Robinson Curriculum FOR SALE
August 20, 2010 > No Comments
A friend of mine has the curriculum we use FOR SALE for HALF PRICE! It’s only been used once to print off one McGuffey Reader and is like new.
The Robinson CDs new cost $195. She is selling hers for $100 plus shipping/insurance fees. In my opinion this is a great deal even if you weren’t going to implement the curriculum. Included on the cds are over 200 books, including the McGuffey Readers, the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, 1913 Webster’s Dictionary, and the original 1611 King James Bible. For just a sampling of the books see here.
If you are interested in buying this from her please e mail me with your contact information and I will pass it along to her.
Want to know more about this curriculum? Visit http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ and see here how we’ve implemented the Robinson Curriculum in our home.
Randomness
August 20, 2010 > No Comments
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a chatty post. I’ve been up to my elbows in dishes, diapers, laundry, home school curricula, and many other things I am certain my regular readers can relate to. I’ve had very little time or desire to try to write more than two sentences in my hands-free “free” time – just exactly what is free-time!? I have what one might consider free-time while nursing a baby, but usually I am eating my breakfast, lunch or supper during those so called “free” times. Or I might be grading schoolwork , making necessary phone calls, menu planning or just staring into space trying to remember exactly *what* I am supposed to be doing. So please forgive the randomness of this post. It’s a compilation of things going on around here and thoughts running through my mind.
Baby William is 7 weeks old. Where has the time gone?! It truly is amazing how quickly time passes as you grow older. I had a series of medical problems after his birth that had me pretty much bedridden for the first 2 weeks. Thankfully, I am much better and William is doing fantastic. It’s hard (very hard) to stop and soak in all these precious moments…I have a tendency to get caught up in my to-do list that I forget to stop and revel in the madness that makes up my life right now. I know I will regret it in time to come.
The 2010/2011 school year has begun here in our home. Last week was our first official week of school. While we do summer school, it’s much more relaxed than the “real” school year. I think I’ve got our schedule down finally. It’s SO nice to have a plan that is working. I hope to share with you soon our school schedule if I can figure out how to post Microsoft Word on here.
I shared this already on facebook, but it was such a classic homeschooling moment that I wanted to share it again here.
I was giving one of our 8 year old twins their vocabulary words verbally and asking for a definition to see if he already knew them. Here are three of the words and *his* definitions -
plight – to be nice or kind to someone
quell – a kind of bird
rash – to be itchy
Not quite the definitions I was looking for. Guess it has something to do with my Georgia/Tennessee accent!
Meals around here lately haven’t been the healthiest and they certainly have not been homemade. Let’s just say that good things come in processed food not necessarily small packages. Because of this I have discovered that I LOVE Prego spaghetti sauce. I do!! Add a little ground Italian sweet sausage to the sauce, pour it over thin spaghetti and serve it with garlic bread and a Caesar salad. Voila! You’ve got a meal fit for a King or even a tired mama and a hungry set of munchkins!
I know a lot of you are wondering what happened to Part 2 of William’s birth story. Well, it’s still in my head. I’ve yet to write it. But I need to get it committed to paper so I won’t forget it! I have a terrible memory, but thankfully my husband doesn’t. So where my memory fails me, let’s hope he can remember…one of these days…soon…hopefully.
I’ve just recently created a facebook fan page for Better is Little. I did so in my effort to streamline things. I’ve found that it is SO much easier to post a quick blurb of 420 characters or less on facebook than to put forth a little effort (sometimes a lot) to write a post. While that is *easiest* it’s not necessarily what I want and it certainly steals my appetite for blogging. So hopefully by streamlining you will hear from me more often as it will be my only outlet and it will have the added benefit of communicating with everyone, facebook friend or not.
See? I told you this was a post full of random thoughts.
Next post: a recipe from my childhood – Pork Chop and Potato Casserole.
Stay Tuned!
