Saturday, June 21, 2014
Flying
Grandma's 100th Birthday
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| I was trying to get a picture of Lincoln & his Great Aunt Hilda having a great conversation - but they caught me taking a picture and stopped visiting to pose |
Summer Weekends
We've had a few weekend trips this spring/summer, but I didn't do very well taking pictures - or blogging about them - so I'll just post a few for us to remember our time.
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| Kansas |
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| Missouri |
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| Wisconsin |
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| Memorial Day Weekend |
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| Memorial Day Weekend |
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| Rockford |
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| Rockford |
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| Michigan |
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| Michigan |
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Violin Recital May 19, 2014
Laura's Violin Recital Piece
Abigail's Violin Recital Piece
Charlotte's Violin Recital Piece
Emily's Violin Recital Piece
The camera wasn't turned on for all of Heidi's piece so here is a snippet of it. We'll try to video her playing it again so we can get all of it on here.
Part of Heidi's Recital Piece
Friday, May 16, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
And we're (mostly) DONE!!
The 2013-2014 school year at Jordan Creek School was completed today. - 3 days earlier than scheduled. Some of the kids have been done for a few days already, but the last pages were written, torn out and cut up today.
Except for Laura and Abigail, that is... they still have an online math class to work through until June 19... But that will only take an hour or so a day. And of course there is piano and violin practicing to take up some time...
I'm never sure who is happier when this day gets here every year. The kids or the Mom. :)
Warning... Feel free to skip the rest of this post. I'm about to brag on them and give them a mini public report card :0) - Just a little summary of their year so I can look back on it with hope when we get into the annual February "School is not going well!" slump. Since it is hard for homeschoolers to remember what grade they are in, because we just keep working through the books as we finish them I'll list the grade they would be finishing if they were "going to school" (Note: We do have our struggles some days, but this is focusing on our successes this year!) - AND A NOTE FOR YOU KIDS IF YOU READ THIS. Just because I mention a strength or a success for one of you doesn't mean it doesn't apply to others of you too! You are all doing a great job and we are extremely happy with all of you!!! :)
Garrett: Has a good start and is in the beginning stages of reading and is doing really well with math. He is ready to hit the road running next fall. Most of his school was done in the form of play this year, but he did do some book work, online school and reading. If he was "going to school", he would be starting kindergarten next year. I'm really happy with where he is with his learning. Hopefully he will really love school because his current ambition is to be a veterinarian (I've read that this requires 8 years of post high school education) and farmer.
Lincoln: Finishing 2nd grade. He'd rather do his learning by reading books and observing. His brain is a little fact machine. Sitting down with a workbook is not his idea of fun... We do a lot of things orally and on the computer. He is flying through math and science. He finished the 1st semester 4th grade math book in one of the math programs we use, and has read the elementary books through the middle school books of another one of our math programs. He was reading Abigail's "Advanced Algebra" books for fun the other evening. He'd rather not bother with grammar, handwriting, or spelling, but gets along pretty well in those subjects, anyway. His favorite thing to do in his free time is reading (science books and Boxcar Children books) If you want to find him when he is outside, you might have to look up - he loves to climb trees.
Heidi: Finishing 3rd grade. I think Heidi has grown the most academically this year. Things that were a struggle for her at the beginning of the year have became pretty easy for her by the end. Her favorite subjects tend to be in the language arts area. She really likes grammar and reading. Math started clicking for her also this year. We put away one of her math programs for a while because she just wasn't getting it. When we pulled it out again, she took off with it. She is really advancing in her piano - she enjoys violin, too, but really prefers piano. I'm really happy with her growth both in school and just in general. She is quickly growing out of the "little girl" stage. (I'll admit that it is hard to see our youngest girl growing up so quickly, though.)
Emily: Finishing 5th grade. Emily had a strong finish to her school year and is ready to take on the more difficult school work that comes in middle school. I'm happy to see her taking responsibility for her school work and getting it done without much prodding. She and Charlotte enjoyed working together on American History this year - they have the second American History book in that series to work on next year. She is really enjoying violin lessons and is doing well with them. She, also, is really growing in a lot of ways. (Besides in height... she's been doing plenty of that too!) She's getting to be a great help around the house and is really learning her way around the kitchen. I'm looking forward to her getting started in some new subjects next year and hoping she will enjoy them as much as I think she will!
Charlotte: Finishing 7th grade. Charlotte has quietly and steadily worked through her school this year. I really haven't had to "encourage her" to do school - she just did it. She finished up some of her middle school level classes this year, and I think she will be ready for a several high school level classes next year. She had a couple this year and did fine with them. She is doing really well with her music. I happened to walk in to her piano lesson one day recently without her or her teacher knowing I was there and overheard her teacher telling her that she was going to be giving her older sisters a run for their money. Her violin music is sounding really nice, too. Like all of her siblings, I think reading is her favorite pastime. We really keep the library busy.
