I posted this site on my adoption blog...you've got to see these photos! OK, of course I am biased!
http://authenticsoul.wordpress.com/

I wish I were sick or something...

You know you've had a long, fun-filled, busy summer when your almost 10 year son says, "I wish I were sick or something. I am tired of moving around and doing things. I just want to lay down on the couch and do nothing." My husband and I just looked at him and laughed! I gave him permission to lay in front of the T.V. until bedtime (it was already 6:30pm)!!! But nope, he couldn't just lay there. He threw off his shorts and grabbed a comfy blanket but lay down and relax he did not. I don't know if he's got it in him to just do nothing. Maybe that's why he wanted to get sick...then he'd be forced to stop his body!!! LOL!

One great thing we did this summer was join a local boy Scout troop and stay the night on this real ship used in WWII. It was a bit icky with all the spiders but it was really neat to learn about the history of the LST 393. We arrived around 6pm, ate dinner, played all over the ship, watched a movie and was up and out of there by 8am. This is still an active museum and so we needed to head out so busy as usual could go on!

Not socialized???

Oh come on! Is this the oldest "bash" on homeschooling that you have ever heard? I haven't run across this too much, maybe because my children are proof AGAINST the unsocialized theory? Either way I thought I'd show proof in a picture that our kids are hangin out with their "peers"...
Here are a bunch of homeschoolers (except two of the girls) at a friends house swimming. Even with all of these kids together for several hours, not one fight, not one put down, no one was left out and all bodies were covered!! But WAIT, look there, behind my son's head (bottom left kiddo)! Do I see some bunny ears? YES! I do! Socialized indeed!

And now on to my oldest daughter who will turn 7 on Jan. 1st. We consider her to have begun first grade work last winter but she will continue on as a "first" grader....

*Math U See-Alpha....she is just about half way through this as we start the new year

*Handwriting Without Tears-handwriting

*Saxon Phonics-still the K level, about a 1/3rd of the book to finish

*Skill Sharpeners Reading-First grade workbook

*Poetry Memorization

*Character Building

*Lapbooking with literature books from http://www.homeschoolshare.com/

*Exploring Creation- Land Animals...with her brother

*Artist Pursuits...with her brother

*Nature Journal...we'll see!!!

*Writing Journal

*Rosetta Stone-Spanish

Again, these are just things I would love to be able to accomplish this year. I'll keep it real and honest on here and let you know how things pan out over the next several months!!

The school year is upon us!

I am cleaning out the homeschooling cabinets, drawers, cupboards, closets, corners...you get the idea and trying to make a list of what I MIGHT potentially use to school the kids this year. Today, I should still be cleaning, but thought I'd jump on here and list what I am using for my oldest. I'll include the list for the other kids in the following days.

My son is going to be 10 in November and that puts him at around the 4th grade level. We call him a "4th grader". His writing and reading are about a year behind, maybe more in the area of writing. Here is the grand list that I have come up with. It looks really overwhelming. We'll see what we end up with!

*Poetry Memorization-Andrew Pudewa...started this before let's see how far we can get this time!

*Character Building-Lee Ann Rubsam-boy is this needed for all of them!

*Spelling Notebook-using the little yellow book called, How to Teach Any Child to SPELL by Gayle Graham

*Grapevine Studies-teaching the Old Testament

*Primary Language Lessons-grammer

*Math U See-finishing Gamma and then starting Delta

*Exploring Creation Land Animals of the 6th Day-science

*Artist Pursuits-Intro. to the visual arts

*Nature Journal-starting these every year....never get farther than decorating the cover....hmmm

*Beautiful Feet study on early America

*Cursive Success using Handwriting Without Tears...mostly for review...not sure if it is necessary!

*Skills Sharpeners Reading Workbook by Evan-Moor

Updated to add: Rosetta Stone-Spanish -this will be our first year!

Phew. This is a big list!

Enjoying every last bit of summer!