I've been spending alot of time looking at curriculum lately.. I have been a faithful user of My Father's World (www.mwfbooks.com) but am wanting to try something a little different this year. There are SO many options and choices it makes me want to stick with whats comfortable.  I cant help but feel overwhelmed, have youlooked at whats outthere? Its amazing. I really like this for Keag's math this year www.teachingtextbooks.com They have some great sample pages up which I let Keag try out and she loved them! Its a bit pricey for one child but the good news is I can re use the materials next year with Mack. So, for 2 years use it works out to $75 per year...I can handle that!

I was looking at www.themysteryofhistory.com Vol.2 for our history program. I like this one because I can get the history 'stories' on CD which Mack can listen to(she an audio/visual learner) after we've covered the topic. A friend of ours in the coop uses it and has offered to let us look at it! I am greatful because I like to actually look through the materials and see how a program is laid out.

I think we are going to go with Apologia for science (http://www.apologia.com) I have never used their stuff before, but I keep hearing rave reviews about it. I was exploring the web site and samples are provided,it looks like a great program worthy of the reviews.

 For language arts I am looking at something cheap that hits the basics and doesnt have a lot of fluff or time consuming projects. Both the girls got perfect scores on the CAT tests in the LA section so I can be a little lenient in this area. I still havent found what I am looking for, I may just go to the book store and grab one of those workbooks that 'meets standardized test requirements'.

For our Bible study I really want to focus on character, so I think I will come up with my own tailor-made study.

But so far, thats all I've come up with and havent commited to! Its in progress...

Have a great day

Tanna

Hot one here today! Its real quiet at my house right now...my children are being corrected for a recurring behavioral issue (thats means they were fighting again). They are now coping Philip. 2:14-15 50x. A bit harsh maybe, but if anything, they will have memorzied the verses! During this time they are not allowed to talk to each other, and can only leave the table for bathroom breaks and to sharpen pencils. I REALLY don't like doing this, because I used to hate it as a kid too. As a parent sometimes you feel like your hands are tied, and you run out of 'creative' ways to get the point across. To be honest, I am disgusted with the bickering and nit picking. Nothing drains me(or any parent I know) like have to correct or discipline over and over for the same issue! Most of you know what I mean...

Anyway still no test results and we are planning to just hang out this weekend, maybe get some yard work done. Remember our heros...

Tanna

Monday...I stayed in my PJ's until 11:15 this morning! That was a nice change, tomorrow we are headed to the park for  lunch with friends, Wednesday we are going to the library to finish the lapbooking class, Thursday I am headed  to my friends house so I can mop her floors(she had hip surgery)and Friday is grocery shopping day. So yeah...I decided Monday was my day!  I did get laundry done, made an amazing dinner(lemon/dill chicken,peas, sliced veggies,rolls) and will be making an apple pie for tomorrows picnic. So even though I PJ-ed the morning away, I still got somethings done.

The girls are doing ok, still on pins and needles waiting for their CAT test results. Keagen has discovered the Honeymooners and LOVES them. She has borrowed all the library has! She really enjoys the old TV shows like I love Lucy, the Honeymooners and Beverly Hillbillies. She also likes Bonanza and any of John Wayne's movies.... I dont mind her watching those shows, they have good clean humor and arn't graphic. Why cant TV be like that now? I remember as a child on Saturday mornings my dad and I eating breakfast at my little table watching the Andy Griffith Show. I loved that more then cartoons! Now kids watch shows with little or NO moral meaning, and hardly ANY entertainment value. Its mind numbing TV and its sad.

Ok off my soap box! Have  fab. weekend and

Till then or heaven

Tanna

Dont ya just love the sun? Even more so after a series of gloomy days? I have opened up the house and am letting breezes blow fresh air from room to room. LOVE IT. There are more gloomy days in the forecast so I am absorbing as much warmth and light as I can today. There is something about the sun that makes even bad days seem better. Easy going day here, did the grocery shoping(discovered food prices are on the rise again!...breakfast bars last week were$1.88 this week they are $1.93) got some laundry done, sat in the sun for a few minutes, just a nice day!

This weekend we are going to my nephews b-day party, he will be a sweet 4 on Saturday! Other then that, life as usual. OH forgot...promised to ttell you my stone soup story.

 Ok, we were in the drive through and ther was a couple be hind us and I told the cashier to put thier bill on mine. She did as I was grinning ear to ear. I watched in my rear view mirrior as there were some words spoken, a confused look in my direction and then a big smile from both the man and woman. I pulled thru with the kids happy meals and my coffee and proceeded acoss the street to the little shopping mall. We parked and the girls ate and I enjoyed my coffee. As we were eating a man walks up to my window and knocks. I opened he window and he said "why did you do that? Do I know you?" I thought I had upset him. So, I said "I am sorry I didnt mean to upset you I just wanted to do something nice and sort of share a meal...." He looked sort of baffled and said " you didnt upset me,just suprised me...thank you" I said "have a good day" and he walked back to his car, shrugged his sholders at his wife,got in and drove away.

I felt so great! Even if that couple doesnt understand why I wanted to 'share a meal' they will likely never forget a stranger buying them a meal.

So thats one tale...please share yours!

