Contest at Heart of the Matter

Heart of the Matter is having a contest to give away Biology 101 DVDs

Here is a description from the HOM blog:

Biology 101: Biology According To The Days of Creation is a video series that gives an overview of Biology from the Biblical perspective. It comprises four DVDs covering Plants, Aquatics Creatures, Avian Creatures, Land Animals, Mankind and Genetics. All based on the days of creation. The total length of the series is 4 1/2 hours and a guidebook which includes quizzes accompanies the series also. The creator of this wonderful series has geared it toward 15 year olds and higher but my science loving 3rd and 4th graders loved it! Wes Olson, a Bible college graduate and homeschooling father, developed and hosted this great series. He is very knowledgeable of Biology and we absolutely loved his sense of humor.

Here is my reply for my entry:

I don't know about my favorite. We really love animals around here. But, I do have to say that I have really enjoyed learning to love the scaly creatures. I used to abhor reptiles and things similar. But, a few years back a relative brought over a friends iguana. He was almost dead and the rescue suggested putting him to sleep because they could not find a home for him. But, I couldn't help myself. I fed him, bathed him, and loved him.

He now loves me dearly. He listens to my voice. He loves to be pet on the head, just like any dog or cat. His little eyes roll back and his eyelids shut.

I've learned to love a scaly little creature. He isn't beautiful because of the harm his previous owners did, do to poor nutrition and lack of proper lighting.

But, he is our little iguana. A beautiful and remarkable creature.

School is like a zoo...

but for children.

This is what my 11 year old son told me today. He was sitting at the table. I was sitting on the couch with my laptop. The other boys were outside on the sidewalk. It runs along the side of the kitchen. They had the kitchen door open. At very specific times of the day we hear loud children, screeching little girls especially. It was funny at first. But, somedays it's disturbing. But, it took my sons comment to make me see why.

He told me they make them sit all day and do tricks. Then they let them out of that box. Then the children go crazy for a while. (For the record this child has attended public school.)

At least they still get recess.

I was able to get these through my local library. My 8 year old has somehow missed the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Which is partially why I'm using AO this upcoming year. AO for the younger years will help me to touch all the important things they shouldn't miss, yet still give us time to enjoy all the modern rabbit trails we like to wander around.

Back to audio books. I'm amazed that my boys like these. I just put them on and wander off and sometimes we put them on at night and turn off all the lights except for a few candles. I'm always surprised at how long they will sit and how they wander over and cannot help themselves.

Black Ships Before Troy

Last night we were set to watch a movie. But, since we didn't get through dinner and cleanup and teeth brushing till near 10pm it just didn't happen. My dh grabbed this book from the library shelf. Not to read, but to fold paper airplanes on. I've been trying to fit these in as read alouds since we are studying Greece. The prophet (now in Year 6) removed the book from such drudgery and started to read it in the sparsely lit living room. I offered to read it aloud, but he grumbled something at me and disappeared to his room. Where he read till midnight and came to get me, so that I could tuck him into bed.

Charlotte Mason & Sunshine

Today Washington State is sunny and warm.

I've convinced an 11 year old man to sit outside to play his Nintendo DS.

The other two are playing with cars, robots and spaceships.

I found a shady to spot to read .

A friend once made the comment that Charlotte Mason is where Unschooling and the Classical Method meet. Her comment continues to sit and swim around in my brain. I read bits and pieces of Ms. Mason's works a few years back. Back before I found out I was accepted to the big University. The one that took up all my reading time. Ironically the English Major that snatched away my love of reading.

This quote backs up that position or so I would like to think...

It is important to understand the difference between a system and a method, because parents all too often become enamored of a system that promises development in one area--but which misses the overall growth of the entire person. A system is easier because you just follow the prescribed steps, like a recipe. But a method requires constant watchfulness over the whole being of the child, it demands more of the teacher. Who is qualified for such a mammoth task? Even the most loving, committed parent isn't physically able to be on the alert to make the most of every educable moment 24 hours a day.

But education may not require a 24-hour effort; the child is learning all the time and a few basic principles put into effect will cover the whole of the child's education. (highlighting from Heather)

quoted from Charlotte Mason in Modern English by Leslie

And, I think that's just it. If you are filling their minds with good information, mind challenging stuff then you won't have to make up discussions and force quizzes and workbook pages. Things will start to stick.

Perhaps I'm done planning and worrying for the upcoming year. I think I'll spend my summer reading CM in Modern English instead.

The Flops and Flutters and Plans Oh my...

The Flops

Well we did a lot less reading this year.

Story of the World and it's appendages probably works well for children who like to do everything in a neat row. Or children who like coloring pages. My children do not. We spent all year trudging through SOTW and it's activity guide and really missing out on the reading we love. We do have outside classes and I did take a full-quarter this winter. But, there just wasn't enough to keep us afloat. It's not like we enjoyed it either. I said TRUDGING.

The Flutters

I want to finish up Volume 1 by the end of the summer. We have the Volume one audio and we have been listening to that during the week in very small bites. I figured I could get the boys through it faster and at least cover the information. SUPRISE, SUPRISE, SUPRISE!!! The boys enjoy it a lot more and are retaining an amazing amount of information. Jim Weiss is a gem of a speaker. Now we have free time to read other books and fill out History Scribe pages. My boys seem to prefer these since they take some imagination and I had just enough paypal to buy a set. I love that the set includes a Native American set. I wanted to start doing some American History but really had no idea what to do for Native Americans. The sets include Maps so we can fill those out when we see locations in our readings. They filled out at least 20 maps this year and each has a river or maybe an arrow. I want to be able to glance at the very least 2 or 3 maps and see what they learned that year.

The Little Plans

I'm going back to letting the children listen and read and follow tangents. It just works better that way. I do plan on using an Ambleside inspired outline for our year. We will see how that works. I have a very small budget this year so I'll be using the library and online sources. I might purchase a level or two of Math U See for my oldest as it seems to be all he is willing to use.

Reading

Books I've decided to use will be made into reading list on good reads and kept track of in my sidelines. Hopefully I can convince the boys to write reviews of books they read.

Getting Ready for a New Year

Yes, here I am. I found an awesome new background at SuckMyLolly.com. This will be the first year I'm "teaching"...leading...marching on together...with all three boys this year. We actually made it through a whole year last year. No one decided to go back to public school & the Warrior (our youngest) is not going to Kindergarten!!!!!

I think I'll keep this blog just for learning adventures this year. I still have my wordpress blog...so perhaps I'll keep that for my own personal opinions.

Fairness, lazyness, homeschool updates...

I've tried here and there to be part of the weekly update crowd. I sometimes lurk on blogs where Moms show pictures of all their children have accomplished. A fun way to keep relatives up to date. A fun way to have proof for the school board perhaps. I don't know. It's enjoyable to take a peek and then at some point I feel....discouraged. Some weeks we could fill a post with pictures and laughs. But, often our days are filled with just living. Spurts of "real" education happen. We have worksheets that are filled in for Math. Journals where handwriting is practiced.

Many of us moms are in awe of these orderly families. Our blogs are often overlooked. Our children have too much free time and not enough proof to be interesting. While those other children are conquering Ancient History in exactly 180 days just in time for summer break...my children are savoring Aesop's Fables. I worry about it sometimes. More often when I read those blogs. And, I feel a little lost. Because I'm often stuck in between two homeschooling worlds.

