The Homeschool Mother's Journal - April 25-30, 2011

In my life this week…
We had our spring break this week since my parents came to visit on Tuesday. Of course, that did require some serious cleaning! Other than that we have had a pretty relaxing week and spending quality time with my parents.

In our homeschool this week…
No schoolwork, though Destini and Chantry recited their Bible memory in church. They recited 6 verses about the Bible:

Psalm: 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Psalm 119:16 - I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119:72 - The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:103 - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Grandma and Papa arrived Tuesday night and we spent the week just being together. Saturday we went to the coast for a short visit at the ocean and a longer visit at the outlet mall.

My favorite thing this week was…
Having a relaxing week of now school work and spending time with my parents.

What’s working/not working for us…
After much thought, I think I'm going to drop Explode the Code with Chantry and go back to All About Spelling. Now that he has gotten through his little hump of spelling consonant blends he needs the repetition of the spelling rules to help with vowel blends.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have
I was able to register for our local Homeschool Convention this week and am looking forward to going in June.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

The kids with Grandma and Papa



The ocean is truly beautiful, but it is ALWAYS cold, usually windy, and just not my cup of tea!


The girls with Grandma.

Book Review: Lumby On the Air by Gail Fraser

Book Description:

Fifth in the acclaimed series set in the enchantingly offbeat town of Lumby.

Pam and Mark Walker are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary with a week-long family reunion and a ceremony renewing their vows. But when Mark's brother-in-law starts broadcasting his radio talk show from Montis Inn, his disparaging remarks about small-town life cause immediate rifts that only widen when he sides with a real estate developer who wants to turn Lumby into an asphalt Aspen. As the controversy pits family against family, and neighbor against neighbor, will the spirit that defines Lumby triumph once again?

My thoughts:
I'll have to admit I'm a big fan of Lumby, and found that Lumby on the Air by Gail Fraser is a wonderful addition to the series. In Lumby on the Air, the story centers more around Mark and Pam's family and not so much on the citizens of Lumby, don't worry though, they are still very much involved! I have to admit that when I first started the book I wasn't too sure where the story was going. There are several extremely annoying family members which were kind of hard to take. As I have yet to be disappointed in a Lumby book, I kept persevering and found that the spirit of Lumby, where "loving thy neighbor as thyself" speaks loudly and works wonders. I highly recommend Lumby on the Air.

What's On Your Nightstand - April

Reading for May:


From March I read:
The Egg and I by Betty Macdonald
Finding Stefanie (Noble Legacy Series #3) by Susan May Warren
Joyful Momma's Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households: embracing a devotional life...and passing it on by Kimberly Eddy
Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst
Read for the Heart: Whole Books for WholeHearted Families by Sarah Clarkson

I also read:
The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews
Everything's Coming Up Josey (Josey, Book 1) by Susan May Warren
Five Children and It (Puffin Classics) by E. Nesbit* (review)
The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books) by Patrick Taylor (review)
Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
Lumby on the Air by Gail Fraser
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart: A Novel by Beth Patillo (review)
The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund (review)
Uncertain Heart (Seasons of Redemption, Book 2) by Andrea Boeshaar

I listened to:
Second Touch (A.D. Chronicles) by Brock & Bodie Theone

I didn't read:
A Constant Heart by Siri Mitchell (I found this story quite depressing and eventually gave up on it.)

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Lumby on the Air by Gail Fraser

Lynn felt dizzy. "My priceless cat is in a barn?"  p.96

Happy Easter!

Discovering what is inside those eggs!

Being goofy!

All dressed up and ready for church.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - April 18-22, 2011

In my life this week…
It was a pretty normal week. I did a bit of baking this week, which is very rare for me! I also had last minute details to take care before Easter.

In our homeschool this week…
We spent Monday catching up on some odds and ends that we didn't get finished last week, since we were out of town for a few days. On Tuesday we started work on this week's workload.

Caleb is real close to completing up his HELP sessions, which are exercises to help with some learning problems. I let him drop his Physical Science and History studies for this week so we could focus on HELP.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
On Friday we took a field trip to the Robert Newell House Museum, One-Room School and Pioneer Mothers Log Cabin at Champoeg State Park here in Oregon. After we started the tour, I realized I had forgotten my camera! We did enjoy ourselves and it will have to be an event we remember in our heads. I was thankful that the sun did shine that day, as we spent some time outside, including our picnic lunch, but I was freezing by the time we left!

We made a mad dash home to warm up and get dinner ready. After dinner the boys and dad headed to baseball practice and the girls and I headed out shopping to find a couple of items to finish up Easter outfits.

My favorite thing this week was…
Our field trip!

What’s working/not working for us…
I won't say that the Apologia Physical Science ISN'T working, but it sure has been a difficult subject to keep on top of.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
We will be having our Spring Break this week to coincide with my parent's coming to visit. This is long overdue break, especially for me!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
A song to celebrate Easter, which also happens to be Caleb's favorite song.


See what others are doing here.

