Bubbles-Wordless Wednesday

They will grow up so fast...

Don't forget your favorite link ups below!!

Homeschool schedules (can you see the light bulb on top of my head?)

Wow, I just had the most AMAZING idea ever. Well, not really, but it seems amazing to me at the moment. Maybe its divine inspiration but it just dawned on me while reading This Reading Mama's awesome blog posts, that I could schedule our homeschool days to include things like sight words, art projects, hands on math, games, etc. ON SPECIFIC DAYS rather than just trying to wing it through the week.

Light bulb going off here! 

Since we started in September, I've been struggling with the boys' willingness to do worksheets every day of the week and have been scourging the internet to find games and other hands on ideas to teach what's in the kindergarten curriculum. (By the way, there are a million great resources out there and maybe one day I'll do a resources post for the small amount of readers I do have.)  The only thing we've managed to get a handle on consistently are the phonics and math worksheets which I've tried to split up throughout the week, but some days the boys just don't want to sit and do worksheets.  What boys do, right?

Hard at work on math worksheets

Maybe it's because I have information overload, but had it not been for all the other great homeschool families and homeschool blogs out there, I might have missed that my kids need to learn things like sight words, nursery rhymes, and even their address and phone numbers!!!  Yikes!  So I've been trying to incorporate those things into our weeks but with no real structure.  Up until a few minutes ago, it was really kind of overwhelming, but now I have a PLAN!

My thoughts are that we really only need to do worksheets one or two days out of the week.  The other days can be hands on learning, like math and phonics games or outside play.  I'm thinking that I will also set one day aside for sight words instead of trying to do EVERYTHING every day of our school week.  This might give me more flexibility for our science and history lessons too although I am considering ditching the worksheet writing for science and just using the curriculum as a guide. I mean, the boys are still learning how to read and write!  Part of the pressure of using the workbooks was because of the fact that we PAID for them, but its just stressing me out.  I will maybe even set our computer time to one day a week, but the boys love their educational computer games so I may not limit them as much.  

We have a few constants to schedule around, piano lessons on Mondays and our homeschool co-op on Thursdays, so I will attempt to get a solid schedule implemented.  We do bible, phonics and math every day in some type of form.  Tomorrow will be our third week at the co-op and so far, the boys are loving it.  They are currently taking art and science.

I would LOVE to know if you have a similar schedule for your little ones.  

Last week's homeschool co-op day

The boys working on a canvas painting after learning about LINES

Excited about their balloon launch race after science class

My kids LOVE these games.  I love that they reinforce what we are learning at home and it gives them some video game time (because they don't get their Nintendo DS' during the homeschool week.  

Till next time,

  

Superhero breakfast

I love it when superheroes show up for breakfast!

           

Reading Dr. Suess, LeapFrog and Mini Apple Pies

Tomorrow we will be wrapping up week four of our first year homeschooling (and week one of our first week back at the gym but I'll save that one for a rainy day). Gosh, has it really been four weeks already?  So we've managed to make it through the first month!  Praise GOD!

It has been rough for me and I'm sure it has been rough for the boys too. Homeschooling is no picnic!  A few days ago, one of the workers at the gym stopped me on my way to pick up the boys from the nursery.

"Your boys are so cute. I've got to tell you what one of them said before you pick them up."

Elijah is a natural born character so there was no doubt he was the one who had said something hilarious.

"I asked them if they liked school and Elijah says, 'NO!' So I asked him why and he says, 'Because I'm HOMESCHOOLED!'"

This was so heartbreaking.  It's only been four weeks and he hates school?!  All week long and probably the week before I've been wondering how far I should push school with Elijah.  He was whiny, uncooperative, and inattentive.  We were both frustrated. So I've been racking my brain (and Pinterest) to come up with fun things to do and backing off the worksheets a little.

Letter "O" Owl art

Sight Word Twister

  

Lowercase Letter Match-up available from
Erica @ Confessionsofahomeschooler.com

Can you imagine my hope when both Phillip and Elijah jumped at the opportunity to read for 15 minutes a day (with a little incentive of course)??!!  Pizza Hut has a very generous program for homeschoolers. If you register your homeschool, Pizza Hut will send you coupons for each of your students to receive a free personal pan pizza EVERY MONTH for any reading plan you implement.  My boys LOVE pizza and for me, their coupons couldn't come fast enough.

(click here for info on the Pizza Hut homeschool reading program)

Phillip has been reading short words for at least 6 months and now that he's getting more practice he's enjoying reading to his little brother. I HEART THIS!!!!!  Just within the last two days I've seen Elijah's confidence putting three letter words together with the vowel sounds we've learned.  I could NOT be happier!!

God I pray he doesn't really hate school.

 Elijah reading Leap Scrubs Up and Phillip
laughing at Fox in Sock by Dr. Suess

I promised some talk of mini apple pies so here you go, my modified apple pie recipe in perfect proportions. I used a jumbo muffin pan to bake these and except for needing more apple slices and less pie crust, they came out near perfect. ;)

The nutritional value chart comes from SparkPeople.com's recipe calculator. Please tell me how you liked it if you make them!

Mini Apple Pie with Frozen Yogurt by Suzette James

Mini Apple Pie

Nutrition Info
Calories: 239.9
Fat: 7.0g
Carbohydrates: 34.4g
Protein: 2.7g
Ingredients

For apple filling:
5 medium Gala apples
1 box of pie crust mix
1/8 cup Splenda (optional)
Cinnamon (to taste)

For Topping:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour (can be substituted for whole wheat flour)
1 stick Smart Balance 50/50 butter
1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar blend
1/2 cup Splenda (1/4 cup can be used if too sweet)
Directions

Preheat oven to 450.

