The Simple Womans Daybook

FOR TODAY... May 11, 2010

Outside my window...Windy. Not feeling at all like spring. Sigh....

I am thinking...that I need to start getting out of bed earlier.

I am thankful....for my budget.

I am wearing...jeans, long sleeve top, slippers and warm socks.

I am remembering....hmm...???

I am going....to keep planning for next year. To get a laptop before we move. To stop buying books. (for now)

Some plans for the rest of the week...not much for Wednesday or Thursday. If it warms up we may take that field trip yet. Maybe to Sacramento, Sutter's Fort. Saturday night, girl's night out at a Natalie Grant concert. Yippee!!

I am currently reading... Laying Down the Rails by Sonya Shafer, The Bible, The Original Homeschooling Series, Twilight-and I'm hooked. I can't wait to read the other books and watch the movies. I feel like a teenager!

I am hoping...I can get motivated to start exercising again. This is something I am so wishy-washy on.

On my mind...a relative's son was shot last night in town. Praying for a full recovery from surgery and the shooting.

From the learning room....will be finished with Pony Express this week. Conman is working on borrowing while subtracting and has already got the hang of it. Blakester's pollywogs started turning into itty-bitty frogs. Blakester and Lulu each received awards today at a ceremony for our county writing festival. Blakester 3 1sts and 1 2nd. Lulu a 1st and a 3rd.

Noticing that...I need to get back on my daily Bible reading plan.

Pondering these words...say what you mean and mean what you say.

I am creating...still nothing. I'm rather dull right now:)

I am hearing...the dishwasher running. Deadliest Catch on TV.

From the kitchen...ordered pizza tonight.

Around the house...cleaning out Lulu's closet. Cleaned out the office/school supply cupboard. Really need to clean the boys room.

One of my favorite things...vacations with my family.

From my picture journal...here is Blakester's little frog:


Til tomorrow~

The 12 Days of Homeschool

I came across this youtube video linked from a discussion on homeschoolreviews.com and wanted to share it. The question that started the post was "What is the weirdest/dumbest reason you've heard against homeschooling?" One poster referenced this video saying that this sums it up. I agree. I'm only in my 3rd year of homeschooling and I've heard every reason or question this group sings about, plus some! Hang in there till the end of the video, it's worth it.
I have some people tell me they do not have the patience I do. Um, those that know me, know I am not a very patient person.
Others have told me that being home with their kids all day would drive them crazy. Yes, there are days I agree with that. But actually, the thought of ever having to send them back to public school really tears me up. I'm used to having them here each and every day, and could not imagine watching them get on that big yellow bus and not having them home with me.
I chose to have children because I wanted them, and God was kind enough to loan them to me for a little while. It is hard to be surrounded by little people that need all you have to give, all day, every day. There are days I just want five minutes of quiet, uninterrupted time. But you know what, I'll get that when they're grown and on their own. And at that point, I'll probably really miss them.Enjoy!

Happy Mothers Day!

I have such sweet children! My Lego minded sons surprised me with these creations this morning. I've not been allowed to go into their room for a week because they've been hiding them from me. The top one is from Blakester and the rest are from Conman.

This is myself, Conman holding flowers and Blakester holding a BB gun.

This one is the whole creation, a large heart with all of us standing around it.

Lulu had me choose a pair of earrings from her stash of ones she's made. I chose these feather ones that I've been coveting since she made them.

I hope all you wonderful ladies out there had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Weekly Wrap Up #7

Here's our week in review. You can head over to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers to see what others have been up to.

The weather was pleasant, but windy, this week. Conman took advantage of it and practiced his kite flying techniques.

He also spent some time outside exploring with the cats.

And he pointed out the white and lavender alysum that has bloomed. He's been very busy this week.

Our picture study this week was "Two Children at the Seashore".

Instead of having the kids color the picture we studied, I had them color a different picture, using their own shading and colors. I don't have photos of them, but they did turn out quite nicely.

I'm pleased to report that we did follow through with our hymn study this week.

I have spent most of my time this week cleaning out the schoolroom. I did some serious purging and rearranging to make that particular room look larger and more inviting to prospective buyers. I boxed up four boxes of books that I will not need to get to over the next couple of months, so that I could move out some small bookcases.

I've been planning out next years lessons using the Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education resources from Simply Charlotte Mason, and am currently working through Lulu's year. My goal is to get the next year planned before summer and moving overtake us.

I also received a box from Rainbow Resource today. I had ordered this beautiful
Book of the Centuries from them. We've tried keeping timelines several different ways: in individual 3-ring notebooks, in small notebooks, on the wall, on index cards....but nothing seems to fit right. So next year we'll start out with a family Book of the Centuries. I figured if I spent the money to obtain a nice one, we'll actually use it and take care of it. That was my big splurge for the year.

Bob the lizard now has a boxmate. Blakester rescued blue-belly that Dallas caught and brought into our garage. He is yet unnamed. Now I buy 4 dozen crickets at a time.

I hope everyone has a joyful Mother's Day weekend.

All-Day Charlotte Mason Seminar Review

I finally had a chance to sit down and watch (absorb) the

All-Day Charlotte Mason seminar on DVD which I had ordered from Simply Charlotte Mason. Let me preface my post by saying that I am in no way affiliated with their company and have not been asked to write a review on this or any other product they sell. The product was simply just something I ordered to help me understand more about the CM method of teaching.

The DVDs are a recording of a live CM seminar taught by Sonya Shafer. There are 3 DVDs and a companion workbook that enables one to follow along and take notes. I did not order the Laying Down the Rails DVD as I had already listened to the audio and am in the process of reading the book.

I've read just about everything out there I can get my hands on concerning Charlotte Mason, but this has to be, by far, the most comprehensive, all-in-one resource I've seen. Sonya does a wonderful job laying it all out for you, in easy to understand steps and language.

She starts out with an introduction to Charlotte Mason, who she was and what her thoughts on education were, followed by a summary of her methods and a list of useful books and websites for using Charlotte Mason.

Sonya explains the basic, main principles to follow in executing this type of education, and gives definitions and examples for things such as narration and living books.

She then walks you through each and every subject you could even think about teaching and the way in which you would teach it, Charlotte Mason style, utilizing living books, map drills, nature walks, copywork, narration, etc.

Included in the workbook are sample lists of poets, artists, composers, handicrafts, and narration ideas. She also includes the directions for a very simple scripture memory system. I am going to try this system in our upcoming year.

At the very end of the workbook are the note pages for the Laying Down the Rails seminar. You can order this DVD with the package or order it separately.

When I finished watching the seminar, I had a complete workbook full of notes and ideas that I can refer back to as I am currently tackling planning our next years lessons. I'm planning using the Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education DVD and workbook. That will be part 2 of my review!

I would definitely recommend this product both to someone wanting to start using Charlotte Mason methods and to someone who is already using them. Sonya has wonderful ideas and insights and is a joy to listen to. It's also very handy to have all my notes and ideas in one book!

I read yesterday on the SCM forums that a new DVD set had been released entitled The Books and Things Seminar. This one demonstrates how to educate using good living books and the things around us. I placed an order today, and am highly anticipating it's arrival~

The Simple Womans Daybook

FOR TODAY... May 4, 2010

Outside my window...Breezy again today. Sun is shining.

I am thinking...that my kids are growing up so fast.

I am thankful....that I was able to sleep in this morning.

I am wearing...jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops.

I am remembering...some things from my childhood.

I am going...to keep clearing things out for our move in August. We want to pack and travel light. Keep planning next years school schedule. To start reading the Twilight series. I want to see what the all the fuss is about.

Some plans for the rest of the week...Lulu has quilting class tonight. Maybe another close field trip on Friday. Clean out, clean out!

I am currently reading... Laying Down the Rails by Sonya Shafer, The Bible, The Original Homeschooling Series, Setting Limits With Your Stong-Willed Child, Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

I am hoping...that I can keep the house in order once it's up for sale!

On my mind...can't wait to move. It will be here before I know it!!! I think I'll have to post some background on this much anticipated move I keep talking about.

From the learning room....some subjects being wrapped up soon. Echo is our poem of the week. We did our reading outside yesterday since it was so nice. Clearing out some more school items we've outgrown or haven't used.

Noticing that...I seem to be off my game lately.

Pondering these words...Even a child is known by his actions; by whether his conduct is pure or right. Prov. 20:11

I am creating...nothing exciting right now.

I am hearing...cartoons on tv.

From the kitchen...leftovers tonight. We have some steak, pork loin and potatoes to finish up.

Around the house...things always seem so dusty. Why is that?

One of my favorite things...those cute little blog buttons. I just love those!

From my picture journal...a random picture. This is Blakester a couple of years ago hanging off a giant sloth at the La Brea tar pits. That was a really neat place to visit!


Have a wonderful day~

Weekly Wrap Up #6

Here's our week in review. You can head over to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers to see what others have been up to.

Our Mary Cassatt picture for last week's study was "Sarah in a Green Bonnet." This was such a sweet picture I couldn't resist posting it.

Our poem of the week was "A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky." Here is the link to the site where I found a listing of Lewis Carroll poems.

We were able to add some new critters to our personal field guides. Blakester found some June bugs in the flowers.

Conman captured a ladybug one day. After he let it go, the little bug flew back into the house. He swore it was following him.

Blakester is pretty adamant he spotted a Bald Eagle soaring overhead one day. Very cool.

I spent some time watching my Charlotte Mason All-Day Seminar on DVD. I'll post a full review on this later this week. I also started using the Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education resources to plan for next year. I made purchases this week online of all the necessary books, with the exception of math, that I'll need next year. I'll get my Math-U-See books at the convention in July to avoid shipping charges.

We also spent some time shopping for some much needed spring clothing and restocking the cupboards since we're at the first of the month.

Til tomorrow~