Homeschooling Week 6: F and 5

Last week got very busy with 2 days of visitors and preparing for Easter, so we decided to leave 5 for this week rather than try to jam everything in and get frustrated or overwhelmed.

Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):

• The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers (Little Blessings Line)
• The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes Gift Edition (For Baby to start hearing the Bible stories in a simple manner, we were able to get this from Paperbackswap.com and it looks like an excellent way to introduce Baby to the Bible, not that there is any replacement for the actual Word of God.)
  
• A Chapter in Matthew (Except on Monday when we will read Jonah)

Scripture Memory:

• Read Story for F in Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses, and Stories
• Memorize Psalm 91:11 "For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways."
  
• Review A, B, C, D and E verse throughout the day
  

Read Aloud:

• Winnie the Pooh Treasury We are liking this, but I think we need to change it up, so we will finish the story we are in the middle of and put it aside until we finish our next book which will be...
• Charlotte's Web
  

Everyday Activities:

• Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers (Using the letter recognition in the back, and we love it)
• Number recognition - a little chart I made up based on Alpha-phonics.
• About 3 Workbook** (we have been running out of time to do this a lot of days, but are still loving it).
  

This Week

Extra craft: Try to work in making lily flowers from hand prints, tape, glue, and pipe cleaners
Cooking and baking ideas: Fajitas, Fantasy Fudge, French Bread, and French Toast

Monday:

• Read "My 'F' Book"
• Read Fishes (True Books : Animals)
• Read Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea
• Read Jonah & the Great Big Fish
  
• F is for Fish Coloring Page and Tracing Page
• F is for Fire Truck Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies) (We love to trace, and the Fish pages only have a few letters).
  
• Jonah Coloring Page
  

Tuesday:

• Read God Knows My Name
• Read Fox Walked Alone (it is being reissued if you are interested).
  
• Read Bible Count*
• Read "My Five Book"
• Five Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Five Number Buddy Coloring Page
  
• Fuzzy #5 (construction paper, glue, cotton balls)
• Game: Number Start: Fun Games for Learning About Numbers (it starts out teaching patterns, which a excellent math teacher maintains is essential to helping children understand math easier, this was a gift/hand me down from friends with older children)
  

Wednesday

• Read "My 'F' Book"
• Read Clifford The Firehouse Dog
• Read A Prairie Alphabet
• Read Fancy Nancy
  
• F is for Fire Truck Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• Fire Truck Coloring Page
• Fireman Craft
  

Thursday

• Read Learning My Numbers*
• Read Flamingo (Heinemann Read and Learn)
• Read Baby Flamingo (San Diego Zoo Animal Library, 8)
  
• Read "My Five Book"
• 5 Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Number in a Jar #5 - put 5 stickers in jar, do tracing, color
  
• Color and decorate #5 (Use large template)
• Game: Learning To Sequence 4-Scene Set, 48 Picture Cards, PreK-3 (Yet another fun thing we already had around the house).
• Craft: Ice Cream Cone Scoop Craft for Numbers scoop #5 (in the evening, this is the Daddy craft and the ice cream cone is growing up my kitchen wall)

Friday

• Read "My 'F' Book
• Read (and listen to) A Frog Thing (with Audio CD)
• Read Bear's New Friend
• Read Z Is For Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet Edition 1. (Sleeping Bear Press Sports & Hobbies)
  
• F is for Frog tracing and coloring pages
  
• F is for Fire Truck Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies) (We love to trace, and the Frog pages only have a few letters).
• Frog Craft
  

* From Rod and Staff
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff. Often the best pricing and regular discounts comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.

Happy Easter

He is Risen! He is risen indeed!

For as long as I can remember, a celebration of Jesus's victory over sin and the grave is never complete in my heart until this hymn has been sung...with gusto, a happy heart, and a big smile!

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Refrain

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Refrain

Lift High the Cross

On this Good Friday I am blessed to be spending the day with my husband and two sweet daughters. This morning started with the singing of "two little eyes to look to God " ad enfinium at breakfast while I fed Baby - she eats better when I sing, which is quite the compliment. But since then there has been another favorite hymn that has been going through my mind that I wanted to share with you today:

Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore
his sacred Name.

