August

August was filled with days at the lake, playing outdoors, gardening, playing with pets, lazy days, video game marathons, boy scout camp and the month wrapped up with an air show. A couple of kids took a comic drawing class, we invited friends over for lake days, lots of time was spent in the pool and lots of ood veggies were eaten as the gardens started to produce.

Below: Tristan little island on the beach.


the beach is always fun.






Bobby held a weed picking contest which kept the kids busy,forawhile anyway.






Mid month it was time to pack for Boy Scout camp. that is not a task to be taken lightly.


I think Colin and Tristan were nervous at first.


Then they realized boy Scout camp isn't all that different than cub scout camp. They got right into the familiar routine of playing games, lining up for pictures,


swim tests,




which Tristan didn't fully pass the first time("I had a hard guy watching me this time!") but he passed the following morning,


Finding where they would eat meals,


setting up in a tent,


then having a GREAT week until it was time for:

Family to pick them up again!


Also in August: Flower enjoys his favorite game: Happy Pets.


The boys make swords and bows and arrows out of sticks,then act out battles.



The gardens get better and better!













and produce lots of good things to eat.


Snuggles well,we tried to release him,


but he wouldn't go.


he lived with us for a few months until he passed away.


The end of the month brought the air show, which the Boy scouts were attending and helping to run as part of the BSA 100 year birthday.

Colin and Tristan attended the whole weekend with the scouts. Bobby, Hayley and I attended on the final day. Trevor opted out since he knew it would be loud and crowded. The air show was fantastic,but also very,very hot.














In the photo below I think you can actually see the sun beaming down. It was for sure over 100 degrees on that hot tarmac.


We tried to keep the kids hydrated.


both boys slept through portions of the show,somehow.It was so loud but they were exhausted from the day before and had already seen the show.


Air shows are very hard to photograph and i got toomany pictures like this one below:


It was exciting to see the many sleek, aerodynamic, stealth looking planes performing tricks. It was even better to see the Blue Angels transportation "Fat Albert" performing aerial tricks.


It just doesn't look like it should be able to do sky gymnastics!

Although all the acts were great the Blue Angels were much anticipated and put on a great show.


They do one sneaky fly by where you don't even know they're coming and then BAM, WHOOSH right over your head! I jumped, it was scary!


it was along, hot, day and at the end when others could leave our boy scouts had to pick up trash as they had done the day before. I really just wanted to go home but figured if the boys can do it after having been here for 2 days then I can too and we helped them with the trash duty.







Finally it was time to go home from the air show and that also was the end of August! Fall had arrived all too soon.

Snuggles

A couple weeks ago Shadow the cat brought in a little rodent. Trevor rescued it, we set it in a quiet cage to recover from the shock, then the plan was to release it back to the wild (and hope none of our cats caught it again). This is usually how cat "gifts" are handled, well the animal is well enough to be released or dies within a day. Every once in awhile a caught animal lives but needs additional care.This happened with Snuggles. When I was about the release the little rodent noticed how very young and helpless is was. Just a baby! So began life with Snuggles. First we had to determine just what it was and about how old. First we thought mouse, then we thought vole, this never was fully decided but it's eyes were still closed and that meant less than 2 weeks old most probably.

The syringe bottle was found and our stash of kitten milk powder (combined with almond or soy milk and water since rodents are not carnivores like cats) brought out. People formula would have been more suitable but we were out of that. I do tend to keep a few things like that on hand for these sorts of emergencies.

Snuggles was fed his first dropper feed and he liked it very much. Feedings for the first couple days were painfully slow, snuggles needed to drink drop by drop. Forcing the milk into a small animals mouth too fast is a recipe for death. Hayley and I did most of the feedings.

Also we needed to do an injury check since we knew the cat had this creature. We found no major injuries, just what looked like a scratch by it's eye. This was a lucky rodent.

One thing we noticed early on is how very friendly this vole (or mouse) was. This is certainly not the first time we've hand raised something the cat dragged in and we'd never experienced a rodent which liked attention and the comfort of being held so much. He spent many hours sleeping in any welcoming hand.

After a few days Snuggles eyes were open and he was anxious to try new foods. He tried cheerios, pieces of bagel, bread, hamster food, he liked the cheerios best.

