Our Schedule.....

We might have to be kinda, sorta flexible this year, at least at first. BUT, I have followed this schedule for the last few years and it has worked for us. But, then again, Audrey took 2 naps last year and that was very helpful for us to turn and burn while she was asleep. Plus we will have a little blue bundle to work around. But, we WILL get the basics done each day. Mark my words.....

Each day:
*Breakfast, clean-up, morning jobs done, dressed, hair combed and ready to start school by 9am.
*Family Prayer to start our school day. Scripture reading as a group and\or reading from the Friend.
*Pledge Of Alligence (we did forget this a few times last year. Bad teacher).
*I use a sort of "work box" method. I don't have room for the whole box thing for each kid. (Each child would need like 10 plastic shoebox sized bins and something to put them in and I don't want to do that. We do our school in the kitchen\living room area and the only other room upstairs is a smaller room that has craft things in it. Oh, and Noah's changing table and bassinette are in there now. No room.) Anyway, the younger two have a file sized plastic bin with a lid that I fill each night with their assignments, put in numbered gallon sized baggies. They don't have to do it in order, but it all must be done. They can choose what to do first, but they can't choose something I need to help them with if I am already helping someone else. Make sense?

I usually do math with Sasha first off to get it done while the other two do their handwriting or something like that. Then I just rotate through them all, doing one-on-one with math and reading with the younger two. I map out what I want them to do each week, in each book so I know how far they need to get each day. Sasha doesn't do work out of each book, each day. Her list of textbooks is a little long, so I just make sure we are getting to them all each week.

12:00-ish Lunchtime. Naptime for Audrey, who has been doing who-knows-what all morning. Oh dear, this will be interesting. Play outside for a bit while I get lunch cleaned up and Audrey to bed.

1pm-3pm or however long we need: I have been doing a "subject of the day" and it has worked well. I need to tweek it a little since our new science book said if I want to complete the entire book, I need to do science at least 3 days a week. Wow. We usually only do one. This will be an experiment for us to do more than that......
Monday: History, maybe Geography
Tuesday: Science
Wednesday: Geography and\or Latter-Day Prophets; Probably one more lesson in science so we can finish our textbook.
Thursday: We are either having science group or swimming in the morning. Then Sasha has art in the afternoon. We try to get at least a math assignment done, but that is hard sometimes since we need to gone by 10am or earlier. I have had to be kinda flexible on Thursday's.
Friday: Has been a catch-up day, or a deep cleaning day, or a baking day, crafts, sewing, or a day of chilling out!! Sometimes we go to a play group that meets once a month.

I try to be all done with school by 3pm. Jobs must be done before they play.
3pm-4pm: Kids can play electronics or watch TV
4pm-5pm: Dinner prep and cooking. They each have a night to be my helper.
5pm-5:30pm: Clean-up and get ready for dinner.
Evenings: We mostly just hang out and play. Sometimes there are sports my kids are doing.

Family scripture study, prayer and beds by 8pm. My husband reads to them each night whatever they want him to. Well, that is it. We also follow of a traditional school year. I don't take time off during the school year; we just keep plugging along to be done by the end of May. I love having the summer off and don't want to do anything but play in the sun!! Speaking of which, I think I shall go outside and work on my tan..............

p.s.
I am having my baby tomorrow and I am so nervous, and excited, and slightly apprehensive. I can't believe we will have 5 kids. Can I do this? I hope so! No turning back now. Having c-sections is always a little scary and I always get a little nervous. It always goes well, but I still get nervous. I am so glad I will be getting a blessing tonight from my dear husband and our home teacher. I will post pictures here but probably on facebook first since it is easier to do with my phone than on here..........

Our curriculum 2011-2012

I think I am ready to rock and roll as far as curriculum is concerned. Here ya go, for those that are curious. (I LOVE knowing what my homeschooling buddies are using, so I figure they might be curious about what we use as well.......)

5th Grader Sasha:

Saxon Math 6\5
Math Wrap-ups or dice games for math facts
Rod and Staff Grammar 5th grade
Explode the Code 8 (this has been super helpful for my little sweetie who struggles with phonics a bit)
Spellwell
Wordly Wise
Journal or letter writing
Open Windows book 5 from the Reading to Learn Series. (Added this to the mix for the year. It is basically a book of short stories, poems etc and each one starts with a scripture that relates to the topic. It also has words highlighted in each section that you could use for vocabulary and spelling. I hope I like it! My other two will use books from the same series, according to their grade).
Art Class each Thursday taken from an awesome homeschooling momma who teaches out of her home. This will be Sasha's 2nd year with her. LOVE it!
Cursive Handwriting workbook (continuing from last year.....)
Reading: Books of her choice with a few thrown in I think she would enjoy. I have a few classics I would like her to read this year. She is working on reading Treasure Island right now.
Typing.....I am surprised kids her age are already typing, so I might get a program for her to start in the winter. I didn't take typing until 7th grade!!
4-H sewing group, twice a month
Swimming twice a month

