Weekly Wrap Up– Olivia Turns 8

 

The highlight of the week was definitely Olivia’s 8th birthday.   It’s funny, but all those little old ladies at Wal-Mart were right when they’d pass by our cart and say “enjoy your baby, she’ll be grown before you know it”.   Where on earth did 8 years go?  

Since her birthday fell on the weekend of our anniversary and Easter, we decided to have her party a week late, so I won’t have photos to share until next week.   Although I do have this lovely photo of her, still in her jammies eating chocolate cake for breakfast on her birthday! (Disregard the gift in her hand, but there was no good way to crop that photo.)

The scores for the year end standardized testing arrived this week.  Both girls scored VERY well.  So we’re chalking this year up as a definite success and moving on!

Softball and baseball are keeping us busy.   The Sparks (Olivia) have played 3 games, and lost all three….horribly so.   Moffett (Lindsey) has played 5 games, but since it’s t-ball they don’t keep score.

Notice what a great stance Olivia has when batting?  Notice the yellow blurb in the far right corner of the second photo (about a foot above her head)?   Yeah, that’s her pitch….so she’s getting walked, a lot.

There really will be photos of Lindsey playing.   I’m the “team mom” and trying to keep 13 five year olds corralled, uninjured and coherent doesn’t leave a lot of time for photo taking.   I’m working on it, k?

Wednesday night was like the made for TV movie “Night of the Twisters”.   We were under tornado watches and WARNINGS most of the night.  One after another…. It sounded like a war was taking place outside our house,  so we prayed (from the basement).   Carrying a sleeping 77 pound child down a flight of basement stairs is probably as life threatening as a tornado.   I stayed up all night, tracking the storms and tornadoes on the internet…praying for those in the path.

Thursday and Friday were a blur of activity getting party plans together.  Some ball games and the beginning of a weekend sleep over.  Olivia’s friend Abby will be with us for several days while her mom and dad run away take a little weekend excursion.

Continue to pray for all of us here in the southeast.  The material damage will slowly be repaired.  But the lives lost are irreplaceable and those left behind will take a lot of time to heal.

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HSV Garden Challenge– Spring in the Garden

Sometime between the first Garden Challenge post and now, it finally quit raining enough for me to get outside and take photos of my garden(s).   I did a lovely write up on my other blog S.A.H.M. I Am!, so be sure to head over and check out the photos from early April.

Remember all of my cute seedlings from the first garden challenge post?   Dead.   All dead.  It was not however my fault.  My darling spouse, in his attempt to “help” me decided to put miracle grow on the precious little seedlings…and fried them all to a crisp.   So I’m not too happy about that.   I’ve started new squash and tomato plants.  The peppers  will just be bought from the nursery instead of replanting at this point.

What we’ve learned??   MIRACLE GROW is evil!

Currently we have peas, onions, lettuces, endive and spinach coming up in the veggie garden.

The Farm Service Agency has some great resource for kids gardening.  They also sent us “Alphabet of Farm Fresh Food” coloring books and we’ve used those to learn about some of the vegetables we’ve already planned to grow, and we’ve added a few more now as well.

I’ve been wanting an herb garden for the past few years, but getting it built has proven to be a challenge.   So this week, Lindsey and I took matters into our own hands (and pots).  We planted sage, basil, oregano, chives. cilantro and mint.

Our strawberry patch is blooming and thriving (please God, keep the squirrels away a little while longer).

There are LOTS of flowers blooming, here are a few of my favorites.

By next month we’ll have all of the veggies in the garden.   I can’t wait to show it to you!

Be sure to stop by The Homeschool Village and see the progress other  participants have made in their gardens along with the Garden Challenge!

The Blue Footed Booby (Product Review)

I recently had the opportunity to use and review the e-book “The Curiosity Files – Blue Footed Booby” from The Old Schoolhouse.

This colorful, 98 page e-book is jam packed with everything you need to complete a fun, educational and memorable unit study.  I mean really, what kid wouldn’t be enthralled by “the blue footed booby”?   Just saying it makes you want to giggle.   If you’d like to see some excerpts, click here.

