Today is my one year anniversary from starting this blog. I remember being inspired to do so by some friends who were talking about theirs when we were out for coffee.
It was really easy to get started -- more so than I imagined!
I've enjoyed sharing the interesting, the mundane, the inspiring, and the annoying! Having a place to put videos and photos for friends to see is great, too!
Thanks for tuning in!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Who's the Teacher and Who's the Student?
This year I'll be teaching Science to 1st and 2nd graders at a new home school group. I'll be covering Our Planet Earth and Our Weather and Water.
The first book of the series is Our Universe, which I opted not to teach to the group in terms of time, the types of activities involved, and my own lack of true interest in it. For the last 20 years I've gotten National Geographic Magazine, I have only looked at the pictures of articles on space. It has just never been my favorite thing.
I already had the Our Universe book, so I thought I'd at least go through some of the lessons with my kids as an introduction prior to teaching about Our Planet Earth in the home school group starting in August. I knew I'd have to do my best not to translate my lack of interest to the kids.
I have to say the lessons are going amazingly well, and at times I am wondering who is the teacher and who is the student! The kids have already learned a lot about space from movies and stories and such! D knew what gravity was, and E had a fantastic explanation of her own to describe it. Yesterday we were talking about objects in the sky -- stars, planets, moon, clouds -- and we learned about star clouds, nebulae. I told them we'd talk about more objects tomorrow, and E said, "like those rocks floating around in space that sometimes come to earth?" Asteroids? The kid knew about asteroids/meteorites??? I took advantage of the interest and we talked about asteroids. Today we will cover meteorites.
Wow! This is much better than I thought it would be! And I do love the Answers in Genesis curriculum!!!
The first book of the series is Our Universe, which I opted not to teach to the group in terms of time, the types of activities involved, and my own lack of true interest in it. For the last 20 years I've gotten National Geographic Magazine, I have only looked at the pictures of articles on space. It has just never been my favorite thing.
I already had the Our Universe book, so I thought I'd at least go through some of the lessons with my kids as an introduction prior to teaching about Our Planet Earth in the home school group starting in August. I knew I'd have to do my best not to translate my lack of interest to the kids.
I have to say the lessons are going amazingly well, and at times I am wondering who is the teacher and who is the student! The kids have already learned a lot about space from movies and stories and such! D knew what gravity was, and E had a fantastic explanation of her own to describe it. Yesterday we were talking about objects in the sky -- stars, planets, moon, clouds -- and we learned about star clouds, nebulae. I told them we'd talk about more objects tomorrow, and E said, "like those rocks floating around in space that sometimes come to earth?" Asteroids? The kid knew about asteroids/meteorites??? I took advantage of the interest and we talked about asteroids. Today we will cover meteorites.
Wow! This is much better than I thought it would be! And I do love the Answers in Genesis curriculum!!!
Monday, July 27, 2009
WE'RE DEBT FREE!!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! We paid off the last of our debt -- the house -- today! (Photo from this last winter.)
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
A Few Things
E slept without the night light last night, by accident, and has now informed us that she doesn't need it anymore.
While cleaning up from playing school, D and E started arguing about where two similar chairs should go -- they are from the same set, just different colors. D kept arguing that E had put one in the wrong place. I told him that it didn't matter. He was really frustrated, and retorted, "At my house it will." I'm sure he's right....
We had a quiz today on our first unit in the study of the universe. I asked what gravity was. Since D was the one who knew initially, I expected the answer from him. However, E was the one who eagerly explained that it was like a current in the water, pushing you somewhere, but in the air making you go down to the ground. I thought that was an excellent analogy. I think the Milky Way candy bars I got as a surprise will help them both to remember that, too!!
While cleaning up from playing school, D and E started arguing about where two similar chairs should go -- they are from the same set, just different colors. D kept arguing that E had put one in the wrong place. I told him that it didn't matter. He was really frustrated, and retorted, "At my house it will." I'm sure he's right....
We had a quiz today on our first unit in the study of the universe. I asked what gravity was. Since D was the one who knew initially, I expected the answer from him. However, E was the one who eagerly explained that it was like a current in the water, pushing you somewhere, but in the air making you go down to the ground. I thought that was an excellent analogy. I think the Milky Way candy bars I got as a surprise will help them both to remember that, too!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Raccoon Kits
The other night we got to watch a mother raccoon and her three kits emerge from their den at the base of one of our trees. They must have been hungry, as it was still fairly light out!
Monday, July 20, 2009
A First
E jumped off the diving board today, after showing me she could swim well enough to do it and get to the side. She had the best time. D is jumping off, diving a bit, and doing front flips! Fun!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sun and Earth, Revolution and Rotation
All's well until the sun starts to kick the earth! I don't know which was better, this way, or using an orange and a grape (with continents drawn on) on a toothpick.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Lost Tooth
E lost her first tooth today, just minutes after D lost his 7th! She is so excited, as D lost his first over two years ago and she's been waiting and waiting! 
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Trip to San Antonio
Feeding the Dolphins at Sea World
Going for a Ride!
Watching a Show!
Sleeping after the big day!
Riverwalk boat ride
Playing in the hotel pool
Atop the Tower of the Americas (windy!)
The Alamo
E and Davy Crockett at the Alamo
Going for a Ride!Watching a Show!
Sleeping after the big day! Riverwalk boat ride Playing in the hotel pool Atop the Tower of the Americas (windy!) The AlamoE and Davy Crockett at the Alamo
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