The Taming of a Homeschool Mom

The Magic of Education

2010-05-02T16:57:00.004-05:00

Isn't it wonderful that we live in a country that gives us the freedom to choose how our children will be educated?

From Public school to Public Charter school,
From Private school to Home school,
the options are endless!

When we made the decision to homeschool last year it was for many reasons...
I frequently tell friends that the reasons were like grains of sand.
Some bigger than others yet all making up the sculpture of our decision.

In the process of homeschooling #1, I've felt a bond between us cement outside of our emotional interactions... a trust that transcends discussion and I have gotten to know my daughter in a way that has gone beyond the reactionary way we all live with each other...

She has friends - some of them are friends from her old school that she still sees on a regular basis... the quantity of time is not the same that's for sure, but the Quality of the time they spend together? Not a bad trade-off. Other friends she has met through the numerous activities she has been involved in through our home school co-op!

I'm not saying there aren't days where I'm like, she could be in school? All day? And I could finish a sentence without being interrupted and questioned? But that's the rub... She's learning - and willing to learn from me and from others. A little different than last year when she would cry not to go to school 3 out of 5 days of the week...

This does not mean that we were against the school! It means that she was having non-academic difficulties that they did not have the time or resources to get to the bottom of - and I do! After all, she is ours!

And just for the record: there have been probably 4 times this whole school year that she has wished for her old school... 4 days out of the last 40 weeks is really saying something to my heart...

....Already looking forward to September! (For a few reasons....)

11 Is A Good Number

2009-10-21T13:34:00.003-05:00

On October 17th my husband and I celebrated out 11th wedding anniversary!

My mom and dad took our 3 girls for the whole night and we just hung out!

First we went shopping for Christmas Jammies for the little ladies,

Then we went to Champps for some college football,

Third we went to Toys R Us to look around

(#3 is going to turn 2 verrrry soon)

Followed by dinner out and a movie at home!

I love my husband and am so blessed to be his wife!

---------------

In other news: Homeschool is still such a good thing!

I don't have any current pictures, but I just wanted to share something...

Today #1 was a helper in #2's kindergarten class!!!

She got on the bus with #2 this am and came home again...

She is enjoying so many opportunities to serve and learn.

She keeps up with her schoolwork and seems to love our morning time together.

Math continues to be a favorite, cursive isn't as fun as she thought it would be...

I love her and am so proud of her - she is flourishing!

I'll be back,

Aubrey

Not 75% Nervous Anymore!!!

2009-10-03T08:43:00.002-05:00

I'm on my husband's computer so I don't have any pictures today, but I wanted to drop a quick line and tell everyone that we are doing GREAT! I believe in what we're doing and #1 is responding so well and appreciates the attention she is getting. Fortunately because she is older I really only need to start her on something and then just be available for questions etc. She had academy yesterday - she made butter, made a scrapbook and just had fun with a bunch of girls her age! One day of the week for 8 weeks she is doing a program called Swim & Gym at our local community center. LOVE IT! Both her and #2 participate and are receiving Red Cross swim lessons for an hour and focused fitness gym time for the other hour!

So this is a quick update, no pics, but now that my computer is working I should be able to post some up soon!

Love and Blessings,
Aubrey

T minus 3 days and counting....

2009-09-11T18:46:00.006-05:00

This one is still waiting for school to start....

This one isn't waiting any longer...

And this one will be waiting a loooong time....

We're super excited to get started around here - and I'm only nervous like, 75% of the time!!!

Even though cold feet may threaten to strike.....well....we'll see what happens - won't we.

Peace,

Aubrey

Big Bowl

2009-08-21T22:12:00.007-05:00

No pictures, but let me say...the Chicken Pad Thai takes the cake every time!

(Not to mention Chicken Pot Stickers)

(Oh Yeah - and the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice)

(Oops - don't forget the leftover white rice from #2's bowl....I don't think I need to eat for a few weeks.....)

(And I better not forget to tell you about the Strawberry Ice Cream Pie my very talented sister-in-law served up after dinner...yeah, I had a piece...)

