Back in the Saddle?

A whole month has passed since I updated about school and life. I have sat down often to start a post but it just hasn't happened. We are slowly getting back into a groove and finding our rhythm. Because I don't want to forget here is our monthly wrap - up!

Week of January 6th

 This was our first week back and out 17th week of school. We are back to reading out Child's Story Bible for Bible time and we are continuing with our scripture memory and catechism questions. As a church we are reading through the Bible this year using the Reading God's Story plan and our pastors are preaching through the plan. I am "roughly" trying to keep our Bible reading for school in similar places so that the Miss K has had an introduction to the text before Sunday and will know the storyline of the Bible. We are also reading through Alice in Wonderland. I found a beautifully illustrated version that we gave as a gift for Christmas and it is keeping even the little guys attention. ended up with a snow day from CC on Tuesday so that means we were able to try the kids sleds they got for Christmas. I am thankful our back yard has a GREAT sledding hill.

We also played LOTS and LOTS of games!

After being stuck in side due to super cold temperatures we took advantage of the 40 degree day and loaded up the bicycles and headed to the playground.

Week of January 13th

It is funny how quickly a schedule can change. As much as I had planned for an "intense" week of school I woke up Monday morning with a screaming headache that lasted most of the day. Between a few obligations and appointments the week slipped away. We focused on math and CC review.
We did make a fun trip out of town to see friends. We cruised part of Route 66 on the way home and stopped by Pop's and The Round Barn in Arcadia, OK.

Week of January 20th

Another week that didn't seem to go as planned but was nonetheless a blessing!
We got to peek at our newest addition, coming in July 2014. We did cap off the week with art class where Miss K made pinch pots. She will get to paint them next month.

Here we are creating our Bible story timeline.

Week of January 27th

Looked a lot like this :)

Reading Eggs & Math Seeds

Bible time with daddy, calm amidst the chaos!

Read alouds and nap time

School on the couch all cozy and warm

 brother keeping himself entertained :)

Did January look anything like I wanted it to or expected, no way! However, I am abundantly thankful!

A few books

I love books! Seriously, they make me happy. However we own some amazing books that I cannot find the time to read. This year for Christmas I limited myself to these books because I knew I would read them and I have wanted them for awhile. 

I have been wanting to read Fit to Burst since it was released, I loved Loving the Little Years. One thing I appreciate about her books is the brevity. I walk away encouraged without slogging through a LONG book about motherhood.

I have read various reviews about Extravagant Grace and have wanted to read it for awhile. The subtitle is "God's Glory Displayed in Our Weakness". The author takes the works of John Owen and helps us to understand how God can be glorified amidst our own guilt and failures. I am actually reading this aloud with my husband. So far it has been excellent!

Reading God's Story is a chronological daily Bible that takes you through the Bible in one year chronologically. I am most excited about this because our pastors will be preaching on something we have read from our reading that week. I am excited to see what God is going to do through the reading of His word in my life and the life of my church.

Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson has been on my "want to read list" for awhile. I am looking forward to this read as I know many people have recommended this book to me over the years!

One book not pictured because I haven't received my copy yet is The Question by Leigh Bortins. The Question is the follow up book to The Core which I read this summer. Leigh Bortins is the founder of Classical Conversations and I have been blessed and encouraged time and time again by her writing.

Fall Catch Up | End of 2013

It really is hard to believe I haven't blogged since October. 

I really enjoyed keeping up with school weekly but honestly something had to give and I decided my time blogging was what had to go. 

Because I am blogging to remember life here is a quick recap. 

Week of October 21st, ended with a whirlwind road trip. It included 5 photo sessions in 3 states! We did manage a bit of school in that time. 

Week of October 28th, was the week of Halloween. I ended up with a stomach bug! I haven't been that sick in awhile. So thankful we went trunk or treating a few days before and daddy took the kiddos trick or treating with friends. The week ended with a trip home to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday and second shoot a wedding with a friend and a session after church on Sunday.

