Week of Jan 18th

I can't believe I have not updated this in 2 weeks. Well, the week of the 18th was a short one, with the holiday. We did more review in Bible, including a blindfolded obstacle course with me to lead them through. We talked about kids being "blind" to some of the world, but parents can help guide them through. We also talked about honesty. They did a crayon resist. They colored a page very colorfully, then covered them with black, then scratched off some. We discussed that lies cover up, but usually always are revealed in the end.

The both studied about France and the Sun King. We listened to Handel's "Messiah" this week. We were actually listening on the computer. David stood up on the bed and began waving his arm. He said, "I'm the preductor, I'm the preductor." It was so cute, but the teacher in me had to correct him.

Hannah finished up subject-verb agreement and moved on to pronoun-antecedent agreement. She continued geometry in math, and did more with light in science, including an experiment with light, water, and color. She also did quite a few Mind Benders in her critical thinking books.

David moved ahead in his LA, math, and reading. He is really challenged by the speed drills, and is improving in the subtraction. He did a lot of Mind Benders as well. He would do them all day!

We ended our week with housework because my sisters were coming into town for the weekend, which was a lot of fun.

Week of Jan 11th

You can read about our first day back on the post below. After that day, we reviewed in Bible things we had studied last semester. I gave them a treasure hunt with difficult directions. It led to an actual Bible (on top of the ice cream!). We had ice cream and discussed that our wisdom comes from God and the Bible. It is where we turn for the directions we need in our life. We also listened to music by Handel. In history, the kids are studying the early 1600s using Kingfisher and Usborne. They both did notebook pages on the topics studied. Both did work in their critical thinking books, too.

Hannah began reviewing subject-verb agreement in grammar, while reviewing diagramming with CLE materials. She is beginning a chapter on geometry in math. She read about light in science and did a lab concerning magnification and focal lengths. She began a new Light Unit in her CLE reading.

In his CLE Language Arts, David covered some consonant digraphs, spelling of long vowels, and use of I. He enjoys the speed drills in his CLE Math and was very pleased when he got all 28 right on a subtraction drill. The subtraction takes him a little longer to recall. He also enjoys the stories in his BJU readers. It is usually one of the first things he wants to do.

We finished our week completing some of the work "on the road". My grandmother had been doing very poorly and had surgery to install a pacemaker. We were able to go and spend some time with her. Her vitals are improving. Hopefully this will help some other problems improve. I love the flexibility of homeschooling. If I was working and the kids were in school, it would be so different.

Back to school!

Our first full day back to school was a fun, relaxed one. We decorated a gingerbread house. The kits were on clearance at Sam's for just $3. That's a deal you just can't pass up. We also read poetry about winter, watched a dvd about Handel, plus a little traditional school work, too. I love easing back into. The both actually did some work last week, too.

Basketball Time

David had his first game this Saturday. They do not keep score, but his big sister did and his team won by quite a bit. He enjoyed it and had friends come to see him play.

Christmas Break

Christmas break was a time for relaxation and fun, even though we did travel quite a bit to visit my family and Darin's family, too. The snow didn't come on Christmas day, but it did show up before we left going home. We really enjoy those school breaks!

2009...A Look Back

I can't believe 2009 is almost over. It just seems like yesterday that we were taking down last year's decorations and welcoming a new year, yet here it is again. Probably the biggest change in 2009 was that we resigned our CE positions at our church, searched for a new church, and have now found one. It was not an easy decision, but one we felt led to do, so we were trying to be obedient. How God has blessed us in this change, for whatever time we are to be there! The teaching is phenomenal...very deep and challenging to live beyond what we so normally view as Christianity here in America.


Darin finished up last school year and began his 4th year at our public high school. He is teaching World History and Government/World Geography. The school has been in trouble academically for a very long time, and the administration has really put a load on the teachers. It has been a very demanding year, but he is so thankful to have a job.

I am still homeschooling the kids. I miss being CE director at church, but have a new endeavor. I started a homeschool co-op in our area, meeting one day a week for classes. We have 10 families and 26 kids. Our first semester was fun and enriching. The second semester classes will be even more so, I do believe.


Hannah finished up 6th grade and began 7th. She is now taller than me, and still growing. She got braces in September for her bite problem. She took sewing classes all last year, but did not continue this year. This year she is in a novel club that meets monthly to discuss the book, and watch the movie of the book. She has also had the opportunity to take a writing class from a retired English teacher. That has been a wonderful experience for her. She already loved to write, at least on her own terms. She has notebooks and notebooks of stories, histories and maps of imaginary countries, and the like. Our homeschool group also has social events for the middle school/high school kids. She has enjoyed those this year. Changing churches at this age has not been easy, but she does really enjoy her classes at the church.


David finished up Kindergarten and began 1st grade. He is tall and skinny, probably because he is constantly moving and talking. He played basketball last year and is playing Upward this year. He is in Cub Scouts and really enjoys it. I've been much more impressed with the Boy Scout program than I was Girl Scouts. He is moving forward in his academics, and probably enjoys history and science the most. He has a fascination with non-fiction reading, especially the DK Eyewitness books. He thinks he wants to read mysteries so we have a couple of easy chapter books to give it a try over the break.

We are so thankful that God has blessed our family with another wonderful year to be together. He is faithful and gracious to us in so many ways. We cannot begin to thank Him enough or praise Him in all the ways that He is due.

Coupon Savings

I'm so excited to be couponing now! My best friend, Jenny, got me into it. Wow!! Here's what I did this past week.

Shopped at:
Publix
Rite Aid
CVS
Walgreens

Total Before Sales and Coupons:
219.32

Out Of Pocket:
88.48

ECB and Rebates:
14.98

Net:
73.50 66.5% Savings