How can I be an unschooler whilst my children have curriculum (and they don't always delight in using it)? How can I be a classical homeschooler when my children are the ones who asked for it and I lack a schedule that keeps us plunging through in exactly 4 year cycles. Am I lazy? Is it fair that my children get to enjoy this leisurely education?

In A Spacious Place: How to Classically Unschool -- I Wish :)

In A Spacious Place: How to Classically Unschool -- I Wish :)

I know I haven't been posting here at all. But, this handy blogger feature is enticing.

I'm getting fed up with trying to pick sides. I don't want to be a radical unschooler. I don't want to be a sadistic Psycho Classical Mother cramming knowledge down my childrens throats. I'm sure both sides would let me know that I'm missing something.

I've been at this long enough to see how things balance out with each of my children. They ask for some guidance and we teeter totter till we find it.

Praise God...there are others out there. Others trying to find that perfect spot.

I'm trying out Wordpress as well...

So, I guess take your pick. I'm not sure what I'll stay with.

The Land of All Things Lewis

A story about "The Story of the World: Activity Book 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Third Edition"

The Story of the World: Activity Book 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Third Edition

by Susan Wise Bauer

I actually ordered a set of student pages straight from Peace Hill Press for each child this year. They come wrapped up in plastic and they are three whole punched. I put them in a notebook right when they got here. It was totally worth it to not have to remember to copy things from the book or to do a messed up job of copying something.

Both of my older children are working on this book. My 10 year old reads the book and does the pages himself. My 7 year old listens to the CD’s and works on the pages while listening. We discuss it at a later time.

See more about The Story of the World: Activity Book 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Third Edition

Women in Love

Allright, here is the secret book from which that largish word comes from...ugh that is how I feel when I read this book. But, luckily I did a bit of research to answer a question and I found out someone will die before the end. I'm so excited..I can now go back to reading.

Really so far it seems there is enough sexual connotations to get you to the next string of rather lengthy words OR to the mention of something that would seem to make the characters or perhaps the author appear to be rather learned. Perhaps I will feel differently after reading it with a group of people.

Todays word is megalomania, n.

If you see a word you do not know then you look in the Oxford English Dictionary. Here you go!!

In Psychol.: delusions of power or self-importance, esp. resulting from mental illness; a passion for grandiose schemes. More generally: lust for power, a desire to control.

1887 Polit. Sci. Q. 2 157 Dr. François Roy of Quebec testified..that [Louis] Riel was..afflicted with a form of insanity known as megalomania, by which he labored under a delusion that he had a mission to perform for the Métis. 1890 J. S. BILLINGS National Med. Dict. II. 723 Monomania involving the idea of a divine or celestial origin or connection..[is] a species of megalomania. 1892 Contemp. Rev. Feb. 166 Here again megalomaniathe desire to ‘do the great’had the upper hand. 1897 LD. SALISBURY in Daily Chron. 17 Nov. 8/2 A common intellectual complaint..which I may name (as I see Mr. Gladstone has consecrated the word) megalomaniathe passion for big things simply because they are big. 1904 A. GRIFFITHS Fifty Years Public Service xiv. 222 Megalomania was strangely prevalent among these criminal lunatics. 1914 W. J. LOCKE Jaffery viii, This is absurd. It's megalomaniala folie des grandeurs. 1959 Listener 17 Sept. 451/3 The later rake's progress toward corruption, aggression, humiliating subjection to Hitler, pathological megalomania and final catastrophe. 1974 F. FORSYTH Dogs of War II. ix. 169 Megalomania..is present in many people outside lunatic asylums and is usually..interpreted, at least when present in the rich and famous, as merely exaggerated egocentricity. 1993 Toronto Sun 17 June 12/1 The Tories reveal their megalomania, insecurity and arrogant intolerance for dissent.

Now I want to see if you are paying attention to everything I write...pardon my grammar. What am I reading?

Finger smoothies

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Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis

eww...

(warning this is from a phone so it isn't that great)

But, here is my little guy making his own smoothies. I love it when I think up activities.

We counted each piece and he had to pick them up with the tongs himself. Which is time consuming do to the wholes. But, that was the point really.

A report on another child: my 7 year old woke up and decided to get a straw and paper. He is seeing how accurately he can spit wads of paper. It's fine with me if a) he picks them up and b) they aren't wet.

Have something to carry and want to skip that bag...

Well the Government of Japan can help

A Black Bookstore

It isn't right when your 10 year old thinks this is funny. I know I shouldn't let him watch it. I shouldn't let him stay up so late.

But, darn it what kind of life can you live without being introduced to British Comedy.

I'm a firm believer that the US would be a whole lot easier to live in if more people were introduced to good British Comedy at an early age.

Just a reminder...

(I like those dots even if though they don't belong there...it's like a pause)

I have to moderate posts. I know it's a pain for some people. But, if I don't I get the strangest stuff posted here. I'm not perfect. I can be a bit racy at times. But, still people are so bizarre. So, for those who aren't just give me time during the busy weeks.

I actually put my big foot down and ordered something...

Thanks Tulip for the suggestions. I really appreciate all your advice. I feel like of all the homeschoolers I know online and in real life you are one I can really understand. I feel like we are dealing with pretty similar schedules and expectations.

Big Hugs...Don't forget to visit for Ezzo Week. I read this book with our first. I was vulnerable and without Parenting guidance. I was, also, very young and very naive. I was only 19 when I married and got pregnant on the night of my honeymoon. I turned to the church and Babywise is what the vomited all over me. I trusted them and they ripped my heart out. The teachings of Ezzo and those like him are not from God. You cannot hit babies and get away with it. You do not need to trick your children into obeying, sleeping, or recieving salvation. These are all gifts from God and we the parents need to look towards the Almighty Grace he has shown upon us. The world is watching us. They are watching you and they are watching me.

So, Now for my list...

I ordered Story of the World 1 (the revised edition) of the Audiobook and Activity Guide. I ordered these from Amazon as well. They were $53.84 and the shipping was free.
Plus previously mentioned Curriculum Purchased
Aspergers What does it mean to me? purchased from Amazon for $28.72 includes tax and the shipping was free.
Math U See Alpha Student book for the Peacemaker who is 7 and going into Grade 2. We already have the Teacher pack from our oldest.
Math U See Beta Student & Teacher Pack for the Prophet who is 10 and going into Grade 5. Not sure if I have talked about this before. But, we finally found Math U See the year before he went back to public school. So, we started with Alpha. Then he went to school and they did the new crazy math. The one where you estimate everything and come up with your own way to answer problems. Yuck. This did not go over well for our black & white Aspie. So, even though he could probably do a higher level, he is going to start with Beta and he can whiz through it as fast he wants. Math U See is great for any child who gets "behind" since there is no grade level to make them feel bad about.
Total Math U See $92.17 (We live in the same state and had to pay tax.)

Total Spent thus far $174.73

I've really struggled with using Classical Materials. I'm reading this article by Susan Wise Bauer right now. And per Tulip, I'm heading over to find out more about Carol and what she has to say about Home Education.

I have to say I feel relieved this morning. I have been so anxious about the boys education. But, I've got that peace.

Final Curriculum Decisions

Well, I really, really wanted to use Sonlight Core 5 this year. But, something just didn't sit right with me. And, it was after a fellow homeschooler mentioned that she cannot use something that imposes a schedule.

That is so me and well us all together.