John's parents just celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary yesterday! So they took us out! Hey, I'm game...

They are special people and it's always wonderful to spend time sharing our little family with them...our girls are sooooo blessed to have such wonderful Grandparents!

In other news, #3 really likes her doggie cousins (sorry, again, no pictures) but not as much when they're at eye level. She'd rather be eye level with a camera....

Good Night and Good 'Luck'

Aubrey

Rain and Messy Basements

2009-08-19T21:46:00.004-05:00

Today it rained....all day long.

Today my 3 girls and I cleaned the play area of the basement.

Today I couldn't stop thinking about homeschooling and the small details left to tie into a pretty bow.

See?? Teething, rubbing, pressing on her gums...whimpering, "Hodejoo." (Hold You)

Some days it just has to rain and kids just need to be held.

Love,

Aubrey

Brett Favre????

2009-08-18T22:03:00.009-05:00

That's right folks...nothing to do with homeschooling (again)...but seriously.

This can only end one of two ways - let's just leave it at that.

In other news, I have become organized!
Here is 'My Binder' (sung to the tune of 'My Buddy')
It is pretty and happy and holds 13 wks worth of scheduling.
I've decided that 13 weeks is about all I can handle in one place.

Ta-Da!

'My Planner' (second verse same as the first)

August has been much busier than this, but 'my planner' isn't really for those things, right?

September is starting to get a little bulky...

Woah! Aaaand BEGIN!

Even the dividers are pretty! And in numeric order too!

(Proof that the buck stops at 13)

One last thing:

This stack of books is my praise report for today!

Because of the Christian Homeschooling Support Group my family and I have become members of and their wonderful (free) library, and because of a special woman's time and effort, my 'readers needed' list went from this:

To This:

All in just 15 minutes!

Hallelujah I'm almost there!

PS #3 is teething and has been teething her eye teeth for, oh, about 3 years (even though she's just 21.5 months old - small detail.) Someone help her!

The End

By Request: My Garden

2009-08-17T11:26:00.013-05:00

Ahhh Gerbera daisies...

Take your pick!

I can't remember the name of this one:

morning glory:

And again...

A pot full of chamomile and a basket of morning glory!

It's about to get really green around here.....

Tabouleh anyone?
I'll bring the parsley!

When you let cilantro go to seed, you get coriander!

I must confess that I'm getting impatient for a whole bushel of these puppies:

(come on you guys - soak up the sun!)

The Roma Tomatoes could use a little red as well...

I never knew that basil blooms:

One green bean...

Some green beans:

Last but NEVER least....the Pink Brandywine Heirloom tomatoes......

oooo yeah

I know that none of this really has much to do with homeschooling, but we will be planting more seeds in the early spring (radishes, corn, beans) so we'll consider this a very successful dry run!

See you round,

Aubrey

In Which I Convince Myself I Can Do It

2009-08-16T20:33:00.009-05:00

(It = Homeschooling)

"It's O.K. to Be Smart!" (Does anyone else think that that statement is as funny as I do?)

I happen to think #1 is bright...and bold...and beautiful - as any parent should, right?
(Has anyone ever seen Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken? Right????)

This used to be my coat closet.....(I'm sorry, truly I am... Books are probably the least exciting thing to look at when you happen upon a blog... but this is the ugly truth...)

This pile of books rest on top of our family roll-top desk. One is a catelog. One is a binder for MACHE - Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators. (They keep on top of the MN Homeschool laws and information and then make it available to us in laymans terms. I've been to one of their conferences and the amount of info and support is beyond incredible. I'm excited to do the full conference this year with John!) The colorful binder is #1's 'back to school' gear that she helped pick out. (It helped her to feel more in control of her future. No, Really - it did)Spelling Power is a spelling curriculum from 8yrs to adult. The list goes on...and on...

I am excited! I have peace in my heart and am resolved in my mind. I'm nervous and thrilled and putting together a schedule that seems packed yet possible. But until September 14th, I'm going to do as much of this as I can:

#2 - with 'muscles'

#1, #3, #2

Blessings,

Aubrey

I'm still here!

