Homeschool Memoirs: Chores

For this week's memoir we are to share about our system for chore duty.  Hmm, around here it seems to be clean, pick up, cook, wash turn around and start over lol.  Sigh.  Well I do have a Household Notebook that I've been keeping for about 2 years now that has really helped me stay on top of things (most of the time...some of the time...)  I try to keep to bit of a daily routine, things that must be done each day, and in any spare time I have (HA!) I will "focus" on a different area of the house, so that by the end of a week I have tended to the whole house.

My daily must do routine:

Try and get up before kids
Empty dishwasher
Start laundry
Get kids up and fed

At this point we start school and go until lunchtime.  I fix lunch and while the kiddos eat and have some downtime I:

Switch laundry
Load and run dishwasher
Clean kitchen

At this point in the day, if we have no errands to run and no one is sick and the planets are all lined up just right I can do my "focus."  Here's how that looks:

Mondays:  Master Bedroom
Tuesdays:  Kids Rooms
Wednesdays:  Kitchen and Laundry Room
Thursdays:  Living Room and Hall Bath
Fridays:  School Room and Mom's Desk

For the bedrooms this means changing sheets, dusting and vacuuming.  For the kitchen it means wiping down appliances and mopping the floor.  For the living room it's a good dusting and straightening.  For the school room, on Friday's when we are done for the week, the kiddos put their books and supplies back in the closet and I sort and deal with papers and such on my desk. 

In the afternoon I get the kiddos to pick up the living room and my older boy vacuums.  My 8yo will switch laundry again and my youngest will help me empty the dishwasher.  Then it's dinner and cleaning the kitchen once again.  Clothes get folded and put away.  Then I get some time with dh. :)

There are plenty of times when things don't go as planned and my routine just flies out the window.  On these days I just try and get my must do's done: wash at least one load of clothes and keep the kitchen clean.  If I don't keep up with these chores the people in my home go naked and eat with their hands...just kidding!  But this is the system I have developed over the years.  I feel you just have to find what chores are most important to you and your family and that's what really matters. :)

Homeschool Memoirs: Candy

This week's memoir is a fun one!  We get to share our favorite candy. :)  I am all about chocolate and caramel lol.  Milk chocolate is my fave so you can't go wrong with...

Mmmm.  Now a while back I found a new candy bar that was practically made for me!

Oh baby!  But I haven't seen these around in a while so I don't know if they were just a special deal or I'm the only one who liked them, but they are great.

As far as non-chocolate candy goes, for me it has to be cherry flavored.  The kids know that any red candy goes to mom lol.  I especially like...

Red Tootsie Pops!  That's about it for the candy dept. for me.  Here is my scripture for the week. :)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Homeschool Memoirs: Mom Help

This week I’d like to invite you to share what YOUR “Mom” help is. Some drink coffee, soda, or chai-tea. Others check email or read their favorite blogs. Some talk a walk…. what do you do when you need to clear your head and take a breather?

Scripture Share:

Please share a Scripture that gives you a “mom” help when you’re spirit is feeling overwhelmed.

Well, being from the south, it's not too hard to guess my little helper...sweet tea!  I mainly drink water all day, but treat myself to a big cup of the sweet stuff as necessary. :)  Another treat for me is a good book.  I really enjoy escaping to the other worlds presented to me in a good book.  Finally, as a homeschooling Mom, I'm around my kiddos 24/7, so just taking any kind of trip outside the house by myself is a great help.  I don't get to do this very often, but at least every two weeks I do get to do our grocery shopping by myself.  I get to spend a good hour and a half recharging my mom batteries lol.  And when I get home the boys and dh put the groceries up and eat the 1/2 price Whataburger burgers I picked up for them and I get to eat a microwave meal of my choice anywhere I want...in front of the t.v., with a good book, etc. :)  Yeah for me, tonight is one of those nights!

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

Homeschool Memoirs: Ten Timely Facts

 

The time will be changing again. I think on Sunday but not sure. Anyhow this is our 10th Homeschool Memoirs so this week it’s going to be about 10 timely facts about you! Write 10 interesting, crazy, weird, fun facts about you! Include facts about you as a woman, a wife, a mommy, a homeschooler, a homekeeper, a taxi-driver, a cook, etc . I only put 10 facts because I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but you’re welcome to do more!

