Routine and On into 2012...

I miss our routine. My husband got back from deployment in early November and it's been chaotic with a trip and his whole month of leave. He returns to work Monday and we will then hopefully get back into our grove.

There were some financial issues, so I have decided to hold of buying the K curriculum that I listed. Instead I chose a cheaper route for the moment. I want to reinforce certain skills, so we're using Kumon workbooks until I can purchase the other books. I will post as we go along. Last week we did a Rhino Unit study, this week we are doing review. Then next week we will start the Kumon workbooks and read books on Giraffes. Logan is in love with animals, so zoology is a science.

I am sending "Daddy" and Logan to the library to get Giraffe books. The little one is napping and then I am going to attempt to get a workout in. We'll see how that goes. I need to get back to it...and also meal planning. I have my notebook out now..trying to get a list together for pay day. Having my husband home also means, more food in the house..I can say one thing, it sure is going to be fun one day trying to feed him and two teenagers..

No matter what I am blessed. Here's to the New Year, it's coming and I for one am ready for it!

Ending the Year Out..

Well it is official. We're ending 2011.

2011 was a crazy year with my husband being deployed and just life in general. I learned so much about the relationship with God and am thankful my husband has return whole and his usual self.

Shortly after he came home in November he went back to work. It was so that he could take the whole month of December off. In the beginning of December we went to Daytona Beach, FL for a week - over my birthday and just for a family vacation. It was nice and relaxing. Now we're conintuing to enjoy leave at home in NC.

Logan is far enough that we're officially ending preschool and moving onto Kindergarten work starting in January. I haven't wanted to push him, but realized he is bored, so we will move on. We're waiting on some extra money from the Army, so until I am able to get the new curriculum, we're doing unit studies. Personally they are really fun to create for me to create. This week we are studying Rhinos because that's what Logan wanted. He went on a trip to the zoo with his Aunts & cousins and fell in love. We're creating a poster board instead of a lapbook - that's at his level. I will post a picture after we're done on Friday. We went to the library last Friday and got the books. Logan also loves the library and that makes this Mom happy as I am a big reader. Next week he said we wants to study Giraffes so we'll go to the library Friday and get those books before everything shuts down for Christmas. Then we'll do that the week of the 26th and go from there until I get the new materials. I am planning on ordering everything from CBD.com and realized with my list that we are truly an ecclectic homeschool family.

My goal for 2012 is to blog more regularly.

Besides that we're focusing on friends, our little family, and of course Jesus during this Christmas season. I wish each of you the best as we head into 2012!
Blessings,
Ashley

The End of Week 3!

Well schooling Logan has been interesting. We were plugging along on the lesson plan I had created and then I started realizing that the workbook format alone wasn't working. While talking to my Mom she googled something and came up with this site internet4classrooms.com and it has proved invaluable. It has a ton of online resources for K-8 grade. So, I have added computer time to the mix and we're moving along much better now. I highly recommend this site - will take you to other sites, but it has been very helpful to us and so far everything has been FREE!

All is well, just busy with Logan's and my school.

Also still waiting "Daddy's" return!


Blessings,
Ashley

Chugging Along..

It is Tuesday.
Today is Art day, meaning we work on our Art project and nothing else.
Okay, well I did have Logan do a cutting worksheet, but I feel cutting goes along with the whole art thing - as he had to cut stuff out to paste before he did the worksheet.
Anyway, things are going well. I feel that we're finding our grove. It can be overwhelming to try and figure out okay, this is working, add that or take this away, but we are getting there.
I am adding pictures of the art project. I decided we would do one piece a week and then at the end of the book we would have our complete art project.
Book G from Rod and Staff has a Polar theme and so everything that the books uses deals with like count the Seals, How many Polar bears are there, and so on.
So, I printed out polar pictures.
The first one was a boy making a snowman, I know a little off - but I figured show Logan what he can be doing in a couple of months here would be fun. Today was a Penguin, and let's just say my son had an interesting idea for the color of the penguins head.

Here's to Art day, letting the creative juices flow!
Ashley

1 Week of School Complete!

Well I was up at 0500 today. It seems to be the only way I function well and get all that I need done. It is also why I am in bed by 2100 most nights too, but oh well - I have long since given up being cool. ha!

Anyway, so low and behold Logan wakes up at 0535, guess that proves he is my child. And spontaneously I asked if he wanted to do school and he said yes, so I went with it. Loganw as able to complete 6 workbook pages and two cutting worksheets. That means we're offically ahead by one day, so I will be taking Monday to review everything I noted needed to be worked on during this week.

So, I feel good about the way things are doing. Life is chugging along and soon we'll be in November and welcoming my husband home.

