taking the backroad: a family's adventure

Our vacation to Disney

2012-02-12T08:26:00.000-08:00

We finally took our kids to Disney!

Our oldest is almost 13 and though she has been asking for years, we wanted to make sure that the youngest (almost 5) would be old enough to enjoy and remember it.

Our plan was to go once. There is so much to see in the world. That's still our plan...mostly. Disney makes family vacation so easy.

Some of the things that wowed us:
The Dining Plan made all the difference in the world. Plenty of food. Excellent service and help with food allergies. We feel that it really saved us a great deal of money and hassle.

The lines. We went at the end of January, first of February. We utilized the fastpass system a few times, but really didn't need to on all typically crowded rides. The longest we spent in line was 25 minutes the whole week.

The time of year. Again, crowds were minimal. A few rides were closed for refurbishment, but it didn't detract from our fun. The weather was between 79-84 degrees all week. Perfect for us.

The cost. While it is not a cheap vacation, we were aware of the costs upfront and didn't come away with buyers remorse because we felt pressured to spend more than we planned. Part of that success, I think, is giving the kids spending money and allowing them to spend it at their discretion. No negotiating and begging, so no feeling guilty or pressured into impulse buys from the family funds.

The cleanliness. It was clean, really clean. There were only a couple of bathrooms that needed attention and both times there was a cast member either already there working or passing us as we walked out. The rest of the park was just pristine.

The Cast. We never heard the word, "No." There were always smiles. They seemed happy. We hope their working environment is as happy and satisfying as it seems to the guests.

The resort (Port Orleans-Riverside). Clean. Lush vegetation. Quiet. 24 Hr heated pools. Easy access to transportation and parking. Decent food.

What didn't wow us...NOTHING. (Well, maybe we got a little tired of the food by the end of the week, but...we just missed homecooking, I think)

It was a totally satisfying vacation.
While we may not go back, it will always remain a favorite for all of us, I am sure.

In the next week, we'll be sharing our photolog of our time at the parks.
Hope you enjoy!

Have you been to Disney and had a great experience too? Tell us about it!

Namaste

January 17

2012-01-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Seems we have slept through the first seventeen days of the year.

Well, we haven't exactly been asleep, but we certainly have been laying low.

I have been suffering from costochondritis for some time, and it became painful enough on January 1 to land me in the hospital for three days of tests to rule out heart-related problems. Luckily, my heart is in good shape and doctors agreed that the pain was likely caused by the muscular-skeletal inflammation. It is a relief to know that I am not in any immediate danger, but I am still left with the pain that sent me to the hospital. Some days it hurts to lift a mug of coffee. Most days I can't do laundry or sweep. All days I can't lift anything over 5-10 pounds, including my four-year old.

I hate asking for help, but I am trying. There are so many things that aren't getting done and I am trying to let them go. We are headed to Disney World in 12 days (our Christmas gift to the kids). I am resting up and hope to enjoy it with minimal pain. Right now, that's what's driving my will to ask for help and rest. We are getting our school work done, and everyone is eating. I guess there's comfort in the important things.

And, I am grateful...oh so grateful...that it was nothing more life threatening.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 25 Gratitude

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 25, 2011

GRATITUDE

For all the joy we've been given in our lives...we are grateful.

Merry Christmas!

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 24 Holiday Memories

2011-12-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 24, 2011

HOLIDAY MEMORIES

This angel was on my birthday cake on my first birthday - December 25, 1968.

It sat atop my family's tree when I was a kid. It sits atop my tree now.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 23 Goodies

2011-12-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 23, 2011

GOODIES

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 22 Family

2011-12-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 22, 2011

FAMILY

Namaste

Resemblance

2011-12-21T18:17:00.000-08:00

Notice any resemblance?

Believe me, there's more here than meets the eye!

Dennis the Menace Credit

Namaste

A Blessing for Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

Solstice Blessings

As the earth grows colder,

the winds blow faster,

the fire dwindles smaller,

and the rain falls harder,

let the light of the sun

find its way home.

Advent Photo Project: Dec 21 Giving

2011-12-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 21, 2011

GIVING

Brice spent hours painting gifts.

Namaste

2011-12-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 14, 2011

MOVEMENT

(Also...happy birthday to my brother-in-law, Robert, and

elementary school buddy, Cammy. Time keeps moving on, huh?)

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 13 From a Distance

2011-12-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 13, 2011

FROM A DISTANCE

Distance is subjective. If you know my photography style, you know this is distance for me.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 12 Close-up

2011-12-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 12, 2011

CLOSE-UP

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 11, 2011 SOMETHING I MADE

2011-12-11T20:00:00.001-08:00

Advent Photo Project

December 11, 2011

SOMETHING I MADE

Stage Left: Six years ago, with a little encouragement and a little grant money, I started Stage Left Youth Theatre Workshop. Today it reaches more kids than I ever imagined. It has grown into something that takes a group of loving hands to guide and I am so proud to let this creation grow beyond my meager talent. I am so thankful to those who have joined in the nurturing. I am so blessed to be a part of the lives of these kids.

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec 10 Faceless Self-Portrait

2011-12-11T19:56:00.001-08:00

2011-12-03T08:43:00.001-08:00

Advent Photo Project:

December 2, 2011

Smile

A smile we all miss so much.

Happy Birthday, Granddaddy.

(Taken December of 2011, but appropriate for what would have been his 95 birthday.)

Namaste

Advent Photo Project: Dec. 1 Self Portraits

2011-12-01T19:00:00.001-08:00

Advent Photo Project:

December 1, 2011

SELF PORTRAITS

Namaste

Advent Calendar 2011

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am not a big believer in advent calendars that are about getting treats every day until Christmas. I want the run up to Christmas to be filled with giving, not getting. Don't get me wrong, I love giving my kids gifts. I love their faces and my own anticipation waiting for Christmas morning. But, I want them to feel that joy at giving too.

Last year, each day of advent, we opened up small boxes with tasks of giving or sharing with someone else. It was a joyful time each morning when we opened the box to see what we'd be doing for others that day. We will continue that spirit of giving this year, with each of us working on a list of holiday tasks that we'll accomplish before Dec. 25.

But this year our advent calendar will be different. Beginning Dec. 1, we will be tasked with taking a different photo each day. Each of the kids and I will take a photo of our interpretation of the day's theme. Then, we will share it with you...so this year we are sharing of ourselves. We might even learn something about each other that we don't know. I'm sure the photos will be interesting!

Though we will draw themes from each pocket in our calendar, this project is our version of the December Photo Project over at View From The Prairie Box. Click on the button on the right to get all the details. Join us or join The December Photo Project! Feel free to post your own photos on your own blog and link back in the comments section there or here or both. We'd love it!

See you December 1!

Namaste

First Formal

2011-11-27T14:52:00.001-08:00

Embree accompanied her dad to a black tie dinner the weekend before Thanksgiving.

It's a bittersweet mark of our time with her. Old enough to handle herself at an adult function...young enough to want to take her iPod to keep her busy during the presentations. Watching a beautiful woman/child grow is soul satisfying and gut wrenching. But...we are so thankful that we do get to share these years with her.

Namaste

we are thankful

2011-11-19T07:29:00.001-08:00

Some of our friends joined us yesterday for a Thanksgiving meal together.

