Weekly Wrap Up - A New Year

In my life this week...

Just glad to get back to a more structured, scheduled day.  Relieved the holidays are over, although the trees are still up.  I want to leave them up for all 12 days of Christmas this year.

In our homeschool this week...
Started back.  Implemented the plan.  Zippy was very receptive to it all.  I think she appreciates a straightforward approach too.  I also came up with an idea to inspire her to be more responsible for her schoolwork, chore, attitude and behavior.  I want to give it a little more a of test drive before I share it with the world, but I am greatly encouraged.

My kiddos favorite thing this week...
Little Dude love being home with his big sis.  I'm not sure Zippy enjoys it so much.  I tried to come up with some quite time activities for him.  We had some great moments learning all together.

A picture...

I love InstaGram.  Follow me!  I'm hollyoshesky.

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Homeschool Mother's Journal 

Weekly Wrap Up - Where exactly did the week go?

Wow, it's Friday.  Here is a wrap up of the week:

In my life this week:
Catch up.  Catch up.  Ketchup.  I lost last week to the hospital, so all the things that I had planned to do last week and all the things I planned to do this week all somehow had to happen together.  Plus an extra blood draw (and trip to McDonald's for being such a brave boy) and doctor appointment for Little Dude.  I think I can almost see the bottom of the laundry pile and the kitchen counters are in sight.  I was so proud of myself yesterday, I wore matching socks and makeup.

In Our Homeschool This Week:
This week we started doing daily grammar and daily writing from Schoolhouse Teachers (fantastic website, review later this week).  We are also listening to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, narrated by Tim Curry.  We are doing this in the evenings as a whole family.  I was inspired by a geography lesson on industrial England, and Christmas.

What is Working/Not Working:
 Looking at what is important and what is busy.  I am struggling with grade levels and work loads with Zippy.  Where I want her to be and where she is - and the amount of work she does/doesn't want to do - is frustrating.  I need to sit down, get real, and map out some nitty gritty, 3Rs kind of learning. Take a hard look at where Zippy really is, where she needs to go and how to get there. 

Places We are Going:
Last night Zippy and I went to the Christmas Potluck for the homeschool co-op we were involved in this fall.  Zippy was part of a girls chorus.  There were seven girls, Zippy the youngest, who sang, acapella, in harmony, just beautifully.  It was a lovely night of fellowship with other homeschool families.

Questions/Thoughts:
Completely not homeschool related but...how do you get someone to take salt?  Part of Little Dude's treatment for the low sodium is to take a specific amount of salt a day.  He does not like it. at. all.  We've tried it in food, water, straight on a spoon.  Nothing works. Matthew 5:13 keeps coming to mind "If salt loses it saltiness..." There really isn't anything to disguise the taste.  All suggestions welcome.

I'm Grateful:
1. That I am not in a hospital room with my son this morning.
2. For those people who have come along side with meals and encouragement just when we needed it most this week. 

I'm Praying:
For all those children who have a more difficult time than we do and their moms and dads.  Whenever I am tempted to complain about our situation I see children, particularly at the hospital, with issues that seem just enormous and then I see their parents who care for them with strength and love and I am humbled.

Quote/Picture:
This quote has been bobbing around in my brain a lot this week:

Source: google.com via Holly on Pinterest

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It is Friday - When did that happen? A mother's homeschool journal

In my life this week…

Getting down the routine.  I am so thankful for structure.  Little Dude started pre-school last week.  The first day was was wonderful (aside from that whole car debacle), every day since has been a struggle with crying, wailing, screaming.  The little guy does not like school.  I was perplexed about this at first.  Zippy never had any trouble going to day-care, babysitter or pre-school (not that those three things are the same).  Then I realized that Zippy was in a child care situation with somebody from the time she was itty bitty.  She had to learn to share early.  Little Dude really hasn't.  He is an only child in a lot of ways, and I admit I am a little bit {ok more than a little bit} protective of him.  He needs pre-school, I need him to be in pre-school.  So we will persevere. 

In our homeschool this week…

Our first full week.  This week Zippy started her nature notebook.  I am taking a page out of Charlotte Mason's book, but I was a little leery about just going into the woods and saying ok look around, but I thought I would give it a try.  I was surprised, it worked!  I gave Zippy the instruction to write down or draw something from each of the senses except taste.  Once she started she couldn't stop.  We ended up spending almost twice as much time as I thought.  The best moment was when we were walking down the trail and Zippy stops.  She backed up a few steps and sniffed the air turned to me and said.  "I think I smell mint".  I looked around and sure enough there was some wild mint.  I plucked a leaf - shhhh don't tell anyone - just to be sure.  This is definitely going to be a weekly science experience.   

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

This week was also the first week of Co-op.  This is such an integral part of our homeschooling.  Zippy has to be around people and I am learning to respect that.  Co-op gives her that "social-time" with other kids that are home schooled, so she is not the odd one out.  It also gives the Little Dude more time to play with other kids.  And it gives me time with other moms who have made this choice to educate our children at home.

Things I’m working on…

My American History curriculum.  Zippy worked through the first few lessons.  I will be posting lessons here soon.  

I’m cooking…

Chicken. Found a great deal on chicken breast at the grocery, so I am going to try some of the great freezer/crock pot meals I've been hoarding ahem saving on Pinterest. 

I’m grateful for…

Coffee.   And wonderful doctors and nurses who care for the Little Dude. This week Little Dude had his annual MRI, just to be sure everything is still ok.  We were blessed this year to get a Saturday appointment first thing {that is 6:45am} in the morning.  So glad there is a Biggby in the hospital. 

 

I’m praying for…

My family, every day.  

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

 "You see, we are concerned with the hearts of our children. The whole picture. A firm foundation."
~Hodgepodge Mom
{I was deeply touched by her profound post on socialization. Find it on Hodgepodge.}

Linking Up:

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Homeschool Mother's Journal - Summer edition

First let me just say...I'm still getting used to the idea of being a "homeschool mother" again.

In My Life This Week

Source: instagr.am via lauren on Pinterest

Sleep. I'm trying so very hard to wean myself off of caffeine.  Now that it is getting out of my system I am so irritable, headachy, and tired.  I am hoping that a few days of judicious napping will set me to rights. 

In Our Homeschool This Week

Not really homeschooling yet.  But on top of everything else, I don't want to deal with a lot of summer slide come September.  So Zippy is working on a little Math, a little writing.  I'm also encouraging her to schedule her week.  She has been very successful at doing that.  I really like it because it gives her a little independence.  I hope that training her to do this with just a few things will translate into the ability to juggle her schoolwork this school year. 

The Little Dude is not going to be homeschooled this Fall.  I figured that I can either do pre-school or middle school, but both is beyond me.  This summer I wanted to give him some fun/educational structured activities.  Nothing too big, just a few minutes a day.  I have themes planned out for the whole summer.  {Stay tuned for full lesson plans}  This week was the ocean/beach theme.  The kids - both of them - had a super fun time playing in the sensory bin.

Things I'm Working On

Zippy's curriculum!  I think I have it all together and then something happens and I change it all again.   I did order We Choose Virtues and plan to start that sooner rather than later.  Other than that it is all up in the air.

Things I'm Praying About

 I saw this picture on Facebook last week.  It just really hit me.  The military isn't something that I generally dwell on.  Aside from saying a prayer on Sunday at church for those in our congregation that are deployed it just doesn't cross my mind.  So when I am tempted to complain about the heat, I am praying for those who have so much more than heat to worry about.

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share

Zippy is cooking dinner once a week.

I'm linking up with the ihomeschool network.