Friday, 10 August 2012

HSMJ - Snow and Science Stuff

In my life this week…
 It certainly has been an over busy week this week.  I always used to wonder what was up with my girlfriend who had teens and was always tired.... well now I know.  Gosh it does certainly add a lot of work to your day.
 In our homeschool this week…
  • We have been reading High-Tech Olympics.  What an intriguing book.  Did you know that the javelin has been redesigned to stop athletes been able to throw it too far ? Apparently athletes were getting up to the 100 m mark and beyond so for the safety of the crowd it was changed for woman in 1999 and for men in 1986.
  • We finished reading the Scholastic biography: Thomas Edison. What an incredibly interesting man. This little book has inspired me to want to visit the museum where he created most of his inventions.
  • Sir N won a colouring in competition.
  • We have been working through an Olympic themed unit study
  • Started learning about the United Kingdom.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
I am inspired by…
  • My girlfriend who has lost 30 kg (66 pounds).  She got tired of diets and exercise. She simply took control and went on portion control all she eats is three to four small spoons of food at each meal time. I am amazed and inspired to get back on the weight loss trip.  I have regained all the weight I lost last year, sigh.  I am inspired to start again on Monday.
  • Candace Cameron Bure who wrote - I Choose to Fight.  Boy can I identify with what she has to say about raising teens .... I am there now.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • Saturday I had such a great day of teaching and fellowship with other woman at week 2 of the Beautiful Woman Conference.
  • Sunday was a great day to catch up with Paul.  We also went to our first ballet and tap dance recital.  It was so much fun watching the tiny tots do their ballet thing and see the skills that tap dancers have.
  • We went to see and play in the snow on Monday.  This is a first for Sir N and he so enjoyed it.
  • Tuesday we took big brother Mr T to a job interview.  He has been hired for a three month probatory period. (Sadly he had to pull out of this work as when he started he realised that due to his back surgery he was unable to do this work) We also went to Kelly sports with Sir E where the children played a number of games along an Olympic theme.
  • Wednesday was swimming and a catch up lunch with a friend.  We used to babysit her firstborn a couple of years ago.  I love seeing the great relationship this little boy has with Sir N.
  • Thursday Miss J had an interview for a cafe job as a barista.  She goes for a trial run next week.  Go Miss J.
  • Friday we visited a friend and taught her how to use Pinterest and Mr E came over to play with Sir N while his big sister did her first ballet exam.
  • And we are busy counting the days till we go on an adventure to see a solar eclipse.  This adventure was inspired after we witnessed a total lunar eclipse last year.

My favorite thing this week was…
  • Watching Sir N and his cousins enjoy the snow for the very first time together.  We went to visit Lake Mountain above Marysville.
  • Getting a phone call let us know that Sir N had won the colouring in competition that he entered last week.
What’s working/not working for us…
  • Waiting till too late in the day to start school reading.  Next week I have committed to start reading first thing after breakfast.
Questions/thoughts I have…
  • What topics would you like to see discussed about homeschooling high school on blogs ?
  • I am also looking at possibly purchasing  Who is God and Can I really Know Him ? Biblical Worldview and Truth by Apologia.  Have any of you seen this and or used it ?
Things I’m working on…
  • Expedition Earth South Africa resource post - Yes finally finished and posted.
  • Learning my way around  Notebooking Pages website.  I finally bit the bullet and purchased a subscription. I printed my first page this week: Thomas Edison.
I’m reading…
I’m cooking…
  • Corn Chowder
  • Macaroni and Cheese in my crock pot.
On Pinterest I found...

I’m grateful for…
  • My new friend Mrs T who has inspired and encouraged me.  My long term friends who have changed some special dates for a birthday party so that I too can attend.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
I found this YouTube clip and am so inspired and touched by this mans generous heart.

Blessings

Chareen


This post is linking to:
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
iHomeschool

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

Expedition Earth: AFRICA - South Africa


To round off our recent trip to South Africa we did a slow walk through our next unit in the Expedition Earth series: South Africa.