2009-08-03T10:27:00.003-05:00

Now that August is here, preparations are in full swing for a homeschool adventure!

I'll put up a picture simply because posts are semi-boring without one....

I love change!

2009-07-17T14:31:00.002-05:00

So I changed the web address and name of this blog because it's mine and I can!

As you see it is now thetamingofahomeschoolmom.blogspot.com

See you round!

'Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This'

2009-07-16T21:38:00.002-05:00

'there'd be days like this my mama said (mama said mama said)'

Maybe I go a little too far, but after having a difficult day, I often look through pictures from days I know I was a good mom to happy children....

My lovely little lady with lyric lines

Um...who ever knows where she is going?

We are in trouble with this one!

She moves so beautifully...

Depth....pure depth....

I wonder what she's pretending about?

This is them! To a Freaking T!

Amen

Mobile Blogging

2009-07-13T15:36:00.005-05:00

I never knew how much I wanted a blackberry until I got very behind on my blog for the second time. So much has happened since we were last together.....

1) June turned into July

2) I turned 30

3) I turned 30

is there an echo in here?

That may not seem like a lot - but let me tell you, it is! Let me see if I can rustle up some pictures somewhere.....

Nope! Not one single picture was taken the day of my birthday! Well, that's a slight exaggeration but still...my friend Denise is putting together a book with the pictures she took at the SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY John managed to put together without my knowledge!!!!!

And that was even after a fantastic (good words still fail me and you know how impossible that sounds, right?) dinner at Heidi's Mpls. French cuisine - I'll give you the list of what we had - check out their menu!

Appetizer ~ Watermelon Soup

Appetizer ~ Chefzilla Surprise (tempura battered soft-shell crab on black lentils)

John's Entree ~ Steamed Scottish Salmon

Aubrey ~ Pasta with Celery pesto and Fresh pulled mozzarella

(Some day I may figure out how to get my camera phone pictures from my email to my blog - SOME DAY)

I could keep going on and on but let's just say that the whole day was completely nothing less than extraordinary!

I have some very special friends...

Okay - Let's catch up with some other pictures

a girl

a harvest

a wedding

a race

a park

The End

"We Home!!!"

2009-06-22T19:56:00.005-05:00

I meant to post sooner - like, during the weekend, but wi-fi was down! Bummer...

I'm sure I'll elaborate sooner or later, but let's just say a good time was had by all:

(Extra Daughter = 12 year old niece!!!)

Vacation!

2009-06-17T20:54:00.002-05:00

Is a vacation really a vacation if you're the one packing for 4 of 5 people? (completely rhetorical question)

I think if the view is anything like this when you get there, it is!

Every year we take a trip to Door County WI with John's parents who own a condo in one of the bay towns.

We arrive on a June friday and hit up the local ice cream joint right away. By evening John and the kids have already gone swimming (in a pool - that lake water is the definition of COLD) and I've taken a long hot shower to release all of the pent up nerves of getting us there.

(Pardon me - John gets us there, I get our stuff there)

Per Usual, John is the first one up in the morning and gets to witness this gorgeousness....

He takes a picture while I sleep....zzzzz

During the day we find places to have adventures! This is #1 about two years ago - she's looking for the queen bee!

My determined little girls are willing put their feet into the waters of Lake Michigan - Green Bay side. Still...Tres Cute!

We definitely need to have some swinging:

And the adults always enjoy fresh coffee, fresh air and fresh fudge from the local candy store! (Oh and if there's a fresh baby along, we enjoy her too)

When the weather isn't so good....

We find a place to do stuff like this:

And the days usually end Just...Like....This:

Have a great weekend!

10 Minutes

2009-06-15T16:52:00.000-05:00

I have ten minutes to say one thing.

I forgot to take any - ANY - pictures at the farm on Saturday!

I can't believe it! There were cows, chickens, pigs, cats & kittens, dogs and lots of lots of photo opportunities. Alas, no pictures.

