Our Garden Update–May 2011

 

Our garden is really thriving, and I must say that I am pretty surprised. I really have NO idea what I’m doing. I did a little research before planting, but I’m such a newbie. Google really is my best friend these days.

Here’s the box I can see from my back yard. The top picture is from the beginning of April when I first planted the bed. The second one is from two weeks ago. There are three tomato plants in the back. They are HUGE, but still have no fruit. There are plenty of flowers, though, so I’m pretty hopeful.  In front of that, I have garlic growing on the left. Then, I have basil, parsley, and cilantro. I have since harvested all of the herbs. We have made pesto (below) and homemade salsa.

Bed #2

Bed #3

My zucchini is beginning to produce fruit, and are much bigger since I took these pictures two weeks ago.

As you can see, my brussel sprouts were ravaged by cabbage worms. I really didn’t think it would grow after the outer leaves were eaten completely. But, it seems to be doing well. This is one thing I had to research on Google. I really had no idea what the plant should look like at harvest time. I was quite surprised.

Cherry tomatoes

Roma tomatoes

My squash is flowering. No fruit yet, but I’m patient.

Now to the goodies!!

I’ve harvested my red leaf lettuce several times. We’ve enjoyed it on sandwiches, burgers, and in salads.

From my harvested basil, I made pesto. I had never had pesto before, and I loved it. I can’t wait to harvest more for another batch! I googled for a pesto recipe, and I don’t remember where I found the one I used.

Isaac’s first stop-animation video

Isaac loves stop-animation. We got him a video camera for his birthday so he could start making his own. Here’s his first one…

Homeschool Freedom

I love the freedom that homeschool allows me to have with my kids’ education. Isaac and I have been butting heads over his math for the past few months. He was doing really well with Saxon Algebra 1/2 until that time. Then, he started bombing his lessons. We tried a few different things hoping it would ‘click’. He had gotten to the point to where he was setting himself up for failure. He was entering each lesson telling himself that he was stupid and he couldn’t do it. So, when he did his lessons, he was  bombing them. We slowed WAAYY down and redid lessons when necessary. I could tell that he knew the material and could pass the lessons/tests if he took his time, but he was really struggling with confidence.

A week or so ago he told me he felt dumb, and that he just wasn’t learning anything. At that point, I decided we needed to make some changes. So, we put the math textbook away. We’re not giving up on Saxon, but we’re taking a break. We’ll start up with the same book (newer edition) in the fall. The newer edition will allow me to purchase the DIVE CD to go along with it. I think Isaac will do better hearing the lessons from someone else rather than from me. It think it will be a good transition for him.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to make changes on the fly as needed. I don’t have to ‘fail’ him. He doesn’t have to go to summer school. And, he doesn’t have to continue to feel stupid (because HE’S NOT) as he struggles through a lesson.

Yay for homeschooling and a mom who is open to making changes when necessary!!!

Memory Monday

Last week, my parents came for a visit. We took a trip downtown to take pics while they were here. When my mom uploaded this picture to Facebook…

it reminded me of this picture I took back in ‘07.

Boy, how they’ve grown!

The Move…

 

If you have followed my blog for a while, you might remember that just a few months ago we thought we might have to move from TX to MN. Then, a few weeks ago we thought we were going to get to stay put. Well, now, the move is back on the table. This time, it may actually be to PA instead of MN. I’m not loving this crazy roller coaster ride we’re on!! I’ll update more when I know something.  But, from the way things have been, it may be a while.

PS – If you have any info about homeschooling in PA, I’d love some links. I’ve checked out HSLDA, but I’d love some more links.

9 years!

That’s how long I’ve been homeschooling! Wow! And, with Emma just entering the 3rd grade next year, I’ve got about 10 more! Double WOW!

Homeschooling was not even on my radar when I started having kids. When Logan was little, I thought I would want to send him to private school. When he was a bit bigger – preschool age – I learned about homeschooling. I was intrigued, and definitely wanted to give it a try. I felt God pulling me toward homeschooling, but it wasn’t the right season.

