The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...

I was super busy working with a blog designer to give Brighton Park  its new look. I felt sorry for the lady I was working with (Tracey at little bitty blogs). She literally had to figure out the vision I had in my head and she did a great job. (Isn't it pretty?) It was important to me to get the theme right and I do feel the direction I was lead was to have a place where women could feel like what they do (homeschooling and homemaking) was a royal endeavor...a noble pursuit...because it is, and I feel like most women I know do not know their value in these areas. We do not know our worth, and I wanted to make a change in that.

In our homeschool this week...

Wrapped up a reading unit on Dr. Seuss, worked on measurement, learned how to play horseshoes, and learned why ice melts. I'm every day amazed how interested my kids are in learning...everything, which means I need to up my game in order to stay ahead of their inquisitive longings! We also worked some more on our fairy gardens.


Places we're going and people we're seeing...

This weekend we are headed to the Renaissance Fair. The kids are super excited. We are dressing up and making a day of it. It's going to be Epic!

My favorite thing this week was...

At one of the girls' skating lessons this week they were put into the jump harness for the first time and they loved it. The older one had a new sense of confidence as she had been concerned how she would learn to do jumps without falling repeatedly (she is 6). The little one said "Mom, look! I Peter Pan!" (she's 4).


What's working/not working for us...

Had some issues with the boys PT this week. Is it challenging to have the right team members in place. When the therapists are coming to your home to provide the therapy this is particularly challenging. What's not working for me is therapists and service providers who are not professional, and because unprofessionalism does not work for me,  I will continue to make changes in the boys team until I have a complete set of professional providers.


Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

Anyone using Rosetta stone for foreign languages? How are you liking it? If you are using something else (for young elem. school level) that you really like, what is it?


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

Day one last week of our fairy garden projects...we got the flowers planted. I love this picture...who knew Arizona was so green?

Join me in saving small businesses...

Today is National Mom & Pop Business Owner's Day.  In light of that, I wanted to share this project with you.  Join me in supporting small businesses.  Join me in saving brick and mortar stores. Join me in helping your local economy.

Thanks,

Katie

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...
Our 11 month old little one said her first word other than mama, "eat". Oh, and a "friend" of a fb friend (who I don't know personally but shared with me she is late 30s, single and an atheist--let's call her "Hawaii girl") called me a "breeder" (among other things), and didnt mean them as a compliment. In cyberspace. On the internet. In a public forum. Then proceeded to write a public 3 paragraph monologue on how women like me (homeschooling, has children) were what was wrong with our world today (among other things). Wow.  It makes me realize, there are people in this world who are unhappy. Who are lonely. And the only thing they hate worse than their own misery and loneliness is your happiness.  What I wanted to say?  "I'm sorry, I would just  love to continue this one sided insulting discussion but I'm off to go procreate again". What I said?   "you don't know me so I am sorry you feel obligated to judge my lifestyle and my choices. I'm praying for you".

In our homeschool this week...
Lots of math and reading. Conversations about using kind words. Too bad Hawaii Girl wasn't around for that lesson...

Places we're going and people we're seeing...
The usual suspects...ballet school, ice skating rink, church. I am starting to get excited about our trip to England which is a little over a month away.

My favorite thing this week was...
Our new helper for the boys started. She is enthusiastic and positive and the kids love her. I am so blessed.

What's working/not working for us...
Doing more hands on and outside activities is working for us. The spring AZ weather is shortlived before summer moves in so we are taking advantage of the moderate temperatures while they last!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

My children are growing up in a world where people hide behind avatars (Hawaii girl's was a picture of spock)  and write things to strangers they would never (I hope) say to someone in person. There is such a lack of civility and manners. I am proud that a part of my child's education is learning how to treat people, in a kind manner, with respect.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share...

I love the wellies with the tulle skirt and the helmet and the cute little grin, on a bicycle that we told her is too small for her but that was the one she wanted to ride anyway...

Blessings to you all, Use your kind words :-)

Katie

Wordless Wednesday: Let's have tea

This is one of my most prized possessions in my tea cup collection; a tea cup and saucer from my Grandmother's china set. I have fond memories of spending weekends at her house as a little girl and having tea with her. My daughters now have tea with me.  I love being able to pass these traditions down to my daughters. What traditions do you have from your Grandmother?

St. Patrick's Day week

With a last name like Sullivan, you would have to know that we have a few traditions for St. Patrick's Day.
This year, we

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...

Uber-Busy! Juggling homeschool and childcare with helping Mr. Darcy since it is tax season.

In our homeschool this week...

We did a pseudo-spring break. We still did reading each day and computer work but took a break from textbooks to do

Equal opportunities, part 2

Back in January I shared with you my son Tim's, who has special needs, first ice skating lesson. It went wonderfully and you can read about that here.  This past week was his twin, Sean's turn.

We didn't start Sean out when Tim did because, well, things like this have to be HIS idea. It took him a few weeks of seeing Tim go and come back for him to think he might be missing something and decide he wanted to do it also.

He is also taking lessons with

Wordless Wednesday: Little reader

Here is our little reader, reading to the baby. Moments like this make me love homeschooling and the closeness it brings our family.

