Our Week in Pictures

During our Classical Conversations Class...We disected owl pellets. The girls absolutely LOVED it!

 

 Kate had a great check up at the dentist. No cavities and the discovery of two loose teeth! She's over the moon excited that she can start wiggling them.

 We had a nice Halloween morning at CBS, minus Emma who has been fighting a tummy ache off and on all week
 

 Imagine this: 10, 5 & 6 year olds, 10 tin whistles & 1 teacher trying to hold it all together :) At CC the girls are learning music theory. It's going to be a long "semester."

 One night the kids made their own dinner. They thought it was a blast and I actually felt like the pre- pregnancy me!

 We've been working on tying shoes! The girls are both just about masters of this new skill!

 We have been spending as much time outside as possible! It's sunny and 70 and beautiful with golden yellow leaves on most of the trees surrounding our house. Loving these fall days after a really, REALLY long summer.

 Leaf people were created

 & pumpkins were painted!

And we had a fabulous night trick-o-treating in a great neighborhood that was amazingly kid friendly. 

Our Week at Home

In my life this week…
I really feel like I haven't done much this week. I haven't touched many of the boxes that are left to be unpacked. I look around and don't see a lot that was accomplished but we did have good quality kid days. Jeremy and I were sitting on the floor in the midst of all of the toys and kiddos and it was great and exactly what we ALL needed.

In our homeschool this week…
We are back on track with school. We have gotten back into the swing of math and reading after our move. Slowly over the next few weeks we will add in science, Spanish, and writing. My goal is to have all of our subjects slowly added back in by the middle of August. We were really struggling with behavior and with getting back to school some of those issues are clearing up, and I'm grateful for that!

I am inspired by…
Oh pinterest! Lots of baby and new house and fun school ideas and it's great!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We got to meet our new OB/GYN this week. I'm thankful to find one that I like. We also got to "see" our new sweet baby. The kids and I also got our new library card and they are loving exploring the new library! I was able to get out of the house on Wednesday night to spend time with the wonderful ladies from my Bible Study, a much needed refresher.

My favorite thing this week was…
Definitely "seeing" baby Ziggy. A major blessing and hightlight of our week.

Things I’m working on…
I've started Christmas 2012. I know I can't finish Christmas until October {after we have pictures from Halloween} But other than that I'm hoping to be done with Christmas shopping by September 1st. Christmas this year is taking a little more planning because we sadly aren't going home to Michigan ...everything has to be mail-able

I’m reading…
Besides kids books I haven't touched a book this week...SAD!

I’m cooking…
Nothing. The kids are making their own breakfasts lately because my stomach just can't handle it. They are loving this new responsibility!

Linking up with: http://www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/category/journal/ & http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

Our Week {no. two}

In my life this week… We learned this week that our closing date for our new home has been moved up two weeks! That means it is less than 2 weeks away! While I'm excited that the change was for the better & also excited that my parents will be here that week to help with the kids and with painting and with moving, I'm a little panicked! I also celebrated a birthday this week, my last one with a 2 in front. Oh, and it's hot here so I've had to put on my creative momma hat for inside activities in the afternoons.

 In our homeschool this week… We are only working on math and reading right now. With the pending move our start date will be pushed back to August 1st but the basics happen every day that daddy works. It is just a nice schedule to keep them on. We finished our Summer Reading requirements and got our rewards from the library. Including lots of freebies for our area. The kids all had to read 20 books and visit the library 4 times. In the words of Emma, "easy peasy!"

I am inspired by… Pinterest! It has been my life saver! It is full of great indoor activities and decorative ideas. It is a dangerous place when dreaming of a new home. The race track {below} idea came from pinterest. The kids went down for a nap and when they woke up the road went from their bedroom doors to the kitchen and everywhere inbetween!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… On Wednesday I was blessed to spend the evening with some amazing women that I have met through our church. It was a night to share and be blessed and to pray for each other. It was a time that was greatly needed. Other than that we have had trips to the splash pad, trips to the library, haircuts all around, a few new summer clothes from Old Navy and breakfast at Chick-fil-a for momma's birthday!