My two sons are totally different. My oldest is a rigid Aspie who devours books by the truckload. My second child is not reading well yet. He is still struggling. They both loved to be read to aloud. But, alas...

the reason I wanted Core 5 was because I really wanted to spend the next year or so studying cultures and missions. So, Instead I'm back to where I started from. I'm working through different lists I have found around the internet. I'm still not sure if I'm going to do an area a month or what. I want to outline my plans for the upcoming year with enough wiggle room to allow for the fact that was are really, super busy. I need time for my own schooling and homework. I don't want to pack so much in their days that they don't have any fun. But, they need to keep busy this year, too.

So far I've started lists on All Consuming

Year 2 List
Year 5 List

They are both doing Math U See, as well. Not sure what types of hands on stuff we will come up with. But, my second guy is a true artist and he always figures out something we can do.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Curriculum Purchased
Aspergers What does it mean to me? purchased from Amazon for $28.72 includes tax and the shipping was free.
Total Spent thus far

It's a city mailbox

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Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis

Yes readers, may I share my excitement.

I have my very own blue man
in little shorts
(well, I share him with the neighbors)
who walks
from door to door to deposit mail
in boxes which are hung
right next to front doors.

Front doors
which are perfectly placed
at the front of houses
(remember my old door which was
at the side of the house and opened into the kitchen)
which line up
in little rows
which line up
along
perfect
little
sidewalks.

Fall Quarter for Big Girls

I've only got the book list for two of my classes. Since, I keep enjoying Native American classes I think I'll go ahead and minor in it.

My first class description and book list:
Survey of contemporary Native-American people, cultures, and issues. Focus on modern experiences through readings from Native-American autobiographies, contemporary narratives and literature, and reports of important topical issues, e.g., water rights, Indian gaming, treaty law.

BERNIE WHITEBEAR REYES
BLOOD STRUGGLE WILKINSON
CHIEF RED FOX IS DEAD (CUSTOM) RAWLS
SPIRIT & REASON DELORIA

Here is my English class which is my major.
Intensive examination of one or a few major works of literature. Classroom work to develop skills of careful and critical reading. Book selection varies, but reading consists of major works by important authors and of selected supplementary materials.

ART LOVER MASO
LONE RANGER & TONTO FISTFIGHT IN HEAVEN ALEXIE
WAVES * ANNOTATED (ED HITE) WOOLF
WHITE NOISE DELILLO
WOMEN IN LOVE (FARMER ED)

Not sure if I have shared my schedule or not yet. But, I thought I might! I'm, also, talking a geography class on immigrants. Thought it sounded interesting and it fits the slot I needed.

We sign tomorrow

We got a great 3 bedroom 1 bath in a sweet neighborhood.

Today we rented a 10 X 10 storage space and you know what we are not going to fill it up. Public Storage says that is 100 sq ft and it should be enough for a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment.

Yeah!!!

I can't believe how much we parted with. I feel so richly blessed to start again fresh in a new city.

Sidewalks
dogs
kids
schools
playgrounds
libraries
zoos
bungalows
coffee shops

I've missed you big city.

Plastic shampoo

I really have been looking more at the plastic we use.

Shampoo does come in plastic bottles. It's just one of those things you know.

I guess you could buy a big bulk container of shampoo. I have to use more expensive shampoos because my scalp (heck all of my skin) is really sensitive. I'm on vacation and the store here has big plastic containers of shampoo and you just pump what you want into a small reuseable bottle. But, I bet your local store or a salon store could get you those large bottles. The fill your own is cool though isn't it?

I know I use way less shampoo and NO conditioner since I cut all my hair off, but I realize a lot of women are not comfortable with that.

I did buy applesauce in a glass container instead of plastic this week. I would say it's probably more enviromentally friendly to just buy the apples. Speaking of which I hate those dumb little stickers they put on the apples, but I'm not so sure I like the tattoothing they are coming up with now.

Inspections and Plastic Popcorn

Well, our house has been inspected and now we are haggling.
It's strange to haggle in this day and age of America buy what you can for the best price.

It's hard to not be offended by their opinions.
...to be embarassed by the stuff we never got to work on.
We had so many plans for this little house
and now we let them go.

Plasticseems so easy to run away from.
I've been pretty good about using my fabric bags.
But, still today I read that article and they poked at the microwave popcorn.
I didn't have a microwave for years,
but I bought my husband one for his birthday when we moved here.
After a while the popcorn seeped in.

Could microwave popcorn really be evil?

My sister and her husband bought a huge TV to play their video games on and watch horror flicks.
They got a free popcorn maker as part of the deal.
A REAL popcorn maker on wheels that you can roll around and charge money for.

We did Jiffy Pop for a snack today.
My kids have never seen Jiffy Pop.

I'm having a hard time finding a non-plastic option for popcorn.
I've read you can microwave popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag.

I'm thinking one of those hang cranked contraptions might work.

Really I think we should eliminate the kitchen and just eat fruits and veggies. My husband won't go for it though.

How religious parents mess up their kids

I just wanted to share this gem from the internet monk before I add it to my links section.

H

He's a real boy...

I just overheard my two oldest...they were talking about how much they like a new video game they are playing (egads...I know). They were being all serious and conversing like little men when my 7 year old says, "Yeah and it's soooo cute."

This kid is such a heart breaker. He is one of those people who gives the best hugs. You know those people. I did not grow up with touchy, lovey, affection..so it's hard for me. But, I always knew there was something different about the good huggers. I used to think someone taught them that, but I swear there is a certain type of person that is just born with it.

I only miss one...

yes it's true.

I realized I miss someone everyday.
But, it's only one of them.
I miss them for different reasons.

When I'm at school
I catch myself gazing out a window
or watching a small child.

Sometimes it is a sign
or a rock.

But, I find it is only one of them I miss.
I wonder if I should feel guilty.
I don't miss the same one everytime.
They get a pretty fair rotation.

I came home and gave my oldest the biggest of hugs
and kisses because today I really missed him.

Hope I didn't scare you off...

with that last post. I just couldn't stop laughing in the store. I don't (can't) drink wine, it gives me a huge itchy face breakout...but I almost bought some anyway. I'm sure I could find someone to present it to.

Got my first paper back for English and I got a 3.2. Seriously, I couldn't be happier...I was thinking I would be lucky to get a 2.0 on it. It was an absolutely horrible experience for me to finish it.

Thanks for the encouragement...my inner child really likes oatmeal cookies with the little dark chocolate chips. If desperate eating the chips out of the bag will suffice.

Grocery Shopping

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Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis.

Introducing week number 5...

Now aren't you excited.

Seriously though...I need some pictures or something. Maybe I'll take my camera up with me soon. My camera phone just doesn't cut it. Although, I took something hilariously naughty at the store. I wonder if I can email it to flickr?

I have this little woman inside of me.
She pokes me.
She prods me.

She says
Your not a real Christian woman
She says
What kind of man plays with his sons all day long

I wish we could spend the rest of our time with them like this. I treasure my time at school. I love watching them connect so wonderfully with their father.

I hate that little, itty, bitty tiny woman inside of me.
Where did she come from?

I finally found FREE Shakespeare recordings at LibriVox, so I can memorize Sonnet 65 for my mid-term on Thursday. I am having an awful time with it and I hope this helps. It's now on my iPod and ready to be listened to over and over again for the next few days.

The computer update...

I've been doing very well with my computer time. I've been on a bit here and there. I've been doing so well. It's amazing what I've gotten done this week by just getting up early and staying away from computers.

She is coming tonight

The realtor is coming with papers to sign.
Last night my dh started to grieve.

The loss of his own personal
garage
hot tub
yard.

