Simple Woman's Daybook - 3/1/10

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it's cloudy, breezy, and chilly.

I am thinking...that I need to do a better job of getting ready for Mondays.

I am thankful for...God's provision.

From the learning rooms...tired boys who need to get going on Science.

From the kitchen...nothing, yet.

I am wearing...jeans, a t-shirt, red hoodie, and slippers.

I am creating...space in my studio so I can scrapbook or read.

I am going...downstairs to work with the boys.

I am reading...Embrace Me by Lisa Sampson and Writing for the Soul by Jerry Jenkins

I am hoping...to get to bed on time tonight.

I am hearing...the wind outside and silence in the house except for the tapping of my keyboard.

Around the house...is a mess. Things fall by the wayside when the household is sick.

One of my favorite things...iced chai latte each morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week...helping with the newsletter, getting school plans in order, updating the calendars for March, and creating meal plans for the month.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...my boys while on a walk one morning last fall.



For more daybooks, go to The Simple Womans Daybook.

Day-in-the-Life Week

It's Week #4 in Darcy's Not-Back-to-School Blog Hop. I missed last week's Student Photo post. Pretty silly, considering how many pix I take. I may get some this week, though, and I'll be sure to post them.

We operate in FBTSOMP* mode around here quite a bit, but a day at High Altitude Academy typically goes something like this

*Fly By The Seat Of My Pants

I get up and have my iced chai latte (caffeinage) along with toast and peanut butter or an english muffin, while reading my Bible, praying, and journaling. Then a shower, get dressed, and make sure school plans are printed out from Homeschool Tracker.

There's a tv show that comes on at 9:00 a.m. which ClayGuy enjoys. While not conventional, I allow him that time - before school - to watch his show. If the Comedian's up in time, he joins in. Therefore, school starts sometime between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m.

Because we're just starting our third week of school, the schedule isn't real set yet, but we always begin our day with Bible reading and prayer. We're starting 2 Samuel this week.

Next up, we often take a walk around our neighborhood. Sometimes we walk over to the bread store and do a little shopping before heading back home.

Upon returning home, my guys are usually a little hungry, so a snack is in order as they begin working on their assignments. They have a fair amount of flexibility in school, so they choose what subject to do from their independent work. Their current subjects (both independent and things we do together):

English - vocabulary, spelling, literature, grammar & composition, independent reading
Math - algebra
Science - biology
Language - Green & Latin roots (aligns with biology)
Computer - check email, typing, game programming
Art - read the Proverb that corresponds to the date and draw one of the verses, clay sculpture, sketching
History - haven't plugged this in yet
Practical Living - happens whenever I have something to teach them. In addition, they occasionally head to work with hubby and help him out.
P.E. - walking, biking, bowling. We're looking into joining a martial arts class as a family.
Music - the Comedian is playing baritone again with a homeschool band

There are a couple of other things in the works. I usually don't start out with everything in the first few weeks. That's not intentional, but it seems to work out that way every year.

We usually break for lunch sometime after noon. We'll take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the day.

I think that's about it. Sometimes we wrap up a little early on Fridays to get together with some friends.

Be sure to check out the other posts and take a peek into a Day-In-The-Life of other homeschoolers.

School Room Week

Here we are Week #2 of Darcy's Not Back-to-School Blog Hop. The focus is on your school room. Where does school happen in your home?

At our house, it's pretty basic. Anytime the three of us are doing something together, we're either at the dining room table, or perhaps in the living room. When the boys work on their own, it's the dining room table, the living room, or the family room. There really isn't anywhere else to go, besides their bedrooms, and I mostly don't allow that. Legos, clay, and other assorted items call out in a much louder voice than school work.



I'm not sure why no one ever works on the patio. It's quite nice out there. Oh well, maybe I'll sneak out there.

P.S. What color should I paint that big white wall? The curtains on the far end of the dining room are hunter green. Any thoughts?

Simple Woman's Day Book - Night Edition

For Today...I will finalize the newsletter for my dear friend Jan

Outside my window...it's dark, cool, and refreshing

I am thinking...that I should start getting to bed on time

From the learning rooms...nothing much - I want to work on school plans

I am thankful for...the afternoon rain

From the kitchen...leftover pancakes from dinner

I am wearing...capris and a sleeveless ecru top

I am reading...The Old Schoolhouse, Summer 2009

I am hoping...to accomplish a LOT tomorrow

I am creating...a lovely chocolate brown & sky blue room

I am praying...to walk in God's will

Around the house...getting ready for Mr. & Mrs. Wrangler and the Gremlins

One of my favorite things...amaretto cordials

A few plans for the rest of the week...laundry, getting the house ready, shooting pictures of whatever catches my attention, doing the books, playing with photos

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...my niece and me at lunch today. I took her shopping for part of her birthday present this afternoon. She got some super cute clothes at Old Navy.