Abigail: Finishing 8th grade. Abby is a very strong student. She does well in all of her subjects. We give all of the kids a very rigorous schedule (as well as a crazy, busy life), and she keeps up with seemingly no problems. She finished up a high school advanced algebra book and also a college level beginning algebra online class. She is most of the way through an intermediate algebra college online class which she will finish up by the middle of June. She is also doing well with piano and violin and I've noticed a lot of growth in her playing. She is just an all around great girl.
Laura: Finishing 10th grade. We're trying something new this year. (Laura is our guinea pig - in this as well as in many other things) She is spending her high school years working towards her associates or (she hopes) bachelor's degree through online classes and testing. If we have it all figured out right, she should be able to graduate from high school and get her associates degree at the same time. It was almost 2nd semester this year before she got started so it may take her an extra semester or two after she is finished with high school to get her degree. She is working hard on it, though, so I will not be at all surprised if she gets it done. She has taken a few CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests and some online college courses which give college credit - she finished a class today that brought her up to 18 potential credits. There are a few accredited colleges and universities that offer distance degrees and she is hoping to get her degree in general business management in one of them. She has always been and continues to be a really good student, and I'm also very happy with the way she is growing into a young lady.
I'm always so thankful that we started out home schooling our kids. It has been an amazing experience to be able to enter in to this part of their lives and I think about what I would have missed out on if we didn't home school.
Thanks kids (because I know you are reading this :) ) for doing such a great job with school and just for being such great kids! We love you!
Except for Laura and Abigail, that is... they still have an online math class to work through until June 19... But that will only take an hour or so a day. And of course there is piano and violin practicing to take up some time...
I'm never sure who is happier when this day gets here every year. The kids or the Mom. :)
Warning... Feel free to skip the rest of this post. I'm about to brag on them and give them a mini public report card :0) - Just a little summary of their year so I can look back on it with hope when we get into the annual February "School is not going well!" slump. Since it is hard for homeschoolers to remember what grade they are in, because we just keep working through the books as we finish them I'll list the grade they would be finishing if they were "going to school" (Note: We do have our struggles some days, but this is focusing on our successes this year!) - AND A NOTE FOR YOU KIDS IF YOU READ THIS. Just because I mention a strength or a success for one of you doesn't mean it doesn't apply to others of you too! You are all doing a great job and we are extremely happy with all of you!!! :)
Garrett: Has a good start and is in the beginning stages of reading and is doing really well with math. He is ready to hit the road running next fall. Most of his school was done in the form of play this year, but he did do some book work, online school and reading. If he was "going to school", he would be starting kindergarten next year. I'm really happy with where he is with his learning. Hopefully he will really love school because his current ambition is to be a veterinarian (I've read that this requires 8 years of post high school education) and farmer.
Lincoln: Finishing 2nd grade. He'd rather do his learning by reading books and observing. His brain is a little fact machine. Sitting down with a workbook is not his idea of fun... We do a lot of things orally and on the computer. He is flying through math and science. He finished the 1st semester 4th grade math book in one of the math programs we use, and has read the elementary books through the middle school books of another one of our math programs. He was reading Abigail's "Advanced Algebra" books for fun the other evening. He'd rather not bother with grammar, handwriting, or spelling, but gets along pretty well in those subjects, anyway. His favorite thing to do in his free time is reading (science books and Boxcar Children books) If you want to find him when he is outside, you might have to look up - he loves to climb trees.
Heidi: Finishing 3rd grade. I think Heidi has grown the most academically this year. Things that were a struggle for her at the beginning of the year have became pretty easy for her by the end. Her favorite subjects tend to be in the language arts area. She really likes grammar and reading. Math started clicking for her also this year. We put away one of her math programs for a while because she just wasn't getting it. When we pulled it out again, she took off with it. She is really advancing in her piano - she enjoys violin, too, but really prefers piano. I'm really happy with her growth both in school and just in general. She is quickly growing out of the "little girl" stage. (I'll admit that it is hard to see our youngest girl growing up so quickly, though.)
Emily: Finishing 5th grade. Emily had a strong finish to her school year and is ready to take on the more difficult school work that comes in middle school. I'm happy to see her taking responsibility for her school work and getting it done without much prodding. She and Charlotte enjoyed working together on American History this year - they have the second American History book in that series to work on next year. She is really enjoying violin lessons and is doing well with them. She, also, is really growing in a lot of ways. (Besides in height... she's been doing plenty of that too!) She's getting to be a great help around the house and is really learning her way around the kitchen. I'm looking forward to her getting started in some new subjects next year and hoping she will enjoy them as much as I think she will!
Charlotte: Finishing 7th grade. Charlotte has quietly and steadily worked through her school this year. I really haven't had to "encourage her" to do school - she just did it. She finished up some of her middle school level classes this year, and I think she will be ready for a several high school level classes next year. She had a couple this year and did fine with them. She is doing really well with her music. I happened to walk in to her piano lesson one day recently without her or her teacher knowing I was there and overheard her teacher telling her that she was going to be giving her older sisters a run for their money. Her violin music is sounding really nice, too. Like all of her siblings, I think reading is her favorite pastime. We really keep the library busy.
Abigail: Finishing 8th grade. Abby is a very strong student. She does well in all of her subjects. We give all of the kids a very rigorous schedule (as well as a crazy, busy life), and she keeps up with seemingly no problems. She finished up a high school advanced algebra book and also a college level beginning algebra online class. She is most of the way through an intermediate algebra college online class which she will finish up by the middle of June. She is also doing well with piano and violin and I've noticed a lot of growth in her playing. She is just an all around great girl.
Laura: Finishing 10th grade. We're trying something new this year. (Laura is our guinea pig - in this as well as in many other things) She is spending her high school years working towards her associates or (she hopes) bachelor's degree through online classes and testing. If we have it all figured out right, she should be able to graduate from high school and get her associates degree at the same time. It was almost 2nd semester this year before she got started so it may take her an extra semester or two after she is finished with high school to get her degree. She is working hard on it, though, so I will not be at all surprised if she gets it done. She has taken a few CLEP (College Level Examination Program) tests and some online college courses which give college credit - she finished a class today that brought her up to 18 potential credits. There are a few accredited colleges and universities that offer distance degrees and she is hoping to get her degree in general business management in one of them. She has always been and continues to be a really good student, and I'm also very happy with the way she is growing into a young lady.
I'm always so thankful that we started out home schooling our kids. It has been an amazing experience to be able to enter in to this part of their lives and I think about what I would have missed out on if we didn't home school.
Thanks kids (because I know you are reading this :) ) for doing such a great job with school and just for being such great kids! We love you!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Need suspenders?
Garrett: Mommy do you know why I like to wear sweat shirts?
Me: No, why?
Garrett: Because I don't have to tuck them in and I can snap my pants as soon as I put them on and they don't fall down
Me: No, why?
Garrett: Because I don't have to tuck them in and I can snap my pants as soon as I put them on and they don't fall down
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Menu for the week of 3/23/14
Sunday
- Breakfast - Dutch Babies
- Lunch - Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans
- Supper - Supper at B’s
Monday
- Breakfast - Steel Cut Oats, Granola, Toast
- Snack -
- Lunch - Leftovers
- Snack - Cake
- Supper - Leftovers
Tuesday
- Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Toast
- Snack - Bananas
- Lunch - Mac-ghetti, Green Beans
- Snack - Graham Crackers & Peanut Butter, Milk
- Supper - Taco Salad, Baked Apples
Wednesday
- Breakfast - Muffins, Fried Eggs
- Snack - Popcorn
- Lunch - Egg Salad Sandwiches, Veggie Tray
- Snack - Granola Bars
- Supper - Baked Chicken Drumsticks, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Peas
Thursday
- Breakfast - Baked Egg Casserole, Biscuits
- Snack - Cheese & Crackers
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Snack - Yogurt
- Supper - Burrito Pie
Friday
- Breakfast - Overnight Blueberry Oven Pancake
- Snack - Crackers & Cream Cheese
- Lunch - Loaded Baked Potatoes
- Snack - Ants on a log
- Supper - Sandwiches
Saturday
- Breakfast - Breakfast Skillet, Toast
- Lunch - Pizza or Leftovers
- Supper - Chili & Toppings or Leftovers
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Some of the reasons...
...I love homeschooling
Some science by book...
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| And some science by exploring. |
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| Can we get a fire started with a magnifying glass? Almost... |
Friday, March 14, 2014
A childhood doll
We have a doll sitting on the shelf in our closet. Now this isn't just any doll... it is Hannah, the baby Laura got as a gift when Abigail was born over 14 years ago. The doll that Laura rocked and fed while I rocked and fed Abby. The one that slept with Laura for many, many years (along with her 7 or 8 other dolls, but this one ALWAYS slept closest to Laura). The doll that sadly got forgotten 4 hours away in Grandpa and Grandma's toy box and was missed for months before I realized that the missing doll and the doll Grandma had mentioned in passing one time were one in the same. Over time, the doll went from being snuggled in Laura's arms all night long, to being lovingly placed against the wall, to being laid on the floor beside her bed to spending several years tucked away underneath her bed. From there, she was placed on a closet shelf in the girls' room and she finally ended up in our closet when the girls moved to their bedroom in the basement. Laura never mentioned changing Hannah's sleeping spot, she just quietly moved her as she was outgrowing her.
