~ More Beautiful Snowdrifts and Thursday's List ~

When I woke up yesterday, it was 9* outside. Sounds pretty chilly, but it was actually warmer than the day before!  This morning it's 16* ~ woo hoo!  We didn't do a whole lot yesterday. Really didn't get as much school done as I would have liked either.  Emma was able to get a lot accomplished in school.  I've asked her to stay down on the main floor to help her stay focused better.  It seemed to work yesterday.  She completed her 1st quarter exam study guide for science, 50 minutes of grammar and 50 minutes of math.  Much more than a typical day for her. Sam started his math, but didn't get it finished.  Sarah completed her phonics and spelling. Jonathon completed his math.  His time is improving a little on the subtraction speed drill.  I really need to buckle down in school today and not be so easily distracted!

I headed outside yesterday to start the van so I could go to the bank, as soon as I turned towards the van I saw a very large and beautiful snowdrift that was going to keep me home.  It prompted me to take pictures of some of the other beautiful snowdrifts!

Beautiful!!

Thursday's Thankful To-Do List

*breakfast

*lunch

*exercise

*school with lovelies

*laundry

*clean out dog crate

*clean out guinea crate

*crock pot supper

Time to start another day!  

~ The Beautiful Freedom of Homeschooling ~

We enjoy homeschooling so much!  The children get to enjoy themselves, take their time, really focus on something if they want.  Of course, if they don't like something we are doing, they hurry to complete it and move on :)

Sometimes, using a textbook gets rather boring.  Other times, the textbook just isn't doing a very good job of explaining a concept.  When either of these happen we find something that will do a better job.  We recently took a break from our science textbook.  We decided to get some "hands on" science in with a study of seeds!  The children had a blast!  They drew pictures of their findings when we were done.

The concept of "place value" was always a tough thing for me to understand.  Our children were struggling with this concept as well.  To help them understand, we pulled out our Math-U-See blocks and "built" our numbers.  Just one afternoon of "playing" with these blocks helped!  They have since been flying through the place value portion of their math.

It's been a wonderful couple of days of school and home-keeping.  We have completed our work and had lots of time to play, read and rest!  When I get up in the morning, I drink my coffee while reading e-mails.  When I'm done, I close up the computer.  Very freeing! 

Blue Knights... #2

Last night was our second Blue Knights meeting!!  I'm so excited to share what we planned for the boys!



We first set the table in preparation for the "Knights" arrival.



After the opening prayer, Bible memory shout, and a wonderful story about St. Ambrose, the boy's got started on their helmet of "hope". This was such a cool and easy craft!!



The helmet pattern is found at the Clevenland Museum of Art.  To get to it, click on the link.  Next click on "Art to go", then "elementary school", then "Cool Knights".  Great craft!!



We struggled with a game/activity for the virtue of "hope" this month.  Because of the cold weather here, and the early darkness this time of year, an outdoor activity would be tough.  We finally decided on a treasure hunt, since we "hope" to reach our treasure of Heaven someday!  We started out by creating little treasure "clues", then put them in balloons.  We also put blank strips in balloons, so the boys wouldn't be able to tell which ones had clues and which ones didn't.  :)



There were 4 "stops" in their journey to their "treasure".  There are 5 boys in our group, so for each stop we blew up 5 balloons.  We numbered the balloons, so that the boys would be able to pop them in order of their "stops".  Then we threw them on the floor!  When the game started, the boys each grabbed a balloon with the #1.  Their goal was to pop their balloon, and see which boy got the clue.  It was really exciting to hear the boy's yell "I GOT A CLUE, I GOT A CLUE!".  Each clue led them on a hunt, then they would go back to the balloons and get the next clue.



Their first "stop" was Mary.  The clue stated " Your journey begins with the hope of a Savior.  Find Mary and pray 1 Hail Mary."



Their second "stop" was the crucifix.  The clue stated "Your journey continues at the feet of Christ, where our Savior willingly died for us, so we may have eternal life.  Find the crucifix and pray an "Act of Faith."



Their 3rd "stop" took them to Calvary.  The clue stated "Next on your journey is Calvary, where Christ was crucified.  Find the picture of Calvary.  Pray an "Act of Hope."



