Wallace is hard at work, and not enjoying it to be honest. He has had a great day until this, math homework ( a drill sheet of uneven division....division with remainders). Oh well, he'll be finished soon if he just sets his mind to it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Boys at Work
Wallace is hard at work, and not enjoying it to be honest. He has had a great day until this, math homework ( a drill sheet of uneven division....division with remainders). Oh well, he'll be finished soon if he just sets his mind to it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
An update on the last week
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
The last couple of weeks have had there ups and downs. I don't want to sound like I am complaining because I am not, I know that life could be much more difficult than it is now and I am thankful for my blessings. The car did turn out to be a right off, which was to be expected but we thought that just maybe they would fix it. A girl from Michael's office called a dealership about an hour away from us and they just 'happened' to have an '04 Subaru Forester which is the same car as we had. It was a step down from our car, nothing major was different, and it only had 32 000 km ( 20,000 miles) compared to ours which had 140 000 km (87 000 miles) so this was a blessing. It cost us $1700 out of pocket which due to following Dave Ramsey's principles for the last 2 years we had in the bank, another huge blessing. We are truly thankful for this blessing as we were so undeserving of it.
I took John out to the tree to have a look at it, he was a little apprehensive but the holding of the breath as we drive by has almost stopped. When we brought the new one in the driveway Michael stopped and 'introduced' the tree to the car. He said, "Tree, car, car, tree, now that you have met you don't need to get any closer." The boys got a good chuckle over that and now John wants Michael to do it every time we drive in the driveway.
I have a physiotherapy appointment next Monday to have my shoulder looked at, I think by that time I will be completely better although I think my range of motion is still somewhat diminished. I have been have a great deal of pain in my lower back with a sciatic nerve flare up. I don't really think this is as a result of the accident just a longer than normal interval between chiropractor appointments. That is where I was going when the accident occurred and now he is away on 3 weeks of vacation. I went an had a therapeutic massage yesterday and will go again on Thursday to see if it will give me some relief. I know that if I lost some weight it would be better but for some reason I can seem to move that knowledge into action. You'd think the pain would be a good motivator.
So that is life as it happens.
The last couple of weeks have had there ups and downs. I don't want to sound like I am complaining because I am not, I know that life could be much more difficult than it is now and I am thankful for my blessings. The car did turn out to be a right off, which was to be expected but we thought that just maybe they would fix it. A girl from Michael's office called a dealership about an hour away from us and they just 'happened' to have an '04 Subaru Forester which is the same car as we had. It was a step down from our car, nothing major was different, and it only had 32 000 km ( 20,000 miles) compared to ours which had 140 000 km (87 000 miles) so this was a blessing. It cost us $1700 out of pocket which due to following Dave Ramsey's principles for the last 2 years we had in the bank, another huge blessing. We are truly thankful for this blessing as we were so undeserving of it.
I took John out to the tree to have a look at it, he was a little apprehensive but the holding of the breath as we drive by has almost stopped. When we brought the new one in the driveway Michael stopped and 'introduced' the tree to the car. He said, "Tree, car, car, tree, now that you have met you don't need to get any closer." The boys got a good chuckle over that and now John wants Michael to do it every time we drive in the driveway.
I have a physiotherapy appointment next Monday to have my shoulder looked at, I think by that time I will be completely better although I think my range of motion is still somewhat diminished. I have been have a great deal of pain in my lower back with a sciatic nerve flare up. I don't really think this is as a result of the accident just a longer than normal interval between chiropractor appointments. That is where I was going when the accident occurred and now he is away on 3 weeks of vacation. I went an had a therapeutic massage yesterday and will go again on Thursday to see if it will give me some relief. I know that if I lost some weight it would be better but for some reason I can seem to move that knowledge into action. You'd think the pain would be a good motivator.
So that is life as it happens.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
One of the reasons I've been AWOL
I've had a lot going on in my life this last little while and haven't been in the frame of mind to blog but I will get back to it, hopefully this week. This is the latest reason that my mind is elsewhere. We are all OK although I am a little sore and won't be able to show my face at the office anytime soon due to embarrassment. My sons now know what their arguing in the back seat can lead too. Wallace feels it sharply, John on the other hand seems to be oblivious except to tell everyone we meet that mommy smashed the car along with some really good sound effects.
BTW these were taken by Michael's colleague when he came to fill out the accident report. Michael was there too, but he didn't fill out the paper work, thought it might me a conflict of interest. Notice I hit the only tree around!!!!
Annie, I will answer your e-mail shortly thank you for being patient.
BTW these were taken by Michael's colleague when he came to fill out the accident report. Michael was there too, but he didn't fill out the paper work, thought it might me a conflict of interest. Notice I hit the only tree around!!!!
