6y-s1hS0mZaxuX3c7uOaHHfM6bW2U6A2awnfgYJZ5VE689L/s320/P8050254.jpg" /></a></div>We also went to a <a href="http://www.muskoxfarm.org/">musk ox farm</a>. Musk ox are like prehistoric goats. They comb them once a year to get their <a href="http://www.qiviut.com/store/index.cfm?target=Fiber%20/%20Yarn">qiviut</a>. The wool/hair gets spun and then sent is to the <a href="http://www.qiviut.com/store/index.cfm?target=home">Oomingmak Knitters Coop</a> which knit these freakishly warm <a href="http://www.qiviut.com/store/index.cfm?target=SCARVES">scarves</a>, <a href="http://www.qiviut.com/store/index.cfm?target=Tundra%20Snow%20Collection">hats</a>, <a href="http://www.qiviut.com/store/index.cfm?target=NACHAQS">smoke rings (nachaqs)</a>, and if you are really feeling wealthy, a blanket (it costs $10,000 to commission!).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_IgFzFmU2r-L4WxyS4dG-3keEy29NnjurBRK6A2x6UBy7zvkYeMnCW5FrsNr2Bg7P79TMOVpMLPawU1uJ_wUWasdKk3tKL2b_kZrSDPbG5kPbK-_tzj6S5KSiU1fpeXVkjO6syeNQtI/s1600/P8040220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq_IgFzFmU2r-L4WxyS4dG-3keEy29NnjurBRK6A2x6UBy7zvkYeMnCW5FrsNr2Bg7P79TMOVpMLPawU1uJ_wUWasdKk3tKL2b_kZrSDPbG5kPbK-_tzj6S5KSiU1fpeXVkjO6syeNQtI/s320/P8040220.jpg" /></a></div>We've been to <a href="http://www.anchorage.net/822.cfm">Earthquake Park</a> and Kincaid Park (where we saw the moose). Earthquake Park is where the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 is commemorated. Hello... a magnitude 9.2 earthquake!!! Freaky stuff for someone like me who does not care one bit for the earth moving.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tsvUfYnTlEbTwGPBWOEKnuFWkB9wJ7CQHyHGV6Zxzx3x9AG-hmUnynZ1Uk_p8RKiFGgP7U4ypX7cQyClCxyUWlsbeUTLsn2af2Y7ccIK4x1brKQicqcDugQw7XbHO8map_CsDNWE-6md/s1600/P8030196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tsvUfYnTlEbTwGPBWOEKnuFWkB9wJ7CQHyHGV6Zxzx3x9AG-hmUnynZ1Uk_p8RKiFGgP7U4ypX7cQyClCxyUWlsbeUTLsn2af2Y7ccIK4x1brKQicqcDugQw7XbHO8map_CsDNWE-6md/s320/P8030196.jpg" /></a></div>I'm certain I'd never tire of the scenery here. T and I are plotting our return!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD05zG_ucon9vrWCO1gqcbxiX7awbQpepoTQFcqJqodEj2WW5W1QieIx7GcUWTZGqIPfK_AP1plXKGy4G78SLxJsZPNKlB4IpzNtfUYCDZketKDxs1TXHokHwF3-V68clf3Om9CIiy-8U/s1600/P8070268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD05zG_ucon9vrWCO1gqcbxiX7awbQpepoTQFcqJqodEj2WW5W1QieIx7GcUWTZGqIPfK_AP1plXKGy4G78SLxJsZPNKlB4IpzNtfUYCDZketKDxs1TXHokHwF3-V68clf3Om9CIiy-8U/s320/P8070268.jpg" /></a></div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-23003358094886163562010-07-11T16:46:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.421-07:00Just When I Think I Can Relax<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraQHRTlTdj-E348pv01nBUN9zoQC6HJcn2PU-MkHvVXehxqD9o9ZrvNOx3hDigbs0KlcWOLhC3_3ayeXOAkUQkv9wV90bvequVIXacFeda5r5WcnRbyqqoB5feuITFrkC4Er8HMYKKncF/s1600/blogMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraQHRTlTdj-E348pv01nBUN9zoQC6HJcn2PU-MkHvVXehxqD9o9ZrvNOx3hDigbs0KlcWOLhC3_3ayeXOAkUQkv9wV90bvequVIXacFeda5r5WcnRbyqqoB5feuITFrkC4Er8HMYKKncF/s320/blogMap.jpg" /></a></div>We got through our <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/07/too-many-good-byes.html">week of good-byes</a> intact. Well everyone got to where they were expected, at least. We are missing each other and taking a moment to realize that we really do like one another. It's hard work being apart.<br />
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Our summer has just turned the crazy up a notch. I'm trying to be calm, cool, and collected about our opportunities. Today, however, I just decided I needed a nap. It was just a little much.<br />
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See, my husband is coming home to So. Cal. from his job in Pittsburgh this Thursday (where he has been since April). Then he is immediately prepping to do a show in Anchorage...ALASKA. He will leave for Alaska on July 26. <br />