Come, brethren, follow where our Captain trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God. Refrain

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain

Each newborn soldier of the Crucified
bears on the brow the seal of him who died. Refrain

This is the sign which Satan's legions fear
and angels veil their faces to rever. Refrain

Saved by this Cross whereon their Lord was slain,
the sons of Adam their lost home regain. Refrain

From north and south, from east and west they raise
in growing unison their songs of praise. Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw the world to thee. Refrain

Let every race and every language tell
of him who saves our souls from death and hell. Refrain

From farthest regions let their homage bring,
and on his Cross adore their Savior King. Refrain

Set up thy throne, that earth's despair may cease
beneath the shadow of its healing peace. Refrain

For thy blest Cross which doth for all atone
creation's praises rise before thy throne. Refrain

Precept's Great Bible Giveaway

I don't have much inspiring to share with you today, other than to say Miss Pear's allergies are back under control, Baby's are getting there, but she is teething too, so that is fun.

So I decided that I would share something fun that arrived in my inbox instead! (Afterall, no one likes a whiner!)

Your have probably heard of Kay Arthur and Precept Ministries and the Inductive Study Bible. Well, they are having the Great Bible Study Giveaway this month! They are giving away 10 Bonded Leather New Inductive Study Bibles and 122 Bible Studies. Definitely worth the trip!

Although apparently the colored pens are not included..... :-)

Allergy Assembly Line

Baby - change yucky diaper, make note that allergies give her unhappy tummy. Find new outfit for her with thick sweatpants for extra absorbency, offer prayer of thanks she was not just in her onesie!

Both - Administer Benedryl per doctor's instructions. Clean up mess made administering medicine to baby...check wall and ceiling just in case.

Both - wipe eyes, face, neck, hands (in that order) with clean, warm, damp face cloth (this is why you need about 20 washcloths in the house).

Both - Super Duper Aveeno lotion to all little faces.

Both - nap for all Pear girls, including Mom so she can keep up (and who God prompted to make supper in the crock pot during Baby's first nap, and get the bread to rising, so that she can rest too but still feed her family a delicious mean of white chicken chili and oatmeal bread, for which we offer another prayer of thanks.)

Really, do you want to know how I know? Yesterday we took Baby to the doctor with a rash and malaise that turned out to be environmental allergies as we are at the height of pollen season down here. And Miss Pear has had allergies for ages, and we always suspected environmental ones along with the food ones....

Homeschooling Week 5: E and 5

This week E is for Easter, so a few books will be repeated.

The only materials I purchased specifically for homeschooling are the "Everyday" materials. Everything else is either from the bookcase, from around the house, from the library, or downloaded free from the internet. This week I am planning a couple crafting things, one of which is on here because it worked for E is for Egg day, so I just rolled it in.

Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):

• Five Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God's World As a Family
• A Chapter in Matthew (Except for the once a week or so Miss Pear asks for Jonah...)

Scripture Memory:

• Read Story for E in Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses, and Stories
• Memorize Proverbs 20:11 "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right."
  
• Review A, B, C and D verse throughout the day
  

Read Aloud:

• Winnie the Pooh Treasury (sorry, it appears it is no longer in publication, which is a pity. Paperbackswap.com might have it).
  

Everyday Activities:

• Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers (Using the letter recognition in the back, and we love it)
• Number recognition - a little chart I made up based on Alpha-phonics.
• About 3 Workbook** (we have been running out of time to do this a lot of days, but are still loving it).
  

This Week

Monday:

• Read "My 'E' Book"
• Read What Is Easter?
• Read Elsie Waits Patiently, Helping Mother, and Baking Day*
  
• E is for Eagle Coloring Page and Tracing Page
• Elbow Mac and Cheese for Lunch
  
• Enchiladas for supper
  

Tuesday:

• Read What Is Easter?
• Read God Knows My Name
  
• Read Bible Count*
• Read "My Five Book"
• Five Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Five Number Buddy Coloring Page
  
• Fuzzy #5 (construction paper, glue, cotton balls)
• Game Learning To Sequence 4-Scene Set, 48 Picture Cards, PreK-3 (Yet another fun thing we already had around the house).
  

Wednesday

• Read "My 'E' Book"
• Read What Is Easter?
• Read The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
  
• E is for Egg Coloring Page
  
• E is Egg Tracing Page
• Craft: Decorate an Egg Activity Basket (From craft store - peel and stick foam decorations put on foam eggs)
  
• cheesy Eggs and toast for lunch, English muffin pizzas for supper
  

Thursday

• Read What Is Easter?
• Read Story of Jesus
  
• Read Learning My Numbers*
  
• Read "My Five Book"
• 5 Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Number in a Jar #5 - put k stickers in jar, do tracing, color
  
• Color and decorate #5 (Use large template)
• Craft: Ice Cream Cone Scoop Craft for Numbers scoop #5 (in the evening, this is the Daddy craft and the ice cream cone is growing up my kitchen wall)

Friday

• Read "My 'E' Book"
• Read What Is Easter?
• ReadJesus Is Coming Back!
  
