Lame-O Update

Still sick.  Ready to feel better.  Wish my body would get the memo!  : )

I went to the doctor this morning and it turns out that I have bronchitis.  I've had a bit of a cough since we all got sick a few weeks ago, but it had gotten significantly worse this past week.  We've been reading our Bible Stories, reading poems and Polite Moments, and listening to our memory verse CD, and that's about all the work we've done this week.  I've been to the library several times since we got to Nebraska, and have checked out titles from the "Book Tree" (which is a great resource, btw), so we've been reading A LOT of really great children's books.  I'm actually kind of glad I got (and stayed) sick because it has made me realize that I don't really read to the kids like I used to.  And we never read to Em.  Isn't that just sad?????  I think it must have happened around the time my dad died.  We used to read to the kids several times a day, and had done so from the time IW was a baby.  My new(est) goal is to get back to reading to them FOR ENJOYMENT everyday.  There are so many wonderful children's books out there.  This past week we read "The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton.  Oh, so good!  I want that book for MY shelf!  And tonight we read "Petunia" by Roger Duvoisin.  I want this one too.
All of the slowing down I've had to do lately has opened my eyes to a lot of things.  God's timing is so good!
They only get to be little this one time.  And I think I've been missing it this past year.  I've been focusing on checking off boxes and getting to the next thing.  I've been healing and focusing on me, which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing.  But it is time to put my focus back on my tiny precious little people.  I don't know what exactly that means in the way of homeschooling, but I do know it means spending more time snuggling on the couch with good books, and taking more walks, and playing more games, and just loving each other.

Well, we got some schooling done last week, but not as much as I'd hoped....and I didn't get to the math.  I did get through burying my dad, and my sister and I spent the day kicking around the old town where we spent a good chunk of our younger days.  It was actually fun, considering.  And bizarre.  I think I was probably 8 or 9 the last time I spent any amount of time there. 
I feel much better, and have a lot of peace about my dad now that he is out of the laundry room and laid to rest with my grandparents.  Now I am ready to refocus and get my family back into a routine.  *sigh of relief*

the week ahead

Tomorrow is the day we're supposed to get back to school work.  I did my prep work this weekend, and for the most part I feel ready. 

My sisters and I are going to bury my dad's ashes this Friday, and I spent the better part of last week making the preparations.  My emotions have really gotten the best of me this weekend, and I'm a little concerned that the anticipation of the burial, as well as seeing my sisters (which is a topic for a different forum), is really going to derail our week.  I do realize that this is part of homeschooling, and that life happens, so my focus is just going to be to keep my emotions on an even keel for my kids' sake, (and mine and Husband's too), and get through this week.

Please keep me, and the rest of my family in your prayers this week.  I need them.

living in the trailerhood

We have arrived in Nebraska, and we are all finally recovering from whatever bug it was that ripped through our house (well, all of us except Husband, who is just now taking his turn).  We DID NOT bring the RV, and since I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude, I will not describe for you the sad state of affairs we find ourselves in in our rented mobile home.  We got here yesterday afternoon, and I'm hoping to get the place good and clean by Friday so I can take the weekend to plan our lessons for next week.  I'm planning to add in math for both IW and QL. 
I also want to spruce the place up with some fall decorations and make it feel a little more home-y. 

My birthday was FANTASTIC!  There was no beer, as I was still feeling like poo, but there was football,  yummy food and good company.  Husband's mom remembered that Italian is my favorite and made a wonderfully delicious meal, and there were gifts.  Really thoughtful and perfect gifts.  And we watched the movie "Date Night" with Husband's parents, sister and brother-in-law, which was pretty funny.  Tina Fey cracks me up!
I'm so glad God's timing is better than my own.  My in-laws house was the perfect place to spend my birthday!

Okay, that's my update.  See, I'm getting better!  Now I have to go clean something.

