Homeschool Recap, April 26th (Week 33)...

In our lives this week...
I worked Share-A-Thon at Power FM three days this week while the boys stayed with grandma... so, needless to say, schooling took a backseat a good chunk of the week.  However, it was our second-to-last week of school, and I didn't want to get off track so we can officially end next Friday!  We squeezed lessons in where we could and finished it up on Saturday morning.  Whew.

A picture to share...

Preston aced the STAAR tests!

Everyone was posting about how stressed they and their kids were regarding the STAAR tests this week.  I had to rub it in a little that we don't have such silly things.  Lol.

It's beautiful!  Don't touch it!!!

I have the best mom ever.  She not only watches my kids for me, but organized my nightmare of a tupperware cabinet.  Seriously, the best mom ever.

People we're seeing...
On Monday, we met up with a couple of other ladies (April and Jessica) and their kids from our homeschool group to play at the park.  Then, on Tuesday, I invited April and her kids over for a movie night.  The kids wanted to watch Kronk's New Groove, lol.  It's so awesome having a new friend who homeschools, has kids around the same age as mine and lives nearly around the corner!  Thank you, Lord, for this awesome new friendship!  Oh, and thanks to Eddie for introducing us... he knew we'd hit it off!  Then, of course, it was nice to see all my Power FM peeps the rest of the week.  Love that crew, they still feel like family even after I've been gone so long.


In our Homeschool this week...

Tot School: Pretty much nothing formal in the way of schooling for Callen this week.  We did read If You Give a Pig a Pancake (several times) and Frederick by Lionni.

Bible:   This week's name of Jesus was "The Word" and Preston's memory verse is John 1:1. We looked up verses in The Discoverer's Bible that explained how important The Word is, and words, in general, are too.  We talked about the use of words, and read about Helen Keller.

Reading/Writing: We continued Spelling by Sound & Structure. We finished with In Grandma's Attic, our last read-aloud, and Preston wrote a brief summary of the book.  This one was fun, it was all about how much trouble "Grandma" used to get in as a little girl and the lessons she learned from her mischief.  Pretty sure Preston could relate.  Lol.

History: This week Preston learned about inventors like Thomas Edison, The Wright Brothers and Henry Ford, as well as four states: Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.  My parents just returned from a vacation in Arizona at the Grand Canyon so it was fun to learn about the state they told us all about.  Books we read this week included: Leah's Pony, A Wizard From the Start (about Thomas Edison), First Flight and Welcome to the Sea of Sand (poem about an Arizona desert).

Math: Preston is going through comprehensive reviews of each chapter using Math Mammoth worksheets, trying to see what we still need help on.  He seems to have a good grasp on what we've reviewed so far!

Science:  This week's we learned about a few more birds in Birds, Nests & Eggs. And used Science with Air to learn about air's movement and how planes fly.

Music/Art: We sang through the "Armed Services Medley" one last time.

Spanish: Pretty much just quit with Spanish for the year.  =)

We are using Adventures in My Father's World. See our curriculum here.



[This post contains affiliate links for Usborne Books & More and Amazon.com.  By clicking on those links and purchasing items, you are helping me continue to be a SAHM so that I can focus on homeschooling my children!  Thank you!]

Homeschool Recap, December 7th (Week 18)...

In my life this week...

We celebrated Preston's 7th birthday this week, and had his party on Tuesday evening.  So much fun!  We also had a cub scout meeting on Monday and AWANA on Wednesday.  Friday evening we had an open-house type event for my Usborne business... trying to do some last minute Christmas sales.  Then some of the Power FM crew came over and hung out.  We had a blast, the kids really enjoyed having them over and getting to perform and do "tricks" for them all evening, oh man.  I miss those people!!! Callen and I have been under the weather... coughing our heads off.  =(

Michael put up our outdoor Christmas decor on Friday and Saturday and we also went out to Canton and got our Christmas tree!  We walked around, prepared to chop down our own tree but were really disappointed in the selection this year.  Couldn't find a good one that was the size we wanted, so we had to get one that they had all ready to go... a blue spruce.  It's pretty!  We haven't decorated it yet, but did some indoor decoration as well today.  Woo hoo!  And on Monday (my birthday!), there's a slight chance of snow... we'll see!!!

