thoughts on next year

I've been giving more thought to my blog lately, and I'd really like to get back to updating on a regular basis.  I don't know if that will actually happen, but it's a goal.  :)

We're wrapping up our current school year, and I've been giving a lot of thought to next year.  A couple weeks ago we visited my parents in Arizona, and somehow during that week the topic of next year's schooling came up.  I'm not sure what all we talked about, but I got to thinking about the possibility of trying something new next year.  We've been using Sonlight for the past 5 years, and we've really enjoyed it!  But I think we're ready to try something new.  Sonlight has a lot of reading (which we love), but not much of anything else.  I think we'd all really enjoy some hands on activities.

The past two weeks have been crazy with researching different curriculum options!  When I began  I didn't really know what I was looking for, although there were a few things that were important...

• I want a Christian curriculum.  Something that gives a lot of focus on the Bible would be terrific.
• I'd prefer a lesson plan that has everything planned out for me.  I'm not comfortable in my ability to put everything together.  It's too stressful (I tried that in preschool and it didn't go so well) and I'm not confident I'd include everything my girls need to learn.
• Combining lessons would be terrific.  My girls have had separate lessons in everything up to this point.  It would be great if some subjects could be combined.
• Hands on activities are fun, but I'm not at all creative... if we're going to do these kinds of things, it needs to be planned out for me, and scheduled in.  Otherwise it's not going to get done.

 As I searched online for various curricula, I found a few that interested me.  At first I was drawn to Tapestry of Grace, but the cost of that one held me back from putting too much research into it.  So right now the top contender for me is My Father's World.  It has everything I'm looking for, and the cost is about half of what I'd pay for another year of Sonlight.  And the way they save money is by using the library for most of the readers.  One thing we loved about Sonlight is the wonderful library we have built up over the past 5 years!  But the cost of continuing to build our own library is just not possible right now.  We do have a wonderful library system in our state, so I'll be able to make use of  that.  We can look online to find the books we'll need, and have them sent to our local library for pickup.  And through the course of the year if there are any books we find we just love, we can keep our eye out for a used copy somewhere.

During my research I've read about some fun activities that are planned during the year's study of Exploring Countries and Cultures (the program we'd start with My Father's World), and it looks like a really fun program!  I've shared my findings with my girls, and they are both really excited about the prospect.  In fact recently as I was looking online for other curriculum choices my oldest asked what I was doing.  When I told her she said, "No, Mommy!  Don't look at any more!  You might find something that's not as fun!"

Although I haven't decided 100% on our choice for next year, at this point it looks like we'll be going with My Father's World.  I'm excited to go to our Homeschool convention in June so I can see the books in person.  This will be our first time at a homeschooling convention, and my husband and I are really looking forward to it.  We won't be going to all the different workshops, as this year our focus is just to see the exhibit hall.  While we're there I'll also be looking into a new math program, but that's a post for another time.  :)

I'm excited to see what the coming year has in store for us!

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lost in space

Wow, it's been way too long since I've updated this blog!  School is going alright.  We're not as far along into the year as I'd like to be, but such is life.  I guess that's one of the beauties of homeschooling.  I wanted to finish in May, but it looks like we'll go into June.  I'm just thankful I have the freedom to arrange our homeschooling schedule to fit our lives, rather than the other way around!

It's hard to believe my girls are 7 and 11!  And I'll have a 5th grader in the fall!  Where has the time gone?

Although I've neglected this blog for the past several months, I've been working on another one, lately.  I'm not sure if I've got the courage to share the address for that one, though.  :-)  My husband and I started a new  weight loss journey last month, and I've been chronicling my journey, stumblings and all.   He's trying to get his diabetes under control, so I'm joining him in our new exercise routine, trying to give him whatever support I can.  It's been a wonderful change for our family, although it sure has been a challenge!  Whenever I start a new exercise program I almost always end up injuring myself, and this time has been no exception.  But I'm finally back on track.  Anyway, most of my blogging efforts lately have been with the other blog.  If I ever get brave enough (or if someone requests it), I might post the link from this blog.