And don’t forget to “like” the new facebook fan page for Better Is Little.
I’ll close with this:
A large family, with seven children, moved to a new city. They were having a difficult time finding an apartment to live in. Many apartments were large enough, but the landlords objected to the large family. After several days of searching, the father asked the mother to take the four younger children to visit the cemetery, while he took the older three to find an apartment.
After they had looked most of the morning they found a place that was just right. Then the landlord asked the usual question: “How many children do you have?” The father answered with a deep sigh, “Seven…but four are with their dear mother in the cemetery.”
He got the apartment.
New Page on Homeschooling
August 5, 2010 > No Comments
Just a heads up for those interested. I just added a new page on homeschooling sharing what we use for school. Check it out! I’d love some feedback.
William’s Birth Story – Part 1 of 2
August 4, 2010 > No Comments
Text to hubby on the morning of June 30th – Guess William will be a July baby
Hubby’s text to me – Y?
My text back – Because it’s the last day of June and I’m not in labor yet silly!
Two hours later: My text to Bobby – Come home! I am headed to hospital.
His text back: Yeah sure.
It took some convincing for him to believe that I really was standing in Labor and Delivery waiting for the nurses to show me to my room and get me settled in. But after a irritated phone call from me and a picture later of me in a hospital gown, he was convinced.
I had a Doctors appointment late that morning and was a bit discouraged that I had made it to yet another weekly appointment with no baby in sight. I had noticed that I was having a few more contractions than usual, but just dismissed them as practice and continued getting ready for my appointment.
Perhaps I should interject here and say that I still had not packed for the hospital – for me or the Baby. I also had several unfinished tasks that I had wanted done before the baby came – things like: clean the microwave, wash the bassinette, PACK, wipe down kitchen cabinets, etc…You know, those things that are essential prerequisites to having a baby – Riiiiight.
At my appointment, I got stopped in the parking lot by an older lady. She was afraid I was going to have the baby right there in the parking lot – seriously, that’s what she said. But comments like that were becoming routine anytime I ventured out of my home. So I politely engaged her in conversation and she was yet again flabbergasted when she found out this was my 6th child. Again, nothing new to this conversation…
As I stepped into the Doctor’s exam room he asked me if today was the day and I told him that he would need to tell me. I told him I had been having more contractions, but was sure they weren’t helping things along. He witnessed a couple of contractions and then announced that I was indeed dilated to at least 4 cm!
“How about we have this baby today!?” – (Doctor)
“Uh…YEAH!” – (me)
At this point Doctor and his nurse started gathering papers and making phone calls for me to go right on over to the hospital. I suggested that they give me some time to go home and finish up some things and get my bags packed.
“Things? What kind of things? After all what do you really need to have a baby?” – (Doctor)
Mentally I was thinking about that list, the essential prerequisites. I was thinking that maybe a camera would be nice, pajamas, baby book and outfit, laptop, etc…We all have seen the list of “What to Take to the Hospital” – Riiiiight.
But I said - “Sure. You’re right…what do I need to go home for. Send me on over to the hospital. I’ll text my husband.”
So I headed on to the hospital and what do you know, I encountered two more ladies who thought I was going to deliver in the parking lot. But these ladies weren’t quite as nice. Their conversation went something like:
“Wow…you poor lady!? When are you due!?” Then to each other – “Is THAT what I looked like when I had _______?……..” I was hot, tired and had a ways to walk to Labor and Delivery so I just kind of exited this conversation and waddled myself on out of there.
In Labor and Delivery they were a little confused as to what they were supposed to do with me, and me, not being a Doctor, they couldn’t take my word for it that I was in the early stages of labor and wanted to be admitted. After a few phone calls the Doctor was able to convince them that I indeed was there to have a baby.
