Always, every year, at this exact time (or a month from now) begins this great debate in my mind...of what wonderful materials I am going to use to homeschool my beautiful children for the upcoming year. What will I buy to ignite the passion for learning, to have them begging to work on schoolwork all afternoon, and what exactly is it that I am trying to accomplish?
Okay, so probably begging to do schoolwork all afternoon is a pretty lofty goal, but I do want to use materials that are challenging, yet interesting, and (gasp) maybe even fun!
I always have to remind myself that my primary goal is to strengthen family relationships and LEAD MY GIRLS TO THE HEART OF GOD!!!!!
I want them to have God and Godliness at their very core. I do want them to be able to be competitive on standardized tests - I do want them to gain knowledge - I do want them to be able to someday go to university or college if that is what God has for them...but more than any of that, I want to establish relationships with my kids! Relationships between each of them and us, their parents. Relationships with each other. And mostly a true, honest, VIBRANT relationship with God through Jesus.
So why is it then that Bible gets left until last so often when choosing or considering new materials? Makes me crazy EVERY year!
I have been re-thinking 'Learning Adventure' - yet only slightly. I am wondering if it may be better for a Grade 6, rather than Grade 5. (Yes, can you believe Olivia will be in Grade 5?) I have again been asking friends and looking at Sonlight (which I have always wanted to use...but could now potentially afford since I have 2 school aged children). And of course...earlier in the year I considered using The Prairie Primer as well (which is another unit study program). Please pray for me as we get ready to go away this weekend... I need some clarity!
Thanks!
C
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Growing up!
Yes, this is about Amelia. Today the girls found pictures of this new born baby being held up by gloved hands for the first picture...and we were trying to figure out if it was Grace or Amelia. So after looking at the pictures in the box around it, we determined that it was after all little new born baby Amelia. Unbelievable. They were doing this while she was sitting on the potty!
How does it happen so quickly? (AND we are having a NEW baby for goodness sake!)
Yes, this is Amelia's new place.......
She went on the potty twice on Thursday...the first time was at Bible study, Olivia took her, and then later at Aunty Tracy's she peed as well!
Then on Friday or Saturday she tried again, and had a tiny little action on the potty, and yesterday she went while she was waiting for her bath as well. I don't want to go into full potty training mode until at least next week, because we are leaving the kids this weekend with the grandparents while we go to the homeschooling conference in Winnipeg...but I guess all of this potty action does give me hope that I could potentially keep up the status quo of never having two kids in diapers at the same time! (I have 3 months!)
Anway, here she is, and I will add some videos to the link with her jumping! She can finally get both feet of the ground - basically! LOL!
C
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Top reasons for life in Saskatchewan
There are many...and I have been meaning to start this online tribute for weeks, but I feel the need to start today.
PEOPLE WILL HELP PUSH YOU OUT WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN THE SNOW!!!
Yes, here in Saskatchewan, it doesn't take long for someone to come to your rescue when you are stuck in a soft, slushy, melting snow bank on a side street. As a matter of fact it only takes as long as it does for someone to come along.
The girls and I were attempting to find Aunty Amy's house today, and so I turned on to a side street, to look at my map. I was trying to turn into the parking lane though, and there began my problem!
I felt myself slipping into mushy snow as I turned and came to a stop, but I wasn't really too worried!
I found the street on the map, and put the van back in drive. No luck. Tried reverse....nope. I got out and made sure my wheels were straight and then began my attempt at rocking and rolling my van out. Nope.....it wasn't going anywhere except deeper into the snow.
So, I got out to survey the situation. No sandbag or kitty litter in the back of the van. No shovel, just a snow brush and a hockey stick. Hmmmmm, oh yes, and of course because it was me.....NO SOCKS ON!!! (Tracy, haven't we discussed this?)
So, I prayed...no joke, no covering my bases....I truly asked God to please send someone who could push me! I mean what are the other options? Let Grace and Olivia try? Or maybe let Olivia drive while I and my growing belly push the van? Ha! Don't tell Olivia about having her drive...don't want to get her hopes up - that would so never happen!
So a nice man came along...tried unsuccessfully to push me out. We went across the street and borrowed some shovels, and tried to dig out the wet, mushy snow...and tried again. No dice!
Finally another guy came, and a lady who was likely his mom and the one more guy got out of a vehicle and they got me pushed out of my dug-in spot.
WHOOOO! Unbelievable! But I tell you what...if it is going to happen - I am glad it happened in Saskatchewan....I knew someone would come and give a hand. You would likely get help in Calgary...at least I'd like to think so - but you would SURELY get helped in Regina.
So thanks to my unknown heroes today - you give Regina and Saskatchewan a good name, and a good feeling!
I am off to watch some prairie humour in the form of the first season of Corner Gas (on DVD).
Stay warm, put a shovel and some cat litter in the back of your vehicle...and for goodness sake - carry socks in your glove compartment if you are not going to wear them!
C
PEOPLE WILL HELP PUSH YOU OUT WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN THE SNOW!!!
Yes, here in Saskatchewan, it doesn't take long for someone to come to your rescue when you are stuck in a soft, slushy, melting snow bank on a side street. As a matter of fact it only takes as long as it does for someone to come along.
The girls and I were attempting to find Aunty Amy's house today, and so I turned on to a side street, to look at my map. I was trying to turn into the parking lane though, and there began my problem!
I felt myself slipping into mushy snow as I turned and came to a stop, but I wasn't really too worried!
I found the street on the map, and put the van back in drive. No luck. Tried reverse....nope. I got out and made sure my wheels were straight and then began my attempt at rocking and rolling my van out. Nope.....it wasn't going anywhere except deeper into the snow.
So, I got out to survey the situation. No sandbag or kitty litter in the back of the van. No shovel, just a snow brush and a hockey stick. Hmmmmm, oh yes, and of course because it was me.....NO SOCKS ON!!! (Tracy, haven't we discussed this?)
So, I prayed...no joke, no covering my bases....I truly asked God to please send someone who could push me! I mean what are the other options? Let Grace and Olivia try? Or maybe let Olivia drive while I and my growing belly push the van? Ha! Don't tell Olivia about having her drive...don't want to get her hopes up - that would so never happen!
So a nice man came along...tried unsuccessfully to push me out. We went across the street and borrowed some shovels, and tried to dig out the wet, mushy snow...and tried again. No dice!
Finally another guy came, and a lady who was likely his mom and the one more guy got out of a vehicle and they got me pushed out of my dug-in spot.
WHOOOO! Unbelievable! But I tell you what...if it is going to happen - I am glad it happened in Saskatchewan....I knew someone would come and give a hand. You would likely get help in Calgary...at least I'd like to think so - but you would SURELY get helped in Regina.
So thanks to my unknown heroes today - you give Regina and Saskatchewan a good name, and a good feeling!
I am off to watch some prairie humour in the form of the first season of Corner Gas (on DVD).
Stay warm, put a shovel and some cat litter in the back of your vehicle...and for goodness sake - carry socks in your glove compartment if you are not going to wear them!
C
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Not quite 2 weeks
But almost!
I still have yet to decide about the curriculum, but I am leaning heavily in that direction...I think. Just don't ask me too much about it yet, I may talk myself out of it!
Greg got another letter about re-writing his entrance exam for the Police, so now it looks like Red Deer and the AHEA convention is likely out of the question - as the re-write is on Saturday, April 14. Now we are considering possibly Winnipeg's convention. Grandma is available, but Uncle is working one of the days...so we are waiting to see if he can get time off and come as well.
Keep praying - I would love to save the shipping $$$ on my supplies for next year.
We had a light school week last week, but have hit the books so far this week. Which can only mean one thing...yes, I am behind on marking! Ughh!
Sarah was enjoying our Language Arts program when they first arrived this morning, which doesn't surprise me...I have always thought that LLATL is a well rounded, multi learning style type of program.
I do have some pictures to post, but it will have to wait until I get my camera downstairs.
Tomorrow we have a birthday party to go to in the afternoon, and I have a support group meeting in the evening. So hopefully I will get those pics up by Thursday.
C
I still have yet to decide about the curriculum, but I am leaning heavily in that direction...I think. Just don't ask me too much about it yet, I may talk myself out of it!
Greg got another letter about re-writing his entrance exam for the Police, so now it looks like Red Deer and the AHEA convention is likely out of the question - as the re-write is on Saturday, April 14. Now we are considering possibly Winnipeg's convention. Grandma is available, but Uncle is working one of the days...so we are waiting to see if he can get time off and come as well.
Keep praying - I would love to save the shipping $$$ on my supplies for next year.
We had a light school week last week, but have hit the books so far this week. Which can only mean one thing...yes, I am behind on marking! Ughh!
Sarah was enjoying our Language Arts program when they first arrived this morning, which doesn't surprise me...I have always thought that LLATL is a well rounded, multi learning style type of program.
I do have some pictures to post, but it will have to wait until I get my camera downstairs.
Tomorrow we have a birthday party to go to in the afternoon, and I have a support group meeting in the evening. So hopefully I will get those pics up by Thursday.
C
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