We have had a long end of summer. I am ready for fall and all its colors, smells and cooler temperatures. I am ready to wear my hoodies again, turn off the A/C in the house and van, see less bugs and take more bike rides. Goodbye high humidity and scorching hot temperatures! I have always said that I would rather be cold and add more layers than to be hot and not be able to take everything off!
At the end of August we had to start testing Jacob's blood sugars for about 3 days to rule out the beginnings of diabetes. His A1c was a little more elevated than our endocrinologist would like to see especially for our kids. Jesse was diagnosed with a lower A1c than what Jacob's was in August. But he is doing fine, blood sugars and fastings were great!!
Judge had a biopsy on a bump he has below his eyelid and the pathology report came back that it was cancer. After waiting for an appointment to see the plastic surgeon the day was finally here. We discussed a plan of action and what the process would be like and he found another bump even closer to his eyelid. Nice... Two days later the surgeon called us back and said that he wasn't comfortable doing his treatment and was referring him to an orbital surgeon in Nashville. So tomorrow is the day for that appointment.
I have felt an urge and a need to get on more of a schedule this week. I need to see something on paper and not have to rely on my brain to tell me what we are doing today. Too many dr. appointments, music classes, music lessons and writing classes to keep up with our normal lessons, chores and LIFE! We have to live, right?
This morning I took the time to download the SOS Spanish class for the older three. While doing that I thought well, when are they going to do this?? I can't have them fighting over the computer and saying "Its my turn!".
I spent about an hour and developed an incremental time schedule with an appropriate subject to where I would be available to help if needed and staggered their computer time for Spanish, chores, lunch and all the other things that require my taxi service.
While I am being a taxi service we also have to remember we need to EAT dinner!! What better way to come home but to have dinner already made for you? I found this website last night and have already combed through it and tweaked a couple to our liking. Looking forward to getting the last couple of ingredients to make dinner for tonight! Crockin' Girls
One Homeschool Mom Raising Socialized and Civilized Children...One Child at a Time!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Bible Curriculum
I am planning on ordering this Bible Curriculum for the kids this fall. I really like the concept that it has of stick figures! I can make stick figures! My plan is while they are reading is I can make the art...oops I mean stick figures! LOL I think this would be a great visual! Or maybe the older two can make the stick figures as they read :) Those that teach retain 60% better! So please visit Grapevine (button on the right) and see which level would fit your family dynamics!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Belize is our first country!
Today we are starting our country studies in coordination with our Olympics studies. I found that it was the easiest for the younger to kids to use with their kindle fire.
Through the Homeshare website I used the petals form for the lapbooking of countries.
1. Capital
2. Population
3. Religion
4. Military
5. Language spoken
6. Government
In the middle they wrote the name of the country then drew a picture of the country's flag.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
2012 Summer Olympics...Homeschool style!
I have been looking for some ideas to implement the exciting Olympics into our curriculum! HomeSchoolShare has made it possible for us to make lapbooks while we enjoy watching! This will be for the younger two kids. And a great way for others to start their school year if they are just getting started!
Here is the website's library list:
Here is the website's library list:
Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold – Janet Benge
Eric Liddell: Olympian and Missionary – Ellen W. Caughey
The Flying Scotsman – Sally Magnusson
Hour of the Olympics – Mary Pope Osbourne
Ancient Greece and the Olympics – Mary Pope Osbourne
Olympics – Chris Oxlade
Olympics! – B.G HennesseySwifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics by Sue Macy
Labels:
2012 summer olympics,
homeschooling,
lapbooking,
lesson plans
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Lesson Plans in the summer
Emily is working on Pre-Algebra and Biology (just started too). I didn't stay as consistent as I thought I would this summer as I really enjoy watching the kids play outside, which makes the inside really quiet at times! LOL! The younger two kids are doing things sporatically. Daddy is home today so he had them painting downstairs. That's art, right??