• Read Baby Elephant (San Diego Zoo Animal Library) (an excellent series!)
  
• E is for Elephant Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• Empanadas for supper
  

* From Rod and Staff
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff. Often the best pricing and regular discounts comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.

Baby Sleepers

Tonight we put Baby to bed in a sleeper for pajamas for the first time since December 7, the night before she started her treatments, 17 weeks ago.

Since then it has been long sleeved onesies and socks with a blanket specially swaddled so that it does not pull her knees together each night.

I was surprised how emotional it was.

I was surprised by the emotions of today.

But I was not surprised by the goodness of our Lord because He has been faithful to us throughout all of this. We serve a tremendous God.

Harness Free is the Way to Be!

Baby's appointment at the orthopedic surgeon went very well today. We are officially done with the harness...or will be as soon has we have the ceremonial throwing out of the harness!

On the x-ray's they could see that both sides of the hips matched for placement of the ball, and you can actually see the socket forming around the ball! While the impacted side is still less developed, that is to be expected and it will catch up within the next year...the big news is that it IS developing!

So now we make our final adjustment...adjusting to no harness at all. If the previous changes are any indication it will take a few days for Baby to fully adjust. (Sometimes this has meant fussiness, sometimes this has meant long nights, we just never know.)

We will go back in 3 months for a follow up appointment just to have everything checked to make sure her hips continue to develop properly.

We suppose that according to worldly standards it could be argued that this was not "miraculous healing" because it followed the ideal medical standard. But it perfectly followed the ideal medical standard! Around here we call this the slow and steady miracle and praise the Lord!

Because sometimes life is like gravity...

...and gravity sucks.

This is a longstanding joke in our family. It is a way of saying that life is hard and I need a laugh, because really, can you say that with a straight face? Yeah, we have a strange sense of humor around here.

Just to emphasize the point, did you see this post about cakes? Yup, and after posting that, yesterday afternoon I made a cake...from a box...and made the icing from scratch...so that it would be thick and I could scrape the bowl to eat the extra...hey, I did give my older daughter the spatula to lick, and my littlest a clean spatula to play with.... (Not one of my finer moments, but we were all very happy).

Wednesday I had a pounding headache, the start of a doozy of a tension headache, the kind my doctor actually says to treat with caffeine (long story, tried tons of methods, caffeine is the only thing that works without super powerful yucky not for nursing mothers medication). Yeah, I was shocked too. So I opened up a can of coke because it was the quickest thing I could find and it was already messing with my vision, poured it into a glass, and for what is sure to get me the mommy of the year award, I then washed the can, covered the opening with a cotton ball and masking tape and gave it to baby to play with in her high chair while we did dishes. Okay, I did dishes while she was mesmerized by that shiny red thing.

Honestly, nothing significant went wrong this week, but honestly, nothing went really right either, and everything just seemed tough.

Why do I share this?

I assure you, not to whine.

But I guess I have.

The point is, being a mom is not an easy job. Caring for your family, and I mean really caring for them, is hard work. There are days when nobody listens and if you were silly enough to ask your kids if they were raised in a barn they would probably say that it sounds like fun, let's try it.

Yeah, there are days like that.

But when life is tough, I remind myself that I am blessed to have 2 girls to care for. When I miscarried between them I remember feeling very little sympathy for a friend who was lamenting the chore of caring for two because I would have done almost anything for that "problem." I have never forgotten that, and I am thankful everyday for our 2 girls.

And I remind myself that my Heavenly Father is my example of how to be an exceptional parent, not the worldly experts or wannabe experts.

Which makes me think that if He is putting up with me (a gargantuan task!) I have a very small task of caring for little girls who love me and think that I am a genius (yes, Miss Pear called me that), and that I can fix anything with a snuggle (Baby would assure you of this, if she could talk). And God is there each step of the way with us leading us and teaching us.

Sometimes a little perspective makes a huge difference, and an eternal one changes a week.