It was a lovely day of chatting for the moms and free time for the kids.

For that, I am thankful (Which is day 19!)

Day 17: I am thankful for the pets that fill our home with wags and purrs

and chirps and dust bunnies.

Day 18: I am thankful for the communion of our family meals

Namaste

Thanksgiving Days 10-16

2011-11-16T16:59:00.001-08:00

I have been wondering, lately, if I can really keep this blog going. I don't like to do thinks half-way. Each time I try to put myself on a schedule something takes precedence. Homeschooling...directing...teaching...meals...daily errands...those things leave little time for anything else...I mean anything. I don't even have time to get out the camera most days. But, I like having a place to record our days, even if I only get to it periodically. I have no idea if we have readers, but it's at the very least a place to save memories. So, on that note...

Day 10: I am thankful for a place to come to without restrictions to record our family's swiftly flying time together.
Day 11: I am thankful for my sweet girl, who lives life in the most dramatic way possible and squeezes every emotion from her experiences. She's fearless in so many ways and my hero is so many more.
Day 12: I am thankful for the soft spoken boy who is always first to rise and always the first with a hug each morning. He has no idea of his tremendous capabilities or the depth of his loving heart.
Day 13: I am thankful for my youngest boy who commands attention every waking hour, but pays attention to those who need his special brand of comfort. He is a joy and a challenge...a most rewarding person to spend time with each day.
Day 14: For my love, I am thankful always...there are just no words large enough.
Day 15: I am thankful for the ability spend so much time with my children. This chance to learn with them is such a gift and I am fully aware of how lucky I am.
Day 16: I am thankful for friends who are welcome in my home anytime...clutter, dirty dishes, piles of unfolded laundry on the bed or not...they come for our company, not to judge. Better yet, I am able to give them the gift of welcoming them into my home as is...and that is rare. Thanks Girls!

Finally, because I may not get back here for a few days...
Photos of a recent nature study outing to a dear friend's lovely garden.

Namaste

Thanksgiving Days 6-8

2011-11-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

Day 6 - Thankful for a day of rest.
Day 7 - Thankful that we live within our means
Day 8 - Thankful for the opportunity to learn from my students

Namaste

Wise words from unexpected sources...

2011-11-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Over heard from the kitchen:

Reeves: Embree, what do you think happens when you die? I believe when you die you come back to life as someone else. What do you believe?

Embree: I believe whatever is.

Now that's faith.

Thanksgiving Days 4 & 5

2011-11-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Day 4 - I am thankful for my mom...who just makes thinks almost possible around here sometimes.

Day 5 - For Embree's stage debut...her step from the shadows...past her stage fright...Her Daddy and I are thankful.

Namaste

Thanksgiving Day 3

2011-11-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today, I am so thankful that I get to watch young people find their voice on stage.

Thanksgiving Days 1 & 2

2011-11-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Nov 1: Yesterday, we were thankful for the lives of those we have loved and lost. Granddaddy (Davis), PawPaw, Granddaddy (Deaton), Pop, Grandmother, Michael, Aunt Barbara, and Billy.

Nov 2:
I am thankful for our little schoolroom (where ever it may be) and the stories we tell gathered around its table.
Embree - I am thankful for school because it helps me learn new thinks
Reeves - I am glad I could be there the day before Granddaddy died That's a thing to be thankful for.

Brice - Trains and dinosaurs!

Weekly updates...Nov 1

2011-11-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

We are not gone or lost or off the map. We aren't even on a backroad adventure. We are hunkered down with lessons and rehearsals. We open a production on Saturday. This is Embree's first onstage appearance. I'm really proud of her. She's taken to it.

So, we'll be back next weekend with our regular updates.

Happy Dia de los Muertos...and All Saints Day. May your memories of your loved ones bring you peace tonight. Thinking of Granddaddy, Michael, PawPaw, Aunt Barbara, and Billy and all the love they shared.

Namaste.

Wise words from unexpected sources...

2011-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I have collected small acorns of wisdom from unexpected sources. These are the quotes from novels, from movies, from our children. These are the song lyrics, the lines from poems, the lines from plays that make themselves at home in my head. Some are mutual between myself and others in our shared histories. Others are personal mantras. In this periodic series, I'll share some with you. I hope you'll share some here too.

Wise Words

from unexpected sources...

Blow up your T.V.

Throw away your paper

Move to the country

Build you a home

Plant a little garden

Eat a lot of peaches

Try to find Jesus on your own.

from Spanish Pipedream by John Prine

Namaste

Weekly Update October 16

2011-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Spent this week exploring:
Graph-making
Irregular verbs
The takeover of the Ottoman Empire by the Russian Empire
A new Latin declension
The Song of Hiawatha
Electric and Magnetic Forces
Poetry by Langston Hughes
and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (100 times!)

Todd was off on Friday, so we decided to spend a last glorious Indian Summer day outside as a family at our favorite apple orchard. Reeves thought he's died and gone to heaven! A lovely day, topped off with a little school: taste testing, measuring, comparing/contrasting, watercolor painting, myths and legends, and history...all about the apple. (Oh, and caramel apples and apple cider for lunch!)

We've ended the weekend with the joy of the Texas Rangers! Reeves and Daddy are watching

The Natural as I post this in preparation for a big week in baseball.

Have a great week! Go Rangers!

Namaste

City Poetry

2011-10-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Today in our poetry study, we looked at the following poem:

The City by Langston Hughes

In the morning the city

Spreads its wings

Making a song

In stone that sings.

In the evening the city

Goes to bed

Hanging lights

About its head.

Afterward, the kids wrote their own poems about our city - Georgetown, KY.

(posted anonymously)

Our Town Hall

Home

When the clock tower
Strikes twelve,
The flowers start to grow,
The light poles turn on.
Oh, yes! This is my home.

We Never Made it to Town

At 12, the clock bells
So we walk uptown.
As the cars go by,
And we pass the library as well,
We see a tree,
A ginkgo tree,
And we see the leaves fall down.
We keep walking up to town.
We stop to rest
In the warm sun of summer
But we fall asleep
And we never make it to town.

We interrupt our weekly updates for...

2011-10-12T12:35:00.001-07:00

Weekly Wrap-up (a little late) - Oct. 1, 2011

2011-10-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

We have finished our first grading period and are currently two weeks into the second. Both of the big kids are really showing eagerness to complete their daily tasks, even if they would rather be doing something else. It's as if they both finally comprehend that focus and a positive attitude really does yield more time for adventures of their choice.

Embree is busy with rehearsals for her fall show with the Repertory Company, is putting her nose to the grindstone in math, and just today, asked to read ahead in her assigned reading (Old Yeller) and to work ahead in her favorite subject (Latin). I am enjoying her new found enthusiasm.

Reeves and Dad are enjoying their Father/Son book club. They just finished The Sign of the Beaver and have moved onto The Wreckers. He is enjoying his assigned reading, Rifles for Watie, and the Civil War study we are working on this semester. Reeves has really become a calming force in our daily routine. His developing maturity is revealing quite the interesting, loving young man.

Brice is NOT what I'd call a calming factor in our day. He is super at entertaining himself when I need to work with the big kids, but his play is often vivid and rambunctious. I love to sneak a peak at his intricate rail systems or dinosaur biomes and watch his imagination in action.