The nurses in L&D were quite preoccupied with a situation that had just occurred with one of the mothers there so they put me in my room with promises of getting me settled in soon. I was happy with that because I wasn’t quite ready to be put in the bed with IVs and such, so I used the time to walk around the room as briskly as I could to help speed things along and to facilitate a more active labor. It helped a bit because the next time they checked me I was almost 5cm dilated.
Bobby arrived and things were going smoothly. IV was in, monitors were fixed on my abdomen squeezing the life out of me, and contractions were about 5 – 10 minutes apart. I was able to handle the pressure and contractions just fine with no pain meds. Then late afternoon there was talk of using a small amount of pitocin to help get things going a bit more quickly and more regular.
I have had pitocin once before and was not at all going to have pitocin without an epidural close on its heels, so I made sure the anesthesiologist was on his way before they started the first drop. Thankfully, labor is not something that is hard to get going with me, so after a small amount of pitocin my contractions picked up and were 3-5 minutes apart. My epidural then was quickly and effortlessly administered. It was the quickest, most painless epidural I remember having.
To be continued…
Rich, Moist Coconut Cake
July 30, 2010 > 2 Comments
Our family is not terribly fond of coconut, preferring rather to eat chocolate – chocolate anything. However, my in-laws love coconut, so for my mother-in-law’s birthday yesterday I made this dessert. It was my very first attempt at making a coconut cake and it turned out to be delicious! It’s a very rich, moist cake and a bit on the heavy side unlike a lot of coconut cakes that is a white cake mix with the coconut flavor only in the icing. We enjoyed this with a cup of decaf coffee.
- 1 box white cake mix – baked in a 9 x 13 pan according to directions on box
- 1 can cream of coconut – found with the ingredients for mixed drinks
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 – 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 carton Cool Whip
While cake is still hot from the oven, poke holes all over with a fork. You want to make plenty of holes and gashes so the liquids can saturate the cake. Don’t worry about what it looks like because you will cover this over with the whipped topping.
Slowly drizzle the can of cream of coconut over the cake, making sure the cream of coconut gets into every nook and cranny.
Do the same with the sweetened condensed milk.
Cool completely in the refrigerator (or to speed things up, in the freezer).
When cooled, sprinkle the top of cake with coconut.
Spread a thick layer of Cool Whip over the top.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.
Enjoy!
We Welcome Our Newest Addition
July 2, 2010 > 5 Comments
William Reagan
Born June 30th at 8:00 pm
7 lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long
And the first brown-haired baby we’ve had!
Summer School or Year-Round Homeschooling
June 30, 2010 > 4 Comments
I have noticed this year that when our children mention the fact that they’ve “done school” this summer or that they “don’t get a summer break” it evokes sympathetic looks and comments from well-meaning friends, family and acquaintances.
I can understand why people would feel sorry for them, as it does seem to elicit mental pictures of our children gazing longingly out the window at children playing ball in the streets while they work yet another long division problem and no end in sight. But I can assure you that while they *do* have to do math it’s not quite as tedious as it sounds.
We have come to like the idea of year-round schooling for various reasons, some of which I will share with you here, but probably my favorite reason for having our children do “summer school” is the freedom it affords us the rest of the year. During the fall, when the weather is soooooo very nice here in the mountains of TN, our children love to go outside from morning until night and I am happy for them to take the day off of school to do so, and because we did lessons during the summer there is no fear of falling behind. Also, we are able to be a bit more spontaneous with our schedule such as when my husband unexpectedly gets a day off or they are invited to a play-date or even an unexpected illness; we aren’t worried that they’ve missed school that day.
- More flexibility to take off spontaneously.
- There is no re-learning period at the beginning of each year.
Young children especially don’t retain as much with such a long break. I read somewhere that it takes up to 6 weeks for a child to get back in the groove of school and remember/relearn what was taught the previous year. - Prevents boredom.
When children are motivated to get their work done because they want their free-time, free-time means a whole lot more. Very rarely do our children say they are bored. They’ve earned their free-time and it means something to them. Free-time is not a right they have; it is a gift, a privilege, something you work for. A lesson it would do us adults as well to learn! - Field Trips and vacations are less crowded, more family friendly and cheaper.