2nd Grader- Seth
Saxon 2 and 3. He is about halfway done with Saxon 2. Math comes easy to him, the lucky little stinker!!
Math wrap-ups and dice games for math fact practice
Explode the Code 3 1\2, 4 (I have them do at least 4 pages a day, but they can do more. I give them $3 for completing a workbook, so if they want to do more each day, they can! I just see how far we get and order the next one as needed. Seth needed to do the "1\2" book they offer just to reinforce the concepts, but he may not need to do that each time.)
Beyond the Code, for extra reading comprehension
Journal or letter writing
All About Spelling for review as needed
Happy Phonics (a great collection of games and little books created by a veteran homeschooling momma from Utah! Her family has a great website http://www.lovetolearn.net/. I have her homeschooling handbook and that has been very helpful for making curriculum choices).
Happy Hearts Book 2 from the Reading to Learn Series
Handwriting Workbooks (Found some on Amazon, but I still am looking for something better.....we will get by with what I have for now)
Scouts in the fall!!! Yay, Seth
Swimming twice a month

1st Grader-Addie
Saxon 1
Math file folder games for math fact practice. Other games I make up as we go........
Explode the Code 1, 1 1\2, 2 or however far she gets.
I Wonder: Book 1 in the Reading to Learn Series
All About Spelling Level One
Happy Phonics
Journal or letter writing
Handwriting Workbook
Other File Folder games I have made up and are ready to go on various topics. These have been great to keep her busy while I help the older ones. I found them all for FREE on http://www.filefolderfun.com/ Great resource!
Swimming twice a month

All together:
Science--Apologia Zoology 1. This is our first try at this. I have just done science on my own but have felt I need more structure and less prep work. This program got great reviews, so I hope it works for us. I also bought the notebooking program to go along with it, as well.
We also belong to a science group and this will be our 2nd year with them. We have a topic a month and meet twice; one for a lesson and one is a field trip. We take turns teaching each month. It has been fun and something we look forward to.

History--US History Part 2. I used The Complete Book of United States History from American Education Publishing. Low cost. Short chapters. Fun to read. It is written for grades 3-5 but it still worked for the younger ones. We did up to the Civil War last year, so we will pick up where we left off. I use the library a lot for history and get books relating to our current chapter so all my kids can look at them. I need to include more notebooking, lapbooks etc this year to do more, I am thinking. We also sing songs from the cd Wee Sing American Songs and that has been fun.

Geography:
I bought some GeoPuzzles (world, Europe, and the US) and can't wait to use them! This year I plan on using them, but focusing on the US since we are studying US history again this year. We will pick a state a week or so. Can you say "Library Books rock"??!! What a blessing to have all those books right at our fingertips. My goal is to have them know the states by the end of the year. Sasha will know the capitols as well.

Latter-Day Prophets--I would like to get back on track with this and do two prophets a month. I got off track last year and stopped doing it. Being pregnant is not good for me and being on target with extra stuff like this.

I think that is it! I don't have a list for our read-alouds yet. I do have lots of books here to pick from so I will go with that for now. I am sure our year might get off to a rocky start with a newborn and a toddler along for the ride, but I am sure we will find our groove...........right????

I can wait one more day.......

Well, Little Noah won't be joining our family on the day I thought. I was scheduled to go in on the 27th during the lunch hour. But the midwife who scheduled it didn't check my ob's schedule first........

I went to see my ob today and told him I am on the books for the 27th and was that ok with him? (Just being silly.)He began my ultrasound and kept saying, "The 27th? Hmmmm, I have something going on that day. Something big. Now what is it?" Finally it came to him. He is taking his daughter to the MTC that day. Pretty important, wouldn't ya say!!?? So, would I mind waiting one more day to have this baby? Of course, Dr. H. Anything for you! Just don't make it two or three more days later or I might just cry right here and now!!

So, the 28th it is. I can wait one more day...........I can smell his sweet little newborn skin already. I can't wait to pat his tiny little newborn bum. :)

p.s.
Could someone break the news to Miss Audrey that I won't be able to pick her up for at least a week or more once her baby brother arrives? I don't think she is going to take too kindly to that news. Oh dear............

What a SURPRISE!!

About a month ago, my cute friend, and fellow pregnant momma, I have gotten to know sent me a text about her throwing me a baby shower. My husband is her and her husband's home teacher and they were Addie's primary teacher last year. (Something they will never forget, I am quite certain. Addie would take off her tights each Sunday, hand them to my friend who would apologetically hand them to me after church. "She wouldn't wear them! I am so sorry!!" is what she would say. I would say, "I am the one who is so sorry that you have my daughter's tights in your hands week after week!!". So funny.) Anyway, I told her I didn't need a shower and I would feel kinda awkward having one since it isn't my 1st baby. That was that. End of discussion. Ha ha.....

Last night, around 7pm I was sitting on a chair outside watching my kids run around in their swimming suits, eating popsicles, and I was also waving to several of my friends as they drove by....one after another.....