This week, I spoke to the Psychology of Women class at the college. I have spoken to this class annually for some time. Mostly I just tell my story as a woman. Specifically, the professor has asked that I talk about my decision to stay at home with kids and how I keep myself involved and up to date in professional venues. Because of our unique family story this conversation often includes our experiences with open adoption and homeschooling. There is always discussion about the levels openness we have with our children's birthfamilies. Oddly enough, though, the biggest concerns are those about homeschooling.

Specifically, there is always concern about the social development of our children...not surprising. Now, Todd and I have long ago put to rest the issue of socialization of our children. We have fielded that question many times. But, I try to remember that even though I find this a non-issue, and even though I have answered this question many, many times, this may be the first time this person has ever asked, "What about socialization?" Granted, it's the first thing people ask because it's the main argument against homeschooling in the mainstream. But, it's still important for me to answer. It's important, not because I need to defend our decision, I don't. It's important because this is my opportunity to educate others...to take some of the mystery out of whooo-homeschooling-whooo and address the myth of poor socialization. So I smile and explain it, again, and hope that person finds my openness and eagerness to share an invitation to learn more...to ask more.

So, we are off to our mountain retreat for a long weekend - a fall break. Much needed...highly anticipated by the grown-ups in the family. The kids would like to be going somewhere more exciting, but Todd and I are looking forward to the slow pace, the foggy mornings, the crackling fire, and the family time.

Have a great week!
Namaste

Wanderlust

2011-09-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

Some days, when we are so busy, I just wish that I could pack a bag and go on an impromptu trip...anywhere that the only responsibilities involve feeding the kids. If I am in one of those moods...and I am in Louisville, KY...it is very difficult for me resist the urge to take this exit...North or South...anywhere...nowhere.

Namaste

Weekly Wrap-up - September 25

2011-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Embree and I are now in rehearsals for the fall production.

No time for much blogging this weekend or today, so I thought I'd share a photo journal of our visit to the Frankfort Cemetery last week. As our first field trip (with friends) in our study of the Civil War, we visited this historic cemetery and its memorials to both Union and Confederate soldiers. It was a very interesting afternoon. We actually spent three hours on an outing I thought might take one! We got to see Daniel and Rebecca Boone's (supposed) graves as well. Bonus history lesson! (Supposed, because DB was first buried in Missouri, but Kentucky thought he should be buried here. After his body was exhumed and re-interred in Frankfort twenty-some years later, Missouri claimed that his was not the body moved.)

Enjoy! Have a great week!

Namaste

Weekly Wrap-up September 18

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

It was a good week, with few bumps in the road. I think we might have actually had a week without tears at all. That's always an accomplishment.

We began a seventeen week long study of The American Civil War. This week we talked about the conditions/climate of American leading up to the war. Discussions were lively and writing was inspired. Looking forward to this unit. I've pieced together a thorough investigation of the War using a great piece of curriculum I found through the Civil War Trust, writing by my bell-weather in history, Howard Zinn, and a plan for local field trips related to Civil War.

Much to Embree's joy, we took a trip to the Louisville Zoo on Friday. The weather was gorgeous, with temps in the low 70s. I don't think we've ever seen so much activity from the animals. Our friends Cam and Karina joined us, which made our day even more fun. Embree could choose one animal each time and just watch it for hours. This trip, it was the sea lion. He was happy in the cooler weather and enjoyed the attention, splashing the kids each time he swam by them. There was time for Brice to play on every playground, balance on every wall, and get up close and personal with goats in the petting zoo. It was a much needed day of fun.

Brice's new obsession: maps. He is so interested in where we are on maps.He carried the zoo map with him all day on Friday, locating where we were in relation to the animals on the map. His favorite activity, though, is determining on the world map where dinos originated; Carnitaurus in Argentina, T-Rex in North America, etc. Whatever works, right?

This is the last week in our first grading period. We'll be wrapping up our study of the artist, Monet, and the composer, DeBussy. Reeves will finish his study of the writing of Rudyard Kipling, and Embree will finish her study of The Secret Garden. Reeves and Todd start their father/son book club this week, reading Sign of the Beaver. Looking forward to new literature, new artists and musicians, a brand new engineering challenge...but I'll save that for next week, after we've begun.

We enjoyed a fun neighborhood cookout last night and celebrated Todd's 45th birthday with sweet potato pie. Happy Birthday Sweetheart! We love you bunches!

Have a great week!
Namaste

Weekly Wrap-up September 11

2011-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

After a nice long weekend with Daddy...which included no school on Monday...we worked hard to get five days worth of work into four day. Our schedule continues to be enjoyable, leaving us with time for some renewing masterly inactivity. Nice, very nice.

We are currently slogging through Newton's Three Laws of Motion in our Physics curriculum. I, personally, love to see the kids struggle with a concept. It's exciting to see them balanced on that edge just before understanding. Our conversations are more in-depth. There faces are more alive. It's a rare day, but it's the time when I am most thankful that I am able to be with them...to literally watch them grow.

Embree is working each day to tame her new pet, Penny the Parakeet. She is very patient and, as usually, so fully knowledgeable about this animal. She has recently declared that she will study to be an ornithologist.

Reeves celebrated his ninth birthday this week. He invited friends to a hot dog and flag football party at our favorite park. Nana and Poppy visited to help celebrate. The highlight of the weekend had to be the family Wii Resort tournament! It is hard for me to believe that this child is only nine. The other two seem to be growing old before my eyes, but Reeves seems like he should be so much older. He is an old soul, a wise soul, in such a young body. He is a teacher and a precious gift. Happy Birthday dear one.

And Brice! I see Brice in the evening when we are snuggling before bedtime. Otherwise he is a dinosaur these days. The hours he has spent watching dinosaur documentaries has translated to his imaginative play. Most of the day, he is a Carnotaurus. He bites and scratches, which is truly becoming a problem for his siblings. He, and we, got to spend several hours with his birthmom this afternoon. I am so thankful that he loves being with her. She is a gift to our family.

After a week of rain, the last few days have been feeling quite autumnal. Windows are open and more time has been spent on the front porch. Daddy's happy...Dallas is one TV tonight. It must be Fall!! Welcome to our favorite time of year.

Have a great week!
Namaste

Spider

2011-09-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

There’s a spider in a glass on the floor beside my desk. It’s really big and it’s been there since last night. We try not to kill spiders around here. I have no desire to end his life. But HE’S HUGE and HE’S FAST! I have no idea how to catch him and get him to the window without him crawling on me. Before long, he’ll be dead anyway from my inaction. I need to make a decision one way or the other.

Sometimes in life, I feel faced with decisions similar to this one. I know the right thing to do, but it isn’t always the easy thing to do. I know the right thing to do, but it isn’t always the thing I want to do, even if it’s easy. I don’t always make the right decision. Sometimes I’m selfish, and sometimes I try my best and realize what I thought was good decision, the right decision, was not. I’m ok with that. On the whole, I ruminate too much about the smallest things, and no decision is made without thought. But, I am willing to swallow fear and get on with it. The scariest acts usually end up far less serious than I had imagined.

So, in the middle of writing the paragraph above, I freed the spider. I opened the window, scooped him up, and flung him out. It was thrilling…and not so scary after all.

