Wednesday Hodgepodge….

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated this coming Saturday...what's a favorite article of clothing you own that contains a touch o' the green?

I have a t-shirt that is a bright lime green. Yup, I love lime green!  

2. What's a favorite 'green space' in the town, state, or province where you live?

I really haven’t thought about it I guess.. Going to need to research this a bit more.

3. Do you wish you were taller, shorter, or think you're just about right in the height department?

I think I’m just about right. I always used to wish I was taller, but I think I’m good.  

4. What's the surest way for someone to pick a fight with you?

To just be in my face, or to bring my kids into it.  I can get really mean.

5. Broccoli-Spinach-String Beans-Peas...of the four, your favorite green veg? (Or the one you dislike the least if that first option's too hard. I just know there's some veggie haters out there.)

Oh, that is hard… I love all four!!! Peas are my first, Broccoli second, string beans third, and spinach four, if I have to choose!

6. March is National Women's History Month...besides friends, neighbors and the women you're related to, who's a woman in history you admire and why?

OH my! I was not ready for this question. I would have to say… that I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about. Another one, I’m going to have to do my research and get back to you!

7. Keep Calm and ____________on.

You fill in the blank.

Carry on

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Do any of you have any special plans for St.Patty’s Day? Is this a special occasion that is celebrated by your family?

We don’t celebrate it for any special reason, but like many things.. In spirit of teaching my kids about history, we do. I like to talk about the holiday, and then we usually celebrate with green foods, and for dinner we have Corn Beef, potatoes, carrots, and cabbage. Yum!

Simple Woman’s Daybook

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR TODAY

March 12, 2012

Outside my window...

Oh it is so beautiful! It was 63 degree’s. Had my car windows down, and music cranked! Love SPRING!

I am thinking...

Wow, 100 years ago today they started Girl Scouts, and its still going strong. Juliette Low would be so proud!

I am thankful for... 

Girl Scouts… It’s a great place for girls to grow, learn, and become strong. There are so many wonderful opportunities for them.. And I am proud to be a leader!

From the learning rooms...

Today we finished up some things we didn’t get done on Friday.. and did our grammar, spelling, and geography. We are going to have a blast with this States study we are doing! I can’t wait to finish it.  

To see more check out our blog here.

From the kitchen... 

We are having cracker chicken, mac and cheese, and cabbage.

I am wearing... 

Jeans, and my new blue shirt. I would have worn my flip flops (But the mud is to bad in my driveway)

I am creating... 

Some plans for our girl scouts… Looking for some fun activities to do with them!

I am going...

To go celebrate 100th year birthday with my girls!

I am reading...

Nothing right now, just finished my book need to order a new one.

I am hoping...

That the weather stays beautiful so we can go to the playground!

I am hearing...  

My kids chatting over there lunch.

Around the house... 

I have laundry to do, dishes, and sweeping.

One of my favorite things...

Visiting my dad.. I don’t see him often, so its nice to be able to visit him..

A few plans for the rest of the week: 

Cub Scouts, Dentist appt, grocery shopping, play date, birthday party, girl scout event, and who knows what else.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

An old one with Monkey Man and his favorite chicken “Red Neck”.

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my life this week…

This week we have been pretty busy…

Monday I unloaded 1200 cases of cookies…

Tuesday & Wednesday I was sick…

Thursday, I finally gave in and went to the ER, I had bronchitis (Blah) ….

Friday we had our weekly History/Science Class with friends, and visited my SIL….

Saturday was the Pinewood Derby for Monkey Man, which I posted about..

 

In our homeschool this week…

In our schoolroom we have been busy puttering around. We have been doing really good keeping up with our normal studies..

Having fun with Math, Spelling, Grammar, and History..

Then we have been having fun with geography (along with our postcard swap)

Science .. we have been meeting up with friends and doing weekly studies.

If you would like to hear more about what we are learning, come by our school blog… HERE.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Tips to share… Hmmm… Embrace the time you have with your kids. I find even when I’m in the schoolroom learning and making learning fun with them, it makes for such a better day. If they sense you being tense and stressing it makes for such a longer day.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week, we have Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Doc appt, Play Date, Library, (maybe the playground, its suppose to be in the 50’s!!), and science class.

My favorite thing this week was…

Oh, that is a hard one.. I think it is a toss up with science class with friends, and the Pinewood Derby. Monkey Man did so good, and was so excited!

What’s working/not working for us…

Our schedule is not working for us lately.. I need to tweak it bit. Hubby’s schedule is throwing us off, but we are doing pretty well just going with it. Can’t wait for the weather to get better!

Questions/thoughts I have…

I’m super bummed, just realized the day of our big curriculum sale here, is the same day I have plans for something else I need to be at. Stinks that I can’t clone myself to be in two places. LOL

Things I’m working on…

Putting together some really fun hiking trips with the kids this spring/summer. I really want to get outside more this year and enjoy the weather. I would also like to do them with a few friends, so we have more fun.

 

I’m reading…

I started a new series by Sheryl Woods and am really enjoying her.

I’m cooking…

Tonight we are having Homemade Pizza.. YUM!!

I’m grateful for…

Friends, that like to teach together.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Still can’t believe my baby is 7!!

On your mark, get set, GO!!!

 

 

Where are we racing off too?? Pinewood Derby of course!

Yup, its that time of year again… Monkey Man, has been working on his car. Not as well as I think he should have been (got his dad’s procrastination).

I love this time of year, cause he just amazes with what he comes up with for design. One year it was a pirate ship, another year he did a car… Last year he wanted a crocodile, but we couldn’t get it to work right… and this year. He came up with a sword. Not any old sword, a Greek sword.

Here it is in the process of being painted…

 

The funny thing was, he was like I don’t need weights on my car. When we asked why, he says, cause I don’t care if it races well, I’m only going for design. We convinced him he should at least try to race… so we put weights on.

The big day arrived today… and after we got weighed in and everything we sat and waited for the racing to begin.

First all the boys went up and voted on best of show. That was killer waiting til the very end to know how everyone voted. He was on pins and needles, and so was I.  

 

Then let the racing begin. He was second up, and he put his car up their with no care in the world.. Watched it go down, and low and behold he won the race! This happens 3 more times! He is just amazed! He says to me, mom, I don’t know how this happened, all I wanted to do was win design, but I am actually WINNING! It was hilarious!

He was first up in the first round of finals.. he didn’t win, but was happy to make it there. We figured it out, that he came in 5th overall.. (which out of 28 boys isn’t shabby) I am very proud of him!

Next up came the announcement of winners, the part we had all been waiting for. Did he get design?? The pressure was on… And he did it! He won Best of Show for the Weeblo Den!!! Way to go Monkey Man!

I’m very proud of him..

 

 

He had a great time, and so did we. Another great year… and great accomplishments!

 

Here is to next year! I’m sure he is starting to think of a new design already… I’m anxious to see what it is.

Simple Woman’s Daybook:

 

 

 

 

 

FOR TODAY

March 5, 2012

Outside my window...
It is spitting snow, but looks to be fairly nice. I a bit chilly out I think though.

I am thinking...
I need to hurry up and get my butt moving, got cookies to unload today!

I am thankful for... 
My mom’s help, or half my stuff would probably never get done in a day. She is amazing!!!

From the learning rooms...
Today they are working on spelling, and grammar, and geography! To see more about our days… Go to our blog The Monkey School

From the kitchen... 
We are having Italians today… YUM! I love Italian sandwiches, how about you? This is our quick and easy meal, cause we have cub scouts tonight, and I will be gone all day!

I am wearing... 
Jeans, long sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt, where I’m going to be today is COLD!!!

I am creating... 
The days lessons, and laying them out, so Hubby can take over the day for me while I’m gone.

I am going...
To be unloading, and sorting cookies!

I am reading...
A new book in the Angel’s Series by Debbie MaComber!

I am hoping...
To not get whatever it is that I’m trying to come down with.

I am hearing...  
My kids fighting over a toy, oh the joys of the morning!  

Around the house... 
Not to much to do, did most of it this weekend.

One of my favorite things...
Spending time with my family!

A few plans for the rest of the week: 
Cub Scouts, pick up my dad, and play date, Pinewood Derby this weekend!
 
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Nothing today.. I’m picture list, need to upload.. Get on that later this week!

The Homeschooling Mother’s Journal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my life this week…

We have been busy with lots of stuff…

Learned about Fast food nutrition at 4H…

visited my stepmom, and planted seeds in the greenhouse…

had a lazy day of games, and sundaes, during a snow storm..

had a play date, and visited with a friend….

In our homeschool this week…

This week, we started back to school after our 2 week vacation.

We learned math, spelling, grammar…

Finished up mummifying our chicken…

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

Bring in the fun things.. helps learning be more hands on, and enjoyable.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week, we have Cub Scouts, might make another trip to see my stepmom, and we have our weekly history/science class with friends.  

My favorite thing this week was…

Mummifying the chicken.. Yup, I’m weird. The kids thought it was so gross, and I thought it was pretty cool!

What’s working/not working for us…

Meeting with friends one day a week, to do some history and/or science. It gets the kids more involved, and its always more fun to have company right??!

Questions/thoughts I have…

This is going to be a great 10 wks. I think we are finally getting in the swing of things. Homeschooling is so much easier after the first year! LOL!

Things I’m working on…

We are working on a long states study.. I have mingled a few things together, so this may take us awhile to finish, but getting the postcards from each state is certainly keeping the fun in it!

I’m reading…

The next book in the Angels series of Debbie MaComber

I’m cooking…

We are having beef in gravy over mashed potatoes, with spinach today… YUM!

I’m grateful for…

Having great friends, that like to get together and do school stuff with us, and our amazing 4H group, and everyone else that helps me in anyway!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

None today… I will be sure to get our chicken pictures up soon though!

TOS Review: K5 Learning

 

 

 

 

What is K5 Learning? Well, just as the name states, it is an online learning site geared towards children in K thru 5th grade. It works on improving Math, Spelling, and Reading skills.

About K5 Learning:

It is designed mostly for supplementing for after school, or during the summer. It bases your child’s lessons on what grade your child is in, or by an assessment if you need one to know where to place your child. Another good aspect is that parents can make assignments for their children.

Subjects it covers:

• Reading: 5 levels are approached. Phonics, phonemic awareness, sight words, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
  
• Math: 3 math skills levels are worked on. Numbers & Operations, geometry, and measurement.

• Spelling:  Is done by grade level. Or you can add them, and use your own spelling words.  Another option available, is to put them in a another language to learn.
  

What Middle Monkey thought:

We have tried a few different online learning sites this year. This one was a bit better than some of them, however, I’m not sure if she was just bored with them, or what. She was not a huge fan of this site. She said it was cool with the graphic’s, and colors, but she really just didn’t seem that into it.

My thoughts:

As a parent, I think if your child was struggling in any of these areas, they would be good to try. The setup is nice, and I like that they send you a report to keep you updated with how your child is progressing.

I also think that it is unique above the rest, since you can change the assignments, and tweak the spelling lists.

Would I pay the cost for it? I would have to be honest and say, no I don’t think that I would. Unless my child was struggling a lot.

Price:

For Monthly:

First Child- $25
Additional Children- $15

Annual Subscription:

Frist Child- $199
Additional Children- $129

You can go here, and get a free 2 week trial.

Want to see what the rest of the TOS Crew is saying?

*We were given a 3 month trial in exchange for our honest review as part of the TOS Crew. All opinions are 100% mine and my monkeys.