Okay well, nothing new or exciting to post.  Husband's on his way home from Florida today, and three out of the four of us home are under the weather.  We've taken sick days the last two days, and next week is our scheduled week off.  Actually, this week was our scheduled week off, but since we're traveling next week I bumped it.  I'm grateful that I had the good sense to schedule breaks every 5 weeks, because we are going to need this time to play catch up, but we'll also be able to enjoy visiting with family without me stressing about lessons.  We're taking the RV for this trip, which means I'm really going to have to be picky about what we take.  I'm feeling awfully grateful for my Kindle and laptop; these should really help cut down on the books I have to bring.
I guess feeling sick and crummy can really make you realize what you're grateful for!

Oh, I turn 30 on Monday!  I always thought that this birthday would be some big extravaganza, but instead we'll be couch-surfing at Husband's parent's house, which is the mid-way point between home and Nebraska.  I am glad I'll get to spend the big birthday with family, but I am a little disappointed that we won't be going to Yellowstone, or a swanky dinner followed by a museum tour, or any of the other awesome things we've talked about doing. 
Family, a couple of beers, and Monday night football.  Pretty sure that's what's in my future!

Hi out there!  We have been doing an awful lot of living lately, and so I haven't had a lot of time, or even desire to sit and write.  I've been reading (A LOT) for fun, which is nice.  We are on our 6th week of school, and it's going so well that I can hardly believe it.  We have left Florida : ( , and are heading to Nebraska in less than a week. :)  We will be very near family and old friends, and though I know it will be hard to beat dolphins in the backyard, we are all excited to go.  After that, there's a very good chance we will be home....like, for good.  Mind boggling.  I'm trying not to think about it or count on it too much, but that goes against my very nature.  I am going to try to write more often, and figure it will happen since cold weather is right around the corner.  Lots of time inside and all that!

My kids are SPOILED!

I have no doubts about the accuracy of that statement.

With all of the traveling that we do, the kids often get a new toy/movie/book (sometimes all of the above) when we take long trips.  This is for the sanity of the driver, and to make the trip more bearable for small children who can't really move around too much.

Add to that the fact that we don't usually travel with a lot of toys because we don't know what the place looks like until we get there.  (For example, we brought very few inside toys to Florida and chose to bring a larger bin of outside toys.  Well, QL is NOT fond of the heat here, and combine that with the serious bug problem and the fact that they are now building a house in the lot next door that is 3 feet off the front door, and we get maybe 10-15 minutes of outside time a day.  Pathetic I know.  We sure are missing our fenced in backyard back home.)  We almost always end up going to get new toys and/or games when we travel to a new place.

Now every time we leave a store, QL cries if we don't get her a toy.  EVERY TIME.

They've also become spoiled to free-time.  We had a really good system for the kids to help with household chores when we were back home.  Traveling always kind of puts a wrench in that.  The house is different, the chores are different, etc.  And the first few weeks we were here, we really were in vacation mode.  It's really hard not to be in a place like this!  Now if I ask the kids to do something, anything, I get "I don't want to!"  "But MO-OM, I was gonna do  ______!"  "I didn't make that mess"  etc. etc.  You can see where I'm going with this.  Everything is a big, whiny, crying fight. 

I am so over it.

I have to come up with a system or method that travels well, so that no matter where we are or where we're going, the kids know what's expected of them.  I have a feeling that a chore chart is just not going to work for us.  They are just going to have to be trained to help out around the house because this is what a family does.  I do think that it is better to teach it that way anyway.

Dealing with the toy issue is going to be much easier.  We (Husband and I) have decided that we're going to put ALL of their toys into bins, and they can earn back one toy a day by having a good day (no arguing/fighting with each other, obeying Mamma and Daddy, being cheerful and helpful, etc.).  At the end of some set period of time, any toys that have not been reclaimed will be donated.  And I really think we should sort out some toys to be donated first off.   We've done this a few times a year for about 2 years now, and while at first the kids were devastated to see their toys go, they now talk about how nice it is to give their unused toys to boys and girls who can't go get new toys.  Conversations like that give me hope! ; )

This morning's Grace

I love getting up early.