So, along comes my sweet neighbors, the parents of my friend. Her mom, Ellen tells me, "Did Will tell ya I am here to take you out for a night on the town with Destree?" Nope, he didn't tell me. He had been working long hours the past few nights, and was nowhere near getting home. (Hooray for settlements just in the nick of time!!! Golly!!) Will is known for planning little things like this for me, so I thought it was sweet and was totally up for a little night away. Brother H. was going to stay with the kids until Will got home, (what a nice guy, as Audrey, sensing I was leaving, started wimpering and wanting me to hold her.....). I asked Ellen if I could go freshen up cause it is summer ya know and I was kinda sweaty.....and yucky!! I asked if she wanted to go get Destree while I got ready. Nope. She didn't want to do that. Hmmmmm, ok.

So, I freshened up a little, and later wished I had done more. We drove around the corner to the house where Destree and her hubby are house-sitting. Cars all over the place. Hmmmmmm. We ring the bell, and yep, all my friends from my ward were there at my surprise baby shower that I remember saying I didn't need. She didn't listen to me! Will gave her the extra push she needed I guess cause after I said "no" she asked him if she should do it anyway, and of course he said "YES!!".

It was a fun night, for sure! The refreshments must have taken them all day!! Everything looked so pretty!! I am truly amazed at how loving and generous the people around here are. I came home and cried as I looked at all the gifts I was given for our sweet little Noah. Yes, it has been nearly 8 years since I have had a boy, and yes, I don't know what happened to the things I used for Seth. But, I never expected or thought I deserved a shower. Sitting there laughing with the sweet sisters in my ward, and knowing they are celebrating the birth of our baby boy really touched me. Most of them probably don't even know what having this little boy join our family means to us. We lost two little boys, both at around 20 weeks and that has left us yearning for another son. A brother for Seth. Well, here comes Noah and we feel so very blessed. So, to have a baby shower celebrating his arrival was very special.

Destree, thank you for not listening to me! I had a blast! Thank you to all who came and celebrated! July 27th is the day he will come join our family. I can't wait!

Summer: I love you....I love you not!

I love summer, but then I don't. I thought, hey why not make some lists and put it on my blog. So, here ya go:

I love summer because....

• Because, hello, it's SUMMER!



• Staying up late, sitting outside in the evening is the best! Oh, and summer mornings are my favorite.



• Eating a watermelon every other day is my favorite! YUMMY!



• Eating veggies out of your garden is so wonderful. Now, if mine would get growing, that would be nice. It took awhile to warm up, remember? I kinda forgot that since it has been kinda hot these past few days.



• The smell of sunscreen is delicious.



• I could go to the swimming pool every...single....day! Love that!



• My kids wear their swimming suits all day, every day, so I don't need to buy them many summer outfits! Nice.



• Shoes are optional when running an errand. Well, I put mine on, but nobody else does. What a timesaver!!
  


• Popsicles are delicious. But not the blue ones. Ick.



• Being tan rocks. You...should...see....my kids!!!! They have been playing outside in their swimming suits for a month and they all tan so fast, so they are so dark!!!



• Fireworks!! Parades!! Yay!



• Celebrating Father's Day, The 4th of July and Will's birthday, all back-to-back is awesome!



• Grilling........yummy!
  

I don't love summer because:

• My kids stay up way too late, and certain ones get a wee bit cranky and cry a lot in the late afternoon. Not gonna name names........but it is getting kinda old.



• Towels. Wet towels. Hoards of them. All over everywhere!!



• Wet floors from wet bodies coming in and out all day long. Audrey keeps falling down, poor baby.



• Popsicle sticks and Otter Pop wrappers strewn all over the yard. I am certain the whole world can hear me holler: "I am NOT buying any more if you don't pick up your trash!! NOW!" I even have a garbage can right outside for them. Sheesh.



• Kids swimming outside all day long equals very hungry kids, all day long! I swear, I am always making someone a sandwhich or something from dawn to dusk and beyond! No wonder my kitchen sink is always full of dishes. I can't keep up! I actually wanted to cry tonight as I stood in front of my kitchen sink and looked at all the dirty dishes that had piled up in a blink of an eye! But, that is just the pregnant lady being emotional.
  


• Fireworks being let off by the neighbors late into the night. After midnight is kinda rude, don't ya think?? Showing patriotism is more than shooting off a bunch of fireworks, ya know.



• Cooking in the summer is challenging. I don't want to use my oven. Nothing much sounds too good but salad, and the kids would not enjoy that every night. I WOULD! So, we end up having really easy, sometimes not very exciting meals. Good thing Will is so sweet and eats anything I put in front of him with a genuine smile upon his face.
  

Hmmm, I think that is all. I do believe my love of summer is stronger than my annoyance at the little things that bug me. We have been having fun! Our neighbors gave us a good sized pool they had no place for in their yard. Best thing EVER! It is only about 3 feet deep and has plenty of room to splash around in. The kids swim from morning until evening with a few breaks here and there. I have not had them do a single math worksheet or much of anything "school" related. Bad mommy. I just want them to be kids and PLAY!! Some of my fondest childhood memories were of summer and just being a kid. Living in my swimming suit, sleeping in a tent outside........

Hope you are enjoying your summer. I am off to do some dishes and prepare for another day of summer fun..............

p.s.
My curriculum came this week! I am excited and will post about them soon. I am trying a new science book and some readers this year. I love getting all ready for a new school year.