Half Way Through the Year

It's hard to believe that half of 2013 is over. I feel like I have been somewhat productive this year. I got my diet started and found a homeschool association for our family. But, when I start thinking about that, I think of the things I haven't gotten done that I wanted done at the beginning of the year. I still have belongings in boxes and the binders I am making for the kids are not even finished. Cayce went back to GED classes, but didn't put much effort into it.

Tomorrow, I'm going to make a master half year revolutions lists for personal, kids, family, house, and yard. I have so much I want to get done in the second half of the year. I have a feeling that the rest of the year will be great for my family and I.

Here's to 2013 pt. 2!!!!!!

Letter Curriculum: Week 9

This week was the letter G. The week went by very quickly. She had trouble with the science lesson. She couldn't remember what the gorilla was but remembered that the biggest one is called a silverback. She kept wanting to call the goose a duckling.

These were taken on Monday.

These were taken on Tuesday. Her math lesson was greater than. She did very well. She knew exactly what number was bigger when I asked her.

Here is what she had to do on Wednesday.

 She loved writing the lowercase g.

Here is her math worksheet

Doing the letter G in sign language

This was Thursday's worksheet. Her social studies lesson was on garbage collector. Basically I told her that when daddy takes our trash to the dump, he is the garbage man. She got a kick out of that.

Her art project is still being scheduled. She has to make a funny grass haired man. We have to get some grass seed for her to be able to do it. On Friday, we reviewed everything and we played mini golf. She loved it.

 

9 weeks down and 29 more weeks to go.

Weekend Goals: June 29-30, 2013

I have a lot planned to do this weekend. Cayce is cleaning the kitchen tonight, and I'll finish it tomorrow.

Household:

• Closets & Dressers
• Clean bathrooms
• Organize Kitchen (cabinets, pantry, spices, appliances)
• Deep clean master bedroom

Kids:

• Plan week 11-12 of letter curriculum
• Plan Kindermusik trip
• Plan Congaree Park trip
• Work on and complete school flag
• Work on art projects

Personal:

• Work on cookbook
• Exceed 2,900 Swagbucks
• Organize recipes
• Organize books
• Organize jewelry

I have a feeling that this will be a GREAT!!!!!!!! weekend.

Chicken Fried Rice

I made this for supper on Sunday. It was a BIG BIG hit. I will be making it again.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. oil
1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups water
3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 cups frozen vegetables
2 cups jasmine rice, cooked

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add chicken, and cook 5 minutes or until cooked through.

2. Add bouillon cubes, water, soy sauce, and vegetables. Bring to a boil.

3. Stir in rice; cover. Reduce heat to low, cook 5 minutes. Stir. Season with additional soy sauce if desired.

Samantha's Summer Reading

At our public library, they are doing a summer reading program. Samantha is the only one participating this summer because she is old enough too. Ariana will be able to participate next year. The program runs from May 28- August 10. We started this week, but I have the book's that she has read since May 28 until now.

1. The Elves and the Shoemaker
2. Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing
3. Blueberries for Sal
4. Caps for Sale
5. The Little Engine That Could
6. The Foot Book
7. Down on the Funny Farm
8. Forest
9. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
10. Goodnight Moon
11. Danny and the Dinosaur
12. One Duck Stuck

After the reading program ends, I will post the rest of her reading list. Tomorrow, I'm going to take Samantha to the library, and show the librarian her first 2 hours that we have recorded so she can get her incentive. She has to read 2 hours a week, and the end of the program, she will get a reading medal.

Monster's University Workshop

On Saturday, Cayce took Samantha and Ariana to their Lowe's workshop. This was the second workshop that they have attended. They loved it. They made their on little chests. I swear they are the cutest little chests. Ariana finally got her own apron, and they got their patches. I think it's time I invest in a iron and ironing board so I can decorate their aprons with the patches.

Ariana is so adorable working on the chest.

Samantha hard at work. I'm really happy that they love these workshops.

Next year, Addy will be joining them. I cant wait to have a picture of all 3 working together.

Their little patches. I wish they were different shapes, but it's all right.

This was Ariana's box. This is the almost finished product before the stickers were put on.

This was Sammy's box. It was almost finished with a few more stickers to put on.
And finally, their certificates!

Cayce and I wanted to frame the certificates because we thought they would be the same, but they are clearly different. So, we decided that we are going to make a scrapbook with the pictures and certificates. The next workshop, we might make it a playdate with Gracie. I don't know for sure yet.

This Week's Menu

This week will be simple cooking since I'm recovering from my week of being sick.

Monday: Noodles
Tuesday: Hamburger Helper
Wednesday: Shrimp Salad
Thursday: Breakfast
Friday: Spaghetti
Saturday: Chicken noodle soup
Sunday: porkchops with white cheddar mac and cheese

Letter Curriculum: Week 8

This week we did the letter F. It felt a little off since I was sick the entire week and we both were not really into it. She did great though. There were some days when I really didn't want to do school that day, but knowing that she wanted to do school was that push I needed.