Here's to home educating!
Ashley

Somedays Are Better Than Others

Today is day four of the new "school" year. Day one started out so well, two was good, three, and four were a bit chaotic as I was interuppted by IMs' with my Husband. Can't exactly tell him we're doing school, don't wanna talk right now. Ahh the joys of being a military family dealing with deployments.

So, my son needs cutting practice. Decided along with the current workbook he is doing I will print out more cutting activties for him to do. It reminds me that while he excels at some things, he still needs work on others, and most improtantly he is four.

Remember to love them where they are at, that's the thought going through my head right now...don't wish 'em older, because they'll get there sooner than you'll like.

Ashley

We Started

Boy have we been busy running around. Not to mention my oldest's son's birthday was Friday and we did a party with one other family. I made a giant cupcake rather than a cake, it was Cars 2 - the boy made out of course...but kids always do I suppose. He got $, toys and was able to get some toys with some of the money. He has a little ATM - so the rest went in there. It was a great week, and a great day, just busy.

Anyhow, today we started "school," back up. I call us ecclectic. I have basically created my own K4 program. It has some review, but I almost want to say that it is more Kindergarten as Rod & Staff combines a preschool & kindergarten program and Get Ready for the Code books, A,B,C - is phonics - but I am still calling it K4 - until I see how he does and if I need to add or take stuff away. But anyhow, he is very excited to be going and I am very excited to see how this year goes.

Well I have to go, I have chores and my own school work to accomplish,
but life is great!
Blessings,
Ashley

Busy Busy Busy Bees!

We've been busy and running around lately. One thing I did was get the boys clothing ready for the Fall/Winter consignment sale. It's of course Fall/Winter clothing items and a few bigger things like a Boppy and a Baby Hawk Sling and some shoes. I really hope it sells. Full price would be great, but sell in general is just as great. I gotta print and tag it this week. Friday my baby, I mean my boy, Logan, turns 4 years old. That to me is insane! I feel like yesterday I was in the German hospital looking at my tiny (okay not so tiny) but little newborn boy and taking him in. Now he's a walking, talking goofy, fun-loving boy who has a baby brother. I guess that's just how it goes.

School is going slowly lately. It's okay, we'll finish the workbook this week and then start the new stuff next Monday. I try not to be pushy, but I also like things done.

Well here's to a new week, enjoy Everyone!
Blessings,
Ash

Looking Back

I was looking back at old drawings and work that I had done with Logan last year. He was 2/ 2 1/2 years old and it's amazing to look at that and what he has done this year. Time sure flies, that's all I know. In ten days Logan will be 4 years old. This is a fact I can hardly believe. I will be twenty-seven this year, my husband is thirty-one, and together we'll have a one year old and a four year old. It just feels odd to me. I love my children and for the most part watching them grow up is great for me. In rare occasion it is hard in the sense that I start missing little hands and baby toes. But as they say you raise them up to let them go. We will finish the last workbook on Monday the 8th and then start K4 the following Monday. As I have said before it is not a huge deal at this point for breaks since "school" isn't very long each day, but I look forward to pushing the envelope this year and seeing what he can do. I have a checklist I will look at throughout the year to make sure he is Kindergarten ready - but I have little doubt he will be. So, life is school for Logan, school for me, church, and life in general.

So, here's to remembering when..
Ashley

Been..

Lately things have just been going. I am at finals week, so I am just focused on my schooling. The house showed it and I am cleaning today. Logan is almost done with his last workbook. We should finish no later than August 6th and then get 9 days off before we start on the new "school" year August 15th. I almost cannot believe I am doing this. I never even heard of homeschool until I, myself, was in high school and I never thought I would do it with my own children, but so far I love. I am not niaeve, I know this is the easier part and I won't love doing it everyday, but I am committed to my children and their education. I thought about putting Logan in Fall soccer and basketball, but I think I am going to hold off until Spring. With Lance's homecoming right in the middle of the season I don't think it's really smart to be trying to do too many other things. He did love soccer this past Spring though. Anyhow, so life is just chugging along - still waiting to get the other computer fixed. Gotta have the funds to get it fixed. Something always seems to cost $, guess it's a fact of life.

Blessings,
Ashley

Coming upon the end of Summer

August it is a great month. My oldest son Logan was born this month, my daugher Arianna was born this month, (God rest her soul) and of course school starts for us on the 15th, not that we've really stopped, but at this point learning letters, writing, and basic math doesn't really call for a break - especially when "school" lasts anywhere from 30-45 minutes. I am sure in time I will be more concerned about figuring out whether we're going to be year-roud or more like a typical school calender - another reason to love homeschooling - FLEXIBLE TIME FRAMES.