Got our Christmas cards mailed!

In our Homeschool this week...
Tot School: We continued the 1plus1plus1equals1.net "Tot School" printables this week with letter "M" for Mouse!  We read a lot of fun mouse-themed books: Mouse's First Day of School, As Quiet as a Mouse, Whose Mouse Are You?, Mousekin's Thanksgiving, Cat & Mouse and Louie & Dan are Friends.

Bible:   This week's name of Jesus was Lamb of God. Preston's memory verse is John 1:29 and we looked up verses in The Discoverer's Bible that talked Jesus being a lamb. 

Reading/Writing: We continued Spelling by Sound & Structure, doing our Chapter 18 review.  Not sure if he wasn't focused enough, but both tests we did this week didn't go so well.  Continued with lesson 37-39 in Primary Language Lessons. We continued our read-aloud, Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We have been reading a ton of Christmas books as well to go along with our Advent/Christmas countdown.  Preston read his little brother a night-night story the other night, and it was so sweet!

Getting along!  Yay!  Haha.

History: 
This week Preston learned about Eli Whitney and the cotton gin.  We read from our Story of the U.S. and a biography of Eli Whitney.  We studied about the state of Tennessee and read Daniel's Duck and Casey Jones.

Math: Preston continued Part B of Math Mammoth, Second Grade.  Working on hundreds and skip counting by different numbers, using addition and subtraction.  He is zipping right through this stuff.

Science:  This week's theme was living things... what makes them different.  We read four pages of First Encyclopedia of Science on living things and cells.  We created a cell model out of Jell-o and fruit chewies.  And we have an experiment going about growing bacteria.  Do NOT drink the milk we have stored in our cabinet... eww!!!

Cell membrane, nucleus and organelles! Yum!

Music/Art: Started learning a new patriotic song called "There are Many Flags."  We also continued our World's Greatest Artists, Vol 1 unit study, and our first artist is Leonardo Da Vinci. We read a couple more biography books on him (Neo Leo, Leonardo and The Mona Lisa Caper), and looked at a bunch of his art online. Preston and Callen also colored printed out sheets of the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper.  I thought Preston did a really good job coloring in the Last Supper, especially since he doesn't really like to color all that much.

Spanish: Continued with the next episode of Salsa. Reviewed body parts via La Clase Divertida, Lesson 7.  We reviewed words having to do with "La Ropa" in our First Thousand Words in Spanish. 


We are using Adventures in My Father's World. See our curriculum here.



[This post contains affiliate links for Usborne Books & More and Amazon.com.  By clicking on those links and purchasing items, you are helping me continue to be a SAHM so that I can focus on homeschooling my children!  Thank you!]

Homeschool Recap, April 27th (Week 30)...

In my life this week...
This week was crazy, ridiculous, out of control.  Monday we took the Kia Soul in to the shop to get the hail damage fixed, and thankfully got a rental so that we could remain a two-car family for the week.  On Tuesday, the kids and I picked up the grandparents from the airport.  They were in town to visit quickly and pick up their belongings and home furnishings, which have been in storage since they left for Michigan in February.  It was a very rushed, busy visit, but the boys enjoyed some time with them for sure!  On Wednesday, I kicked off my preschool book fair in East Dallas, which took place on Thursday and Friday as well.  I also worked Power FM's Share-A-Thon on Wednesday and Friday, and added in an evening book party on Friday too.  On Friday, I was out of the house from 7:30am until 10:30pm!  Whoa.  I'm glad all that business is over!  Whew.  It was fun, but man... I'm not used to that much going, going, going anymore!  And a giant thanks to my mom and husband for watching the kids so much the past few weeks while I've been busy with Usborne things.  I am about to have met my April goal and am working towards meeting my May goal, to earn that iPad3!!!  So excited!

Needless to say, our homeschooling this week was extremely light!

In our Homeschool this week...

Tot School: Callen sings little songs and is starting to hold conversation.  He loves pointing out things and stating their names or characteristics, like "blue!" "red!" "bus!" etc.

Bible: Preston and I went over Proverbs 10:1, "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother."  We also went over the parable of the Lost Son, the Blind Man, Zacchaeus and the Last Supper.

