Tuesday, September 8, 2009

First day of school!!!!!!

I'm so HAPPY that we've started schooling again! Back into a routine...staying home all day (running to activities here and there in the evenings, but during the day...home) We had such a great day today! Everyone was happy to be getting started again, and very productive, too! We started the day with proverbs, and a couple sword drills...and GF pancakes with apple-cinnamon syrup, and smoothies.....
Anna's first day of 'kindergarten'! She was so excited! She watched a phonics dvd, did her explode the code, abeka math, and Queen Language for little ones....she loved every bit! When her Dad woke up, she ran and told him how to spell words! I think she'll be fairly easy to teach...and she likes to learn.


Ronnie & Anna's books organized...with a glass of kombucha on the side! LOL

Ronnie is doing 2nd grade this year, and all day he said it was so easy....I'm sure he won't say that later in the year, although I hope so! He started his Easy Grammar today and seemed to get it right away...did his abeka 2 math, easy grammar, explode the code 4, Queen language #3, reviewed his spelling words and read about space...a pretty good first day!



We've always done a simple spelling list kept in a spiral notebook. A pre-test on Mondays....writing once a week, studying/quizzing everyday and another test on Friday...seems to work for all of my kids, so far.

A "sleep" Meghan doing her Abeka business math. She looked thru the book and is excited to do this this year. Since she is a junior this year...only 2 more years to go!

We have some awesome American history and American Lit resources this year, that I've split it into 2 years....each one is unique, 3 are from a decidedly biblical worldview, with critical thinking and analysis....I don't want to skip any of them....the same with American Government.

Ah...Sara's Algebra 1! I think this will be pretty easy for her...she's had pre-algebra and geometry already...then she'll do the business math, then consumer math...and graduate at 16! Not quite sure what I'll do with her her senior year....I'm sure the Lord will reveal something!

Both of the girls are doing Biology this year...it's Meghan's last year of science...is she happy!
We were blessed with these totally cool scooters (like they have at the science center) and Ronnie & Anna love them...Sara does too! Lots of fun and exercise in the basement...rain or snow...they'll be able to be active and have fun!

After all the schoolwork...we celebrated with a yummy dinner of chicken & dumplings....one of my family's favorites!
Staying home really brought out the creativity in some of us! Meghan made this cool tote bag for Sara to take to dance class. It is lined with olive green corduroy inside and on the bottom and is the perfect size for Sara's needs. I couldn't believe she did this in one day!
Sara made herself a t-shirt that says " save the planet...it's the only one with Chocolate!"...so Sara!
I even finished the blankets for the new twin girls, Addison and Bailey...who are due sometime within the next month. Hard to see the colors, but they are a soft pink flannel back, and a soft purple with stars and paisley that says "goodnight, sleepyhead"....cute and girly!
My last endeavor of the evening...cutting corn off the cob of 1 1/2 dozen ears of sweet corn. Froze most of it, will use some tomorrow for corn/zucchini chowder for supper...and the corn cobs....will be making them into corn cob jelly! I will post the recipe if it turns out...supposed to taste like honey...we'll see!
Just finished this...my "orange julius" kefir smoothie! Mmm....so good! Whoo! Being productive wears you out! LOL We're all off to bed...tomorrow is another day, and Ty is coming at 9:30am. What a great first day today!!!! I love what I do! It amazes me what staying home can accomplish....I get so tired out from 'running'....and getting interrupted....hope to have a nice first week of school, enjoy getting things done and in order and cleaned out! Have a blessed week! ~Sue~

Getting your picture taken with the real Stanley Cup...priceless!!!

The Stanley Cup...in our home...it is the pinnacle of trophies! The Pittsburgh Penguins have won the Stanley Cup three times, and three times, my husband has managed to get his picture taken with it! This time, the whole family went along! A friend of his from work, told him where it would be so we could come...and happened to be right before Tommy's wedding! I was praying that we would not be late for the wedding after standing in line...but we made it! LOL Ahhhh...Lord Stanley,Lord Stanley!!!
This is so very special to us!!! After 2 surgeries in one year, 3 months in a body cast and months of recuperation...one of the things this little guy loved doing is watching hockey....talking about hockey, reading about hockey...and playing hockey! For Ronnie to touch the cup, see the Penguins names in there and get his picture taken with it...priceless!

Ron has had his picture taken with the cup in 1991 with his brother, Tommy...he drank out of it and got his picture taken holding it over his head in 1992, but his dream was always to get his picture taken with the cup with his son....dream come true!


Anna was NOT happy...but Ron wants to make this our Christmas picture this year! Right after this, we very quickly went to a friends home, ate sandwiches dressed for the wedding and headed to the church...with time to spare! It was so worth it to stand in line and get our pictures...a memory our family will not forget! (Especially father and son!) ~Sue~