Book Review: An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor

Book Description:

Welcome to the colourful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, where two doctors work hand in hand to mend the bodies and spirits of the town’s diverse and engaging inhabitants. But who is looking after the wounded hearts of the doctors?

After less than a year, young Barry Laverty, M.B., is settling in to the village, with only a few months to go before he becomes a full partner in the practice. He’s looking forward to becoming a fixture in the community, until an unexpected romantic reversal gives him second thoughts. Will he truly be happy tending to routine coughs and colds for the rest of his career? After all, even when a more challenging case comes along, like a rare tropical disease, all he can do is pass it on to a qualified specialist or big-city hospital. As much as Barry enjoys the rough and tumble of life in County Down, is running a humble GP’s shop all he wants out of life?

Barry’s mentor, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, is going through some personal upheavals as well. After mourning his deceased wife for decades, he’s finally allowed a new woman into his life. But this budding courtship is not going over well with Kinky Kincaid, the doctors’ redoubtable housekeeper, who fears having her position usurped by O’Reilly’s new flame. Tact, diplomacy, and a fair amount of blarney may be required to restore peace to the household.

Meanwhile, life goes on in Ballybucklebo, presenting both doctors with plenty of distractions from their own troubles. From a mysterious outbreak at the local school to a complicated swindle involving an unlucky racehorse, the two partners will need all of their combined wit and compassion to put things right again--just in time for their lives to change forever.

My thoughts:
An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books) by Patrick Taylor continues the story of
Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly and his young assistant Dr. Barry Laverty in the charming little village of
Ballybucklebo.  As in the previous books, Patrick Taylor weaves a wonderful story that centers around village life. Ballybucklebo is full of interesting characters, hilarious incidents, heartbreak and sorrow, and finding love. This is a story that is hard to put down. When I was finished I felt like immersing myself in all things Irish! If you have not read the Irish Country Books, make a mad dash to the library and start reading.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

His dark eyebrows rose. He had clearly expected her to demur. p. 200

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books) by Patrick Taylor

Fingal felt goose bumps start, as he always did when Kinky exhibited her uncanny ability to know things she had no way of knowing. Mrs. Kinky Kincaid was fey. p.69

She is 3!

She insisted on strawberry shortcake for her birthday cake.


New dolls!


She is growing up way too fast!


She is truly our "joy" and such a blessing to our family.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: April 4 - April 8, 2011

In my life this week…
I have putting up with quite a bit of pain in my face and shoulder, especially at night. I am still trying to figure what is the cause--tooth, tight muscles, sinus--who knows! Anyhow, that doesn't make for a happy mama, but I made it through this week and we were able to stay on track.

In our homeschool this week…
Chantry and Destini finished up the chapters on birds in our Exploring Creation with Zoology I and we boldly headed off into the next chapter--BATS! Even though we learned that these homely little creatures aren't anything to be afraid of and the importance of bats in our world, that did not endear them to us.

Caleb started his Book of Centuries. This is something I've been wanting to do all year, so I am thrilled that it has been started!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
The boys started baseball this week. This means I have to plan our days a little better, especially in the dinner department.

My favorite thing this week was…
Attending my homeschool mom's group. I look forward to these every month and always come away refreshed and inspired. It is like a breath of fresh air.

What’s working/not working for us
Our morning routine--right now it consists of me reminding the kids what to do. When I forget so do they. I need to get the routine down on paper and into their hands, thus making them responsible for getting their morning routine finished (maybe).

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
I was reminded at my homeschool meeting that focus of my family shouldn't be on  home "schooling", but rather home "discipleship".

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…



See more of The Homeschool Mother's Journal over at The Homeschool Chick.

Book Review: Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

Book Description:

Claire Prescott is a sensible woman who believes in facts and figures, not fairy tales. But when she agrees to present a paper to a summer symposium at Oxford on her ailing sister's behalf, Claire finds herself thrown into an adventure with a gaggle of Jane Austen-loving women all on the lookout for their Mr. Darcy. Claire isn't looking for Mr. Anyone. She's been dating Neil -- a nice if a bit negligent -- sports fanatic. But when a tall, dark and dashing stranger crosses her path, will the staid Claire suddenly discover her inner romantic heroine? Her chance meeting  with a mysterious woman who claims to have an early version of Austen's Pride and Prejudice -- in which Lizzie ends up with someone other than Fitzwilliam Darcy -- leads to an astounding discovery about the venerated author's own struggle to find the right hero for Lizzie Bennett. Neil's unexpected arrival in Oxford complicates Claire's journey to finding her own romantic lead. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is the story of a woman who finds that love isn't logical and that a true hero can appear in the most unexpected of places.

My thoughts:
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart: A Novel (Modern Contemporary Fiction) by Beth Pattillo is a story that draws you into the mystery that surrounds Jane Austen and presents the reader with a "what if" scenario. I have to admit some of the ideas presented were definitely different, but I still  found this a very enjoyable read and even liked it even more than her previous book, Jane Austen Ruined My Life. If you enjoy all things Jane Austin, I highly recommend Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart: A Novel.