Early Saturday morning before we left I took pictures of the garden:

Then I took a picture of one dew-covered peony:

And I know I haven't introduced #2 yet:

One Smore down - Lots to go!

Aaaaand Time's UP!

Off to brown burger for sloppy joes...Yum...

Our Friend Henrietta

2009-06-12T23:01:00.001-05:00

Matthew 6:26 'See the birds of the sky: they don't sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?'

My husband would like to introduce you to the new additions to our friend Henrietta's family:

Now, we know Henrietta very well - every summer she leaves us an empty nest in a special bush that seems an unlikely place to raise babies.....but this time - she had some chicks!!!

John named Henrietta but he's given me the task of naming the babies so without further ado:

George (otherwise known as Ugly in a Painfully Cute Way #1)

Maria (otherwise known as Ugly in a Painfully Cute Way #2)

George is the more agressive of the two - he often pokes his head up looking for a snack. Usually he's a little startled because whenever I take a peek, Henrietta (or George Sr) flit away to the nearest low hanging branch to yell at me. The quality of my pictures may reflect my trepidation... ahem...

But Oh My Word do you see those gorgeous eyes!? I tell you one thing - it's pretty fortunate we don't have many stray cats around here because you are about to see how easily accessible these babies are...

I don't know how to do arrows, but do you see the thin diagonal lines - that would be the nest...

And zooming out below you see same clump of the bush and what's this??? Brick?

We have our own darn welcoming committee!!!

This last picture of George and Maria is from two days later - look! They have started getting their wing feathers!!! (I know it's hard to see, but it's the darkness that you can imagine is their wings - you can see the texture up close, but remember...Henrietta and George Sr. are very intimidating...)

Tomorrow we head to one of John's college friend's Dairy farm for some fun, fellowship, and HOMEMADE ICE CREAM with fresh milk! Yummmmmm

Many Blessings!

Time of Adjustment

2009-06-08T22:50:00.000-05:00

Today was our first Monday after the last day of school...
There was a lot of attitude and a lot of whining and the kids were crabby too.

#1's coughing is started to fade, #2 was acting a little funky (enough to check her heart a couple times), and #3 - well - she's started to scream for attention.

While #2's heart is on my mind, I've just read that Stellan's blood pressure is elevated and he will be going in for an echo and ekg tomorrow morning. I'm sad for MckMama's stress and will keep all that lifted up in prayer tomorrow. There are those times when Drs tell you things or you listen to your baby's chest and your heart drops. It more than drops - it feels like it's turning inside out...

I don't have a whole lot to say on that matter. It just makes me really really tired (Yawn)

Goodnight....

Zzzzzz

Rainy Weekend In

2009-06-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

Everybody seems tired and I think it may be the weather.

I don't mind a little rain, I'm all caught up on folding and have plans for tomorrow to get completely caught up on the laundry. We'll see...

Watching the Tony Awards while folding clothes is a really fun activity...too bad the Tony Awards aren't on every night....(nah)

#1 & #2 and I did do a craft this weekend - I had some stuff lying around the house - but we needed sparkles so we took a little trip to Michaels....this is what we ended up with:

I believe this is what you would call a fun mess.

And for a little beauty, I present you with #3:

Don't worry, #2 will make her way in here somehow....just not today!

Blessings!

"The Best Laid Plans....

2009-06-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

....of mice and men, often go awry..."

Isn't it just so?

The day was meant for playing. We planned, we waited...we anticipated and then: It just didn't work. I looked around my clean house today a little deflated but very happy that I had accomplished so much. I swept the basement! (unfinished basement that is)

Seems like that happens in life. We plan, we execute, we wait and wonder yet the result is completely out of our hands. God knows our dreams and hears our desires and while we use a lot of energy relying on our own strength He is holding in His hands the best outcome.

Speaking of plans...I have more plans....Plans to homeschool...(But By The Grace Of God)

(that sound you just heard was me - gnashing my teeth in fear and uncertainty)

Not really - I refuse to operate from a spirit of fear or uncertainty. That is just where my enemy wants me and I will not give him the foothold. Without further ado, the start of my plans:

Today was #1's last day of second grade! We've moved ahead with the science portion of our Sonlight Core 3 curriculum: Introduction to Biology. We're kind of starting at week 4 because it just so happens we put in a garden and started some radishes! Radishes are yummy with a little salt by the way. But really, I knew that we needed to plant radishes because I had planned ahead!