Namaste

Weekly Wrap-up - September 3

2011-09-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

What a pleasure the last three weeks have been! I'm going to quit wondering why and just enjoy the easy, lid-back routine we've gotten into this year. I hope it lasts...we'll enjoy it while it does.

This week, having finished up the introduction chapter last week, we began our Latin lessons in earnest. This will be a challenging subject, but both of the big kids are really excited about it. We hope to finish up two full years before Embree gets into her high school work. Then, she'll be able to choose from Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, or Romanian...or more than one! The goal is to have enough Latin under her belt to make the study of any Romance language more enjoyable and productive.

We are doing quite a bit of writing in History; learning to summarize in a more efficient manner and to construct the types of paragraphs that will ultimately lead to essays and research papers.

Embree is part of a theatrical repertory company for middle and high schoolers this year. She began rehearsals for that this week. She'll be playing Andromache in a combined version of The Iliad and The Aeneid. She resumed guitar lessons this week and will be practicing "Soul Sister" by train and "She Loves You" by the Beatles. She also started a yoga class that she really enjoys. It's going to be a busy year for her!

We'll be celebrating Reeves' 9th birthday this week. He's having a cookout with friends to play flag football and eat hot dogs (nonvegetarian hot dogs for the birthday boy!). He and a friend are attending their first meeting of the Lego club at the library. I hope he'll enjoy it. Legos are still his favorite activity aside from screen time. We ordered the first part of the Lego Master Builder's series for him for school. He still swears he'll be a Lego designer some day. I see a trip to Legoland in FL in our future!

Brice continues to love dinosaurs and trains. He has spent many hours this week constructing intricate rail and station systems in his room. He's enjoying a preschool workbook all about dinosaurs and he's learning his ABCs. I often hear making up his own songs about letters and their sounds while he's playing.

This week I thought I'd share some links that I love or have found useful in our studies.

Hope you'll be able to use some of them as well.

Here's the Lego Master Builders Academy site I mentioned above.

We recently subscribed to the blog The Kid Should See This. Nearly every day there's been a short video that amazed us or sparked some meaningful conversation. Check it out!

Every week, we take a break from serious writing to explore some fun topics. We have found so many good - free - ideas at Education.com.

Another blog I have found extremely useful of late is Freely Educate. There are several sites that offer free curriculum, but this site seems to offer more than the usual sites of old litereature in the public domain. I have found some valuable resources that we actually are using every day.

Finally, have you ever heard of Evernote? It's available on you pc as well as in an app form for iPod and iPhone. I read lots of blogs and pull lots of curricular ideas from online. Evernote is a greatplace to store and organize these ideas...much better than trying to bookmark and review random sites. My understanding is that you can make notes and store docuemnt in Evernote as well. And it's free. I can't tell you how many times I've gone back to easily find a recipe or idea asavedfor a certain topic in school. Love it!

Hope you have a lovely last hurrah if summer weekend! Todd is actually off all weekend for a change, so we are hideing out, doing family stuff and loving having him home with us!!

Have a great week! Namaste.

Weekly Wrap-up - August 26

2011-08-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

August 22-26, 2011

I am a little worried this week. Lessons for the big kids went so smoothly that I am afraid I am forgetting something important. Don't get me wrong, I am not hoping that things become difficult. I am so pleased, especially because I start teaching at the college this week, we begin rehearsals for the fall show this week, and Embree begins her extra curricular classes this week. I couldn't ask for a more relaxed way to begin. We are beginning our fifth year of homeschool, afterall. Perhaps we are just finally in a groove.

Struggles this week:

Can't complain...except it's move-in week at the College and we haven't seen Todd for more than and hour or so at a time all week.
Embree's nut allergy has changed in such a way that she can't even be around them. In the last two weeks she has experienced pronounced fits of sneezing (read 100-150 times) after simply walking down an aisle with nuts at the health food store, Sam's Club, and Walmart. This has happened a few other times over the summer as well. How will this child ever do her own grocery shopping? Boy! So please, if you know us personally, if she comes to visit you, or will even be present when you eat a sack lunch together, won't you reconsider having anything with nuts? Thanks!

Milestones this week:

We've finally found the right combination of math activities for Reeves and he's doing well.
Embree continues to excel in her online Math curriculum and we are both pleased.
We have been focusing on writing a great deal more across the curriculum and I am pleased with the work of both of the big kids.
Brice is particularly interested in Dinosaurs again. His attention to detail when he watches a documentary, or listens as I read, really shows in his play and storytelling. There are no sugar-coated dino scenarios in our house! Meat-eaters are king and the rightful top of the food chain around here.
All the kids have had their yearly check-ups as of this week. All are growing well. Reeves has hit a magnificent growth spurt in the last month. If his rate continues, he promises to overtake us all in height in a few short years. Embree is now only three inches shorter than me, as well. Wow! Time flies.

This week, Embree begins rehearsals for her acting company (they will be performing a version of Homer's Iliad), guitar lessons, and yoga lesson. Looking into archery and music for Reeves and, possibly, soccer for both boys.

One last thing...we have a new blog banner. If you get this post via email, take a moment to go to our actual site, won't you? Brice FINALLY got to ride a train!

Hope you have a great week.

Namaste

Force

2011-08-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

What does force create?

Depends on the force.

I have seen a force for good…a force for peace,

Who wields the force of kindness and the force of love.

Namaste

Missed

2011-08-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

Blogging today at my other home, Lessons from the Backroad.

Have a great day.

Weekly wrap-up - August 19

2011-08-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

This week marked our first back into full-time lessons. As always there was laughter, tears, anxiety, joy, and relief...I'm sure the kids felt some of these same emotions. Wink, wink.

Getting up earlier and being ready to begin our lessons by 9am has been an adjustment after a summer of very late nights and late mornings. We've made it every morning, though, and are all grateful to get so much in before lunch. I would like to get started a little earlier, as would Reeves, but Embree and Brice are both night owls and really do function better on a more flexible schedule. Besides, starting later allows me to have a cup of coffee with Todd before he leaves for work...a quiet moment for us that we never see later in the day.

Struggles this week:

Getting up and on task, for some of us.
Getting out of vacation mode and back into work.
Reeves did not respond as well as hoped to our chosen, online math curriculum, so we moved him back into a paper-based program (much better for his particular needs).
Though I have detailed plans for Brice's preK lessons, I am finding it difficult to spend extended periods of time with him because the big kids still need a great deal of assistance. Of course, I am all for him playing and exploring more than formal lessons, but I know that next year's kindergarten curriculum will pose a challenge if I don't use this year as practice. I am very hand-on in a number of our subjects (Science, Latin, History, Arts) and plan to stay that way. This year's goal will be to help Embree and Reeves discover ways in which they can be self-sufficient in Reading, Grammar, Math, Spelling, and Writing so that Brice can have more of my attention next year.

Milestones this week:

We started on time everyday!
The kids are completing their own assignment lists in personal agenda books (step one to personal responsibility).
Embree really liked the new online math curriculum we chose (Khan Academy) and it works as quickly or slowly as she needs on each concept.
We joined friends for a trip to the Frazier History Museum in Louisville on Thursday. Our main reason for visiting was to see a traveling exhibit about Leonardo Da Vinci. The life size replicas of his contraptions and the hand-on version of some of his machines made for a memorable day.
Today, we followed up our visit by building a replica of his Cathdral of Florence and a working model of one of his flying machines. A great way to kick off our studies in Engineering this year!

