Back in the Saddle?

A whole month has passed since I updated about school and life. I have sat down often to start a post but it just hasn't happened. We are slowly getting back into a groove and finding our rhythm. Because I don't want to forget here is our monthly wrap - up!

Week of January 6th

 This was our first week back and out 17th week of school. We are back to reading out Child's Story Bible for Bible time and we are continuing with our scripture memory and catechism questions. As a church we are reading through the Bible this year using the Reading God's Story plan and our pastors are preaching through the plan. I am "roughly" trying to keep our Bible reading for school in similar places so that the Miss K has had an introduction to the text before Sunday and will know the storyline of the Bible. We are also reading through Alice in Wonderland. I found a beautifully illustrated version that we gave as a gift for Christmas and it is keeping even the little guys attention. ended up with a snow day from CC on Tuesday so that means we were able to try the kids sleds they got for Christmas. I am thankful our back yard has a GREAT sledding hill.

We also played LOTS and LOTS of games!

After being stuck in side due to super cold temperatures we took advantage of the 40 degree day and loaded up the bicycles and headed to the playground.

Week of January 13th

It is funny how quickly a schedule can change. As much as I had planned for an "intense" week of school I woke up Monday morning with a screaming headache that lasted most of the day. Between a few obligations and appointments the week slipped away. We focused on math and CC review.
We did make a fun trip out of town to see friends. We cruised part of Route 66 on the way home and stopped by Pop's and The Round Barn in Arcadia, OK.

Week of January 20th

Another week that didn't seem to go as planned but was nonetheless a blessing!
We got to peek at our newest addition, coming in July 2014. We did cap off the week with art class where Miss K made pinch pots. She will get to paint them next month.

Here we are creating our Bible story timeline.

Week of January 27th

Looked a lot like this :)

Reading Eggs & Math Seeds

Bible time with daddy, calm amidst the chaos!

Read alouds and nap time

School on the couch all cozy and warm

 brother keeping himself entertained :)

Did January look anything like I wanted it to or expected, no way! However, I am abundantly thankful!

Weekly Wrap Up | Week 9

In my life this week…

We played catch up from being sick, had a Great Pumpkin Party at a friends house, I got glasses & contacts after being glasses/contacts free for almost 11 years thanks to Lasik surgery, had nanny at our house for a visit, celebrated the St.Louis Cardinals going to the World Series, and watched/documented a beautiful couple say "I Do!"

 

In our homeschool this week…

This was our fall break from CC so we took advantage of it and played a little catch up after being sick the previous week. I think if you combine week 8 & 9 together we would be able to put one week of school together! :) Such is life! 

 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

 We have a very busy schedule this time of year. The end of this week has us headed to Kansas City to see a friend and do pictures for her, then to NE OK for more portrait sessions. Should be a fun week! 

 

I'm reading...

I finished - Called Home: Finding Joy in Letting God Lead Your Homeschool
Started - Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional, Motherhood
The Church Planting Wife: Help and Hope for Her Heart
Still Reading - Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

 

I’m grateful for…

Fall! I could complain about the lack of 60 & 70 degree days but I am not going to ;) I am thankful for the changing of the seasons and the reminder that God has ordered the seasons for His glory. As I watch the leaves blow across the back yard I am thankful for a God that is creative and gives us beautiful things to enjoy!

 

Truth to remember...

You know those times in your life when you feel like you have a theme song that is playing EVERYWHERE YOU GO... I currently have a theme song. I don't know the exact lyrics but the overarching theme is in my own strength and power I am not enough, I am greatly lacking, I am deficient.  From the books I have been reading to the sermons I sit under God is making one thing clear, in and of myself I am not enough... I am not enough wife, mom or friend nor will I ever be enough. I am learning what it means to press into Jesus and trust that HE is ENOUGH.

I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” so as Paul said I too will say... "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

 

Our week in photos... 

top left: my view as me and sister do school at the kitchen table, middle left: new specs, hubby helped me pick them out I am not sure if I am cool enough to pull them off :) bottom left: hubby rejoicing over the cardinals win! right: my cuties at The Great Pumpkin Party

 

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Weekly Wrap-Up | Week 8

In my life this week…

I enjoyed an awesome Sunday afternoon of lesson planning with the windows open and a fall breeze!

We have been battling some type of virus around here. I am happy to report a week later and I think everyone is healthy. I am just hoping none of us passed it to daddy! That means school didn't always go as planned this week and that is okay! 

In our homeschool this week…

We had a good week even with being under the weather for the week and also traveling at the end of the week. Kyla missed CC and piano lessons this week because of being sick.