I scanned their laminated schedules. Oh before I forget. I found the template for their schedules on Donna Young's website. This is the exact ones that I downloaded: http://donnayoung.org/forms/planners/5col.htm I used the 9 week one (5 days a week) and I used the 6 week planner too. Excuse the extra privilege restrictions on Emily's sheet.
I know you want to know how it went...
Monday, June 25, 2012
What is your liquid gold?
I always thought of myself as being a rich person in the sense that I don't have a need that isn't met. I have a handsome husband of almost 17 years. Four awesome children. The right and blessing to be able to homeschool our children how we see fit. Foods that help me make up my mind on what we feel like eating for dinner and not have that choice made for us. A roof over our heads, cool air in the summer, heat in the winter and running water. I know that many others have these things too. What you may not have to worry about is...
Insulin. Over the weekend my wonderful, handy husband built shelves in our downstairs closet to hold more of our "stuff". Most are filled with diabetic supplies and it makes it easier to take inventory on the items we are getting low on. It didn't dawn on me until this morning how low we were on our insulin for the insulin pumps.
I quickly called the children one by one and asked them to check their pumps and see how many units they had left. Jesse and Elizabeth have enough to last them awhile but Emily only had 1.5u left which would only last her about an hour. And my pump, well...mine said No Delivery. Which means the insulin was used already. We found a little bit of "gold" which I estimated to be about 75u but when I refilled Emily's pump we only got about 20u out...must have been air (in a pen). I went ahead and filled her pump up. Made a few phone calls and a few words to friends about our "need". I took my pump off in the meantime, I was upset and really didn't want anything to do with it anyhow. As long as the kids were taken care of that was all that mattered to me.
Later we were able to get some apidra and some friends are able to send more to help us out as we get through this slump.
Sometimes you really don't know what you have that can be counted as gold until it isn't there. And today, it wasn't there. So if your "gold" is your children, be thankful they are there each and every day. A lot of people are considering gas in our vehicles as liquid gold as it has been so expensive!! Our "gold" today was insulin. Insulin keeps us alive each and every day, for that...I am blessed and grateful!
Insulin. Over the weekend my wonderful, handy husband built shelves in our downstairs closet to hold more of our "stuff". Most are filled with diabetic supplies and it makes it easier to take inventory on the items we are getting low on. It didn't dawn on me until this morning how low we were on our insulin for the insulin pumps.
Sometimes you really don't know what you have that can be counted as gold until it isn't there. And today, it wasn't there. So if your "gold" is your children, be thankful they are there each and every day. A lot of people are considering gas in our vehicles as liquid gold as it has been so expensive!! Our "gold" today was insulin. Insulin keeps us alive each and every day, for that...I am blessed and grateful!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
It's HOT out there!!
I was going to come on and complain about the heat but then I got to thinking. I am sitting inside with central air, a glass of diet mtn. dew on the table next to me, an LMN movie on the tube, my cookie monster flannel jammie pants still on and I am surfing through blogs and "meeting" new people. I am blessed...so this will not be a complaining post! :)
I found a community of bloggers...check out the shiny new button on the right for SITS. Its shiny so try and rub it gently! Of course, I have to spend a considerable amount of time learning the ropes of this new website (new to me).
My first blog I visited was that of a fellow homeschooler! She has some really cool ideas!! Definitely going to be making solar cookies this week with the kids! Might as well make a positive memory in this high heat week! The materials needed seem minimal:
I found a community of bloggers...check out the shiny new button on the right for SITS. Its shiny so try and rub it gently! Of course, I have to spend a considerable amount of time learning the ropes of this new website (new to me).
My first blog I visited was that of a fellow homeschooler! She has some really cool ideas!! Definitely going to be making solar cookies this week with the kids! Might as well make a positive memory in this high heat week! The materials needed seem minimal:
- cookie dough (the most important part!)
- a cardboard box with a lid (a shoebox, shipping box, etc.)
- aluminum foil
- plastic wrap
- strong tape (shipping tape, duct tape, etc.)
- scissors
- a separate piece of cardboard (such as the side to a cereal box)
Head over to No Doubt Learning and learn how to bake cookies in a shoebox this week!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Not my 101 but her 101...but my LADA
.