For the last 2 1/2 weeks I have slept in, waking to the sounds of my children crawling in bed with me, or playing in the living room. And I will never deny loving the feeling of my warm cozy bed, or loving checking my watch and knowing that I got to sleep in past 7:30, but there is NO BETTER feeling than knowing that I have time to do all of the important things today.


By the third step of my early morning walk this morning, I knew there was no better way to start my day, and I had been missing it.

I have time to clear my head and think.

Two days ago, IW told me that he hates to read.  KNIFE IN MY HEART.  Okay, if he were going to go to school, they would be teaching him his letters.  I won't ask him to read anymore.  Maybe put some interesting books out on the coffee table for HIM to find on his own.

I wonder how that boil on QL's side looks this morning.  Gracious Father, please heal my baby girl and take the pain out of that sore.  Thank you for your Grace. And while we're at it, please please please father, don't let those sores in IW's mouth be coxsackie virus again.  Please protect the health of my children.  Amen


I'm going to have to ice this ankle when I get home.


I wonder how Husband's back is feeling today?


Okay, stop thinking and just breathe.  Listen to the click-click-click of the dog's feet on the pavement.  


And there it is.  Peace.  Quiet.  Probably the only 10 minutes I will get all day.  But it is enough.


How do you start your day?

(insert something witty here)

My aunt was in town last week on vacation, so I decided that we'd all take a week off too.  In all the time we've been together and all the traveling that we've done, Husband and I have never really taken a vacation.  Even though we go to cool places, we're still living, working and teaching.  Last week we played.
It was the best 4th of July of my life!  We really got to enjoy great food, good company and once in a lifetime experiences.   We didn't really get any "school work" done, but we had such a great week.  That being said, it's time to get back to business!

I did read the Colfax's book Homeschooling for Excellence this past week.  If you haven't read it, you should, even if you don't homeschool.  The book is all of 90 pages excluding the appendices.  There were no amazing revelations, but it did remind me to focus on my goals as a homeschooling mother.  What do I want to teach my kids, and why?  Do I want to pour knowledge into them, or do I want to teach their hearts and guide them as they discover their own interests?
The other really important point I got from the book is that it is my job to help my children succeed, not to point out where they have failed.  This one kind of smacked me upside my head.  It seems counter intuitive to everything I learned in my teacher education classes.  My job is not to show them what they are failing at, but what their strengths are.  Not to point out what they don't know, but help them find out what they want to know.

Obviously (at least to me), the 3 Rs are an exception to this rule.  But the Colfax's method seemed to work out for them.  All four of their boys, two of whom were adopted, were admitted to Harvard.  No formal education.  No curriculum shoved down their throats.   Just quality materials and opportunities made available. They filled their days with real life work and activities.  And they didn't patronize their kids.

I like it.

living notes/learning notes

LIVING NOTES:

*we have been taken over by dog hair.  Apparently the dog sheds.  A lot.  I went to PetSmart and got some Shed-Less, which he has decided tastes like arsenic.  Fortunately, arsenic mixed in wet food is tolerable.  I don't know what we're going to do if the Shed-Less doesn't work.  Husband's allergies are offended by the hairballs laying around EVERYWHERE.

*We have purchased the Little Keepers of the Faith Books for the kids as an at-home alternative to the Boy's/Girl's Scouts.  I really want them to get to participate in a program like those, but all of our traveling really makes that difficult.  I like the Keepers program because along with the scouting aspect, it includes Scripture reading, memory verses, service, etc.  The book for girls focuses on being a keeper of the home, but at this age I will let them both complete everything in both books.  Everyone needs basic knowledge of tools, and everyone needs to know how to do the dishes.


*Last week Husband got a phone call with news from the owner and president of his company that they want him in office FULL TIME by this time next year.  Did you hear that?????  That means minimal traveling, and only for maybe a week at a time.  HOME.   We're not holding our collective breath.   Plans in this job change "as often as you change your underwear", as Ms. Carolyn says.  Let's just say that if this comes to fruition, our lives will completely change.  I'm trying to not lose sleep over this (unsuccessfully)!