Reading/Writing: Preston has been reading aloud to his brother a lot again lately.  LOVE THAT! 

Math: Worked adding and subtracting three-digit numbers this week, and he FINISHED the Complete Book of Math!

Science:  This week's science from book Science with Plants was about how flowers and trees.

Music/Art: Our hymn this week was still "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

Spanish: This week we went over days of the week and months of the year.  Very briefly, so those need more work. 

We are using My Father's World First Grade. See our curriculum here.

Blog Hoppin' with:
 

We were on Fall Break!

I don't have a homeschool recap for this week because we took the week off!  I felt like Preston was getting a bit burnt out and then, of course, I worked Wed-Fri at the radio station's Share-A-Thon.  I only worked about 4 hours each day, but I still didn't want to try to schedule school around that... just seemed like a great time to take a break from our lessons and enjoy the wonderful, Fall air!  It's been cool!  And downright cold a few times, even!  Woooo hoooo!

Monday was Halloween.

My 3 heroes - Snoopy, Mario & a Knight!

Preston was Super Mario and Callen was a knight wielding a sword (watch out - 'cuz... um... he might take a bite out of you next?!).  My in-laws took us to our church's trunk or treat for a little bit, then we went out to dinner to celebrate my Father-In-Law's birthday.  Unfortunately, Michael missed it all because he had to work that evening.

The rest of the week flew by.  The boys got to spend time with my mom while I worked on Wed and Thurs, and was with Michael's mom today as I worked.  They enjoyed that, of course!

Praying that the week off helps Preston to be excited to start schooling again on Monday.  We start doing a little more with the Bible in the next few weeks, so hopefully that helps him get motivated - he loves Bible stories!  Our curriculum also seems to pick up speed as well... it's been kinda slow and too simple for him thus far.  I also pray the downtime helped rest my patience.  I was quite easily provoked the past few weeks, and I have got to rein that in.  But first... let's just enjoy the weekend!

Homeschool Mother's Journal, September 2nd

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Summer Edition, a link-up with The Homeschool Chick.

In my life this week...
- I worked at the station two afternoons this week so that little bit of change threw off my schedule pretty good.  Man, I am soooo bad with "change."  I like new experiences and all, but I am very much a creature of habit... I like my "routine" and feel totally off when it's disrupted.  But, it was nice to get back on the radio for a few days anyway!
- I also had an Usborne team meeting on Monday and a mom's support meeting with our homeschool group.  I feel like this week was super busy!

In our homeschool this week...
- Just preparing last minute things, because this time next week we'll be in the midst of our second day of school!  EEEKKK!

My favorite thing this week...
- Getting to meet more of my Usborne teammates.  Turns out they are the presidents of a homeschool group in the area I almost joined last year.  They were really sweet people, and I am looking forward to getting to know my team a lot more as we embark on some fun events together in the next several months!

I'm grateful for...
- My husband!  He did major daddy-duty this week, watching the kids while I was gone to meetings and work and things.  He has been so super awesome and supportive with everything, I can't thank him enough!

Questions/Thoughts I have...
- Just wondering how things are going to go with our new curriculum.  I am so excited about using My Father's World.  I'm just trying not to let my zeal get out of hand, because it's very likely that I will be met with resistance.  I am also worried about how are days are going to look, and being able to take care of everything... school, business, household responsibilities and everything else! I just get really nervous about change, but what I learned at Women of Faith last weekend is that "Change can be good!" and I'm going to keep repeating that to myself!

A photo to share...

I love my guys!!!

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P.S. While you're here, do you mind "liking" my Usborne FB Page?  Thank you!!!

Homeschool Mother's Journal, July 8th, 2011

The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Summer Edition, a link-up with The Homeschool Chick.

In my life this week...
- Celebrated July 4th weekend with family.  Got to see fireworks.
- Worked the All Request Show again on Tuesday.
- Trying to stay cool.  Not much outside time for us!

In our homeschool this week...
- More prep work.  I can't seem to stop.
- I can already see much improvement in Preston's handwriting when he's really trying to form the letters correctly.  That makes me so happy and proud of his hard work!

A little bear support!

