Homeschool Mother's Journal Week 4

 



In my life this week…

Just plugging away at getting the garage painting done and all the trim work on the house.  Had a bit of a snag with the patio roof and still working on getting that fixed.  I'm not Al from Home Improvement....so have to ask alot of questions.  I feel silly, but I do go into Home Depot and pull the stupid woman act at times.  Although most times it's not really an act....I honestly have NO idea!  I had a pain attack and try to get the broken big toe to heal...which hasn't been happening because I am not staying off of it.  It also doesn't help when everyone in the family keeps stepping on it.   Also trying to read some books on autism because we are having massive regression issues with Brayden and we just do not know what to do right now.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Lydia and I had a library program that we went to today.  There was a Native American Storyteller at a local branch and since we are studying Kaya as our current American Girl it was a great program to see.  Thanks to Holly for that!!!  Tomorrow Joey and I are going out for a very early breakfast in honor of our area's Give Autism the Boot fundraiser.  We are not going to be able to volunteer to collect money this year, so I thought he would enjoy this.  The hubby is having his other wrist surgery tomorrow also.  We are going to work on the kids portraits on Saturday.  The weather is supposed to be nice and hopefully Joe will feel up to going out.  We may even do a little geocaching.


My favorite thing this week was…

Figuring out how to use my phone as a MP3 player.  Made painting go faster and walking on the treadmill nice also.  I also enjoyed the treadmill time.  45 minutes of stress relief!  Even walking with a broken toe wasn't that bad.  Lydia and I also went to Perrysburg Farmers Market when we finished at the Way Library program today.  I was able to get some beef and pork from two different vendors that Joe and I are curious about trying for grass-fed beef and pork.  If we like it, we will be buying part of a cow and stocking the freezer.  Tomorrow pretty excited to try and get a veggie share to maybe be able to freeze some veggies for this winter.  Haven't tried canning yet, but may try it.  Lydia wants to make some jam with the raspberries we got today.  Guess we'll wait and see.

Oh we had a GREAT time visiting the zoo on Monday and seeing the new Baby Elephant....soooo cute!!!

Breastfeeding Moms need to support each other....Can you imagine their La Leche League meeting room:)!!!
Things I’m working on…

Just keeping myself and our schedule organized.  I am still struggling with finding a balance with our schedule not being so overwhelming.  I am also working on possible picture schedule and step by step picture charts for Brayden.  Things have gotten extremely complicated with him, so we are needing to revert back to these.  I am trying to declutter, but have a massive "Well what if I need it complex."

I’m reading…

I just finished Ten Things Every Child with Autism wishes you Knew....AWESOME Book!!! 



Highly recommend this title.  Now to work on applying some of this in our lives.  I now am checking out a book called


 the Paleo Diet Cookbook (don't know if I can give up rice and potatoes yet).

 and for fun I am still reading :



Game of Thrones

and




Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea,...

I’m praying for…

Strength and control over my actions with the kids.  My patience has been maxed constantly with all the bickering and other issues.  I just keep praying for patience and strength to maintain control.

Questions/thoughts I have…

IPad vs. Laptop?  For children... 

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Caty at her new work area drawing a picture.  This is 3 year old picture of Mommy and Daddy.....how cute!!!

Autisms Thursday

It's that time of the week again........

This week I am featuring Brayden.  Brayden is going through a not wanting to leave our house phase.  He doesn't even want to go to his cousin's house, and Blake is his Best friend!  He doesn't want to be in the backyard.  Basically we are having SEVERE OCD issues.  Yes we are working with a psychiatrist, but it's going to be a long process unfortunately. 

Anyway, that's a bit of background for this week's story.  While we were in Tennessee this last trip I had trouble with him wanting to leave the van or even the hotel room.  He kept asking repeatedly during our Belle Meade plantation tour when we could go back to the van and go back to the hotel.  It really got to me, as I was so enjoying the wonderful tour....being a Civil War history buff I was really in my element there!. 

Here's our conversation:

Mommy:  "Ok, Brayden.  You know we homeschool and one of the many cool things about homeschooling is all the awesome field trips you get to go on.  Who wants to sit in a classroom and stare at textbooks and only learn from workbooks?!?!?  That's not any fun!"

Joey:  "I'm ok with the field trip."

Brayden:  "Not me, I choose the workbooks and textbooks.  When can I go to the van?"

Now link up your stories to Autisms Thursdays.  I would love to read what other Aspies and Kids on the Spectrum are saying.  I love the honesty!

Wordless Wednesday--TOOOO Cute!

TOS Homeschool Crew

We are so excited to get ready for our newest voyage!!!  We are privileged to be part of the 2011-2012 TOS Homeschool Crew.  Can't wait till we get to the first port, oh wait I mean our first product to review.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge curriculum junkie.....so what better job for me!!!

If you haven't already, visit The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for some wonderful articles on family and homeschooling.  They also have an awesome store that is full of so many wonderful items!

Lydia's request for her own work area

Miss Lydia requested her own school desk.  She didn't mind working at the kitchen table or even our (what I thought was) really nice school table that seats 4.  She wanted her own school desk.  With our quickly limiting amount of space, I was really questioning how we were going to pull this off.  So I brainstormed a bit the last couple days, because if it means she will finish some more of her schoolwork without fighting with us I will make it happen for her.  Even if for just my sanity!

We made her a little schoolwork area in the kitchen, next to my desk.  Since Caty would want one too, we did a little more shuffling.  The sad news is it forced me to go through some supplies that I had no desire to have to sort through:(....oh well.  As always life is always a work in progress.

Here's her work area with her boxes.

Their new little work area.  Caty's boxes are close to hers.  The Math U See blocks and Cuisinaire Rod tubs separate their areas.

Lydia already drew a picture and hung it up by her desk.  We told her she could decorate the side with all her art papers.

She was very happy and then asked to do some schoolwork.....SHOCKED!!!  Caty even started doing drawers that she had refused to work on last week.  Go figure.  Guess we'll see how long this lasts.

Out of their Mouths

Well it was a foggy this morning and Caty tells me "Are we going to see the Smokey Mountains?"  At first I thought she said "Monkey Mountains" and I questioned her.  I said "We don't live in the mountains, so we won't see any."  She giggles and says "But it looks like the Smokey Mountains."  She remembered our trip last month and the discussion about the name of the mountains.  Someone was listening!!!

Lydia's Kindergarten Graduation party

We have a year end school party for the kids each year.  It's a family BBQ in the backyard for our kids and our niece and nephew to reward them for all their hard work and "graduating" to the next grade.

But this year was the ever important Kindergarten Graduation for Miss Lydia.  She has been begging for a lizard, so we kind of themed the party around that.  First the girls played and wrestled with Grandpa .

Then Lydia got her present from Grandpa and Grandma early (before the party started).

 She loves horses and wanted one of these tire swings for the swing set.

 Caty had to try too.

 Then we got a massive rain storm!  So they played in the rain.

 Presents for everyone now.

 Lydia wanted a lizard, found these little lizard and wrapped it up for her.  She was very excited....should've just gave her the toy.

 She also got a Justin Beiber microphone! 

 And a special present from her cousin Bryce.

 And the big present from Mommy and Daddy (sorry our recycling pile is in the background)....drumroll please.....

 A Bearded Dragon!!!

 Her Cupcake cake

 More playing in the rain.

 And meet the newest Kuehner Family Member......Lollipop.

One more Kindergarten graduation to go...but have a few years for that one!

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