*With lessons from Ms. Carolyn (the only other traveling wife in our crew, who I have adopted as my new grandmother whether she likes it or not!), I am hand-sewing an apron.  From start to finish.  It should be done this weekend.  I am the queen of starting projects; not so much finishing them.  I feel like this is a really big accomplishment, and it's a super cute apron.  I see these in my gift-giving future!

LEARNING NOTES:

*for copywork I've been having IW write 3 perfect big letters (A) and 3 perfect little letters (a) about three times a week.  Last week I had him write all the letters we've done so far, on his own, as review.  Well, after he'd done the ones we've worked on, he asked if he could write all of them.  This is the result:

I only had to help with a couple of letters, and mostly they were just placement issues (ie where do you start little f?).  Z was the only letter that really gave him trouble.  I had NO IDEA he could do this!  Anyway, I think I need a new plan for copywork, as my old one of just going through the alphabet one letter at a time now seems like a big fat waste of time.

*QL can now read up through the 7th Bob Book. : )

*QL asked me yesterday if she could please do the math that IW is doing, which is RightStart Level A.  I'm not sure how to proceed with this.  Husband says let her do it.  I'm a little nervous at the pace at which it travels.  And I feel like if we begin, it's a commitment that I'm not sure she's ready to make.  I will probably start doing 1or 2 lessons a week with her and see how that goes.  She may decide she wants to go back to "Pre-K", as she proudly tells everyone is her grade. (how cute is that!!!!)

*Em is still the cutest dawgone thing in the whole wide world! (I think that's actually a living note, but whatev.)

*I am determined, DETERMINED to begin our nature scrapbook/notebook thing this weekend.  I should actually be doing that right now instead of writing now.

*we're planning to go to the beach today, which will be our first time since we've been here.  I know, we're loser parents.  Mostly I'm just a big 'ol sissy girl.  Taking 3 kids to the beach alone scares me.


I think I've hit all the highlights.  I hope everyone has a fantastic 4th of July!

Yesterday was the first full day of school work we've had since we've been in Florida (meaning we included math with our daily reading).
Part of me feels like a slacker mom, but part of me knows that the two weeks we've been here so far have been full.  We've seen dolphins, manatees, crane, seagulls, all kinds of fish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and a raccoon.  All have been in their own natural setting right around us!  We've looked up weird looking bugs and we've gotten books on sea animals.

Oh, and I signed the big kids up for their first year ever of Summer Reading at the library!  They're getting so old already!

IW really likes math.  Yesterday we began doing addition on the abacus.  I say uh-back-us.  Jeff corrects me every time.  : ) 
I also taught him how to write the number 8.  This is a hard number to write my friends!  IW has a pretty short frustration fuse, so we took it slow.  That's a heart issue, and one we've been working on a long time.  I feel confident that we'll be working on it a whole lot longer.


As for QL, she can now read the first 4 Bob books fluently, except for that word HAD.  She always says HAS, and when I say 'try again' she starts guessing the wildest words!  THE, AND, PRETTY.   

What?!?!?!?!
She has the ability to sound out, she just like to guess, I....guess.  I think she's at a point that formal phonics lessons would do her some good.  I was going to wait until she was older, but she has already started to read on her own, and she really wants to read.  She's just so lacking in confidence.  The Bob Books have really helped in this area, and I'm going to make up some sight word flashcards today, starting with the word HAD!

What have ya'll got planned today????

our homeschool curriculum

I've been meaning to list this for quite a while now, but haven't seemed to get around to it.
We're doing a kind-of, sort-of modified version of Ambleside's Year 0.5, which is an unofficial year.  This is a literary curriculum, except for math.  Also, I haven't done a phonics program with IW.  He taught himself to read when he was 3 so I don't really see a need.  If he has a question or an area of concern, we address it when it comes up, and this seems to be working.