I do agree with most of this article. I think it was put together rather well. I think that when Elizabeth is married and starts having children is when she will see the bigger difference with her blood sugars. Thankfully, she is pumping and will have a head start to being able to take care of herself as an adult.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Curriculum Plans
This will be kind of choppy...as I remember things without getting up to get them!
Jacob & Emily - Abeka Biology
All kids - Trail Guide to World Geography
Emily - Pre-Algebra that is actually a college workbook

Jacob - Algebra I through Lifepacs
Jesse - Math 5 Abeka
Elizabeth - English 3 BJU
Elizabeth - Singapore Math...we are starting from the basics and moving quickly...
Jacob - American Literature through Lifepacs
Jacob- 9th grade Language Arts through Lifepacs
oh yeah and we started our semester in March for the summer session. So no, we aren't finishing in 2 months time.
This is for the summer...don't ask too many questions about the fall. They may change but this is the plan.
Jacob and Emily will finish the Biology then move to Chemistry after Christmas
All kids - Trail Guide to World Geography.
Emily - should be finishing up the Pre-Algebra by Christmas
Jacob - Geometry (looking at BJU)
Elizabeth - Science is the Explore and Learn series (http://www.amazon.com/Explore-Learn-Volume-Set-Technology/dp/B000JVVPKO ) I really like this series
Elizabeth will probably start reading the Magic TreeHouse books for history.
Jesse - unit studies for history
I think that is about as far as I have gotten so far. ::yawn::
Jacob & Emily - Abeka Biology
All kids - Trail Guide to World Geography
Emily - Pre-Algebra that is actually a college workbook

Jesse - Math 5 Abeka
Elizabeth - English 3 BJU
Elizabeth - Singapore Math...we are starting from the basics and moving quickly...
Jacob - American Literature through Lifepacs
Jacob- 9th grade Language Arts through Lifepacsoh yeah and we started our semester in March for the summer session. So no, we aren't finishing in 2 months time.
This is for the summer...don't ask too many questions about the fall. They may change but this is the plan.
Jacob and Emily will finish the Biology then move to Chemistry after Christmas
All kids - Trail Guide to World Geography.
Emily - should be finishing up the Pre-Algebra by Christmas
Jacob - Geometry (looking at BJU)
Elizabeth - Science is the Explore and Learn series (http://www.amazon.com/Explore-Learn-Volume-Set-Technology/dp/B000JVVPKO ) I really like this series

Elizabeth will probably start reading the Magic TreeHouse books for history.
Jesse - unit studies for history
I think that is about as far as I have gotten so far. ::yawn::
Reading Lists for all of the kids
I haven't decided what an appropriate amount of how many books they should read for the year. Maybe I will just make a reward chart, with stickers and goals?? These are for a 3rd grader, 5th, 8th and 9th. I copied these from our library...cool that the call numbers are there already! But I was also reading that if Elizabeth would read all of the Magic TreeHouse books that is all the history she would need for the year. What do you think?