So the point of this long and meandering post is simple: Yup, life is hard. God is faithful. Children are fun. Families are great. Chocolate cake fixes a lot. Prayer always helps. And today is Friday, praise the Lord!

A Signature Cake

If you ever doubted I was a little bit on the nutty side, this post ought to about seal the deal.

I come from a long, long, long line of women who can cook like no body's business. Really, we are known for the meals we can make. I would have been the third generation to manage an eating establishment, a formal one, not the household one, had I not decided to be a homemaker.

For generations my family was bakers. Except in the generation before mine, something happened, and for the love of all that is good, do not eat cookies my Aunt makes!

But I do fairly well in baking (my neighbor would fall over laughing if she read that statement and say that if I am fairly well that does not bode well for the rest of them), but in my opinion I do fairly well.

I have a roll recipe that when we are invited to friends and I ask what to bring, I am always told, "Rolls!" And I never have any delusions of bringing home the leftovers.

I have a spaghetti sauce recipe that always works, is always a hit, and freezes like a dream. When I am taking a meal to help someone out, I take that most of the time unless they hate pasta.

I have a reliable repertoire of guest meals that work consistently and get rave reviews. Same with the family meals, and cookies.

But for the life of me I cannot find a signature cake. A go to recipe that I can rely on no matter what that is delicious, on the easier side, and a constant success (and does not involve a box mix).

Any suggestions?

Home Schooling Week 4 (this week): D and 4

This week things seem a little more settled. Our schedule is working, and most days we do most stuff, even if some of the crafting happens in the evening with Daddy. I think it helps that we all know what to do, and a lot of the craft ideas (like Fuzzy Numbers and Ice Cream Cone Scoops) are repeats because we just like them so much! It also became clear that Miss Pear ADORES the crafts, so I will give her a coloring page or something simple to do while I make lunch or change a diaper or the like, and that helps us all out!

While I still feel like the rank amateur that I am, I am encouraged that Miss Pear can recite the previous three weeks verses, and is getting this week's (I don't worry about the verse address, just the words at this point). I am encouraged that she is doing well at learning her numbers and letters, and is writing them better than I expected (the tracing stuff was just to work on how to hold a pencil correctly, the mechanics of writing, and to help us learn to identify numbers and letters better, everything after that is icing!) We are really feeling like we can do this, which is a huge tremendous blessing!

Miss Pear has been loving seeing which picture books were in the box, so I have started pulling books out of our bookshelves for each day of the week, and that seems fun for everyone. (And all the story books for each day are ones that we already have.)

Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):

• Five Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God's World As a Family
• A Chapter in Matthew (Except for the once a week or so Miss Pear asks for Jonah...)

Scripture Memory:

• Read Story for D in Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses, and Stories
• Memorize Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
  
• Review A, B and D verse throughout the day
  

Read Aloud:

• Winnie the Pooh Treasury (sorry, it appears it is no longer in publication, which is a pity. Paperbackswap.com might have it).
  

Everyday Activities:

• Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers (Using the letter recognition in the back, and we love it)
• Number recognition - a little chart I made up based on Alpha-phonics.
• About 3 Workbook**
  

This Week

Monday:

• Read "My 'D' Book"
• Read Duck in the Truck (we started reading this one when Miss Pear was about 9 months old and I would read to her while she was in her highchair.)
  
• D is for Dove Coloring Page and Tracing Page
• Baptism of Jesus Coloring Page
• Dove Craft
  

Tuesday:

• Read Bible Count*
• Read Clifford's Day With Dad
• Read Daddy Hug (Miss Pear is a bit old for this book, but she loves the pictures)
  
• Read "My Four Book"
• Four Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Four Number Buddy Coloring Page
  
• Fuzzy #4 (construction paper, glue, cotton balls)
  

Wednesday

• Read "My 'D' Book"
• Read Schnitzel Von Krumm's Basketwork by Lynley Dodd (hard to find in the US, but in the book he hides in the daisies and dahlias)
• Read Donald Buys a House
  
• D is for Daisy coloring and tracing page
  
• D is for Dinosaur Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• Bake Dinner Rolls
  

Thursday

• Read Learning My Numbers*
  
• Read "My Four Book"
• Read Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
• Read Hairy Maclary And Zachary Quack
  
• Four Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Number in a Jar #4 - put 4 stickers in jar, do tracing, color
  
• Color and decorate #4 (Use large template)
• Craft: Ice Cream Cone Scoop Craft for Numbers scoop #4 (in the evening, this is the Daddy craft and the ice cream cone is growing up my kitchen wall).
  