My favorite thing this week was…I have been getting up every morning about 5 to walk and it has been a great new habit. I have so much more energy throughout the day and the peace and time to think and pray is wonderful. It's just a mile or so walk but it makes a huge difference in my day.
Questions/thoughts I have…We have been having LOTS of character training opportunities lately...I'd take any advice you can offer.
Things I’m working on… packing and downsizing by half...I started with the art cupboard.

I’m reading…Bringing up Girls and The Strong Will Child by Dr. Dobson
The Red Tent for book club
And The World of Pooh as our current read aloud.

art project for the week...idea from pinterest

Linking up with: http://www.ihomeschoolnetwork.com/category/journal/ & http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/ & http://rachelmariemartin.blogspot.com/search/label/friday%20favorite%20things

Our Homeschool Week {Week 13}

{Emma, Kate & our fabulous friend Halla}

In my life this week…We are in detox/recovery mode after last week. While it was great having family here it always takes a few days to get back to normal. Lots of home time this week and reading and playing and laundry. A very typical week and I think it is just what we needed
In our homeschool this week…We have caterpillars turning into butterflies! I have never actually seen this process before so I think I'm enjoying it just as much as the kids are! We are drawing pictures every few days to watch them change. We are also doing lots of reading and we made clocks this week. We will be working on learning to tell time for the next few weeks and it is also providing us some great review of writing numbers.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Just the normal trips this week: library, church, swimming lessons & park. We did have a fun play date Tuesday afternoon {with Halla & her momma and sister}. I'm really itching to get to a fabric store and buy some new fabric but it just hasn't happened.
What’s working/not working for us… I'm not organized enough! I was doing great while we had math books to work out of but I need to take some time and really organize my thoughts/ideas for summer.
I’m grateful for…a new beginning each day. I've been a little down this week and not the best wife/momma. I'm thankful that God gives me a fresh start every.single.day!

Our Homeschool Week {week 12}

In my life this week…We had a great week! Family arrived last week Friday and we have been busy and having so much fun for a week. Sadly they leave today :( Thankfully we already have another visitor, Grammy coming in 23 days and we have a trip to Michigan planned in about 7 weeks!
In our homeschool this week…We're on spring break this week!! But with our homeschooled cousins here visiting we have worked on a weather lapbook. We have also done lots of educational field trips, reading with Grandma & counting with Aunt Misty!
I am inspired by… I have been VERY thankful this week to talk with my sister! She has been homeschooling for at least 9 years. She is full of advice and I'm thankful she's going a head of me and thankful that she's willing to share her knowledge with me. Her and I left our 9 kiddos with Grandma on Tuesday and ventured to our local used homeschool resource store! It was great! We spent 4 hours looking through books and curriculum. SO much fun!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… We have been to parks, the art museum, my mom and sister & I ventured to the Cheesecake factory. We have gone to the zoo, to two outdoor nature centers and to the mall!! Pretty much on the go since my family has arrived!
My favorite thing this week was… my family here! I've needed this time SO incredibly much.
I’m reading… Do curriculum catelogs count?!
I’m cooking…Not much my mom and sister have pretty much taken over!
I’m grateful for… family. Feeling so blessed and refreshed.

Linking to: www.thehomeschoolchick.com & www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com