1.  I have 4 older brothers and 4 sons.
2.  We live near the beach, but I have a fear of water.
3.  I never wear shoes in the house.
4.  I don't like soda...sweet tea is my favorite drink (other than water.)
5.  My first son was born overseas and has duel citizenship.
6.  I talk to my cats.
7.  I cannot leave the house without a cup of water and my sunglasses.
8.  I've lived through 5 big hurricanes in my life...Frederick (when I was young), Erin and Opal, both in 1995, Ivan in 2004 and Dennis in 2005.
9.  I have a brother named Dennis. :)
10.  I was pregnant with ds4 during hurricane Ivan.  No, his name is not Ivan. :)

That was fun, but a little hard.  I think it's too early in the morning for me to be called upon to be creative.  I look forward to getting to know the other HM participants better through this assignment.  :)

 

Homeschool Memoirs: The _____ Family

This week we are to come up with lyrics to describe our own family based on a song on youtube about a homeschooling family.  I had never heard this before, it was pretty funny.  I really enjoyed this week's exercise, and I can see it's going to be real fun visiting and seeing everyone's creativity. :)  Okay, here's ours.

• We have a lot of boys
• And lots of Lego toys
• Our home is full of joy
• The "B" Family
• At home is where we teach
• Or sometimes at the beach
• Anywhere are feet can reach
• The "B" Family
• (loud)
• (proud)
• (crowd)
• Our life if pretty funny
• Our skies are always sunny
• Our love is sweet like hunny
• The "B" Family

Homeschool Memoirs: Snacks

This week's theme is about our favorite family snacks...yum! I know I will come away from visiting everyone's posts with new ideas for us to enjoy. :)

We try to keep fresh food on hand for snacking...hard to do when 6 people are noshing away all day lol. But when my kiddos get hungry between meals they reach for the bananas, apples, grapes, cut up melons I keep in the fridge and baby carrots with Ranch dressing for dip. Ds2 will eat a tomato like an apple, and ds3 often makes himself a salad for a snack. I know, these kids are crazy! :))

I love to bake, so I do usually have something sweet on hand like a cake or some cookies. Usually we have those for desert and they don't last long. Some of our favorite snacks (that you have to actually "prepare") are vanilla yogurt with sliced bananas and cinnamon sprinkled on top (also yummy with blueberries or strawberries,) toast with peanut butter, sliced bananas and a sprinkle of wheat germ for crunch, and dh's good old "cheese toast" which is just bread topped with a slice of cheese and baked.

Purchased snacks that my kiddos enjoy include Cheerios Snack Mix, granola bars and a quick bowl of cold cereal. That's about it! Hope everyone has a blessed week. Julie

Homeschool Memoirs: Summer Photo Essay

What a neat assignment for Homeschool Memoirs this week!  Gee, living in Florida and near beaches I bet you just can't guess what all my photos will have!LOL!

Let's see, we start our summer break with swim lessons at my alma mater.  This year all three boys participated (this was ds4's first time!)

That's ds3.  This was his second year of lessons and he had a ball.

There is ds4.  This was such a fun group to watch.  They were alternately thrilled and scared.

Ds2, "the pro" in the deep end.  He did dives off the big board this year.

Next a trip to one of our favorite swimmin' holes was in order.  Dh helping ds1 get his fishing gear ready.

Ds4 practicing his surf moves.

Ds3 just being ds3.

His big catch!

Next we spent the 4th of July at my inlaws.  We celebrated ds2 and my niece's bday, saw fireworks and played with kittens.  Oh, and swam. ;)

Bday people blowing candles!

Aw, kittens!

Check out that jump!  The boy can hold his ears and nose closed at the same time. LOL

 

Ds3 participated in a junior ranger program at the Gulf Island National Seashore.

We went to the park a lot.

We visited a butterfly house.

 

That was fun.  I really look forward to seeing everyone's photo essays!  Happy Homeschooling!  Julie

Homeschool Memoirs: Favorite Things

Since I’ve been making you work really hard on the previous Memoir themes I decided to take a little break, and do something fun! This week I want to invite you to share a few of your favorite things - er - sites. I know the list of favorite things could be never-ending, but I’ve made a list for you to do regarding your favorite homeschool things. Just copy this list and add your favorites underneath the appropriate category. BUT by all means you’re welcome to add your other favorite things on the post as well!