We have spent a fair bit of time at Werribee Open Range Zoo (Night Zoo & Giraffe encounter) experiencing African Wildlife.

We were blessed with many wide and varied experiences while in South Africa
Resources  

Notebook Pages
Stories
Books
On the Net
Animals
Touching a Rhino at WORZ.

Milk Tart
Cooking
  • Milk Tart this is one of my favourite dishes from South Africa.
  • Babootie a traditional South African dish
Do you have any favourite resources for learning about South Africa ?
Blessings
Chareen

Here is a 4 min video of photo's Paul took on a trip to Africa a few years ago.


  • PS We pick and choose what to read from each site. We do NOT read every article in its entirety.  
  • Due to the every changing nature of the Internet please check that these sites are still safe before allowing your children on them.  
  • This post does not contain affiliate links. 
Linking with 
Grateful for Grace: What We're Learning
 Collage Friday over at Home Grown Learners,   
Favourite Resources at Learning All the Time.
Look what we did at 
Home Grown Learners

Friday, 3 August 2012

HSMJ - Beautiful Woman

In my life this week…
I have been reflecting on the gems I received at the Beautiful Woman Conference last weekend and anticipating the second half which begins tonight.
I am feeling a little frustrated with my blog as I have not had the time to make the posts I have been wanting to share with you all.   
In our homeschool this week…
  • We have started reading In Grandma's Attic
  • Enjoyed reading the Scholastic biography: Thomas Edison. What an incredibly interesting man.
  • We watched the first four discs of the Anne of Green Gables Tilogy DVD's.  Sir N has really enjoyed this series.  He was a little upset when the war began so Paul and I watched the final disc ourselves last night and we have decided not to let him watch this one until he is older.
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
  • iHomeschool Network is hosting a Not Back to School Blog Hop starting next week Monday.
  • Are you wanting to enjoy looking at famous artists prints ?  Vicky's insights on Renoir have inspired me and made me realise I do not need to be a perfectionist and have some deep insight I simply need to soak it in and ENJOY!  :o)  
  • Notebooking Pages is having a Not Back 2 School Sale. It is running from 1 - 10 August. Use the bts2012 coupon code to access your $10 discount.
I am inspired by…
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • This week Paul Sadlar Swimland celebrated the Olympics by hosting an Olympic week at lessons.  It was so much fun and Sir N so enjoyed receiving a medal!
  • For lunch at the T family.  That pumpkin soup went down a treat.
  • Play date with our cousin Miss A today.
  • Play date with Mr E while his sister goes to her mock ballet exam.
  • Kelly Sports - celebrating track events at the Olympics.  This week we learned about shot put, long jump and line tag.

My favorite thing this week was…
  • Olympic theme week at swimming lessons.

What’s working/not working for us…
  • Lack of structure.  I am not accomplishing very much.  I think that next week I need to find my balance and get going again!
  • Not having a regular time to BLOG.  Sigh I am trying to finish my post on links for the South Africa part of our Expedition Earth studies and it's not getting finished.  
  • BWG!!  I just wrote the above sentence and then read 7 Reasons to Slow Down.  In one word: BRILLIANT just what the Dr ordered!
Questions/thoughts I have…

Things I’m working on…
  • Getting my head into an orderly place so I can be the best mom, daughter, sister, friend, wife that I can be. {and no not in that order :o) }
  • I'm looking forward to receiving my copy of Large Family Logistics from the Book Depository.  I do not have a big family by any stretch of the imagination but when I looked in this book I was inspired and encouraged in my role as a wife and mother.  I loved her perspective of the Proverbs 31 woman and her practical insights are fantastic.
I’m reading…
I’m cooking…
  • Tuna Bake
On Pinterest I found...

I’m grateful for…
  •  The person who has sponsored me a ticket to attend the second half of the Beautiful Woman Conference this weekend.
A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
“Often we think that burnout is something that just happens to other women — to workaholics and perfectionists. But care-aholics are also at risk — women who care deeply about their children, work, relationships, parents, siblings, friends, communities, issues.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach (Simple Abundance).

Blessings

Chareen



This post is linking to:
Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
iHomeschool