Still Here!

So life has been quite busy! I so want to blog more regularly. I have started working part time as an administrative assistant at my husband's CPA firm. Plus I have added another part time job...couponer! Of course I do that one at home, but it really does take a few hours a week. The good news is that I have saved a TON of money this year on groceries and household items.

Then there is that homeschooling thing. Yeah, that's another part time job.

Anyway, I haven't figured out what I want this blog to be about. I used to just throw up the occasional photo or story about the kids. But I no longer have a camera and I'm not sure I want to put too much on here about my kids anymore. Truth is, I don't know what to share.

But in the interest of keeping this blog pretty, here is a picture of my favorite animal lover!

Workbox Update

I still love workboxes. I have found it's a little challenging some days to make sure I am not needed by 2 or more kids at the same time...unless we are doing something together anyway. I am getting better at the timing of it all though. I thought I would share a few assignments from today's boxes.

Let's start with a few of Betsie's boxes. Betsie is three. She is not required to do school yet, but if I don't keep her busy, it is REALLY hard to do any work with the other two girls! One thing she did today was match little foam numbers to a chart with numbers on it. This activity was from a preschool bag swap I did a few years ago. We have a similar activity for letters.


In the box pictured below, we did a sorting activity. That blue circle folds up like the red and yellow ones in the box. For older kids these make nice ven diagrams for comparing sets. For preschoolers, they make a nice easy way to sort items. We sorted unifix cubes by color. Then we counted each group. We made a stack for each set and compared the length of each stack. We also wrote the numeral representing each stack on an index card. Betsie thought this was so fun. She has no idea how much math she did today.


Betsie also got to play Memory with me, read a book, play with Little People, fold washcloths, and watch a Signing Time DVD today. I know she did a few more things, but those are the ones I remember right now!

The next two boxes show a little of what Mary, my 2nd grader, worked on today. The box pictured below shows our current read aloud, a biography of Gladys Aylward. I read a chapter out loud to all three girls while they ate their snack or worked on a different quiet activity. They love this time and so do I.


The box below was a math activity for Mary. She had to use the straws (which had been cut into a variety of lengths) to make several quadrilaterals. She also did the dot-to-dot activity. I put those in the same box because they were both quick activities and she was not doing 12 boxes today. (She is receiving tutoring and on tutoring days, I give her less work.)



Some of Mary's other work included a map activity, learning about animals in the arctic, and reviewing Bible verses we have memorized.

Now for a couple of Rachel's boxes. Rachel is my 5th grader. Yesterday I got this American Girl Minute Mysteries book with my Rainbow Resource order. I found it when I searched for logic items and I thought she might enjoy it. It says it is for ages 8 and up so I do think it's a little easy for her. If you have a sharp 7-9 year old girl, these might be perfect. You have to read a few pages and solve a little brain teaser. Pretty cute just-for-fun activity.


Rachel also had her spelling in one workbox. Not a fun activity, but it's got to be done. Love Sequential Spelling by the way.

Other things in Rachel's workboxes included paper dolls for Russia, a note telling her to research and sketch St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, math, and a few of the activities I mentioned for Mary.

We love this system and I am so thankful for it!

Is it Weird...

that I am so excited that one of our kiddos will start getting some tutoring beginning next week? Oh, how I hope it meets her needs and our expectations.

School Room Tour

We are in our 6th year of homeschooling (7th if you count preschool). But this is the first year we have had the luxury of having a school room. We do hang out in this room a lot even when it's not school time, but we house all school materials here and this is where we do most schooling. There are a few exceptions like nature walks, but this is pretty much it. I figured I better take pictures while it's clean (not as common as I'd like). I've been meaning to give a tour for some time. Again, sorry for the blurry phone pictures.

On with the tour:

First the view of the whole room

From where I took the above picture, I am going to take you clockwise around the room. So turn left and you will see a desk with a computer. This is a computer that is on it's last leg, but for the moment it is still good for Teaching Textbooks math and a few other things. We haven't used that pocket chart in a while, but I am thinking of ways to use it. Those little stairs in the bottom left corner of the picture go to an office area and bathroom. Very handy things to have near the school room.

Next there is a little cabinet that is for the teacher only! I have supplies in here like sentence strips and resource books for me that I want to stay in one piece. And there are Betsie's workboxes. That USA map is laminated so we can write on it and erase. Near Texas we added Spongebob and Sandy because we figured she wouldn't be TOO far away from Texas...maybe Gulf of Mexico? Very educational stuff going on here folks. That little white desk is not in use most of the time. It needs a little chair and Betsie would love it.

Moving on down that wall and we have a couple of small white boards. These are magnetic as well. One of them has some Bible verses on it right now but we use these for lots of things, especially reading practice with Mary.Below one of the white boards is our book basket. It is usually full to bursting with library books to go along with whatever we are studying at the time. Each girls has to look at books for 15 minutes minimum each school day (in addition to our read aloud time, etc.). They get a lot of extra info just from this simple activity.

The world map. We are studying world geography this year. We refer to this map a LOT!

