Daily Science Lesson

After dinner last night, Natalie decided to sit the family down for a "lesson" on the Solar System.  Did you know, for instance, that the earth is the closest planet to the sun?  Or, that Pluto doesn't exist anymore?  Me neither!  During her little mini-course I sat in my recliner, and just took in the scene that was taking place.  Natalie was rattling on about shooting starts, the different types of moons (full moon, half moon, etc...), and how when it's summer in one area of the world, it's winter in another.  Then, Rachel started chasing Andrew in circles around Natalie's dry erase easel/classroom with a bulb syringe fresh from Luke's nose.  Natalie responded in her best whiny teacher voice, "Hey!  You guys need to stop that and listen!"  (I have no idea where she gets that from ;).  And I just had to laugh, because these are the moments that I love the most about being a parent.  You just can't make this stuff up.  These kids are just so cute and funny, and they have no qualms about being themselves.  There's no worry about human respect and "what people will think about me."  This is why I love being a close-knit family, spending time together, and just enjoying each others company.  This pure, unadulterated, raw, honest-to-goodness family life.  It's the best!....we could probably use a unit study on planets, though

Mother Knows Best...

I remember the moment I realized that my mother is way smarter than I had ever given her credit for.  The memory is so clear in my mind, it's like it happened yesterday.  I was in third grade.  We were learning how to correctly address an envelope.  I remember being excited about this, because I was the only student who had a sister who was married, and didn't live at home...I even had a baby niece!  I decided to address my envelope to my sister.  Our assignment was to complete the envelope at home.  So, I did my envelope as best I could remember, then went and showed Mom.  She very patiently corrected my mistakes and told me what to do to fix it.  I was having none of it...embarrassingly enough, I told her how wrong she was, and that I was right!  I knew, because that is how our teacher told us to do it.  Finally, Mom said calmly, "fine...turn it in like that if that's how your teacher wants it."  So, I did....and I got it back with a big, fat "F" on it!  And, to add insult to injury, she had no idea who the envelope was for, since I didn't put my name on the return address, so she had to ask the class who the envelope was for...which meant everyone saw all the red marks all over it when she was showed the class to see who it was for.  And, of course they all knew it was mine when I had to walk the walk of shame to the front of the class to get my envelope back.  Needless to say, it was mortifying, and after that I listened to my Mom's wisdom more often...well, sometimes ;)  

I just wonder how much longer it will take Natalie to come to this realization that sometimes mothers really do know best, as she sits and gets her spelling words wrong, because she refuses to look at the words on the board, because she already looked at them once, which should be enough according to her.  "Fine", I tell her, "turn it in like that, if you think that's correct"....hopefully she'll get the message when  I make her go back and write them again five more times, correctly, of course.  The problem is, there is no class to be mortified in front of, so it may take her a little longer to get the message.  *SIGH*

Little Seamstress

Yesterday Natalie had her very first sewing lesson.  I was cutting out material for an apron I've been wanting to make for myself, so she used the scraps to make an apron for one of her dolls.  She did most of the cutting out and designing herself, but I did have to give her a brief lesson about making the components match, so they could be sewn together.  She cut the apron pieces so that they came to a point at the top of the skirt and the bottom of the bib part O_o.  So, we just cut the triangle parts off, and then we had a nice straight line to sew to the apron's wait band =).  Obviously, this was a VERY basic sewing lesson, and we didn't turn any hems, so all the edges are raw, but I figure it's a great start, and I'm sure I she probably didn't have the patience to turn the hems, anyway.  Honestly, I'm not sure who was more excited about this first lesson - her or me!  I think teaching a little girl how to sew is just so sweet =)  I love having a daughter... 

showing off her creation

Sew cute!!  (see what I did there ;)

Back to School and Fun with Schedules!

Well, we've given up on the lazy days of summer, and moved on to life in First Grade.  Today is Natalie's first day of First Grade =)  Which is WAY less emotional since we homeschool.  As much as my kids can drive me crazy, just the thought of sending them away to school makes my heart hurt. 

