Saturday, September 7, 2013

End of week one

It was a pretty good first week.  We had been doing reading and math for a while, so this wasn't technically our "first" week, but it was the first week we did all of our subjects.  We took Monday off and only did a half a day yesterday.   My friend is a pastor at a small church that my church just bought and the launch is today, so we took off to help out.

Princess is reading Wizard of Oz.  I caught her going through and taking from the movie and not really reading it.  I asked what color shoes Dorothy replied to which she said "red", so now she's reading it more carefully.  Bug-a-bug is reading Mouse and a Motorcycle.  They keep asking for different books but I'm sticking to my plan and they will be reading these.

Math is going pretty well for the girls.  Princess still struggles a lot.  Math is not her thing.  That's okay though, we'll just keep working until she gets it.  Bug-a-bug is doing well.

Spelling and writing are doing well so far.  I just ordered Grammar so we're waiting on that to arrive.

TL is doing okay.  I'm having a hard time getting him motivated or interested in going the extra step.  He only wants to do the minimum of what needs to be done.  Its starting to drive me a little insane.

He's doing well in math.  He had to catch up some from last year because we started Algebra so late with our move.  He seems to be doing well with it though.  I'll be giving a test this week so we'll find out more. 

He's finishing reading Mysterious Island on Monday.  It should be interesting to see what he thinks of it.  I need to finish it up myself so we can go over some questions.  Spelling is going well.

We haven't started writing yet.  I'm making him take these aptitude tests to see where his strengths lie for a profession.  He's up in the air with what he wants to do so I'm hoping that he can find some direction from this.  We did have a lot of laughs over some of the jobs listed in the back of the book.

Science
The girls have started doing Elemental Science-biology this year.  So far, its going really well and they really like it. 

TL is working on Biology.  I still have to pick up the microscope and slides for him to do his labs.  It may be another month and then we'll just have lab catch up week I guess.

History
We're working on Tapestry of Grace Year 3 Unit 20
So far, its going really well.  We technically didn't finish the week yet because we didn't have enough days.  TL had to read a bunch of primary documents this week about the onslaught of the Civil War.  We will be going over these on Monday.  I'll be interested to get his opinion on some of the things that he read.

So that's it!!  Its been busy and will be so for the next few weeks.  I'm enjoying it though!!

Have a wonderful weekend!



Monday, September 2, 2013

Busy Busy Summer

Most of the last three weeks have been keeping me busy with lesson planning and trying to control all the weeds around here.  All of the rain this spring was like miracle grow!!  I get an area all cleaned out and in a few days, they're back and two feet tall!!

The garden is doing well.  I've been able to make about 12 quarts of spaghetti sauce using the fresh green peppers and onions from the garden.  I just pulled all of the carrots tonight.  I'm hoping to get about 15 freezer quart-size bags.  I pulled enough tomatoes tonight for 6 more quarts of sauce.  I hope to make some salsa in a few days.  The pumpkins are doing well.  The potatoes seem to be doing well.  I'll be getting those in a few weeks so we'll see how they did.  I've picked three cantaloupes for us and given three away so far and there's seven more out there.  The only thing that hasn't done well is the cucumbers.  I have only canned 12 pints of pickles and right now I only have five that I picked tonight.  I guess I'll make relish out of those.  I don't think I will get more cucumbers this year.  Oh well.  I didn't plant green beans or corn this year and I already have made plans to expand the garden next year.  Doubling some items and tripling other spots. 

Other than that, here's what's been going on lately:

We celebrated Princess Buttercup's fourth birthday!!


 
 
 
Bug-a-bug was baptized!




 
 
We had a cousin visit!!




TL tested for his purple belt!




And I got a job!!  I will be teaching online to homeschoolers at Home Education Council of America.  I'm putting together my high school and junior high American history classes right now.  I'm hoping that the first semester will be up and running by the end of the month.  We'll see though....with all this produce and the apples now coming in, not sure how this will work!

I'm off for now.  Still have a few things to do before we start homeschooling tomorrow!  Have a wonderful week everyone!!