Our 2011 Garden ~ Day 95

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This week we harvested our pumpkins! Aren't they cute?!?!?

Plants doing well: jalepeno peppers, carrots, tomatoes

Plants doing ok: basil

Plants that have died: beans, sweet peppers, green onions

Plants that never started: oregano

Education Cubes ~ Sensory Bin Style

My kids LOVE throwing around our Education Cubes but mommy needed a CALMER activity so after learning about Sensory Bins I decided to combine the two! 

At first Monkey was a little hesitant. He has some mild sensory issues so it took him a little time to warm up to the idea of having to touch the beans to get to the colored objects. He also didn't like that I had put some of his cars in the bin!

The first photo is him watching Unicorn show him how to roll the cube and then find something of that color in the bin. She found his yellow car and put it on the cube.

Next Ladybug HAD to have a turn! She rolled green and found a green circle in the bin. I had her use tweezers to have her show him another way to pick up an object in the bin.

In the third photo, Monkey has gotten the hang of this. He rolled blue and found his blue car to put on the cube.

Then, he rolled brown and decided to use one of the beans!

The last photo is him putting a red triangle on the cube.

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st grade, 6th grade and our family workboxes.

This week I am featuring Monkey's Preschool Workboxes:

1. Coloring letter "D" pictures
2. Cut out a Diamond
3. Read about a Donkey
4. Education Cubes Color Activity (come back Thursday to read about it)!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ June 25, 2011 (Summer Edition)

In my life this week…I haven't felt like doing much. I don't like not knowing where we will be and, while 6 months seems like a long time it is NOT! Our lease is up at the end of the year and our path is not yet clear. I know things will be fine and that the Lord has plans for us...we just don't know what they are yet. I am trying to not let my OCD override my faith!

In our homeschool this week…nada, zip, zero, zilch. Ok...we ALL know that isn't true so, let me clarify, we didn't do any SCHEDULED learning. We just did what ever we felt like doing. Mostly, we read books and drove around town a lot.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…if you (or the kids) need a break...TAKE ONE! Everyone needs some down time and with homeschooling we can take breaks when needed!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…this week is seems like we went everywhere! Wal-Mart, the movies, the Library, Lowe's (for the Build and Grow Workshop) and driving around neighborhoods to see where we might like to live.

My favorite thing this week was…watching my girls wield hammers!

Things I’m working on…printing out everything for next month's homeschooling!

I’m reading…Harry Potter 2, the May Ensign, the June Ensign and the Bible (specifically Jeremiah in the Old Testament).

I’m grateful for…a new blog friend. It started with her looking for a penpal for her son and is continuing with us (the mommys) discovering how much we have in common! :)

I’m praying for…our path to be made clear to us.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

and the Winners Are...

#1 (The Nature Pack) - Jennifer Altman 

from Chestnut Grove Academy

#2 (The Fun Pack) - Karyn Tripp

Winners will be contacted shortly and have 48 hours to claim their prizes.

Their comments were identified using random.org

A big Thank You to all who entered and Congratulations to the Winners!

Workbox Wednesday ~ Link-up and Giveaway (CLOSED)

Due to LOW entries (12 entries for Book Pack #1 and 3 entries for Book Pack #2) and technical difficulties last week the link-up and giveaway are being extended through Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Both will close at 11:59pm Arizona time. 

Please click HERE to link-up and enter the giveaway! 

Good Luck!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ June 17, 2011 (Summer Edition)

In my life this week…we went camping! It was a last minute decision to join my parents up at the Mogollon Rim, Arizona. We enjoyed cooler weather, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, relaxing, caterpillars, birds (especially a hummingbird that kept buzzing our heads), snakes (yep, a couple garter snakes), and some other not-so-enjoyable wildlife (insects).

In our homeschool this week…we enjoyed nature and did some reading while we relaxed.

My favorite thing this week was…watching Monkey hug his papa's legs and say "I really love you Papa"!

What’s working/not working for us…taking a little break is working for us!

I’m reading…Harry Potter. I read the first book while camping and am 150 pages into the second book.

I’m grateful for…my bed and my shower (especially after camping)!

I’m praying for…safety for someone we know is in trouble and that things will go smoothly for my sister's upcoming job change and her move to AZ.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…a workbox link-up (and Giveaway)! The link-up didn't go up properly while I was camping so it will be open until next Wednesday (then only weekly from 8pm Arizona time on Tuesdays until 11:59PM Arizona time on Wednesdays).

Workbox Wednesday ~ Camping Style with a Link-up and Giveaway! ~CLOSED~

We have gone went camping. It was a last minute decision but I hope we are having had fun and did some learning. Yes, I said learning! So what are did we learning? Let me show you:

1. Religion: LDS Workbook Chapter 7 & 8

2. Family Unit: Amanda Bennett's Father's Day Unit

3. Reading: Unicorn will keep reading Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. Monkey and Ladybug have read a ton of books from the Library and I will be starting started the Harry Potter series (no...I have never read it). 

