We are reading Little Women which I am enjoying more than I ever did before. It makes me all nostalgic and cozy feeling. Becky likes anything old-fashioned and since she is growing up and will soon, perhaps, not revel so in the quaint and charming, I thought maybe we could focus on getting an Old Fashioned Education this year. I've been looking at all my old books and also at Ambleside. I think I'd love to try Nature Study again this year with her. I have a wonderful 1906 A Child's Nature Field Study book that has charming day by day entries that give little interesting tidbits of information about nature in each season of the year. It would be excellent to start on January First. Becky has said she wants to study animals this year. I'm looking for an old fashioned read aloud about them. Still need to hunt a bit. I noticed that Ambleside divides at least one of its years (can't remember which one) into Term 1 - mammals, Term 2 - birds, Term 3 - flowers. For birds I just found a great guide to Thornton Burgess's Bird Book. And I happen to have a 1923 edition of Burgess Book of Flowers for Children. So except for the mammals bit, I'm pretty prepared for that.
I also like Ambleside's way of studying folksongs and hymns. I'm going to put my own spin on it. I think we'll focus on Stephen Foster songs this year. I have a cd of his songs sung in a gorgeous way by Thomas Hampson, who has an incredible baritone voice. Sends shivers down one's spine! And for hymns, I'm thinking of these:
September - Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (Hymn of praise)
October - (the month of the Rosary) a Marian Hymn. I realize I only know about 3: Sing of Mary, Hail Holy Queen and Immaculate Mary, so one of those!
November - Now Thank We All Our God (Thanksgiving of course!)
December - On Jordan's Bank (Advent)
January - Adeste Fideles (for the Christmas season - learn it in Latin)
February - Look Down to Us, Saint Joseph -I thought we could learn this in preparation for our St. Joseph Day's Talent Show. Maybe Becky could sing it or perhaps we could lead a sing along.
March - O Sacred Head Surrounded (Passiontide)
April - Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Easter)
May - Another Marian hymn
June - Where Charity and Love Prevail (just cuz I like it!)
For reading, I think we could work our way through McGuffey's 2nd Reader, or at least start there. McGuffey is fairly advanced and moves quickly and Becky moves slowly! However, hopefully this is the year she'll take off in reading.
We will use Writing with Ease for copy work which is very CM in its approach and uses mostly classic children's literature as models.
For Religion - Ignatius Schuster's Bible History - which was published way back when. It was on its 32 reprint in 1959. Also I think we'll read Apostle on Crutches. That looks like it will fit the bill.
For math, I think we'll stick with Saxon. Becky wanted to work in the same type of book that her older brothers are, so Saxon 5/4 is a brand new edition.
For Latin, Getting Started in Latin will have to suffice.
For read alouds - I do really want to read The Aeneid for Boys and Girls by Church. I don't know if we are going into a Louisa May Alcott kick, but we've got plenty we could read aloud by her. We also still need to read Noel Streatfeild's Dancing Shoes (not quite as old-fashioned, set more in the 1930's or 1940's). We've just read The Secret Garden this summer so we might read more of Burnett, like The Little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Also, I was hoping to read Hitty, Her First Hundred Years.
I am reinstituting a nature table to get our slightly more formal nature study off to a start this week.
I think it sounds like a really fun year! I am looking forward to lots of long walks, mother-daughter time cooking, baking, making things, singing together and reading together.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Homeschooling; A Family's Journey
I got this book out of the library a couple days ago. I went searching for something inspirational, as summer draws to a close, that would help me get in the mood for switching gears into our fall routine. So I pulled a couple of books off the shelf and brought them home. One of them was this book which I don't believe I had ever heard of before. It is by Gregory and Martine Millman. They are homeschoolers who've been at it since the mid 90's. They are both writers and editors with Mr. Millman working as a financial journalist and who has also written several books in that field. They have six children. The oldest 3 are girls who as of the publication of this book, 2007, were all in colleges. They still had three younger sons homeschooing at home at the high school and elementary levels. They are Catholic! That was a nice surprise for me.
I found this book really intelligently written and insightful. The Millmans chronicle their journey into homeschooling and how their philosophy of homeschooling and, well, life(!), developed. They talk about all aspects of it, the richness of learning, how learning at home must needs be different from learning in an institutional setting. This is mixed in with very practical advice. I especially liked the whole section they had on their experience getting their children into college. I felt Mr. Millman's voice most strongly in the telling. He writes like a reporter, interviewing various people, citing resources, studies, polls. He draws on his knowledge of business in analyzing the phenomenon of homeschooling. This aspect of the book presented the subject matter in a fresh light which I found thought provoking.
There's a lot of wisdom in this book! I think it would speak to any style of homeschooler from unschoolers (which the Millmans seem to identify strongly with) to those who are more conventional in how they educate their children. And even though the Millmans are Catholic and that very evidently influences their choices, the book is not a Catholic Homeschooling book. I think it would appeal to homeschoolers of all stripes.
Anyway, thank you to the Millmans for writing this book! It was just the ticket I needed. I keep going back and rereading sections. There's food for thought here that can guide me in our learning lifestyle this year. May God continue to bless them!
I found this book really intelligently written and insightful. The Millmans chronicle their journey into homeschooling and how their philosophy of homeschooling and, well, life(!), developed. They talk about all aspects of it, the richness of learning, how learning at home must needs be different from learning in an institutional setting. This is mixed in with very practical advice. I especially liked the whole section they had on their experience getting their children into college. I felt Mr. Millman's voice most strongly in the telling. He writes like a reporter, interviewing various people, citing resources, studies, polls. He draws on his knowledge of business in analyzing the phenomenon of homeschooling. This aspect of the book presented the subject matter in a fresh light which I found thought provoking.
There's a lot of wisdom in this book! I think it would speak to any style of homeschooler from unschoolers (which the Millmans seem to identify strongly with) to those who are more conventional in how they educate their children. And even though the Millmans are Catholic and that very evidently influences their choices, the book is not a Catholic Homeschooling book. I think it would appeal to homeschoolers of all stripes.
Anyway, thank you to the Millmans for writing this book! It was just the ticket I needed. I keep going back and rereading sections. There's food for thought here that can guide me in our learning lifestyle this year. May God continue to bless them!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been
Two points if you know what song that line is from!!!!!
