Operation Christmas Child

This is my tenth year as donation coordinator for a Christmas Basket Program in my local town.  We raise about $25,00 to $28,00 each year and we help out 27 local families and three area food banks.  I work year-round hosting functions and soliciting companies for donation.  In addition to my local work, my family has also chosen to do shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child also.  We are going to do four boxes (one from each member of our family).  I was very moved this year watching come you tube videos about Operation Christmas Child.  Take a few moments and watch some of the heart-touching videos and then get shopping!!!

homeschool or public school??

To say we have been on the fence about schooling choice is an understatement.  Originally I was NOT going to homeschool Natalie because she is an only child.  Then we started to look at our options and I was totally sold on the Classical Conversations! and picked out All about Reading for Phonics and Math U Can See for Math.  Registered for Classical Conversations and purchased our matierals.  My husband started pushing for public school. My husband is much older and retired from the steel mills.  I am an RN, I work night shift and he is Natalie's care giver while I sleep & work.  They are both very good about letting me get sleep!  He was looking forward to having a break with her going to school.  Public School had their open house so we went to Natalie's elementary school, met her teacher.  Classical conversations wasnt going to start for 2.5 weeks after public school.  He asked me to start her in Kindergarten.  Our district is mandatory full day, five days a week kindergarten.  Natalie has never been away from us that much in any given day.  So we trialed Kindergarten at our public school.  Natalie got off the bus the very first day and said what a great day she had at school.  She hasn't once complained about getting up, the hours at school, or being away from us.  (Insert Mommy's sadness here).  I guess I should be joyful that this hasnt been an emotional or physical hurdle for us to overcome.  She has transitioned right into school, riding the bus, just growing up I guess.  So I have agreed with my husband to have her attend public school.   I will admit already that I'm sure she isn't learning as much as she could with homeschooling, but she says she enjoying it.  So we are going to continue with some learning at home while she remains in public school.  If there is a time where we or her teacher is alarmed with her learning or behavior,  I will then look to homeschooling her.

I do hope you'll stay tuned in here to see what activities we do in addition to her school work!
Thanks for looking!
becky

we are reading The Jesus Storybook Bible

We have books, books and more books!  WE HAVE A LOT!  I wanted a bible that would hold Natalie's attention.  This is the one that I picked up.  I told her that we will TRY to read it every day but if not we will at least see how long it takes us to get through it.  I'm writing the date on the last page.  (Saw this on  Courtney's blog).  Im glad that she has been attentive while we are reading.  To help her, I turn off tv or radio and she's not allowed to have any toys with her when we read.  She's even asking questions!!

Spur-of the moment Lakeshore trip!

We love Lakeshore Learning.  We have one that is about 25 miles from our house.  Yesterday, we had some plans fall through, so we decided to take a trip out to Lakeshore during their sale.  Natalie used some of her birthday money to get the magnetic fishing set.  We have already played 3 of the Phonemic Awareness folder games!  Thanks for looking!

Organizing our learning materials by theme

I've been fretting over getting my learning materials organized.  I happened upon these sterlite file boxes at walmart for $6.97 each.  Had my label maker ready and started pulling out the boxes and boxes I had filled with learning materials.  I was using large manilla envelopes (with huge labels) and had things in numerous boxes.  took a while to get it all organized but, OH SO WORTH IT! Our bookshelves are getting crowded so I was able to put just a few books into the file boxes to save space on the book shelves. Got everything from ABC BUNNY to ZOO!!!

Garage Sales, Resale Shops, Bargains & Hauls for Mama

Went yesterday to a new upscale resale store that opened in the next city over.  I thought I did really well.  $107.75 including tax=12 pieces of clothing, 1 denim jacket, 1 pr of boots, 1 bracelet, 1 ring!

Haul for Mama: 
1 denim jacket NWT,
1 pair of suede boots NWT,
1 black cardigan,
1 grey cardigan,
4 short sleeve shirts (2 NWT),
2 Long sleeve shirts (1 NWT),
1 black turtlenck shell,
2 black shells,
1 white shell NWT,
1 bracelet for me,
1 ring for Naters (she's very into BLING!!!)

Very happy with my bargains!  Thank for looking! 
Becky

public Kindergarten or homeschool?

What have we been doing all Summer?  We have had swimming lessons, lotsa time in our pool, playdates with friends, playgrounds, picnics, just ENJOYING THE SUMMER TIME!!!  Planning Naters birthday party.  She turns five this month.  As parents, we've been trying to decide between public school or homeschooling.  I have been pretty resistant to homeschooling Naters since she is basically an only shild.  She does have a step-brother who is 44, so basically she in the only kid at home.  I've just been worried about her friendly personality changing if he were to stay home and have me homeschool her and also her just being at home with me day in and day out.  It's been such a difficult decision because the most important issue for me is to do what is best for her!  Easiest for us is to put her in public school where she'll go to Kindergarten five full days a week.  Full-day Kindergarten is mandatory in our school district.   On the pro-side I've seen that she has educationally done very well with the tot schooling and preschool we've been doing at home.  On the negative side, I feel that I am not qualified to teach her to read.  I had trouble learning to read, went to remedial reading and wasnt able to catch up to my own grade level until nearly the end of the third grade.  That is a big mental hurdle for me to over come.  Will post our decision in just two weeks since that is when she'd have to begin public school.  She goes for her KRAL on August 14th.

Every day IS special

This is something I have struggled with for a very long time.  I always wants to save something--whatever it is for a "special" day.  Could be new kitchen towels, a gourmet dip, a purse, an outfit or just anything.   A little bit of hoarder I guess, but I always want to have something wonderful for a "special" day.  This summer I've been learning that each & every day is a "SPECIAL" day.  Doesn't matter if it is time in the pool, having popcorn & movie night, playing games, or our nightly reading time.  So I admit it is something i struggle with and I am working on.  Tonight, Naters asked me to break out the chocolate fondue.  I caught myself saying, "let's save it"-- I zipped my lips and went to get it out.  After all, an evening with my daughter (my gift), our little nuclear family IS special!  TODAY IS SPECIAL!!!!  We did a Caramel Milk chocolate fondue with Nutter Butter cookies, Vanilla wafers, mini marshmallows & pretzel sticks.  It's what I had since it was so spontaneous after all!  Thanks for loooking!  becky

Alpha Tales, Phonics Tales and Sight Word tales Books

Purchased these three Scholastic sets at Costco this month for under $20.00 each set!  Considering the prices on Amazon, I think I got a great deal!  Naters has been reading them or at least looking through them each day since we bought them!  The other books I purchased at our local used book store store $3.00!

July 4th Holiday

We made jello jigglers in the 4th of July mold I bought recently at our local Marc's store.  Then we made STAINED GLASS JELLO from pictures I saw on Pinterest.  Have a safe & Happy 4th of July!!!