3rd grade
Listed
by; Author, Title, Call Number
- Ackerman, Karen; Song and Dance Man; E Ack (Caldecott)
- Adler, David; Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones; JF Adl
- Averill, Esther; Jenny and the Cat Club; JF Ave
- Bemelmans, Ludwig; Madeline’s Rescue; E Bem (Caldecott)
- Blume, Judy; Freckle Juice; JF Blu
- Bonsall, Crosby; The Case of the Cat’s Meow; E Bon
- Byars, Betsy; Trouble River; JF Bya
- Cameron, Ann; The Stories Julian Tells; JF Cam
- Cleary, Beverly; Ramona Quimby, Age 8; JF Cle
- Cleary, Beverly; Henry Huggins; JF Cle
- Coerr, Eleanor; The Josefina Story Quilt; E Coe
- Coerr, Eleanor; Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes; J 362.1 Coe
- Cole, Joanna; The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System; J 523 Col
- Dahl, Roald; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; JF Dah
- Dalgliesh, Alice; The Courage of Sarah Noble; JF Dal
- Danziger, Paula; Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon; JF Dan
- dePaola, Tomie; Strega Nona; E deP
- Dillon, Barbara; The Teddy Bear Tree; JF Dil
- Fleischman, Sid; The Whipping Boy; JF Fle (Newberry)
- Flournoy, Valerie; The Patchwork Quilt; E Flo
- Gardiner, John; Stone Fox; JF Gar
- Haywood, Carolyn; Betsy and the Boys; JF Hay
- Howe, Deborah; Bunnicula; JF How
- Lindgren, Astrid; Pippi Longstocking; JF Lin
- Lobel, Arnold; Ming Lo Moves the Mountain; E Lob
- MacDonald, Betty; Mrs. Piggle Wiggle; JF Mac
- MacLachlan, Patricia; Sarah Plain and Tall; JF Mac (Newberry)
- McCloskey, Robert; Lentil; E McC
- Miles, Miska; Annie and the Old One; JF Mil
- Milne, A.A.; Winnie the Pooh; JF Mil
- Monjo, F. N.; The Drinking Gourd; E Mon
- O’Brien, Robert; Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh; JF O’Br (Newberry)
- Osborne, Mary Pope; Magic Tree House (Series); JF Osb
- Parish, Peggy; Amelia Bedelia; E Par
- Polacco, Patricia; Mrs. Katz and Tush; E Pol
- Prelutsky, Jack; The New Kid on the Block; Poems; J 811.54 Pre
- Rockwell, Thomas; How to Eat Fried Worms; JF Roc
- San Souci, Robert; The Talking Eggs; J 398.2 San
- Scieszka, Jon; The True Story of the Three Little Pigs; E Sci
- Selden, George; The Cricket in Times Square; JF Sel
- Shreve, Susan; The Flunking of Joshua T. Bates; JF She
- Silverstein, Shel; The Missing Piece; JF Sil
- Sobol, Donald; Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective; JF Sob (series)
- Steptoe, John; Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters; E Ste
- Van Allsburg, Chris; The Polar Express; E Van (Caldecott)
- Viorst, Judith; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; E Vio
- Ward, Lynd; The Biggest Bear; E War (Caldecott)
- Warner, Gertrude; The Boxcar Children; JF War (series)
- Waters, Kate; Sarah Morton’s Day; J 974.4 Wat
- White, E.B.; Stuart Little; JF Whi
- White, E.B.; Charlotte’s Web; JF Whi
- Wilder, Laura Ingalls; Little House In the Big Woods; JF Wil
- Williams, Vera; A Chair for My Mother; E Wil
- Zemach, Harve; Duffy and the Devil; J 398.2 Zem (Caldecott)
5th grade
Listed
by: Author; Title; Call Number
- Alexander, Lloyd; The Wizard in the Tree; YF Ale
- Armstrong, William; Sounder; JF Arm (Newbery)
- Avi; The Fighting Ground; JF Avi
- Babbitt, Natalie; Tuck Everlasting; JF Bab
- Banks, Lynne Reid; The Indian in the Cupboard; JF Ban
- Blos, Joan; A Gathering of Days; JF Blo (Newbery)
- Blume, Judy; Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; JF Blu
- Blume, Judy; Superfudge; JF Blu
- Brink, Carol; Caddie Woodlawn; JF Bri (Newbery)
- Burnett, Frances; The Secret Garden; JF Bur, YF Bur
- Byars, Betsy; Summer of the Swans; JF Bya (Newbery)
- Carlson, Natalie; The Family Under the Bridge; JF Car
- Chavez, Cesar; Cesar Chavez; J 921 Chavez