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Why I needed a nap? Because this is still all tentative. He doesn't have any of his travel secured yet. The way his world works drives me nuts sometimes! <br />
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We (D, T, and me) are thinking of following him up there at the end of July. Then T and I will come home mid August so we can welcome E home from Germany. Eventually T and I will go back up to spend a month or so...depending on the house sitting situation.<br />
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Meanwhile, I need to finish my <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/01/yaz-can-be-deadly.html">million and one doctor visits</a>, T needs to get her braces, and we need to figure out how/when to start school while traveling. I'm thinking that means I need to be a big girl and plan.<br />
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So assuming that all will go as planned, does anyone have any suggestions for fun/educational things to do in Anchorage? We already had astronomy in our year's science plans....I'll be pushing that one up to the first of the school year. I mean, really. Alaska? Astronomy? <i>Now</i> I'm getting excited!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-2483279944445637192010-07-05T00:52:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:22:06.770-07:00Too Many Good-byes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs-19kJPyJnNevyOKA9yQ16VgnrCwIas_8KD7Dczy34vQYqAl7mobO0L0fmepWgRGHY8gFjzPIPLmQ255WHPK8h6uJfiMIAxXiuPDqta0yAvLe3O5gANgHiHqqL4WXOKIurzm2xpCFTlu/s1600/P7030102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRs-19kJPyJnNevyOKA9yQ16VgnrCwIas_8KD7Dczy34vQYqAl7mobO0L0fmepWgRGHY8gFjzPIPLmQ255WHPK8h6uJfiMIAxXiuPDqta0yAvLe3O5gANgHiHqqL4WXOKIurzm2xpCFTlu/s320/P7030102.jpg" /></a></div>Today we drove our oldest to the airport and put her on a plane to Germany. For SIX weeks! What was I thinking? Oh, never mind that she's an adult and is a German major and has wanted to travel abroad for forever and paid for it herself (sort of, but <i>we</i> didn't pay) and she's taking two upper division classes. <br />
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None of <i>that</i> matters. <br />
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She's too far away.<br />
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And she doesn't like to fly.<br />
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And she doesn't like to talk to people she doesn't know.<br />
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And I saw Toy Story 3 <i>today</i>...of all days.<br />
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I miss her already.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggttEDBzCTeLWJAmM6mfKnK1b1Gzcl-vT9Yp5gu9_mzp5N_U2YCfZ-kv3E-qqP25roeBsN00eanXMK7v91sgdaBMSzVJnpJB87xsRTLyx-7-HQiNS8fqAGY4QDyKRPFME5RyKecR4x6SyL/s1600/P7040107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggttEDBzCTeLWJAmM6mfKnK1b1Gzcl-vT9Yp5gu9_mzp5N_U2YCfZ-kv3E-qqP25roeBsN00eanXMK7v91sgdaBMSzVJnpJB87xsRTLyx-7-HQiNS8fqAGY4QDyKRPFME5RyKecR4x6SyL/s320/P7040107.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">J<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>ohn and E's friend watching her wind her way through security.</i></span></div><br />
Tomorrow my husband flies back to work....<i>across</i> the friggin' country! He was home for the weekend to help say good-bye to E. But now he's leaving again. I miss him and he's not even gone yet.<br />
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What am I doing instead of snuggling with my man tonight? I'm watching my daughter's plane on <a href="http://flightaware.com/">Flight Aware</a>; as though I'm going to get her there safely by my stalker-tendencies. She has 39 minutes left to her flight.<br />
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There is just no hope for me.<br />