Week of November 4th, was mildly slower with one session and an out of town wedding. Hubby and I made it a weekend get a way even if I did have to work a little bit. 

Week of November 11th, included one photo session and my little guy turning 3! We celebrated dinosaur style. 

Week of November 18th, included two photo sessions and a lot of editing!! :) 

Week of November 25th, our 12th week of CC (last before Christmas break),a trip to IL for Thanksgiving with my in-laws and a visit from one of my best friends. 

Week of December 2nd, ended up being relatively slow thanks to about 6ish inches of snow!

 

Week of December 9th, was a slow week for us thankfully that was concluded with a trip to see The Nutcracker! It was a lot of fun!

Week of December 16th, this was a very busy but fun week! My mother in law spent the week with us so she could go Christmas shopping. We shopped till we dropped on Monday (I mean we came home at 1:30 am on Tuesday!!) and many other days. My husband also had two work Christmas parties. I am so thankful my husband works for a company that is Christian owned by a Godly family. It is always awesome to see how God blesses that business.  

Week of December 23rd, CHRISTMAS WEEK! :) It was busy but lots of fun. The whole week was spent with family and it was awesome. We spent time in OK and IL celebrating Christmas 5 different times. We also took the kids bowling and visited the fire department and police department (which I didn't have my camera for!!). 

Week of December 30th, NEW YEARS! I love the end of a year and the start of a new year. This year to celebrate we went to a friends house and played games until the early morning hours. My husband had New Years Day off so we were able to get some stuff around the house accomplished. 

Whew! Those 11 weeks flew by! I love that learning takes place in the informal moments and all throughout life. I am looking forward to "hitting the books" next week and getting back into a groove! I am also looking forward to catching up on many of the blogs I was reading, yes, even that had to go! 

Happy New Year!

 

Weekly Wrap Up | Week 9

In my life this week…

We played catch up from being sick, had a Great Pumpkin Party at a friends house, I got glasses & contacts after being glasses/contacts free for almost 11 years thanks to Lasik surgery, had nanny at our house for a visit, celebrated the St.Louis Cardinals going to the World Series, and watched/documented a beautiful couple say "I Do!"

 

In our homeschool this week…

This was our fall break from CC so we took advantage of it and played a little catch up after being sick the previous week. I think if you combine week 8 & 9 together we would be able to put one week of school together! :) Such is life! 

 

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

 We have a very busy schedule this time of year. The end of this week has us headed to Kansas City to see a friend and do pictures for her, then to NE OK for more portrait sessions. Should be a fun week! 

 

I'm reading...

I finished - Called Home: Finding Joy in Letting God Lead Your Homeschool
Started - Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional, Motherhood
The Church Planting Wife: Help and Hope for Her Heart
Still Reading - Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

 

I’m grateful for…

Fall! I could complain about the lack of 60 & 70 degree days but I am not going to ;) I am thankful for the changing of the seasons and the reminder that God has ordered the seasons for His glory. As I watch the leaves blow across the back yard I am thankful for a God that is creative and gives us beautiful things to enjoy!

 

Truth to remember...

You know those times in your life when you feel like you have a theme song that is playing EVERYWHERE YOU GO... I currently have a theme song. I don't know the exact lyrics but the overarching theme is in my own strength and power I am not enough, I am greatly lacking, I am deficient.  From the books I have been reading to the sermons I sit under God is making one thing clear, in and of myself I am not enough... I am not enough wife, mom or friend nor will I ever be enough. I am learning what it means to press into Jesus and trust that HE is ENOUGH.

I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” so as Paul said I too will say... "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 

Our week in photos... 

top left: my view as me and sister do school at the kitchen table, middle left: new specs, hubby helped me pick them out I am not sure if I am cool enough to pull them off :) bottom left: hubby rejoicing over the cardinals win! right: my cuties at The Great Pumpkin Party

 

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Weekly Wrap-Up | Week 8

In my life this week…

I enjoyed an awesome Sunday afternoon of lesson planning with the windows open and a fall breeze!