After a week or so Snuggles seemed like he wanted to see more of the world and I started to consider releasing him.

Still undecided about it several more days later but we do find that Snuggles is still rather too attached to humans and may not be a good candidate for release.

Below are some photos of Snuggles journey so far. From bottle baby to messing up his first cage after playing in all the food.

Day at the Ocean

July 5th we spent the day at the ocean. We went to a NH beach that we try to get to at least once a summer. It's a smaller beach which I first found when Trevor was a baby. I liked it because there were good facilities and as the kids got a little older the fact that I could see from one end of the beach to the other, easier to spot the kids! We all definitely enjoy going to more interesting beaches but like to get to this old family favorite at least once a summer. I didn't take many photos, the day was so hot I spent most of it in the water with the day being near 100 degrees. The water was insanely cold when we got there at 9:30 but it warmed up enough to enjoy versus go numb from by noon! Trevor opted out this year but the younger three still get VERY excited by a day at the ocean.

We usually spend most of the day on the beach.Then leave the last couple hours of the day for a nature center up the road where there are wonderful sea creature filled rocky areas to look through. Then finally a little time on the playground before heading home.

Home Education Juggle

2010-2011 home education juggle

So here we are, another year to plan. I feel like I've been doing this FOR-EV-ER. And I have but that's not a bad thing. I love homeschooling,as do the kids. Hubby mostly loves it except for the fact that it keeps me from working full time outside the home. But mostly he loves it when he sees what freedom this gives our family, or sees unfortunate news stories about things to do with schools. Not that I am against schools, not at all. Just for our family home educating was the best fit. I didn't always feel that way, I used to think homeschooling was illegal, insane or perhaps just for hippies. I probably never would have considered homeschooling at all if not for:

1. Someone I hardly knew asked me if we were going to homeschool when my oldest was an infant. It was not even on my radar for my own children before that.

2. That oldest child had special needs and differences that made school a very.poor.orpossiblyimpossible. choice. As witnessed by child's behavior when we tried babysitters, Sunday School and checking out preschools.

3. There was a book and a sample magazine in our tiny, rural, local library just when we were trying to figure out how to get said oldest to accept the fact of preschool or kindergarten.

Soooo that was 11 years ago. In the intervening years we had many idyllic months and years of little kids learning together. Gosh that was fun! We also had some trying times, not many I have to say. We read books and played and did the montessori at home type thing for a good 6 years or so. In the middle we did a lot of the unit study type thing and all kids 'round the table doing experiments and lapbooks thing. I have so many awesome memories and think the kids do too. Then we started to hit the older years 2-3ish years ago, for the older kids. We tried co-ops and classes, computer learning and workbooks. Some things were ok but I felt we got out of sync with our goals and ideals. It was a hectic year or two. This past year we re-gained control of how our homeschool works best with specialty classes, not too much out of the house time and carefully selected activities.

Now we are mainly big kids. Big kids with their own ideas about their education. It's a good thing. A confusing, complicated thing but a good thing. I am looking at two boys, Trevor and Colin, asking for very specific learning materials. I am also looking at Hayley and Tristan asking for more outside classes. I have searched and found things which will meet these needs. Now to juggle it all into a year of education that will work well for all. Four children, 4 different sets of wants and needs. One mother who wants to keep everyone connected while letting them follow their own paths.

I will blog it month by month and hopefully a plan will form. I will seeeee (and if this E key doesn't stop falling off my laptop I will scream) what needs to stay, what needs to go, what needs to change, what needs to be added and how to juggle it all into a workable year.

Summer, going well. Outdoor time, lots- check, Relaxation-check. Still to come, Mad Science Show about water, swim lessons, scout camp for younger 2, Comic Art class for Hayley/Tristan, Science Museum, Air Show for all and Air show scout camping for younger 2. Plus hopefully much more relaxation and outdoor time. That takes us through end of August.

This is in no way all encompassing and will change but a guide to work with. This should help me see where we plan to go and hopefully inspire what to find, purchase, add, take away or supplement to make it happen. The kids for the most part want to be out and on the go more next year and I think we can do it.

