First Day of School!

We had our first day of School on Thursday.  The kids were excited to get started with some of their new curriculum. (Homeschool mom says hopefully).

They probably wouldn't have minded a few more days of vacation.

But first, the photo shoot.

Dance started this week too.  Girls were VERY excited about that.  They have decided to take a hiatus from karate this year...good thing, too since they are taking a total of 6 dance classes between them.  Mom needs to be home to clean and cook once in a while.

 Snickers wants in on the act. 

He's not a great model...hard to shoot a moving target!

Here's to a great year!

The Well-Educated Mind...A Journey

I mentioned in my previous blog that our homeschool loosely follows Susan Wise-Baur's book The Well-Trained Mind.

She has also written a book for adults who wish to improve their minds and read challenging classic literature.   I purchased The Well-Educated Mind some time ago and fully intended to work my way through all the novels, autobiographies and poetry.  There is a recommended list of books and directions on how to read them... I got stuck on this one:

Unfortunately, this is the first book...So, I am challenging myself to read this book and blog about it.  I will be forced to complete it or be shamed in public.



Here is a short list of some of the first books in The Well-Educated Mind:

Don Quixote
Pilgrim's Progress
Gulliver's Travels
Pride and Prejudice
Oliver Twist
Jane Eyre
The Scarlett Letter

Ms. Wise-Bauer recommends reading the novels first before moving on to other genres. Anyone want to take the challenge with me?

Join the Well-Educated Mind Book Club!

Home School Review

It's that time again...Back to School.  It means something a little different for me and the girls than for most families.  Most moms are buying back to school clothes and school supplies and getting ready for a bit of freedom...

Well, our school clothes consist mostly of PJ's and our school supply list is quite a bit longer than most. 


This year's curriculum consists of:


Little Girl

Math-U-See Beta
Singapore Math 2A and 2B
Growing With Grammar 3
Institute for Excellence in Writing
History Odyssey
Singapore Science Early Bird
Trail Guide to World Geography
Spelling Power
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Art-Meet the Masters


Big Girl

Math-U-See Zeta
Singapore Math 5A and 5B
Singapore Science 5A and 5B
Trail Guide to World Geography
History Odyssey
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Institute for Excellence in Writing
IEW Grammar Fix-Its
Art-Meet the Masters
Life of Fred-Fractions

My new favorite book is Life of Fred Fractions...I'm not sure you could call it a full-year curriculum.  More of a supplement.  It is a humerous, fun look at math with quick assignments.  It reads like a story book.  Big Girl has really been enjoying it and did 3 chapters in one day.  I highly recommend for ALL students.  It begins at Fractions for about 4th or 5th grade and goes up to higher math.  Some of the books have a Home Companion for extra practice.  http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html

I am also really looking forward to History Odyssey.  We are covering Early Modern Times.  We will be doing lots of projects and using quality literature of the era. 

We loosely follow the classical model of homeschooling.  I follow the advice of Susan Wise-Bauer of the Well-Trained-Mind.  I use a lot of her recommendations with a few adapations of my own.

Looking forward to another great year! 

Camp Cleawox-Part Two

This week I dropped my oldest child off at camp for the first time.  The first time she has ever stayed with someone who is not family.  The first time I won't be able to at least call her.  The first time!

She looks broken up, distraught,despairing!

We arrive at camp.  Me: Are you nervous?  Her: No.  Me: Wanna go home?  Her: NO!

Big girl gets loaded up with her gear...6 days is a long time!

I sense her fear is building.

After some tearful good-byes...

Sarah tried to put on a brave face and ran off to play.  Uhhh...honey?  Did you forget to say good-bye to Mommy?  Ummm...I'm leaving now, sweetie?

Blueberry Season!

Summer time is blueberry time in our town.  At least once or twice in the summer we load up our buckets and head to the berry farm. We pick from the rows and rows of blueberries until it gets too hot or our buckets get too heavy...The girls usually get more in their bellies than in the buckets.

This time we did pretty good... 10 pounds of berries in about an hour.  Cost??? Twelve Dollars!!!

Steve didn't want me do make jam or pie at first because the berries are so good fresh.  After a few days, though he gave in and admitted 10 pounds was too much even for the girls and him (I don't eat blueberries).

I made scrumptious smoothies and my first (2) blueberry pie(s).  They didn't turn out as pretty as I had hoped they would but I heard they were delicious.  Some even said it was the best pie they'd ever had!

Camp Cleawox

The girls and I headed out to the beautiful Oregon Coast for Girl Scout Camp this past weekend.  We spent 2 nights out in the out-of-doors, sleeping in open-air cabins, canooing, and camp-firing.  This was Little Girl's first time and she had a blast.  Big Girl had a great time catching up with camp friends.



We were up at dawn for sunrise painting.

I was actually convinced to go canooing,after the fiasco 2 years ago when Big Girl and I were unceremoniously dumped into the lake 5 seconds after leaving the dock...earning me my camp nickname "Splash".

It rained on night 2 leading to an indoor campfire by the fireplace...I wasn't too broken up about that...No bugs, nice warm lodge...hot coffeepot...my kind of campfire!

I have to admit...I kind of had a great time, too.  But the best part of all.  Getting home for a long, hot shower!

Fruits of My Labor

Last year when we did our landscaping we planted an orchard ( 2 cherry trees, 2 pear trees and 2 apple trees constitute an orchard, don't they?).  Well, after many months of watering, feeding and bug-fighting....

A Bumper Crop!

They were delicious, too...All 12 of them.  Don't worry, I shared.

We have teeny-tiny apples, too.  They are not ready yet and I'm not sure they are going to be any good this year but they have potential.

I'm feeling like a regular farm-girl! Bring on the cows for milkin' and the pigs for sloppin' !