But, then he started to talk to the boys.

We have things we need to give up.
But, in exchange we gain opportunities
that far outweigh the life we have here.

We aren't happy here at all.
We have been trying to fix it.

All those fixes have failed and they are eating away
at our foundations.

So, tonight we move on. We start this journey.
We will sell our home.
We will sell our couches,
the kitchen table,
the big roll top desk,
the beds,
the bookshelves,
the pantry storage...

I've got classes

Yesterday I took my first public bus.
I got a little lost.
But, I did it.

I got my classes.
I start on Monday.

Things we have to do.

1. Sell our house for more money than we bought it for. We have a realtor already.
2. Sell our furniture and all big stuff and the Mommy Van.
3. Donate what we can't sell.

We are only going to move easy stuff. The biggest things will probably be mattresses, bikes (we actually get to use them!!!!!) and the iguana cage.

Thought of the day

I was checking some information out on the UW website. They have these little tidbits all over the website and many of them reference those oh so famous people who have graduated from the UW. I found this one endearing.

Beverly Cleary, author of children’s books including the popular “Ramona” book series, graduated from the UW in 1939.

Accepted

Yesterday I realized I had not check the mail in awhile. Oh, maybe a week. So, I purged the mailbox of late bills and credit card offers.

The purple and yellow envelope says, "Your a Husky."

But, I thought God closed that door.
I thought I was taking a break.

Is this what God was preparing me for?

I sobbed...I don't know for an hour, maybe two.
I called my husband.

He came home and loved me.
He scooped me up
and held me.

He congratulated me
and then he called my mom.

And, when I came home from Shakespeare class at night,
he encouraged me
he congratulated me again
he told me he was proud of me.

I don't handle that well.

I cannot line up with my vision of the perfect, good mother.
I just cannot do it.

I must let it go.
I must embrace my challenges,
my changes.

(A bit of back story. I was informed some of my transcript information had not been received a few weeks ago. And, a few weeks ago is well after the deadline date. When I got that email, I grieved and let go. I had applied on a whim really. I'm not finished with my AA yet. I need more foreign language and a science. I thought my boys would be in public school.)

The computer drains me of time

I tend to leave it on all the time and the excuse is because when I get a moment
I work on homework.

Well the 14th is my last day of school.
It is, also, the last day I leave my computer on all day.

I'm forcing myself to get up earlier in the morning.
If I want computer time I will do it then.

I have relationships to build.
Children to raise.
Food to make.
Walks to take.

I love research.
This computer sucks me in.
I don't need to know everything.

How to buy Green Groceries, Improve your shopping trip, and get a smaller, trimmer you....

So, I cannot promise you will loose weight.

A discussion prompted some thinking about how and why we shop. Here are a few suggestions I came up with. Do you have any suggestions for making a "green" grocery trip.

These are the tips that have allowed me to do the things like buy more organic or a new cloth bag. I have revamped my relationship with food and my shopping cart.

Give yourself a wholesome and good connection to your food so you can make good choices when you eat and shop.

1. Actually eating what we make. If I make soup then we eat it all. Sometimes I even freeze a portion or two before I serve it. I like mason jars for that.

2. Have a leftover day to do the above. Do this the day before you plan to shop if you shop once a week. Clean out the whole fridge, too. Take everything out and scrub it up a bit. Reshelf all your goodies. Freeze anything you don't think you will eat. Chop up that half of onion in the bottom bin and freeze it. You will feel better about what you have and you might get inspired, so you don't get wasteful at the store.

3. If you can buy from bulk bins than only buy what you need. If you need 1 cup of flour or only one meals worth of falafel than buy just that.

4. Make a menu or a list of meals and snacks family members want this week. If I'm craving something I will often stick it on the grocery list. If I want homemade pizza I'll put it on the list. When I get ready to go to the store I can just write down the ingredients we need.

We turned down the heat

I turned off the radiant heater.
I turned down the thermostat 8-10 degrees.
I put an extra blanket on our bed.
We all put on more clothing.
Yesterday I wore yoga pants under my jeans and I was so comfortable.
I even wore them to my ceramics class and I wasn't cold.

I'm always cold.
I totally forgot how I always wore long johns when I was younger. I guess I must have grown out of them when I first got pregnant and got rid of them.

Next year everyone is getting 2 pairs of long johns, maybe 3, and some kind of warm slippers for house wear.

It's really not so bad. I'm so embarrassed how much our gas bill has been. What a waste?

The simple list

We (as in husband and I) talked some more today.
We talked about energy assistance and food stamps.
We talked about getting off of food stamps.
We got enough money to pay all our bills and catch up.

My husband has decided to not focus on making money, but focus on his tithe instead.
I've never thought about it like that...boy he is creative.

So, I scrounged up a little notebook from around the house and started a simplifying list.

On that list is to get off of foodstamps.
1. To accomplish that I'm going to keep better track of the prices I spend.
I want to see if I can save any money buying in bulk from Azure Standard.
I know it would help us because we wouldn't be in the grocery store as much.
2. My dh plans to put up the greenhouse this spring, so we can try and start a salsa house. We eat a lot of salsa and if we could grow all the stuff year round we could probably save a bundle, plus it would be tasty. Not sure how well that would work in Washington though.
3. My dh wants chickens for eggs since my mom is not getting more after this last bunch passes away since she is planning to sell her house. Well, their house =)
4. I would like to come up with some outlines of meals we eat each month and a shopping list. Maybe then I would see what we would benefit from buying in bulk first. I can go to Costco with my mom, too. So, that helps because they have more and more good stuff there that I can eat.

This is just part of our loose plan. It's amazing really. My husband and I are growing so close. It brings tears to my eyes to see it all working.

Preparing for God's plans...

and not our own.

I've not been around for awhile. I've been busy finishing up school. I've got one more class I have to take to get my Associates. But, I'm going to take a few quarters off. Then I'll be taking only one class a quarter. I don't need a foreign language because I had French in High School. But, I've decided I should be better prepared. So, I plan on taking 3 quarters in Japanese. I want to take Ceramics at least once more. Then I need that darn Science class with lab.

But, God has been putting so much on our hearts lately. We have felt like we are battling unseen forces..so I guess we are right? At least that is what our Pastor talked about today when he taught on Job. We have found a new church, it's a good fit! We actually have two. One for Saturday night and one for Sunday morning. Our oldest prefers the church we go to on Saturday night, so we compromise. It's not like you can really fight with a kid who wants to go to church twice on the weekend.

We both feel ready to move on. But, we don't know where to go. We both feel overwhelmed with burdens, the house, the chores, and stuff. We are really sensitive people. We could never work 9-5 and survive. We would have a nervous breakdown.

God is getting us ready. He is calling us to him and asking for us to prepare. We have no idea what for. But, so far these are the plans he has been sharing:
He wants us to rely on him
to simplify our household
to let go of our connection to our possessions
to reconnect and build the relationship we have as a family

So, we have been
cleaning,
condensing,
praying,
and finally tithing.

I've been working on really loving my husband.
Not just when he behaves or performs to my standards.
But, for all the things that make him who he is.

It's begun!!!

Yes, it's official. We are not finishing out the public school year. The boys are home and very happy about it. We have started Ambleside Grade 1 and it's going well. It's engaging enough for my oldest. I'll be adding more from Grades 2 and 3 if he needs more to do.

Negate all that I have said

because I read through Ambleside Online and we are going with that. We are going to do Year 1 and I will add extra if G needs it.

