Kindergarten

This year I started K with jubilee! It is going so well, with only one hiccup so far.
For reading/phonics instruction, I started with the pathway reading series. I had heard such fabulous things about their early readers that I decided to use their whole learning to read program- big mistake.  It was so busy work and drilling focused, that Jubilee was getting frustrated and bored after a few weeks of doing that.

  I decided to make a quick change to doing things the Charlotte mason way.  I am using the methods described on joyfulshepherdess.blogspot.com. You can check out her posts on reading if you want more details.  Big differences are that we are not going over and over letter sounds that J already knows, but are using letter tiles to build words! She is delighted to be reading actual words. I will still use the pathway early readers when Jubilee is ready for them, but not the workbooks.

For handwriting, we are using "Delightful Handwriting" from simplycharlottemason.com. I just started that today, and the first day was Fabulous! We practiced the first letter stroke in a pan of rice, in the air, on a chalkboard, and on her practice page.  I think she will enjoy the handwriting, as writing is a big interest to her.

For math, I am using a pre-miquon book found here: www.nurturedbylove.ca/resources/cuisenairebook.pdf
We will move on to Miquon orange and Life of Fred elementary after we finish that.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we read a story and do an activity to go with it.  I get ideas for activities from "Picture Book Activities, Fun and Games for Preschoolers Based on 50 Favorite Children's Books", by Trish Kuffner.  Hope always joins us for this part.  I cannot recommend this book enough! Fabulous book recommendations and full of fun things for us to do together.

Tuesdays I practice sewing with Jubilee- she is loving sewing lessons.  Our first project is a tooth  bag, as her first loose tooth could fall out any time now.

Thursdays we have painting day- Hope's Favorite time of the week!

I hope to initiate a once a week nature study time where we go on a walk or head to the beach, but we are not quite there yet.  Hopefully that will become a part of our weekly rhythm soon.

So that is my usual week in homeschooling. We've gotten off to a great start.  Hopefully it will continue that way.

Welcome Ian!!

He's here! He's here!! (Warning, birth story to follow)

On Thursday night, I went in to be induced. 

Last pregnancy pic at 41 weeks and 2 days

Doc broke my water at 10:30, and then I spent the next 2 hours walking around.  My doctor was tied up with several emergencies, so they said I could go to sleep.  I slept til 2AM and then contractions started, but they stopped again at 3.
SO, at 4 Am they started me on Oxytocin, and things started happening quickly.  At 6:10 I hit transition, and at 6:29 I was holding my little Ian.

Ian Kerry Taylor weighed in at a hefty 8lbs 14oz, and was 21 inches long!!  For my non-North-American friends, that is 4035 grams and 54cm. 

We are loving this little boy to pieces and all doing very well!
Ian, we are glad you are here- and I'm glad we didn't have to wait any longer!!

A Princess Story

Once a princess got lost in the woods.

Suddenly she found her way out!

But, can she make up the mountain to her castle home?

Yes, she can.  She made it!

And look- she has been joined by her younger princess sister, and a baby!

The princess sisters loved each other, and lived happily in their castle on the mountain.

 THE END

Some of Hope's Faves

Hope is just getting into pretend play.  One of her favorite things is to hop in her car and drive to the store or the market.  It is quite handy really, because she often comes back with yogurt, avocados, or tomatoes - mmm.

Sometimes a magic wand is necessary on such excursions.

And, like any 2 year old, she love the sand box- scooping pouring, castle making- what could be better?  Oh, smashing said castles of course!!

The Daily Dance

My girls LOVE to dance.  There is a ball, performance, or just a general dance which I am invited to view nearly everyday. 

Aren't they stars?

Calgary Zoo part 3

Hope was SO fascinated by the meer cats!

Calgary Zoo part 2

Calgary Zoo part 1

"I will go into the zoo.  I want to see it.  Yes I do." - Robert Lopshire