Our Homeschool Week {Week 11}

In my life this week…
I'm having a hard time grasping just how fast our week are going. I can't believe it is Friday already! This week I have been trying to stay caught up with as much as possible because my mom, my sister and 6 of my nieces and nephews arrive today for a week!!! We have not seen each other since Thanksgiving...too long in my book! It will be a busy, crazy, wonderful week.
In our homeschool this week…
We finished our first math books this week! It feels like such an accomplishment! We won't start new books until the fall but we will play lots of fun math games & we will do lots of counting and sorting and a few math unit studies {money} over the summer.
Emma is doing great with reading. She can read through our first 2 easy reader books! Kate is holding her own and being successful every day with sounding out letters and has made her way through the "at" book! I'm so proud of both my girls! We will continue to plug away at books over the summer and hopefully be reading lots of words before we start school in the fall!
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
This week we had swimming lessons, a trip to the zoo because it was beautiful and my kids needed to walk off some grumpies {we're so thankful for a zoo pass that we got for Christmas!}, we had a play day, 2 different church activities on Wednesday, lunch with Daddy at a park on Thursday and today we have art class!
My favorite thing this week was…
A friend gifted us with Song School Latin and I have so enjoyed listening to my kids sing the songs. They think the songs are so fun...I feel like they are so smart ;)
I am so looking forward to my family being here tonight! I know I will be refreshed {and exhausted} when they leave!
Things I’m working on…
Laundry :) I have also finished the Easter skirts and have started piecing together a few play skirts for this summer. I can make these babies in 12 minutes and my girls would wear skirts daily if they had enough of them. All of the material is free to me! I'll pair the skirts with $3 tank tops from Wal-Mart and they will be perfect summer play clothes.
I’m reading…
so many things
I’m cooking…
nothing actually. I cannot remember what we have been eating all week, except for Wednesday, which was National Food on a Stick Day so we ate corn dogs!
I’m grateful for…
family! for healthy children, for the beautiful sunshine, for so many things! A supporting, hard working husband, the opportunity to snuggle my kids and to learn right along with them.

Linking up with: www.thehomeschoolchick.com & www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com

Our Homeschool Week {week 10}

In my life this week… It rained from Monday until Thursday. It was CA-RAZY! We haven't spent that much time inside in a really long time, probably last winter. Thankfully we had the first season of Little House on the Prairie to watch and we loaded up with a few dozen books from the library. We did lots of movie marathons. We did find time to get out and do a little puddle jumping. {Reed even did a great handstand in the mud}
In our homeschool this week…The rain did give us a great school week. LOTS of reading, we did math every day {only 5 days left in our math books!!} A few days we got out scraps of paper and the glue and the tape and the scissors and just cut and colored and glued until all of our papers were beautiful! We also ordered butterfly larva ... for a fun spring project!
I am inspired by… I've been receiving a TON of homeschool catalogs in the mail and I'm so excited for our fall schedule!
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…We had a fun pizza party at some friends house. It was great to just get out for a while. Today we're headed to Oklahoma City. We're seeing our fabulous friends from Lone Grove!!
My favorite thing this week was…I loved watching Little House on the Prairie with my girls. We would tuck Reed into bed and then watch until 9 or so! They LOVE it, want dresses just like Mary & Laura and are actually learning a few history lessons!
Questions/thoughts I have… We will be doing unit studies over the summer! We are on too good of a roll to stop now :) What are some good unit studies that can be completed in a 2 week period? Some that I'm thinking of are telling time and money.
Things I’m working on…Easter skirts, we weeded the flower beds but haven't been able to get back out there to plant & I'm busy preparing for my family to visit {1 week from today!!!!}
I’m reading… I have lots of books in the works but haven't completed any of them. The Well Trained Mind & Educating the Whole Hearted Child to name a few.
I’m cooking… Everything I made this week was a FLOP! Complete bummer.
I’m grateful for…Snuggles, learning to embrace the moment & forgiveness.

Linking up with:http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/ & www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com

Our Homeschool Week {Week 9}

In my life this week… It has been a busy week with something planned every night. I love busy weeks but I'm ready for a relaxing Friday and hopefully a fun weekend celebrating Reed's 3rd birthday.
In our homeschool this week…Well... we did LOTS of "hands on" learning this week! It was too nice to be inside, literally 80 and sunny since Tuesday :) We did get math done and we read some books but that's been it. We've been outside soaking up the beautiful sun and loving every minute of it. In official homeschool news we have decided to enroll the girls in Classical Conversations {http://www.classicalconversations.com/} We attended a meeting about it this week and I've also visited the classes for a day and we really like what we see.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… We went to swimming, art lessons, attended our first 4H meeting {the girls LOVED it}. We also made it to the library and 2 churches on Wednesday.
My favorite thing this week was…We pulled out the sprinkler this week! I LOVE watching my kiddos run and play :){first 4H...made and flew Kites}
Questions/thoughts I have…I'm planning for fall!! We have officially decided to put the girls in grade Kindergarten {Kate} and pre-K {Emma} but in some areas I'm ordering 1st grade subjects. Is this normal? They seem ready and have already completed the suggested prior work, it just makes me wonder.
Things I’m working on…Easter skirts!
I’m reading…I finished mudbound for book club that met last night now I'm reading The Help and our next book club book is 1000 gifts.
I’m cooking…not much :) Easy things so we can play outside :)
I’m grateful for…great weather to play outside, new friends & a little boy who turns 3 in 2 days!!