In any case, I figured I'd better check in to let you know we're still kicking.  :-)  And still pressing on with our homeschooling!

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Through my child's eyes

Over the past five weeks, Peanut and I have been reading through the book of Mark for our time in the Bible.  She is a very sensitive child, and we have to be careful what we allow her to watch as far as television and movies.  For example, when we watch Little House on the Prairie, she always sits next to me because if there is a disturbing scene (someone is injured or sick) she will bury her face into my neck.  She can't bear to see anyone in pain.

Because of this, I have wondered how she would handle the chapter about Christ's crucifixion.  I know she's heard the story before, as we've read about this in some of her Bible story books.  But to my knowledge, this is the first time she's heard this story straight out of the Bible.

Today we were scheduled to read Mark 14:43-72.  Peanut was sitting in my lap and while I was reading about the soldiers beating and mocking Jesus, she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face into me.  I stopped reading for a bit so we could discuss what was happening, and how she felt.  She said she didn't want to read anymore, so I asked her if she knew how the story ended.  Peanut nodded her head yes, and said Jesus would come back to life.  I asked if she wanted me to keep reading, so we could read the happy part of the story.  Peanut thought for a bit, then agreed to have me continue reading.  Mark 15 was very difficult for Peanut.  I paused off and on to be sure she was ok.  We talked about why Jesus died on the cross.  Then I read chapter 16.  It was such a relief to her to read about Jesus coming back to life, and that He was ok!

It was very touching this morning to read from the Bible with my girl.  To be able to experience the anguish and joy through her eyes... I think this morning she is the one who taught me about reading God's Word... seeing it through my daughter's eyes was  an eye opening experience for me.  And it reminded me of what a great sacrifice Jesus made, so that I might have eternal life with Him.

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a troubling day in school

This morning Peanut and I  were reading about the Bedouins in the Arabian desert.  I was reading to her out of her history book, and this is the sentence I came to:

The Bedouin are Arabs who wander across the Arabian desert, herding camels, goats and sheep.

Peanut exclaimed, "That's terrible!"  I didn't see anything wrong with what we just read, so I asked her what she meant.  "They kill their animals!  That's so mean!"  Then I realized the source of her confusion.  I read "herding camels, goats and sheep," but Peanut heard "hurting camels, goats and sheep."  I guess pronunciation is extremely important!  :)

Later we finished reading Charlotte's Web.  Peanut has enjoyed the book during the past couple of weeks, but she was terribly disappointed in the ending.  "What?  Charlotte dies and that's the end?  How can they do that?  Who would make a book with such a sad ending?"  I guess she is learning books don't always have a "happily ever after."  But at least I know she's paying attention in school today.  :)

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Chocolate Fix

Lately I've been needing chocolate.  Unfortunately, I'm down to 1/2 square of Ghirardelli chocolate... and I hesitate to eat the rest of it, because once it's gone, it's gone.  So tonight I got online and did a search for "single serving brownie recipe."  A few weeks ago I tried making a chocolate cake in a mug, and that was a disaster.  It turned out rubbery and tasteless.  But I knew there had to be a way of making one serving of some sort of cake or muffin... I've had those little single serving chocolate cakes you can buy in the grocery store... you just add water to the mix, stir, and microwave.  I really like those, but don't want to pay for them.  So tonight I was on the prowl for something I could easily make at home, using the ingredients I already have on hand.

I ran across this recipe.  After my last attempt (and failure) I was a bit hesitant to try this one... but one thing I liked about the ingredients was that eggs were not on the list.  Since there are no eggs, I figured this would be easy to scale down to a half serving.  But since this was my first shot at it, I decided to make it as it's listed.  Well, I mostly followed the instructions.  The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons sugar, and I cut it back to 2 1/2.  That was plenty, it could even do with a little less.  Although I prefer my chocolate dark, so if you like the sweetness of milk chocolate, you may want to add in all 3 tablespoons.