• Magazines/Carnivals - in print or online
• I like Heart of the Matter online and Practical Homeschooling in print.
• Freebie sites - any sites that offer freebies or often have giveaways
• I like Homeschoolshare for lapbooking and Currclick for their weekly freebies.
• Mom site - a sites just for moms
• The Homeschool Lounge is great!
• Memes
• Homeschool Memoirs of course! ;)
• Organizing/crafts - sites that you look to for organizing tips or crafts
• The Crafty Crow has neat ideas from all over blogville.
• Homeschool Method - sites that offer a lot of info on a certain method
• I don't know that this is a method, but I like Little Laplinks for lapbooking.  The Five in a row site is good, too.
• Family blog - sites that give you a glimpse into another family’s life, run by a family
• I enjoy following many homeschooling family blogs, but a few are By Sun and Candlelight, Less of Me, More of Him, Love's School, The Four Little Penguins, Homeschooling and Loving It, and Mom's Mutterings.

Here are some sites I have bookmarked under "homeschool resources" in my favorites:

• Enchanted Learning
• Thehomeschoolmom.com
• learningpage.com
• homeschool.com
• donna young

I know I am late with this week's assignment, sorry.  I also realize I did not make links...again, sorry.  I do look forward to visiting other HSM posts and I'm sure I'll find all kinds of new favorites!

Julie

Homeschool Memoirs: Something New

This week's theme for Homeschool Memoirs, hosted at Homeschool Blog Awards is Something New.  We are to share any new curriculum choices we have made this year.  And yes, I am using some new resources this year and will gladly share about them.

I have been using Abeka's Language Arts program with ds2, my 8th grader, from the beginning.  A great program and I highly recommend it btw.  He has pretty much mastered grammar, but needs improvement in writing.  Therefore this year I'm not doing any formal language arts with him and just having him concentrate on writing with this book.

Spectrum Writing Grade 8

I picked it up at the local bookstore and it is widely available.  So far, so good.  It reviews the basics and then has specific lessons for various writing from a basic paragraph to compare/contrast, and incorporates the writing process in each lesson.

We have also covered a lot of the basics in science, and ds requested a bit more hands-on for this year.  I picked up this book at a local homeschool convention.

McWizKid Science

Needless to say, ds asks to do science first every day. :)  The projects are easy and use everyday items, but you really do learn a lot.  I let ds2 conduct the experiments and the littler guys be helpers and observers.  Btw, I met Mr. McWizKid and his wife at the convention...very nice people.

One last new resource for us this year is an art program compiled by Barb or HarmonyArtMom and using Usborne's Introduction to Art and Masterpieces to Color. 

Ds has really enjoyed this, and Barb's lesson plans have been a help to me.

That's about it!  I look forward to seeing everyone's new resources for the year, but honestly hope I don't fall in love with anything...my homeschool budget is gone LOL!

Julie

Homeschool Memoirs #3: Routines

This week for Homeschool Memoirs, hosted by Homeschool Blog Awards, we are to share about our routines.  This year our routine is a bit more, um, routine than in the past. ;) My youngest is almost 4 now and he is able to join in with schooling more and occupy himself more than in the past.  I also incorporated "group learning" this year for our history/geography/science.  I teach all three children the same monthly theme (human body, countries in Asia, the Olympics for last month) just on different levels.  It is working great so far!  Not only do they enjoy learning together, but it is less time consuming and stressful for me!  Oh, btw, "they" are my 8th grader, my 2nd grader and my preschooler. :)

So here is our routine so far this year.  I get up around 6:30 and eat breakfast, start a load of laundry, empty the dishwasher and prepare the learning table for the day.  I also get in some quiet time and check email and read blogs.  My youngest joins in around 7:30 or so and we have cuddle time and I get him some breakfast.  I get the older boys up at 8 and they are responsible for getting their breakfast and getting ready for school.  While they are getting ready I do some school with the youngest.  He loves having all this alone time with me!  Soon my oldest joins us and I teach him his math and writing lessons.  I print up his other assignments for the week and he completes those on his own.  My middle child is not a morning guy and usually joins in last. ;)  I do his math, reading, writing, etc. with him.  Then we have our group learning time!  We will do an experiment, go on a nature walk, play a geography quiz game on the computer, just all kinds of fun but educational things.

We take a break at lunch to eat and the boys usually head outside while I switch laundry and clean the kitchen.  If we have any errands to run like the library or such we do them after lunch.  I like to be home by 3 so I can give the house a quick blessing and start dinner.  My oldest will usually read or work on lessons he didn't finish and my younger ones will play with legos or blocks or something.  After dinner we all spend time with dh and my very oldest if he is not at work.  I may quiz ds2 on some things if he has a test coming up, and I let ds3 practice reading to me or dh, but we try to get all "formal" lessons in before lunch.