- We recorded some information for Cornell University, who is doing a fun thing called Celebrate Urban Birds.  Basically, you bird watch in your yard, or wherever you want!  Then record whether or not you see certain types of birds.  They send you an envelope with info on birds, a pretty poster of birds and a sheet to fill out and send back.  Preston liked watching for birds, especially since they are FINALLY making use of the bird feeder we made for them!

Which ones do you see?

Callen started saying "bir! bir!"

 We mailed the information off today and Preston wanted to write something on the envelope to the people doing the study:

Here's Your Infurmation

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...
- Books and accessories for learning don't have to cost much money.  If you're looking for a certain book to use, make sure you check half.com, Amazon (don't forget you can often buy used products through their marketplace too!), various homeschool online classifieds (or if you feel like getting out and hunting - Half Price Books or local homeschool bookstores).  I really wanted the Hymns for a Kid's Heart, Vol. 1 book and was having a hard time finding it, or at least finding it in my price range.  Finally found it listed in the classifieds for a great price (and it was brand new!).  I also got some great flash cards at Target yesterday in the $1 Spot!

I'm praying for...
- Guidance on whether or not to move forward in on a small business venture.  I'm not even really sure you can call it that.  But, it does require a little money to start up, and then a lot of work on my part to make it worth it.  We need the income it could potentially provide, and it actually sounds like a lot of fun.  But, I'm leery about such things just the same.  Praying for a clear answer from Him.

A photo to share...

Preston reading the Book of James to us

Spring Share-A-Thon 2011

It's that time of year again.  Y'know, I only work twice a year these days... and it's here!  Power FM is doing it's bi-annual Share-A-Thon to raise money to stay on the air.  I'll be there Wednesday through Friday, and randomly on-the-air between 10am and 3pm, doing my part to get people to donate to the station.  

If you love Christian Rock Music and want it to continue to thrive... If you listen to this station and want it to stay around for your enjoyment.... If you've ever been blessed or convicted by something you've heard on Power FM, they need your support.  Please consider becoming part of the Power Corps (giving $20/month or more) and helping The Christian Rock station survive!

You can call in to the station Wed-Fri, 6am-10pm and make your donation, 1-866-787-1897.  You can also go online to the station website, www.kvrk.com, and enter the information yourself.  Either way, do your part to keep Power FM going!

Photo Prompt Challenge, #10: Favorite Room

Your Favorite Room in Your House

I LOVE this rug!

The toy corner is a bit of a mess.

Changing table & rocking chair.

My favorite room is currently Callen's room.  It's so bright and cheerful, and the boys love going in there and playing in the floor, dragging out everything they can find!  It's the smallest room in the house, and it used to be our office before Callen was born.  Michael pulled out the carpet and replaced it with wood laminate, and that pretty much made it an entirely new and different room completely.  I barely even recognize old pictures of it!

United States Map

World Map

A cool thing about Callen's room is that we left the two large wall maps up to go along with his "travel" theme.  These two maps have an awesome story!  The National Geographic United States map came from my previous job at the call center.  It was up so we could pinpoint where our check cashing machines were because they located all over the country.  It survived the tornado and was put up in the new building for a while.  When we were all laid off and everything was getting moved out, I asked what would become of it and no one cared, so I brought it home with me!  Then, at the station, there was a National Geographic World map in the conference room.  At one point, they repainted and then decided not to put it back up.  I told the owner that if he ever wanted to get rid of it I would gladly take it off his hands, totally not expecting him to let me have it.  But he did!  He was just like "Go ahead and take it!"  So, my two jobs resulted in two matching National Geographic wall maps!  Pretty cool, huh?

Ok, and I also love Callen's room 'cause we have fun times like this:

Photo Prompt Challenge, #4: An Important Experience

An experience that made you who you are today. 

This was a tough one.  How do you pinpoint just one moment or experience that made the difference?  One that made you who you are?  Pretty impossible, to tell you the truth.  So, I'm going this route:

On March 28th, 2000, this happened...