This was Monday. I was feeling horrible, but this smile and enjoyment kept me going.

On Tuesday, we did math. I taught her fractions. We did the first 3 basic fractions. 1 half, 1 third, and 1 fourth. I taught her using a sandwich. We also did the color fuschia. She loved it because it was "pink".

On Wednesday, we did her science lesson for the week. We did fish and a ferret. I knew she would do great on the fish. I thought she would love the ferret and want to know more, but she didn't get it. She didn't remember the name of it all week, and it irritated me, but I know that it will happen.

On Thursday, our social studies lesson was about firefighters. It was very easy to teach her about that and when I told her that my brother, her uncle Scoti was a firefighter, she was ecstatic. She ran around the house that day saying Uncle Scoti a firefighter... o yeah o yeah...lol.
On Friday, I was feeling so bad, that we didn't do our outside activity or art project that I moved from Thursday.

I am feeling a little bit better now, and hoping that I will be better this week, so I can interact and take more time with Samantha and her lessons.

 

Samantha's Workbooks

Samantha has three workbooks that she uses for her letter curriculum. It has been helping her the whole time. I will be getting more copies for Ariana and Adalyn. I love the Schoolzone and Mead materials.

Workbook 1

This is the workbook she uses during the letter weeks. She has a page everyday to do. It helps her with her uppercase and lowercase.

Workbook 2

This is the workbook she uses on her off week. We review the letters from the previous week. It's the only thing we do, and we also work on her writing skills.

 

 Workbook 3

She uses this workbook on her review weeks. She does 3 pages a day each day of the week. I usually pick some pages out for her to do during the letter weeks if there are pages on her math or science or social studies lessons.

Tuesday's Date Night

On Sunday, Cayce and I decided to have a date night on Tuesday when he would get home from work. I didn't know I was going to get sick as a dog. I didn't get much done on Monday, and I thought we would have to cancel our date. Tuesday, I was feeling better until it got around time for Cayce to get home. I took a shot of Nyquil and I totally forgot that we were going to have some champagne with our dinner. I made Mexican chicken and rice. It was delicious.

When Cayce got home, I was trying to relax and he got the girls dressed and ready for bed. We watched Warm Bodies and had ice cream for dessert. Right after the movie, we went straight to bed. It wasn't an actual date, but it was good quality time together for Cayce and I.

Father's Day Celebrations

Cayce celebrated his 5th father's day. We kept it low key and simple. We slept in and went to my parent's house. Cayce cut the grass for my dad and I made shrimp and grits for my dad's father's day dinner. We were so stuffed and full. We went to the store and got some blueberry cream pie ice cream and banana split ice cream. Cayce didn't want to do much on Sunday, but he still had a great day with his girls.

Eating breakfast

They had a long day playing with granny and papa

She didn't get much sleep at granny and papa's

Addy is just so cute.

 

I wanted to do more for father's day for Cayce, but giving him the day to relax and spend time with the girls was the best thing.

Saturday's Happenings

The kids were so excited to go to the lake on Saturday for the homeschool association's cookout. I woke up sick and we didn't go. Cayce went to the store and bought a pool, so we ended up turning it into a pool day.

Getting their floaties on

 Sammy patiently waiting to get in the cold pool.

Our brand new pool. hopefully it will last the rest of the summer. After we spent a couple of minutes in the cold pool, we went in the house and made milkshakes. Cayce took Samantha to granny and papa's house for her sleepover. Cayce then went to walmart and got some more school stuff for Samantha, and he got us the movie Warm Bodies. So, we are going to have a date night tonight.

June 17-22, 2013 Menu

I'm trying to get back on track. I haven't been very organized and productive last week. I'm hoping that this week will be better. I have a chest cold and sore throat and my mind goes blank when I get sick. I didn't cook at all this weekend. Cayce took us out to dinner on Friday night.

Monday: Homemade Biscuits and sausage gravy
Tuesday: Mexican Chicken and Rice
Wednesday: Pork Chops, White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Corn on the Cob
Thursday: Chicken Burrito Casserole
Friday: Tilapia
Saturday: Hotdogs

Letter Curriculum: Week 7

This was our first review week. I thought we would have to work at it, but everyday we had our lessons last between 30-40 minutes. She remembered every letter and the songs. So here are some pictures.

She has 3 workbooks. 2 workbooks she uses during the curriculum, and on her off week, I have her do the 3rd. I will take pictures of them.

 On Tuesday, we started with the music lesson and i think it threw her off a little. I will not be starting with the music lesson again.

 

 On Wednesday, we did the letter c. She did great.

 Here is the board for Thursday. It doesn't seem like much, but she is having fun doing it.

 On Friday, we had a late school day. We did school an hour before Cayce came home from work.

She will be doing the letter F this week.