Last Day of School

Well today is our official last day of school!!!
The children finished up some of their subjects early, but today they are done with everything. Another year down.
I am really looking forward to next year. We have decided to put the girls into school. The school is very close to the house and both girls could go there for one year until K goes on to middle school. There were many considerations that went into this decision. I won't list them all, but we feel that it is the right decision for our family at this time. That is not to say that we can't pull them out and home school at any given point if we are not happy with their education.
The boys will continue to home school and I am excited about their curriculum for next year. I always feel like that when I start ordering curriculum. They will be using the following curriculum next year.
Math--Teaching Textbooks
Grammar & Composition--Abeka
Reading & Comprehension--Total Language Plus
Science, History, Bible, Spanish, Health--Switched On Schoolhouse

Funny

A little girl had just finished her first week of school. When her mom asked her what she thought about school, she replied, "I'm just wasting my time. I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!"

Remember

Please take time today to remember the sacrifice of others. I would like to say "Thank You" to all soldiers who have willingly given so much to protect this county.

Kindergarten Beginners Day

With much prayer we have decided to put the girls in public school next year. A will be in Kindergarten and K will be in 5th grade.
Yesterday was Beginners Day at the local school and K and I took A in to the school and stayed for an informational meeting while A went to the classroom for Kindergarten. There was an envelope with some work in it for A to take to the classroom with her. She asked me if it was her lessons. When I told her yes she said, "Ah man, I didn't know that I would have to do lessons!" I chuckled and asked her what she thought that she would be doing in Kindergarten. She said, "Read, play outside, and color." That sounds about right to me. LOL

Testing

We completed our end of grade standardized testing last week and I mailed them off to be scored yesterday. I always breath a sigh of relief after we are done testing. Then I get anxious about how the children did on their tests. We should have the results in a couple of weeks.
I am sure that they did well. They always seem to do fine on these tests, but I always get nervous anyway. I try not to hold to much stock in these tests because some children just do not test well. But on the other hand when this is a homeschooling requirement for our state I want them to do well. I guess I will just have to wait to see how they did.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!!

Today we went to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. Kurt was able to get off work to go with us. It was so nice to have the whole family together for a "field trip". It was not overly crowded and the weather was great. The children all picked their favorite animals.
The zoo was very nice. They had lots of animals to see. I really liked the gorilla. He looked as though he really enjoyed posing for the cameras. It was a fun family day.

The Discovery Museum in Cleveland, OH

After we visited family in Pennsylvania recently, the children and I went to Ohio to visit my Dad and step-Mom. While we were visiting they took us to the Discovery Science Museum in Cleveland. The children had lots of fun and we finished the day with an IMAX movie. That was the first time I had been to an IMAX theater. It was pretty neat and I think the children enjoyed it too.

Our trip to Hershey!!

We recently had the opportunity to take a trip to Pennsylvania to visit family. During this trip we decided to go over to Hershey and tour Chocolate World. It was such a nice trip and we really enjoyed the Trolley Tour of Hershey. It was fascinating to hear about Milton Hershey. His story is truly an inspiring one. He failed so many times before he succeeded, but he didn't give up. He was a very giving man and the company that he set up continues to do great things. And of course the chocolate was great!!!

Coloring Eggs

We colored eggs tonight. It is so much fun to see the children being creative with their eggs.

Questions about Field Trips!!!!

I am trying to think of some fun, educational field trips for my family. Have any of you been on any memorable field trips? Where did you go? What made it memorable? Was it memorable in a good or bad way? Please leave me a comment about all your fun field trips!!!

Website Spotlight Thursday

Today I would like to Spotlight :
This is a really neat website with lots of great things that you can do with your children. There are craft ideas, pages to print, games and recipes. Just go check it out!!!

Blog Spotlight Monday

Today I want to take some time to shine the spotlight on Sandra at Full Bellies, Happy Kids. Sandra is a Christian SAHM and wife to her Air Force Husband. They have 2 children.

I love her blog because she has her menus planned out two weeks ahead of time and she has the recipes listed for all the great dishes she makes.

Like this one: Mexican Lasagna.

If you want to find out how to make this yummy looking dish, just visit Sandra's blog!!!!

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, winter to continue

Being that I was raised in Punxsutawney, I try to follow along with whether or not the groundhog saw his shadow. It is fun to see if what really happens is remotely close to his predictions.

AP--PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow Monday morning, predicting this already long winter will last for six more weeks.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn in front of an estimated 13,000 witnesses, many dressed in black-and-gold to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory the night before.

"There's significant buzz from the Steelers win and quite a few Terrible Towels floating from the crowd," said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary for tourism in Pennsylvania.

The annual ritual takes place on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney, a borough of about 6,100 residents some 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club announced the forecast in a short proclamation, in which Phil acknowledged the Steelers' 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Rowley said the Groundhog Day festivities is Pennsylvania's largest tourist gathering in the winter. And if Phil's forecast proves correct it should bring even more tourists to the state.

"It's six more weeks of skiing," Rowley said.

Videos of the girls singing.

Christmas Photos

Fun Day!!

Since it is my birthday, we decided to take the day off from lessons and do something fun. We baked cookies together!! The girls and I made sugar cookies. J and I made peanut butter cookies. They were super yummy!!!

Website Spotlight Thursday

I would like to spotlight. . . Starfall website. This is a great website for little ones who are just learning to read. Katie used it when she went to school before I started homeschooling and now she loves working with Amilynn.

Blog Spotlight Monday

Today I want to shine a spotlight on a blog called. . . Art Projects for Kids.

This is a great site to visit when you have run out of ideas on what to do with you children for art class. Kathy is an art teacher and has broken down her projects by grade level. I can't wait to try some of these with my children.

Mexican Potato Casserole

I found this recipe on the Full Bellies Blogspot and thought that I would give it a try. It is pretty simple and I like things with only a few ingredients. If I see a recipe with more than 10 ingredients more than likely I will never make it. LOL . . .I like simple.

Mexican Potato Casserole
4 medium potatoes, with peel
4 Tablespoons butter
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups salsa
1 cup chopped peppers (red, green or yellow) *I omitted the peppers since my kids don't like them
*1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

Cut potatoes into bite-size pieces and place in greased casserole dish.
Melt butter...stir in taco seasoning.
Pour over the potatoes and stir to coat well.









Bake uncovered at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
Stir...bake 10 minutes longer.
Brown and crumble beef; add onion and cook until soft...then drain.
Stir in salsa and chopped peppers.
Pour over potatoes.
Top with grated cheese.
Bake uncovered for 10 minutes.









The verdict. . .the girls didn't care for it very much, of course J would not eat any, but Kurt, C, and I liked it well enough. I will probably make it again. It is nice to have something new and different to break up the same old, same old things I always make. I am glad that I found this recipe.

Nosy (and Lazy) Cat

This cat is funny.

Today John was doing his math in the living room and Garfield got curious.

He wanted to do math too!!

Then he realized just how boring math can be!! About 4 minutes later he was asleep.

AHHHHH the life of a cat.