I've been looking back over our summer, even though it isn't quite finished yet. Here's what's gone on so far:
I've been looking back over our summer, even though it isn't quite finished yet. Here's what's gone on so far:
- Hannah came home from college. This always changes the dynamics around here somehow even though she spends lots of time in her room or out so that at times we forget she's home again!
- Hannah gets a job for about 3 weeks at a pizza place. Boss turns out to be a sadistic megalomaniac. Hannah quits and then pieces together various nannying/housesitting jobs to earn money for her trip to Rome in the spring.
- Josh, Sean and Becky go on an overnight campout with 4H. They have a good time until they are eaten alive by mosquitoes.
- Becky who up to this point has loved, loved, loved her gymnastics class and who has begged to go to a week long camp there for homeschoolers, inexplicably refuses to go to the camp.
- Becky freaks out taking CAT and I can't get her to work on it. I give up and don't make her. I'll think of something else, I say to myself.
- Hannah paints her room and does a really good job. Maybe she could have a career as an interior decorator.
- I realize I have let my driver's license expire. I can't find either my birth or marriage certificate. Spend way too much time waiting to receive documents and waiting at the DMV. Becomes a huge black cloud that hangs over me all summer.
- I pay a lot of money to join a pool that we never wind up actually going to. Summer is not looking good.
- Hannah's roommate from college comes to stay for a week. I hire both her and Hannah to clean/organize the house. They do an incredible job on the kitchen and the horrible mudroom/pantry. Life is good!
- Will goes off to Workcamp - NC where he paints and repairs houses.
- Will comes back from Workcamp and then a week later leaves for a 5 week stay in Boston at Berklee College of Music. I miss him terribly. He calls us every afternoon.
- Becky begins a blissful three weeks at music camp. She loves it though she never does get a good sound out of her flute.
- Meanwhile Josh is plugging through his 9th grade coursework, trying to finish it before 10th grade starts.
- Becky has her birthday party. Hannah is a great help here and paints all the little girls nails for them. Becky refuses to write thank you notes. I keep thinking I'll get her in a better mood first but then get preoccupied with life.
- Sean announces he no longer wants to be read aloud to. I decide I'll give him a break for the summer, but since he doesn't read enough on his own, he'll have to put up with it during the school year.
- Becky and I continue to enjoy Noel Steatfeild books. We read Ballet Shoes.
- Sean and Josh spend a week volunteering at our parish Vacation Bible School. Everyone praises Josh's work. Sean enjoys himself too.
- Josh spends a weekend at Steubenville. Has a great time.
- Florian, our Austrian Exchange Student arrives. Hannah wanted to me participate in the 4H program because she figures it would be cool to know someone in Europe when she goes over next spring. However, she is too busy/preoccupied to spend all that much time with him. Everybody is in throes of doing something else (like aforementioned activities). I wind up spending lots of time with him. He is a great guy, full of curiosity of about the US and intelligent observations. We have a very enjoyable 3 weeks, except for the fact that Becky is still acting crazed at times!
- We go on field trips with Florian to Mount Vernon and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.
- Hannah goes off to California to visit some boy. She comes back all moody and distant. She openly acts as if she can't stand to be in the same room with us for more than 5 minutes (and that's a strain.). Sigh. If only my children were more sympathetic when suffering. Instead they are so prickly and difficult. Apparently, he broke her heart.
- Sean participates in a Drama Camp at church where he is once again the only boy in his age level. He hates one of the skits they have to do which is based on a stupid pop song sung by a stupid pop singer. He tries to handle himself nobly but breaks down and cries a little too.
- Florian leaves to continue his travels. It's weird to have a son for 3 weeks who then goes off and you'll probably never see him again. . . .
- I miss Will.
- Latin camp starts up. 13 kids, 9 of them boys. Everything goes well, but I am constantly planning as we go. Becky decides she's really in charge and can't understand why everybody won't let her boss them around. Week is exhausting! I am tired of Becky's constantly acting out. I've been reading parenting books all summer trying to figure her out.
- Josh finishes his literature for 9th grade! Hurray!
- Josh, Sean and Becky take lessons from Johnny for swimming. They love it. Josh finally likes being in the water! Life is looking up!
- I finally renew my license. I also fill in paper work to be an AHG asst. leader. This has also been hanging over my head. Feel relief!
- I forget to figure out what to do about Becky's lack of testing. Am now a week late getting in proof of progress for the county. Ugh. Another black cloud!
- Helen, the roommate, is back. She and Hannah are hired to clean/organize the study and basement.
- Josh is working on finishing up his science requirements for the year. Hopefully today, he'll complete that. Then he'll only have history to finish up before vacation! Algebra II will continue into the fall. Then he'll cram all of Geometry into the remaining school year.
- Sean has a stop motion camp to attend this coming week. He is very excited about it. I hope he doesn't get too disappointed about it. Seems like he always has such high aspirations that inevitably get dashed.
- Must send in proof of progress and plans for next year to county this week. Must!
- Must meet with M. Stender to discuss TORCH stuff for upcoming school year.
- Must write those thank you notes!
- Must get ready this week for vacation next week. OBX here we come. I can't wait. My sister Lisa and her family will be with us a few days. I haven't really talked to her in ages and ages. Can't wait to walk on the beach, have other adults take turns cooking, read lots of books, hang out with Will . . . .
- William will be done with his program on Friday, it looks like! We've got to fly him home. Can't wait to see him!
- Poor Hannah is getting her wisdom teeth pulled on 8/24. I'll need to nurse her for a couple of days. Also, recoup from vacation and get last minute things in order. Hannah leaves for school 8/27.
- New school year starts up 8/30! Whew! It will be a relieve to have a set routine each week instead of bouncing around from one thing to another week after week! I'm looking forward to it!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Latin Camp
I'm hosting a Latin camp this week for 13 kids ages 6.5 to 11. It's only for 3 hours a day but it seems to swallow whole days. I'm just going to note what I've done each day for future reference:
Day 1
Kids got nametags as they came in.
Sat in circle. Led them in sign of the cross and Ave Maria (in Latin) Practiced it a couple of times.
Played an ice breaker game - batted balloon around and each kid said his/her name, age and either what their favorite food was or their favorite animal. Balloon turned into volley ball game. Too rowdy.
Learned short poem by Sara Coleridge - Father is Pater. . .
Learned about what a verb is and what a noun is. Stood up and we chanted Amo, amas, amat to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance (got this from Latin for Children). Kids loved it.
Played a game. I had written out 50 nouns in Latin on one side and English on the other on post it notes. The kids broke into two or three in a group and went around sticking sticky notes on different things around the house. They liked this.
Made lunch while the kids had indoor free time. Chicken nuggets and fries, apples and carrots.
Served lunch, kids ate. Before I let them go outside to play we recapped what we had learned in the morning.
Then the kids went out and played on slip and slide and sprinklers. Some kids put on a show in the basement.
Day 2
Name tags, kids got here early so played downstairs for a few minutes.
Gathered in circle. Practiced prayers again. Did another icebreaker because a new child who hadn't made it on Monday was here.
Kids enjoyed getting up and reciting the poem. Many offered to stand up and recite. Others didn't want to.
Stood up and sang Amo, amas, amat song.
Broke into three groups. Then they rotated through 3 stations. 1) Latin bingo game - for some reason this didn't work. Not enough bingo cards were alike) 2) Me reading Quot Anamalia out loud. 3) The sticky post game from day 1.
Free time while I made lunch.
Lunch and recap.
Free play outside with slip and slide and sprinklers.
Day 3
Boy did I over plan this day. You would think by Day 3 I'd have a better idea of what I can fit into our little teaching time, but I don't seem to have that instinct. Also, the mood of the children is slightly different from day to day and that can affect their attentiveness and attention spans.
Did the nametag and folder thing
Sat in circle - practiced sign of the cross. Showed the kids a youtube video of the words of the Ave Maria while monks chanted it beautifully.
Did ice breaker - favorite book.
Kids took turns reciting poem. Reviewed Amo song.
Taught the kids Sum - I am, etc. Did the sum, es, est chant with arms punching the air.
Did animal game - had kids stay in the basement (Josh keep them in order) while Becky, Sean and I hid stuffed animals/puppets all over the mainfloor. Each child was given the name of an animal in Latin and English. They were supposed to each look for their animal. Some kids are great lookers and others, not so much!
Free play while I made lunch - bacon and pancakes and oj.
Kids played outside with squirt guns, water soaker balls and in too big storage tubs full of water.
Day 4
No nametags today.
We did a review of everything learned so far. Went over everything to make sure the kids were really pronouncing each word correctly and that they really understood what everything meant.
Played history game - put out cards I have from a homemade timeline game that had to do with Ancient Rome and early Church history. Each child got to pick a card. Then I would talk about whatever picture was on the card - Julius Caesar, roman ship, etc, whatever it was and then we'd pass it around. Kids got hungry and bored about halfway through.
Free play while I made lunch - frozen pizzas.
After lunch more of the same squirt gun/water play. But it was very hot and most of the kids lingered over lunch just chatting or they chose to play indoors or read books.
Day 5
Kids did a 5 minute tidy up of the downstairs (we had mostly set it up night before)
We went over the order of the show verbally. Then we went down to the stage and practiced one time.
The kids played while I got busy with making mac and cheese, tuna salad, put out baby carrots.
Moms came at 12. Brought food - water melon, homemade raisin bread (yummy!), cookies, donuts, fruit salad. One dad was late because his poor wife is recovering from surgery. Put on the show. The kids processed from the bedroom to the stage. Becky was the announcer. First they sang the amo song, then chanted sum, es, est. Then they recited the poem. Then they sat down and each child picked out the animal they had found the day before and took turns saying the word for their animal. Then we all stood up and said the sign of the cross and the Ave Maria.
Had lunch and kids played.
All in all, things went well. There was a lot more I could have taught them if I'd had another hour. However, I don't think I have the stamina to do another hour at this point! So be it!
Day 1
Kids got nametags as they came in.
Sat in circle. Led them in sign of the cross and Ave Maria (in Latin) Practiced it a couple of times.
Played an ice breaker game - batted balloon around and each kid said his/her name, age and either what their favorite food was or their favorite animal. Balloon turned into volley ball game. Too rowdy.
Learned short poem by Sara Coleridge - Father is Pater. . .
Learned about what a verb is and what a noun is. Stood up and we chanted Amo, amas, amat to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance (got this from Latin for Children). Kids loved it.
Played a game. I had written out 50 nouns in Latin on one side and English on the other on post it notes. The kids broke into two or three in a group and went around sticking sticky notes on different things around the house. They liked this.
Made lunch while the kids had indoor free time. Chicken nuggets and fries, apples and carrots.
Served lunch, kids ate. Before I let them go outside to play we recapped what we had learned in the morning.
Then the kids went out and played on slip and slide and sprinklers. Some kids put on a show in the basement.
Day 2
Name tags, kids got here early so played downstairs for a few minutes.
Gathered in circle. Practiced prayers again. Did another icebreaker because a new child who hadn't made it on Monday was here.
Kids enjoyed getting up and reciting the poem. Many offered to stand up and recite. Others didn't want to.
Stood up and sang Amo, amas, amat song.
Broke into three groups. Then they rotated through 3 stations. 1) Latin bingo game - for some reason this didn't work. Not enough bingo cards were alike) 2) Me reading Quot Anamalia out loud. 3) The sticky post game from day 1.
Free time while I made lunch.
Lunch and recap.
Free play outside with slip and slide and sprinklers.
Day 3
Boy did I over plan this day. You would think by Day 3 I'd have a better idea of what I can fit into our little teaching time, but I don't seem to have that instinct. Also, the mood of the children is slightly different from day to day and that can affect their attentiveness and attention spans.
Did the nametag and folder thing
Sat in circle - practiced sign of the cross. Showed the kids a youtube video of the words of the Ave Maria while monks chanted it beautifully.
Did ice breaker - favorite book.
Kids took turns reciting poem. Reviewed Amo song.
Taught the kids Sum - I am, etc. Did the sum, es, est chant with arms punching the air.
Did animal game - had kids stay in the basement (Josh keep them in order) while Becky, Sean and I hid stuffed animals/puppets all over the mainfloor. Each child was given the name of an animal in Latin and English. They were supposed to each look for their animal. Some kids are great lookers and others, not so much!
Free play while I made lunch - bacon and pancakes and oj.
Kids played outside with squirt guns, water soaker balls and in too big storage tubs full of water.
Day 4
No nametags today.
We did a review of everything learned so far. Went over everything to make sure the kids were really pronouncing each word correctly and that they really understood what everything meant.
Played history game - put out cards I have from a homemade timeline game that had to do with Ancient Rome and early Church history. Each child got to pick a card. Then I would talk about whatever picture was on the card - Julius Caesar, roman ship, etc, whatever it was and then we'd pass it around. Kids got hungry and bored about halfway through.
Free play while I made lunch - frozen pizzas.
After lunch more of the same squirt gun/water play. But it was very hot and most of the kids lingered over lunch just chatting or they chose to play indoors or read books.
Day 5
Kids did a 5 minute tidy up of the downstairs (we had mostly set it up night before)
We went over the order of the show verbally. Then we went down to the stage and practiced one time.
The kids played while I got busy with making mac and cheese, tuna salad, put out baby carrots.
Moms came at 12. Brought food - water melon, homemade raisin bread (yummy!), cookies, donuts, fruit salad. One dad was late because his poor wife is recovering from surgery. Put on the show. The kids processed from the bedroom to the stage. Becky was the announcer. First they sang the amo song, then chanted sum, es, est. Then they recited the poem. Then they sat down and each child picked out the animal they had found the day before and took turns saying the word for their animal. Then we all stood up and said the sign of the cross and the Ave Maria.
Had lunch and kids played.
All in all, things went well. There was a lot more I could have taught them if I'd had another hour. However, I don't think I have the stamina to do another hour at this point! So be it!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
My Ideal Homeschooling Day
This was inspired by a WTM thread where someone asked for everyone to put aside reality and daydream about how a perfect homeschool day would go. I've been thinking about this and sitting out here on my backyard porch, sipping tea, on a cool (yes, it is actually a little chilly out right now!) summer morning, I am inclined to be optimistic! So here's my ideal day for this coming school year. We are going to be a little more formal than last year, just because my high schooler needs to be and my rising 6th grader wants to be.
6:30 I'd wake up rested! I'd patter downstairs, feed the pets, make a cup of tea, check e-mail while slowly waking up. I'd probably put on a load of laundry and unload the dishwasher. Doing those last two things always makes me feel like I've got a jump start on household duties. I'd also like to prepare a bit for our morning studies.
7:30 If the weather is good I'd like to take a 20 to 30 minute walk, probably with the dog. Hopefully I'd remember to say at least part of a rosary or do some sort of prayer while I walked. If the weather is bad, I'll probably just sit in my living room and pray. Probably by this time others are stirring in the house. Then I'd like to take a quick shower in whatever bathroom happens to be free. I don't want to take a long shower because then I tend to start daydreaming and this really demotivates me. After I hop out of the shower, I'll dress quickly and get downstairs to put out a simple breakfast. My plans are: M, Th - eggs and some kind of breakfast meat, T and F - oatmeal/cereal and fruit, W - rolls, cheese and fruit.
8:30 Everyone needs to report to the kitchen by this time. I'd prefer everyone to have gotten up, showered (if they are a morning shower type person), maybe taken two minutes to tidy their rooms. But I'll be happy if folks show up in their pjs as long as they are on time. Over breakfast I will read aloud Bible stories or chapters from the 6th and 4th graders Faith and Life books. Also, if it happens to be a saint's feast day, we might read a short something about the saint of the day. The 10th grader can listen in if he wants!
9:00 Sweep all the dishes into the sink and get out materials for morning studies. This is basically the three R's plus Latin/Greek. There is a maps, graphs and charts workbook thrown in there for good measure courtesy of Kolbe. Kids can do work in any order they choose as long as I can bounced back and forth between them helping and giving the attention needed. High schooler goes off to the dining room and works on homework he needs to do for his various classes.
There are little breaks here and there through out the morning. Maybe there is a Mozart cd playing in the background. No one feels rushed or tense, but just comfortably working through lessons. Mid-morning snacks of fruit and crackers are available when needed. I get to drink another cup of caffeine or two! I remember to drink plenty of water too. I keep an eye on high schooler's progress.
My 18 yo son will be on a different schedule. He'll be studying for CLEP tests and working, so he will float in and out of this scenario, depending on what's going on with him each day.
Noonish - We stop for lunch. Hopefully we got the mornings lessons done. If not we might have to finish up a bit in the evening. This is the time to clean the kitchen from both breakfast and lunch and also make sure I know what is going on for dinner that night. Lunches are simple: sandwiches or leftovers.
After lunch - we'll do either history or science, depending on the day. These studies are more read aloud/project oriented. I'll also continue to check in on 10th grader to make sure he's up to speed.
Tuesdays will be a bit different. Tuesday morning the younger two will have art class while 10th grader and I are in Latin class. Friday mornings I'll be taking 10th grader to Biology class but that will only take about 15 minutes out of the morning.
Mid-afternoon - depending on the day, afternoon activities will include: American Heritage Girls, Little Flowers, Tennis, working on stuff for 4H, free time which includes computer/TV time, playing outside, running errands, appointments, etc.
Dinner - dinner prep, a quick blitz tidy up of major living areas, eating dinner, cleaning up from dinner, going to 4H meetings which tend to be T or TH evenings a couple times a month. 10th grader goes to his teen group meeting at church on Wednesday nights at 7:30.
After dinner - my new thing is to have no screen after dinner. Except maybe watching a half hour of Jeopardy. That gets the mind rolling and eager for knowledge! But other than that, after dinner should be for: putting laundry away, taking a walk or playing outside some more, playing a game, reading, finishing up studies that weren't completed during the day, showers/baths for the evening shower/bath people, read alouds and prayer. Maybe after the younger two are in bed, the teens can watch an episode of the Simpsons with their dad. But that's it. Twice now my pediatrician has told me not to let the kids do screen at least two hours before bedtime. They have so much trouble falling asleep and he says a major cause of this in kids is too much screen time right before bed. So I'm taking his advice to heart.
10:00 or 10:30 Hopefully I can settle into bed and read my book right about this time!
6:30 I'd wake up rested! I'd patter downstairs, feed the pets, make a cup of tea, check e-mail while slowly waking up. I'd probably put on a load of laundry and unload the dishwasher. Doing those last two things always makes me feel like I've got a jump start on household duties. I'd also like to prepare a bit for our morning studies.
7:30 If the weather is good I'd like to take a 20 to 30 minute walk, probably with the dog. Hopefully I'd remember to say at least part of a rosary or do some sort of prayer while I walked. If the weather is bad, I'll probably just sit in my living room and pray. Probably by this time others are stirring in the house. Then I'd like to take a quick shower in whatever bathroom happens to be free. I don't want to take a long shower because then I tend to start daydreaming and this really demotivates me. After I hop out of the shower, I'll dress quickly and get downstairs to put out a simple breakfast. My plans are: M, Th - eggs and some kind of breakfast meat, T and F - oatmeal/cereal and fruit, W - rolls, cheese and fruit.