Annie, I will answer your e-mail shortly thank you for being patient.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
My week in review
Week's Weather: Cool and bright for the most part, leaves are beautiful
Sunday Sermon: Being Thankful- a testimony service
Life Lessons: there is no sense in worry, it doesn't help
Favorite Meal: lunch at the Schweld House (a local family owned German restaurant)
Treasured Moment: watching John working neatly at his newly acquired desk (I'll have to post a picture, my batteries were dead when I tried the other day)
Budget Saver: found a beautiful flannel bedding set at the thrift store for under $10
Budget Buster: lunch at the Schweld House
Impacting News : friends announced they are coming to visit
Things I read: stuff for homeschool
Places we went: the apple orchard
Accomplishments: finished a pair of socks
Family Happenings: friends announced they are coming visit.
Challenges: getting bed by 10pm and get up by 6am
Blessings: friends announced they are coming to visit
Can you tell I'm excited about my friends coming to visit.
Sunday Sermon: Being Thankful- a testimony service
Life Lessons: there is no sense in worry, it doesn't help
Favorite Meal: lunch at the Schweld House (a local family owned German restaurant)
Treasured Moment: watching John working neatly at his newly acquired desk (I'll have to post a picture, my batteries were dead when I tried the other day)
Budget Saver: found a beautiful flannel bedding set at the thrift store for under $10
Budget Buster: lunch at the Schweld House
Impacting News : friends announced they are coming to visit
Things I read: stuff for homeschool
Places we went: the apple orchard
Accomplishments: finished a pair of socks
Family Happenings: friends announced they are coming visit.
Challenges: getting bed by 10pm and get up by 6am
Blessings: friends announced they are coming to visit
Can you tell I'm excited about my friends coming to visit.
Field Trip- the apple orchard
On Monday we took a field trip, where else would you go in early October but to the apple orchard. I remember Wallace took a field trip to the orchard when he was in Kindergarten. I didn't get to go because all the chaperon spots were full, well for John's first trip I did get to go ;). We go to the same farm each year, they have very good apples and quite a bit of variety. They even have honeycrip which are Michael's favourite.
Here Wallace and John are in the orchard, these are little Gala trees, which appeared to be done for the season which is too bad because Wallace really likes them. By the way did I forgot to mention that Wallace's favourite food is an apple so needless to say he was in his glory. We usually have to limit him to an apple or two a day and for the past month I've been refusing to buy them because they were just gross, all dry and pulpy. For the next little while he'll be allowed to have more if he so desires.....along as his tummy can handle it.
Daddy and John picking Cortland's out of the bin, we picked 40lbs off the trees but when we got back to the entrance we realized that we need some more we were lucky that they already had some picked that we could choose from. I like Cortland's because they are yummy to eat and good to cook with too. MMMM apple crisp here we come.
We had a great time as a family, its amazing how a little trip to the orchard can consume a whole day. This orchard also had pumpkins and honey, we bought 2 pumpkins and 35lbs of honey. A successful field trip.
Here Wallace and John are in the orchard, these are little Gala trees, which appeared to be done for the season which is too bad because Wallace really likes them. By the way did I forgot to mention that Wallace's favourite food is an apple so needless to say he was in his glory. We usually have to limit him to an apple or two a day and for the past month I've been refusing to buy them because they were just gross, all dry and pulpy. For the next little while he'll be allowed to have more if he so desires.....along as his tummy can handle it.
Daddy and John picking Cortland's out of the bin, we picked 40lbs off the trees but when we got back to the entrance we realized that we need some more we were lucky that they already had some picked that we could choose from. I like Cortland's because they are yummy to eat and good to cook with too. MMMM apple crisp here we come.
We had a great time as a family, its amazing how a little trip to the orchard can consume a whole day. This orchard also had pumpkins and honey, we bought 2 pumpkins and 35lbs of honey. A successful field trip.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
playing catch up
I really hate it when I don't get a good start to my day, I feel like I'm running to catch up all day long.
Last night Michael, a young lady that is staying with us, and I watched the movie Troy. Actually they watched and I listened to it while playing a game on the computer. I wanted to watch the movie but I did not want to 'see' the movie, if you know what I mean. It was very good, the story at least. I was torn though because after all of our study of Ancient Greece and playing of the game Age of Mythology I felt I ought to be cheering for the Greeks but I felt torn, the movie portrayed the Trojans with a warmth and personable nature that it made it hard to choose, of course Orlando Bloom was a Trojan and that puts them at an advantage before the movie even started. I cannot make a recommendation because I did not watch it, I do kind of wish I could edit out the messy stuff so Wallace could enjoy it.