Finally, I thought I'd share our first day of school pictures.

Every moment is a teachable moment!

Have a great week!

Our Curriculum this Year (2011-2012)

2011-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

We begin our lessons again in a little over two weeks. The summer has flown by, and I'm cutting it closer than I usually do. But, all the books have been purchased and the entire year is planned day-by-day. Now our reward...SHOPPING FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES...oh, and heads full of knowledge!! Have a great year everyone!

The Discovery School

Curriculum Guide 2011-2012

(All listed are for our 4th/5th and 7th graders unless noted as PreK)

· World History

o Story of the World Vol. 4 The Modern Age

o Living Books (see reading list)

· US History

o The Zinn Project, Teaching a People’s History

o Picturing America

· Science

o Simple Schooling Middle School Physics

o Elemental Science/Early Years – PreK

· Reading

o Weekly assigned readings in History, Science, Current Events, and Literature

o Daily free reading

o The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading – PreK

o Bob Books and Teaching Reading using the Bob Books - PreK

· Writing

o Poetry, Essay, Research, Writing for Debate (activities from education.com)

o Cross curricular narration and dictation

· Spelling

o All About Spelling (books 1-3)

o Spelling dictionary

o Cross curricular writing/editing

· Grammar

o First Language Lessons Grammar 4

o Giggles in the Middle: Caught’ya! Grammar

· Math

o Numbers & Abacus PreK

o Math Mammoth Blue Series and Gold Series

· Foreign Language

o Latin – The Big Book of Lively Latin

· Engineering

o Units from TeachEngineering

· Nature Study

o The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna B. Comstock (already own) and Website

· Arts

o Harmony Arts Art and Music Study for Modern Art and Music

o Drawspace

o Discovering Great Artists - PreK

o Art exhibits

o Various workshops as available

· Music

o Guitar

o Beginning Piano and Music Theory (Alfred’s Basic Piano)

o Various concerts and workshops as available

o Lessons from Makin’ Music - PreK

· Drama

o Participation in Stage Left/Georgetown Community Theatre productions

o Various plays and workshops as available

· PE

o Homeschool Family Fitness

o Swimming Lessons

o Homeschool Gym & Swim (Spring)

o Hiking with Nature Study

Reading Lists

4th/5th Gr. Independent Reading List

Just So Stories, Kipling

Rifles for Watie, Keith

The 21 Balloons, du Bois

Caddie Woodlawn, Brink

Sign of the Beaver, Speare

Bud, Not Buddy, Curtis

A Child’s Garden of Verses, Stevenson

Poetry by Walter de le Mare

The Song of Hiawatha, Longfellow

Poetry by Robert Frost

Poetry by Langston Hughes

Personal choices for free reading

7th Gr. Independent Reading List

The Secret Garden, Burnett

Old Yeller, Gipson

Across Five Aprils, Hunt

Number the Stars, Lowry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Taylor

Diary of a Young Girl, Frank

A Child’s Garden of Verses, Stevenson

Poetry by Walter de le Mare

The Song of Hiawatha, Longfellow

Poetry by Robert Frost

Poetry by Langston Hughes

Personal choices for free reading

Family Read Alouds (as many as possible)

Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

The Man Without a Country, Edward E. Hale

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

Sherlock Holmes stories, Arthur Conan Doyle

Rikki Tikki Tavi, Rudyard Kipling

The Time Machine, H.G. Wells

The Call of the Wild, Jack London

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Orczy

Short stories, O. Henry

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery

Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie

Strong Poison, Dorothy Sayers

Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell

The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

PreK Reading List

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric Kimmel or Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

The Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judy Barrett

Curious George by H.A. Rey

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! By Mo Willems

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Froggy Gets Dressed or Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London

George and Martha by James Marshall

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen

I Stink! By Kate McMullen

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura J. Numeroff

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Leo, the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Magic School Bus Series by Joanna Cole

Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Miss Nelson is Missing! By Harry Allard and James Marshall

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Owen by Kevin Henkes

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig

Pierre: A Cautionary Tale by Maurice Sendak

Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault

Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky

Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

Tough Boris by Mem Fox

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf, by John Scieszka

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Yoko by Rosemary Wells

Personal choices for free reading

Given

2011-07-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

It's funny, the difference between what we are given and what we earn. I read an article once about mission workers in an African country who gave people water pumps in areas where they would otherwise have to walk miles for clean water. When the workers returned later, many of the pumps sat broken from neglect or missing pieces that were more valuable to sell for scrap. Later, this same missions group began selling the pumps for a few American dollars. Often, neighbors bought the pumps together, sometimes whole villages. When the workers returned to check on the families, the pumps were usually working and were a valuable asset to the family, group, or village.

The same is true with me and my family. I see more care taken with possessions that required a bit of effort or a delay of gratification. Items that my children have saved or worked for are prized over those handed them on Christmas morning or in the heat of the moment on a trip to the bigbox. Though I am so grateful for all the wonderful gifts I have received in my life, and there have been many, it's the things we have won for ourselves that mean the most.

Most certainly, it's the love. Twenty years ago it was easy. The love and companionship came easily. The hours of planning made it seem that we would always be on the same page, always have the same interests and goals. We were given a great opportunity at a great love. But, the reward has not been the initial gift. The reward comes in the moving away and the sometimes deep water, upstream wading to come together again. There's a comfort in what we were given. That is what makes us want to keep working through the rapids to get back to the calm straights...and we always do. That is the reward...the value is in that reward.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Love.
Always...

This Moment: 6/24/11

2011-06-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Following the suggestion of SouleMama at http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/

My Teachers

2011-06-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

There is a special place in heaven for my parents.

Today, my mother is caring for her parents in their home. She isn't visiting. She is there. She is up every night helping my grandfather with breathing treatments, bathroom visits, listening to him tell stories in his dreams. She is there in the day to help the daytime caregiver, to take them to appointments, to call the doctor to adjust medications, to talk with the Hospice nurses. But mostly, she is there. She is the familiar in this frightening time for them. She is the pat on the back, the hundredth hug a day for my grandmother, the constant connection to the happier past for them both.

Today, my father sits at the hospital with his mother who fell in the middle of the night. Even in my mother's absence...even while he has traveled almost daily for work...has washed clothes, called the doctor, picked up things she needs, checked in with her caregivers, and taken her for walks in the sunshine. But mostly, he is there. He is the familiar in this frightening time for her. He is the pat on the hand, the hug, the constant connection to the happier past for her.

Mom and Dad are living in different states, sleeping in different beds, generously giving up this time together, their own comfort, and their own plans to be where they are needed for a little while. And they serve their parents with joy and love and thankfulness. I believe that true goodness comes from the heart...the love in one's heart. I see that in both of them and their sacrifices.

There will come a day when these chores will no longer be necessary. Life is that way. This burden will be lifted from my parents. It will be a sad day, but I know in my heart that neither will have regrets. They will have these few precious days to hold in their hearts. I hope that, when the opportunity comes for me to care for a loved one, that I will recognize the gift as they have.