4. Science: Nature Journals :)

Giveaways! (U.S. only please)

Book Pack #1 (The "Nature Pack"): The Nutty Nut Chase and Turtle Splash!Book Pack #2 (The "Fun Pack"): Cam Jansen - The Mystery of the U.F.O., The School Carnival from the Black Lagoon and Ready, Freddy! Yikes! Bikes!
How to Win (6 entries possible):Mandatory Entry: Leave me a comment telling which book pack you would like to win (one entry).
Extra Entries: 

• Link-up below (see guidelines here). If you are off for the summer you may use a post from this past year (one entry). *The link up is open from 8 pm (Arizona Time) on Tuesday until 11:59 pm (Arizona Time) on Wednesday, June 22, 2011*
• Follow me on on Blogger (one entry). 
• Like Adventures in Home Education on Facebook and leave me a comment on FB and here (one entry).
• Share about the Link-up and Giveaways on Facebook and come back and leave me a comment (one entry).
• Blog about the Link-up and Giveaways and come back and leave me a comment with the link to the post (one entry).

*Giveaway closes Friday, June 17 Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:59 pm Arizona Time*

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ June 10, 2011 (Summer Edition)

In my life this week…it has been crazy. I had a melt-down (you know the kind where you wonder if you are REALLY supposed to be homeschooling). After awhile my 5 year old came to me and said, "I didn't know you could do that (cry)." It made me wonder when the last time it was that my children saw me cry. I think it is a good thing because we were able to have a discussion about feelings and that EVERYONE has them (even moms) and that even adult's feelings can get hurt. 

In our homeschool this week…again it has been rough. I have pretty much decided that, other than religion and a fun unit, we are going to take the rest of the month off. I think we need a bit of a break. I would take it off completely but if they don't have some sort of routine they get a little nuts! :)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…follow your children's lead. If they are acting out there is a reason and the beauty of homeschooling is that you can take breaks when needed  and adjust things to best suit your family's needs!

I am inspired by…all of you and your journals. I may not always comment but I am usually lurking nearby and it helps me know that you are all there and we are all here for each other.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we are working on scraping some $$ together to take a little trip to Flagstaff. I hope we can pull it off...it would be nice to go to some cooler weather and to relax a little.

My favorite thing this week was…learning how to make a blog button!

Things I’m working on…how to make my blog button an actual button!

I’m reading…the Harry Potter series.

I’m praying for…my sister's house to sell quickly. She has to move for her job and they really need to sell their house!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Workbox Wednesday ~ Family Style

Each Wednesday I post what we have in our Workboxes. So I don't overwhelm myself I alternate each week with Preschool, K/1st grade, 6th grade and our family workboxes.

This week I am featuring Family Workboxes:




1. Calendar Time (I am working on a post that will show how we do this).
2. Jobs (I am working on a post that will show how we do this).
3. Religion: We are using LDS Workbooks (these are adapted from the LDS Primary manuals)
4. History Unit: Amanda Bennett's Download 'N Go - Flag Day Unit
5. Read Aloud: Junie B., First Grader Aloha-ha-ha!

Homeschool Mother's Journal ~ June 3, 2011 (Summer Edition)

In my life this week…I was a single mom. Hubby went to Scout Camp to help the scouts earn some Merit Badges (he helped with the Environmental Science one). The kids and I cleaned the house, did laundry, signed up for the local Library's Summer Reading Program, went to IKEA and ate WAY TOO MUCH fast food!

In our homeschool this week…we took the week off. It was just too difficult to do with daddy gone!

My favorite thing this week was…hubby coming home last night! This was especially nice because I was supposed to drive 4 hours to pick him up today! I am so happy that I don't have to drive today and that someone else was leaving Scout Camp yesterday and was willing to bring him home!

Things I’m working on…ORGANIZING! I organized the kids closets yesterday and today I will be organizing our math manipulatives and art supplies.

Books I’m reading…I just finished 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae and this week I will be finishing Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey. I will be starting the Harry Potter series soon!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Daddy was at Scout Camp most of the week so Ladybug 

drew a picture of Daddy so I wouldn't get lonely!

Workbox Wednesday ~ Our NEW Workboxes!

We have been using Sue Patrick's Workbox System for about a year now and LOVE it. However, after coming across a couple dilemmas we have had to make some changes.

Dilemma 1. We are lacking storage for our math manipulative and art supplies.
Dilemma 2. We like to school outside and on the go (traditional workboxes are NOT portable)!

So after looking around at Homeschool Creations and at Heart of Wisdom I have come up with what I HOPE will be our solution (the first 2 weeks have been great)!

Workboxes BEFORE:



Workboxes AFTER:



You can see that our new workboxes are similar to the "workfolders" on the Homeschool Creations site!
(She also has free workbox printables)! Now our workboxes are portable and I have storage space for our math manipulative and our art supplies!

More Workbox helps:

Folders that I used

See my Unicorn's Workbox (the first time with the "workfolders")

Where we got our workbox tags

Working the Workboxes

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