Friday

• Read "My 'D' Book"
• Read Helping Mother* (Miss Pear loves this one!)
  
• Read Baking Day*
• Read Doughnut Day*
  
• D is for Dinosaur Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• "D is for Donut" coloring page
  
• Bake Doughnuts (this will also double as a family night activity, we will use the doughnut cutter that was handed down to me from when we used to make doughnuts when I was Miss Pear's age.)
  

* From Rod and Staff
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff. Often the best pricing and regular discounts comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.

WFMW: Excellent Read Alouds?

I am on the hunt! Amongst my friends I am known for my shopping skills - finding the teapot for a wedding gift no one else could, finding the best children's books, knowing the good sales and grocery deals, knowing when to buy what produce because it is perfectly in season etc.

So I am somewhat shocked to admit I am at a loss. Yes, you heard me, I need something and don't know where to start looking, don't have a list to work off of, and don't know where to find said list.

I even tried the library and struck out!

You see, I am on the hunt for a list of excellent read alouds for my girls. Both will sit and listen to chapter books, and I would like to encourage that! We have always made it a point to read both at and above our children's reading level, and it is wonderful!

But my list of read alouds is mighty meager.

So please help me out!

What are your favorite read alouds?
Do you have a favorite read aloud list you refer to regularly?
Don't worry if they are to up there for our girls, I am looking for good reading material for me too! I mean...I would love to have lots of time to preview them! Yeah, that's it!

Homeschooling Week 3: C and 3

By week 3, last week, we were in a bit more of a routine, and were more consistently getting everything done everyday. Plus, Miss Pear had developed strong affinities for the crafts, so rather than trying to reinvent the wheel each week, so to speak, we have started doing the same crafts for numbers each week, just updating the number. While I would get bored, she loves them, and seems to love knowing at least part of the surprise in her boxes each week! I also found that having a couple extra coloring sheets allowed me to make lunch or do a couple little things nearby.

This is was the first week that neat themes for each day did not work, but it turned out that was okay too.

Bible Reading Time (at the breakfast table):

• Five Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God's World As a Family
• A Chapter in Matthew (Except for the once a week or so Miss Pear asks for Jonah...)

Scripture Memory:

• Read Story for C in Teach Them to Your Children: An Alphabet of Biblical Poems, Verses, and Stories
• Memorize Colossians 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
  
• Review A and B verse throughout the day
  

Read Aloud:

• Winnie the Pooh Treasury (sorry, it appears it is no longer in publication, which is a pity. Paperbackswap.com might have it).
  

Everyday Activities:

• Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers (Using the letter recognition in the back, and we love it)
• Number recognition - a little chart I made up based on Alpha-phonics.
• About 3 Workbook**
  

This Week

Monday:

• Read "My 'C' Book"
• Read Slinky Malinki (a fun cat book that we think is funny).
  
• Read If You Give a Cat a Cupcake (If You Give... Books)
• Cat Coloring Page
  
• C is for Car Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies) (this was the only tracing page with lots of C's to trace)
  
• Carrot Coloring Page
• Bake Carrot loaf
  

Tuesday:

• Read Bible Count*
  
• Read "My Three Book"
• Three Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Three Number Buddy Coloring Page
  
• Fuzzy #3 (construction paper, glue, cotton balls)
  

Wednesday

• Read "My 'C' Book"
• Read ABC of Canada
  
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)
  
• C is for Car Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Coloring Page
  
• Bake Cookies
  

Thursday

• Read Learning My Numbers*
  
• Read "My Three Book"
• Read Canada 123
  
• Three Tracing Page (number buddies tracing page)
• Number in a Jar #3 - put 3 stickers in jar, do tracing, color
  
• Color and decorate #3 (Use large template)
• Craft: Ice Cream Cone Scoop Craft for Numbers scoop #3
  

Friday

• Read "My 'C' Book"
• The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
  
• Jesus Is Coming Back!
  
• C is for Cross Coloring Page and Tracing Page
• C is for Car Tracing Page (Alphabet Buddies)
• Bake Hot Cross Buns talking about the Trinity and the symbolism of the Hot Cross Bun and letting Miss Pear steal plenty of raisins.
  

* From Rod and Staff
**Rod and Staff online is not the same company as the Rod and Staff catalog, even though they carry the same stuff. Often the best pricing and regular discounts comes from the catalog, available upon request at 1-606-522-4348.