Tag Archives: My Thoughts

Bloggy Writer’s Block

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I can't really say that I have writer's block because I have so many things to say. I sit down to write and I am flooded with download creations invading my head and things I want (and need) to do to keep up with the blog. I love writing and I am not feeling overwhelmed, I just wish all of my thoughts would line up and take a number. I can't focus on anything when my mind is full of clutter. 

I started a new idea notebook today (to give the clutter a home).

I had one and it disappeared somewhere in the house. I have no idea where. One day the book was here and I was jotting down notes and the next minute it had just up and walked away.

My idea notebook was so cute. It was blue and pink plaid and I loved it. I love plaid. I picked it up at a dollar store one afternoon after a date at Starbucks with my husband (and the twins). I remember that afternoon... the whole coffee shop was starring and commenting on how cute the twins were (they still are cute). There was a little dollar store next door and we went in for a quick look. I love plaid (Did I just say that?) and was so overjoyed to find this cute journal for two bucks.

I can only hope that the twins didn't throw the idea notebook into the trash. We find all kinds of strange things in the trash. You really have to watch the twins closely because they are quick. They will pick up your shoes and just throw them out. We lost the phone for months (we have two) and had feared that it was on its way to the dump, when we found it under the couch.

The kitchen is a favorite place for the twins. They have one cupboard that they are allowed to play in. Can you guess which one it is? The pots and pans. They love the noise they make when they throw them onto the floor. They also make great stools when you are only two feet high. (Okay, I know that had nothing to do with an idea notebook or this blog post, but hey...)

I had a smaller notebook for the bedroom too ~ you know those moments when you are nursing the twins at 3am and you are struck with the most amazing idea? Okay, maybe you don't know them, but it has happened to me... Need I mention A Sheep, A Dinosaur, and A Blue Duck? That notebook has disappeared too.

I digress, I started a new idea notebook today. I grabbed a duo-tang... (you know those little paper folders with the brads built in?) and I filled it full of paper... It is not the prettiest thing around, but it is functional. Okay, it is really ugly.

It has been hard getting back into the routine of blogging since the domain lapsed in December and Christmas happened and life was busy and crazy. Did I mention that my sister had a baby on New Year's Day? I had so much "stuff" (AKA - ideas) collecting in my head that I had to create a home for them. I have been writing notes down all day in the new notebook. Eleven pages later and I think my head is just about clear enough to think straight. I am excited. I have a renewed vision, some focused direction, and enough ideas for blog posts and free downloads to sink a small ship.

Stay tuned...

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The Twins Are Climbing!

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Did I say that the twins are climbing?

I meant to say that Hosanna is REALLY climbing now...

She is like a little monkey and has starting climbing out of her crib. I dreaded the day when this would happen. She is a tiny little thing - probably not even 20 pounds soaking wet (she hates water, by the way) - and amazes me every day. She can climb like crazy. Hosanna can scale the crib in no time flat. I have watched her and she is amazing. She is like a little gymnast.  She can even do somersaults and back bends. I think we need to invest in some gymnastics in the near future.

Zion can climb in and out of his seat (for eating), but his real interest is cleaning. He loves the carpet broom and the vacuum. He is obsessed with messes and likes them cleaned up right away. Thank you Lord for a child like this! He picks up the trash and puts it in the garbage. He cleans up his toys and everyone else's. He carries all the dishes to the sink and really wants to wash dishes like the big boys. This is like a breath of fresh air around here. Jonah and I have discussed mini cleaning supplies for him and will probably pick some up for his birthday.

I think it will be awhile before Zion climbs as well as Hosanna. I think she has the advantage because she is tiny and limber. Zion is built like a football player - really husky and solid he is top heavy too,  but he has the cutest dimples.

Apparently, this climbing thing is all my fault because I climbed out of my crib as a child. This is some sort of strange payback I get for everything I put my parents through when I was little. It always comes back at you, hey?

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My Homeschool Binder

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I got tired of so many teacher's manuals and I spent some time (a day or two or three - it's all a blur now) a couple of weeks ago and I merged everything into one binder.

I made a simple, blank, ten week chart  (to get us to the end of the term). I used a fresh chart for each subject and filled in weekly goals. My homeschool binder tabs (which have yet to be labeled) are blank paper, Bible (group work), Language Arts (all three kids behind one tab), Math (all three kids behind one tab), Social Studies (group work), Science (group work), Art (group work), and Read Alouds (group work).

We read our Bible and related texts (Sonlight K and 1) during breakfast time. Then we start in on the Language Arts and Math sections and work on them throughout the day. I am still toying with the idea of rotating days - Language Arts one day/Math the next.  Most of the day is spent alternating between teaching kids, nursing babes, and doing life. At lunch time we do our Social Studies and Science readings. In the afternoons we continue alternating between kids and their Language Arts and Math. At dinner or shortly after, we conclude our day by reading our Read Alouds.

I put everything needed for the week in that one binder (right behind the subject schedules) and then I have two baskets. The first basket has everything that we use when we are doing group work. In the second basket I put all of the items needed for individual work. This system is working out really well so far. When the boys come to work with me, they grab the basket and my binder and off we go. My oldest has even taken out the binder and his books and started working on his own (I love this) ticking off work as he goes.

Having a set of specific goals to work through for each week in each subject allows us to be flexible in our everyday (which is exactly what we needed). We just work around life and fit in school because most of life is school anyways... Like the other day when I made pancakes from scratch, Moses and Malachi helped and learned that oil and water don't mix. They also learned that oil helps to brown the pancakes.

I have to say that after 4 years of homeschooling, I finally found something that makes sense for our family. I discovered that I have really missed sitting with the boys while they do their lessons. I am more clearly able to know what areas need to be worked on and what areas they are surprisingly strong in.  The boys work better without freaking out when I am sitting beside them interacting with them (independence will come eventually).

Where do workboxes fit? I have been asking myself that question. I know they do fit. I plan on weaving them back in sometime soon. I will post about that bridge when we choose to cross it.

I don't know if that all was clear as mud (hopefully clearer). If you have any questions, I will try and clarify. I will try and post pictures too if anyone is interested.

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