Prepare pie crust mix as directed (optional). Spray a large 6 count muffin pan with nonstick spray (I do not suggest using paper muffin cups). If using crust, form small balls of dough and flatten to cover the bottom and sides of each muffin. Be careful not to leave the dough too thick in the pan because it will fluff up and you will end up with a dough pie instead of an apple pie. Follow packaged instructions for baking the pie crust.

For apples:
Peel and thinly slice 5 Gala apples. In a medium bowl, sprinkle cinnamon and 1/8 cup Splenda (optional) over apples. Toss to coat. Divide apples into muffin cups.

For topping:
Using a pastry blender, combine both white and wheat flour, 1/2 cup Splenda, 1/4 cup Splenda Brown Sugar blend. Add stick butter and blend with pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of apples.

Bake at 450 degrees for ten minutes or until topping is slightly golden. Lower temperature to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes or until apples are soft.

Serve with low fat, sugar free frozen yogurt. (optional-yogurt not included in nutritional value)

Serving Size: Makes 6 mini apple pies. Serves 6.

Number of Servings: 6


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Wordless Wednesdy

I mean to blog more and what better way than to start with Wordless Wednesday?!

I really have low energy and little time today so it's perfect anyway. So without further ado...

I Can't Help Him...But You Can

For what must have been the third time tonight, Elijah crawled out from under his blanket, tip-toed slowly across the creaking floor, and ended up beside my bed, tear-y eyed and with a quivering voice. I knew what the issue was.  His brother had just talked about the bad dream he had the night before.  Now that he was asleep, Elijah was left alone to face his own fear of the dark.

This has become a pattern. Some nights are better than others. Those nights when both boys are fast asleep before their father and I are ready to climb in bed are like a holiday.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare  are  not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV)

I had gotten tired of getting up to put him back to bed. But I prayed for him, guided him to pray for himself, and walked him back to his room...again.  He would not relent. Refusing to lay his little head down and close his eyes, he continued to cry and insist I stay with him.  

"But Mom..." 

I could feel the frustration rising up inside me. 

"Lord, we can't keep doing this every night!  What can I do?!"

I stayed with him a few more minutes, rubbing his curly little hair while trying to put his mind and heart at ease. We said another round of "goodnights" and "I love you's" (Elijah loves to throw "you're beautiful" in the mix) and I headed back to my room. 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh." 

I felt terrible for being so frustrated. Where was my patience?  After repeated attempts to get him to stay in bed, I had resorted to fussing and threatening punishment if he got up again. 

"Lord, why can't I get him to believe what I tell him?  Why can't I get Him to trust You?  If he won't believe that You will protect Him, what can I DO?!"

And in that instance it hit me (or maybe the Holy Spirit smacked me upside the brain).  I really can't GET him to do anything. This wasn't a flesh and blood issue. It wasn't a battle of wills or disobeyed rules.  Don't get me wrong, I sympathize with my children's night fears. I can recall many nights when i was their age being afraid of shadows and imaginings and even, an unexplained figure!  But I tend to sympathize a little too much.  In fact, had my husband been up, our boys would have been asleep long ago for fear of him instead of the night. 

I was frustrated with the situation and unnerved with my lack of patience which, has been a recurring theme on this homeschool journey.  But the source of my frustration went from my son not staying in bed and my inability to do anything about his fear, to realizing that God has the ability to change hearts. I really couldn't DO anything besides pray with him, show him how to pray, and give him empathy, reassurance and affection.  But what seemed so obvious now, I hadn't done...

I wasn't praying for him. 

I know, I know. What kind of mother am I that I wasn't praying for my son?!  It wasn't so much that I wasn't praying.  I had gotten so wrapped up in the "training" part of mothering that I forget all about where the battle was really taking place.  

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:11-13)

I was trying to convince my son that there was nothing to be afraid of. Instead of seeing this as a spiritual battle and an opportunity for God to reveal Himself and use this situation, no matter how typical, for His glory, I was trying to make Elijah trust God. No amount of talking can accomplish that. Only the work of the Holy Spirit can.

Now that I see this, I notice it in more than this aspect of my life. Lord, help me to remember in the midst of being a wife, mother and teacher, that I'm not at war with myself, my husband or my kids. But that there are things taking place in the unseen realm and You alone are Lord over all.

Friday's Favorites and a Few Ramblings

Ahhh...today is one of those days where homeschooling is more of a chore than a joy.  I'm still learning to manage my expectations along with the amount of time I need to spend "doing school" each day.  And also my lack of patience!!  I know this is a learning process, but some days I'm harder on myself than others. I'm holding on to God's promise that  He "is FAITHFUL" 

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  1 Corinthians 1:9  

God must know where I'm at in this homeschool process because I got a random text message during the week from one of my old pastors, a man I deeply admire and who God has used richly in my life.

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Do I think God has called me to homeschool?  I can't say that I've heard God in a loud booming voice telling me to.  But I do believe that as a parent, I am to be the greatest influence in my children's lives and it's my responsibility to protect them until they are mature enough to decide to follow the path God has laid out for them.

So...even though today I felt like throwing in the towel because my 5 year old would rather roll around on the floor than listen to the history of the world or what plants and animals need to survive, I'll thank God that today is FRIDAY and next week will be brand new.

Here are a few of my favorite things from this week:

                               

Fox in Socks!!  The boys LOVED this book and I loved that Phillip was reading to his brother.

The Cat in the Hat - Elijah's favorite book at the moment.  

Piano Lessons with Aunt Jackie

Phillip said he wants to visit the "Awful" Tower one day.  ;)

Elijah working hard on his numbers.

Moondough 'O's and r'O'cks

But most of all my favorites are superheroes and my boys' smiles!!

<-Spiderman

Hulk and     Thor---->