Weekly Report

This past Sunday we enjoyed a day trip at Lake James State Park. The gems really enjoyed playing on the "beach" area of the park. They played in the water and sand all day! I could not get over how they were so content, and never got tired! I enjoyed laying in the sun and relaxing! We all got alot of sun! We also had a picnic and had lots of blueberries and strawberries to eat! And I loved the fact that by the time we got home the inside of our van had just about as much sand in it as out there on that beach! ;'O

School-wise, we finished Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson and continued to read in Robert Louise Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses during our poetry reading time. The gems also completed a page of penmanship each day. I am so proud of Emerald, this is the first time that she had done any formal penmanship, and her writing was very neat and she really concentrated at the task at hand. I was impressed that she was so glued to it! She must be really enjoying it because on Sunday evening after our day trip, she requested to do a page! She also is continuing to do wonderfully in her reading!

Curriculum Choices for 2009-2010

Emerald~ First Grade

My Father's World First Grade~Incorporates Bible, History, Science, Music and Art within a phonics based reading program.

Grammar~First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1

Writing~ Writing With Ease Workbook 1

Spelling~ Spelling Workout Level A

Math~ Saxon Math 2 with Singapore Math Level 1 A&B for enrichment

Topaz~Second Grade

My Father's World Adventures~ Incorporates America History, Bible, Science, Music and Art from a biblical worldview

Grammar~First Language Lessons for the Well -Trained Mind Level 3

Writing~ Writing With Ease Level 2

Spelling~ Spelling Workout C&D

Math~ Saxon Math 3 with Singapore Math Level 2 A&B for enrichment

All curriculum has been purchased and organized, waiting on our first day of school to start the Monday after Labor Day! Other than tying up loose ends with Math, Spelling and our continued read alouds, and poetry we are going to enjoy our summer!

I've Been Missing in the Blogosphere...

I've has several of you email me wanting to know where I've been, thanks so much! I wanted to give you an update...I've been without Internet service for about a month...We have been moving the past month, out of our house into an apartment. We have had major issues with our health and other things while in the home. So, we moved out and are selling it. You can't imagine the transition that we have all been going through. Can you imagine going from a 9,000 sq. ft. 5 bedroom, 5 bath home to a 1400 sq. ft. apartment, 3 bedroom, 2 bath? The up side is that I've been doing my weekly cleaning and laundry in one day, instead of having to do a bit everyday for 6 days. My dryer is working better, drying a load in about 20 minutes instead of several hours. Yes, it was taking half a day to dry towels, something was wrong with the venting. I can not tell you how "normal" I feel in this apartment! But, it is a close space for a family of five, hehe!

It seems we have had a long break from school. The gems have a few things to complete over the summer before we can go on to the next grade.

I would like Topaz to complete Spelling Workout C, he still has about 30 lessons left. I know that sounds like a lot but if he finishes it before next school year then he will be able to complete just one level a year from here on out until he finishes the program. Otherwise, he would do two levels each year, as recommended by the WTM. I also bought Beyond the Code, Levels 1-4 for him, and I'd like him to start working on those as well.

Emerald needs to finish up Saxon Math 1, she is around lesson 60, and continue with her reading in OPGTR, I'd like her to get to lesson 113, that's half way, Jessie Wise says once you get to this point, your child is ready for 1st grade, and to start spelling. I'd like to start Spelling Workout A with her in the new school year.

As we get more settled, I'll post about what we will be doing for the next school year, as well as some things that I loved at this years homeschool convention.

Topaz and Mom's Easter Photos

Topaz and I had the chance to wear our Easter outfits today, since last week we stayed home from church because he was sick. I can't believe how tall he is getting. He loves his Mom! And he is my loverboy! I am a very lucky lady to have a son like him!

How ya'll like my RED hair? I got that done Wednesday. I think I like it a bit browner. Little too red for me! LOL

Easter 2009 Photos

Wanted to post some photos of the fam. Topaz and I are missing in the photos because Topaz was in the bed sick with a fever and cough, I stayed home to take care of him while everyone else went to church. I don't think I can ever remember missing an Easter Sunday service, but I guess there is a first time for everything when motherly duties call!

The Last Birthday...

Today is my birthday. This will be the last birthday I celebrate, seeing as I will now be 39 from here on out! For my birthday, Onyx surprised with me with several things. An awesome concert, Chris Tomlin/Israel Houghton Hello Love tour, night at the Westin in downtown Charlotte, and next day clothes shopping.

Yesterday, Onyx and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. We cruised around on the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoying beautiful scenery, and even a waterfall! Then we went shopping and ate lunch at my fav~ Dan'l Boone Inn.

Weekly Report

This has been a crazy week. To start off, Sunday night, Topaz fell out of the bed while asleep and hit his head on the corner of the night stand. We took him to the ER as quickly as possible and he needed stitches. We were given the choice to have the durabond glue instead of traditional stitches, so that was a pleasant surprise! He is doing well, we are trying to keep him calm, and keep his hands off his forehead.

I have been fighting severe allergies for months now. We have known for awhile that it is coming from the inside of our house. There is something (mold?) in this home. Yesterday, my eyes started getting red and itchy, I made an emergency appointment with my ophthalmologist. I have allergy induced blisters on my eyes. I'm on several meds right now, so I'm hoping that I can get some relief!

This is the final straw! I have got to get out of this house! LOL We've been wanting to sell our home and this just seems like the right time. My dh and I have decided that we are going to go ahead and rent an apartment, while we wait for it to sell.

This week Emerald continued with her math lessons, and OPGTR. We have read Bob Books and A Beka readers to supplement. She completed 3 lessons in ETC2.

Topaz reviewed his math facts, and did a couple of Saxon sheets for review. We took a day this week to review back over all the poetry he memorized in FLL 1 and 2. We orally completed 3 Rod and Staff Grammar 2 lessons. He also finished a lesson in SWO C and wrote his spelling words 3x each. He has been reading the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia at his reading time before bed each night.

I hope we can finally put the sickness/accidents behind us now, and start being more productive and getting out and enjoying the mild weather next week!