Book 2: The Friday Night Knitting Club

Can I tell you how much I did NOT think I would like this book? The truth is that it is a bit slow to s tart, but at the end one can appreciate that the "slow" part is the author helping us feel "ownership" as the characters develop. The premise is that a young single Mom starts a knitting shop as a way to raise her daughter. We meet a variety of people along the way as people exit the "anonymity" of big city life, by coming into an informal group of women knitting at Walker and Daughter on Friday nights. Not a fav, not a bust. Yes, I'm guessing that I'll read number 2 which has just been published. 2 down, 50 books to go by the end of this year. I'm guessing that this will be an resolution that I can keep!

Coming up next: what curriculum should Michele pick for next year? Will she be brave enough to pull her kid from CS? Wait and see on.......... Candy Floss and Farrie Cakes!

Arg.......I'm having one of those days!

I am tired, cranky, sleep-deprived, and not at all in a very nice mood right now. I know that I have lots to be thankful for, but right now it seems easier to be frustrated. My Mom is d riving me insane right now with "let's play 500 questions" every time I call you. My kiddo is unhappy and not doing well at school. He's so smart, it's just between the sensory stuff (Add?), a big class and other things he is not exactly attentive in school. By the time he gets home, we sit for almost 2 hours to do homework. Am I the only one who things that the following is WAY too much for a kid who has been in school all day? The list:
1. 2 math pages.
2. I story to read.
3. Spelling and vocab. words to study.
4. Math fact cards.
5. spelling page. (only some nights-2X a week).
It he was not over stimmed by the time he got home, we could do his homework in no time. As it is it takes us over 2 hours. By that point I'm yelling at him to get done and pay attention. He's yelling cause he has had enough (about 5 hours before). We fall into bed exhausted. (I am so thankful for bedtime). Than it's let play get up five million times. I need water. I need a hug. I need to bother Mommy by playing super stealth spy. The poor thing has been sneaking into my bed at night and sleeping almost on top of me.
Am I the only one who thinks that 1 math lesson, 1 reading lesson, 1 spelling lesson etc could be my homeschool evening without adding anything else? I mean, this is a full day that we are doing at home right now on top of the stuff they do at school? Right. I'd love to homeschool him but I'm not sure I have the nerve to do it. WHERE would he go during the day. Who would he play with? Would it be enough? I freak out trying to find the perfect curriculum. I only have one shot to get his education right. KWIM? In some ways I think that he'd be better off. Calmer. More focused. Less stress on both of us. Maybe enjoy one another again.

This is NOT how I wanted to live my life. I didn't want to be a screamer. I didn't want to feel stressed all the time. I wanted to laugh, play, teach my son how important these things are in life. I feel like I'm failing!
M

52 Books: Week 1

This year I am doing a challenge that I love! In addition to the usual exercise, eat better, be more spiritual in my life and prayer life, I am taking on Susan Wise Bauer's plan to read 52 books in 2009. Last week I started this quest by reading James Patterson's Mary, Mary. This novel is part of Patterson's series of Alex Cross novels. I started reading this series about 5 years ago when E was a baby. One of the English teacher's at my school really enjoyed reading them and suggested that I might enjoy them too. Overall I do find them to be a good read. I think they are darker than Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta books. However, the personalities seem to stand out more. In this novel, Cross is as real as ever. Patterson does a good job of supplying details so that a clear mental picture is posed to the reader. It does amaze me that the same author that writes such suspensful books also writes the sweet and often sad books such as Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Next week-not a clue what I'll read, but I'll be back with a report soon!
M

Monday, Monday......

Well, today was back to school day for the munchkins and the mama! Overall it was a good day, but a bit sticky with all the post school activity...homework, swim, swim, piano etc. Oy! Thank Heavens (and Nana) for takeout. I was just thinking that it has been almost two years that we were leaving Belfast to come home. Funny, but I still think about some aspect of it two years on. I'd go back tomorrow!
Michele

Look=three days in a row!

Go figure. I've blogged three days in a row. Monday is back to school day. I finished grading some papers that needed grading for awhile now. Woo hoo! Tomorrow I need to go out to school to get ready for Monday. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things with a positive attitude! Pray for me! Today we went to Brown Co. to see the dr. All is well. It makes for a very long day. We also had "tea" with my mom and dad. yum-o. See, tonight is just NOT the stuff that blogs are made of!
Night!

Day 2!

Good morning! I can't believe that Christmas break is coming to a close. We are starting our week today with Harold and the Purple Crayon. We pre-read it last night before bed and DS really enjoyed it. We will be having a short week with it I think. Today we are going to be doing our own "creative" drawing to see where we end up-just like Harold. I just need to figure out what to use for long paper. DS will also narrate the story to me for his notebook/lapbook. I want to try to get some copywork in too. Because DS does not like to write I think we'll just keep it simple and have him write the title out. I think we are back in the swing of things again for piano lessons. 2 nights of practice without much fuss. We'll see how it goes. We need to get going again on reading. I think we'll do that sometime today.
Yesterday I read the first chapter in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and did the Bible study that goes with it. I liked the study but found that doing a whole chapter didn't allow me the chance to really get into the book. I'm working on a new memory verse, so maybe I'll take chapter 2 more slowly. It's going to be a busy day. I've got tests to grade, a couple of insurance phone calls to make, planning for the 17 year olds b-day party, a bit of shopping, and I need to take some pants to be altered. Go figure! I'm off to see what my flylady step of the day is! Have a wonderful day!
Michele

Our FIAR Week

We are having a ball "rowing" Mrs. Katz and Tush this week. Next week we will be trying a lapbook. Not sure at all how that will turn out! We will be rowing Harould and the Purple Crayon
Our plans (very subject to change)
Day 1: Language Arts: Talk about the setting of the book. DS will also do a narration (and illustration if he wishes) of the book.

Day 2: Art: Creativity: DS will make a "thought" drawing like Harolds. Talk about vanishing points, observe outside and make a vanishing point drawing.

Day 3: Science: Take a moonlight walk like Harold. Make a list of things that we saw. Make a list of things that Harold "saw".

Day 4: Science: Watch online video at homeschool share about making crayons. Make a chart for lapbook describing the steps.

Day 5: Math: Talk about fractions: whole, one-half, one-four using pie illustrations. (use pies from HS Share)