Homeschool Outings

First, I would like to just tell ya that Kayla will NOT be doing the Joseph show. After experiencing some upsetting things to me I had to make a "parental" decision and draw the line. Enough is a enough! I had a long time to think about it and struggled to keep her in the show but it came to my own inner feelings. It wasn't right for us and thank goodness it is over. I want Kayla to know that in life we can only put up with so much and that we are really not to quit but to be strong. On the other hand we must know when to draw the line and that we have the power in our hands and we can walk away if it comes to that. The line has been drawn.

Now on to our super duper fun week with our homeschool connections.

We have the special privilege to have sports day twice a month with Coach Bob. Bob is a cool dude! He is actually a former school principle and he and his wife have homeschooled their children for several years. Coach Bob comes to the park with balls, bats, helmets, gloves, bases and even drinks. He teaches the kids different sports or outdoor activities. Today was softball day and I my girls usually opt out and just play on the park structure with the other kids who don't want to play.

Neither of them has ever had any interest in playing softball and they didn't want to try today either. Until, I made them and sure enough they really enjoyed it and both hit the ball too.

Look at Kayla hit that ball! She can't wait to play again in 2 weeks! Coach Bob is seen kneeling down as the pitcher. About 25 kids showed up today and it was a blast.

Highlands Center of Natural History

I organized this field trip for our homeschool group and what a great turn out we had. There were about 60 people in attendance. What a fascinating building and educational facility. We learned about the $2 million price tag that came along with all of its "green" abilities such as the roof line creation as butterfly wings that are used in rain water collection, the solar energy, special windows and their placement, no carpet, wood was supplied from the forest near by, and much more.

Pictured above is where one end of the roof comes down and would drain off the water into that funnel like sculpture.

After our building tour we went on a 1 mile hike down to the creek. There is where the kids had a blast and what a beautiful sight it was. After we made our way back from the hike we all enjoyed lunch and mingled a bit. It is amazing that just minutes from my house is this wonderful place.

GAME ON!!

These girls are giving it their all! The field is so huge and the running is incredible for these little legs. Shae just loves soccer and her coach, asst. coach (a.k.a dad), and teammates are great!

I thought this shot was pretty cool so I had to crop and blow it up for ya. Just look at her face and determination. A couple of team moms and I got together and created our darling team banner. Giddy Up Pink Ponies!

Kayla and the team mascots cheering our team.

Aboriginal Designs

I teach an art class to 8 home schooled children once a month. This month we created Aboriginal Designs and learned about the people in Australia.

The kids learned of how the art work reflects their "Dreamtime." And they use a dot art that incorporates animals with specific patterns of line art or pictures.

Here they are hard at work at creating their animal and sectioned it off for their pattern designs.

They all did a wonderful job and it is great to have such well behaved students. :0)

Pink Pony Mascot

Shae's soccer team needs a mascot!

I have made a stick horse before with a head from a brown paper bag but I took this project a little further. I told the girls about my idea of making a stick pony but pink and they were totally jazzed. I found a video "how to" link on ehow.com of how to make a stuffed riding horse on a stick. I watched all the segments and altered it to fit our need. The girls went shopping with me for the fabric, button eyes, dowel, and we had yarn for the mane already. The total invest came to under $11 for 2 of these adorable ponies. After we finished our school work we started on this project and it took us 2 hours to complete both ponies. The girls pinned on the patterns, cut out the pony head and ears, sewed on the eyes and created the mane by wrapping yarn around a piece of scrap plastic I had from a science kit.

Shae says, "This is so much fun!" Kayla says, " I think I will love my pony."
The girls wrapped 3 different colors of yarn to create the mane for their ponies.

Yahoo! The finished ponies came out fabulous!

"Go Pink Ponies!"

Go Pink Ponies!!!

Our team ROCKS!!! They are the Pink Ponies and today was their first game. Shae had a blast! And aren't they damn cute in those pink shirts! The cheering section was in full swing and I can't help myself but to cheer loud and take lots of pictures.