Tornado hits Downtown Fort Worth

I've posted about it many times, usually around the anniversary (last year was 10 years!).  I was in the Cash America building when this monster hit that very building.  It made for a VERY interesting nite, that's for sure.  But what does it have to do with making me who I am today?  Well, it's more like it has to do with getting me WHERE I am today.  I was working at the call center, making lots of money for a college kid still living at home with mom and dad.  I liked my job and had made my way up through several positions, but I knew it wasn't what I was gonna do for the rest of my life.  I wasn't sure how to go about getting a job in my field.  I hadn't even started my Radio-Television-Film courses at school yet.  So, the tornado hit, and though the company quickly moved into a new building, the business never really fully recovered and we were eventually laid off.  I found myself out of a job after having worked there for four years!  It was at this point I called up the radio station and asked for a job, and to my surprise... got one!  And at that job, I met Michael (and some of my dearest friends!)... and the rest is history!  Michael and I joke about how grateful we are to that tornado for running smack dab into my building!  So, yeah, it definitely helped me get where I am today.  A former radio DJ, and currently a wife and mother!  I wouldn't trade that exciting nite in Downtown Fort Worth for anything!

Remedy Drive Concert 09/29/10

Over the past two years I have posted about the band Remedy Drive many, many times.  I found their music at a time in my life when I really needed to hear something about hope and perseverance, and by golly... they were just what I needed!  I found out on Monday that they were going to be in town on Wednesday evening, and I quickly texted my mom to see if she wanted to go...she did!  I recently used their songs during my Shear Hope event and passed the CD along to my mom to listen to, and she also found the message of hope in their music!  I was so excited.  It's been nearly two years since that first time I saw them in concert (I always miss them when they come through, but have had the opportunity to interview them or talk to them at the station a few times since then... and I've listened to their CD over and over and over and over...).

The concert was at White's Chapel in Southlake.  There was a pretty small turn out, but that it a pretty intimate experience.  Despite the microphone not working at all through the entire first song (and David, the lead singer having NO idea it wasn't working, haha!), the show was great.  Afterwards, Mom and I were headed out to the car and we ran into David.  He recognized from Power FM and we stopped to chat for a bit.  My mom got to tell him how much their music helped through the recent passing of my grandmother.  He was very kind and humble, as usual.  It was a great evening... except for the part where Callen (yes, Callen got to go to the concert too) screamed all the way home in the car. Haha!

Farewell, KVTT.

It's a sad day in Dallas-Fort Worth.  A lot of people won't even notice, but one of Dallas-Fort Worth's longest running Christian radio stations is signing off the air today.  KVTT is having to shut it's doors after over 33 years of being on the airwaves.  Last year the station was sold to KERA, and through the hard work of it's employees and God's grace, they moved to AM to hold out for a few months longer.  But it didn't last... their listeners didn't make the move with them, or at least the listeners who were their main supporters didn't seem to make the move with them.  It's heartbreaking.  KVTT is where Power FM started, therefore it's where I started... so this station means a lot to me, the people who are now out of a job mean a lot to me. 

When I first started with the organization, I was the weekend 'babysitter' for both stations.  I did board op and on-air shifts for KVTT, I did the website for a short while.  When our two stations split (when KVTT was sold to Covenant), we all remained in the same building, so even though we were separate... we really weren't.  The sell of KVTT to KERA last year was devastating, we thought it was gone then.  But they were able to obtain an AM frequency and continued on for a while, there was some hope for the station!  Now this.  It's gone.  Listener-supported, non-commercial Christian radio is hard.  There are so many rules and limitations that make it nearly impossible to survive, but KVTT did it... for 33 years! 

Thank you, KVTT, and everyone who's worked there or been a part of the organization for all that you've done!   I know that the station reached and ministered to millions of people over it's history... I pray the Lord blesses this opportunity for even bigger and better things!

Becoming a Stay-At-Home-Mom, part 1...

I can finally use the acronym SAHM to describe myself.  I love that.  It seems funny, I mean... I have a 4-year-old, so mommy-hood is not new to me, but with the birth of Callen came the birth of a new challenge in my life:  learning how to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have this challenge, that's for dang sure!  I am so happy that God has blessed me with this chance.  Here's hoping I don't completely screw it up! 