Linking up with:
www.thehomeschoolchick.com & www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com

Our Homeschool Week {part 8}

In my life this week…
I still can't catch up this week and am having a hard time realizing that it is Friday already. I'm not sure what we have done all week. Tonight I'm very excited about going to a curriculum share with my homeschool group! These ladies are a wealth of information and are full of encouragement. I told them I had nothing to bring to share but I'm bringing a great big empty notebook for soaking up their knowledge. I'm so thankful that these ladies are in my life and they NEVER make me feel dumb for asking a newbie homeschool question.

In our homeschool this week…
The girls are half way through their kindergarten math book. We are seeing lots of great progress when it comes to counting and letter writing. Emma spends a good hour a day just writing letters that have no meaning and asking me what they spell. I really do love that she is so interested. Both of the girls are doing well when it comes to reading. We're pretty solid with the "at" family of words! We did our first every copywork this week. Lots of correcting on letter formation but I think they will get the hang of it and eventually they will have written out the entire Lord's Prayer.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We had friends over one day this week. That is always a nice change of pace. We had a pancake tea party and then played outside in the 100 mile an hour wind, it's too hard to play inside when it's 80. Other than that it was the normal: art, swimming, church and hopefully library today trips.
My favorite thing this week was…
Thursday it was cold and rainy so we took a big stack of books into my bed and all cuddled under the blankets and read for almost an hour. It was wonderful! This mom could have stayed and read a lot longer but apparently my children felt the need to eat dinner.

What’s working/not working for us…
I am really enjoying our relaxed schedule. We've decided to school year round so I feel like we can really take things slow. Usually next week would be our week off but we're saving that for when grandma and aunt and cousins come to visit in a few weeks. Otherwise it would usually be 9 weeks on, 1 week off... and it works great for us!
I’m grateful for…
New friends. Our transition to Tulsa was a hard one but after being here 7.5 months I can honestly say that we are enjoying it.

Happy Weekend!

Linking up with
http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/ & http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/

Our Homeschool Week {Part 7}

In my life this week…
We had a great week this week! Everyone is healthy, the weather is amazing {80 on the first day of March!}. We had a fun free lunch out at I-Hop for National Pancake Day on Tuesday! Today we are celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday with green eggs and ham for breakfast and LOTS of reading. Just an all around good week and it feels SO nice.
In our homeschool this week…
We started simple addition problems this week during math time. I really think I'm more excited when they grasp a concept then they are! Jeremy and I were cheering like maniacs as the girls added 3+1 and 2+1.
The girls are both reading the "at" family words. Again lots of cheering from the parent section :) I just love watching them succeed!
On our nature walk on Thursday Emma was going on and on about nocturnal creatures so enjoy a little clip. She went on to say that Santa is nocturnal but I didn't get that on video.


I am inspired by…
Seriously, the 80 degree weather has cured my mid-winter slump!
It's great to want to do things again.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Lots of places this week, art class, swimming lessons, Oxley Nature Center, today we're heading to a park to meet up with dear friends that live about three hours away. Nothing major and lots of fun.
My favorite thing this week was…
BY FAR, it was watching Kate & Emma work through their very first math problems and read lines of words. What’s working/not working for us…
I think we have made a decision to join Classical Conversations in the fall. I'm hoping it works for us. It is a lot of money to be a flop.
I’m reading…
Mudbound still for book club and The Well Trained Mind for "pleasure."
I’m cooking…My first loaf of gluten free banana bread! It was good. So good in fact that the kids asked for seconds. I qualify that as successful.

Happy Friday!! My goal is to get at least 1 Easter skirt sewn . . . wish me luck!