Here are the beginnings of radishes:

Would you like to see the rest of said garden? Of course you would!

We have in the two corners roma tomatoes and pink brandywine heirloom tomatoes. Between the two is a marigold plant. Not my favorite, but they are said to discourage tomato eating bugs...

The next row from left to right, from lower to upper is a singular marigold, followed by the next row being 3 marigolds! (Isn't this exciting!?) The next row is cherry tomato, marigold and cilantro; final row: chives, basil, chives. The radishes were planted from seed in the other half of the box garden. There is a row of radishes, a row of green onions, a row of bush-snap green beans and along the edges are flat leaf parsley and curly parsley. Whew! I'm exhausted! (not really - it's a very small garden)

By the way, here is #1:

She is wonderful...

Diversion/Conversion

2009-03-24T14:34:00.002-05:00

So it's been a while for all you (1 person) people that read this blog. Hellooooo Illinois!

Recently I've had a chance to revisit my Taco Bell Stalking (read down into the entry and you'll find it) because of this. Some of you may know that shortly after my 2nd daughter was born she was diagnosed with a heart condition. A form of SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) called Persistent Juctional Reciprocating Tachycardia. Anyway I could go on but the cool thing is this:

I didn't ever think I would be any help for MckMama because upon his birth everything was revealed to be healed and resolved. Through God's sovereignty Stellan converted into SVT and I was pushed or driven to reconnect with Stellan's mama. I did and we shared some time and it was wonderful that something good came from a very scary time in my life.

This seems so cryptic, but I don't want to try to elaborate further while I'm still so jumbled about it. I can say this: when the Holy Spirit wants you to do something, He doesn't let up till it's done. (Even if it's out of your comfort zone)

So please pray for Stellan's little heart - that it would convert to a normal, steady rhythm. I know has little to do with Homeschooling, but it has much to do with me and my relationship with The Lord...

Intentional

2009-03-01T20:52:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take a moment to talk about the title of this blog.
I am and will be 'schooled' in my home throughout this process.
I'm going to be wrung out and hung to dry,
I'm going to try my hardest and sometimes fail but in some kind of poetic justice
I will be homeschooled right in front of my daughters.

The title is intentional - and I do (boy do I) need a little taming.

TMI

2009-03-01T08:56:00.000-06:00

In attempting to make the best possible decision without having any promise on the outcome, I have taken to overloading my mind with all things Homeschool. I am excited to report that on top of a mountain of books that painstakingly outline success and failure are a few really encouraging ideas. There are whole groups for this sort of thing! One in my area boasts somewhere in the vicinity of 85 homeschooling families that count themselves in their number! They have their own library full of curriculum among other things and a bi-weekly acadamy on Fridays!

Let's back up a moment, shall we?

My daughter has been described by her 2nd grade teacher as an 'out of the box' thinker. I beg to agree - she comes from a couple of families with a few 'special' people in them.

Anyway, before she leaps off into the great unknown possibly hating education as her parents did before her (we've since been rehabilitated but the effort was no small feat), we will make an attempt to show her and teach her a love of learning by challenging her in her weaknesses and strengths.

Among the reasons for this adventure:

Teaching and Learning; I'd really like to see some learning followed by teaching rather than the opposite.

Has anyone seen the last vestige of morality? I could have sworn I saw some 10 years ago....

I really don't like the way she hates her face after a rough day of not fitting in intellectually at school....

I suppose you know that there are many, many, many more such reasons that my husband and I have discussed ad nauseam. Do not think we make this decision lightly, it is one of the best feelings to have each others support while we travel this road and our many reasons for it will be revealed as we go along together.

In the meantime: please take comfort in the idea that I look forward to relearning World History, American History, Pre-Algebraic concepts and Spanish!