I've wanted from the beginning of this journey (nearly three months ago now!) to do a good job blogging about it.  Well, I haven't.  My blogs since the birth of Callen have mostly been short bites about what we're doing so I can keep track of it for future reference - pretty much so I don't instantly forget every single thing... ever.  I have not sat and written all of the things swirling around in my head about being a SAHM...because I haven't had the energy, brain cells or time to compose actual thoughts in a way that would make any sense.  Seriously, you should read the blogs I have in my head... so eloquently entertaining and insightful.  Truth is, I'm not that great of a writer in the first place, but add in two kids and a work-at-home-job that I attempt to devote any extra time to... and what do you get?  Unintelligible mush.  That's me... mush.  And I'm always typing with one-hand these days.

Anyway, the first thing I wanted to cover were my thoughts on leaving my job.  A job I loved, and for many years felt I could NEVER walk away from.  The people I worked with were more than co-workers, they were family.  I loved being part of the ministry of Power FM... such a neat way to spread the Word and encourage fellow believers.  I didn't have to preach, I didn't have to sing (you wouldn't want that anyway), all I had to do was talk and push buttons.  It was such a blast over the years getting to be part of such amazing things and meeting amazing people - bands, authors, tv stars, people giving it all to Him, best friends... and MY HUSBAND! 

I used to think of what it would be like to not be there anymore and it would break my heart.  That's one of the many reasons I continued working there after Preston was born... I selfishly just couldn't let go.  I wanted to be home with my baby, but I loved my job, felt called to be there... and felt I needed to be contributing financially anyway, no reason to leave!  But when Callen was on the way, things were different...my calling changed.  I felt it in everything, and knew that I was supposed be home with my boys, and that's all I could think of.  How do we make this work?  We still don't know, but we stepped out in faith, and Michael and I made the decision that I would not return to work.  It was difficult to tell my boss... though I know he already figured I wouldn't return (they all knew my desire to be a SAHM and stood by me, prayed for us, etc).  I did it over the phone and let him tell everyone else... yep, I'm a wuss, couldn't face any of them.  I made sure to emphasize that I would be available to fill in and help out whenever possible, so hopefully I'm not completely cut off from Power FM.

I went back and helped out during Share-A-Thon in May and it really just reassured me that I made the right decision.  It was so difficult trying to fit everything into the day - being with the kids, going to work, lunch, dinner, I never saw my husband except in passing.  Yep, there's no way I could do that on a regular basis.  I like the idea of going to visit or help out once in a while so as not to completely lose track of everyone, but it's just not for me anymore.  I want to thank everyone I worked with over the years for being so amazing.  I feel like I made some great friendships, I learned a lot about God and people, and I truly enjoyed my time with everyone (co-workers, bands, listeners alike).  I pray that the station is blessed and is able to continue on for a long, long time.  I'm still a listener!  I'm still a Power Corps Member!  And I'm still (technically) an employee!

So, I've been a SAHM now for about three months.  It's hard.  I was blessed with an amazing job for almost 10 years, and I got 'fat and lazy' there for the most part... these two little guys at home are keeping much more busy than any paying job could!  And sometimes I wanna pull my hair out and break down crying, but most of the time it's such an amazing joy and blessing to be here with them every second of the day.  More on that to come next time I find it in me to blog (this blog only took three days to compose, haha!).

Two Months, already?

Callen was officially two months old yesterday.  Geez, it's flying by!


I was trying to get him to smile for me, but got this hilarious 'nervous' expression instead.  I'll take it.

He had his two-month check up today, and now weighs 10lbs, 4oz and is about 22.5 inches long.  He's low in the percentages a bit, but who really pays attention to those things anyway?  Preston was (and is still I guess) a little guy and was always in the low percentiles, but perfectly healthy.  Anyway, everything else checked out just fine, right on target with his milestones (smiling, cooing, etc). 

Yesterday also marked my first official day as a Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I took a two month maternity leave, then went back last week to work Share-A-Thon and say g'bye.  I'll still be on call supposedly... like if they need someone to fill in or help out, especially Share-A-Thons to come.  So I shouldn't be a complete stranger, and I'm still considered a part-time employee, but for the most part... I don't work anymore.  That's so crazy to me!  I worked at Power FM for 9 years! I intend to write a more in-depth blog about that in the near future (haha, we'll see!).