Having said all of that, we're finishing up Logan's last Kumon workbook, the Lowercase letters one. I had planned on doing no school yesterday since I have bible study, but amazingly we all got up and ready early enough to sit down at the dining room table and do some work. I wasn't planning on much and Logan pushed himself to do 8 pages. It was amazing, he just wanted to keep going so I let him. Well he made up for that gusto today as we only accomplished four today. I should mention it's one page, two sides - so I guess I am counting sides. He did do more Math today, again another positive to homeschool - me following his lead -- to a point. He has gotten a bit bossy telling me I am doing this or I am done, so we do need to work on manners, but he is moving along nicely.

August 15th is a Monday. I am looking forward to seeiing the what Logan and I accomplish this year. I cannot believe what he learned at 2 and now 3, so I know I will be saying the same as he turns five. He is just so eager to grow "big" as he says..although as Mom I am not sure how I feel about that!

Ahh well life goes on!
Blessings,
Ashley

What is up with Monday?

Mondays are typically so hard for this family. We seem a little more tired, drag a little more. I was surprised we got any "school" done yesterday including my own homework for class. I am sure the gray and rainy weather did not help. It was like pulling teeth to get Logan to do the little he did in his workbook. It was not like him at all. Today we go to PWOC (bible study) and then I have a few errands, so if we do any school it will be in the afternoon. I also have my final to work on at some point this week. It is just crazy. I am still trying to get my computer to my friend who said he would fix it. I can't add any pictures or do anything I normally can because the laptop I am on is pretty much an Internet and Microsoft Works computer only. I will be very happy when it is fixed. So, here we are chugging a long. Hopefully there will be a nicer post tomorrow.

Blessings,
Ashley

Super Easy Salsa

My plans for dinner tonight are the crockpot Pineapple Chicken. I am excited about it. The picture looks fantastic. I will have fruit for dessert and so I was thinking of an appetizer I could serve that wouldn't stuff every one. So, of course I thought of chips and dip...but I wanted to do it healthier. So, here is a clean Salsa recipe I found. I taste tested it with Logan, and IT IS AWESOME!! I am very excited to be really cooking again, as always it's fun and YUMMY!

(From clean eating site)

Salsa

4 plum tomatoes
1 onion (1/2 of it)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbspn cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 lime (juiced)

*Put in process and mix well.* Can eat immediately or refridgerate.*
Makes 10 servings
*Also, you can use other substitutions, like I used minced garlic and cilantro paste according to the directions, as well as lime juice from a bottle. Still tasted awesome. I paired it with Tostitos Artisan Roasted Garlic and Black Bean chips.*

Blessings,
Ashley

And we move on..

Well R&R ended today. We dropped Lance/Daddy off at the airport early this morning. By 0800 I was back home. I think I have a 24 hr. bug or my sinuses are out of whack so I slept a lot today. I am a little down, but I'll get over it -- just hope it is quickly. I did school with Logan today. Lance had been doing it and more recently we couldn't find where he'd placed the alphabet book, so he was doing math with him. Well last night I found the Kumon workbook, so today we started our last book. It is fun watching Logan learn and I was glad for the distraction. He did mention missing Daddy once, but otherwise does not seem to be overly sad or concerned. I also showed him how his Daddy would be flying over the ocean back to his assignment on his blow up globe and he liked that. Then I got the questions of where was I born, Levi, you, and Daddy and the dogs - so I guess I can count that as History. Levi is well Levi and just enjoying being 13 months old. (Yes, today he's 13 months, that floors me!)Having company over tomorrow night. I figured that, that'd help to motivate me to finalize the organizing and cleaning I have after Lance's little interior painting project. I cannot wait to show pictures, but will have to due to the fact my good computer with memory is getting fixed. This is one I got at a pawn shop and I cannot add anything to it. Trust me, I have tried. Anyway, here's to moving on.

I am ready for November now, ha!
Blessings,
Ashley

School and a Good bye

My Husband seemed to misplace the Lowercase book when he took everything out to paint the interior of our house. I am not trying to be overly annoyed about it though. Instead he's been working with Logan on numbers. We're using Hooked on Math the same people who do Hooked on Phonics and it is a decent workbook. So, I need to add that to the side bar. My son seems to really relish Math which is good since I don't. Having said that his Father leaves tomorrow. As he goes we'll have 102 days to get through -- and I know we can with God's strength and lots of prayer. I have enjoyed the last two weeks and it was totally worth it. I am a tad concerned about Logan and his emotions, but I am not going to get upset or show him my feelings and we'll go with how he is and does. Anyway, I may not post tomorrow, but sometime this week I will post pictures and more about the upcoming new year.

Blessings,
Ashley

I may have a new love...

The pawn shop of all places. Normally I am leary of pawn shops. I am married to an MP (Military police) and they typically are not in the best areas or on the best streets, but I took the plunge today because both of our laptops took dumps and I must have one for my school since everything I do, even attendance, is online. So, I stopped at one and found a really inexpensisve laptop. I also got a $20 TV - it was $50 but the owner lowered the price since he could not gaurentee the DVD player. It worked out because I did not want Logan to have cable or DVDs in his room - and this is going in the boys playroom so that Logan can use the Smartcycle bike we got him for Christmas. I am excited to see it in action later as it is educational. I still expect him to go outside and do boy things, but I am hoping this will only help with his mind and provide some exercise as well. Along with that TV I got my husband a TV as well for his sports room. He has been deployed, and on R&R has done house painting and so much more just because he wanted to. He's mentioned a bigger TV for awhile now, and well this is a 42" and was under half price -- we had a bit of extra money and so I bought it. We have been blessed with several luxuries -- God is so faithful and then some. Pictures of the house and more to come!!

Blessings,
Ashley

Seeing An End..

With Daddy's help We have finished the Uppercase Letter Kumon workbook. I know Logan felt good when I filled out that little award they have in the back. He is an easy child to praise. A high five or "award," fuels him well. So, that means we have 6 weeks to finish the Lowercase book and review. We have 1 week of R&R left, so I know Lance will help as he can and that it'll be slower until next Friday after he's gone. I am hoping Logan doesn't hurt too much. He is a Daddy's boy and loves him so -besides that we're planning our day trips, so it's going to be busy, busy, but in that fun way. This is a new way to say "summer-school," -- I sure love homeshcooling!

The key is to remember to always add a little fun in,
Ashley

It's Kinda Nice..

Well "Daddy" has been home for four days and it's kinda nice. I mean I love having my Husband home of course, but it's kinda nice having the "help" too. Especially with schooling. I love that I can say,"Hey would you do school this morning?" And they do it together. It gives me a little time to myself as they do that and my youngest eats his breakfast. We have until the 21st - time of course is seeming to go fast, but isn't that always how it goes? I am enjoying my class. It's five weeks long, so Monday we finish up week two, but it's actually exciting. Guess you're never too old to learn as they say. I love it. This afternoon we're heading up to Raleigh. We're going to the mall - just to look around and then at 5 p.m. - we are headed to a Cars 2 Party at the Marbles Kids Museum. My husband booked it for us. He really wanted to see Cars 2 with Logan, so he did this. It's food, crafts, and fun around the museum - then a showing of Cars 2. It'll be a late night, but it'll be worth it. We're on schedule with the two workbooks I want to finish by August. I am having a little trouble planning for next year. Logan is at the 4 year old stage for Phonics/Writing, but at the Kindergarten level for math. So, I am struggling with what do and use - so we'll see what I figure out.

Here's to the weekend, enjoy yours, we sure will enjoy ours!!

Blessings,
Ashley

Another Day..

We still have no Daddy here. He is still on his way - tomorrow we hope. So, I am not really, really into the 4th of July at the moment. I am finalizing things around the house and trying to really get back into a routine. I took workbooks and the flashcards with us to Colorado, but near the end we took a break which turned into three weeks and it shows as my child is acting like he's forgot everything. I started back a little on Saturday and today we did regular time. We finished the last of the Rod & Staff preschool 3/4 workbooks and I feel that they were worth the money. I think it should be maybe 2/3, but what do I know. The one thing they did show me way Logan does have trouble writing anything with curves. We still have the Kumon Upper/Lowercase books to finish so I think that will help with that and we will be practice name and number (1-5) writing. Logan did not go to Camp Friday because they were swimming and with Camp, VBS, and everything in between he was wore out. I did not make him go -- anyhow, it starts back up tomorrow and now with all the chaos with Daddy trying to get home, I am glad I signed him up for this week even though my Husband was pretty upset with me. Logan needs stability -- glad he'll go there in the morning since I will be all over mentally. It's hard, so close and yet so far.

But God bless those who fought for our Independence and for those who fight today including Lance Logan King!!!
Blessings,
Ashley

PS Photos are of the boys & the workbook we finished!!

Birthday, Home, & Busy, Busy!!

Well haven't posted in awhile. We celebrated Levi's first birthday with family in Colorado. He had a great time eating cake and was all over it..or it was all over him depending on how you look at it. That was Saturday, then Wednesday we flew home to N.C. and then began the crazy week of Camp during the day and VBS at night and preparing for Daddy's R&R which until this point is still pending - yes we're waiting on him still! We had not done any school in three weeks and it shows, but I had Logan do a little last night. We really need to get back on that -- but there's still a lot of summer left for him..so I am not overly concerned. Just wishing there was time to do it all. Anyway, so that is about it around here, busy, busy.Pictures to come later as this site is acting crazy!

Blessings,
Ashley