- Cleary, Beverly; Dear Mr. Henshaw; JF Cle (Newbery)
- Cleary, Beverly; Socks; JF Cle
- Coerr, Eleanor; Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes; J 362.1 Coe
- Cooper, Susan; Over Sea, Under Stone; JF Coo
- Dahl, Roald; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; JF Dah
- Dahl, Roald; James and the Giant Peach; JF Dah
- DeClements, Barthe; Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade; JF DeC
- Enright, Elizabeth; The Four-Story Mistake; JF Enr
- Farley, Walter; The Black Stallion; JF Far
- Fitzgerald, John; The Great Brain; JF Fit
- Fleischman, Sid; The Whipping Boy; JF Fle (Newbery)
- Fox, Paula; The Slave Dancer; JF Fox (Newbery)
- Freedman, Russell; Lincoln, A Photobiography; J 928 Lincoln (Newbery)
- George, Jean Craighead; Julie of the Wolves; JF Geo (Newbery)
- George, Jean Craighead; My Side of the Mountain; JF Geo
- Gipson, Fred; Old Yeller; JF Gip
- Hamilton, Virginia; The House of Dies Drear; JF Ham
- Henry, Marguerite; Misty of Chincoteague; JF Hen
- Hunt, Irene; Across Five Aprils; JF Hun
- Lawson, Robert; Ben and Me; JF Law
- L’Engle, Madeline; A Wrinkle In Time; JF L’En (Newbery)
- Levitin, Sonia; Journey to America; YF Lev
- Lewis, C.S.; The Chronicles of Narnia (Series); JF Lew
- Lowry, Lois; Number the Stars; JF Low (Newbery)
- Lowry, Lois; The Giver: JF Low (Newbery)
- McCloskey, Robert; Homer Price; JF McC
- Naylor, Phyllis; Shiloh; JF Nay (Newbery)
- North, Sterling; Rascal; J 928 North
- Norton, Mary; The Borrowers; JF Nor
- O’Brien, Robert; Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh; JF O’Br (Newbery)
- O’Dell, Scott; Island of the Blue Dolphins; JF O’De, YF O’De (Newbery)
- Paterson, Katherine; Bridge to Terabithia; JF Pat (Newbery)
- Paterson, Katherine; Come Sing Jimmy Jo; JF Pat
- Paulsen, Gary; Hatchet; JF Pau
- Rawls, Wilson; Where the Red Fern Grows; JF Raw, YF Raw
- Rockwell, Thomas; How to Eat Fried Worms; JF Roc
- Rodgers, Mary; Freaky Friday; JF Rod
- Salten, Felix; Bambi; JF Sal
- Selden, George; The Cricket in Times Square; JF Sel
- Snyder, Zilpha; The Headless Cupid; JF Sny
- Sorensen, Virginia; Miracles on Maple Hill; JF Sor
- Speare, Elizabeth; The Sign of the Beaver; JF Spe
- Speare, Elizabeth; The Witch of Blackbird Pond; JF Spe (Newbery)
- Sperry, Armstrong; Call It Courage; JF Spe (Newbery)
- Spyri, Johanna; Heidi; JF Spy
- Stevenson, Robert L.; Treasure Island; JF Ste
- Taylor, Mildred; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; JF Tay (Newbery)
- White, E.B.; Stuart Little; JF Whi
8th & 9th
grade list:
Almost
Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
Anna
of Byzantium
The
Auslander
The
Blue Sword
The
Boneshaker
Can
I See Your I. D.?: True Stories of False Identities (found this page online for discussion questions!)
Chains:
Seeds of America
The
Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales
Cuba
15
Dragonfly
The
Face on the Milk Carton
Fairy
Bad Day
Good
Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth
The
Grimm Legacy
Happy
Kid!
Hope
Was Here
The
Hunchback Assignments
I
Will Plant You a Lilac Tree
Keeping
Corner
The
Kite Rider
Leviathan
A
Long Walk to Water
The
Longitude Prize
The
Lottery Rose
The
Loud Silence of Francine Green
Lucy
Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From
My
Name Is Not Easy
North
Star to Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad
Onward:
A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson
Peak
Race:
A History Beyond Black and White
Red
Moon at Sharpsburg
Ruined
The
Sword That Cut the Burning Grass
The
Tequila Worm
Under
the Baseball Moon
Written
In Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
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