Canning

Canning, canning , canning its all we do around here lately. I LOVE that our garden has provided such great, healthy food for us to enjoy all winter, but it is alot of canning and cutting. Whew! 

So grateful though!

As you can see I have even had the boys help with making spaghetti sauce. 

And we had 10 times the tomatoes than whats in this picture!!

Sadly, some of them went bad and I had to throw them into the compost pile. :/

School is going pretty good. I have had some rough days and some days that I cried (happy cry) because the boys actually seemed to be learning what I'm teaching them. I know crazy, but that is something that worries me a bit, that they won't learn what they need being at home. 

I do have a little issue with my Language Arts that I was trying and now I am trying to find a new curriculum. 

We have also started learning some Latin, which I love, just because I love learning things like that. I have truly learned so much myself or I guess relearning some things. 

Today in art we went outside and found different textures and colored over them, which was really fun and I participated too. The boys love that. 

So here is our finished textured pumpkins. 

Blue hills

All day nature day. It was great to get out in the Blue hills yesterday. And we finally found the "top secret" waterfalls in the blue hills. It is our favorite thing as a family to go out and fish and just enjoy nature. It was beautiful. 

We are excited to be coming up here again in a couple of weeks with some friends. 

If this isn't the coolest?!?!

~Nature is the art of God. ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SADIE!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MISS SADIE!!

The boys and I wrote her a poem for our journal time today, enjoy!

Sadie’s 2^nd birthday poem

By: Conner, Carter and mom

Sadie is a daisy she likes to go outside and be all crazy.

When just a pup she would whine and mom would hold her and sing a rhyme.

She is a pretty girl; she is so smart too just like her cousin Tutu.

When she toots you better run, because she will make your tum feel like a bum.

When she likes what you think she winks.

Sadie is our lab and we are so glad.

Sadie is two years old today!

Science class

So we have been having fun in science class this week. The boys obviously LOVE insects, amphibians, and reptiles.

Conner and I had a long talk before bed last night about what he wants to be when he grows up. Well after hearing what he said I did some research and found Herpetologist,a branch of zoology, concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles. He wants to work at Pet supplies plus during high school and then possibly work at a zoo. I know this is way in the future and kinda silly to really think this is what he will do. But I do believe he is going to do something with animals. He is a amphibian, reptile, insect lover. He loves finding these guys and can find them anywhere. So I have been focusing on these guys for science and Conner loves it. 

In fact, the other day Conner was walking in the field and found a Chrysalis. I thought it was neat, but didn't realize it was about to hatch. Well yesterday Conner came running in, it hatched. We all said, ya right. But guess what it did and it was a BEAUTIFUL Monarch butterfly. So that day we watched a video on Monarchs and how after this fourth generation (hatches in September, October) butterfly hatches it has to be let go so it can fly to Mexico. So fun. We let his wings dry and will let him go tomorrow, hopefully a sunny, warm day. 

Blossom like a BUTTERFLY

         Something else we found in the field, ya isn't he cute! His name: Argiope aurantia (Black and yellow garden spider).

Conner and his caterpillar watching a video on Monarch butterfly's.

Have a great week! 

Homeschoolingmomfornow :)

Homeschooling, say what?!?!?

Yes, I guess I am now officially one of those crazy homeschooling moms. I can understand now why people say that, it is a bit of a crazy taking on. I have heard though that the reward is great and so far I can see how that's true. Knowing everything about what your child is learning and experiencing it together is a great way to get closer to them and have a bond as parent and child. 

We have been doing this for a week now and I have had some doubt days and have thought what am I doing. Seeing the buses go by and seeing the bus actually stop and wait for the kids (which I do not know why, they know we they are not attending right now). So its seeing that all the time and kind of missing the staff at the school and missing being an aide, so its kind of hard for me, but yet I wanted this. I wanted to try this homeschooling thing and I was excited about it, now Im in doubt. Geez, how does that work. Well I have tried a full week and now at the end of the week, Im thinking this may actually work for us. The boys enjoyed their first week, even though to get them to do their work was a bit challenging. Conner did GREAT and worked hard, but Carter O boy he did his work, but gave me a challenge. 

I have decided to do half day Kindergarten with him, it works much better than full day for now. 

So anyways, for now we are homeschooling. I am going to take it year by year. 

Also, I should say that we are part of a co-op in our area, which is great. We have co-op twice a month and they actually have a "real" school day. Volunteers come together and teach whatever subject they have a degree in or are good at. So they offer science, math, art, gym. Its a great co-op and they have lots of volunteers, especially will all the kids they have now. We also will be joining a choir, possibly Conner will get guitar lessons and go on field trips and have just fun homeschool play dates and volunteering at the nursing home once a month (the boys love that). I have also enrolled Conner in Art at public school, and he will remain in cub scouts, soccer and try out basketball through our school district. Both the boys will be in Awanas together. 

I am currently taking my last course for Medical Transcription and have taken on the role of Popcorn kernel for cub scouts while homeschooling and planning their schedules, wheew! So its been busy and will continue that way until Christmas, then my schedule will slow down. 

I plan to look for a part time job online for MT, so hopefully that will work out. 

Also, I would like to say that Josh is on board with this. He has helped teach Carter on his half day and I will have him teach the boys about hunting, or how to do some art stuff (since he is an artist), or how to build things, just important things only dads can teach their boys. 

I would appreciate your prayers and encouragement!!

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 22:6

The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

                     Most days will look like this.....

                                 Some days will look like this......

 On recess I get lots of flowers for now....                                The boys also enjoy hanging out with other homeschool friends and play.

 This guy here is out class pet...... :)

I will keep you updated and maybe show curriculum Im using and just talk about homeschooling.