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"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."- Marcus Tullius Cicero

Last week was all a bit of a wash in terms of staying on schedule, but we got caught up on Monday which was supposed to be a holiday for my birthday (Husband demanded, but I just couldn't comply, birthdays are a silly reason to take a holiday.) We have been trying out school in just the afternoon this week, being able to sleep in is nice in ways but I think ultimately not worth it. We will likely go back to morning lessons tomorrow or next week.
We have started reading the Roscoe Riley Rules series, I spotted it right when I was about to give up looking for a chapter book without doing more research (Yes, I am a judge a book by it's cover type, but only books. This does usually work out for me.) I caught the font on the spine from the shelf and something said *TAKE A CLOSER LOOK*. Turned out to be a series about a first grader who gets into a bit of trouble while trying to be helpful. The description made Son laugh. After the first four chapters I believe he is hooked.

I have been browsing through the libraries online resources and have found LOADS of interesting and very helpful things.
 I have signed up to take an online 8 week course on homeschooling, some of it will be things I know, but I think I will learn a lot from it. I am also going to do a two hour tutorial on  OpenOffice Calc (open source equivalent to Microsoft Excel) this weekend, because though I have a template grade book (another a Husband request that I find silly because I make Son re-do work until it is correct) I would like to understand and be able to work the program more easily without asking Husband to fix it. At some point, possibly the December course, I may sign up for SQL because I have heard (Husband really has been trying to find legit ways to work from home for me) that Database Admins make decent money. Found that the library offers a database for small engine repair, and for automobile repair (which I can tell you now WILL be used A LOT, because our car hates us.)
All of this and I haven't even scratched the surface on what our library offers. I didn't know they offered so many things, and definitely recommend checking out what sorts of resources your local library offers.

"Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan." Margaret Thatcher

So, only got halfway through lessons today, which annoys me greatly even though they can be made up tomorrow... We even got through the first half of lessons in an hour or so,  we started our break, we continue after lunch. All of this works well, but Husband wanted us to run errands with him, and getting back home at 5:30 just won't work. Son has a hard time refocusing after such a long break, so rescheduling.

I did however score some great buys for Son at Radio Shack. An Erector set, a solar panel kit, and a unit study on electricity. Each was $4.97, I love getting stuff on sale.










Son  doing his math earlier. Husband cut his hair, it looks better when it is styled.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Week two here we come.
Sundays are my lay about and sleep until I want days, when Husband takes care of Son, and Daughter and I just cuddle in the bedroom (the great thing about having a 3 month old is they sleep near as much as I can.) Son got to spend time on the computer, something we don't allow much of during the week, learned that the hard way last year. It was ridiculously hot outside today when we tried to grill burgers for lunch (someone got antsy and put them on the grill too soon and the coals went out, I wound up finishing them up on the stove.)

Working on the plan book right now, then will be getting tomorrows supplies organized. Trying to come up with an activity to do this week for fun, thinking maybe making rock candy (though I haven't been very successful with it in the past.)

My weekend goal is to get some sand paper and paint to refinish (or at least start the process of) the dressers. Possibly Mod Podge and a poster or magazines for Sons. Oh the possibilities! Husband wants to do a Craigslist free section sweep (crossing fingers for something good.)

Okay, I am done procrastinating taking a break time to get back to planning the week.

Edit: Planbooking for the week is done. Have a look, it's an organized mess! I am still in the phase of worrying over putting more or less information in it, since generally it will only be me who sees it, but in the terrible off chance we get audited by the state I am not sure exactly how much they will want me to put in. I guess I have a research project for the week. I like to hand write this out for now, because it is pretty easy to make changes to, plus not having more stuff to print off (see: pay for) is better especially if I have a lot of changes, also I just love writing with pencils.

Also here is the garland of last weeks work. I use paint swatches to write down each lesson on, and stick it in the box with the work. Son seems to like it, and it helps with things like reading a certain chapter while I am in the other room.

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” ― C.S. Lewis

So week one down, thirty-five to go. All in all, I am happy with the way things went this week. I know not all weeks will go this well, but I hope most of them will be on par with it.

Today was tests day, and I am considering making every test on a Friday, just because it means we get done  with the day quicker and on to the weekend sooner. Son passed all four tests that he had today and did pretty well in the subjects we didn't test in. I was a little worried with how he would do, but my son the sponge managed to soak up all the information he needed.  We also had our first not at home homeschool hour at the library. Son got his very own library card and is pretty jazzed about it.

I've gotten a bit more done on my cross-stitch piece, I usually work on it while Son is working on his school work and while feeding Daughter, so it is kind of slow going. I am really enjoying having my hand busy with it. I also checked out a book from the library on raising sheep, though it will really be a long time before we will be able to get any, I still want to find out if it is something I will actually enjoy.

