In Honor

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - May 22-28, 2011

In my life this week…
Well, I started off the week incredible sick. I stayed in bed all day Monday, and amazingly the kids actually completed their work for the day. On Tuesday I told my husband I was going to get better even if it killed me, so I cautiously got up and was even able to go to work even though I took it easy. After that the week seemed to speed by and I have felt like I've been trying to catch up ever since.

In our homeschool this week…
We are still have a couple of weeks yet, but we are slowly closing in on the finish. Chantry and Destini were able to finish Joan of Arc and we also did some extra reading in Seabird and Pagoo. Destini is working really hard on finishing up her Easy Grammar book.

Caleb is still consistently working on everything. He seems to finally have found a way to get all his history assignments in for the week, of course, within weeks of stopping!

We started a new hymn and folk song. We will continue to do this through out the summer since we do it during our family devotions. Our new hymn is "My Jesus, I Love Thee" and our folk song is "A Tisket, A Tasket."

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Due to rain, we didn't make it to baseball practice or have a ballgame. Shade took the kids to the park to hit the ball. Destini also had a piano lesson this week which was exciting since her piano teacher had her baby since the last time we saw her.

My favorite thing this week was…
Caleb is finished with H.E.L.P.!!!!!!!!! I couldn't go to his last session since I was sick in bed, but my spirit was doing a happy dance!

What’s working/not working for us…
Science! I have moaned about this before, but when I mentioned finding a different science curriculum for next year my husband vetoed the idea. He feels it stretches Caleb in a good way. I am throwing the idea around of doing one semester of science and one semester of history next year and see if this would make a difference.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
I'm excited about finishing up, but I need to start planning for next year so I can make my list to take to our local curriculum sale and homeschool conference coming up in June.

A photo, video, link or quote to share…
We are surrounded by baseball, the boys even have Delani working at it. Of course, she is a typical girl--just check out the shoes!


See what other are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

Book Review: Belles On Their Toes - Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Book Description:

Life is very different now in the rambling Gilbreth house.When the youngest was two and the oldest eighteen, Dad died and Mother bravely took over his business. Now, to keep the family together, everyone has to pitch in and pinch pennies. The resourceful clan rises to every crisis with a marvelous sense of fun -- whether it's battling chicken pox, giving the boot to an unwelcome boyfriend, or even meeting the President. And the few distasteful things they can't overcome -- like castor oil -- they swallow with good humor and good grace. Belles on Their Toes is a warm, wonderful, and entertaining sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen.

My thoughts:
I listened to Cheaper by the Dozen (Perennial Classics) back in 2009 and added the sequel, Belles on Their Toes by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey to my TBR list. So now 2011, I finally got around to reading it. Belles on Their Toes seems more serious than Cheaper by the Dozen, since the family is having to find their way without their father and to stay together. This does not in any way make the book dull and boring. Their escapades into saving money are truly hilarious! Also, the older girls are falling in love and the younger kids are very willing to "help" them, which makes for interesting and humorous results. Ultimately, this is a tribute to their mother, Lillian Gilbreth, who with great determination, persevered and succeeded taking over her husband's business and keeping her family together.  Belles on Their Toes is truly delightful read (or re-read in my case) and will leave you with a smile on your face.

What's On Your Nightstand - May

Reading for June:

I will be adding these once I make it to the library tomorrow:


From my April post I read:
The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Pattillo
Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William Farley
Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington by Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss
Operation Bonnet: A Novel by Kimberly Stuart
Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

I also read:
Act Two: A Novel in Perfect Pitch by Kimberly Stuart
Balancing Act (Heidi Elliott Series #1) by Kimberly Stuart
Building a Winning Curriculum: How to Use Vision Forum Products to Build a Winning Homeschool Curriculum - Dorys Lee Horn
Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle by Ann B. Ross
Pearl in the Sand by Tess Afshar
Unexpected Love (Seasons of Redemption, Book 3) by Andrea Boesharr

I am currently reading:
Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys by Hal & Melanie Young

I listened to:
Third Watch (A. D. Chronicles, Book 3) by Brock & Bodie Thoene
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

See what others are reading here.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - May 15-21, 2011

In my life this week…
Life was pretty much normal. School, work, church, etc. Delani spiced it up on Thursday by getting a little stomach bug which produced what she termed, "The worst diapers in the world!". It then moved on to mom and dad, but only made us feel nauseous and ugh!

In our homeschool this week…
We worked very hard this week. I showed the kids what needed to be done and they started putting the pedal to the metal. Destini finished her Language Lessons for the Elementary Child. We did a little extra in our reading.

Caleb wasn't able to work ahead, but he finished everything on his weekly list, except his science test which he will take tomorrow.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
On Wednesday, Caleb and I headed to the H.E.L.P office for him to take his final test. He only had to retake the test in the areas in scored low in the first time. He showed improvement in all four areas he had trouble in.

We had baseball practice and a baseball game this week. Caleb pitched one inning. This is the first time he has every pitched. I was very nervous to say the least, but he did great and had a no-hitter.

My favorite thing this week was…
The sun actually came out and we had a few warm days. That was really nice. I am getting out my summer clothes in faith.

What’s working/not working for us…
We should be finished with Caleb's H.E.L.P exercises and I can't begin to say how excited I am. This has been a much needed thing for him to do, but it takes a lot of commitment to do it. Now we can focus on math and science.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
None, I am on autopilot with one goal in mind--Get this year finished!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Well, our garden is in. My husband rigged this fancy contraction for the pole beans and peas.


See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

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!