To see other daybooks, go here. Have a blessed day evening!!

ABSee Photo Meme - D

Today's post brought to you by the letter

Dianne

ABSee Photo Meme - C

Today's post is brought to you by the letter

I believe they're self-explanatory, however, the one in the lower right is clay. Courtesy of ClayGuy, of course.

Join in the ABSee Photo Meme fun over at The Homeschool Post.

A B See Photo Meme - B

Yes, B really does follow A. But sometimes it can take a couple weeks or so. Without further ado, the next installment is brought to you by the letter

Brazil nuts



Blueberries



Bananas

Come see the other entries or join in the ABSee fun over at The Homeschool Post.

A B See Photo Meme - A

A new year, a new photo meme. Over at The Homeschool Post, Sprittibee has started the A B See Photo meme. Similar to others, you shoot a photo for each letter of the alphabet. Post it along with the accompanying story, description, etc.

Here's my first entry, brought to you by the letter


These are my beautiful new appliances that we purchased when we bought the house. On a happy note, we got a great deal on both.

Homeschool Memoirs #21: School Days

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I've done an extraordinary job of participating in the Homeschool Memoirs meme over at the The Homeschool Post. This marks my third post (out of a total of 21). LOL!! It will also serve as my entry back into the PhotoStory Friday meme.

This week's theme is to post a photo from your school years. I have plenty, but this one is recently scanned and available. This one will add a little unknown tidbit for you: I was a pom-pom girl in high school. This was shot at a local park (a big huge hiking trail park with bluffs and hills and such) early in the morning. When we were done with the shoot, we went to McDonald's for breakfast. That was around the time McDonald's started serving breakfast. I had the pancakes, cause I'm not an eggs kind of gal. Funny, the memories you can find attached to things.

I had my first car at the time - a 65 Impala convertible. Dark blue with a white top. I once hauled 8 pom-pom girls in it (including me). My best friend and I both "drove." I steered, operated the brake, and the turn signal. She steered, operated the accelerator, and the gear shift. We had to, because both of us were squished into the driver's seat space. Four girls in front, four in back. Rag top down, of course. Fun times.

Check out more school photos here, and for other PSF entries, click the button.


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

And have a wonderful Friday!

p.s. - the photo is circa 78-79

Decorating for Christmas

From one extreme to another ~ hardly any blog posts and now three in one day. Imbalanced and random as ever. Ha! Ha!

Over at The Homeschool Post, Sprittibee posted a Mr. Linky for people to share their Christmas decor. Since we actually have our tree up already and a bit of other decor, I thought I'd join in the fun.

The plant lights



The buffet



The boys decorating the tree



Adding the finishing touch



Miss Kitty Cat enjoying the tree skirt

Simple Woman's Daybook - 11/10/08

I tend not to have a lot to blog on Mondays, and I think this is a sweet meme. I've been thinking I'd give it a try one of these days, and it looks like this will be the day.

FOR TODAY ~ November 10, 2008

Outside My Window...it's cloudy, dreary, and cold.

I am thinking...I want to grab a blanket and some a cup of hot tea and curl up on the couch with a good book.

I am thankful for...a cozy home, warm clothes, a functioning furnace.

From the learning rooms...day off from school today. I can't think of one thing I've learned today.

From the kitchen...soup and ciabatta bread for lunch. Herbed chicken & rice casserole for dinner. Warm comfort food today.

I am wearing...black turtleneck with a cozy, ribbed, long-sleeve shirt, jeans, and my worn, comfy, blue Land's End boots.

I am creating...not much, but am dying to do something fun with Photoshop CS3!

I am going...to the store to get photos printed, although I really don't want to leave the house. But the Comedian has a Scout meeting, so we have to leave anyway.

I am reading...the Chronological Study Bible (NKJV) from Thomas Nelson Publishers. Very exciting - looks like an excellent study tool.

I am hoping...to wrap up the draft of the women's ministry newsletter soon.

I am hearing...BB King's Blues on the Bayou

Around the house...are boxes and boxes, but slightly less than a few days ago.

One of my favorite things...being home, hanging out with my all my guys.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Homeschool, a massage, eye doctor appointment and desperately-needed new contacts, updating the budget, paying bills, and going scrapbooking with friends.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Autumn leaves

Go here for more Daybook entries or join in the fun.

Video Meme

Alrighty then. I have no webcam, no digital camcorder, but I found a way to play anyway. Heart of the Matter's Friday meme (yes, as in yes-terday) was a video meme. I thoroughly enjoyed watching everyone else's videos, so here I am.

When I watch this on my computer, the quality is fine, but as soon as I upload to YouTube, they kindly pixelate me. Blast them. I tried doing it multiple ways, but this is it. I have other things to do, so I apologize for the pathetic quality, but you'll have to take that up with the folks at YT. Actually, you might be able to click through to YouTube (or go directly to the video here) and sometimes there's an option to choose to watch in high quality. Actually, you probably should do that - it's definitely better in their high quality mode.

Also sorry about the shakiness. I had to hold my camera for the entire time. Or I guess I could've gotten the tripod out. Obviously I didn't. Anyway, without further rambling aimlessly ado...



I hope someone still comes to watch, even though I'm totally late. Oops - last night was the deadline for nominations for the Homeschool Blog Awards. Sorry. Watch for voting next month.

No, I didn't win Sprittibee's digital camera, but I did become a blogger.

Homeschool Memoirs #3: Routines

It's time for another installment for Homeschool Memoirs at The Homeschool Post (formerly known as The Homeschool Blog Awards). This theme (which is last week's) is Routines.

This could get interesting. You're talking about a woman who has a hard time with routines. Just the word itself conjures up images of consistency and habits. I've found that the only consistency in life I have is being inconsistent. Well, that and Dr Pepper, but I doubt that second one counts for much. Unless you work at the Dr Pepper plant and then you likely appreciate me. But I digress.

Anyway, we actually DO have a routine and we've been known to follow it. On occasion. So when we are on track, it looks something like this:

Disclaimer: Add the suffix -ish to all times listed below.

6:45 - Have breakfast, Bible study, and quiet time. Hopefully early enough to join Hubby. Do a quick check of email, twitter, and blogosphere.

8:30 - Get the boys up, utilizing the loud, meowing feline alarm clock. They eat breakfast while I shower, get dressed, and get laundry going.

9:00 - Begin school with Bible reading & discussion and prayer

9:45 - Take a walk (usually).

10:30 - Get home (depends upon where we walk). Snack time. Boys work on English & Math. I help as needed. I also load the dishwasher, tidy up the kitchen, and take the next step with laundry.

Noon - Have lunch. Sometimes I prepare lunch. Other days, they come fix their own.

By 1:00 - Back to school. 3+ days we do Science. Also KONOS unit study. Boys wrap up anything undone in Math or English. On Thursdays, the Comedian has bowling league.

They're usually done anywhere from 3:00-4:00. Art and computer usually happen in the afternoon. We still need to add foreign language into our days. I also include Practical Living Skills throughout our week, be it cooking, laundry, or other useful training. It seems that we might do something else (or maybe we should), but I can't figure out what I'm missing here.

The things that make the biggest difference for me are:

1. Quiet time with the Lord first thing - before the boys wake up


2. School plans the weekend/night before


3. Having meals planned and dinner started before 10:00 a.m.


4. Ignoring the phone during school hours


5. Staying home

When I follow the routine, things really go quite well. It's those FBTSOMP (Fly By The Seat Of My Pants) days that don't. Been there, done that too many times. Usually results in attendance at Slacker School. No thank you.

Homeschool Light 101 - This is the modified version of our routine which has been implemented during the "Mom has to pack the house, because we might move one of these days" mode. In this case, we have Bible & prayer and the boys do their English, Math, and reading. Sometimes we still get other subjects in, but not often.

Homeschool Memoirs: Agendas

Here we are, in the third week of the Homeschool Memoirs theme at HSBA, and I'm behind. Sigh. I know, I know, there's no pressure or anything. Not that I haven't blogged. I just haven't taken the time to complete this. So, I'll post last week's today and this week's . . . well, not today. Maybe tomorrow. Or something.

This week’s theme is about sharing your 2008-09 homeschool agendas and plans.