I've mentioned before that this particular pregnancy has turned me into an organization junkie, especially since I've been in the second trimester.  So, I've been organizing everything I can get my hands on over here.  I emptied and cleaned out the school cabinet, organized it with new school supplies, got all of our bills and home paper work in order, set up a new filing system for the school year, and set up a household binder.

Here are the before and after pics for the school cabinet:

*before*

*after*

  The household binder idea comes from a cute little blog called Family Fun Notebook.  It has a section for a calendar, our schedule, school & co-op information, meals & recipes, household chores, grocery lists, and things we need to keep track of for our farm animals.  The only thing that I am still working on is a daily schedule.  While I like my stuff to be organized and look nice and neat (in theory, anyway...in practice it is a different story), my use of time is no so much in the same boat.  I like making colorful, pretty-looking schedules and chore charts on the computer, but I really struggle sticking to them.  So, I've been checking out schedules on other blogs and asking friends how they run their days, and I think I may have something that will work for now.  My schedule tends to change and adjust often, because with little ones, it's hard to keep the same pace all the time...especially when new babies come, and you throw in nursing, diaper changes, and naps at random times throughout the day.  So, after perusing different resources, I've come to realize a few very important things about making a schedule:

1.  There is no absolutely correct way to make a schedule.

2.  While there is no one right way to schedule your day, there is only one correct way to start your day:  on your knees in prayer!

3.  Your schedule should be flexible, easily adjustable, and not too rigid.  I actually read a book that recommended you put a spot in your schedule called "do something spontaneous"!  Really?!  It's not spontaneous if it's on the schedule...The majority of the time, I try to stick to my schedule, but I have no problems dropping everything from time to time to go do something fun when a friend calls; or, when the kids obviously need a break from the regular routine of life, to just stop and be with them (maybe read books on the couch for an hour, go to the park, or go have a picnic outside); or, if I'm just lazy that day.... 

4.  You should start your day as early as possible, without compromising Mom's need for adequate rest (so, if you want to start your day at 5:30 in the morning, by all means, go for it, but make sure you are rested enough to get through the day without unleashing wrath on everyone due to lack of sleep...be reasonable on this one).

5.  Schedules should fit the family, not the other way around.  It's not about changing your entire family life for the sake of a schedule, but finding a schedule that fits the family, and keeps everyone on task.  A schedule should help everyone find the best and most efficient use of time without adding undue stress. 

So, there you go!  My rules and tips on schedules that I always follow.  And, in case you are wondering, the schedule I came up with is not locked into specific times.  It flows more like this:  as soon as we wake up, we say morning prayers, make the beds, and have breakfast.  After breakfast, we clean the kitchen, tidy up toys/bedrooms, get dressed, brush hair & teeth, and start laundry.  And, so on.  Now, we do get up at the same time each morning, and start school at the same time each day, and try to get the kids in bed by a  certain time...outside of that, it's goes more like this:  after item A is finished, move on to the next...whatever time it happens to be is fine with me, as long as it gets done according to my standards (standards depend on the age of the person doing a certain task, of course).  Oh, and during the summer and on holidays, my schedule is tossed out the window!  I still have a routine, to save us from going insane, but it's way more lax than when we are in school.  

As far as curriculum goes, we decided to go with Our Lady of the Rosary Homeschool.  So far, I think I like it.  The content is very good...it's a very traditional Catholic approach, including the Latin Mass, but until I've had a chance to really implement everything, I can't give an adequate review just yet.  It's definitely not as well-laid out and planned as say, Seton, but I really like the texts and materials.  So, while I think it will take a little bit more planning and time on my part to get everything into my lesson plan book, I think the effort will be worth it for the type of education my kids will receive from it.  But, again, like with my schedule, I have no problems re-evaluating as the year goes on and changing if need be.  

