For school (4K), M. made a house with each family member in a window. He was so proud of himself! He got to cut, draw, glue...besides working on recognizing the names of each person. It's a little strange for me to be doing kindergarten again after several years but he loves getting some focused attention and "doing school" like his siblings.

Later Days!
Kelly

Daybook 8/24/10

Outside my window...
A beautiful, warm day--only supposed to get into the low 90s today!

I am thinking...
That our school year has started off better than I expected after The Summer Of Low Expectations.

I am thankful for...
Children who love to learn...though not necessarily what I'm trying to teach them!

From the learning rooms...
Chemistry, Spanish, Literature, Geometry, US History, phonics...I'll let y'all try to figure out who's learning what :)

From the kitchen...
Chicken salad sandwiches for lunch

I am wearing...
sweaty, stinky workout clothes--just finished a good workout!

I am creating...
an atmosphere where learning doesn't just happen during "school time"!

I am going...
To take a shower as soon as I finish this post! Later, laundry, cleaning, exercise class with my friends.

I am reading...
*The Bible--midway through Isaiah
*In a Sunburned Country (travel book about Australia)

I am hoping...
That math begins to come back to me so I can explain it to my children!

I am hearing...
"Mama" constantly from children needing assistance with schoolwork

Around the house...
Work to do!

One of my favorite things...
Fall...can't wait for the season to change!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Exercise class tonight, church tomorrow night, groceries...what an exciting life I lead! lol

Cute photo that bears no relation to anything in today's post...

Later Days!
Kelly

8/18/10 Daybook

Outside My Window

It was a dark and stormy night....no, seriously, it is.

I am Listening to

Kids playing and the jingling of the dog's tag as she wanders around looking for eldest, who hasn't gotten home yet from keeping nursery for choir practice.

I am Wearing

Khaki shorts, brown t-shirt w/ Mom4 on it

I am so Grateful for

~A (relatively) restful summer

~The freedom and privilege to homeschool my children

I'm Pondering

What surprises the new school year will hold

I am Reading

The Bible...still on the Read the Bible in 90 Days plan

I am Thinking

That I can't wait to go Back Home to visit family this weekend! We'll be celebrating some birthdays and I imagine our upcoming trip to the beach will figure heavily in our conversations :)

I am Creating

Lesson plans, lists, & New School Year Resolutions

On my iPod

An eclectic mix of Contemporary Christian, show tunes, beach music, and disco-era :). I love having new tunes to listen to while I work out.

Around the House
We're very pleased with the furniture re-arrangement we did over the weekend. Our living room looks a bit tidier, our master bedroom looks bigger, and both boys seem pleased to have their beds "un-bunked".

I am Hoping and Praying
That hubby feels better soon and that our church's repairs and renovations will continue smoothly and quickly

From the Kitchen

Nothing exciting going on here...

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

~More lesson-planning, laundry, heading Back Home

Picture thought:

Quick Takes 8/13/10

*1*
Hubby and I spent the day rearranging furniture...moved the bed in the master bedroom, moved an armoire from the bedroom to the living room, moved a couple of bookcases....

*2*
Result: more space in the bedroom, new look in the living room

*3*
Unintended result: tired, aching muscles!

*4*
I've also been preparing for the upcoming school year...ordering, organizing, and scheduling, ad infinitum

*5*
We're excited that we'll be going Back Home next weekend to celebrate 2 of my nieces' birthdays...that is, the birthdays of 2 of my nieces :)

*6*
This is probably not a new concept for the rest of the world, but I stumbled on a relatively painless way to practice Spanish with the kids...I checked out the Spanish-language versions of childrens' books that we already own...can you guess what old favorite translates, "Buenas Noches, Luna"?

*7*
Tomorrow is supposed to be a little cooler...only 90 degrees!

Later Days!
Kelly

Daybook 8/11/10

I am thankful for...
*Quiet summer mornings...I'll miss them.

From the learning rooms...
*Book orders are still drifting in
*Working on a schedule for school/chores/life...well, more of a routine. I don't want to completely lose the spontaneity that makes life interesting :)

From the kitchen...
*Plain yogurt w/ fiber cereal & craisins on top for breakfast. I threw on a few semi-sweet chocolate chips, too!

I am wearing...
*shorts, t-shirt

I am creating...
*Order? Really?

I am going...
*To transfer my pictures to a thumb drive because my computer is acting funny and I don't want to lose 3 years of pictures!


I am reading...
*The Bible--beginning Esther today

Around the house...
*Hung a boxing heavy bag in the backyard--eldest and I are enjoying some great cardio workouts with it and relieving some stress, too!

My favorite things...
*Hubby
*E,N,K, & M!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
*Church service tonight will still be held our local associational office BUT we're praying that the repair work on our church will get started and we'll be back in it soon!


Later Days!
Kelly

Zzzzzzzz

The latest installment in our popular series, "Sleeping M.".

Quick Takes 8/6/10

*1*
We're enjoying a visit from my hubby's parents, Nana and Gdad. We'll be heading Back Home for a visit before too long because 2 of my nieces are having birthdays back-to-back (Yay, C. & M.!).

*2*
We've had some more serious thunderstorms the last couple of days. In fact, we were without electricity for a while this evening. I can't complain, though, because we decided to go to Cold Stone Creamery for some ice cream so we wouldn't have to sit in a dark, quickly-getting-too-warm house.

*3*
Eldest and I tried our hand at "homemade" haircuts this week. She did a pretty good job with mine, but I missed the layers that I'm used to so I ended up getting my hair cut by a professional this evening. I had to go very short to get those layers :). It's just hair, right?

*4*
Those packages of curricula are drifting in, bit by bit. I guess I can't deny it anymore...school is just around the corner.

*5*
Watching AFV (America's Funniest Home Videos) leads me to wonder why ANYONE buys a pinata, a trampoline, or a pet!

*6*
Eldest has one of those crazy bouts of hiccups that burst out of her unexpectedly and dramatically--wish I had it on video for AFV!

*7*
Today, Youngest wanted Nana to get washcloth for him so he could wipe some marker off one of his hands. Hubby told him to go wash his hands, instead. M.'s reply? "But only one hand is dirty."

Later Days!
Kelly

Daybook 8/4/10

I am thankful for...
*My in-laws, who are coming to visit for a few days!
*My parents, who wish they could (I'm assuming)

From the learning rooms...
*Almost have the workbox system set up to organize my younger kids' school work
*Waiting on some ordered curricula to come in so I can preview it and start school soon (Thanks, Mimi!)

From the kitchen...
*Dirty floor, waiting to be swept and mopped :P

I am wearing...
*shorts, t-shirt

I am creating...
*Order? Really?

I am going...
*To sweep and mop my kitchen...eventually

I am reading...
*The Bible--in 1 Chronicles now with the Read the Bible in 90 Days plan

I am hoping...
*That my in-laws car problems won't prevent them from coming today

I am hearing...
*The wheezing of my overweight cat
*The humming of my computer, which needs a new battery
*Wall-E, our Roomba vacuum working in the family room

Around the house...
*Hung a boxing heavy bag in the backyard--eldest and I are enjoying some great cardio workouts with it and relieving some stress, too!

My favorite things...
*Visits from family!
*Clean-ish house
*Getting packages in the mail :)

A few plans for the rest of the week:
*Church service tonight will still be held our local associational office BUT we're praying that the repair work on our church will get started and we'll be back in it soon!

Later Days!
Kelly