At only $6.95 you really can’t go wrong with this product.  Just take a look at what’s included:

• Bible study, discussion ideas, and memory verses
• Math, history, and geography investigations
• Literature and suggested book list
• Writing, spelling, and vocabulary activities
• Beautiful copywork pages (manuscript and cursive)
• Science observations, projects, and experiments
• Discussion questions
• Art, crafts, and drawing and coloring pages
• Lapbook/notebook pages and helpful lapbooking links
• Special needs, hands-on discoveries
• Internet resources and video links
• Complete answer key

I like that there are quizzes included in this unit study!  I like having paperwork to show that the kids really are retaining what we’re learning about!  I also like that there are vocabulary/spelling lists for the elementary, junior high and high school levels. 

There is mention of evolution in the context of the blue footed booby being an evolution stumper.   Although the intention is good, in being an evolution stumper, ending this portion of the study with the comment that the Galapagos Islands is a “living laboratory of evolution” seems to put more of a plug in for evolution than against.  So, you may want to pre-read around page 9 prior to jumping in unaware.

You can purchase and download your copy by clicking here.

I received a copy of this e-book free for review purposes only.  The thought and opinions in this review are strictly my own.  I received no compensation for this review.

Presidential Penmanship (U.S. Shipping Only)

This is giveaway is for the Presidential Penmanship BJ Style Complete Program.  (Windows and Macintosh compatible, Acrobat Reader required.)

Enter to win by simply leaving a comment. Giveaway will close on May 1st at 8pm and winner will be chosen randomly. This giveaway is open to US residents only.  Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Be sure to visit the main Curriculum Clean-Out post from April 25th thru May 1, 2011 for other great giveaways.

Weekly Wrap Up–Spring Break Week #1

 

Ahh, a week of nothing to do….not sure who’s world that would be, but it’s certainly not mine!   I did managed to start the spring cleaning this week!   I finished the family room/class room so at least we have a nice and clean area when we start up.

Sunday evening we invited some family members over for dinner and then we all embarked on the annual egg coloring frenzy.  We did 6 dozen eggs this year. 

Monday was Olivia’s first softball game of the season.   Their uniforms arrived, with the wrong colored shorts, so they looked a bit mix and match with everyone having different colored shorts/pants on.  I’d like to say the game was stellar, and it was, for the other team.  They won 17-6, but Olivia had fun and that’s all that matters, right?

Here is a photo of the entire team.   Olivia is on the FAR left.  Notice how much smaller she is than everyone else? 

Maybe this is a better representation of her teammates size compared to her.   Yeah, number 13 claims to be 10….I’m not thoroughly convinced.

Thursday was busy!!  It was our 10 year wedding anniversary, we had Activity Day, and both girls had ball games in the evening!  Sheesh!

The girls spent the night at Mamaw’s Thursday night, all day Friday and will return on Saturday in time for a ball game.   So today the hubster and I went out to the movies and dinner and just did grown up stuff!

I hope you have had a wonderful week!  Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday, and in your spare time, check out the Weekly Wrap Up!

Activity Day–The Lorax

It just so happened that this month, our Activity Day meeting fell the day before Earth Day.  So what better book than “The Lorax”?   After reading the book, we discussed animal habitats, and how animals use their surroundings to create their homes, find food and be protected.   I brought out the bird nests again for a great visual.

We planted some cherry trees and sunflower seeds to create a future habitat for various insects and food for birds and squirrels.

I also stole this wonderful experiment about water pollution from Cindy at Along the Way.   The kids loved adding various debris and pollution to the water and then trying to decontaminate it as much as possible.

I printed off some simple Creation mini-books.  As we worked on coloring them we discussed how God had made the earth and the things on it, and that He told us to take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

Weekly Wrap Up–The One With Walking Pneumonia

You know it’s going to be a long day when one of the kids wakes you up at 1am and you never get back to bed.  That was my Monday.  Lindsey was fine Sunday other than a sporadic, junky sounding cough, and she was fine when she went to bed.  At 1am she was coughing so bad she turned purple, and she even busted a blood vessel in her eye.  We were at the pediatrician’s office first thing Monday and after blood work it was determined that she had walking pneumonia.  As the doctor was writing the prescription for Lindsey, Olivia started to cough with the same wet yucky sound.  The doctor graciously wrote a prescription for her to save me a trip later in the week…he’s a good man!

This was already scheduled to be a very light last week of school.  So we didn’t do a lot.   We finished up our last 3 days of Abeka math for Olivia and Abeka math and language arts for Lindsey.

On Thursday both girls completed their year end standardized tests.  I use the CAT test, it’s simple to administer, inexpensive and the folks at Seton have a really fast turn around time!  Technically, Lindsey wouldn’t have to be tested this year since she wasn’t 6 by September 30 of this past school year.  However, I opted to test her for my own records.

We skipped softball and baseball practices early in the week to give everyone time to get feeling better.  The pediatrician said they were ok to go about their normal lives on Monday, but that just didn’t sound right to me, and I thought a little extra rest couldn’t hurt anything.  

So Olivia was back to softball on Thursday night, and ballet on Friday night.  Baseball resumes tomorrow (weather permitting) if all goes well with ballet tonight.  Olivia is 100%…Lindsey is still getting fatigued easily and I noticed she was coughing more yesterday after being outside watching Olivia practice.

That is pretty much our week.  Just finishing up a few loose ends.  We’ll be off the rest of April and then return to a much looser schedule for the summer months.   Not to worry, I will be posting about other things so don’t fear that I’ve abandoned ship!

Be sure to visit the Weekly Wrap Up!

Weekly Wrap Up–Texas Week #2

Whoosh!  That’s the sound of my week as the flurry of activity swept me away!  Our academic year is quickly coming to an end and I’ll admit I’m looking forward to a bit of breathing room.  We had three softball practices, two baseball practices and a scrimmage in addition to our regular activities.  

History/geography:  We finished up Texas this week.  Our main focus was on the Alamo and Jim Bowie.   Did you know that Jim Bowie fell ill before the siege of the Alamo and was too ill to even raise his head during the battle?  He was killed where he lay.  Santa Ana was one cruel and crazy leader, and an opium addict…THAT explains a lot!  I had printed out an Alamo fact sheet and picture for the girls to put in their notebooks.  Olivia colored the majority of her paper red.  “Because there was too much blood shed there.” 

Books we used:

Jim Bowie, Frontier Legend, Alamo Hero; by J.R. Edmondson
The Alamo; by Tim McNees
Life at the Alamo; by Sally Senzell Isaacs
Inside the Alamo; by Jim Murphy
Adventures of Jim Bowie (VHS)

Science:  We studied the endocrine and muscular systems this week.  We finished our mini-me, adding eyes and muscles.  Then our finished projects went in the girls science notebooks.   This ended our science curriculum for the year.

Latin:  Gardening words were our topic for the week.  Those have come in handy as we are planting seeds and starting our garden for the year.

Language Arts:  We finished up our “Year” poetry notebooks and illustrations.  We continued to review nouns, verbs and adjectives.

Math:  We are on our last few lessons of math, so they are mostly just reviewing previously learned skills.  We’ll spend the summer months strengthening weak areas.

Softball/baseball:  We finally got the schedules for both teams.  The only weekend game for softball is May 8…Mother’s Day.  What ding-dong schedules a softball game on Mother’s Day?  Sadly, we’ll have to go because it’s the only game my husband will get to see.  The first game for baseball is April 15, and the first softball game is April 18.

Piano/ballet/tap:  Nothing too noteworthy here.  Everyone continues to work on their recital work.

Awana:   Both girls have finished their books and are now working their way back through.

I ordered all of our curriculum for next year!  So be looking for a post about what we’re doing in 2011-2012 (gosh that sounds odd).

Check out the Weekly Wrap Up as you sit and take a break!

Spring Curriculum Clean Out–Coming Soon!

Once again it’s time for the spring Curriculum Cleanout hosted by Jolanthe at Homeschool Creations.   The giveaway will run from April 25 – May 1, 2011.

This is NOT a sale, but an actual giveaway.  Look through those piles of unused curriculum and see what items you would like to bless another homeschooling family with.  Then post your give away, and link up in one central location at Homeschool Creations.   Of course, don’t forget to visit all the other blogs and enter chances to win lots of wonderful goodies yourself!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - FREE

If you have ever wanted to read a copy of The Old Schoolhouse, but haven’t been able to purchase a subscription yet, you are in luck!  The spring edition goes to the printer soon and the folks at TOS are giving away 3,000 free copies (even shipping is free).

To get your free copy follow this link and then be sure to enter coupon code SPRING11TOS at the end of the checkout process.

Hurry,  they won’t last long!

Weekly Wrap Up–Texas Week #1

For those of you who live in Texas, I’d like to say that Texas is so big it took us two weeks to finish.  Granted it is big…but truth be told I wasn’t feeling well early in the week and I just flat didn’t do as much as I’d planned.  Also, since next week is our last full week in this “school year” I figured we’ll just end with Texas next week.

So, this week we focused on the state facts and President Eisenhower and President Johnson.  I had no clue that Eisenhower was in charge of the Allied Forces during WW II and that he planned and commanded the entire D-Day attack (also know as Operation Overlord).   Johnson of course took President Kennedy’s place after the assassination.  He was not in an enviable position for many reasons, but was known for trying his best in the most difficult of situations.

Books we used:

Texas; by Mary G. Ramos & Dick J. Reavis
Amazing Texas; by T. Jensen Lacey
Texas; by Simon Adams & David Murdoch
It’s My State Texas; by Linda Jacobs Altman
Profiles of the Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower; by Lucia Raatma
Encyclopedia of Presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower; by Jim Hargrove
Profiles of the Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson; by Michael Burgan
Lyndon B. Johnson; by Megan M. Gunderson
Getting to Know the Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson; by Mike Venezia

Language Arts:  We reviewed nouns, pronouns, verbs and adjectives and worked on dictation.   We added a few more months to our poetry notebook as well.

Science:  Our focal point for our mini-me this week was the Integumentary System (aka your skin).   We learned the names of the 3 layers of skin (epidermis, dermis and adipose layer).   The girls also added a layer of skin to their face on the mini-me.  I’m not sure why they look so gothic, but once we add the eyeballs I’m sure they’ll look better…I hope.

Then we moved on to our fingerprints.  Mental note…next time use washable ink.

We’ve also been working on gardening as part of our science.  We have several types of tomatoes started, along with lettuce, cabbage and cucumbers.  The eggplant, squash and peppers aren’t doing too well, so we replanted those.

Math:  Olivia’s new concept was telling time to the minute.  No big issue there.  She’s doing great with her multiplication and division facts.  Lindsey is still working on time to the quarter and half hour, counting change and her addition facts.

Latin:  Water words were the topic for the week.     

Softball/baseball:  Ok folks, I realize that it’s officially “spring” by the calendar.  But come on guys, when it is in the 30’s and raining lets cancel some practices!   Lindsey’s dear coach has enough common sense to cancel. Softball is apparently a much more serious sport in the area.   The good news is the local college softball coach is working with the team and he’s mentioned several times how well Olivia plays to only be 7 (and dwarfed by her teammates). 

Ballet/tap:  Still charging ahead to the spring recital.  There will be no spring break this year as Easter week falls 2 weeks before the recital and they aren’t willing to give up that extra practice.

Piano:  Olivia continues to do well.  She’s improving each week.

Awana:  Both girls are finished their books for the year, so we’re taking it easy with the review. 

Visit the Weekly Wrap Up! and say hi to everyone!