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On Wednesday, we say good-bye to my middle daughter's horse. I wrote about my <a href="http://finallyhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2010/06/broken-mom-thing.html">stellar Mom Moment</a> and me suggesting that perhaps it was time to find a new home for the horse a month or so ago. There is heartbreak all around. The only silver lining in that cloud of sadness is that she is going to another little girl in Texas. And, seriously, everything is bigger in Texas! You should see the ranch she is going to....when they say "pasture," they mean "PASTURE!" It's so the right thing to do for the horse, but that only helps a broken horse girl heart so much.<br />
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See? Just way too many good-byes in my world.<br />
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Now she only has 31 minutes left until she lands in Germany. Ugh.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-57268070640533860702010-06-26T16:08:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.422-07:00Maybe I'm Not Done Yet - Father's Day Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdd2QWqBkJfMofxOZKcyXVMneEHtAaMRGaIys9csiTQYxbHuXJcs_rL4XDuVexJVkdWf6hw_Wec0k-CVUxycr5xi3bBpQfyBydm88FsX9QtLjqAfQNrNwXIu4sCgliSxcDU8lTQJGXy5o/s1600/afire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdd2QWqBkJfMofxOZKcyXVMneEHtAaMRGaIys9csiTQYxbHuXJcs_rL4XDuVexJVkdWf6hw_Wec0k-CVUxycr5xi3bBpQfyBydm88FsX9QtLjqAfQNrNwXIu4sCgliSxcDU8lTQJGXy5o/s320/afire.jpg" /></a></div>So I was going to stop posting so I could focus on "things." The funny thing is that this blog helps me focus on "things." So here I am again, a week late, posting about Father's Day and wondering why I haven't finished the laundry. <br />
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My man, my favorite person to be with, my children's father spent Father's Day in another city trying to support us in a crazy-ass economy. Pretty damn awesome, I say.<br />
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We spent our Father's Day moping that he was gone and wondering what to do with ourselves all day long. I was sitting on our deck with my brother looking at the view (kind of, sort of feeling sorry for myself) when my brother says, "Smoke." After a flurry of a 911 call, me handing my brother a kitchen fire extinguisher (don't ask), and my daughter and I evacuating our neighbor's horses into a trailer to wait for the all clear, we sat and watched the show.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tdLM0Qf4UCwoPvBdyEBGMYVupRlLPip1sRhyX2TdsE-XkjoPMU8zlB0VIJRAKBICeh3kKTenk5gywe2L0nHwCJ_Op84tUjNF78_B1VFkRVxNxPChxJHEKpmkSQK3FvVV8NkkhFkyDDYH/s1600/afire2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tdLM0Qf4UCwoPvBdyEBGMYVupRlLPip1sRhyX2TdsE-XkjoPMU8zlB0VIJRAKBICeh3kKTenk5gywe2L0nHwCJ_Op84tUjNF78_B1VFkRVxNxPChxJHEKpmkSQK3FvVV8NkkhFkyDDYH/s320/afire2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Can I tell you how very amazing our firefighters are? Not just because we were in need, but because they got out there as though they were choreographed. It was a little brush fire, but the dry lakebed is surrounded with homes ... so it was a nice thing that they kept it little.<br />
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So our Father's Day was exciting and terribly boring and lonely at the same time.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-85410671043478164292010-06-19T15:59:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.422-07:00This is Why I'm Done - For NowIt's been fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_yLZnQo5SK6Lcezspd3op39BHVt_nsQdi8KMgb0128rk6cUUmwKoTaspY4QAQF8E5N5FJqGT1K1b-FvN8ZFkuSj5YbTUA1kYtvUE-NXx5OCcAtumQX7pAKYk1hN8cqRKYs3jLEPAkSy6/s1600/internetaddiction1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_yLZnQo5SK6Lcezspd3op39BHVt_nsQdi8KMgb0128rk6cUUmwKoTaspY4QAQF8E5N5FJqGT1K1b-FvN8ZFkuSj5YbTUA1kYtvUE-NXx5OCcAtumQX7pAKYk1hN8cqRKYs3jLEPAkSy6/s400/internetaddiction1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">source: <a href="http://ytorf.com/2009/06/internet-addiction-is-serious-business/">Ytorf</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm off to do my wifely, motherly, homeschool stuff that I do much better without a computer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">xoxo</div>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4480010063434195775.post-84162422646046390512010-06-07T12:28:00.000-07:002011-04-18T22:20:52.423-07:00The Broken Mom Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETtuPcHWhkk9rSTH_7suxm3dYzmu3pCRgf-pjO965CqSTXZvjgnEIPs_f2txZJd1WVS_vA3vaseSFFokD4ln4_G71Yf9PVWPIaiwXTZmJjZ1Z7i31lJp66xfqXqMZAn6kOUMBjnEotRrp/s1600/maryC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETtuPcHWhkk9rSTH_7suxm3dYzmu3pCRgf-pjO965CqSTXZvjgnEIPs_f2txZJd1WVS_vA3vaseSFFokD4ln4_G71Yf9PVWPIaiwXTZmJjZ1Z7i31lJp66xfqXqMZAn6kOUMBjnEotRrp/s320/maryC.jpg" /></a></div><i>"We are all broken and we all just kind of limp along</i>.<i>"</i> That was what I heard at church yesterday. That, and something about keeping your focus on the wonder of God so your perspective doesn't get trapped in the woe-is-me world of your brokenness.<br />
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Good take home points. But I wonder; why do I have to be SO broken? <br />
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I know, my perspective is out of whack. Wonder. Of. God.<br />
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Still. I came home from church and promptly won the Mom-of-the-Year Award for making our world's most sensitive daughter cry. And I anticipated it. And I didn't restrain myself. Broken. <br />
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See, we live in So. Cal. To get from point A to point B we need (really truly) a car. Public transportation is crap where we live. We own three cars (mine, my husband's, and our oldest daughter's). The problem is that our middle daughter can now drive and is The Busiest Kid on the Planet Doing Good and Wonderful Things. Therefore, my car has been hijacked.<br />
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Now this middle child of mine has a horse. Having a horse where we live is no small monthly expense. She loves her horse. She doesn't do anything special on the horse. She doesn't show it or leap tall buildings with it. They just kind of walk around the trails and have horsey conversations. Or something.<br />
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In my head, the horse is transportation. I figure since we pay for the monthly upkeep of the horse (which is more than the monthly upkeep of a car, I might add), we won't help her out with a car. She doesn't seem to have a problem with this arrangement because she just takes <i>my</i> car.<br />
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And, honestly, right now it's not a big deal because my husband is away and I can steal his truck. But I want <i>my</i> car!<br />
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So, the broken me finally loses it last night. I tell her in my kindest voice that perhaps she should sell the horse and buy a car. That went over well. It was as though I asked to her saw off her arm with a nail file (a dull nail file).<br />
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Really, I wasn't that kind. I was mean. I wasn't Joan Crawford mean, but I knew I was hurting her and I didn't think it out before I spoke. Ugh. This whole parenting older kids is a giant lesson in humility.<br />
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I don't know what the solution is in my situation. I have apologized, but now what? I think we've worked out a semi-schedule for <i>my</i> car. Where do I find the wonder of God in this? Is it that I have a teenager that spends her time going to school, going to church, babysitting, working, and mentoring 5th & 6th grade girls? Maybe so. <br />
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I feel the creaking of my perspective shifting.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997968372890613797noreply@blogger.com0