We have been battling some type of virus around here. I am happy to report a week later and I think everyone is healthy. I am just hoping none of us passed it to daddy! That means school didn't always go as planned this week and that is okay! 

In our homeschool this week…

We had a good week even with being under the weather for the week and also traveling at the end of the week. Kyla missed CC and piano lessons this week because of being sick.

A few homeschool highlights from this week in picture: (start top row, left to right) 1. I taught her how to play Yahtzee, it was a fun way to do math! 2-3. Mailing a letter to gramy & grandpa. 4. Tracing her European map, this week we will add the mountains. 5. Practicing her piano fingers Music for Little Mozarts style. 6. All About Spelling Lesson.  7-8. Sometimes you just have to push school books aside and play with some new homemade playdough. 9. Love seeing these two reading together!!!

We did quiet a bit of school in the car this week because we traveled to OK to spend some time with friends. She does a good job working in the car.

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

This week is our "fall break" from CC. We are still going to do school at home because we lost most of last week but it will be a lighter week.  Nanny (my mom) is coming for a visit and we are looking forward to that! We also have  a Great Pumpkin party tomorrow, the kids are going to do some fall activities with a few friends, paint some pumpkins and watch Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin.

My favorite thing this week was…

Spending time with one of my best friends and her family! We visited a pumpkin patch together! Good times! 

Also loving the cardinals pulling off some big wins!! 

Things I’m working on…

Story of my life... editing 

I’m grateful for…

Oreganol Oil P73 - I struggled with "flu like" symptoms off and on for a few days, after 2 drops of this sublingually I felt better and after using it for two days I feel completely better. Now I have some on hand for this cold & flue season!

We had our family pictures and the photographer shared some screenshots..... I cannot wait to see these in real life! 

A great read from this week:

Gel Pen Faith

I loved this part, "This is a pattern. I felt capable of being a mother, back before I was. God gave me more to handle than I could possibly handle on my own strength. I felt capable of keeping house. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I can stop laughing about that. Anything that I felt capable of doing,  God will both make it seem impossible and simultaneously ask me to do it. And there I am – in the sweetest place you can ever be – relying on Him. Walking in faith. Living in joy.This broken feeling is only broken if it stays there. If it stops in self-pity. If it wallows in grief about the lost emotions of our journaling days. But this is richer. When we seek His joy instead of our own, when we lay our best on His altar, and we have nothing left for ourselves, that is when we are truly accomplishing His purpose in our lives."

Have a great week friends!




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HMJ | Week 7 Wrap Up

Week 7 is *almost* complete. I have two kiddos who are napping because grumpy attitudes were abundant this afternoon! We have some things I would like to cover this afternoon and possibly tomorrow.

I decided on Sunday that I was "unplugging" the TV for the week. I realized I was using it as a crutch to not really engage my kiddos, especially the little guy. It has been a great week and the TV will probably remain unplugged. I confess to turning it on for 1 hour this week so I could watch Castle.

This is some of the fun these two had being TV free :) 

 It has finally cooled off, we have spent a few afternoons doing this!

In our homeschool this week…

After Miss K started asking questions about baptism and salvation we decided to put out original Bible lesson plans aside for now and her and I are going through Helping Children Understand the Gospel from Desiring God Children.There are 10 truths we are going to spend two days on each truth.

I am going to reinforce the truths by having her do a notebook page and we will make a book at the end of the 10 truths we are learning.

This gal has also really picked up the pace with reading! She read me to sleep last week! 

We ended up going to the big city this week to get little guy a hair cut (we have our family portraits in a few weeks)  and Kyla did a great job getting the work done in the car. We also started piano lessons this week, she was really excited to pick those back up, it is something she really enjoys.