8:30 Everyone needs to report to the kitchen by this time. I'd prefer everyone to have gotten up, showered (if they are a morning shower type person), maybe taken two minutes to tidy their rooms. But I'll be happy if folks show up in their pjs as long as they are on time. Over breakfast I will read aloud Bible stories or chapters from the 6th and 4th graders Faith and Life books. Also, if it happens to be a saint's feast day, we might read a short something about the saint of the day. The 10th grader can listen in if he wants!
9:00 Sweep all the dishes into the sink and get out materials for morning studies. This is basically the three R's plus Latin/Greek. There is a maps, graphs and charts workbook thrown in there for good measure courtesy of Kolbe. Kids can do work in any order they choose as long as I can bounced back and forth between them helping and giving the attention needed. High schooler goes off to the dining room and works on homework he needs to do for his various classes.
There are little breaks here and there through out the morning. Maybe there is a Mozart cd playing in the background. No one feels rushed or tense, but just comfortably working through lessons. Mid-morning snacks of fruit and crackers are available when needed. I get to drink another cup of caffeine or two! I remember to drink plenty of water too. I keep an eye on high schooler's progress.
My 18 yo son will be on a different schedule. He'll be studying for CLEP tests and working, so he will float in and out of this scenario, depending on what's going on with him each day.
Noonish - We stop for lunch. Hopefully we got the mornings lessons done. If not we might have to finish up a bit in the evening. This is the time to clean the kitchen from both breakfast and lunch and also make sure I know what is going on for dinner that night. Lunches are simple: sandwiches or leftovers.
After lunch - we'll do either history or science, depending on the day. These studies are more read aloud/project oriented. I'll also continue to check in on 10th grader to make sure he's up to speed.
Tuesdays will be a bit different. Tuesday morning the younger two will have art class while 10th grader and I are in Latin class. Friday mornings I'll be taking 10th grader to Biology class but that will only take about 15 minutes out of the morning.
Mid-afternoon - depending on the day, afternoon activities will include: American Heritage Girls, Little Flowers, Tennis, working on stuff for 4H, free time which includes computer/TV time, playing outside, running errands, appointments, etc.
Dinner - dinner prep, a quick blitz tidy up of major living areas, eating dinner, cleaning up from dinner, going to 4H meetings which tend to be T or TH evenings a couple times a month. 10th grader goes to his teen group meeting at church on Wednesday nights at 7:30.
After dinner - my new thing is to have no screen after dinner. Except maybe watching a half hour of Jeopardy. That gets the mind rolling and eager for knowledge! But other than that, after dinner should be for: putting laundry away, taking a walk or playing outside some more, playing a game, reading, finishing up studies that weren't completed during the day, showers/baths for the evening shower/bath people, read alouds and prayer. Maybe after the younger two are in bed, the teens can watch an episode of the Simpsons with their dad. But that's it. Twice now my pediatrician has told me not to let the kids do screen at least two hours before bedtime. They have so much trouble falling asleep and he says a major cause of this in kids is too much screen time right before bed. So I'm taking his advice to heart.
10:00 or 10:30 Hopefully I can settle into bed and read my book right about this time!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Fun American History
Well, I've taken a long hiatus from this blog, but I am in planning mode again and this is a good place to put my thoughts and plans.
Right now I'm organizing Sean's 6th grade history plans. I want to cover some American history in a fun way. I'm relying on some books from Royal Fireworks Press. We read one of these books as a read aloud a while ago and it was one of the few history books that got Sean really engaged. He thinks he hates history. I am out to prove him wrong this year! I am also going to use some Learning Through History magazines which are quite nice and I think will appeal to him. I think he'd rather read short articles then long historical fiction or even listen to a long textbook as a spine. I'm also going to assign a few books for him to read. We'll also do some movies, a game, and read alouds. I'm hoping also to maybe get a couple of field trips in and maybe some activities that are historically related.
Since Sean does not enjoy reading the books I've selected on are the easy side. I figure if I want him to read for knowledge I shouldn't make the reading a struggle for him. He will be a book club this coming year with 6th through 8th graders and I think those books will be challenging enough for him.
Books for Independent Reading:
The Trail of Tears by Joseph Bruchac (1838)- Step Into Reading-Step 5
Adventures of the Pioneer Show People by Edith McCall (begins in 1812 - Annie Oakley)
If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon (part of the Scholastic series)
Learning Through History Magazine, Tribes of the American Plains issue
Striking It Rich by Stephen Krensky - (1849) Ready to Read Level 3
Gold Rush Adventures by Edith McCall
Lotta Crabtree, Gold Rush Girl by Marian T. Place (Childhood of Famous Americans series) I remember reading this book as a child! I found a used copy.
Learning Through History Magazine - The Atlantic Slave Trade
Willy Finds Victory; A Blessed Francis Seelos Story by Joan Stromberg
Learning Through History Magazine - The American Civil War
Civil War for Kids - A History with 21 Activities
A Story of Father Damien by Brother Ernest, CSC
Learning Through History - Industrial Revolution
The Orphans Find a Home - A St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Story
Read Alouds:
(This include a couple of Roman history books too in prep for our trip to Rome in the spring)
The Aeneid for Boys and Girls by Church (dh started this in the spring but the kids objected. So I plan to read during 'school' hours.
I Rode with Hannibal by Hans ?????
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Across Five Aprils
Moccasin Trail
Movies:
Showboat
The Jazz Singer
Annie Get Your Gun
Gettysburg
The Red Badge of Courage
Gone with the Wind
Field trips
Gold Vein VA?
Gettysburg PA
Civil War Reenactment somewhere?
Music
Stephen Foster/Civil War Songs
Other
Study timeline posted on wall in re Civil War
Any activities Sean would be interested in doing
This probably isn't complete. But at least I've got it written down now!
Right now I'm organizing Sean's 6th grade history plans. I want to cover some American history in a fun way. I'm relying on some books from Royal Fireworks Press. We read one of these books as a read aloud a while ago and it was one of the few history books that got Sean really engaged. He thinks he hates history. I am out to prove him wrong this year! I am also going to use some Learning Through History magazines which are quite nice and I think will appeal to him. I think he'd rather read short articles then long historical fiction or even listen to a long textbook as a spine. I'm also going to assign a few books for him to read. We'll also do some movies, a game, and read alouds. I'm hoping also to maybe get a couple of field trips in and maybe some activities that are historically related.
Since Sean does not enjoy reading the books I've selected on are the easy side. I figure if I want him to read for knowledge I shouldn't make the reading a struggle for him. He will be a book club this coming year with 6th through 8th graders and I think those books will be challenging enough for him.
Books for Independent Reading:
The Trail of Tears by Joseph Bruchac (1838)- Step Into Reading-Step 5
Adventures of the Pioneer Show People by Edith McCall (begins in 1812 - Annie Oakley)
If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon (part of the Scholastic series)
Learning Through History Magazine, Tribes of the American Plains issue
Striking It Rich by Stephen Krensky - (1849) Ready to Read Level 3
Gold Rush Adventures by Edith McCall
Lotta Crabtree, Gold Rush Girl by Marian T. Place (Childhood of Famous Americans series) I remember reading this book as a child! I found a used copy.
Learning Through History Magazine - The Atlantic Slave Trade
Willy Finds Victory; A Blessed Francis Seelos Story by Joan Stromberg
Learning Through History Magazine - The American Civil War
Civil War for Kids - A History with 21 Activities
A Story of Father Damien by Brother Ernest, CSC
Learning Through History - Industrial Revolution
The Orphans Find a Home - A St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Story
Read Alouds:
(This include a couple of Roman history books too in prep for our trip to Rome in the spring)
The Aeneid for Boys and Girls by Church (dh started this in the spring but the kids objected. So I plan to read during 'school' hours.
I Rode with Hannibal by Hans ?????
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years
Across Five Aprils
Moccasin Trail
Movies:
Showboat
The Jazz Singer
Annie Get Your Gun
Gettysburg
The Red Badge of Courage
Gone with the Wind
Field trips
Gold Vein VA?
Gettysburg PA
Civil War Reenactment somewhere?
Music
Stephen Foster/Civil War Songs
Other
Study timeline posted on wall in re Civil War
Any activities Sean would be interested in doing
This probably isn't complete. But at least I've got it written down now!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Journaling the Day 5/12/10
Got up around 7, fed pets, did ½ hr on internet, cleaned kitchen and family room (1 hr)
8 yo woke up – first thing told me all about St. Barbara – the whole story narrated to me very nicely. I think she must have been listening to Once Upon a Saint last night before she fell asleep.
11 yo woke up – came down and wanted to tell me all about Stephen Pastis (sp?) the creator of Pearls Before Swine. Before bed last night he was reading the author’s introduction to a collection of his comics. My 11 yo loves Stephen Pastis!
@ 9 I made turkey bacon and scrambled eggs. Asked 11 yo to rouse 15 yo who got up, showered and came down to eat. Read last chapter of King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola. Wow, what a great book. We talked about it a lot and decided it was the kind of book we should reread every year.
8 yo started watching a new Arthur on the Apple computer. Don’t know what others were doing. I decided to take quick shower.
Came downstairs from shower; 8 and 11 yo were working on making their own videogame on 11 yo’s dsi. Something they had started yesterday. It is very cute, they took lots of photos and made up different characters and voices to go with characters and different powers etc.. So not wanting to disturb them while they were playing happily I asked 15 yo if he wanted to get started. We have a checklist on our kitchen wall of stuff he ought to do each day. We decided to watch the next science lecture from the Teaching Co on Earth Science. It was fascinating about interglacial periods and climate change. Got into discussion about global warming with 15 yo.
11 and 8 yo came downstairs wondering what they were doing for lessons. I got out books that they worked in yesterday for seatwork which they do while me and their older brothers are in Latin class. I checked 8 yo phonics page and math page. Both done well! She said she just wanted to work on her timzit for math today, so that’s what she did. S did a page of his CHC spelling book. He usually does a page or two during the Latin class but he didn’t feel like it, so we decide to do it now. He wanted me to help him. He has trouble with fill in the blanks and that’s what this was. So we did that which involved learning what latitude and longitude was. So geography lesson was bonus! Then S did his Writing with Ease. I read a passage from Pippi Longstocking out loud then he had to orally narrate it back via guiding questions to help him remember the main points. Then I ask him questions to help him get an idea of how to summarize the passage. Then he writes out his summary. 8 yo listens better than 11 yo so she’s often jumping in with the answers which annoys 11 yo immensely. To forestall this we made 8 yo promise not to jump in but instead I’d read her her own passage. So I got out her WWE. She had been doing writing from it same as her older brother, but she started to balk so we are on hiatus. However, I said we could just do the oral portions which she happily agreed to.
It is now after 11 a.m. My 15 yo was supposed to be reading the Aeneid during al l this time. However, instead he was on the internet at the Escapist site and also looking at youtube series Let’s Play. Then he went upstairs to his room and didn’t Aeneid! Instead he read the same Pearls before Swine comic book. Having a slow motivation day, I guess!
My 17 yo is still asleep down in his basement room. I go down and ask him if he needs to get up for any reason. He says NO!
Conversation with 8 yo and 11 yo turns to caterpillars that have built chrysalises in our little butterfly garden that we have sitting on our family room coffee table. That reminds me that I got one of those eyewitness dvds from the library. We watch it. The kids love it and ask if we can go to the library and get more. I remember I got another on volcanoes. They watch that one too. Then they decide to go outside and bike/roller blade. 11 yo is into biking right now. They play outside for a good 45 minutes. I spend the time weeding our garden.
17 yo wakes up finally and take 11 yo and 8 yo out to lunch and then to Vision Therapy. Unfortunately he is running very and late and misses the VT appt. So it gets moved to 5 o’clock.
15 yo sits down and gives himself an Saxon Algebra II test. He can not remember certain algorithm. For some reason while trying to remember he lays down on two chairs in the dining room, groaning. After doing this a few minutes, he straightens up and begins to work. Hey, you couldn’t do that in a classroom!
11 yo and 17 go out together. They like to drive around and listen to the same music!
8 yo does a tiny bit of reading for me from a reading comp book I got at B&N. I’m trying to prime her for the CAT test coming up.
8 yo watches several episodes of Avatar, her latest obsession.
I dictate passage about mental prayer from Intro to Devout Life to 15 yo.
I got a new book on teaching beginning Latin, Getting Started in Latin by William Linney. Excellent, gentle intro. 8 yo and I do first 3 lessons. Super cinchy.
17 yo reads limericks out loud from an Edward Lear book I left out on the table. Today is Lear’s birthday!
While I take 8 yo to VT, 17 yo sits with 11 yo while he rewatches his new Latin lesson in Latin for Children.
15 yo reads Naruto (sp?) on line.
15 yo reads some more of Aeneid while I’m gone. When I get back, he and I go through study guide questions while I’m making dinner.
Before dinner, 8 yo plays outside in the rain on her scooter. She comes in all happy and volunteers to set the table! Wow, that was a first!
Dinner is meatball subs and baby carrots. I go to put away laundry. 8 yo is still in her helping mood so she helps me.
8 yo watches a new Fetch with Ruff, Ruffman show. The kids in the show have to build a bridge. Then they had border collies herding sheep. This is interesting because we just saw the 4H’ers last night run their agility dogs through their obstacle course. We are all excited to teach our Sheltie agility next year.
17 and 15 yo go to their Catholic Life Community meeting run by the Youth Apostles. There they hang out with other teen boys, study the scripture for next Sunday’s mass, learn about the faith from the lay Youth Apostle leaders and then socialize and talk.
11 and 8 yo watched Jeopardy together. Then I get out Saxon 6/5 out and we do lesson 53 and learn about double digit divisors in long division. 11 yo does 3 practice problems. I check his work from yesterday too. 11 yo has found a book we have; a dictionary of Adventure Heroes from every imaginable source: folklore, mythology, comic books, literature, radio. Movies, stage, etc. He looks up different heroes such as Ivanhoe. He thinks the book is really cool!
8 yo has been watching Arthur again while we are doing this. After Arthur I read next chapter in The Yellow House Mystery (Boxcar Children) to 8 yo while 11 yo reads next chapter in Island of the Blue Dolphins. 11 yo tells me about the chapter. He says it reminds him of when the main character in Hatchet realizes that no one is going to rescue him soon and he has to figure out how to survive. Then I read another chapter in Movie Shoes by Noel Streatfield to both kids. It was very long. But I got a kick out of it. The kids are being homeschooled in the story!
After that 8 yo brushes my hair while 11 yo practices his piano pieces for his jury next week and also practices sight reading. Then we say prayers. 8 yo wants to pray for all the people suffering from Volcanos (thinking about the eyewitness dvd we’d watched in a.m.) We also get into a meandering discussion that swings from lightly touching on the birds and the bees (8 yo can’t figure out why kids look like their dad if they come out of their mom’s womb. I tell her it is just like with animals, sperm must fertilize an egg. She’s seen lots of nature movies!). 8 yo seems satisfied with that, she hasn’t connect the physical part. 11 yo has embarrassed grin on his face as he has made the connection! Later 11 yo talks about how he might become a priest. He’s been saying this for a week or two. Several weeks ago there was a missionary priest at mass that made quite an impression on 11 yo. So now he daydreams about being a missionary priest. But then realizes he can’t be a dad if he’s a priest. So we talk about how it is really up to the Holy Spirit and we don’t have to worry about it but just be open to what unfolds in our lives. 8 yo talks about how she sometimes thinks she wants to be a nun. I tell her that I dreamed of being a nun when I was 10 and then I also thought about it right before I met daddy. She shrieks with laughter! You mean you thought you were going to be a nun right before you met your true love???? She says. She says that she really wants to be a saint and that we should say morning rosaries like we used to. I say great! Let’s try to do that again!
Teens come home. 17 yo starts playing a real ragtime piece he’s writing on the piano. 15 yo immediately disappears into the study to get on the computer. He brings back my kindle that he borrowed. He’s been reading H. P. Lovecraft stories he downloaded on it.
Rick comes home from work. It is now almost 10 o’clock at night and I am tired! It is rough living in a family of night owls when you are the only one who is ‘normal.’
Rick is reading the sequel to Detectives in Togas to the younger ones, Mystery of the Roman Ransom. They are loving it so far. After he’s finished a chapter, I shoo the kids off to bed.
17 yo runs to the store to pick up cat food among other things. It is wonderful having a teen who can drive!
Rick and I finish watching The Blind Side, a movie we started the day before yesterday. Good movie!
I go to bed, 17 yo, 15 yo and Rick stay up til about midnight. Don’t know what they did!
8 yo woke up – first thing told me all about St. Barbara – the whole story narrated to me very nicely. I think she must have been listening to Once Upon a Saint last night before she fell asleep.
11 yo woke up – came down and wanted to tell me all about Stephen Pastis (sp?) the creator of Pearls Before Swine. Before bed last night he was reading the author’s introduction to a collection of his comics. My 11 yo loves Stephen Pastis!
@ 9 I made turkey bacon and scrambled eggs. Asked 11 yo to rouse 15 yo who got up, showered and came down to eat. Read last chapter of King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola. Wow, what a great book. We talked about it a lot and decided it was the kind of book we should reread every year.
8 yo started watching a new Arthur on the Apple computer. Don’t know what others were doing. I decided to take quick shower.
Came downstairs from shower; 8 and 11 yo were working on making their own videogame on 11 yo’s dsi. Something they had started yesterday. It is very cute, they took lots of photos and made up different characters and voices to go with characters and different powers etc.. So not wanting to disturb them while they were playing happily I asked 15 yo if he wanted to get started. We have a checklist on our kitchen wall of stuff he ought to do each day. We decided to watch the next science lecture from the Teaching Co on Earth Science. It was fascinating about interglacial periods and climate change. Got into discussion about global warming with 15 yo.
11 and 8 yo came downstairs wondering what they were doing for lessons. I got out books that they worked in yesterday for seatwork which they do while me and their older brothers are in Latin class. I checked 8 yo phonics page and math page. Both done well! She said she just wanted to work on her timzit for math today, so that’s what she did. S did a page of his CHC spelling book. He usually does a page or two during the Latin class but he didn’t feel like it, so we decide to do it now. He wanted me to help him. He has trouble with fill in the blanks and that’s what this was. So we did that which involved learning what latitude and longitude was. So geography lesson was bonus! Then S did his Writing with Ease. I read a passage from Pippi Longstocking out loud then he had to orally narrate it back via guiding questions to help him remember the main points. Then I ask him questions to help him get an idea of how to summarize the passage. Then he writes out his summary. 8 yo listens better than 11 yo so she’s often jumping in with the answers which annoys 11 yo immensely. To forestall this we made 8 yo promise not to jump in but instead I’d read her her own passage. So I got out her WWE. She had been doing writing from it same as her older brother, but she started to balk so we are on hiatus. However, I said we could just do the oral portions which she happily agreed to.
