Our Day Didn't Go As I Had Planned....

Instead, my dear husband came home early and we ended up heading to the beach!

The kids had a blast looking for Spider Crabs on the dock and making little (OK BIG) dwellings on the beach for them. While on the docks we saw candle fish, muscles, seagulls (one was eating a muscle), and lots of other sea creatures. (unfortunately I never took out the camera today)

We also took the boat out for a little while and pulled the kids around in the inner tube. It was sunny, but cold and the kids (Jessica and Timmy) insisted on getting in the water, so we let them. Aren't we fun parents? *Ü*

ETA: I once heard that a boat is one of the best places for a family to spend time together. There is no place to go and everyone is pretty much forced to communicate with each other. I have to agree... We have spent some wonderful days together on our boat. I do have to add that I don't always want to head out on the boat (honestly, I am not much of an outdoors person), but once I am out there I ask myself why in the world didn't I want to come... *Ü*

Our day ended up perfectly with warm cookies and Dad reading Voyage of the Dawn Treader aloud before bed time. It was great having Dad for longer than we expected today.

At first I wasn't to sure about having my school schedule interrupted again (this happened last week too), but then my thoughts went back to the workshop I attended this Saturday. I know we will have lots of time to get our assignments done before this school year is over and I know they will get more from our adventure of the day (building family ties & learning about some the animals of the Puget Sound), than they would staying at home doing their seat work.

With that said we did get a little school in today. Each day I am reading from a neat book called: 365 Days of Celebration & Praise. Each day there is a different theme, be it event of the day, week, or month. Today we happened to read that it is Children's Good Manners Month.

We also started our Explorers Bible Studies. Jessica and Timmy are both using the same books and Jake and Holly are doing a different one. With Jake and Holly I am not having them write things out, I am doing it all orally with them. We had a wonderful time doing these studies and I don't know why I haven't pulled them out before now.

That is my story of how our (should say "MY"), day didn't go as I had planned... But it turned out wonderfully after all. *Ü*

Charlotte Mason Education

2 other homeschooling mothers (one was Lisawa) and I made a road trip this weekend to attend a Charlotte Mason Workshop given by Catherine Levison. Boy was it one of the BEST days I have had in a LONG LONG time! The fellowship was wonderful, uplifting, and supportive. The workshop really refilled my cup and I am excited at the new possibilities that await around the corner with our homeschooling journey.

I really like this philosophy and do want to implement this into our homeschooling and family life. I purchased all of Catherine's Books and can't wait to finishing reading them all. I have read the introduction to the Literary Education and paged through the book lists. There are a lot of books in there that we haven't read yet. My personal homeschooling goal is to get a lot of those book read over the years to come.

One idea I came away with is to do short lessons with the max. time being 15 min per lesson. If we need to stop at 15 min and come back later to finish something up, that is fine. But the idea is to not sit there for a hour doing the same work; give your children breaks.

Another thought was to not try and implement everything I liked about the workshop starting Monday morning. Do a little at a time, introduce concepts/ideas slowly to avoid burnout or the feeling of not living up to "my" expectations based on what I learned this weekend. I will take it slowly, I am not supermom and can't do the swicheroo 2 days time. This will be a learning process for me and can I tell you I am excited about what lies ahead of us.

I have spent quite a bit of time on 2 sites today: Simply Charlotte Mason and Ambleside Classical. I have been receiving emails (in digest form) from Ambleside's online yahoo group for years, but never really have taken the time to read them. The file section is loaded with goodies, and the website is filled with free things to help implement what you teach to your children.




On Ambleside Classical, I found a page that shares the complete 6 volume set: The Original Homeschooling Series, written by Miss. Mason herself for FREE. Catherine recommend reading book 1, 3, & 4 to gleam the best understanding of her philosophy. So I have not decided to dedicate some time during the week to read these books, or at the min., the sections that are of top interest to me.

As I continue learning I will update my blog with my ah-ha moments and share tidbits of what I learned at the workshop. Do stay tuned! *Ü*

Are there any other CM users or want to be users that visit my blog? I would love to visit your site and gleam from your experience and/or begin this journey with you. *Ü*

What an adorable Award: I Love Your Blog! Thank you Rhonda at Living Water Christian Academy for thinking of me and giving me this award. I really appreciated receiving this award and what a WONDERFUL way to be welcomed back to the blogging world after my "short" summer break.

Now to "Pass It On" on to five... (oh this is a tough one)

Patricia at Classical Education Our Way takes some of the best pictures in the world, is always sharing what she loves to do with her family, and is a blessing to visit with in IRL.

Tami at Ambleside Classical is always sharing what she is doing with her DD and I just can't wait until she comes off her summer blog break!

Tressa at Tressays is a wonderful writer! I love reading her posts. I feel as if I am sitting down with a cup of jo visiting with her and listening to her talk IRL. (Hey... I need to do that soon!) I need to spend a little time catching up on her blog since my blog break. Sad to say, I've barely visited any blogs during my break and this is one blog I wish I would have visited more often. How are you doing my friend? *Ü*

Barb at Handbook of Nature Study! I saw LisaWa gave her the award for her other blog (Harmony Fine Arts) so I am hitting this one! *Ü* This award says it all! Thanks for all you do for others! You are such a great encourager and it is a blessing to know you. (Update: I just noticed Lisa awarded her for both blogs! Hey that's not fair!!! LOL Anyways, my decision still stands *Ü* )

And the next award goes to everyone else that stops by here to see what Jetihoja Academy is up too. This award is for you! Grab the button and pass it on! *Ü*

Sketch Tuesday: Something With A Door

I finally reminded the girls to do this fun activity BEFORE the due date. LOL Something I haven't been to good at lately.

Jessica's Drawing

Holly's Drawing

They had a lot of fun drawing something with a door. But the great part was listening to them talk about drawing something with a door: Bird Cage, Play Room Door, etc. These assigments really get my kids to think "outside" the box.

Thank you, Barb!

To read about Sketch Tuesday, participate in this event, or to view other drawings, vist Sketch Tuesday.

Freebie from Hands of a Child Lapbook!

Curriclum Click weekly freebie for this week 9-15 to 9-21 is a WONDERFUL lapbook by In the Hands of a Child titled: Slavery.



I have done this lapbook with my children and it was very informative and kept the children's attention. We ALL learned a lot.

If you wanted to try lapbooking, there is no better way to try it out now that it is FREE this week. Head on over to Curr Click and pick up the freebie!