A few homeschool highlights from this week in picture: (start top row, left to right) 1. I taught her how to play Yahtzee, it was a fun way to do math! 2-3. Mailing a letter to gramy & grandpa. 4. Tracing her European map, this week we will add the mountains. 5. Practicing her piano fingers Music for Little Mozarts style. 6. All About Spelling Lesson.  7-8. Sometimes you just have to push school books aside and play with some new homemade playdough. 9. Love seeing these two reading together!!!

We did quiet a bit of school in the car this week because we traveled to OK to spend some time with friends. She does a good job working in the car.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week is our "fall break" from CC. We are still going to do school at home because we lost most of last week but it will be a lighter week.  Nanny (my mom) is coming for a visit and we are looking forward to that! We also have  a Great Pumpkin party tomorrow, the kids are going to do some fall activities with a few friends, paint some pumpkins and watch Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin.

My favorite thing this week was…

Spending time with one of my best friends and her family! We visited a pumpkin patch together! Good times! 

Also loving the cardinals pulling off some big wins!! 

Things I’m working on…

Story of my life... editing 

I’m grateful for…

Oreganol Oil P73 - I struggled with "flu like" symptoms off and on for a few days, after 2 drops of this sublingually I felt better and after using it for two days I feel completely better. Now I have some on hand for this cold & flue season!

We had our family pictures and the photographer shared some screenshots..... I cannot wait to see these in real life! 

A great read from this week:

Gel Pen Faith

I loved this part, "This is a pattern. I felt capable of being a mother, back before I was. God gave me more to handle than I could possibly handle on my own strength. I felt capable of keeping house. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I can stop laughing about that. Anything that I felt capable of doing,  God will both make it seem impossible and simultaneously ask me to do it. And there I am – in the sweetest place you can ever be – relying on Him. Walking in faith. Living in joy.This broken feeling is only broken if it stays there. If it stops in self-pity. If it wallows in grief about the lost emotions of our journaling days. But this is richer. When we seek His joy instead of our own, when we lay our best on His altar, and we have nothing left for ourselves, that is when we are truly accomplishing His purpose in our lives."

Have a great week friends!




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HMJ | Weekly Wrap Up | Week 5

I feel like the ball is in motion for school and we are hitting a rhythm which is really nice.  

In my life this week...

Monday was a bit bumpy, I am praying this is not the new norm for Mondays around here.

I knew this week would be a bit off because we left for OK Thursday afternoons it was a bit of a lighter week.

In our homeschool this week…

We completed week 3 of Classical Conversations and Kyla is doing a good job with the memory work.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are currently in OK at my parents house. I had a session last night for a couple who celebrated 40 years of marriage recently and I have a wedding tomorrow. I like to keep Friday light with a little work and hopefully an outing of some kind. This morning we did school at Nanny's House.

After we met Nanny for lunch we headed over to Claremore, OK for Art on the Hill at Rogers State University. We watched about half of a production of Hank the Cowdog (the little guy was done about 1/2 way through and I didn't come prepared for a show) before heading out to look at the art from local artists and students of RSU.  The big hit was the kids activity tent where my kiddos made a few crafts. We finished off the outing with a stop at self serve frozen yogurt bar.

My favorite thing this week was…

The one piece of memory work my girl was struggling with was skip counting the 4's. She has known the song and been singing it incorrectly for 2 years. (she was saying 24, 48 instead of 28) For her to put her sticker on her chart she needed to nail it down. It was tough for her and she would say, "it's to hard" and want to quit but I was able to encourage her to keep on until she knew the facts. She finally nailed it down and she was so excited and proud of her hard work!  It was a good lesson for her to learn, hard work pays off!

Say hello so I can stop by and see what happened in your week!

 

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Geography Flags | Classical Conversations Review

I mentioned a few weeks ago one way I wanted to enrich our CC Memory Work was by using the flag of the country during review. 

I think for us the first review day needs to be regular geography review and then the second or third day we can use the flags.

I used small craft sticks and tape to put the flags on the stick and sticky tack to make them stand upright on our Trivium Tables. I may try hot glue with the next set I need to make.

I did upload this to C3 in case anyone is interested. It is under Cycle 2 - All Weeks - Geography or my username is KaraGuffey. There is a pdf format and a doc format if you wish to re-size the flags.

If you end up using these please let me know how they work for you!

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HMJ | Weekly Wrap Up | Week 4

Week 4! Wow! I still can't believe it! I really enjoy looking back at our week and seeing all that we accomplished!


In my life this week…

I feel like we are slowly getting into a groove around here. Even with all the bumps in the road God is doing so many great things in our family.  At the end of the week Kyla started asking questions about baptism which lead to some really great gospel centered conversations. Her daddy and I are excited to see God working in her life!! My grandmother came to town on Friday and I am excited to spend a few days with her this weekend!

