Suzy Snaps

Well, we reached a decision on something to use for the early years! http://www.fiarhq.com/

This system seems like it will be a PERFECT fit for Brianna. You do have to supplement it with handwriting, phonics, and math. Jesse loves and has always wanted to use Saxon math so we will go with that.. and for now we have a phonics/reading book already and I think I can do the handwriting portion with easy to find workbooks. The great thing about this system is #1- it seems really interesting even to me LOL and #2- it is affordable for those of you looking to homeschool on a budget. If you have a good local library you can check out the books ( 1 per week.. this is the list for the first year or two)

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
Lentil by Robert McCloskey
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
Who Owns the Sun? by Stacy Chbosky
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk
Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley
Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews
The Clown of God by Tomie DePaola
Storm in the Night by Mary Stoltz
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost (with illustrations by Susan Jeffers)

Volume 2:

The Giraffe That Walked to Paris by Nancy Milton
Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan
Wee Gillis by Munro Leaf
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert
Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
They Were Strong and Good by Alice and Robert Lawson
Babar, To Duet or Not to Duet based on characters by DeBrunhoff
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Tale of Peter Rabbit written and ill. by Beatrix Potter
Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Burningham
All Those Secrets of the World by Jane Yolen
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
The Little Red LIghthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde Swift
Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
Gramma’s Walk by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Or, you can find them at used bookstores which I’m planning on doing. The teachers manuals are only about 20 per year and you can reuse them! This covers all of your other subjects.. social studies, language arts, Art, applied math, and science.

Each week you read a children’s book, and each day you cover a diff. subject, each one taking is basics from the story. For instance, in The story of Ping .. for social studies you would point out that the story is based in China, draw the Chinese flag, look at the pictures to notice how the boats are diff. than ours, the clothes are diff, etc.. and then do some projects based on China. The child would learn where China is on the map and maybe some of the history.

This program is nice also because it’s so flexible.. for older children you can go more in-depth and add more projects.. for a younger kid it’s great that they just learn that there IS a place called China. LOL

Anyway, I’m so excited to get the manuals in!! I think Brianna and Lorien BOTH are going to enjoy this.

Oh, and for a really low price you can also order the bible study companion.   It has a verse and small bible lesson for each day to go along with the book of the week.

Win an $250 Shopping Spree

in our December 2007 Contest

http://www.alongfortheride.biz/SearchResults.asp?Cat=49&Click=242 

Click the link for more info   They have a great selection of baby gear!

over photography equipment.    I have a new external flash, a great diffuser system, and the lens I’ve been drooling over all on the way to me now!!   That will give me plenty of practice with them before Brittany’s wedding.. plus it gave me an excuse to buy the. LOL

Still playing with the camera. This one I got the ISO too high so it’s grainy. It looks better in B+W than color because of that but it’s still pretty grainy.

Well, I’d been looking into running and came across this training program on TBWer boards.  Most of the training programs I had seen expected you to start out in shape.  LOL!!!… that is SO not where I’m at right now.  This program expects you to start w/ no running experience

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml 

Someone emailed me that in a typed up printable form and I can forward it to you if you are interested.

Anyway, it gets you to running 5K in 6 weeks.   So, I’m planning on running the 5K here in Waco in April (or mabye march.. can’t remember)  Any of you guys want to join me?  I’d love a running partner in the actual races    My next goal is to run a half marathon sometime around Nov next year.  So, if you want to join me that’d be great.    I think it’d be cool to say I ran a marathon at least once in my life.  Plus, it should get me in shape

We went to the museum today and my Dad even came along for a few min’s. the girls had a blast and we were there for almost 4 hours today. I’m tired LOL

Aunt Kimberly and Brianna

Pawpaw with the kids in the “grocery store”

Lorien Grace

Rohan

the girls tried to make me mom dizzy having her push them around… and around.. and around

man, I’m starting to look into homeschool more seriously now since Brianna is getting close to 5.. there are SOOOO many diff. types, brands, etc… I feel totally and completely lost.  Does anyone have experience with Bob Jones University?  They have a DVD program that seems to be well reviewed.  I’m wanting to get a DVD program as I think it would help ME out.. and then I can fill in with more of the fun stuff LOL.  And, also not worry so much about teaching something wrong.  Abeka (sp??) also has a DVD program but it looks a bit umm.. BORING.  LOL  yikes.. I feel lost.