I'm trying to come up with a way to spend a very little amount of money for the year. This should be good. There is only one book I would purchase and I just might omit it and do something else. If G can't keep busy enough he can do some Story of the World from the library.

Yeah....I've been reading through the Modern English version of The Original Homeschooling Series. I feel so peaceful and happy =)

Once we get going I'll share what we do every week. I'm sure I'll change somethings because that is what homeschooling is all about.

The Very Happy Mommy

Grades 2 and 5: 2007-2008

So, I said I would start laying out some plans here. I really want to try Sonlight, but I just cannot afford the whole thing. My oldest is almost 10, has Aspergers and will be in Grade 5. My second child is 7 and will be in Grade 2. My third child is 3.5 right now and I have no academic adventures planned for him aside from reading a lot. Anything I come up with will be in a separate post. My oldest has requested some order and my second has requested fun. So, I'm trying to put together a plan ahead of time to take advantage of Ebay and our local used curriculum sale this Spring. We homeschooled for 2 years before this year, so I know some of things that work for us and some of the things that do not. This is our plan so far....any thoughts?

I really wanted to add this...I'm not sure if I'm taking a break from The Big School this next year. So, creating a plan of study will really help my dear sweet adoring husband to have an easier life. He cannot handle much more on his plate. We might have to consider hiring my Niece for some child playing during the week, as well. I would love to just leave the house and put a plan down that says...here do this!

Heather

Otherwise here is the plan right now:
Planner
10yos really wants a planner like he has in school right now. So, I'm going to start searching for one. He really likes the spiral binding.

Magazines

My Grandma loves to buy us magazines, so maybe I'll request these for my summer birthday.

Order Home-Ed magazine for 2 years. $48.00 We all love magazines. This one is great, but the library is always out of them.

I have no idea if I should get a subscription of Learning through History Magazine. It looks really interesting, but maybe I'll just let them pick a couple to order individually. Here is a review Does anyone else have any reviews for this magazine?


History
I have a huge heart for understanding other cultures. I believe G-d has really impressed that upon me and that I am to pass that on to my children. I think it's really hard to separate History from the study of cultures and geography. We have tried doing Chronological Historyin the past. I really, really wanted to enjoy it, but none of us did. That is when I realized the method does not work for any of us. I'm their mom for a reason. So, we will be using different sources to strew about and hope they find some interests.

1. Homeschool in the Woods Timeline Figures for whatever time period Gibran or Porter wants to study $19.95. I think I might get the CD's that you can print. Do they have a MAC version? I just checked and it's MAC compatible. They are in pdf format, so that should work just fine.

2. Make Timeline book with our own pages, so we can include maps and large pictures-Notebook and paper $10.00 Book of Centuries

3. Family Pass to the State Historical Society-Free Admission to State History Museum $65.00

4. History Pockets $19.95. The boys love these things. They are great for when they want paperwork stuff!

5.The ReMARKable map from Rainbow Resource looks neat. I guess it's like OR is what the map Sonlight uses. I guess this might be nice to hang up. We used a full color one in the past and it was really helpful. I don't know if we have it still. When we would read during the week we might circle a country that came up. G might be reading a nature magazine and read about another country, so we would find it and put Gorilla there or whatever he was reading about. It's fun and well...easy. Once, you get in the habit you start to look at the map whenever you see a new country or whatever.


Math
Each boy will get Math U See. I'm, also, interested in Noble Knights of Knowledge but yikes it's expensive.

Language Arts

1. Book Reports for a few books a month. We read a lot so probably just a few here and there. A sneaky way to get some handwriting in.

2. I'm considering Copywork for boys and little boys $19.95.

3. If P is still having problems reading I might get AlphaPhonics.

4. A Reason for Handwriting for both boys. G is working on this anyway to do cursive because everyone in his class knows cursive. I think it's important, but it has a hard time with handwriting. He is doing better.

5. First Language Lessons for P if I think he can do it. I don't want to overwhelm him. Our library has it, so I can just check it out from there.

Readers

Use book selections from Sonlight, Ambleside Online Grade 2, and Ambleside Online Grade 5 to create reading list. We are avid readers and I'm a whizz at the library, so we have read quite a few of these books already. But, I would like to come up with a list. I'm thinking I could print these out and then highlight them once they are read. Stay tuned as I update this more. Did I mention I love to read and my love has been passed onto my boys.

Science

1. We love Apologia Science. We will be going through Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 and Exploring Creation with Zoology 2. I'm not sure how long that will take us. I know it may be hard to believe, but I don't believe in pushing formal academics during the elementary years. It's the time to look into everything and really find our loves. Zoology is for our 10yos. He wants to major in Zoology or Biology when he is grown. If it takes us four years to get through this program I would be fine with that. If all we do for a month is this program I will be fine with that.

2. The ZooGuide at Christianbook.com. G has requested this book. I would like to get him the guide as well as a zoo pass. We have one that is close to us and one that takes a ferry ride. But, the one in Seattle is so much bigger....


Foreign Language

Rosetta Stone is available for free through our local library catalog.

These are some extras
There is rock climbing once a month throughout the school year.
Enchanted Learning Daily Calendar gives interesting topics for every day of the month. The boys can look through here and see if anything pops for them.
Homeschool Sports Club-Fall Soccer, Winter Basketball, Spring Baseball
I think this is perfect for our Grade 5. We have been looking for something like this to help him understand what having Aspergers really means.

Read Aloud January 19, 2007

My 7 year old had this read aloud in his class. I love this book and I can't believe we have never read it yet.

Shame
Shame

2007 10 year old reading list

So, here is my ever evolving list. I'm trying to make a list for each child. I would like to have something to print off and check off during the year. Many of these will come from Ambleside Online or Sonlight. When I come upon other suggestions I will add those. We have our wishlists on Amazon and they always make suggestions based on items you pick. I'm always surprised to see childhood favorites. *Books we will definitely be including.

Nature Study
Nature in the Neighborhood by Gordon Morrison Our library does not have this particular book. But, I was able to order two of his other ones. If they look as good as they do on Amazon I will either order it or see if the library will order it. We are really fortunate to have a library with enough funds to order new books. All we have to do is email the reference desk.

Ambleside list for Grade 5
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (I'm not sure if I can convince him to read this.)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Kipling
This is how things start to happen here.
I start with a small piece of information, check the library
and bam....a month's worth of study is in progress.
Really, with a name like Rudyard Kipling what more could you expect than a writer?

These two books are recommended at Ambleside:
*Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling I need to look this over yet. I don't remember reading it.
Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling
Kim
My library has these available:
1. Captains courageous [DVD] Fleming, Victor, 1883-1949.
2. The poetry of Rudyard Kipling [sound recording]
3. How the camel got his hump-Easy Reader
4. Poetry for Young People: Rudyard Kipling We have already read this series together. These are beautiful!
5. The story of how the leopard got his spots [sound recording]
6. Rikki-tikki-tavi We have read this quite a few times. My SIL used to have a ferret named this.
7. The Jungle Book from the Whole Story Series

Online
Rikki-tikki-tavi study
Life and Society in Kipling's British Empire


*The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain I picked this up at a garage sale along with Huck Finn.
*The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
*Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Lad: A Dog (or another book in the Lad series; many are online) by Albert Payson Terhune
The Treasure Seekers by Edith Nesbit
The Wouldbegoods by Edith Nesbit
*Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery I love these! Maybe I can get them to watch the movies with me.