Please share a Bible verse that has encouraged you or inspired you during this planning-process, and how.

2008-2009 Game Plan at High Altitude Academy

Planning this year was quite a challenge a little more work than in years past.

ClayGuy is in 9th grade now (read: HIGH SCHOOL). At least according to the public school powers that be, that's how he is classified. That brought a whole new can of worms set of parameters. While the homeschool laws in Colorado aren't terribly stringent, I still feel that it's important for the boys to meet graduation requirements. I don't know if they'll pursue college at some point, but they need to at least be able to do so, should they wish.

It took me a few days to round up the specific requirements for our state. Then I dug into the book, High School @ Home, You Can Do It! by Diana Johnson. What a blessing that book was! I was feeling a bit lost, but after reading her book, and combining it with the graduation requirements, I was equipped to put together a four-year high school plan. Oh, the other integral part of homeschooling is Robin Sampson's Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach.

Since the Comedian is only 17 months younger, he'll pretty much follow the same plan, with minor curriculum variations.

I'm a form junkie and Diana offered some great ones on the CD in her book, plus I love making my own. After printing the desired forms and putting the plan together, here's where we are:

My Brain in a Binder

• Monthly calendar pages - gives the broad overview for future planning


• Weekly school plans - where I map out the plans for the boys' week


• Daily flight plan - each page covers everything I need to do or remember in a day

Individual Planning Binders for the Boys
These are 1/2" binders that contain the boys' plans. I created a weekly form for them. Last year, we used daily forms, but I really like planning their entire week.

ClayGuy

• Bible - Reading through the Bible (currently in Genesis) and discussion. Praying together. Restarting prayer journals.


• English - Abeka's Grammar & Composition, Wordly Wise vocabulary, daily reading


• Math - Saxon


• Science - God's World Physical Science


• Social Studies - KONOS Elections unit study


• Art - Myriad activities; still active in miniature clay sculpting. Will be getting his etsy store going again.


• PE - Walking daily for now. Plan to enroll in martial arts.


• Computer - Typing, basic computer skills

The Comedian

• Bible - Reading through the Bible (currently in Genesis) and discussion. Praying together. Will restart prayer journals.


• English - Bob Jones Writing & Grammar, Wordly Wise vocabulary, daily reading


• Math - Keys to Algebra


• Science - God's World Physical Science


• Social Studies - KONOS Elections unit study


• Art - Myriad activities; sketching and cartooning


• PE - Walking daily, homeschool bowling. Plan to enroll in martial arts.


• Computer - Typing, basic computer skills, game programming


• Looking at a Boy Scout troop this week as he considers rejoining.

One of my favorite verses the Lord often brings to mind is Isaiah 30:21. It reminds me to quiet myself and listen for His leading.

Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

More Quirks

Michele at Just A Minute tagged me for the Six Quirky Things meme. I have participated in this one before, but since I'm so full of quirks, I'm sure I could come up with six more. Ha! Ha!

1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag six other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.


In no particular order:

• I put at least one ice cube in my milk. It must be very cold.



• My pj shirt cannot have any wrinkles or be bunched up underneath me. Even if I have to get back up and straighten it out.



• I love onion flavor in cooking, but can't stand how they feel in my mouth, so I pick them out. Even if they're quite small.



• Some people like to wear their hair the same. Not me. Not ever. I change it all the time. Long. Short. In between. Ponytail. Sticks. French braid. Barrette. Clip. Up. Down. Even if I do like it, it doesn't last long. Grows too fast to maintain a style. Plus I'm fickle.

















































• I'm a total freak about doors and windows being closed and locked at our house (at least those that concern me). If it occurs to me that something might be open or not have been locked, I have to get out of bed, walk all the way through the house, and check. Then it's hard to go back to sleep because I'm sort of awake. Sigh.



• When I near an intersection while driving, I often look at the crosswalk light to determine my approach. If it's still on WALK, I know it's clear to head on through the intersection. If it's blinking, I'm probably okay, too. But if it's a solid red hand, I slow down, because the traffic light is about to turn yellow/red.

I think I'll tag some Twitter pals:
Robin (the Pensieve one)
Alyssa
Phyllis
Amber
Renae
Lisa B
Karen
Kytikat
Kim

I know, that's more than six, but it's just what I felt like doing. The more the merrier, right? Feel free to join in, even if you're not tagged. Consider this an open tag invitation to you because I'm tired and have to go to bed now. I can't type any more links.