Here's our reading list: (all but Character Building are available online for FREE)
Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans
The Eskimo Twins
The Seven Sisters Who Live on the Round Ball that Floats in the Air
Old Mother West Wind
A Child’s Book of Character Building, Book 1


We read MANY books for literature.  The two chapter books we're reading right now are Stuart Little and Raggedy Ann Stories.  We also read picture books during quiet time and pretty much all day long.

For math we are using RightStart Math Level A.

For science we were using 106 Days of Creation Studies before we left for Florida, but since we've been here it seems a little silly to continue doing that and ignore all the natural science going on around us.  So for now we're doing a lot of nature study, and we're going to make a nature notebook using some scrapbook stuff (wish me luck with that!).

Oh, and we also do a memory verse to correspond with the character trait we're working on. We read a bible story every morning during breakfast, and IW does copywork, which right now is writing 3 perfect capital and lowercase letters.  They also watch a Spanish video once a week or so.

QL is reading Dick and Jane, and the Bob books.  Other than that she sits in on our readings and that's about it.  She'll begin formal work after she turns 5 next spring.


I don't do the poetry, art or music appreciation stuff that Ambleside has, mostly because I haven't quite figured out how to work it all in yet.  We do read poetry, but not in an organized, planned out way, and we don't do any memorizing yet.

Soooo, this is what we've got going on in our little school right now.  We school year round, so it's not like we have a beginning and ending date for our curriculum; when we finish this, we'll move onto other things.  With all the traveling we do, it always seemed like we were behind, but working year-round gives us flexibility to relax a little.  When QL turns 5 we'll add her into the mix, and I'll probably do a kind-of, sort-of mash-up of Ambleside Online, Old Fashioned Education, and Ruth Beechick type of curriculum.  I'm hoping to keep them together in as many as the readings as possible, and work with them separately on the 3 Rs.  It's fun to learn together!

BOOKS!!!

Do you love the new layout?!?!?!?!  My heart skipped a beat when I first saw it!  I thought is was especially fitting as I got to go scour a thrift shop and a used book shop this Friday and found some real gems!

 This particular book was my favorite find.  It has a 1925 copyright date, and a $2.00 price tag.  I really, really, REALLY love books, but old books have a tendency to make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I LOVE the inscription written inside:

I love that it was a gift from a teacher to her student!  And I can't help but take note of the fact that if a teacher gave this book to her student as a gift today, there would be an outrage.  But not in our little school! : )

back again

Hey there......uh, whoever!  I was totally going to post more about living in an RV, and then life got crazy.  My mom had a brain biopsy, and I seriously thought she was going to die, and we drove to Mo.  She didn't die, but she is still in the hospital, two months later.  And then my grandpa did die, and we drove back to Mo.  That was terribly sad, but he had been sick for several years, and I feel comforted knowing that he is with my grandma.  She was awesome.  Anyway, then Husband got called back to the home office, and then sent back to another site and........blah blah blah.  CRAZY.  And now we'll be heading to Florida and we'll NOT be staying in the RV for this trip, so I will continue that series of posts later.  Also, I had a creepy 'fix-it' guy come to my house to give me a quote on some work and instead he told me about how he read my blog and how I travel with my kids and basically he freaked me out and made me really not want to use the internet for a while. Seriously, I have 5 followers, and he isn't one of them.   (If you're reading this, creepy guy, that was not cool.  Sorry if you got fired.  You really freaked me out.)
I am back, and have much to write about.  HOORAY!

RV Living: Challenge # 2 (in no particular order )

The next challenge I'm going to write about is how well, or not well, we all adapt to leaving our home and staying in an RV for any amount of time.  Husband, QL, and Em all seem to do just fine.  They continue their normal daily rhythms, seemingly unphased by the change of venue.  IW and I, however, do not transition so well.  I was going to write about IW's behavior challenges, and how change affects him so strongly, and I was going to ask for advice, because I honestly run out of ideas sometimes.  And while I am still open to any and all advice, my focus has changed.