I found this really neat site that laid out a homeschool file system that I am implementing this year.  I think it will really help me save time, and stay on task.  You can see the full explanation of how the system works here at the Springs of Joy Homeschooling Blog.  I didn't do it exactly like she did, but I followed the basic concept.  For one, I only have 9 weeks at a time in my file box, instead of the whole year.  After each quarter is over, I'll reload the box for the next quarter.  I also don't have files for the Liturgical Seasons...if there is something special I want to do for that, I'll just put the stuff in the weekly folder that it goes in.  Basically, I have 9 folders each for Natalie and Andrew (1 for each week of the quarter), and I put everything in the weekly folder that they need to do that week.  Natalie's has workbook pages, loose leaf paper for writing out spelling words, blank sheets for painting, etc...If it wasn't something I could rip out of a workbook and put in the folder (like a text book or reader), I put that under her desk.  Andrew's just has a few things in his in case he wants to "do school".  I give him the option, because he's only 3.  Sometimes he wants to sit and color, or do an activity sheet, but not always.  This morning, he joined in about halfway through.  I bought a Pre-K book at Target for him, and I have a bunch of alphabet and number sheets that I use for his folders.  I also keep my teacher files in there:  my lesson plan book, spelling lists, quarterly exams, grading sheets...and, in the back, is a folder for completed work.  At the end of the quarter, all the weekly folders should be empty, and the completed work folder full, so I'll just empty out the completed work folder, put it in a separate labeled file in case I need it later for records, and then refill the box with stuff for the next quarter.

Here is my 9-week file box:

And the tabs (I need to add tabs for weeks 8 & 9):

  On Sundays, I take out the file for the coming week, and put it in a portfolio with tabs for each day of the week (so everything for Monday goes under the Monday tab, etc..)...that way, each day, she can just go to town on her workbook pages after I have presented the lessons for each subject.

Here is Ms. Natalie with her weekly work folder:

**please note the Holy Family in the picture..she chose that page for the picture because of Them =)

And, here is all three of them for Natalie's first day of First Grade!:

**please note the toothbrushes...Andrew was quite adamant about being able to see them in the picture...it's the only reason he agreed to be in it in the first place...boys!

And, Ms. Rachel...that little girls is quite the studious one ;)

Her very first masterpiece =) 

Now, I just need a name for our little school!  And, hopefully my motivation stays high...I'm good about staying on track in the beginning, but once I start losing steam, and have to rely on my own self-discipline, that's when the trouble starts....

This, That, the Other, and a few Little Thoughts

I haven't really been hanging around the blogosphere lately.  I think I have writer's block, which is ironic, because I'm not a writer...hah!  This blog is just for fun =).  Anyway, I just don't have much to post about these days.  We've been enjoying the extremely lazy days of summer, because it's just too darn hot to do anything else!  Even the cows just lay around in the shade and do nothing (although, they pretty much do that year round, so that's not saying much).  We spent the better part of today lounging around the house reading books.  I heard a fellow southerner say once that summer in the deep south is like winter in the far north, because you are almost quarantined inside because of the heat.  The temperature right now is 96 degrees, with a heat index of 107 degrees!  Way too hot to take kids outside to play.  I was out there for about 45 minutes cleaning out my van (oh yes, Phil, I actually got around to doing that ;), and I felt like I dropped 10 pounds just from the sweat...and, I was in the shade!  We did get to go swimming yesterday evening for a couple of hours at our neighbor's house, which was so very nice, but after a while, it actually felt like bath water...the temp in the water was 91 degrees O_o.

Next week, I go in for my second ultra-sound, and it's the one where we get the option to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl.  For the first 3, we didn't find out the gender, but Philip wants to for this one.  As for me, I don't know if I want to or not.  I usually am really tempted to find out, but since Phil has always wanted to be surprised, I never did, because I can't keep a secret.  Part of me feels like it's cheating, but in the end, it doesn't really matter...I mean, the baby is what it is, and I'll love him or her no matter what.  Likely, I'll break down and find out, because I'm just weak like that =)  At lunch today, the kids and I had this discussion:

Natalie:   So, Mom, I've been thinking...

Me:  oh yeah?  About what?

Natalie:  About the new baby.

Me:  What about the new baby?

Natalie:  Oh, just about having it and stuff.

Me:  It's going to be really exciting!  You'll get to hold it, and help me take care of it...(I left out the part about how I have anxiety attacks and fret think about having it and stuff, too).

Natalie:  I bet the baby gets hungry alot.

Me:  No, not really...babies get everything they need when they are in their mommy's tummy; they don't have to wait around for someone to feed them.

**I then tiptoe on egg shells trying to answer all her questions about how a pregnant woman's body works to take care of a growing baby...she's only 5, not a doctor!!  how many details does the child really need???  I settled on "that's just how God made it work", and changed the subject.  I told her that we get to go and see pictures of the baby at the doctor's office next week.

Me:  Do you want to find out if it's a boy or a girl now, or do you want to wait until it's born?

Natalie:  I want to know now!  (no shocker...she is my daughter)

Me:  Ok, maybe they'll be able to tell us.

Natalie:  Do you want to know?
Me:  I don't know yet...probably...Daddy wants to know.

**Andrew decides to join the conversation now, which is weird, because he seems to have been ignoring our entire conversation, because he's been very intent on eating his lunch for the duration of our little chat...every now and then he would pipe in with "hey, I got two noodles on my fork this time!!  cool!!"  Such a boy!

Andrew:  I want to wait.

Me:  You want to wait for the baby to be born before you know if it's a boy or a girl??

Andrew:  Yes, I want to wait.  The boys have to wait, but the girls can find out.

**Sorry Phil...I guess you have to wait with Andrew this time =P 

Now that everyone is just dying to know whether we find out or not, and, if we do find out, what the gender actually is...I shall not be posting it on the blog.  I remember my mother-in-law telling me once that if we ever find out, she doesn't want to know.  Since she actually reads my blog, I don't want to ruin the surprise for her.  So, everyone else will just have to wait for the ending =)  The hard part will be keeping Natalie away from her Grandma for the rest of the pregnancy, because there's no way she'll keep that a secret!  No, seriously, I'll make sure to drill Natalie about NOT telling Grandma, so no worries!  

Other than that, we haven't really been doing much of anything over here.  My garden is between the summer harvest and the fall planting, so I haven't been doing much with it.  I still have a couple of cherry tomato plants that are going strong, a handful of new cucumber plants that are a few weeks along, and my okra is like the gift that keeps on giving.  Phil did help me clean it out and do some weeding around the beds, so it looks much neater and is ready for the next round of planting.  Hopefully I can get to that in the next week or two.  

We'll be starting school right about the second week of August.  I've actually decided to switch to a new curriculum this year.  Natalie will be in first grade, and she's my only one in school just yet, so I figure now is the time to tweak out these things before we get so far along that it's harder to switch curricula around.  Since we attend the Traditional Latin Mass, Phil and I really wanted a curriculum that supports that.  So, I did a bit of research earlier in the summer and found Our Lady of the Rosary School.  I hope we like it.  From what I've looked at on the website, I like the books, the curriculum looks solid, I like the classes they offer for older kids, and I called and spoke with someone from their office, and she was very helpful and nice.  So, I'll be ordering the first grade supplies sometime next week, and getting some of Natalie's other school supplies tomorrow, when I get to go shopping all by myself!!!!  Well, Rachel will be with me, but she can't ask me to buy everything in the store yet, so I don't mind taking her =)  

Well, the kids just woke up and wandered in from their nap, so that means it's time for me to feed them again. 

A Place to Remember

Check out our new bulletin board for school (compliments to my mother-in-law):

 *The yellow and red construction paper shapes are Natalie's rendition of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph =)

I thought it would make a great place to put art work, school work, Feast Day crafts & saint pictures, our virtue of the month for Little Flowers, and just any other fun thing the kids like to look at.  Thanks Mom-in-law!