When most people are waiting in lines at amusement parks having paid summer admission costs, sweating and listening to whining children ask for drinks, we are able to take the same trips to the same places in the fall when it is much more pleasant and the whole family enjoys it and we can afford it. - Students can get ahead.
My two oldest children are about a year ahead of their “official” grade due to the fact that we have done year-round schooling in the past. - Real-life training – Prepares them for adulthood.
One of our main goals in raising our children is to raise them to be adults and not to foster the “let children be children” mentality. Too often I see teenagers shirking their responsibilities of becoming an adult and wanting to keep their childish habits, hobbies, interests and mentality because that’s all they’ve known. Now, am I blaming a summer break on this problem – NO! But I see it as one of the ways our family can teach our children that in the real life of “adult world” you don’t get “breaks” from work. You learn to enjoy your work and have fun when your work is done. - Teaches them that learning is not something you “take a break” from.
The best way I know to teach our children the love for learning is to teach them that learning is a part of life – one of the fun parts hopefully! And something we shouldn’t stop or break from. What am I teaching my children if I tell them, “OK kids. We’ve learned for 6 months now it’s time for a BREAK! We won’t try to learn anything for a couple of months.” I wouldn’t think I was doing a very good job in teaching my children to love learning. Reminds me of an illustration I heard one time – What would my husband think if I said, “Honey, I love you, I really do. But I am going to take a break from you for a couple of months…you know to rest and recuperate from just – YOU!” Wouldn’t be communicating that I loved him very much would it?
Now, as I mentioned earlier they are not all sitting for hours on end working endless math problems. I do try to make school / learning a bit more fun and interesting. They do work on a lighter schedule than they do in the traditional school months, but enough to keep them working ahead and allow me the peace of mind when our schedule doesn’t allow for deep study at other times of the year.
And if year-round schooling doesn’t appeal to you – that’s OK! It’s one of the beauties of homeschooling – to each his own!
Happy schooling!
This post linked to Works for Me Wednesday over at We are THAT family.
Unplugging…An article to share
June 29, 2010 > No Comments
When I logged online this morning and went through my daily routine of checking emails, the weather, a quick glance at the news and a few of my favorite blogs I was surprised to see this post – Unplugged. I have been having similar thoughts…Perhaps because I have spent more time online than I am comfortable with due to my inability to get around very well these last few weeks of pregnancy. Perhaps because I see the appetite forming in my older children to want to have more and more computer time “because mom does.” Perhaps it’s because I have a nice little stack of books that I want to read but I am always involved in surfing the net or cruising facebook in my “free” time. In any case, I also have a desire like Amy to unplug and focus on real life.
I thought it was a great post written sincerely. So often posts like this can come across as condemning and with a “I’m better than you” attitude, but Amy has some really great points that would do us all well to consider, even if we don’t completely “unplug.”
I’ll not completely unplug for various reasons, but Lord willing I will be unplugging more than I have been. Not because any of these things are wrong but because they have a tendancy to take over our lives rather than enhance them.
If you’ve been contemplating similar thoughts here are a few more articles I’ve found helpful over time.
Be Present in the Everyday Moments
Tips for Maintaining a Simple Peaceful Home – Especially the tip – Conquer Your Distraction
Entering a Season of Quietness – I think this post (and the one it links to) while it is being applied to blogging, also encompasses social networking such as facebook and Twitter
She Does Not Eat the Bread of Idleness
L.I.F.E. Lessons
June 25, 2010 > 1 Comment
It seems only a short time ago that I announced we had a “bun in the oven” – well, almost a short time. These last couple of weeks especially have quite possibly been the longest weeks of my life.
Never has a pregnancy been so hard on my body.