We also went on a nature walk/scavenger hunt with some friends.  Who knew our local park houses Missouri's largest Sassafras Tree? Not me! If it's not on the play ground I don't know it exists! ;)  While we were at the park the city workers were releasing fish into the pond. The kiddos enjoyed watching the fish being released into the pond.

We finished week 5 of Classical Conversations. We are loving CC!
 We drill daily and sometimes go deeper.

A few small ways we went deeper:
Abstract castle painting

Watching videos about hibernation, adaptation, & migration and play a few games I found from googling. (that is a word right!?!?!)
Also found this website: Study Jams by Scholastic that has awesome short science videos that go along with what we are learning. *DISCLAIMER* You may disagree with some of the content found in these links so watch these before and with your kiddos to determine if you want to use them!

She will color in her prescript book while I read to her about Joan of Arc and the 100 Years War.

For geography we will look up the European cities and some prominent features. I will be using the geography cards from Melody @ And Here We Go as a jumping off point.

On of my favorite things about Classical Conversations is the opportunity to give weekly presentations, this week was a dramatic recitation, Kyla shared the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I am incredibly inadequate to give advice, but I shared this on my facebook this week and it is so very TRUE for me!

I am thankful I get to stay at home with my kids and homeschool them, it is a sacrifice I am happy to make, that doesn't make it easy!

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

We have one more week of CC then we are on break! I am traveling to central OK to spend a few days with one of my best friends! I am looking forward to that! 

I’m cooking…

A few new things, but tonight is an oldie and a goodie, Sweet & Sour Chicken! The only difference is I use coconut oil instead of canola oil!

I’m grateful for…

I’m praying for…

*our government*
*some friends with health concerns*

Something I am ogling or have my eye on…

I was looking at Song School Latin and when we were in the big city I found it on sale! Bonus! We will be starting that soon!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…

 A very thought provoking read! Is Public School an Option by Albert Mohler

I know I am probably a little late to the free audiobook party BUT I finally checked out Librivox and it is awesome! I have been listening to The Jungle Book, so good! That search also lead me to / Lit2go and Story Nory.
Anyone use these free audio book resources? What do you like or your children enjoy? 

If your stopping by from one of the link ups please say hello so I can pop over and say hello! 


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HMJ | Weekly Wrap Up | Week 6

I cannot believe a week has went by without any blogging! We have had a good week of school and are plugging right along! 

In my life this week…

I am tired!! I thought my Sunday afternoon nap helped me recover from my "wedding hangover" as we photographers call it but I don't think it was... after two more naps this week I think I am finally getting some energy back! I sure love what I do though!

In our homeschool this week…

We had a great week! Here is a review in pictures:

Monday we took our science to the park

Top two photos history coloring in the Prescripts book while mom reads the timeline cards and history snippets found on C3. 

Water cycle wheel found here.

Skip counting mazes were a new addition this week.

I decided for geography we would either trace Europe or the continents depending on the memory work. This week we traced, colored, labeled and then added in our rivers from week 5. 

The last picture is my daughters drawing of her class at CC. Complete with parents sitting around the table. :)

 A few non CC activities included....

READING BOOKS! Last night instead of me reading to her she read to me.. pretty cool if you ask me.

Remember those art and music plans I have mentioned. I am getting closer to having them figured out. I am looking forward to learning about art with my kiddos and she is too!

A letter to grammy and grandpa, I know they will be so excited too!

Continuing on with our all about spelling. 

Things I’m working on…

Art and Music plans

Editing out my ears

Laundry, that does need to be folded right.... 

I’m cooking…

I have actually made two new dinners this week and a third is one the menu for tonight. 

Oven Chicken Fajitas

Italian Pasta Bake

Three Cheese Garlic Chicken Pasta  (tonight's dinner)

I’m grateful for…

Fall! Thankful things here in the Ozarks are cooling off so we can get outside a bit more!

A link to share...

Is Your Life a Mess? Are you willing to admit it?

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