I have to say, flexibility in routine is one of the best things about homeschooling!  While all I wrote out is typical of our days, it doesn't mean that's what happens every day, and that's okay. :)

Homeschool Memoirs: Agendas

Homeschool Blog Awards is hosting a weekly meme called Homeschool Memoirs.  This week we are to share our plans for the school year.

Well, I have 3 grade levels this year.  This is our 4th week of school and I've already changed my mind about some of the curriculum I had picked out, especially for ds2, my 8th grader.  Here is what we are using so far.

DS2 8th Grade:

Math  Abeka Pre-Algebra
Reading  Various classic novels with lessons prepared by me
Writing  Spectrum Writing 8
Science  McWizKids Science
Geography  Globalmania
Art  Usborne Introduction to Art and Masterpieces to Color
Nature Study  Outdoor Hour
Spelling Natural Speller

I am on the hunt for history for ds2, thinking about Story of The World.

DS3 2nd Grade:

Math  Abeka
Reading  FIAR
Science and History  Monthly themes with lapbooks and unit studies
Art  Abeka
Nature Study  Outdoor Hour
Spelling  Natural Speller
I have a couple of workbooks ds is using for writing and language

DS4  Preschool:

BFIAR
Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons
Everything Preschool Workbook
Nature Study  Outdoor Hour
Various lapbooks

I am taking a more relaxed approach with schooling this year and trying to incorporate more hands-on and fun things.  Lots more lapbooks, unit studies, field trips, etc.  And I can't recommend the Outdoor Hour Challenges enough...they have been super fun yet the kids (and I) have learned so much!  Can't wait to see what everyone else has on their agendas this year. 

Homeschool Memoirs: All About Me

The Homeschool Blog Awards site is hosting what looks like a fun new weekly meme,  Homeschool Memoirs.  Here is the info from their site.

This meme is to not only keep a “memoir” (posts) of your homeschool year, but to make a way for homeschoolers to get to know each other. Each week, on Wednesdays, we’ll post a new theme and you can participate by posting it on your site with your own homeschool memoirs. Once you’ve posted, come back and sign the linky. We hope you’ll be encouraged, informed, and connected with other homeschoolers and glean from the different ways they do their homeschool.

So here is this week's theme.

The first theme begins today, August 20th, 2008. This week, we want to hear about YOU. The author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool. It doesn’t have to be anything lengthy at all, but we’d love to hear it! You might include a family photo too!

 

Okay, well, I am Julie.  I celebrated my 1st anniversary of turning 40 this year. ;)  Dh and I have been married 20 years and have 4 handsome boys.  Ds1 is 18, just graduated high school this year, and is starting college next week!  Ds2 is 13 and in 8th grade this year.  Ds3 is 7 and in 2nd grade.  Ds4 is 3 and just enjoys doing whatever his older brothers do.

We live in Florida and love the beach, of course, and being outdoors.  We also love Disney World!  We are seasonal passholders and try to go at least once a year.  I enjoy reading, especially fiction and cookbooks.  We have 4 cats in the family and enjoy their silly, wonderful company.

We began homeschooling in 1999, when it wasn't so popular or well-known.  There weren't all the websites, blogs, and curriculum available just for homeschoolers as there is today.  My ds1 attended a public kindergarten (let's just call that a disaster) and the same private school dh and I attended for 1st and 2nd grade.  He was doing quite well.  Then in 3rd grade he started bringing home C's and I noticed he didn't even have a book for math...just worksheets every day.  We questioned the teacher who assured us all was fine, but he continued to fail to thrive.  We also started having issues with the administration and getting told basically that our child belonged to them from the first bell to the last.  'Nuff said.  No way was I going to pay people to keep my child all day and then send him home with an average education.

I started out using Abeka's complete curriculum as I had no idea what to do and where to start.  Over the years I have learned a great deal and still use Abeka for math, but pretty much make up our curriculum from various sources.  We love homeschooling, the flexibility, the watching our children grow and thrive, the wonderful relationships we have with them, etc.  In other words, "It's all good." LOL.  We are not completely against other schooling at all...it's just our personal choice to homeschool.  In fact, since we began homeschooling, we moved to a wonderful school district and gave ds1 the option of attending public high school, which he did.  He loved it, we loved it and we are glad we did it.

Here we are in Animal Kingdom at Disney World.

  Yep, that was long-winded, but come on, you give a lady the opportunity to gab about her family and herself, and what do you expect? LOL.  I look forward to meeting everyone who participates in the carnival!