I've got these on the 7 year old's list, so we will probably do these as read alouds.
*Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
*The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
*These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
*The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham We have already studied this book. It's great. I might see if we have the time to tuck it in again when Escher is a bit older to remember it.
Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Falcons of France by Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall
Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

2007 7 year old Reading List

Our 7 year old is still having some difficulties read well. I know he will be fine because I have watched my first child "struggle" as well. Personally, I have come to the conclusion that 7 year old boys are not suppose to read until they are 8. Most if not all of these will be read-alouds or read togethers. That means the older and younger child will probably be there for these, too. I'm thinking it might be fun to give them there own basket of books to work on each week. I'm still trying to figure how to give them structure you know.

* Are the books I will definitely include. I imagine those are going to be enough. But, I can always bump them to the next year right?
From Sonlight
The God's must be Angry All I can think of when I read that title is the San people.
Thailand
New Toes for Tia from Sonlight

And from Ambleside Year Two
*Heidi by Joanna Spyri
A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales
Pied Piper of Hamlin by Robert Browning
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri D'Aulaire (I don't know about these books. I read a bad review of them. I will have to search for that and link to it here.)
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit
*Little House on the Prairie, Farmer Boy... by Laura Ingalls Wilder (I'm just going to read this whole series through to them. I loved, loved, loved this as a child and I'm curious if boys could love them, too.)
*The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
*Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers Watch the movie afterwards and compare them
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
*Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard AtwaterI keep hearing so many good things about this one.
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle (sensitive readers - be aware that the child loses a hand in this story)
Chanticleer and the Fox - Barbara Cooney's is one version
Along Came A Dog by Meindert De Jong
*The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De AngeliWe actually have this one.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Thanks to my gal Punkie I have yet another book to add to my list. Occasionally I push one up to the front and this is definitely it.


Thank you Punkie! I'm so very fortunate to have become friends with you and go through some very similar journey's at the exact same time.

HLL

Preschool Plan Ahead

I'm just starting some plans for next year.
I might have to pack in a whole lot during the year.
I still haven't decided if I'll stay in school or
take a break for a few years. But, for now I would like
to start some plans.

Charlotte Mason Early Year Read Alouds

I findOak Meadowabsolutley dreamy.

Drooling fantastic

Things we have:
Pattern Blocks
Leap frog Alphabet Fridge Letters

I'll update with some links later!

Working on plans for next year

Well this is really just for me.
I'm a list maker.
Just trying to come up with what to do next year.

They ask for plans.
Who are these children?

Don't they know I could sit all day long,
under a bookshelf (literally I used to sleep under the
bottom shelf of a bookshelf in my bedroom)
and read books (I thought it was quirky
and interesting)
without being bothered over
(I was so strange as a child).

How do you make loose plans.
Room for budging and moving.
Possibly room for mom to wander off
a few times a week
to have interests
of her own.

Back to home education?

So, we have had some long talks lately.

Yes, I think we will be leaving public school behind next year. We really feel like it will be good to finish up this year, though.

So, we are looking and planning. I don't want school to end and then bang oh surprise remember me.....

G asked for more structure. He likes structure. He craves structure.

P wants art, more art. Mom get creative. Dad is creative, but it's just not enough.

E wants a drum set. Well, my Dad wants to get him a drum set.

Today is windbreak

DSC04910.JPG
Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis.

I was trying to get a better close up and I forgot to turn off the flash. Still I think you can see it much better now.

A closeup of the end of December into January

DSC04909.JPG
Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis.

This calendar goes by the Equinoxes and Solstices...so it started on December 22.

Winter Calendar and Nature Table

DSC04908.JPG
Originally uploaded by Mr&MrsLewis.

I have desired to set up a nature table for some time. It's on my long list of things I would like to do and that list is sitting right at the back of my brain just waiting to pop up at a moments notice.

Today it popped up when I remembered we got The Ecological Calendar for Christmas from my SIL and BIL.

I'm a creationist, so I'm not too happy about the Big Bang mentioned at the very top of the middle of the Calendar. I think it could be easily covered up or filled in with a dark blue pen. I just tend to live that stuff out in the open, so we have an opportunity to talk about everyone's theories.

Dr. Jones Update

I don't know if I have posted on here much about Dr. Jones. He is the green iguana we rescued back in November. He had been living with his second owner for about 6 months in the back of a shed. He had a partner but he or she died. That is when they decided they couldn't keep him anymore. He had obviously stopped shedding, wasn't being fed properly and his lighting was just one simple red light.

Since, we have had him...
...he has started eating real fresh food instead of the horrible canned stuff and lettuce they had been feeding him
...he has started to shed like crazy...I mean it's an explosion of skin and sometimes it makes me gag
...he is MBD does not seem to be getting worse
...he is way more active
...he can run! Have you ever seen an Iguana run, it's so cute =)
...he is turning green again. HE IS TURNING GREEN!!!!! He was just about completely black when we got him.

Yesterday he finally shed the skin on his arm. It's horrible looking, but the skin had so many layers on it that it was squeezing his arm and he couldn't move it anymore. The skin that came off is like dark grey leather. That is what makes me gag. He bled a bit from it, but he has been iodined and patched up. He looks much better today and we are hoping he will be using it some more soon. It's really skinny because it hasn't been used much.

Noble Knights of Knowledge

This game looks like so much fun. The basic kit is $78, but I really think it could replace a few years of curriculum. It would be great for those who don't like to use curriculum at all.

I'm putting it on our wishlist.

Library Thing

I just found Library thing and it's sweet. I love, love, love, it. I'm sure like Flickr I will get so into it that I will have to pay the extra to upgrade my account. I just added the link to the right column of the page.

Enjoy

Big School Winter Quarter

Big School started only for Mom this Winter Quarter. Dad is stressed and wants a break....I can't imagine why. He does like his new job though.

Just going to share some of my school books for the next few months.








A few more Shakespeare in the same series....

Titus Andronicus
The Comedy of Errors
Richard III

I'm waiting on my Ceramics book because it's backordered. I usually try to buy books early if I can, but I just couldn't afford it till I got my Financial Aid.

Winter books

Well, we are back. I've been on Wordpress, but they don't allow you to put Amazon links in there. I really like the Amazon links...not because I want you to purchase books at Amazon...but I like the pictures and reviews about the books. I love books so much and it's nice to see all their pictures. Some books are so good that I can spot them anywhere.

Here are three sweet little books that go along perfectly with Winter! I really like finding good Winter books. We celebrate Christmas, but I often find a lot of Christmas books are just the same ole thing and some are just downright cheezy. I've been really working on trying to enjoy each season more since we move up here. We got snow twice this year...amazing. But, I don't want to develop SAD and I found this year by enjoying the season it really did help me a lot. I wasn't afraid to get wet or in the snow this Fall and Winter. I pretended I was a little kid who isn't bothered by anything when they want to play. I splashed in puddles in the parking lot with my toddler and I wasn't one bit embarassed with wet pants when I walked through the grocery store. I do think next year I'm going to get some golasshes though. I have some cool slip on shoes, but they aren't the same.



I love the illustrations in this book. Perfect for all you nature lovers.





Well, there is no picture for this one. But, it is beautiful black, white and red illustrations! Just lovely. There is another book with the same title, but I'm not sure if it's good. I know the other one has lots of colored illustrations. I love books with black and white illustrations.

Gardens can change the World (clickable link)

Once you get to the permaculture site you can scroll down on the right hand side. Click on the picture that says Greening the Desert.