Balancing Act (Heidi Elliott Series #1) by Kimberly Stuart

My belly happily digesting Sophie's souffle, we headed home on Sycamore for Nora's nap and my precious two hours of freedom. "Freedom," of course, was a term I used loosely as it usually denoted wild parties involving laundry detergent, a mop, and, on raucous occasions, the toilet brush. p. 101

Destini's First Piano Recital

Back in February, Destini was able to start piano lessons. She is doing well and all ready has finished a set of books. She really enjoys learning her new music, though this has been an eye opening experience for her, since she has to learn to read notes and not play by ear. Late in March, her teacher informed her that she would be holding a recital in May. Destini about died on the spot, she is not especially fond of performing in front of people. She buckled down and learned her two pieces, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "Sleeping Beauty Waltz".

Saturday was the big night and all of her hard work paid off. She did a wonderful job, plus survived performing in front of family, friends, and many others she didn't know. We are really proud of you, Destini!

Here is her performance.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - May 7-14, 2011

This is a little late in getting posted, but I was too worn out to put something together until now.

In my life this week…
Life happened fast and furiously this week! We had something going every night. I had a wonderful Mother's Day - Olive Garden, a gerbera daisy plant, and a new Willow Tree figurine, plus spending time with my husband and kids. I also made Destini a new skirt to wear to her piano recital.

In our homeschool this week…
School resumed back to normal. I felt I had to do A LOT of prodding. Caleb finished up his Easy Grammar Plus book this week--yeah! We also stopped in our Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 for the year. We have covered birds, bats, pterodactyls, and butterflies and we will start the book up next year studying insects.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
I went to my monthly homeschool Mom's meeting. The boys were able to finally play their first baseball game. We ended the week by going to Destini's 1st piano recital.

My favorite thing this week was…
I had a bunch! Mother's Day, the boy's baseball game and Destini's piano recital!

What’s working/not working for us…
I'm not sure how well Apologia's Notebook Journals work in our home. I like the basic idea of it, but trying to get Destini to do it is like pulling hen's teeth!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
I really need to think about next year plans. Since we still have over a month of school left, I am not feeling very inspired to start planning. I know this will pass, though I don't usually get inspired until the day I should be starting back up!

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


Mother Day 2011

See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

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!



Act Two: A Novel in Perfect Pitch by Kimberly Stuart

Not only was I getting old, losing audiences, and selling fewer CDs, I was a prime candidate for midwest living.

Merry blasted Christmas. p. 21

To All Moms - Happy Mother's Day!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - May 1-7, 2011

In my life this week…
My parents headed home on Tuesday, so life slowly returned to normal. I was really worn out and slept in a couple of mornings. I am really getting weary of this very indecisive weather we are having. I have lived in Oregon for almost 8 years so I should be used to it, but all I want is a little warmth and to put my winter clothes away!

In our homeschool this week…
We really didn't do much school. The kids started back up doing math and finishing some odds and ends that were left unfinished. I also tried to get Chantry and Destini's science finished up for the year, but still have one small section to read before we stop for the year.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
The boys had baseball practice on Monday and were looking forward to playing their first game, but unfortunately the game was rained out (2nd week in a row).

On Saturday, Destini and I went to our local craft store for the National Scrapbook Day. We went to different work stations and made a chipboard book. I won a whole pack of paper, which I think I'll give to Destini since she loves working with paper.

My favorite thing this week was…
Having a Girl's Day with my daughter.

What’s working/not working for us…
Caleb has 2-3 more sessions with H.E.L.P. I am doing a happy dance! This has been something he really needed, but so very time consuming!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…
I am starting to think ahead about what we will be doing next year. I have several books I want to read before next school year. They include:

The Writer's Jungle
Everyday Genius by Peter Kline
Ten Way to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
Lessons at Blackberry Inn by Karen Andreola

I know I have more, but this is what I am aiming for.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…


All ready for church: Caleb, Grandma & Delani

Swinging with Papa!


Good-bye Grandma & Papa! (Delani refused to look at the camera. The joys of a 3 year old!)

See more at The Homeschool Chick.

Book Review: The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Patillo

Book Description:

Following Jane Austen Ruined My Life and Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart, Beth Pattillo returns with her new novel. Inspired by Sense and Sensibility, The Dashwood Sisters Tell All follows two modern-day sisters as they set out on a walking tour of Jane Austen's England and uncover what might actually be Jane's long-lost diary.


Ellen and Mimi Dodge have never been close, but their mother's dying wish sends them on a walking tour of Hampshire, England, that follows in the footsteps of Jane Austen. Their mother also left them something else: a diary that belonged to Jane's sister Cassandra. These pages shed light on the secrets that nearly tore the Austen sisters apart and inspired one of the greatest love stories of all time. They also bring Jane to life in a way that no one has ever seen before: through the eyes of her sister. As the Dodge sisters embark on their walking tour, they too are drawn together in ways they never expected. They also discover that Cassandra's diary holds secrets, and someone doesn't want Ellen and Mimi to discover the truth. As they stumble on their way toward love, the women learn how Jane and Cassandra Austen inspired the original Marianne and Elinor Dashwood and come to realize that despite their very different personalities, they are a vital part of each other's happy endings.

My thoughts:
The Dashwood Sisters Tell All by Beth Patillo is a modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility.  I think what makes The Dashwood Sisters Tell All so much fun is the mystery of Cassandra's diary and what it ultimately reveals to Mimi and Ellen. While I found their love stories a little shallow, I did enjoy watching Mimi and Ellen discover that their differences didn't have to hinder their relationship, but rather enhance each other in ways they don't expect. If you love Jane Austen, The Dashwood Sisters Tell All will be a delightful read and don't be surprised if you pick up Sense and Sensibility when you are finished!