I love you guys.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to a great dad, a loving husband, a true friend, and a really good human being.

This family is better when you are here with us. We love you, Todd.

June 4, 2011

2011-06-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

Our morning was spent at my nephew's last t-ball game.

Way to go Coby!!

Headed to visit my grandparents until Thursday. Probably no wi-fi available, so see you again then.

Have a great week. Namaste.

The Combo Platter - Em-burrito, Beans, Rice, and Mama Jalapeño - missing our favorite Tamale!

June 3, 2011

2011-06-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Forget the backpacks for tonight...

We are beginning to settle into a slower pace.

Leisurely lessons this morning.

Wandering around...finding our place here again.

Besides...who needs a backpack full of stuff when our hearts are full of cousin love?

Have a great weekend! Namaste...WLYD

This Moment: 6/3/11

2011-06-03T06:41:00.000-07:00

Reeves' Backpack

2011-06-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Reeves' backpack is next in our series Summer in a Backpack. This should be interesting considering he wanted to bring his sport coat to the woods for the summer.

In my Summer Backpack I would bring...

A box of macaroni and cheese
Clothes
Apples
Popsicles
A toothbrush and toothbrush
A sleeping bag
A way bigger backpack with my family and a bed
A mumbo jumbo whoopie cushion

by Reeves

Summer 2011 @ the Farm: Day 2
Brice slept all night in his new bunk bed!
Finished the rope ladder
Began a new spelling program with the big kids
Began studying Lewis and Clark
New brakes on the van
Printer exploded - no History review quiz today (Kids say,"Yeah!")
Played trains, dinosaurs, and diggers with Brice
Catherine and Shawn and kids picked up the van and delivered it...stayed for dinner
Made homemade tortillas, black beans, pineapple, and s'mores
Kids played in the creek
Embree is giving Brice a shower now
Looking forward to beginning The Wonderful Wizard of Oz books with the kids tonight.

Love you Daddy!
J, E, R & B

Summer in a Backpack

2011-06-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today was the first full day of our 10 weeks in NC this summer. Yesterday we spent the entire day travelling through Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and, finally, North Carolina. The car was packed full of all the things we'll need for our stay.

I have often wondered if we could sell most everything and move into an RV and travel. It's a little fantasy of mine. I don't think my honey believes I could do it. I am a pack rat. But, I am always relieved when we get to the farm and there is just so much less stuff than at home. It's smaller and less cluttered, which makes for an easy tidy up each day with everything in its place when we hit the pillow each night.

Headed into town this morning to stock the cupboards, the brakes started protesting against their long journey yesterday...overloaded with stuff and passengers...long down-hill jaunts in WV. When I dropped it to be serviced tonight, I began wondering what we'd do without this big old van to carry a summer's worth of books and wine and shorts and art supplies. What if we each just had a backpack?

What would each of us take in our single bag? I think my list would include...

My kindle, loaded with fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, word games, and a subscription to The New Yorker.
My iPod, for music, podcasts, email, pics of my family
A sketchbook and colored pens
My camera
2 skirts, 1 pr. shorts, 2 tank tops, 1 cardigan (and unmentionables, of course)
My Chaco sandals
A hair band
Lip balm
A sun hat

Of course, this is for summer...not for school, or teaching, or directing. But, I think I could live without most everything if I had too. What about you? Share your list in the comments!

Update: Summer 2011 @ the Farm

Day 1 - June 1, 2011

The kids made and destroyed about 100 water balloons.
Aunt Billy's "Cow Seeds" have sprouted into a lima bean plant - go figure!
The kids started their summer schedule of no screen time until after dinner. It went better than expected. It's 10pm now and no one's screen-timing it but me. Embree is practicing guitar, Reeves is still making water balloons, Brice is polishing off a bag of carrots.
Bought and assembled bunk beds for the kids' room (Thanks for the help Dad!).
Mom finally got to go to her own bed after 10+days away from home.
Began installation of the new rope ladder for the fort - will finish tomorrow after the battery on the drill recharges.
Brice spent a couple of hours drawing and painting on his new easel.
Inspected the raised bed garden we planted over Easter break. Relatively weed free. Cucumbers and squash came up beautifully from seed. Tomato plants survived being planted before May 1. Tiny basil plants peeping through the soil.
Dropped car to have brakes serviced (Thanks for the ride home Sis!).

Have a great one! Love you Daddy!

J, E, R, B, & V

Year in Review

2011-05-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today is our last required say of school for this academic year. We will continue Math and Reading through the summer and I have some fun Science and Engineering activities planned. But the daily grind is over and we are all thankful for a little break. We'll be taking a real vacation from everything but reading for the rest of the month.

To commemorate the year, the big kids have each compiled a list of their favorite lessons. It's been a good year. I am happy with the progress we've made and with the memories we've tucked away.

5 Fun Things From School This Year.

By Reeves

1. Conner Prairie was the best, with piggies and

little fuzzy goats.

2. Grammar was my favorite subject.

3. We marched for our mountains to stop mountain-top removal.

4. We went to see the Butterflies of Brazil.

5. Our fall trip to Asheville, NC was where

I bought my monkey hat.

My Favorite Parts of the Year

By Embree

1. My cousins, my brothers, and I went to Butterflies of Brazil. There was a big room filled with flowers and lots of butterflies. There was a six in Blue Morpho Butterfly that

rode on me the whole time.

2. Our family went to Conner Prairie. It was like life in the 1850s. There were two oxen named Blue and Red.

Lots of people dressed in 1850s costume.

3. May favorite subject was Earth Science

4.I started guitar in October. My first song I learned was

Twist and Shout by The Beatles.

5. Two of my favorite books were

The Three Musketeers and Les Miserables.

Butterflies of Brazil

2011-05-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

A visit from cousins called for a special field trip...one that would never be forgotten.

Our dreams came true at the Krohn Conservatory's Butterflies of Brazil exhibit in Cincinnati, OH.

If you are within driving distance...go!!!

Something about today...

2011-04-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Photohunt: Dusty

2011-04-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Dusty (the name of the first horse) - Joining tnchick in photohunt 4/23/11

Postcards from Indianapolis: Day 2

2011-04-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

Postcards from Indianapolis: Day 1

2011-04-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

We recently took a 48 hr mini vacation/learning trip to Indianapolis.

We love traveling and homeschooling! Here are some highlights.

Worth the time...

2011-04-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

I finally watched the movie How to Cook Your Life and it was well worth the hour and a half on Saturday afternoon. It is available instantly on Netflix.

The subject of this documentary, Edward Espe Brown, wrote the Tassajara Bread Book.

Photohunt: Road

2011-04-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Photohunt with tnchick - 4/16/11

GASP!

2011-04-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have read about the infamous J.Crew ad (click here to get up to speed). I'm sure it's rocked your world as much as it rocked mine...especially when my son looked like this a few days BEFORE all the hoopla. GASP!

March Adventures

2011-04-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

...space...

2011-04-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

...sometimes we all need space...

...space to think...

...space to breathe...

...space to be without the pressure of being

something or someone for others...

...thank you for allowing me that space...

...our adventures will resume shortly.

Homeschool Must-Haves

2011-02-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

March is just around the corner. March and April in the land of many homeschoolers marks the time to evaluate the curent year and make decisions about year to come. Many of us make constant revision throughout the year. That is one of the advantages of focusing on our children individually. But we still need to make decisions about curriculum purchases and goals for the future.