Till then or heaven

Tanna

 

Today is chilly and rainy. The kind of day you just want to snuggle up in bed and not get out. As worn out as I am, I guess I didnt realize the girls are worn out too. Keagen woke up today and said "I am so glad we dont have school, dont have to go anywhere and thats its warm in here and that I can just stay in my PJ's today." There was a big sigh after that sentence. I think we all need to catch our breath and get refreshed. Usually, by now I have the next school years planning under way, but I cant even bring myself to open a curriculum catalog; my eyes just sort of glaze over.  Maybe I should plan a summer vacation...yes, a get away would be good! Ya know, we havent been camping in a while, and we have friends in Ohio...road trip? Camping in VT sounds great too, I love the state parks with lakes and ponds. I am feeling better just thinking of a break!

Anyway, please read yesterday's post and REALLY consider it ok? Tomorrow I'll share a story of what happened when I bought the meal for the couple behind us in the drive thru!

Till then or heaven,

Tanna

 

PS

read this... http://phibetacons.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmY4MDg0ZGE1MTQyNWU4MmEyNDBkZjkyMTgzZDJhZDc

WOW is all I can say

 Did you know that 1 in 5 adults has to deal with hunger everyday and that 17% of children under thae age of 5 go hungry? And America is the richest nation(or was)in the world. Do you know the story of "Stone Soup"?  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_soup) How when everyone brought a LITTLE something to the pot everyone ate? I would like you to help me create a "Stone Soup Nation". Heres what you have to do....pledge to do at least one of these and then share your story here!

 

1. Share a meal with someone other then family

2. Buy the meal for the guy behind you in the fast food lane

3. Bring a lunch for the co worker who never seems to eat lunch

4. Come up with you own way to share a meal with someone..(maybe do a neighborhood stone soup party?)

5. Join the Stone Soup Nation over at facebook  http://apps.facebook.com/causes/258166/52330054?m=6d54c0aa

 

 It was interesting to me to think about ADULTS going hungry. I mean, you see the feed children ads all the time, but it never occured to me that my neighbor or co-worker may not REALLY be on a diet; but is in fact, going hungry for one reason or another. As a person whos lucky enough to walk into any store and buy food, thank you for helping me with this.

Tanna

 

It is chilly here today...only 60! Wish it would warm up soon.

 We finished the CAT tests today...thank the Lord school is over for the year! I have a pre teen daughter who is emotional about EVERYTHING. Sometimes I feel like shes sucked the life out of me! This school year has been very draining fro me and probably for her too. One day it was so bad my youngest slammed her book shut and said "I am going upstairs to work...you two sound like fighting cats!"  I laughed  because she was right! That was all we seemed to be doing to each other was screeching in these voice no one would want to hear. I have since made a huge effort to speak softely even when no one else does. It makes a huge difference! There were days I wanted to bring her to the local school just to get a break from her! I understood why some parents would rather just let the schools raise their kids....theres much less stress involved!

But I also know she needs me now more then ever as she becomes the young woman God intended for her to be. She is a work in progress,as am I. I think God gave me this child and the chance to homeschool for my growth as well as hers. I need to remember that on the days my house sounds like cats and I want to drive to the local school.

Here's a rundown of my day...

1st thing...coffee witha new chocolate creamer(wow! sooo good)

Shower & dressed

 Breakfast.....Bagel

Headed to town for some new candles and tarts(for tart burner)

Came home and started CAT testing with the girls

Lunch...grilled cheese

Drooled over some cook books from my dad...found some great new foods to try

Snack..chocolates left over from Mothers Day

Did some more CAT testing and got dinner ready

Dinner...tortilla casserole

Now the kids are outside playing, and I am trying to decide to have some wine and fruit now or to save it for later during my TV time.  Think I'll wait....

SO that was my day, I did nothing of importance,ate rather unhealthy and am determined not to do it again tomorrow! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today the girls and I went out to lunch. It is their last day of 'formal' schooling for the year. I will give CAT tests next week,then they are done until June when they will start their summer school. That consists of 1-3 workbook pages Mon-Wed-Fri.  I bought one of those Summer Bridge Activities books for each of them (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=summer+bridge+activities&sprefix=summer+br) from Borders bookstore. It just keeps thier minds fresh and learning all the time. They do that anyway,but I like using workbooks in summer. I think I will also do a reading rewards program too. Last year for each book they read they got to color a frog in on a chart. When they had colored in a certain amount of frogs they earned a prize. I was suprised at how well they did. Even Mack, whos not a big reader, read 6-7 books. Thats a huge amount for her.

Anyway, thanks for all the prayers from my 'net' friends for my sense of purpose...keep me in your prayers

 

Tanna

I love soft contempoary realism art. The painting and prints you see at the right are by TC Chiu. I dont know much about him except that I love his work! I view his paintings and something inside stirs...it reminds me how beautiful life can be. He makes me want to be as soft and lovely as his work. Seriously! After looking at his stuff I find myself speaking softer and sweeter,wanting to do housework and create a place as lovely as Mr. Chiu would see it.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with Mr. Chiu's talent!

I have going through my life in a free fall, no real direction, no real goal. Plans and ideas maybe but no goals. I feel like a blank slate waiting for someone with chalk to give me purpose. I read about people who dedicate their lives to a goal or purpose and everyday they wake up ready to achieve it because its 'in' them some how. I dont have that.  I never did ,lately I feel its missing. I know my 'mini' purpose is to be a good wife and mom, but what is my role in the bigger picture?  sigh.....just another wordless blogger falling thru cyberspace.