“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” ― Robert Frost

Today started out a bit rocky, he just enjoys being silly too much, but once we got on track we got through things rather quickly. I think we may start doing double maths just to get through the portions he already knows, he just sits there and giggles at how easy it is.  Other than boring grown up issues today went well.

Goal of the week/month: motivation. My tasks get done a lot quicker if I just do them and not think about it for a while before hand.

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” ― Oscar Wilde

   First day went great! I had been getting more and more anxious as it drew closer and I really had nothing to worry over.  Even with Husband getting home from work early, we were able to stay on track and get school done before lunch (which I did not expect because I had planned more than I thought we would actually get to, at the very least I thought we would be back at work after lunch). Last year was a hassle as we did school in the living room, so when Husband got home and started on his computer or doing whatever, Son would get totally thrown off and we wouldn't get much more accomplished. So very glad to have a dedicated room this year.

Loved the work boxes! He liked them as well. Started with Spelling, then worked through each one. So much easier having it all set up like that than setting up each lesson as it comes up.

Yesterday, we went to Office Depot and printed all of the worksheets that I have collected from the internet. It was nearly 100 pages for the first month (though I have already started collecting more I need for weeks three and four.)  Still trying to convince Husband I need a laserjet printer for home (used of course), maybe he will get the idea with the twice a month printing trips.

“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” ― Mark Twain

   Daughter has been in hospital the last couple days. Her fever got to 103.6 and since she is only a couple months old we took her in. Normally, if it were Husband or I we wait it out, because I am not for the over medicating that happens now a days. Son doesn't usually go to the doctor either, but he is so very rarely sick, and hasn't needed to go in several years. Daughter is doing better now, it was a UTI and they wanted to treat with IV antibiotics, which had the fever down within an hour or so and hasn't come back.

   Son got to go stay with my sister. He always has a blast there. I am thankful we are homeschooling because he wouldn't have been able to go to regular school this week, as Husband sleeps in the evenings and works nights and I was at the hospital.

    So glad to be home though. I have a few loose ends to tie up for school, which we will start next Monday. I also need to clean the house really well so I don't have to worry about it so much,

“You cannot open a book without learning something.” ― Confucius

I am not just a teacher, but a student as well. 

Things I am learning:

Cross-stitch- While it may not be "that hard" I was looking for something to do while breastfeeding.

Ham radio- Husband has his license and I need to get mine, this is going kind of slow... maybe because I hate my voice? eh I guess I could always just do Morse code the entire time. 

Blogging- Okay, okay, this is a blog that will likely never be seen by anyone else but maybe someday long in the future someone will come across this and find what I have to say and share interesting?

Things I want to learn:

Doll making- Daughter is no where near old enough for dolls yet, but she will be at some point. I am a fan of the Waldorf doll style, and who knows if I enjoy it and make them good enough maybe sell a few?

Refinishing furniture- I have gotten a few things from Craigslist and have plans to repaint and possibly decoupage. A couple of dressers, an office chair that needs new foam in the seat and reupholstered, and recovering the pillows on the couch.

Cooking- I am by no means a domestic goddess, I keep my house reasonably clean (I have no clue how my mother managed to keep a spotless house with seven kids EEP!), I make sure everyone is fed, but I am tired of our boring meals plans, and ready to try new things! 

I am always on the look out for new books to read, and have more books than I will ever be able to read (luckily most of them are on my Kindle or on the computer, otherwise we would have books in every open inch of the house.) 

“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” ― Phil Collins

   So, we are nearly at the beginning of a new school year. Son will be doing First and Second grade work. Last year was a bit of a mess, I will admit it was mostly my fault. Too loose with the planning, procrastination was commonplace, add in some pregnancy hormones. Son did learn a lot last year, and we got all of the work completed that I had envisioned for his Kindergarten year. But the headache and rush of much of the year  left both of us exhausted. My motto this year round is "Plan it, Do it, STAY ORGANIZED!" All of this is made easier by two things: a dedicated school room (we were bouncing between the living room and his way over packed bedroom) and we are trying out the Workbox system this year. We are hoping the Workboxes will help Son to be able to self-start more, and to show him the exact expectations of the day(and end "Are we done yet?" all the time). I was able to get ten magazine organizers for two dollars at a yard sale, and we have one set up for each subject (plus a few extra). I have a paper lesson planner and a journal as well, last year most of that was just winged as he was technically young enough to not be required by the state to be in school yet (though I did keep a grade book of what he had done, after he was done with the work).

 Here are some pictures!

 Work boxes for the core lessons, they are sitting on the drawers each one for a separate subject (and my planner and journal.)

 My big ugly chair (it is really comfy), I got from a craigslist free section ad. Son's school desk (considering getting a separated arrangement but this works okay for now.)

 Opposite from the chairs we have the drawers/work boxes, whiteboard, various wall bits.

Art type desk, we didn't use it much last year as it was shoved in an inconvenient spot but this year we will get more use out of it.

I am in the market for a bookcase, but, as with most everything we have, I intend to get a really good deal on a used one.