We’re very thankful to the Lord for Baby’s seemingly good health and are grateful that the “pregnancy” has gone so very smoothly. The effect the pregnancy has had on my body however has been a bit difficult to deal with, although I hope that during my down time I have learned a few lessons along the way.
Lessons like:
- Children will do almost anything for you if they like you. If you are being an unlikeable person you can expect grumbles and moans when you most need their help.
- It is almost never will turn out right if you do things for others out of guilt. Do things because it is the right thing to do.
- It is OK to ask for help – not exactly pleasant for a control freak like me – but it is OK!
- Reward good behavior – We all like a pat on the back or a treat for all the work we do. Children are no different. I have always been the type to punish bad behavior and if the children do good…well, that’s what they’re supposed to do! I hope I have learned to actually tell them they’ve done a good job and to occasionally reward them for all they do right.
- Having a plan for myself and the family, even if it’s not always completely executed makes my husband really happy. What makes your husband happy? Are you doing it? If not, why not?
- Boys of all ages are completely capable of many household tasks and they even excel at some. Tasks such as making tea, washing, drying and folding clothes, unloading the dishwasher, dusting, vacuuming, changing sheets etc…
- The household can run smoothly and efficiently even when mom can’t “do it all,” but Mom has to be present and interacting with the family. Children will be children and need constant guidance and admonition from a parent. It doesn’t take very long at all for foolishness to rear up and then nothing gets done and no one can work.
- Menus, lists, and schedules are my friend.
- Taking care of my family, my home and my church are huge priorities to me and I don’t feel complete unless I can do each and every duty myself, to my liking.
I am certain there are more lessons I’ve learned the last couple of months while being an almost invalid with chronic back pain, but these are the ones that popped into my mind as I contemplated this post. I pray that these lessons stay fresh on my mind even when I am back to my old self.
Summer Learning Fun
May 27, 2010 > 1 Comment
While our family does year-round school, I do like to make it a little more relaxed and with a little more fun to it once warm weather comes around. Here are a few things that we’ve either done so far or have on the list for this year.
- My 2 older children have just this week started their own blog. This will replace some of their daily writing requirements. They are excited about getting started, and being excited about writing is a good thing!
- We allow them a bit more computer time in the summer as well. We generally don’t want to create an appetite for “playing” on the computer, but to view the computer more as a tool. We’ve noticed that when they are allowed to play games, they have no desire to actually learn important aspects of a computer, such as photo editing, Microsoft Word, programming, typing, etc. However, in the summer we do allow them some fun play-time on the computer when their required school work is finished.
Here are a few great places to let your children have fun and learn:- Picnik – online photo editor – I pay the small monthly fee to get the premium service. I find it well worth the money to have the extra features. I am amazed at how much time the children can spend on just editing pictures!
- 20 Questions - You know the popular hand held electronic game 20 Questions? You can play it online – FREE! Some may argue that it’s not educational, but it does make you think! Thinking is your brain exercising! I’d say it’s much better than playing a mindless video game where your thumbs do all the work!
- How Stuff Works – Another website where your children can spend hours searching, well…how stuff works!
- Fit Brains – Several free brain games. The graphics are fun and children won’t even realize their brain is exercising. OK, maybe not, but it will be fun exercising!
- Book Suggester – If your children have a favorite book or books, enter the title and it will give you many other titles similar to the book you entered that you may enjoy as well. It also includes readers suggestions as to what books you might enjoy.
- Free printables are another great way to buy an hour of two of entertainment. There are hundreds of websites with free coloring sheets and activities. Here is one: Coloring Book Fun, for more do a Google search – free coloring pages.Another cool printable idea is paper dolls. Paper Dali has several historical paper dolls you can print and your child can color and cut out. We pasted the dolls onto card stock, then cut them out. They have enjoyed playing with these immensely…so much so, I’ve had a hard time getting them to leave them alone to do their daily tasks!
Hopefully you can find something useful in this list to make learning fun this summer and keep those brains working!
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