This morning, as I was reading my email updates for my Yahoo groups, I read a post from a group member that mentioned the site http://www.hsperson.com/ (thank you so much Katie!).  Mildly interested, I clicked the link, and wound up learning a whole lot about myself and more importantly, about my child.  I realized that there is a good chance that the issues arrive not so much from being at the RV itself, but from something different entirely.

The questionaire states that if you respond positively to 13 or more questions, you are likely a Highly Sensitve Person.  I responded positively to 25.  I was shocked.  I have always been aware of the individual characteristics that this website asks about, such as becoming very moody when hungry, or sensitive to change, but I had never looked at these ideas as a whole package.  It is the same with my son.  He has always had a strong aversion to getting dirty, and complains of itchy clothes.  He has also always, from the time he was a young toddler, been very ordered and meticulous.  If you moved one of his toys, he knew it and wasn't happy about it.  I've always described him as sensitive and/or intense, but I never thought to look at ALL of these personality traits together. (BTW, I answered the questions about him, and there were 15 positive responses.  There is a questionaire to answer specifically for your child on the site.)

I can now see why, even though IW is so excited to be at the RV, his behavior shows that he is struggling with it a little.  I can also understand why I, myself, am having these feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed even while I'm excited to be here and by all the opportunities we have.

Reading that website and then sitting down to write about our adapting to the RV made things click for me.  This has been an ah-ha, light bulb moment.  It was like the dots were connected this morning.  I haven't read the book yet, so I'm not exactly certain what to do with this information, but I do know that knowledge is power.  I really think that this could change our lives.  I can remember being this way as a young girl, and just thinking I was wierd, or as everyone else said (and still does), just overly sensitive.  Now I see a different way of viewing myself!  I'm looking forward to learning how to better deal with situations, and teaching my son those same things.  This is exciting, folks!

Are any of you highly sensitive people?  Do any of you have highly sensitive children?  How do you accomodate this?  I'd love to hear from you!  Until then, have a great day!!!

RV Living: Challenges

Husband and I have obviously decided that the pros of traveling and living in an RV while he's working outweigh the cons.  That being said, there are still a number of challenges that have to be faced, dealt with, overcome.  We've been in the RV for about a week and a half now, and some of us have adjusted better than others.  I have decided, being the list-making visual person that I am, that writing out these challenges, and hopefully the solutions, will help me (and the rest of the family) make this transition (and future ones) easier.  So today I'll begin with a pretty basic challenge:  finding the right park.  For us, this means finding a place that is kid friendly and pet friendly above all other criteria.  We need areas to play, and enough space in the park that our neighbors aren't right on top of us.  Five people in a 35' RV is going to be noisy, no matter how you slice it.

When we first got here (here is Chattanooga, by the way), we went to an RV park that I will not refer to by name.  A few co-workers of Husband are staying there, and they had a spot held for us.  The location was just off the interstate, so it was very close to shopping and what-not.  I was thinking, "Well, alright.  This is great".  If I knew how to type that sound of a buzzer going off when you answer wrong on a game show, that's what would be right here.  The first clue that this place wasn't for us was the fact that the roads were so narrow and strewn with boulders and trees.  The RV spots were pretty small and close together, with neighbors VERY close on both sides, as well as directly in front and behind.  It was like an obstacle course.  Husband drug the end of the RV across a small tree while trying to turn into the spot, all while the manager "ushered" him in.  I was behind him in the van, yelling "STOP, STOP, STOP!!!!!".  Funny thing.  He couldn't hear me. When I realized that the manager stood there and did nothing, I was not pleased.  This was not a good first impression, my friends.  We finally got the RV pulled in, and then manager guy came over and told me that he wasn't going to yell at me yet for not parking on the gravel since we had just got there.  So, I got out and started looking around the lot for a place to park ON GRAVEL.  I ended up having to park halfway out in the roadway, and Husband had to park his truck over in the parking lot.  We had obviously been put in a lot that was far too small for our RV.