As I have indicated in several recent posts, I have not been satisfied with the level of engagement in our studies this year. So, I have been spending some time thinking through the "must-haves" for next year.

Our list of subjects. I am happy with this list and feel that we cover a wide variety of essentials, with room to explore special interests. Note: this does not include preschool for the youngest, as I am committed to unschooling him until the first grade to really allow him time to just explore his world.

Math
History - World & US
Reading - Classics related to World History
Writing/Grammar/Spelling
Science & Nature Study
Arts
PE
Next year we'll add Beginning Engineering and Latin.

Looking at how we are approaching these subjects this year, I see the problem. Do you?

Math Curriculum/Workbook

Grammar Curriculum/Workbook

Spelling Curriculum/Workbook

History Curriculum/Workbook

Writing Curriculum/Workbook

Science Curriculum/Workbook

Readers/End of chapter questions

How to bring wonder into our lessons?
How to guide us toward mastery and engagement?
What has been successful in the past?

nature study in the field

live experiences

getting our hands dirty

bringing lessons to life outside of a workbook

sensory activities

reading, reading, reading

child-led projects

So, I am looking long and hard at this workbook situation. It's easy, yes. All I have to do list page numbers and prod them along until they finish. But if that's the way it's going to be, why are we homeschooling? Why are we wasting these precious years, these opportunities?

The plan next year will be different:

Great Books and Living Books for History, Reading, Science with writing/spelling/grammar lessons in relevant, living work ala The Well Trained Mind and Charlotte Mason and Thomas Jefferson Education.

Math and Latin - we'll keep the workbooks here.

Hands on Engineering projects

Notebooks/Sketchbooks

Art supplies, concerts, cds, guitar and piano lessons, and http://www.drawspace.com/

Nature Study in NATURE (gasp!)

Supplies for science experiments

Pet care

Field Trips

We will all be busier, but this plan will save money and force us to all, especially the kids, to actively participate in learning. Our focus will shift once again from workbooks to working together. They are ready and that's my job!

READY!!

To field trip or not to field trip?

2011-02-20T10:14:00.000-08:00

I may not have a regular washing day or even remember to wash until we are all out of underwear. I don't force my children to keep their rooms spotless, usually requiring full clean-ups only when there's no path to the bed. I have my own piles of clothes and books in my own far-from-pristine bedroom. I am not a routine-oriented person in general. But when it comes to our homeschool schedule, I am a stickler. I know that there will be days when things come up and we must postpone a lesson or rearrange my expectations, so on a day-to-day basis, I am adamant that we stick to our lists.

Within that schedule, I have a block of time on Friday afternoons that we schedule field trips. Our homeschool group likes to plan local excursions in the afternoon at the end of a long week. Sometimes they are for play; sometimes more structured. This past week, we attended an Art in Motion workshop at a small museum in Paris, KY. The topic was not related to anything we are studying right now, but it fit within our weekly schedule so we went just for fun.

There are times, especially when the weather begins to change to sunnier days and balmier temperatures, that filed trips are suggested for times other than the convenient Friday afternoons, or when the kids and I just want to be anywhere but our school room. While I am all for excursions related to our studies, I find it difficult, at times, to justify purely social outings. It is counter to my years of training as a classroom teacher. As much as I would love to be one of those unschooling parents who can go with the flow, I think I am afraid of allowing my own unrestrained nature take over with something as serious as my children's education.

On our trip last week, I took lots of pictures in hopes of just getting some good shots of the kids. As I viewed them, I realized that it doesn't matter that the kids probably don't remember the topic of Friday's lesson. There were other lessons to be learned that day. And, I am happy to say, I am coming around to the notion that these trips areas much a learning opportunity as ones about which I can make anecdotal references to the current history topic.

I am not rationalizing field trips to ease my misgivings. I am not giving myself permission to ignore the books. I am OK with the occasional pangs of guilt for not making everything in our routine "fun." No, I am truly encouraged by the life and learning experiences we all get from venturing out into the world with our friends. Take a look at some of the things we practiced just this week in one two-hour block...

So the answer, then, is TO FIELD TRIP! I don't have all the answers. Todd and I, together, can't offer the kids all they will need in life. Field trips offer the ultimate in social experiences and practice of life-long learning skills. Let's hit the road!

We Love Mountains Day!

2011-02-14T15:10:00.000-08:00

It's been brought to my attention that I haven't posted in a good bit. I have been bored with my postings; bored and discouraged with the direction (or lack of direction) our days have taken. I am not complaining. Nothing to write about also means everything is running along smoothly. Besides a round of colds for us all, we have been pretty calm since the beginning of the year. But I have been wondering lately what I can do offer the kids more meaningful experiences in our studies.

Then one of my heroes, the esteemed Wendell Berry, and a dozen or so others went to see KY Governor Beshear on Friday. The group was made up of representatives from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. They went to meet with the Governor about the devastation caused to the Appalachians by the mining practice of mountaintop removal (MTR), to encourage him to drop a state lawsuit against the EPA for its enforcement of the Clean Water Act as it relates to MTR, and to support clean energy and the Stream Saver Bill.

After a brief, unsatisfactory conversation with the governor the group staged a sit-in in the Governors outer office which lasted three days. Governor Beshear allowed the group to remain in the capital all weekend. They did so until the scheduled I Love Mountains Day today. (Read more interviews with Mr. Berry and others on The Huffington Post).

That's when we joined in...what better way to teach about civil disobedience and peaceful activism than to take part in the march and rally for I Love Mountains Day? They kids have really connected to the activism we've discussed in our studies of the Civil Rights Movement. We've participated in mock marches on MLK Day, but, really, they had no idea what a real protest or march was like...do any of us unless we participate? So, that's what we did.

Here are some highlights from our day:

We all had to have photo id (in case we got separated or if I got arrested...yes arrested) and
we wrote my cell # in sharpie on everyone's arm

We gathered about 1/2 mile from the capital.

Everyone got a sign.

Everyone got a button.

We all wore red for Valentine's Day and the love of mountains.

Many were there for the mountains.

Some were there for the trees.

We marched, as a group, down to the capitol steps.

We gathered on the steps and the listened to speeches made by many of those who had been in the Governor's office since Friday, including Wendell Berry, Silas House, Congressman Yarmuth, and many others.

Embree, who wasn't so sure she wanted to be seen with a sign, chanted longer and louder than any of us once she understood what she was protesting. "Kentucky is rising...no more compromising." "Show me what democracy is....this is what democracy is." "MTR has got to go." "What do we want...clean water...when do we want it...now."

We enjoyed the day with some friends from our homeschool group.

Finally, all participants left valentines for Gov. Beshear asking for consideration in this matter.

On this Valentine’s Day, Governor Beshear, I hope you

will share the love I feel for the mountains and people of

Kentucky by supporting The Stream-Saver bill.

Sincerely, The Gambills

I can't think of a better living history lesson.

The Kids Are Bloggin'

2011-01-26T13:37:00.000-08:00

The big kids have both been working on their blogs; practicing keyboarding, writing, and publication designing. They've both chosen their first loves...animals and Legos. Check them out!