September

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Math Games- weekly-Tristan

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

Science class w/homeschool group- Animals-Herbivores, Carnivores.....

History class w/homeschool group- Ancient Egypt

Science trip w/homeschool group- nature center class includes Animal CSI

History program w/homeschool group- Pharoahs and Pyramids

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family ancient astronomy?Movie, books?)

Trevor-language learning-independently

Trevor-government and Grammar books

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA? materials still undecided.

All together-La Clase Divertida level 2 (15 lessons)

Ancient times read alouds

Animal study

Dinosaur Lapbook

OCTOBER

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Math Games- weekly-Tristan

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

Boy Scouts-weekly-Tristan and Colin

Science class w/homeschool group- how weather affects animals

Art class w/homeschool group-clay

Science program w/homeschool group wildlife encounters

History/Science program w/homeschool group Galileo

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see, some using Teaching textbooks.

Health-all

Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family Galileo study?Movies, books for all)

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA

All together-La Clase Divertida level 2

Galileo study read alouds,movie, unit

Weather study

November

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Math Games- weekly-Tristan

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

Boy Scouts-weekly-Tristan and Colin

Trip w/homeschool group Strawberry Banke- History of Thanksgiving program, Early American history

CCA show Thunder Drums of China

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Health-all

Trevor-science-astronomy daily (tie in with all the family Explorers use of Astronomy for navigation, astronomy in early american times native Americans etc. )

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

All together-La Clase Divertida level 2

early USA history lapbook

China or drumming study?

December

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Math Games- weekly-Tristan

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

Boy Scouts-weekly

Very early in December CCA show We The People

Science class w/homeschool group- Rocks and Minerals

Science class w/homeschool group- Predators in the Wild (sharks, grizzlies, hawks)

Christmas party/w homeschool group

Swag making w/homeschool group

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

All together La Clase Divertida 2

Civics and Government Study (first week of Dec.)

Rocks and Minerals Study (second week of Dec.)

No classes, No homeschool work week of 20th & 27th. Enjoy Christmas.

January (me working at ski area?)

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Math Games- weekly-Tristan

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

Boy Scouts- weekly

Ski Lessons?

French language Learning- Tristan/Hayley and any interested

CCA show Doctor Kaboom (science, mad scientist ,experiments)

Science Class w/homeschool group Light

Art or cooking class w/homeschool group

Math-everyone, daily

Health-all

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

If me working; extra independent work for kids, movies, readers about light, winter or themes of interest.

February

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point

Boy Scouts-weekly

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

French language Hayley/Tristan (others?)

Me-still likely working at ski area

Science w/homeschool group- Thunderstorms/electricity

Art or Cooking class w/homeschool group

March

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point

Boy Scouts-weekly

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

French- all interested

Science w/homeschool group Ecosystems

Art or cooking w/homeschool group

Trip w/homeschool group-maple sugaring history of...interactive

event w/homeschool group- International day

CCA show-Cirque mechanics BOOM TOWN (acrobatics, old wild west)

all together USA study or lapbook of Moving west or Gold Rush

April

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

French- all interested

Boy Scouts-weekly

Science class w/homeschool group Renewable and Non renewable resources

Art w/homeschool group

CCA Show ZooZoo

Show w/homeschool group Bold Knights and Ladies Faire

Trip w/homeschool group Higgins Armory

all together

Armor, Medieval Times study,lapbook? Movies, readers

May

Sewing Class-weekly-Hayley

Total Language Plus, Language arts/English class-weekly-Hayley

Recorder-weekly-Tristan

math games has ended. May be new classes for Tristan or others at this point

Boy Scouts-weekly

At home:

Math daily, all kids, some using math u see,some using Teaching textbooks.

Trevor-science-astronomy daily

Trevor-language learning-independently

Hayley- homework from Total Language Plus, reading, independent work

Colin-Lifepac language arts, CLP nature readers, CLP history reader

Tristan-phonics and LA early readers on variety of topics

French- all interested

Trip w/homeschool group Seacoast science, Aquarium maintenance and Salt Marsh Ecology

All together at home

Reptiles and Amphibians Study

Oceans

June

Things slowly end through early- mid June and then we collapse.