And on the next wall we have our bookshelf! Homeschoolers love bookshelves. Lots of great storage here.Rachel and Mary's workboxes are next.

The TV and armoire are in the corner at the end of that wall. And this would be one reason this room is nice to hang out in even when we are not schooling. The armoire provides storage as well.
Moving on down the next wall we come to our art and writing shelf. This shelf holds pencils, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, tape, drawing books, etc. Very handy as it is right next to our seat work area and the drawing table.

Next to the art shelf is our seat work table. We do some of our work here but we use the whole room really. Occasionally I am in that middle chair with two of the girls beside me working on an activity together. This table has been great for us.

Remember earlier when I said those few stairs led up to an office area? Well there it is. Jason and I hang out there and "discuss" how much money I can spend on homeschooling. Ha! (kidding)Looking into the school room from the office. We use that bulletin board for schooling as well. Mostly calendar activities and displaying art work. That door on the right is a walk in closet where I keep more supplies for crafts, etc. Some toys are in there as well.

From the other end of the room:

Here you can see that this room is upstairs and also up into the office area. And there is our drawing table and our sofa for reading and devotions and watching TV!

Another view of the whole room:

Thanks for taking the tour!

My Workbox Peeps

Here are some other blogs discussing the workbox system.

Leslie has several posts on workboxes: Post #1 , Post #2, Post #3, Post #4, Post #5

Jessica adapted the system to fit her large family without taking up so much space. Read about that here.

Ami has some helpful posts on her blog. Check out her sidebar on the right for about 5 different links, including tons of ideas and free downloads!

Seriously...I love this system. Betsie is SO happy to be included with her own work. She fizzles out before the 12th box, but she hangs in there for most of it. I have been putting in a DVD for her last box and leaving that time to work with the older girls on something that isn't as easy with a little one around. That has worked nicely.

The workbox system DOES TAKE SOME WORK! I am getting faster and smarter about what goes in the boxes, but it does take some time depending on what you are wanting to do. But the payoff is so great. Spending a little time yesterday to put the baking soda, vinegar, and clay in a box last night meant that we actually made a volcano today. And I didn't have to walk around for 10 minutes saying, "Now where did I put that clay?" Just sayin'. I love how this is working for me (and many others), but not everyone will love it and that is okay. But I do hope someone will find this info helpful!

More on Workboxes

Wow, I love this system already! We got so much done today and the girls loved it. Two out of three even told me so...with the third working happily and without complaint.

A few details:
* The workbox system is kind of like a visual to do list for children. They can look at their shelf and see how much work is left to do and what has already been accomplished. No more, "How much more until we are done?"

* This system makes it easier for the teacher to remember to add in the fun stuff. Things like games and crafts that you always mean to use but never get around to.

*My kids were more independent today than they have been in a long time...or maybe ever!

*It is so easy to break down a complicated assignment into smaller parts with the workbox system.

*It is also easy to review previously taught material. I am putting an addition worksheet in my 5th grader's box tomorrow. Though she is already doing much harder math, she could use a review to make that harder math go a little faster for her. This will be an easy assignment and she will still do her regular math.

*My preschooler was kept busy and productive today which made school time happier for all of us!

*This system forces me to have everything ready to go before we start. No more scrambling to find an item we need and losing their attention while I search for something. Everything we need is right there in the box.

*It doesn't matter which curriculum you are using. This system is very flexible!

Here is a close-up of one workbox. Notice the "work with mom" card. When the child gets to this box, she knows to bring it to me and we will do something together. Velcro pieces are a BIG deal with this system and that is how the card is attached to the box.

I hope to do another post soon with links to lots of other blogs about this system.

Workboxes...I Am Officially on this Bandwagon

The ladies at the Five in a Row boards have gone crazy over workboxes since Leslie introduced them a week or so ago. Count me as one of the converts. Workboxes is a tool developed by Sue Patrick that is a useful way to organize a school day. First, here is a picture so you'll know what I am talking about.

Basically you use between 6 and 15 shoebox size clear boxes to assign and organize a day's worth of school work. Each child has a shelf with 12 boxes and they work their way through the boxes sequentially. The ones pictured above are Betsie's boxes (preschool). Here is what she will be doing tomorrow.

1. A shape worksheet (She asks for stuff like this so she can feel big.)

2. Handwriting Without Tears wooden letter pieces

3. Teddy Bear counter sorting activity

4. Book she is always begging to read that I usually try NOT to read because I am sick of it.

5. snack

6. Coupons and scissors (not the ones I actually want)

7. Alphabet stamps, paper, and ink pads (I try to have all necessary materials in the boxes.)

8. Dry erase board and marker

9. Story Bible

10. blocks

11. Before Five in a Row book

12. DVD

Here are Mary and Rachel's boxes:

Mary (2nd grade) will be working on these 12 activities tomorrow:
1. Reviewing the Lord's prayer
2. Science (Usborne book)
3. Reading Made Easy
4. tangrams
5. book basket
6. sight words and a snack
7. Math game
8. calendar activities
9. science coloring book
10. Math lesson
11. More of the Reading Made Easy lesson (This system makes it easy to break longer lessons into less overwhelming parts.)
12. Read aloud

Rachel (5th grader) will be doing these activities:
1. Review the Lord's prayer
2. Science (See Mary's #2)
3. Book basket
4. tangrams
5. Sequential Spelling
6. Health and writing activity (Using The Care and Keeping of You from American Girl)
7. Handwriting practice
8. Read the Times Tales stories (multiplication/division review activity) (Easy to build in review with this system)
9. Make geography cards
10. Math (Teaching textbooks)
11. Presidents thingy that was in a chick-fil-a kids meal
12. Read aloud

More on workboxes soon! Gotta go to bed!

