The Simple Womans Daybook

FOR TODAY... April 7, 2010

Outside my window...weather looks promising. Should be a beautiful day, no wind and lots of sunshine!

I am thinking...that August can't come soon enough!

I am thankful....that my children have lots of cousins they know and get to play with.

I am wearing...workout pants, t-shirt, tennies

I am remembering...past vacations.

I am going...to start watching my Simply Charlotte Mason all-day seminar DVD for some motivation-haven't done that yet, even though I posted I was going to start it a couple weeks ago. Also, I am planning for the next 6 week term.

Some plans for the rest of the week...we have company visiting, so lots of playtime for the kiddos. Tomorrow a trip back to the olive oil plant.

I am currently reading... Laying Down the Rails by Sonya Shafer, The Bible, The Original Homeschooling Series, Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont.

I am hoping... that my children will start getting along better.

On my mind...moving, moving, moving!

From the learning room....on vacation this week. Finishing up our John James Audubon bio and our California Gold Rush story this week.

Noticing that...life feels out of control lately.

Pondering these words...submission.

I am creating...nothing this week.

I am hearing...Handy Manny of tv for the littlest visitor, a couple of kids playing Guess Who and Conman running through the house calling me. I should mention we have 8 kids in the house currently with one more coming in a little while. All cousins!

From the kitchen...either leftovers or chicken and rice chowder and homemade biscuits. We'll see what I feel like later.

Around the house...some disorder. Toys out, bedding out. Kids having fun!

One of my favorite things...The Biggest Loser show. Did I list that already?

From my picture journal...another random photo I opened. This is, I believe, the Japanese Friendship Bell. Somewhere in Long Beach. It was taken in '07 and I've slept since then, so I'm not exactly sure.
Have a wonderful day!

Weekly Wrap Up #3

I'm back. At least for now. Here's our Weekly Wrap-Up. You can head over to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers to see what others have been up to.


This was a slightly odd, short week. We completed some school along with some other activities thrown in.


I won't bore you with details of our mundane errands, such as dentist appointments, grocery shopping, etc.


I did get to attend our Spring Tea at the church on Tuesday. This year my daughter, being 13, was old enough to join us. It was a wonderful morning with some delicious food, hot tea and fellowship.


School wise, we finished up our six week artist study on John James Audubon. Our picture this week was the Wild Turkey.


We also finished our poet study on Robert Louis Stevenson. This week I'll be choosing new poets and artists using the Simply Charlotte Mason schedule, so we're prepared for after Easter break.


Blakester completed his Math-U-See Delta book this week. He'll be starting on Epsilon, which is their 5th grade book. So, I'll have a 4th grader doing on 5th grade math and 6th grade grammar. Hmm.


Thursday night, the husband and myself were able to go on a much needed date night. We attended the Rock and Worship Roadshow about an hour away from our house. Talk about an awesome night of music and worship!! We finished off the evening with a stop at The Cheesecake Factory. Yum!


We wrapped up the week on Friday with a few tests and I finished inputting grades into the Homeschool Tracker so I could print out report cards for this last term. The kids did really well.
Blakester ended up with a GPA of 3.92 and Lulu with 3.75. They both brought them up from last term.


For fun, the kids got together with some cousins and colored Easter eggs. They had a great time. Especially the little ones who thought the eggs would make good balls. Only a few were cracked.

The eggs, not the kids.

That was it for our week. We're getting ready to enjoy a relaxing Easter day tomorrow. Be sure to stop and give praise to our Creator and Saviour for the wonderful gift He gave to us!

I'm Still Here

I've been MIA for about a week. I apologize. We were busy getting ready for our yard sale last weekend, which, by the way, was a smashing success! My house is a little less cluttered, my garage is cleaned out and I have some additional funds to add to the debt jar.

I've also been catching up on some reading, some rest and just life in general.

I will be back, I promise!

Curriculum Excitement!

This morning Conman and I ventured back up to the closest homeschool supply store we have around here. After my major clean out last month I had left some boxes with the owner for her to go through and see if there was anything she was willing to give me credit for.

Well, there was!

After subtracting $10.00 for some books I had already brought home, I received about $80.00 credit from her to use in the store. Talk about exciting!

So, what did I come home with?

Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 2-Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day-This is for Blakester. He only has a couple lessons left in his current book.

Queen Homeschool's Pictures in Cursive Book B-Again for Blakester. He's really enjoying his first book and asked to continue for more practice.

Queen Homeschool's Language Lessons for the Very Young-Book 2-This is for Conman. He'll finish up his book 1 in a few weeks, and we'll continue on with book 2.

I also came home with a new Geosafari card set. It's all about ocean creatures. I thought the kids would enjoy it as a supplement to their science.

It was a good morning, and I was very glad I had glanced at how far the kids were in some of their books so that I could prepare for future lessons!

What's Not in the Box Wednesday

A lot of bloggers who use workboxes will post a "What's in the Box Wednesday" on their blog. They show the contents of their workboxes and a short description of them. I enjoy seeing what others are using for their workbox system and gleaning ideas from them of what to put in our boxes.

Today I decided to let you know what was not in our boxes.

I did not put any copywork in the boxes. I did not put any math pages in the boxes. I did not put thinking skills workbooks in the boxes. I did not put grammar lessons in the boxes. I did put any science reading, notebooking or experiments in the boxes. I did not conduct group time and read our history or artist biography.

Here's what we did do today.

Lulu made pancakes for breakfast. (Measuring and cooking practice)

Conman and I had a long discussion over some behavioral issues. (Character building, bible)

The boys designed their own Lego creations on the computer using Lego Digital Designer. Conman designed a scene of the California gold rush. (Science, art, computer skills, history-narration)

Lulu swept and mopped the kitchen and vacuumed the house. (Homemaking skills)

The boys and I pulled weeds. While in the process, some spiders and bugs were discovered. (Science, Nature Study)

Lulu is working on some place cards for a spring tea at church next week. (Art, computer skills and language arts)

Conman made a sign for our upcoming yard sale. (Art, handwriting)

I'm also pretty sure some reading will get done today. Lulu has an orthodontist appointment and will most likely take a book along. Blakester and Conman will probably read before bed. They will also complete their daily bible study and Conman and I will read from Little Rebel Becomes a Saint for character building.

So, even though I declared today a no-school, get-housework-done day, learning was still accomplished. It's important to remember that it is not checking off the list and completing every workbook page that enables education to occur.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

The Simple Womans Daybook

FOR TODAY... March 22, 2010

Outside my window...it's sunny, but the wind is blowing. It doesn't feel like it will reach 70's today as promised.

I am thinking...that I missed posting my weekly wrap-up last week. Busy weekend.

I am thankful....that my kitty Dallas was found. Interesting story.

I am wearing...workout pants, t-shirt, tennies and a sweatshirt.

I am remembering...what it was like when my children couldn't yet talk.

I am going...to start watching my Simply Charlotte Mason all-day seminar DVD for some motivation.

Some plans for the rest of the week...Lulu has an orthodontist appointment on Wednesday. Thursday I'm going back to the used curriculum store to pick up any leftover items I had and get Blakester's next science book. Also, getting a haircut finally! Conducting our yard sale this weekend since we're supposed to have better weather.

I am currently reading... Laying Down the Rails by Sonya Shafer, The Bible, The Original Homeschooling Series, Kaleidoscope by Patsy Clairmont. And, yes, I did start another Jodi Picoult book-Change of Heart. I have no self-discipline!

I am hoping... to be able to take some trips for our California history studies.

On my mind...family.

From the learning room....started reading about the California gold rush. Working on the habit of attention, obedience and orderliness without nagging.

Noticing that...per our message at church this weekend, most of what we think are crises in our life are self-inflicted.

Pondering these words...prayer.

I am creating...more scrapbooking pages.

I am hearing...Blakester & Lulu goofing off at the table when they should be finishing lunch. Conman's gameboy music.

From the kitchen...Chicken with lemon & garlic, veggies-asparagus & tomatoes, and brown rice.

Around the house...things are somewhat in order. Still pulling items out from here and there for the yard sale. Still thinning things out for our upcoming (hopeful) move.

One of my favorite things...jeans.

From my picture journal... the results of our fabulous girls day out. Seven pairs of perfectly manicured toes.

Nature Study

Nope, it's not Wednesday, but we managed to squeeze in our nature study today.

It was beautiful and sunny, so we decided to go for a short walk. The boys took their nature sketch books with them, but Lulu chose to stay home. She said she wanted to sketch grass. What? Was she trying to get off easy?

Well, she surprised me. She sketched a great picture of up-close blades of grass, using different pencils to shade them in.
The boys sketched some flowers & weeds we found along our walk.

Blakester's California poppy:

Conman's flower:

I snapped a few photos, but I haven't had the time to look them up and identify them. I really need to get a California flower field guide to keep handy.

Some kind of thistle.California poppy

Not sure.....

This fat, little guy sat in a tree in our front yard for the longest time. I believe he's a chickadee.

Now that they sun is showing it's face once more we'll be able to take in more of God's beautiful creations.