The movie didn't end till just after 11pm and that is a late bed time for me. I have been trying to get up and get my day started at 6am and I find it near impossible to get up that early if I get to bed any later than 10pm. This morning I got up with the boys and so have been playing catch up all day. We were supposed to go to the library today but that will just have to wait till tomorrow. My shower did not happen until much later, only to be interrupter by a telemarketer. A telemarketer that had been asked to call back sometime during the work week and after 1:30pm. I had been considering the service they are selling but now I am not sure, if they would not honour my request to call me back during the specified time I am not sure I need their service. If I really wanted it probably would not have made a difference but the incessant calls really bug me, especially when I am trying to teach school. I had also volunteered to take dinner to a family in our church, the mom just had her gallbladder our and the dad is a fisherman who is out to sea right now, so although it was a joy to do this my disorganization made it tough to get accomplished in a timely manner. Now I am preparing to go out for a leaders of Olympians meeting at our church and I still feel behind. At least tomorrow is a clean slate, as long as I get to bed on time. I must get to bed on time.
Last night Michael, a young lady that is staying with us, and I watched the movie Troy. Actually they watched and I listened to it while playing a game on the computer. I wanted to watch the movie but I did not want to 'see' the movie, if you know what I mean. It was very good, the story at least. I was torn though because after all of our study of Ancient Greece and playing of the game Age of Mythology I felt I ought to be cheering for the Greeks but I felt torn, the movie portrayed the Trojans with a warmth and personable nature that it made it hard to choose, of course Orlando Bloom was a Trojan and that puts them at an advantage before the movie even started. I cannot make a recommendation because I did not watch it, I do kind of wish I could edit out the messy stuff so Wallace could enjoy it.
The movie didn't end till just after 11pm and that is a late bed time for me. I have been trying to get up and get my day started at 6am and I find it near impossible to get up that early if I get to bed any later than 10pm. This morning I got up with the boys and so have been playing catch up all day. We were supposed to go to the library today but that will just have to wait till tomorrow. My shower did not happen until much later, only to be interrupter by a telemarketer. A telemarketer that had been asked to call back sometime during the work week and after 1:30pm. I had been considering the service they are selling but now I am not sure, if they would not honour my request to call me back during the specified time I am not sure I need their service. If I really wanted it probably would not have made a difference but the incessant calls really bug me, especially when I am trying to teach school. I had also volunteered to take dinner to a family in our church, the mom just had her gallbladder our and the dad is a fisherman who is out to sea right now, so although it was a joy to do this my disorganization made it tough to get accomplished in a timely manner. Now I am preparing to go out for a leaders of Olympians meeting at our church and I still feel behind. At least tomorrow is a clean slate, as long as I get to bed on time. I must get to bed on time.
Friday, September 12, 2008
This week at the (our last name) Acedmy of Leaning
We have just finished off our first week of school this year and since I am a hyper scheduler/perfectionist I have it all outlined (so that when it falls apart we can tell exactly how much it fell apart by) and can tell you that we have completed 5 days and have 173 left to go, or 1 week down and 35 left to go.
This year John has been added to the mix and it is very interesting. Planning for him was a bit more of a challenge because I had no concrete idea of what he understood or how fast he would progress. I can already tell you that I have over estimated his attention span so we are lighting up on that expectation.
Wallace was quite reluctant to head back to studies at all, he enjoyed his freedom a lot and I have to admit that the style of school last year wasn't that enjoyable for either of us. I think my expectation of note taking was a bit beyond him. I think it diminished his retention rather than enhancing it. This year I have several new programmes and am trying to implement the 'extra' despite the added work and mess for me. If he enjoys what he is learning and is participating fully I probably won't notice the extra work, although the shelves and walls may become littered with these projects and to a minimalist like me that could be more of the challenge.
This is what we are doing in school this year.
John's schedule.
9:10 Piano (first year for this and is very excited)
9:20 Math
9:30 BREAK (he really likes these but wishes his brother could join him)
9:55 Printing
10:05 Phonics (this we will grow into, his isn't focusing this long yet)
10:15 BREAK
10:35 Art (as above)
10:45 Read-a-loud (with Wallace)
11:05 Lunch
12:00 Subject of the day (with Wallace, found is a bit much so he usually goes off and plays but likes to help with the crafts and experiments)
Wallace's Schedule. 8:00 Piano (found this is the best spot, has the most focus and energy)
8:30 Math
9:30 BREAK
9:45 Spelling
9:55 Cursive
10:05 Language Arts
10:25 Silent Reading (his choice of book and almost like break)
10:45 Read-a-loud
11:05 LUNCH
12:00 Subject of the day
1:15 Homework (only left over math or because of dawdling in Lang. Arts.)
