Contest time!

Here is our mystery contest! What did we take a video of while sitting in our living room learning about Magellan, his voyage and demise. It was such a wonderfully warm day as we were enjoying being a homeschooling family. The first person who guesses what this video is will received a wonderful prize. Yes, we do have angels that quite often frequent our house but this is not one of them.

Reasons to homeschool!

Yesterday Chaiya called at 9:22, they were in lock-down at the high school and she couldn't leave the seminary bldg. Since she is not a student , she is not allowed on campus but they had to lock-down the seminary too to keep track of students. Apparently there was a black SUV and some shooting had occurred in the parking lots. This did not do my momma heart good! She was able to come home at 11:00. What really happened that we found out later, was some kid was playing with illegal fireworks and then didn't come forward and tell the truth. Chaiya said there were police swarming all over. Then I found out last night from a friend that this was the second time in a week. I want my children safe. I am grateful that I can homeschool where I don't have to worry about which kid brought a gun or a knife to school that day.
I threatened never to let her out of the house again. lol

On the homeschooling side: I came across two resources that are fab!!!! We use audio books and StoryNory and LibriVox have them for free. Storynory is for younger children and has Aesop's fables, fairytales and other fun stories. LibriVox features books that are in the public domain like Austen, Shakespeare, poetry etc... You can download them, listen online etc... Just click and enjoy! Quayde listened to Riki Tiki Tavi this morning as we have started our main lesson unit on India. Check these sites out , they are just that wonderful! For our Waldorf inspired friends, Arabelle Buckley's "Fairyland of Science" is almost finished in production. I can't wait.

Okay now for personal stuff.... As you all know I am trying to read a book a month for my own pleasure! Not home school related, not children picture book related but a real book. My current one almost finished (I know I only have a few days) is Elizabeth Gilbert's, "Eat, Pray, Love"
Here's the deal...I need suggestions!!!! Please leave a comment telling me what book or books you have thoroughly enjoyed so I can have some ideas. Maybe I'll choose your favorite one next. I am so not into anything that will be negative , no Stephen King or anything. So let me know!

Last week we had a little reprieve from winter but this morning we awoke to snow...beautiful snow. Although it is always just enough and not too much. The kids had fun playing in the back, making snowballs, snowmen and getting cold. By this evening it was all melted and gone. It's perfect here.

This is my 100th post of this new blog!!! We went to the Ren Faire on Monday and had a blast! The older kids said they liked it way way better than the stupid county fair. Don't waste your money on getting the face paint...I had promised Lyd prior to going and didn't know it would cost me $12 for the smallest heart thing. Yikes! Our favorites were the storybook castle and the Hey Nunnie Nunnie show! We had so much fun enjoying the perfect weather and all the characters. It was Michael's first time to go to one of these and he said it almost made him want to dress up. Quayde and Maliea had the giant turkey legs for lunch. Thayne was just intrigued! We were all quite tired by the time we got home but quite happy.

Lydia got measured for her wheelchair today!!! She got to pick out a cool color and everything. At first before she saw the color chart she said she wanted purple but then she saw the chart and metallic red was the choice. We decided to go ahead a get a chair because she gets so tired after walking for just a little while. You can't really be cool when you are almost 8 and still riding in a baby stroller. The lady from the state said it might be summer but the medical supply guy thought it might only be a few weeks. Since he's the one ordering it , we will believe him. Years ago I dreaded the whole thought of a chair but time has a way of making things okay. She needs to have mobility and she is getting much to heavy for me to carry everywhere. I am not a young spring chicken even if I would like to convince myself that I am.

Yesterday we wanted to do something fun for superhubby. So we got tons of hearts, Chaiya made some and we had sticky note ones and headed out. The plan was to heart attack the truck to show him just how much we love him. Michael had parked in his normal little reliable spot, so finding the truck was easy. Lydia and Quayde were on the hood and top. Thayne did the back and the girls the sides. We had his truck covered in hearts!!!! I placed a copy of his now favorite movie, Across the Universe, inside on the seat and it was ready for him!
So was he surprised?
NO! He told me he expected something wild and crazy but that he thought we would do it before his lunch.
Great now wild and crazy is predictable and expected. I told him next time I guess I'll get a skywriter.
At least all the other employees where he works thought it was fun and we were cool.

Happy Valentines Day

There has been so much going on! Quayde wanted to make gifts for his siblings for valentines. So we started last week and he wet felted hearts for his older sisters. They can hang them or wear them as a large pin. Then he and I work on Lydia's and Thayne's gifts . We created some felt bean bags for Lyd. She loved the different colored hearts and for Thayne we needle felted a ball. We have been having so much fun creating. Quayde and I are now making another ball for him.
Happy Valentines everyone!

I'm the coolest mom!

Yesterday Quayde wanted those yummy boston creme filled chocolate covered donuts. So Super Mom threw on her cape and decided to make them. I first spent a great deal of time creating the creme pastissiere which then had to cool at room temperature then be chilled. Then I created the to die for chocolate coating. I cheated on the donut dough part cause I was running out of patience and time. The verdit was yummy yummy to our tummies!

Lydia also wanted a Hannah Montana tee shirt which I made with a tee shirt transfer. After receiving it and putting it on, she thought I could whip up a Hannah Montana doll. Okay.... I'm just not that good yet.

Great math game!

I love it when I find a great resource for home schooling! Big Brainz company has a fablous game to teach and practice mulitplication tables. The best part...it's FREE! The game is called Timez Attack . Check it out at their site. We are not affiliated with them in any way just are loving the game!

February

Ahhhh the month of love, groundhogs and Presidents! So happy to be in the here and now. January was a hard month for our family health wise, so I am glad to be done. The best day of January was Quayde's birthday.
Looking forward to celebrating our anniversary on the 29th by taking a three day mini vacation sans children, going to the Rennassiance fair and having lots of fun this month. Lydia wants to put hearts everywhere so we are going to decorate on Monday.
I just finished an inspiring book called "Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire" by Rafe Esquith. He is an incredible public school teacher in central LA! I actually paid full price for the book to own it. Something I never do. It was worth every single penny to read about a man who truly believes in children and their potential. I am going to make the attempt to read at least a book a month for me. I read tons and tons of books we get for the kids at the library but have rarely create the time to read for me. So that is something I want to do this year. One down.