I mixed everything up in a 2 cup measuring cup, since I was a bit leery of using my good coffee cup.  :)  But to my surprise, it turned out pretty well!  I heated it for 60 seconds, and according to the recipe 60 seconds is supposed to give you a molten chocolate texture.  Mine was cooked all the way through, but that could be because I used the 2 cup measuring cup.  Next time I think I'll half the recipe, and use a small 6-ounce cup, and see if that works.  The consistency was very soft, almost like a bread pudding, but not quite.  This could have been because I devoured it as soon as it came out of the microwave.  If I had let it cool for a few minutes it might have firmed up a bit.  Oh, and as I didn't have any vanilla ice cream, I enjoyed this with a nice cold glass of whole milk.

Now that my chocolate fix has been satisfied, I think I can get on with the rest of my evening.  The girls aren't home tonight, so it's just me and the cat.  I'm ready for a quiet evening.  :)

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Week 1

We have almost completed week one of our new year of school!  Our school days have taken longer than I anticipated, but we are reading some great books.  Soon I'm hoping to make a list over in the right column of our favorite books we are reading. 

So far Peanut's favorite subject is poetry and her favorite book is Favorite Poems of Childhood.  Butternut's favorite is math, although her favorite book so far is By the Great Horn Spoon.

It looks like this is going to be an exciting year!  :-)

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All Creatures Great and Small

I am not a spider person.  If there was some sort of plague that destroyed all the world's spiders, I'd count that as a good thing.  In fact, if something wiped out all the creepy crawlies, bugs and insects from this planet, that would be just fine and dandy.  However, I know there are animals that count on the bugs to survive, and plants also need certain bugs to pollinate and grow.  So it's a good thing God hasn't put me in charge of the earth's insect population, or we'd all be in a heap of trouble.

However, I have recently come to the conclusion that if the spider is outside and not in my direct path - for example, sunning itself on a flower, making a web in the bushes, or climbing a tree - I don't mind it.  I've actually begun to enjoy watching them - from a distance.  However - and this is an important issue that all spiders must understand - if any spider crosses the threshold and enters my home, he is as good as dead.  The critter will either find itself in a watery grave, or on the bottom of my shoe.  Or better yet, on the bottom of my husband's shoe.  That way I don't have to worry about my shoe getting all icky on the bottom.  That, and his shoes are bigger, so it just makes sense that I'd use his in exterminating said spider.

 But back to a more friendly note (after all, these are God's creatures, so I should respect them as such), I have begun to make friends with a little spider in our back yard.  My husband first noticed the little guy at the end of March.  He was hiding in the grill cover.  My husband looked this little guy up online and found it's called a crab spider.  They eat other insects, so this little fact helped me decide to tolerate the little guy.  He was a bit creepy looking, so as long as he kept his distance from me, he could stay.  :)


Now let's fast forward to a couple days ago.  Butternut had been playing outside for a while when she excitedly came in and said she'd found a big spider on the flowers.  I decided to go investigate, and sure enough, it was our little friend.  Only now he's not so little!

Isn't he pretty?  I see how they get their name of crab spider.  He was a little upset with my husband right then.  I don't think he wanted his picture taken.  Come on now, little guy, don't be shy!  :)

My husband went back out later to take some more pictures, and when we loaded them up on the computer we had a bit of a surprise.  Our little friend was enjoying an afternoon snack.  I guess they really do eat other insects!  In this picture he is feasting on a small bee.  So now it's official.  As long as he stays in the flowers, the little guy can stay.  Who'd have ever thought I'd be interested in something creepy crawly like a spider?  I went outside to check on him this morning, and he's still in the flowers.  I guess that's his new home.  He sits on the flower and waits for an unsuspecting bee to come along, then whamo!  He's got lunch!  I'd like to see him actually stun the bee, but I don't know if he'll do it in front of an audience.  I guess I'll just have to keep my eye out.  And please, pretty little spider, stay outside so I don't have to put an end to our beautiful friendship.

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