The next clue that this place was just not right for us was the realization that the dog couldn't be tethered out.  At all.  And we could only walk him in undeveloped areas.  Me, 3 kids, and a dog walking around in undeveloped areas several times a day.  SAY WHAT?!?!?!

And then came the deal breaker.  We had been at said park for a week when we got a note that the manager wanted to see us up at the office.  It was like being called to see the principal.  I went, and the office manager (who was already rude to me a few days before) informed me that they were unaware that we had children with us (even though we had brought them into the office with us when we registered, and a couple of times to use the restroom while playing at the park that's across the street from the office), and that the price would go up $30 PER CHILD, PER MONTH.  That's $90.  I came back to the RV, told Husband what was said, and we left about an hour later.  It seems apparent to me that this particular RV park didn't really care to have children or pets there, which was contrary to their advertisements and website.  Unfortunately, this was something we had to figure out from experience. 

Fortunately, we had driven around Chattanooga to scope out some alternative RV parks to stay at before the whole price-hike debacle, so we were prepared.  We are now staying at Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground.  We've been here for about 4 days, and so far it is fantastic!  It is a more rural setting.  The RV lots are plenty big, and we are on the back row, which means there are no RVs behind us!  There is an arcade, a Go Kart track (seriously!) and there are caves that we can tour.  Now, all of the extra stuff charges admission, but as far as the park itself, it costs the same as the other park before the price hike.  And it's about 5-10 minutes closer to Husband's work.  We are still right off the interstate, and Wal-mart is just a few minutes away, but that's just about it.  But when we look at the window, we see mountains instead of RVs.  Husband and I both commented on the fact that we can see stars here.  The energy is just different out here.  This is the kind of park we need to stay in. 
The only down-side to the move is that none of Husband's co-workers are here, which is a bummer.  We're hoping that our friend will make the move with us, but even if he doesn't, this was the right choice for us.  This place is pretty great.  I would recommend it to anyone!

SOOOOO,

we're traveling again!  We got to Chattanooga yesterday, and we're still settling in.  We've had visitors and trips to Walmart, but no schooling as of yet.  The RV already feels like home, and we're all a little excited to be here.  I'll update more, probably Friday, after American Idol is done for the week! : )

Blog Carnival - the charlotte mason blog carnival

One of the fine ladies in one of my Yahoo homeschool groups directed me to this, and well....it's just fantastic.  I hope someone finds this as resourceful as I have!  Yo.

Blog Carnival - the charlotte mason blog carnival

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Last weekend I went on a road trip ALL BY MYSELF!!!!!  My best friend's little fellar had his first birthday party.  The whole family was going to make the trip, but when Husband and I were trying to figure out the logistics of a 9 hour drive made twice in 3 days with a dog and 3 kids ages five and under, he proclaimed, "Babe, you might have to go by yourself". 
I haven't been anywhere by myself since right after we got married, nearly 6 years ago.
I think the fact that I continually tell him that I/we need a vacation gave him the idea.
The next day he went online and booked me a room, arrangements were made, and come Friday afternoon I hit the road!  I got to Fayetteville around midnight and checked in to one of the nicest rooms I have ever stayed in!  That Husband!  I slept in, ate breakfast in my pajamas while reading, took a long, luxurious hot shower, got dressed, fixed my hair and put on make-up........it was like a dream!  I spent the morning shopping, both for myself and the family.  I walked down Dickson Street, which if you ever go to Fayetteville, Dickson Street has to be on the agenda.  I had lunch alone at The Common Grounds and had an AMAZING sandwich and cup of coffee! 
The highlight of my morning was going into the  Dickson Street Bookshop.  This place is a booklover's dream!  Every book in the place is used, and the inventory is HUGE!  I never even made it past the first room and I left with something like 20 books!  Of course, the front room is where they keep the children's books. 
As soon as I walked in, there was a small shelf directly to my right that held homeschooling books!  JACK-POT!  I fell in love instantly.  Although I have already put most of the books away, I'll try to list all of my finds here:

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter
The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris
The Stories of Hans Christian Anderson
Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling
The Illuminated Book of Days
Drawing With Children by Mona Brookes  (one of my very favorite finds!)
A Treasury of Verse for Little Children by Madalen G. Edgar (this one has an inscription when it was given as a gift in 1929)
Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, all in one volume.
Mudpies to Magnets, a Preschool Science Curriculum
Tomie DePaola's Big Book of Favorite Legends
Good Earth Art by MaryAnn Kohl and Cindy Gainer
South Indian Folktales by Hemkunt
My Grandmother's Stories; A Collection of Jewish Folk Tales by Adele Geras
MultiCultural Folktales: Stories to Tell Young Children by Judy Sierra and Robert Kaminski
Hidden Tales from Eastern Europe by Antonia Barber and Paul Hess
Make Way for Ducklings  by Robert McCloskey
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
The Spyglass by Richard Paul Evans
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
The Little Lame Prince by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
The Sidewalk Racer and Other Poems of Sports and Motion by Lillian Morrison
For all of these books, I spent $150.  Not bad considering a couple of them are out of print, and many contain several books in one compilation.  I seriously considered moving there just for the bookstore!

The highlight of my evening was Little Fellar's party.  It was good food, good family, great conversation and an all-around great time.  Of course we stayed up WAY to late, and I had to drive the 9 hours home with a pretty big headache, and a broken CD player, but it was totally worth it!  I look forward to doing it again next year!

Curriculum Planning

I love to plan.  I love lists.  I love organization.  But for some reason, every plan I've made for schooling the kids has kind of gone to the wayside.  There has either been too much structure, or just not enough.  This just doesn't work with my SIMPLIFY and FOCUS themes.  So, a few weeks ago I ordered the Planning Your Charlotte Mason Education in 5 Simple Steps workbook.  This book is awesome!!!!  It has taken me from shaky legs and wobbly knees to chin up and walking tall down the beginning path of our homeschool.  The steps take you from planning your overall outlook for all 12 years of schooling, to what you're going to be doing on a week-to-week basis your next school term!  Great right?!?!?!  I got the package that included the DVD, but when I first began, I decided to just work through the book on my own.  I mean, who has time, and the peace and quiet, to sit and watch a DVD with little kids running around?  I got to about step 3 and, feeling proud, set it aside to finish later.  A couple of weeks later, I got it out of the bottom of the pile of books on the buffet, popped the DVD in, and started over at the beginning, having lost the papers that I had copied and already filled out.  : )  All I can say is, what a difference the DVD makes!  I got through the beginning without it, but doing the planning again with the video made the job less arduous for sure.  I HIGHLY recommend this resource to anyone who gets a little sweaty thinking about planning out your year.  This made it easy peasy!  I also get to SIMPLIFY and get rid of a bunch of  curriculum resources that I now know I won't be needing.  Can I get a YAY!!!!!!!
For the record, I don't think you have to pursue a Charlotte Mason education to find this planning guide useful.  It will work for any resources you choose to use!
Oh, and by the way, Simply Charlotte Mason also has some great curriculum resources.  I love them, but that's another post.  Kids running around and what-not!

Catching my breath......

Okay, so I suppose it's time to post something new on here.  I've put it off because every time I come to the site, I see that old post and it's a little daunting to figure out what to say after that.  I guess the only way to remedy that is to just take another step.  Anyway, I finally feel like I'm catching my breath!  Everyday is no longer consumed with sadness, but with hope and a new perspective.  My words for 2010 are SIMPLIFY and FOCUS (my daughter constantly repeats the latter to me, lovingly I'm sure!).  These words apply to every area of my life.  I will go into more depth on this "project" if anyone is interested.  Anyway, as for grief, my dad's ashes are still in the laundry room.  I intend to bury them this spring, and am preparing for the wave of hurt that will inevitably come with that event.  I don't know what else to say about that.
Oh, and as for me and God....we're working on it.