What John will be using for curriculum this year? Let's just say the boy loves work sheets, not sure why but if I had to guess I would say it is because he has seen his brother doing work and he thinks that worksheets equals work. I bought quite a lot of stuff for him to use not really sure when he'd be ready for it if at all but thought I'd be ready.
1) math and reading readiness-4 work books that we are working through now.
2) Phonics-Explode the Code books 1 and 2 (he's already done the get ready for the code)
3) Printing-ABeka manuscript (their material, my pace)
4) Art-left over ABeka (when used up, I'll search the Internet)
5) Math-Singapore 1A/1B
What will Wallace be using for curriculum this year?
1) Royal Conservatory Music Grade 2- will be taking the exam in June.
2) Saxon Math 6/5- did well last year and can already tell it is a good fit again (Thank goodness)
3)ABeka Spelling and Poetry 3 (their materials, my pace and style ie. no weekly written tests)
4)ABeka Penmanship Mastery (their materials, my pace)
5)ABeka God's Gift of Language A/B - have to finish A first (their materials, my pace)
6)Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures
7) The Story of the World- Volume 1: Ancient Times
8) A Child's Geography-Explore His Earth
We will be having a 3 day cycle, spending one day each on Science, History and Geography, that way we won't be short changed on one subject if we happen to miss a lot of one day, like a Monday or Friday. Every Day 1 will be science, day 2 History and Day 3 Geography.
So this is what our school plan is for this year.
This year John has been added to the mix and it is very interesting. Planning for him was a bit more of a challenge because I had no concrete idea of what he understood or how fast he would progress. I can already tell you that I have over estimated his attention span so we are lighting up on that expectation.
Wallace was quite reluctant to head back to studies at all, he enjoyed his freedom a lot and I have to admit that the style of school last year wasn't that enjoyable for either of us. I think my expectation of note taking was a bit beyond him. I think it diminished his retention rather than enhancing it. This year I have several new programmes and am trying to implement the 'extra' despite the added work and mess for me. If he enjoys what he is learning and is participating fully I probably won't notice the extra work, although the shelves and walls may become littered with these projects and to a minimalist like me that could be more of the challenge.
This is what we are doing in school this year.
John's schedule.
9:10 Piano (first year for this and is very excited)
9:20 Math
9:30 BREAK (he really likes these but wishes his brother could join him)
9:55 Printing
10:05 Phonics (this we will grow into, his isn't focusing this long yet)
10:15 BREAK
10:35 Art (as above)
10:45 Read-a-loud (with Wallace)
11:05 Lunch
12:00 Subject of the day (with Wallace, found is a bit much so he usually goes off and plays but likes to help with the crafts and experiments)
Wallace's Schedule. 8:00 Piano (found this is the best spot, has the most focus and energy)
8:30 Math
9:30 BREAK
9:45 Spelling
9:55 Cursive
10:05 Language Arts
10:25 Silent Reading (his choice of book and almost like break)
10:45 Read-a-loud
11:05 LUNCH
12:00 Subject of the day
1:15 Homework (only left over math or because of dawdling in Lang. Arts.)
What John will be using for curriculum this year? Let's just say the boy loves work sheets, not sure why but if I had to guess I would say it is because he has seen his brother doing work and he thinks that worksheets equals work. I bought quite a lot of stuff for him to use not really sure when he'd be ready for it if at all but thought I'd be ready.
1) math and reading readiness-4 work books that we are working through now.
2) Phonics-Explode the Code books 1 and 2 (he's already done the get ready for the code)
3) Printing-ABeka manuscript (their material, my pace)
4) Art-left over ABeka (when used up, I'll search the Internet)
5) Math-Singapore 1A/1B
What will Wallace be using for curriculum this year?
1) Royal Conservatory Music Grade 2- will be taking the exam in June.
2) Saxon Math 6/5- did well last year and can already tell it is a good fit again (Thank goodness)
3)ABeka Spelling and Poetry 3 (their materials, my pace and style ie. no weekly written tests)
4)ABeka Penmanship Mastery (their materials, my pace)
5)ABeka God's Gift of Language A/B - have to finish A first (their materials, my pace)
6)Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures
7) The Story of the World- Volume 1: Ancient Times
8) A Child's Geography-Explore His Earth
We will be having a 3 day cycle, spending one day each on Science, History and Geography, that way we won't be short changed on one subject if we happen to miss a lot of one day, like a Monday or Friday. Every Day 1 will be science, day 2 History and Day 3 Geography.
So this is what our school plan is for this year.
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