I've been working on a research paper that was fueled by the book...The Last Child in the Woods. It's amazing how once you start something you love then all the things you have never noticed before start moving into place.

Since, it's winter I'm working on getting my garden going for next year. I really want a living garden that goes all year long. A yard the just keeps on giving. I know I live in Washington State, but it would be nice if eventually I could be growing more cold weather crops. I do have my grandmother's greenhouse and we have yet to set it up because we could never decide on a good place for it in the yard. I think I'm going to let my dh win. I think he picked out a nice spot. I plan to put it up in January or maybe February this year. I'll have to talk to my Dad about what I need to do for electricity and such. I would love to start my plants out there. I remember going in that greenhouse when I was young with my grandma. It's such a special memory I would love to be able to walk out there and play in it and think of her. We even saved the block that my mom and her brother's and sister's made when they bought it for my grandma. They have their handprints and names on them. So, I'm going to make some of my kids to put in there, too. (I'm all teary eyed now....)

Here's some links I added to my sidebar...

GardenWeb...great regional boards

Vegan Organic Network

Scut's Gardening Page

Plant a row for the Hungry

What I did this summer

Do you remember having those reports for school? I just thought about that on my way to school this morning.

This summer I turned 30.
This summer I got an iPod.
This summer I got my first real on a contract cell phone.

Bike lovers

I love bikes and bike friendly cities. For some reason I forgot that when we bought a house here. It is completely scary to ride a bike here at all. No one is used to it and you won't live long. So, I lust after bike riders who are so brave. Maybe I'll get a fullbright and I can go to Denmark and bike my children around in one of these...

Christiania Bikes

Stupid things the Potato Board says...

Oh yes...they really said this about the wonderful potato. You can read it for yourself. The list all the wonderful valuable things about eating a potato and then they dive into this beautiful and very likely highly paid for bit of information.

So think of a potato as a big vitamin pill you can top with butter, cheddar, chives, sour cream, bacon, black beans, cheesy chicken...

You can add those tasty toppings to your potato because it contains no fat or cholesterol and minimal sodium.

If you are reading this than you know I am a big supporter of a Plant Based Diet. Evan (the husband) and I were just talking about potassium. So, we thought we would google for foods that have more potassium than a banana because everyone moms says to eat bananas right.

Uhmmmmm.....if cholesterol is bad for you and the potato has none than does that really give you permission to add some to the top?

Preschool stuff

Escher is three years old now and won't be going to preschool yet. But, I thought I would start a post to share some of the stuff he will be doing or enjoys reading. He really, really loves board books. He goes straight for them at the library! So, a lot of the books he gets are board books. He loves to carry them around and I guess they are just easier for him to handle. The older two didn't care for them much, but Escher seems to have problems with keeping a hold on things.

Potential

We have realized something we have in common. My dh and I cannot always find something we have in common.

We see the Potential in everything. We bypass the reality and see the potential. We spend our time trying to lure and pull and push the potential from everything and everyone.

We bought our house on Potential. It's still sitting here after two years. Barren and hardly touched.

It's a glaze or a haze all around us. We wear these dark sunglasses that block our view.

I'm trying to decide if it's a detriment to us.

Happy Birthday to me!

I am going to be 30 soon, and I thought I might share my wishlist...hint, hint, hint.

My Amazon Wishlist

Gluten-Free Diet Change

I just could not take anymore with my youngest. He is three years old. The past year he has been in speech therapy. Last year at this time he wasn't talking at all. AT ALL! My oldest has Aspergers, My Grandfather has Aspergers...Does my youngest have something, too?

I get yelled at all day long. He seemed to be doing better since having Therapy. But, still things just weren't right.

I had previously looked into a GF/CF diet for our oldest with Aspergers. But, I became overwhelmed and my dh just did not seem supportive. A few weeks ago I told him I don't care. I need to try something or I will feel useless.

Within the first few days our E (3) was talking almost clearly and trying to complete full sentences. Plus, he started using the potty. He just said poop in the potty and went in there and did it!

This morning my husband sneaks in and says he got donuts for the boys, but he doesn't want E to have any so he is hiding them in his shop.

Yikes...I have got to learn to make donuts now.

The Grass Eaters

I have to vent and my poor husband has heard too much already.

The Grass Eaters

I had to take an online class this quarter to get full credits. I love the book we are using and it's studying World Literature.

BUT, the people in my class have no compassion or understanding of what it means to be human. They are so tarnished by having everything in America that they are MAKING ME CRAZY.

Comments on this piece were of the following thoughtful remarks....

This is a great comedy...yes this person actually read the piece because he made remarks and quotes from different parts. He really thinks this is a comedic look on living a hard life.

These people are so happy...yes this person read this and thought it was so wonderful that they could now go along in their life being happy for all the things they have because these poor starving people could be happy. They then proceeded to talk about their day of going to the gym and shopping and how they were so thankful for this. How does that compare to being thankful for grass?

One person actually could not figure out why a school teacher could not afford better living situations.

Not one person mention anything about the "maffia" of Landlords or the slavery of children. I'm appalled. I'm embarrassed.

These characters are just numb. Numb from pain, loss, and a world they cannot escape. There is no person that deserves to live like this. UGH.

Now, I am done. I am not too sensitive. The reason we open our eyes to the world around us is not to appreciate everything we have and be happy that we do not have to live like that. It is so we can do something about pain, hurt, and disease.

My two handed painter.

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Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

I'm updated my pic. Here is my youngest artist. He loves to paint two handed!

Science Lessons

This site is really wonderful. I think I will use it some this summer! There are coloring sheets and fun hands-on activities for each lesson.

Off to the library...

Library
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

we go!

I know this is a double post to both blogs. We love our new crate. It has wheels and a telescoping handle! The only problem is we need one for each boy, as well as Mom!

Camping Alone

DSC03134.JPG
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

Here is a pic from our camping trip.
We were all alone,
just the two of us.
It was lovely.

This sidewalk is from the housing area down to a cliff.
It seems so silly now when you think of the women who were all dressed up with no place to go except for this sidewalk. I hope some of them were brave enough to going for a hike through the beautiful woods.

Why you should fall to your knees and worship a librarian

Librarian Avengers....if you appreciate a Librarian for all their shining glory

Yes, I am still very, very much considering being a Librarian and not a College Professor and it is mostly because of this...People become librarians because they know too much. Their knowledge extends beyond mere categories. They cannot be confined to disciplines. Well, not because of that exact quote, but because that is who I am. I realize that. I'm interested in everything. I like to order it all up and make sure that everyone knows what they should know.

Picking out a College Major has been really difficult for me. I kept trying out new classes and find that I'm good at it and enjoy it. Being back in College has given me a different outlook on myself. I enjoy talking with my professors and learning their insights into me. So far, I have learned that being sensitive is ok and that learning and understanding about different cultures is really important to me. I am enjoying this journey and I'm so pleased that I waited till I was a bit older.

This summer is for making rhythm

This summer we will be working on rhythm. Since, both of us parents started school we have been flying by the seats of our pants. It just is not working. We had a big garage sale and got rid of a bunch of junk and the rest is going to the auction. Dad has been cleaning out the basement. There must be something to Feng Shui and the whole don't store stuff under your bed.

Mom managed to get night classes, so she has the whole day to hang out with the boys!

We are working on a list of family activities.


Earthways: Simple Environmental Activities for Young Children

I love, love, love this book. It is a good introduction to Waldorf. I think it is really good for families who like aspects of Waldorf, but do not want to send their children to a Waldorf school. You could be like us, we just cannot afford it and we just cannot manage the long drive to the school everyday.

