Just back from Africa...

...or it seemed like we were really there. Let me explain LOL My church recently had some of its members return from Zambabwe Africa where they were on a mission trip. Tonight they did crafts, sang songs, spoke some language, played games, etc. but it really felt as though they brought a piece of Africa to us. My dd and I did a small lesson this afternoon about Africa and it included a puzzle of the continent. Tonight was an absolutely wonderful "icing on the cake" so to speak. My dd even got a necklace from Africa bc 1 of the teachers took a liking to her. We really had a blast!

P.S.

I just posted a new entry on Phenomenal Homeschooling about unschooling. I'd love to have some other unschoolers post their comments. I'm going to write at least a few more entries about this form of schooling, then move on to the other types. I'll get around to them all eventually while including some news stories along the way too LOL

I'm a blog-aholic

I don't know what it is with me but I LOVE looking around at other homeschool blogs and bookmarking them here. It's like a little addiction of mine to see what others have going on in their homeschools. Not that I'm trying to compete, by any means, but I just truly enjoy it. Anyhow, I've added some new ones tonight LOL

I must say

I'm really glad that I've been spending the money to have most of the learning channels on our cable TV. I didn't realize it until now though. Instead of watching Noggin or the Disney channel, my dd has been watching animal planet and about babies. Right now she's eating a bowl of popcorn watching something about China. Not only does this have the great benefit of being educational, but since my office is in close proximity I can watch her and the TV show too. So, if she wants to show me or ask me something all I have to do is turn my head. I really do know that she's learning a lot too, all I have to do is listen to her throughout the days.

An always evolving schedule

I swear that me and dd canNOT stay on a schedule to save our lives and every time I try to get us onto a more "normalized" schedule it just doesn't work. Then to top if off, dd has been wanting to watch animal and doctor shows so I haven't been pushing the bookwork and have been feeling somewhat guilty but she's learning so much and teaching me so much too. I know that I keep saying that we unschool and so I should live and let live but it just gets to me sometimes. I feel like she needs to prove to me that she's learning by doing workbooks and not just by telling me stuff. She's really quite smart though everyone tells me as they also tell me not to worry about it. I just don't know how to make myself feel better even though I spend all day with her outside and then run around cleaning the house and working at night. I swear I bounce on and off this computer like a yo-yo. I write 1 article, go fold a load of clothes, do another article, go do a load of dishes, etc. I guess I just need to get use to this new stage of life as I do believe thatlife does evolve in stages. Thanks for letting me vent though!

Oh WOW

I'm happy to announce that I started a new blog that will a part of a network of blogs written by work at home moms. The name of this blog is Phenomenal Homeschooling and I will be writing articles and reviews there instead of blogging about personal things like I do here. Of course, there will still be a lot of me in that blog as well. I hope you'll stop over and check it out. I'm also going to start being the homeschool blogger at 2 other sites as well. More on that sometime soon, when I have more details to share with you. For now, I hope you'll check my newest blog out!

Spring has sprung

It is so absolutely beautiful outside today! We went out walking today. Checked out a new store, had Mediteranean food for lunch and then went to a consignment shop where I picked up a white board for myself and a tape player for dd. We just came inside bc I think dd needs a break but by golly am I itching to go right back outside LOL Tomorrow is suppose to be just as nice and then into the 50s it will go for a while but still that's great weather. I think we'll be outside a lot while the weather isn't too hot. I'm really not looking forward to the summer heat though. It could stay this way and I'd be really happy. The only thing I wish is that I could think of more ways to do homeschool outside. All I can think of right now is nature walks and phys ed. Does anyone have any more suggestions for a 1st/2nd grader? I'd love to hear them!

Just a share

I found this so touching that I just had to share it. I hope you have a Kleenex available.

A day off of school

This is the first sick day of the year. My dd has had a bad cold for a few days now but it really hit her hard last night and today. She was up coughing and crying throughout the night. So, I decided to just let her sleep today. We went to bed last night at 10PM and she woke up around 1PM today. I guess she really needed the sleep even though she's been lying around playing games with me and watching educational shows on TV today. Does this mean that mommy had a day off? No, of course not. I worked today, did a load of laundry and will probably do some house cleaning yet tonight. Oh well, 1 of these days I'll take some time off LOL With the warm weather coming it shouldn't be too long before I do. It seems that when it's warm outside I don't work or do much housework during the day. Everything usually happens at night during the warm days instead LOL So, we'll see, especially since this is the first year that I'll be making a full time living with my online business, which is something that I don't want to brag about, but I sure am proud of it. Anyway, I have some stuff to finish up here online...