When Logan was old enough to start school, I was a single mom finishing up my college degree – in education. I tried student teaching/subbing during the day and homeschooling him at night. It was not a good fit. So, I enrolled him in the public school where I worked seven weeks into his kindergarten year. I was able to request his kindergarten teacher and his first grade teacher. They were wonderful, and at that point public school was working for him. (It wasn’t working for me, but that’s another story.)

At the end of his first grade year, I got married. We moved across the state. I found a job teaching in a poor school district, and enrolled Logan in the local elementary school. It was awful all the way around. I hated teaching there, and while Logan was happy in his school, he was bored out of his mind!! When, we found out hubby was being transferred to another state, I started making my pleas to try homeschooling.

We moved, and I made the switch to homeschooling Logan in his third grade year. And, here we are nine years later! I love homeschooling. I love being with my children. I love being the one to provide them their education. I love being able to place God in the center of our homeschooling. I love the relationship I have with each of my children, and the relationships they are able to foster with each other.

As I look down the road at the next ten years, I get excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. I thank God for calling me to this job. I knew I was meant to teach, and I’m so thankful that it’s my own children I have the pleasure to teach. I thank God that my husband finally found a love for homeschooling (5 years into our journey), and has allowed me to continue down this path. I thank God for the last nine homeschooling years and the ten that lie ahead of me.

I will start next year with Logan entering his senior year! Wow! That’s kinda scary/sad. Isaac will be in the 8th grade, and Emma will be in third.

How long have you homeschooled? How much longer will you be homeschooling?

Wordless Wednesday–13th Birthday Party (Airsoft War)

Tip Tuesday - Seeking Advice Not Giving It Today

Where do you keep your lesson plans for multiple children who don’t ‘share’ lessons? I have tried sooooooo many formats over the past 9 years, and have yet to find one I love. I’m looking for a teacher planner not a kid planner.

Because my children are spread so far apart (12th, 8th, and 3rd grades next year), they don’t do too much together. So, I’m planning out lessons for the three of them separately for the most part. I’ve tried printing daily plans and binding them in separate notebooks. But, having three planners going at the same time is a bit cumbersome. I’ve tried printing weekly plans and keeping them in a binder, but I can’t get too detailed on a 1-page weekly planning page.

Is there a ‘perfect’ planner for an over-planner? I am NOT a do the next lesson planner. Even if they are doing the next lesson, I want to know (for me) what the lesson is.

So, I’m asking, What do you use to plan your homeschool lessons? I’d love to hear what works for you, and if you can link to a picture that would be even better!!!

My May Goals

I have to set goals in order to accomplish things  - big or small. And, I have to write that list of goals down, or I will forget them! This is going to be a VERY busy month. We’re trying to wrap up the bulk of our schooling so we can do a minimal amount over the summer.

It’s also recital prep time. This means Emma practices at home in order to polish (or learn steps) her recital routines. This also means that the team is practicing the opening number routine adding another night at the dance studio for this month. But, of course, it’s all worth is when I get to watch her perform on stage and shine after working so hard!

May Goals:

• finalize curriculum list for next year and order most of our books before the end of the month
• clean out all kids’ rooms and closets; store all clothes that may still fit in future seasons; tag all outgrown clothes, toys, books, for upcoming yard sale
• finalize a date for the upcoming yard sale to be held before our final payment is due for our Disney vacation  
• clear out/organize fabric and craft supplies in the sewing closet (That’s probably my BIGGEST job!)
• plan/begin Emma’s birthday outfit – she has asked me to make her an outfit for her birthday party in June (I have an idea, but I need to play with it a bit more.)
• pare down our school supplies and books; sell what we aren’t using; find an organized way to store what we are saving for future years (curriculum E and I will ‘grow into’)
• Catch up on Project Life