And I thought of our children. Quietly doing this as they grow and mature. Physically growing from needing to be carried everywhere to crawling to walking and running. Moving from cradle to crib to toddler bed to bed. Quickly moving through clothes sizes.... They go from needing every single thing done for them to being able to completely take care of their needs. The go from being cradled in our arms in the rocking chair to laying on our shoulder to snuggling in our laps to barely fitting... They go from needing to have us make all of their decisions to us being more of a consulting presence to them working on planning their future... And it is hard to let them - but it is what they are born to do... I'm glad as they grow up and start growing away that they also grow closer in a new way and start growing into being a "friend".
Anyway, I had to smile tonight when for some reason one of the kids brought Laura's doll out to the kitchen from our closet. I asked Laura what she wanted me to do with Hannah. She said it didn't really matter to her, but from behind me her daddy quietly said, "Keep her..."
And I thought of our children. Quietly doing this as they grow and mature. Physically growing from needing to be carried everywhere to crawling to walking and running. Moving from cradle to crib to toddler bed to bed. Quickly moving through clothes sizes.... They go from needing every single thing done for them to being able to completely take care of their needs. The go from being cradled in our arms in the rocking chair to laying on our shoulder to snuggling in our laps to barely fitting... They go from needing to have us make all of their decisions to us being more of a consulting presence to them working on planning their future... And it is hard to let them - but it is what they are born to do... I'm glad as they grow up and start growing away that they also grow closer in a new way and start growing into being a "friend".
Anyway, I had to smile tonight when for some reason one of the kids brought Laura's doll out to the kitchen from our closet. I asked Laura what she wanted me to do with Hannah. She said it didn't really matter to her, but from behind me her daddy quietly said, "Keep her..."
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Menu for the week of 3/9/14
Menu for the week of 3/9/14
Sunday
- Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Toast
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Supper - Leftovers
Monday
- Breakfast - Bagels & Cream Cheese, Scrambled Eggs
- Snack - Popcorn
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Snack - Granola Bars
- Supper - Stir Fry Vegetables & Beef, Rice
Tuesday
- Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Toast
- Snack - Bananas
- Lunch - Mac & Cheese w/ sausage, Corn
- Snack - Blueberry Yogurt Smoothies
- Supper - Spaghetti & Meatballs, Green Beans, Bread
Wednesday
- Breakfast - Dutch Babies
- Snack -Baked Apples
- Lunch - Tomato Soup, Oyster Crackers
- Snack - Zucchini Bars
- Supper - Beef & Noodles, Peas
Thursday
- Breakfast - Baked Egg Casserole, Biscuits
- Snack - Granola Bars
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Snack - Apples & Peanut Butter
- Supper - Santa Fe Rice & Beans, Tortillas
Friday
- Breakfast - Rice Cereal, Toast
- Snack - Cheese & Crackers
- Lunch - Vegetable Beef Soup, Bread
- Snack - Homemade Granola Bars
- Supper - Pizza Pasta Casserole, Green Beans
Saturday
- Breakfast - Breakfast Rollups
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Supper - ?
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Menu for the week of 3/2/14
Sunday
- Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, Bagels & Cream Cheese
- Lunch - Ham, Potato Casserole, Sweet Potatoes, Salad
- Supper - Leftovers
Monday
- Breakfast - Blueberry Oven Pancake, Sausage Links
- Snack - Popcorn
- Lunch - Make your own Pizza & Salad
- Snack - Apples & Peanut Butter
- Supper - Taco Soup, Baked Corn Tortilla Chips
Tuesday
- Breakfast - Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs
- Snack - Goldfish
- Lunch - Leftovers
- Snack - Zucchini Bars
- Supper - Philly Cheese on Hoagie Rolls, Baked Fries
Wednesday
- Breakfast - Egg McMuffins
- Snack -Peanuts & Raisins
- Lunch - Baked Potato Soup
- Snack - Baked Apples
- Supper - Baked Chicken, Rice-a-Roni, Green Beans
Thursday
- Breakfast - Baked Egg Casserole, Biscuits
- Snack -
- Lunch - Sandwiches
- Snack - Apples
- Supper - White Chicken Chili
Friday
- Breakfast - Crock Pot Steel Cut Oats, Fruit, Granola, Toast, Peanut Butter
- Snack - Cheese & Crackers
- Lunch - Leftovers
- Snack - Popcorn
- Supper - Pizza
Saturday
- Breakfast - Dutch Babies
- Lunch - Leftovers or Tomato Soup & Cheesy Breadsticks
- Supper - Leftovers
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