It is now after 11 a.m. My 15 yo was supposed to be reading the Aeneid during al l this time. However, instead he was on the internet at the Escapist site and also looking at youtube series Let’s Play. Then he went upstairs to his room and didn’t Aeneid! Instead he read the same Pearls before Swine comic book. Having a slow motivation day, I guess!
My 17 yo is still asleep down in his basement room. I go down and ask him if he needs to get up for any reason. He says NO!
Conversation with 8 yo and 11 yo turns to caterpillars that have built chrysalises in our little butterfly garden that we have sitting on our family room coffee table. That reminds me that I got one of those eyewitness dvds from the library. We watch it. The kids love it and ask if we can go to the library and get more. I remember I got another on volcanoes. They watch that one too. Then they decide to go outside and bike/roller blade. 11 yo is into biking right now. They play outside for a good 45 minutes. I spend the time weeding our garden.
17 yo wakes up finally and take 11 yo and 8 yo out to lunch and then to Vision Therapy. Unfortunately he is running very and late and misses the VT appt. So it gets moved to 5 o’clock.
15 yo sits down and gives himself an Saxon Algebra II test. He can not remember certain algorithm. For some reason while trying to remember he lays down on two chairs in the dining room, groaning. After doing this a few minutes, he straightens up and begins to work. Hey, you couldn’t do that in a classroom!
11 yo and 17 go out together. They like to drive around and listen to the same music!
8 yo does a tiny bit of reading for me from a reading comp book I got at B&N. I’m trying to prime her for the CAT test coming up.
8 yo watches several episodes of Avatar, her latest obsession.
I dictate passage about mental prayer from Intro to Devout Life to 15 yo.
I got a new book on teaching beginning Latin, Getting Started in Latin by William Linney. Excellent, gentle intro. 8 yo and I do first 3 lessons. Super cinchy.
17 yo reads limericks out loud from an Edward Lear book I left out on the table. Today is Lear’s birthday!
While I take 8 yo to VT, 17 yo sits with 11 yo while he rewatches his new Latin lesson in Latin for Children.
15 yo reads Naruto (sp?) on line.
15 yo reads some more of Aeneid while I’m gone. When I get back, he and I go through study guide questions while I’m making dinner.
Before dinner, 8 yo plays outside in the rain on her scooter. She comes in all happy and volunteers to set the table! Wow, that was a first!
Dinner is meatball subs and baby carrots. I go to put away laundry. 8 yo is still in her helping mood so she helps me.
8 yo watches a new Fetch with Ruff, Ruffman show. The kids in the show have to build a bridge. Then they had border collies herding sheep. This is interesting because we just saw the 4H’ers last night run their agility dogs through their obstacle course. We are all excited to teach our Sheltie agility next year.
17 and 15 yo go to their Catholic Life Community meeting run by the Youth Apostles. There they hang out with other teen boys, study the scripture for next Sunday’s mass, learn about the faith from the lay Youth Apostle leaders and then socialize and talk.
11 and 8 yo watched Jeopardy together. Then I get out Saxon 6/5 out and we do lesson 53 and learn about double digit divisors in long division. 11 yo does 3 practice problems. I check his work from yesterday too. 11 yo has found a book we have; a dictionary of Adventure Heroes from every imaginable source: folklore, mythology, comic books, literature, radio. Movies, stage, etc. He looks up different heroes such as Ivanhoe. He thinks the book is really cool!
8 yo has been watching Arthur again while we are doing this. After Arthur I read next chapter in The Yellow House Mystery (Boxcar Children) to 8 yo while 11 yo reads next chapter in Island of the Blue Dolphins. 11 yo tells me about the chapter. He says it reminds him of when the main character in Hatchet realizes that no one is going to rescue him soon and he has to figure out how to survive. Then I read another chapter in Movie Shoes by Noel Streatfield to both kids. It was very long. But I got a kick out of it. The kids are being homeschooled in the story!
After that 8 yo brushes my hair while 11 yo practices his piano pieces for his jury next week and also practices sight reading. Then we say prayers. 8 yo wants to pray for all the people suffering from Volcanos (thinking about the eyewitness dvd we’d watched in a.m.) We also get into a meandering discussion that swings from lightly touching on the birds and the bees (8 yo can’t figure out why kids look like their dad if they come out of their mom’s womb. I tell her it is just like with animals, sperm must fertilize an egg. She’s seen lots of nature movies!). 8 yo seems satisfied with that, she hasn’t connect the physical part. 11 yo has embarrassed grin on his face as he has made the connection! Later 11 yo talks about how he might become a priest. He’s been saying this for a week or two. Several weeks ago there was a missionary priest at mass that made quite an impression on 11 yo. So now he daydreams about being a missionary priest. But then realizes he can’t be a dad if he’s a priest. So we talk about how it is really up to the Holy Spirit and we don’t have to worry about it but just be open to what unfolds in our lives. 8 yo talks about how she sometimes thinks she wants to be a nun. I tell her that I dreamed of being a nun when I was 10 and then I also thought about it right before I met daddy. She shrieks with laughter! You mean you thought you were going to be a nun right before you met your true love???? She says. She says that she really wants to be a saint and that we should say morning rosaries like we used to. I say great! Let’s try to do that again!
Teens come home. 17 yo starts playing a real ragtime piece he’s writing on the piano. 15 yo immediately disappears into the study to get on the computer. He brings back my kindle that he borrowed. He’s been reading H. P. Lovecraft stories he downloaded on it.
Rick comes home from work. It is now almost 10 o’clock at night and I am tired! It is rough living in a family of night owls when you are the only one who is ‘normal.’
Rick is reading the sequel to Detectives in Togas to the younger ones, Mystery of the Roman Ransom. They are loving it so far. After he’s finished a chapter, I shoo the kids off to bed.
17 yo runs to the store to pick up cat food among other things. It is wonderful having a teen who can drive!
Rick and I finish watching The Blind Side, a movie we started the day before yesterday. Good movie!
I go to bed, 17 yo, 15 yo and Rick stay up til about midnight. Don’t know what they did!
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