Lego My Lego Contraption by Reeves

The Animal Hugger by Embree

For Granddaddy...

2011-01-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

Too many times we wait until it's too late to tell the ones we love just what they mean to us. I want to do that for all those I love...starting with my Grandfather who gave us all a scare last week. Some will be posted here. Others will be sent privately. Others won't be words, but deeds for those who are so close in my everyday life that I take them for granted.

Hi Grandaddy,

I am sorry I can't be there with you now. I want to say a few things to you and I hope that you will understand and accept my thoughts in words. I know you are surrounded by people who love you so very much, people whom you love. All of our thoughts and wishes are for your quick recovery and comfort. Our concern for you comes from a lifetime of love that you have shared with all of us. I want to say thank you for that lifetime. Thank you for always being so happy to see us when we visited you. Thank you for visiting us, for laughing with us, for teaching us. I have never seen you show anything but compassion for every person you've ever met, and even when you were angry with us as kids, you were still gentle and loving. I think I can speak for all of your grandchildren when I say that we all know you love us unconditionally. We all value the lessons you have taught us, and we all hold our own special memories of our time together. What I believe about the world and God and love...so much of that came from being your granddaughter. Thank you for being the special person you are. Thank you for being the best grandfather I could have every asked for. Thank you for being you. I love you so very much and strive to be the kind of person I see in you.

Love, Jeannie

This note, I sent to be read to him last week. My aunt requested I print it here for him to read again now that he is home.

Very interesting...Sunday links

2011-01-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

A few links for your reading pleasure:

Food (lots of food...must have been hungry this week)
This looks divine as is...trying to think up a vegan alternative.
Winter salads for the anti-lettuce crowd...though I bet no one in my family but me will eat the second one!)
And some winter soups for the hide-my-veggies crowd.
This for dessert...this I can finagle into vegan.

Articles
...on attention issues
...on parenting
...a shout out to this Lexington blogger and her field trip to Georgetown

Homeschooling ideas
...the periodic table (for those of us studying Chemistry)
...a very silly video recommended by Reeves (again, for the Chemistry students)
...Yosemite (for those of us studying the National Parks...or planning to visit)

Asthetics
...LOVIN' this bookcase!
...and really LOVIN' these (I bet my grandmother has some of these in her storage building!)

Happy reading...stay warm...

have a great week!

The week that was...January 15-21

2011-01-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

I don't have pictures to share of all of the fun we had this week. I try not to stand over everything we do with a camera because things tend to come out posed or staged when I do. Instead, I try to just get the camera out a few times a day and capture ordinary moments.

This week...

we hosted new Georgetown College students at a reception in our home
attended a Martin Luther King Day celebration
finished a round of steroids and antibiotic for Reeves' cold and croupe
started antibiotics for Brice's cold and ear infection
I began a new semester at the college and gave a lecture on creative dramatics to a regional group of children's librarians
we played at Miss Nina's house
got lots more snow
missed guitar and gym&swim because of the weather and sickness
and had some friends over to play chemistry games.

Have a great week!

And here is one of my occasional rants... (spoiler: it's political)

2011-01-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

A GOP Study Group proposes cutting:

Public Broadcasting (No one needs PBS when we have Cartoon Network),
National Endowment for the Arts (We've cut the arts from education, why not from our cultural persona as well? Oh yeah, we have Cartoon Network),
National Endowment for the Humanities (Wonder if the National Endowment for Lobbyists is to be cut?),
Title X Family Planning (Abstinence only, I guess, but don't ask for assistance if you have a child. Just reserve a spot on Dancing with the Stars to help pay your bills)
Even Department of Energy grants to states for weatherization. (Guess we don't need that last one...didn't see any cuts for drilling programs. Should be plenty of oil to cover all the energy leaks...in our generation at least.)

That's all that matters right?
Oil
Money in our trust funds
Opposing Obama on EVERY issue...period (Thanks Mitch! So proud you my senator)

Oh, and let's just totally repeal the Health Care Law, because things were just fine the way they were...at least for me and mine. Those who don't have health care can just get a gig on Dancing with the Stars.

Rant over...back to being nice.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/20/house-gop-gets-specific-on-cuts_n_811557.html

Very interesting...Sunday links

2011-01-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

A few things to share that caught my eye this week...

recipes:
- make your own chai concentrate and control the sugar!
- vegan mujaddara - the weirdness actually sounds appealing. wonder if i can get the kids to go for it?

art:
- thatched wallpaper - gotta try this...at least on a set in my next play!
- beautiful stitchery - wish i'd thought of it!

articles:
- princesses...pro or con?
- with loved ones in the hospital this week, i found this very useful in the moment.

thoughts:
- important and important ...happy MLK day!

and thoughts of someone very special tonight

the week that was (january 8-14)

2011-01-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

january 8

a little leftover christmas...still a few other reminders hanging around the house, but we are still really enjoying our poinsettia

january 9

a tickle...reeves is very patient with his little brother and spends a little time each day playing with him

january 10

strong man...all those vanilla steamers he's been enjoying

january 11

snowed in...it seemed like days and days of snow...public schools were out most of the week but we forged ahead...we'll be enjoying summer early!

january 12

newton's cradle...always a fascinating activity...studying newton and the enlightenment in history

january 13

sign of a genius? if so, mom is pretty smart too...but she's not taking a picture of her pile!!

january 14

brice the builder...diggers and beans are taking over the classroom bathroom

note: there are no pictures of embree this week because I find myself taking pictures in the mornings before the day begins...when she is still nestled in bed.

...and that's the way it was...see you next week!

Very interesting...Sunday Links

2011-01-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

I'll just get this one out of the way first. I'm sorry to use the term "porn" on a family blog, but the photos and short film on this blog post make my heart race.

I bought grapefruit yesterday just to try this recipe.

A few good ideas for school: career exploration and physical activity.

Articles about two things I spend a great deal of time pondering: education and prejudice.

Something fun from Sesame Street (what can be wrong when Big Bird is around?).

And, finally, something to ponder this week.

Be courageous...fearless...have a great week!
Namaste.

Our Wonderful Week

2011-01-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

I am not a professional blogger. I don't post daily...sometimes not even weekly. I don't get paid by advertisers or have a huge following. But those of you who read this blog are very important to me...to us. I have been trying to think of a way to regularly post and include the fun we have in our family. So, I've decided to try to post a weekly update with pictures from a meaningful moment each day of the week. To improve the liklehood that I can continue throughout the year, pictures will likely be unedited and captions will be short, but the loving intent will be there. Other posts will still show up when I have time...I can't resist a good rant now and then.

Until then, here's...

Our Wonderful Week for January 1-7, 2011

January 1

Relaxing by the fire on New Year's Day - The Farm

January 2

Winter walk - The Farm

January 3

Sleeping the morning away - The Farm

January 4

First day back into our lessons

January 5

Sorting marshmallows

January 6

Reeves' Lego creation contest entry (build a car, geekdad blog)

January 7

The boys, back together after a long holiday

January 7 (Bonus)

End of the week treat: Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D!

Have a wonderful week!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Here's to joy beyond measure

in the little things each day.

Happy 2011!

warmest wishes...

2010-12-25T06:21:00.000-08:00

Warmest wishes for a beautiful Christmas

for you and your loved ones.