The last clue stated "Final stop on your journey ~ find your treasure in the clouds of Heaven."  K cut out a cloud from poster board, and I created these sweet bags.  They are the perfect size for carrying their Blue Knight member books, and other goodies.



Then, it was time for snacks.  St. Ambrose is the patron saint of bee keepers, so K and E created these awesome Hunny Bee Cookies from Family Fun!  E added faces and stingers!! :)

The boys all had such a good time!!

Blue Knights...

     There aren't many Catholic activities for homeschoolers in our area.  There is a wonderful christian homeschooling community, but nothing specifically Catholic that I'm aware of.  We are members of a Catholic homeschooling group in another city about 1/2 hour or so from here, but that drive gets to be a bit much.  So, we decided to try and get something going here in our home town with a few local Catholic homeschoolers!

    Hubby has started up a Blue Knights club for Catholic boys.  The Blue Knights club provides an opportunity for young boys to have a great time, while learning about their faith.  Here is an excerpt from the Leader's Guide ~ "Using the concept of Knighthood based on virtue, the seeds are sown so that the boys can understand St. Joseph's role as guardian of Jesus and Mary.  The martial aspect of Knighthood also is used as a springboard to develop the obedience of faith."

     The first meeting was last night.  There are 5 wonderful young men in the group.  The first meeting was about the virtue of faith, and St. Peter.  I took a few pictures before the meeting started, but stayed out of hubby and the boy's way after.  I wanted this to be their time with dad, and the other young men who came.  hubby did have the help of another dad that came and stayed to enjoy the time with his son.  Hubby appreciated that, because the other dad helped keep things on track :)

     I think they all had a great time ~ I heard LOTS of laughing and yelling!!  Usually a good sign that boys are having fun!!  Here are some before pictures:



This is the table all set and ready to go! Hubby started the meeting with an opening prayer.  He used a toy sword to knight all of the boys after placing the breastplate/capes on them and calling them "Sir (name insert)".



These are the "Shields of faith" I made for the boys to paint for their craft time.



These are the SAD looking cupcakes I made!!!  They overflowed all over the pan while baking, so #1 they are larger than your normal cupcake, and #2 I had to cut them all up just to make them some what resemble a cupcake!  They were supposed to resemble these cupcakes!  Unfortunately, I didn't have anything to make the boats, so I just tried to make due with what I had on hand!



This is the Bible Memory Shout board!  I did hear some shouting for this, which was great!

     After making their craft, the boys went out and played a game outside!  There was so much laughing and yelling!!  We opened up a window in the room we were hanging out in to listen!!  It was a glorious sound!!  I LOVE hearing children laughing and having a great time ~ we all giggled just listening to it :)

     I'm looking forward to planning for the next meeting, and having all of those wonderful young men back!!

First Day of School...

     Today started the first day of school for many.  Many children got up early,  put on brand new outfits, filled brand new lunch pails, and filled brand new backpacks with pencils, folders, crayons, glue, emergency cards, etc.  Then they went out to the bus stop and waited for the big yellow bus to pick them up.  They met new teachers, new "friends", and were introduced to new routines.  Their days were full.  When that last bell rang, they gathered their new books, backpacks, and coats and lined up at the classroom door for the bus to take them back home.

      Today, our children were on their 6th day of school.  Their routines were familiar ones.  They got up early and got dressed.  Hubby gave K a ride to volleyball practice, and the rest of them gathered at the table for breakfast.  We prayed, and then ate breakfast together.  After breakfast, school began.  They had the same "old" teacher :).  They chose where to work on assignments...


...a few chose comfortable seats...


...others chose desks, with...


...with a beautiful view!


Some worked with scissors...






...others worked with glue (sorry, she won't stay dressed :).

They played with their "best friends":











     Their day was full!  There was no "last bell", no packing of backpacks, no standing in line at the classroom door.  There was no big yellow bus.  They were already home, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

"Family Day" to the museum...

We don't call trips out 'field trips'.  Field trips are very nice trips the school's do for children that families should be doing.  Truth be told there is a minimal (if any) amount of learning that occurs during a school 'field trip'.  When we head out it is a "Family Day" ~ basically we tell the kids "it's a surprise!!"  Not too long ago we visited a children's museum in a nearby city.  We had an absolute BLAST!!  There are a lot of photo's so this may end up taking a few days to share them with you!  It was soooo much fun!

 

 

Have a great day!!!