In our homeschool this week…

You can see what we did in regards to CC here.  After we got past Monday we had a great week. In addition to all of the CC work we continued with our Bible, writing, spelling and reading. We are up to the Tower of Babel in the Bible and learning more all the time. She is doing a great job with her catechism questions and I love how we reference back to the catechism questions when talking about God.

I introduced cursive this week, she is sooooooo excited!

Kyla also is to the point in her reading program that she received her second set of readers, she is blowing through them!!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… 

With great grandma in town we headed to the big city close by to watch my cousin play division 1 women's volleyball. The kids enjoyed the game. We are headed out today to watch two more games. Kyla was really enjoying the scoreboard and all the numbers, adding them up and telling me the score. It really is amazing how kids really want to engage their surrounds and when it is encouraged it is even fun! 

My favorite thing this week was…

Hands down, our conversation with Kyla about the Lord!

My kiddos favorite thing this week was…

Most likely doing school with our friends who came over Friday morning! 

Things I’m working on…

I have one session to edit

Art and Music lessons 

Books I am reading...

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

Sacred Parenting

I’m grateful for…

Grace, redemption and new mercies!


I LOVE seeing what other people are doing! Be sure to say hello so I can stop by your blog and see what was going on in your week!



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CC at Home | Week 2

It is hard to believe we are in our fourth week of school and second week of CC. I feel like the wheels are in motion and expectations are in place for the year. 

I wanted to share a few things we are doing at home in conjunction with Classical Conversations. We review the memory work everyday. We sit at the table and drill the memory work. We drill by repeat after me and erase a word most often. For geography we point at the map. We haven't started tracing yet but I really want to start that soon. I mentioned in a previous post that I want to highlight history, science and geography this year.

This week for science we talked about the three types of consumers. I read the science snippet from C3 and we talked about what type of diet each consumer has. I used a printable I download from sarasmommy06 on C3 (check out her blog too!) and she cut the animals and sorted them out. We then played this game and this game online about consumers and she had to sort the animals into each category.

We went a bit deeper in history this week by reading the timeline cards that went along with our history sentence while coloring in our prescripts book. 

My daughter LOVES to create! If she can paint/draw/create/glitter/glue/tape anything she is one happy girl! I am trying to make an effort to review art with her and give her a regular opportunity to create. This week we used the easy OILS art project from Magistra Mommy to review OILS.

I created the cycle two memory work flip book from And Here We Go! for use in the car and on the go! I love the size of this. I added the official CC maps I found on C3. If you reduce the pdf to 50% when printing it will fit in the flip book.

My girl LOVES sticker charts and a challenge. That lead me to create a super simple sticker chart for our memory work. If she knows all the memory work for the week before we go to our community day we will add a sticker. I am okay with helping her a bit, for example I said start with noun and she was able to provide the rest of the parts of speech. Maybe I should create a sticker chart for myself I wonder whose would be more full mine or hers? ;) I have a good feeling it would be hers!!!

So thankful for CC and how it enriches our homeschool! It is such a great fit for our family!!

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HMJ | Weekly Wrap Up

I am totally brain fried! I can tell we are three weeks into the school year because when the day is over all I want to do is lay down and sleep. It isn't just school, I am seeking to be more diligent and work harder around the house, for my clients and for our CC community. All together this gal is ready for the weekend and some down time with my favorite people! 

In my life this week…

Best part of the week was a mommy daughter date on Monday! We went out to eat and she helped me grocery shop. It was great getting some one one one time with my girl outside of "school". I have had glimpses of how quickly she is growing up and I at times I feel like I don't have her heart and I so desperately want her heart so I can point her to Jesus! 

This image really made me stop and pause about how fast time is passing!

In our homeschool this week… 

We started CC! She was so excited! Me too! I am looking forward to the weekly addition of CC! In MO we have to keep hours, we have accomplished a little over 38 hours in three weeks. I am happy with that!

I also have decided Friday is going to be catch up, review, library/park/fun day, and art/music day just a lighter day all around. It will also be my time to meal plan & lesson plan. We travel a lot so leaving on Thursday afternoon will allow for less or no school work on Friday.

Things I’m working on…

Staying on top of my work!! Meal planning is helping out tremendously! Art & music plans are running around in my brain, stopping long enough to tackle them is something different!

I’m grateful for…

My friends and family!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…

 Here is some images from our art and review time today!

 

I am very overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for calling us on this journey called homeschooling! 

 If your stopping by from the link up say hello so I can go visit you too! 

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