Dad and Shae
Our dear friend Kelsey came to watch and I caught she and Kayla taking a portrait of themselves.

How cool is this talent show!

The girls and I had the pleasure to watch a great talent show at our local Granite Gate assisted living resort. I saw this in the newspaper a few weeks ago and noted it on my calendar. I am so glad that I noted that and we decided to go. These elders were awesome! The one lady at the top left in the picture did the cutest tap dance in a cat outfit and can you believe her age..... 90 years old! Kayla loved the Red Hat Ladies. After the show we were delighted to have punch and sweets along with the others and got to watch and listen to the Geritol Hipsters play some great old music. Music that I have never heard of but it was fun music and the girls loved it. The best part was at the end when they announced the winner and Shae was so excited that her kitty cat lady won. These are all great things that we get to do while enjoying our homeschooling program.

**After the show we headed to our car to find my car like this. I about died! Nobody was around and I couldn't believe my eyes. Someone actually parked their car like this and left it there. So, I whipped out my camera and immediately starting my photo shoot. Then here walks out a lady (who actually sat next to us during the talent show) and didn't even notice her parking job. She went to get in her truck and I had to say "Ahhhhhhhh, you ran into my car while parking" and she said " I did?" I felt like saying "DAHHH!" She then proceeded to tell me that she needed to leave to pick up her grand child. I said, " not until I get your insurance card and drivers license" and I got it. So, she hurried on her way and backed up along the side of my car AGAIN and left. My car had very minor damage but I still can't believe that someone actually didn't notice how jacked up their parking was. Hummmmmm!
Hummmmmmm!
She couldn't get any closer than this! :0)

It's almost time....

It's almost time for 2 things in our children's lives. Kayla's show in just 3 weeks and Shae's first soccer game of the season in a couple of weeks. This show is much different than the School's Out show. Kayla has been a bit bummed as the little kids are having a harder time paying attention and coming in on cue so their time in the show has diminished. Kayla is in the group with the "little" kids and she is sad and wanted to be able to do more in the show. I told her to hang in there and that we will be proud of her no matter what she does in the show.

The picture below is where they rehearse each week. It all comes alive in a different way when they load the set on the big stage and they are in costume.

Here is Shae at practice. She is a die hard focused soccer player and can't wait to play the games.

All in all we are very proud of both girls! We hear their frustrations and concerns and we help guide them to make the best decisions. Sometimes things don't work out as planned and the child is discouraged.

But we all learn from our day to day lives and it is the adult mentor that sets the experience by example that will further a child's interest.

Art Lesson

Today we had an animal art lesson. Of course they choose to draw a hamster due to their love of their own "real" pet hamsters. :0) Kayla usually gets super frustrated with her outcomes when she draws as she is a perfectionist but today went smooth and she did awesome! She was very proud of her drawing and named it "Buttercup."
And you'll have to excuse the "bedhead" as ..... YES, we do our school work on most days in our jammies.
On top of our bi-weekly art lessons I am now teaching an art class once a month and I have 8 homeschooled kids. They all have a blast and get to create a neat craft or a artistic creation by mixing drawing along with painting.

What a wonderful journal entry!

This is an journal entry that every homeschool parent and or teacher would love to read! I have the girls write an entry in their journal 3-4 times a week to get them writing more. At the beginning of the year (last month) Kayla was having a hard time thinking of what to write in her journal. So, I found that she needed a starter sentence as a helper. This is working out WONDERFUL! Some examples of her starter sentences are "I like it best when....., I can make a better day by ...., My favorite thing to do on a sunny day is ..., and of course our most recent one "The thing I like best about school is."

Of course we homeschool so she is writing about her experience schooling here at home with me and her younger sister. When I read her entry I just smiled. So, after reading that a mother/teacher knows they are doing a great job and what a sense of accomplishment for both student and teacher.

Next week Kayla will be starting Writing Strands which I love and is a complete writing program using a process approach to writing and composition. Writing Strands starts with age 7 and takes the homeschooled child Thur College Preparatory material as in writing exposition.