Makes Me Smile to See This

I Should Save This for Wordless Wednesday

Like many others, we are trying to cut back on spending. I have been couponing (notice the links on my sidebar for some good sites for this) and this morning Jason hit a local discount type grocery store's sidewalk sale. Basically, you battle the other crazy bargain hunters for whatever is there. As much as you can fit in a huge box for $7. We had not done this before so we didn't know what to expect. We didn't do so great because Jason got there at 9:03 and it seems you need to be much earlier to get the good stuff. Jason is sure he learned a few tricks for next time. LOL!

But when he first got there, this really cracked him up. And wouldn't you know, he actually did come home with a cut finger. Bonus points if you can spot an error on the sign.

What's Up?

Sorry I never seem to blog anymore. Since my camera died last summer and I joined Facebook, my poor blog has really been neglected. I've toyed with the idea of not blogging anymore at all, but I don't want to get rid of it just yet. This past fall was crazy with moving and then of course there were the holidays. There was also the matter of me spraining my ankle one week after we moved, which also happened to be 2 weeks before Disney World (and 3.5 weeks before Christmas).

So I have had plenty to blog about but I just haven't been in the mood! I keep meaning to put more house pictures up since we have actually unpacked and done a little decorating, but there is that camera issue I mentioned...and I take really blurry pictures with phones.

Just wanted to come here and say Happy New Year, I do still exist, we're all doing great, and you are more likely to find me on Facebook that my blog these days!

More soon I hope!

My Messy House (Otherwise titled: Pictures because Amanda insisted I post these)

We moved! And we have been unpacking all week...making great chaos and big messes. But we are here and we are loving all the space in this house. Pictures have been requested. These are very rough and show the chaos of our life this week. I took these last night so no pics of the kids' rooms or outside. But you get the idea. Enjoy!

Master bedroom...planning on using a gift card for new bedding that will match the paint and curtains. (I asked for all window treatments in this house.)

Master bath...and yes, I have already used this tub a few times!

Bonus room upstairs...future organized school room

From the family room looking toward the dining room and front door

From the dining room looking into the family room

Kitchen. My other kitchen was TINY! So I am loving this. (There are cabinets and counter tops not visible in this picture. I asked the sellers for that fridge as well.)

Standing at one end of the house (beside the master bedroom) and looking all the way down the hall past the family room, dining room, and kitchen. Two of the kids rooms and a bathroom are down there.

Personal Experiences Meme

Got this one from Alicia. It's pretty easy. Just copy and paste and hightlight the ones you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (I leave this kind of thing to Mary Evelyn.)
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Been there, but it was being renovated and we couldn't get to the top.)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (No, but Jason does a great "Born to Be Wild." He's not your typical CPA.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (no thanks, Jason does this enough for the both of us)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (Not a soup kitchen, but my BIL's homesless ministry a few times)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (Just once and I was mortified.)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (wow...that's a little humbling to admit)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I Can't Wait to be a Teacher Again!

It's almost Thanksgiving! And I feel a little like I am missing it this year. We move in just ONE week. The boxes are mostly packed, the loan has been approved, inspections have been completed, repairs have been made, and lists have been made (all sorts of lists to keep me half way organized and sane during this transition!).

What is not happening is school. Not totally true. We have stayed semi-caught up with the three R's. But we had a wonderful start to our year with My Father's World and that has taken quite the back seat since about September. I am so very thankful that in just one week, I will get to unpack those boxes labeled "school room." I will put the books on the shelf, set up an art and writing center, and hang the map back up on the wall. I will once again have ROUTINE!

I really am so excited about starting back. I really miss the way we were doing school before that "for sale" sign went up just 5 weeks ago. I enjoyed snuggling on the couch reading about the animals in the rainforest and then looking at the AMAZING drawings my girls made with their colored pencils to illustrate what they had learned. (Not bragging but my girls can flat out draw...Betsie too.) I know it may actually be January before our routine is solid again. The holidays, unpacking, and a trip to Disney World will throw us for a little bit of a loop. Still, those things are more blessings and I look forward to them with a happy heart.

So maybe I am not missing out on Thanksgiving. We aren't celebrating it in our usual way with decorations and stories of the pilgrims and Squanto, but I am truly thankful and feeling quite blessed. God has been so kind to me and I praise Him for His goodness.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday