The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 12-16, 2011

In my life this week…This was a busy week.
-On Monday evening I found out we were going to have a White Elephant gift exchange at the couple's night for my homeschool group. So I scrounged around and decided to make An Apron in an Hour and include a Taste of Home Magazine.
-Tuesday we attended the couple's night and had a great time. Caleb's 16th birthday was Wednesday so we went to Famous Dave's for dinner and then quickly went home to have a small party for him for friends and family.
-Thursday evening I decorated some towels and made another hour apron for a Christmas gift for Caleb's tutor to give on Friday.
-Friday evening was spent running errands to prepare for our church's annual Christmas get together on Saturday.

In our homeschool this week…We work diligently on school work so we can have the next two weeks off. One year I am going to be so organized and start school early enough that we can fit in three weeks off.

Caleb finished his Geography book, How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger
and started Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.

Destini and Chantry are enjoying Exploring Creation with Zoology 2. I bought the Jr. Journal for Chantry to use, then I began to question the wisdom of this and wondered if I should hold off for another year. I am happy to say that so far it has been a success. He seems to enjoy it and has done it without complaining. We have only used the notebook part so far.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…The three oldest kids had dentist appointments on Tuesday and Caleb had his writing tutoring on Friday.

My favorite thing this week was…Caleb's birthday. We presented him with a toolbox and likened the different tools to his walk with God. Both of his papas gave him one of their own personal tools with a scripture to add to his tool box.

Things I’m working on…I have been getting presents wrapped and I was actually able to sew. The house has been extremely cleaned with two events in one week.

I’m reading…


I’m cooking…Chocolate Cake and Rolo Pretzel Turtles.


I’m grateful for…My oldest son, Caleb! He is such a blessing and turning into a fine young man.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…Here are the aprons and the towels that I made and decorated.

From Blogger Pictures

See what others are doing over at The Homeschool Chick.

Happy Birthday, Caleb!

I am kind of in shock, but today, Caleb turned 16! This just can't be happening to me!!!!!!!! But enough of my moaning and groaning, Caleb is turning into such a fine young man and we are thankful for how he has blessed our lives.


We had dinner at Famous Dave's...


and finished at home with a small party at home with grandparents and a few friends.

Happy Birthday, Caleb! We love you!!

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!



Blame it on the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

"But aren't you having Thanksgiving at the funeral parlor like you do every year?"

That turned a few heads and raised a few eyebrows. p.122

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!



Home for the Holidays (The Mother-Daughter Book Club) by Heather Vogel Frederick

"What are the Betsy-Tacy books?" asked Emma.


Stunned silence fell over the picnic table. p. 13

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: November 28 - December 2, 2011

Caleb opinion on our new artist we are studying.

In my life this week…
Wow! I didn't know if I would actually survive this very interesting week. It all started when we went to put up the Christmas tree, which usually requires hauling several pieces of furniture out into the garage and moving things around. Well, we ended up doing a major overhaul. We ended up getting a great deal on a china cabinet, which made it possible to condense two pieces of furniture into one.

When it was all said and done we ended up getting rid of two pieces of furniture out of the house, moving dishes, food, and office supplies out of cabinets and drawers, and rearranging furniture. It sounds easier than what is was. From Monday until Saturday I had to move around big piles of papers, dishes, books and all the junk that is easy accumulated and try to have a normal life--easier said than done! I am happy to say that I only have a few boxes filled with DVDs, Wii games and CDs that need to find a home and I think we can call it good. Whew! I'm worn out just writing about it!

In our homeschool this week…
We started a new term this week. I was still frantically trying to put the final touches on the kid's school schedules Sunday evening, so I really wasn't excited about starting up. I still wanted vacation!!

Caleb head into this new term still working on the same books.

Destini and Chantry finished reading The Princess and the Goblin, which was a big hit and now have a new literature book, The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat. This is my first time to read this book so it will be a fun reading adventure together.

We also have a new Composer and Artist we will be studying this term. For our Artist we will be following Ambleside Online's pick, Albert Bierstadt. This week we studied, The Wetterhorn and read through his biography. You can see Caleb's thoughts from the picture above.

For our Composer we will be listening to Mozart. This week we listened to Serenade No. 13 in G major or Eine Kleine Nacht Musik.

We started a new hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and folksong, Over the River and Through the Woods, which we will focus on for the next five weeks.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Here is great list of The 5 Best Gifts of All Time.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We got up early on Tuesday and headed to Portland to get the boys' haircuts. Then we stopped at my all time favorite store, Exodus Books, and I purchased some Christmas presents and also added The Princess and Curdie,  Story of the Amulet, and Ginger Pye to our collection.

On Friday we had to cancel Caleb's writing class due to Delani running a fever.

My favorite thing this week was…
Finally getting the Christmas tree up AND decorated!!

Questions/thoughts I have…
BEWARE when putting up the Christmas tree.

I’m reading…


A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Ta-da, behold The Christmas Tree!!!!!!!



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!

A Corpse at St. Andrew's Chapel: The Second Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon

"I trailed the man to Alvescot, where he - or some other, I cannot know - lay in wait for me behind the churchyard wall. When I investigated a sound I heard from the lynch gate I was thumped across the head for my curiosity." p. 215

From Our Home to Yours...