Tuesday, June 21, 2011

"Time to get our summer on!"

In my life this week… It has been a BUSY week!! Steve & I have been watching The Middle this year, and the last episode of the season absolutely sums up how I felt the last 2 weeks!! LOL I am happy to report, though, that I am NOW going to buy a tiki torch & “Get my summer on!” LOL

In our homeschool this week… We had our annual assessment this week & everything looks great! It’s amazing to me all the different things we covered this year, especially using unit studies. I am in love with unit studies! And, the progress we’ve made this year has only made my love grow!! I think I am most in love with Amanda Bennett… She.Is.Awesome.

I am inspired by… My Dad. He has been such a great teacher and leader in my life, and I realize with every passing day, every young woman’s testimony who hasn’t had a great relationship with their dad, how awesomely I have been blessed with mine. He has made it so easy to accept my Heavenly Father because of his example & love in my life… Happy Father’s Day!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing... Last Sunday (NOT Father’s Day) we went to Wegerzyn Gardens for the first time with Daddy (meaning, the kiddos & I have been there, but Steve hasn’t ever been). It was an impromptu trip, and one the kiddos are still talking about! Gotta love that!!

My favorite thing this week was… Friday night was Abbey’s dance recital! I can’t believe how much she has changed from the cute little Pre-dancer to the Tap I class I-can-remember-my-whole-routine dancer… Amazing to see the progress! And, she was still so stinkin cute!!

Things I’m working on… I am working on getting my house clean… Keep reading, there's more to this…

I’m reading… I am getting ready to start Sarah Mae’s 31 Days to Clean; Having a Martha House the Mary Way. I have joined the Homeschooling 31 Days group on Facebook for more accountability & encouragement! Ugh, that I even have to join something like this… But, it is what it is…

I’m grateful for… My family, my home, and my bed. I made my daughter do 3 chores today, and because her attitude stunk (where does that come from? *ahem*), I made her tell me 3 things she was thankful for when she was done with the 3 ‘assignments.’ Her 3 were “Family, Friends, and my bed.” I have to agree with her… And, I totally saw the log sticking out of my own eye at this, so I am also thankful for the things that cause me the most grief. I need to be reminded that these are blessings, not burdens… I have so much when others are happy with much less…

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

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I am linking up with Hip Homeschool Moms, but since I have used the Homeschool Chick's prompts, there's a link to others there, too... I was just too late to join this time around :)

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Homeschool Home Stretch...


In my life this week…We are in the home stretch! We have our assessment scheduled for next Tuesday the 14th… I am trying to keep calm about everything, but I waffle back & forth between “I can DO this!” and “What was I thinking?!?!” Thankfully, I’ve hopped back into my book “Super Homeschool Mom… NOT!” & that has been encouraging & keeping it real for me… Yet, my perfectionism still rears it’s ugly head & that’s what I’m battling.

In our homeschool this week… We have pretty much finished our Spring Surprises unit study. That is part of a series of Download N’ Go by Amanda Bennett that we have been doing this year. We started with Autumn Treasures, continued with Winter Wonders, and are almost finished! Explode the Code… almost finished!! One more lesson in 2 ½, and some post-tests, and we’re done! I want her to finish her Map Quest workbook, too, so we can officially wrap things up & “get our summer on!”

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… This week we celebrated Memorial Day with my parents & my Grandma & Uncle. The kiddos got to play in Dad’s sprinkler (Eli called it “Papa’s pool” lol) and we made a trip to the cemetery.

My favorite thing this week was… How well the week seemed to go while actually doing school work! HAHA It was a great week & we got a lot accomplished. I am starting to see the fruit of not losing my temper patience, and using a gentle, quiet voice. PLEASE DON’T MISUNDERSTAND!! I do NOT mean that I never yelled raised my voice, but I did notice a difference in my attitude this week. That’s what spending time in the Word will do for a gal!

What’s working/not working for us… Setting a no-distraction/no TV/no appointments policy this week, and really & truly devoting an allotted time JUST for school. This sounds like it should happen naturally in a homeschool, but, um, yeah, it doesn’t. Life DOES get in the way, and sometimes the importance of saying, “NO” to these things can get underestimated. Just sayin…

Questions/thoughts I have… Does anyone know if Math-U-See EVER goes on sale?!?!?! Seriously!! Even ebay is pricey!! Ugh…

Things I’m working on… Patience…

Books I’m reading… Super Homeschool Mom… NOT! I LOVE IT... Again, just sayin...

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Philippians 2: 14-16