Some of the things we plan to do or have inspired to do through this book are:
1. Tepee building: We already have a grape vine house, so I think we are going to do the stick house instead.
2. Placemats: This one is inspired by the prayer for Thanksgiving. We are planning to make paper placemats and handwrite verses or beautiful quotes on them and then decorate them with leaves, flowers, and small sticks from our yard. We go to the beach a lot, so maybe some sand and shells, too.
3. Along those lines, I really like the idea of having a nature table. I think it might work better if we do the above placemats once a week and then do a little nature area in the center of our kitchen table. We normally do some kind of decoration there anyway and it sure would be fun to the let the boys do it once a week.


Weekends with the Kids: Activities, Crafts, Recipes: Hundreds of Ideas for Family Fun

This book looks amazing from the front, but there was not enough pictures. Maybe it's just me, but I think if you are going to make a book for us moms who need a little help in the creative department that you would at the very least include bright colored photographs. None the less I was inspired and I have created this list.

4. Fill a mixing bowl with beans and 5-10 small objects. Blindfold your friend and have them guess what they are feeling.
5. Ice Cube Hunt Give a kid a bucket of ice cubes and have them hide them around the yard. Everyone gets to find the ice cubes before they melt.
6. Have a picnic in the grape vine house. Our "house" is not really a house, but it still is fun to sit under. I think we need to add some more stakes though and enlarge it this year.
7. Make grape vine wreathes or vine houses for Army men. (What can I say I have 3 boys!)
8. Lie outside on your back and find shapes in the clouds.
9. Have a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt. (The boys love treasure hunts. We have them get buckets and collect stuff from around the house. Then they have to write out their own list-handwriting skills-and one of parents hides everything.
10. Be the Sweet Dream Elf and put a little note, a tiny prize or a night-night nibble on everyone's pillow. (I think I will do this just for fun!)

And more...
11. Origami...I know I saw a book that had the paper and stuff all together. Just got the inspiration from:

Fold Me a Poem

India

We have been reading Story of the World Volume Two. We have come to Chapter 5, The Medieval Indian Empire. Yes, it is taking us a long time. We are taking a stop to enjoy India, mostly because it's Mom and Dad's favorite country. Mom is hoping to learn Sanskrit when she transfers.

Watch for updates!

Quiz results

Oh so positive =P

What obsolete skill are you?

You are 'growing one's own food'.You are guided by two words: 'Live simply.' You value quality over quantity in most things, and you have little use for the materialism and consumerism of modern culture. You know the value of hard work and try to be self-sufficient as much as possible, and what you do you do well. Unfortunately, no man is an island, and you cannot do everything yourself. Your puritanical work ethic makes makes people think that you are weird, and not much fun. Your problem is that growing one's own food has been obsolete for a long time.
Take this quiz!








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A quick run out to the woods...

We planned and received a
last minute
trip to the woods.

I cannot believe,
I cannot imagine
what could be better than such a wonderful
smoky night.

We went
just the two of us.
We made dinner in the dark.
We forgot coleman.

No rain.
Waves crashing.
New tent.
Love.
Sleep.

I went for a two hour walk.
I get afraid
alone in the woods.
If I sing
I am not alone.

Why are my boys
so beautiful
when I return?

DSC03056.JPG

DSC03056.JPG
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

I'm changing my pic.

Picture of the week.

DSC02927.JPG
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

Here's
my picture
of the week.
I thought
I would
start sharing a self-portrait of sorts
without having to be
accountable
to
anyone,
but
myself.

end of the quarter...end of the year

Well, it's the end of the quarter for me. My photography class is over and I'm sad.
I finally know how to use my camera.
Some of us went out for dinner with our teacher.
We use her first name.
We laugh about the first day.
F-stops and Aperture.

I have two papers due in English.
TWO PAPERS.
I'll probably write at least 10 pages.
I can't work on them until Saturday though.

Friday I have an in class exam for Archaeology.
I think that last one I wrote at least 7 pages.
I'm insane.
I love it.

I have all my classes for the next two quarters all ready to go.
I will miss photography.

But, I will do more.
I have plans.

Larry Gonick

These are the Larry Gonick books that my 9 year old is tearing through. I mean really statistics. I cannot wait till he gets to that...I mean he cannot wait. There are some more books, but I'm confident in your abilities to look for them. And, really if you tend to censor your child's reading then you might not want to get the the book on SEX. But, otherwise they seem pretty safe so far. But, remember you are your child's Parent/Teacher and you are responsible for what you allow to pass through their ears and out the other side.


Cartoon Guide to Statistics

The Cartoon History of the Universe, Volumes 1-7

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry

Cartoon Guide to Statistics

The Cartoon Guide to the Environment

The American West

I hope we can keep up with our love of reading around here. My second son's teacher told me yesterday to not worry about the boys. She thinks we are wonderful role models and that when students have parents who love to learn that it's catchy. She's really sweet and I just love her to bits. I hope we get to stay here so my youngest can have her for Kindergarten, too.

We have been watching a series of DVD's on the west from PBS.

The West from PBS. There are lesson plans on the website, as well.


Cartoon History of the United States

This is a very funny book. My oldest is really enjoying it. I'll try to get around posting some of his other books because they are just amazing! They are in comic book format. I know this aren't high enough literature for some, but I love books like this because they spark the interest in people and events. G will just be reading along..."Hey can we google this guy?"

Veganism

Mollie started my obsession with these little videos. I look up Vegan and found these:

Steven the Vegan I just want to note, yesterday in my Photography class we were discussing going out to eat after our final class and someone mentioned a steak house. "I'm a vegetarian."

"They have a salad bar!"
"Do you eat seafood?"

Dead animal=Had a face, Had a mom

Crab=?
fish=?
shellfish=?

Why are there still people who call themselves vegetarians and eat fish? I don't care if you want to eat plants, but you can't say that's all you eat and then eat fish.

Another video Making Vegan Pizza

This one made my sons really laugh. It's a bit Pythonish ya know. If you let kids watch it you might want to pull the screen over to hide the tags on the right hand side. Vegan Pig

Who doesn't like Sarah Kramer...remember that Sara Lee jingle

Future Librarian

Future Librarian
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

B&W, too. I don't think I like the contrast though. Dh wanted to know how I balanced the books on my head?

Future Librarians of America

Future Librarian
Originally uploaded by ojaimommie.

I thought and thought.
What a self-portrait really means. I finish up photography 101 and I will miss it. I feel complete. I finally know how to use my camera

Compliments...

Today a teacher I admire gave me a compliment.

She wishes she could be as sensitive as me...
She said I have grace.
I'm not overly sensitive
It's okay to cry.

This is a really big thing for me.
I've always felt overly sensitive
and bad about it.
But, in reality it is a good quality.
It makes me who I am.

Literary Criticism..I think I'm changing my major

CaptiveApe
I have a paper due tomorrow. I have to criticize a piece we have read in class. I'm choosing Gryphon, but I can't decide between Reader-Response or Deconstructionism. The latter just seems so sarcastic.

I've realized that I really do love books and reading. But, I realize that it's mostly the history that I love. It's the collecting of the facts and putting them all together. I hate picking books apart. I just like to enjoy them. So, I really do think I'm going to major in History now and then Master in Library Science. I'm realizing that I'm not one to deal with trying to gain tenure and all that stuff connected to teaching at a University. It's a little hard to let go, though.