Lent is here...a recipe a week for Lent!

This past Friday for our Lent dinner, we had homemade pizzas.

This is before going into the oven. The one on the left was the kids' pick: red sauce with mushrooms and peppers. The one on the right was Mr. Darcy's pick (my Greek pizza recipe minus the grilled chicken that is usually on it).

Greek Pizza:

pizza crust (store bought or homemade)
greek vinagarette or feta cheese vinegarette salad dressing (used as the "sauce")
black olives
 1 small container of feta cheese (or you can use goat cheese if you prefer)
thyme, pepper, and oregano
1/4 cup mozarella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

spread salad dressing over crust to cover completely (I use about 1/4 cup, but you can use more or less)
sprinkle toppings (sliced black olives, mozarella and feta cheeses and spices)
Top with parmesan cheese

**If this was not a Lenten meal, I would also have added pieces of grilled chicken
put in oven and cook accordingly. Mine went in at 350 degrees for 10 minutes with the crust that I used. Once center is warm and bubbly and outer crust is starting to turn golden brown, they are done.

Veggie pizzas are a great, healthy, Lenten meal.  We served ours with a side salad and Oila!

From the Bookshelf: St. Patrick's Day

Here are some of the St. Patrick's themed books we are reading in our homeschool this month:

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...I was busy interviewing new providers for the boys (who have special needs) and happy to be writing that we were blessed to find a completely wonderful girl  for the position who used to be an au pair and reminds me very much of Giselle from Enchanted. The kids are super excited for her to start. We have also been selling girl scout cookies like crazy.

In our homeschool this week... we wrapped up both a math and social studies unit. I bought

Lent is here...a recipe a week for Lent starts!

I have mentioned this before, but I love Lent. It is one of my favorite times of year. For me it is a chance to strip away the extras and focus on the essentials...in my spiritual life and in my homeschool. And it is a great time to try out new recipes that are meatless...or feature seafood, like this one:

Shrimp Chowder.

prep time 15 min
cook time 3 hours on low in a crockpot
level: Easy
Taste: amazing

ingredients:

1 small onion
2 TBS butter
2 can of cream of potato soup
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cans of evaporated milk
2 pounds of precooked frozen shrimp, tail off, thawed
3oz cream cheese
1-2 tsp of creole seasoning or 1tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1 tsp pepper,
      & 1/2 tsp garlic salt

directions:

chop onion in small pieces and saute onion in butter until soft; just a few minutes.
put the onion mixture, all 4 cans of soup, and  evaporated milk in crockpot. cook on low 2 1/2 hours. Add shrimp and cream cheese (cubed). cook 30 minutes more or until shrimp is warmed through. Enjoy.

This is also a wonderful soup for company. Serve it with crusty bread and a salad if you need a fuller meal.

Enjoy!

Katie

Take a ride with us...

I love the smell of hay on Sundays. My daughter has riding lessons on Sundays. Lately, Mr Darcy has been taking her, but yesterday I took her ...Camera in hand...

my little equestrian.
 photocredit: brightonpark

She rides Bailey. I swear in this picture, it looks like Bailey is smiling. They do love each other...

photocredit brightonpark

She made him a card and gave it to him before their weekly ride. She does this alot.

photo credit: brightonpark

Now, off to ride...

photocredit: brightonpark

Little sister loves hanging out here...

Charlotte.  photocredit: brightonpark

These boots were made for tons of  fun..

can you really have too many pairs of wellies when you love playing outside?
photocredit: brightonpark

waitin' on Audrey...

photocredit: brightonpark

Like mother, like daughter...

photocredit: brightonpark

Sisters, Scouts, and Swaps

Charlotte will be starting a Kindergarten curriculum this fall and will get to join Girl Scouts as a Daisy. She can't wait. In the meantime, how wonderful that she has a big sister that includes her in activities like this one--making swaps for a Daisy swap meet that was held this past month.

SWAPS, otherwise known as "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere" are a fun girl scout tradition. Traded at girl scout events, they are pins made by the girl scout, and the level of difficulty of the SWAP should reflect the girls being able to do as much of it themselves as possible. Audrey decided to make a Smore swap and we found the materials we needed at Michaels Craft Store. Here's the how to:

Finding a Way



 When my twins were in public school, it seemed a large amount of time was spent on handwriting in both their classroom and OT.  And for awhile after I started homeschooling I worked on this too, until one day I had an epiphany...

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week...

I had to make the tough decision to let go of the childcare helper (state provided worker who does habilitation with the boys and provides respite for us as needed) who had been with our family since last September. It is tax season, our busiest time and I am now doing the interview process but feel more at peace than I have in some time.  I think it is important to re-evaluate often what is and is not working in our homes and homeschools and we must be willing to make changes when necessary, even if not entirely convenient.

In our homeschool this week...

Wordless Wednesday: Quiet Moments

With a master bathroom full of puppies it is not necessarily quiet in there; but the particular morning this picture was taken, it was...

Time to announce the March Giveaway...

My March giveaway is of the Homeschool persuasion.  One lucky winner will win this book for their homeschool: