If you have kids and they haven't seen the TV series, Little House on the Prairie, go Netflix it, now!
I have a good friend who told me she was Netflixing it and her kids were watching it on Sunday afternoons. My youngest has taken a Little House on the Prairie class at our homeschool co-op and knew all about Ma, Pa, Laura, Mary, and Carrie. I hadn't read it to my younger boys, yet. The older boy and girl had it read to them when they were little. I'm starting to read Little House in the Big Woods to them today.
I checked out the first disk in season 1 before Christmas. My kids were rolling their eyes at first, but once it started, they were mesmerized! All 4 of them! Little House on the Prairie comes on and they can't tear themselves away from the TV. It is such a wholesome show, too! Teaches some great lessons! I remember loving it when I was able to watch it at my Granny's sometimes when I was little. The shows are also educational in that the kids are learning about life during the end of the 1800s - the technology as it advanced, then, what people had to do for a living, and how their lives were on the farm and in town.
So, we are at the end of season 2. My kids ask me if it is coming in the mail whenever we are between Netflix DVDs. They so look forward to them!
We saw that the entire collection was available at Sam's Club for about $150. I think we may make the investment.
My youngest said we live in the Little House on the Hillside...."but not as little as their's", he said.
Here's the really fun part: Little House on the Prairie is coming to the Walton Arts Center stage this week! Melissa Gilbert, who plays Laura in the TV series, is playing Ma in the show. My friend has extra tickets and invited our older three kids to go with their family this weekend. They are psyched! I'm excited for them!
Our youngest gets to enjoy an afternoon as an only child. We are taking him out to lunch and to see the Frog Princess. He is excited, too!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy New Year!
Well, no pictures got posted of the lovely cards we made because they were given away or mailed before we thought of it! I'll be making cards throughout the year this year, though, for various occasions. I will post them as India reminds me, since she will be helping me.
My husband was home for 2 1/2 weeks over Christmas. He took his vacation, then since he didn't take much during the rest of the year! So, while dad was home, we didn't do much "official" educating. I've decided to stop calling it "school work" since the idea of school is what we are trying to avoid. We educate, we do not school. There is a difference...just ask John Taylor Gatto.
I read some of Gatto's writings when I very first started homeschooling and my oldest was about 5 (she is 13, now). I have looked at his stuff off and on since then. Recently I reread his essay, Against School. http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/hp/frames.htm
Every time I read that it knocks me over the head. What I feel and have always thought, he puts into written word. If only the rest of society wouldn't bury their heads in the sand while the school system goes to pot, but rather stand up for the EDUCATION of America's children, perhaps our society wouldn't be in the turmoil it is in today. The family wouldn't be deteriorating so immensely with each new generation. Perhaps our government wouldn't, either, since people would actually grow up into educated people who don't follow the herd, but rather think for themselves.
That has been my goal all along: to raise children who can think for themselves and don't mindlessly do and think what everyone else says they should just because that is what is considered "normal". That is where society gets into trouble. When people do not stop and question, but they follow along instead. Even when they feel and know deep down inside that it things are wrong. Very wrong.
Anyway, we try hard, as parents, to instill this in our children: Think for yourselves! Discover for yourselves! Don't just follow the herd!
OK, stepping off of soapbox, now.
Well, dear husband went back to work yesterday. So, we are back to educating! It is the New Year, also, and we are doing some re-evaluating. Yesterday we still had cousins visiting, so I let the kids play in the snow all day. They don't get snow very often, after all! They had great physics lessons as they went sledding over and over down the road. They also had a bike ramp that they had to get in just the right spot in order to jump it, which was fun for the big 12, 13, and 14 yr. old kiddos.
Today, however, we are doing some other things. This morning we watched an episode of that show about people climbing Mt. Everest. I don't know the actual name. The kids chose it from Netflix, which we are streaming to our TV, now. Later today, I am having my older two do some research on the Himalayas. One of them just informed me that their Wordly Wise lesson is about Mt. Everest, so this is working out perfectly. The younger boys will look up where it is on the map and learn about the people who live there.
Since the Netflix streaming is new for us and we were excited to use it today, we also streamed an IMAX film called Hurricane on the Bayou that was in our queue. A few years ago after Hurricane Katrina, my husband took a business trip to New Orleans. Our youngest was only 4 at the time and we didn't want to leave him, so he and I traveled with my husband. We stayed near the Spanish Plaza at the Hilton. Our youngest and I would take walks downtown and ride the trolley downtown each day. I took him to the Audubon Aquarium there, and we wanted to watch this IMAX film and could never catch it. Today we did. It was about the disappearing wetlands in Louisiana and the effects of that. The wetlands are Louisiana's natural speed bump for hurricanes. This film fits in with our weather study we are starting on. We'll be learning about all types of storms on the earth.
I've been sitting with my youngest teaching him about money today. Also, we practiced his reading. Now, he is working on puzzles.
The older three are working in their books.
Later today, we will have a history lesson. We are just beginning Story of the World volume 3, which covers world history "from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners". We are excited to cover this time period. We have been on ancient and medieval history for a while. I'm learning so much right along with my kids. I really love this history curriculum. The author tells history like a story, which is what it is. This is far from the dry lecturing and dates memorization that I had in school. They do projects, map work, and the younger boys have coloring pages for each lesson.
So, my break is now over. Back to educating! More to come. This is going to be a great year!
My husband was home for 2 1/2 weeks over Christmas. He took his vacation, then since he didn't take much during the rest of the year! So, while dad was home, we didn't do much "official" educating. I've decided to stop calling it "school work" since the idea of school is what we are trying to avoid. We educate, we do not school. There is a difference...just ask John Taylor Gatto.
I read some of Gatto's writings when I very first started homeschooling and my oldest was about 5 (she is 13, now). I have looked at his stuff off and on since then. Recently I reread his essay, Against School. http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/hp/frames.htm
Every time I read that it knocks me over the head. What I feel and have always thought, he puts into written word. If only the rest of society wouldn't bury their heads in the sand while the school system goes to pot, but rather stand up for the EDUCATION of America's children, perhaps our society wouldn't be in the turmoil it is in today. The family wouldn't be deteriorating so immensely with each new generation. Perhaps our government wouldn't, either, since people would actually grow up into educated people who don't follow the herd, but rather think for themselves.
That has been my goal all along: to raise children who can think for themselves and don't mindlessly do and think what everyone else says they should just because that is what is considered "normal". That is where society gets into trouble. When people do not stop and question, but they follow along instead. Even when they feel and know deep down inside that it things are wrong. Very wrong.
Anyway, we try hard, as parents, to instill this in our children: Think for yourselves! Discover for yourselves! Don't just follow the herd!
OK, stepping off of soapbox, now.
Well, dear husband went back to work yesterday. So, we are back to educating! It is the New Year, also, and we are doing some re-evaluating. Yesterday we still had cousins visiting, so I let the kids play in the snow all day. They don't get snow very often, after all! They had great physics lessons as they went sledding over and over down the road. They also had a bike ramp that they had to get in just the right spot in order to jump it, which was fun for the big 12, 13, and 14 yr. old kiddos.
Today, however, we are doing some other things. This morning we watched an episode of that show about people climbing Mt. Everest. I don't know the actual name. The kids chose it from Netflix, which we are streaming to our TV, now. Later today, I am having my older two do some research on the Himalayas. One of them just informed me that their Wordly Wise lesson is about Mt. Everest, so this is working out perfectly. The younger boys will look up where it is on the map and learn about the people who live there.
Since the Netflix streaming is new for us and we were excited to use it today, we also streamed an IMAX film called Hurricane on the Bayou that was in our queue. A few years ago after Hurricane Katrina, my husband took a business trip to New Orleans. Our youngest was only 4 at the time and we didn't want to leave him, so he and I traveled with my husband. We stayed near the Spanish Plaza at the Hilton. Our youngest and I would take walks downtown and ride the trolley downtown each day. I took him to the Audubon Aquarium there, and we wanted to watch this IMAX film and could never catch it. Today we did. It was about the disappearing wetlands in Louisiana and the effects of that. The wetlands are Louisiana's natural speed bump for hurricanes. This film fits in with our weather study we are starting on. We'll be learning about all types of storms on the earth.
I've been sitting with my youngest teaching him about money today. Also, we practiced his reading. Now, he is working on puzzles.
The older three are working in their books.
Later today, we will have a history lesson. We are just beginning Story of the World volume 3, which covers world history "from Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners". We are excited to cover this time period. We have been on ancient and medieval history for a while. I'm learning so much right along with my kids. I really love this history curriculum. The author tells history like a story, which is what it is. This is far from the dry lecturing and dates memorization that I had in school. They do projects, map work, and the younger boys have coloring pages for each lesson.
So, my break is now over. Back to educating! More to come. This is going to be a great year!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Crafting
This last month or so has become the month of project completion! I had so many unfinished projects laying around that have gotten finished. Craft projects, that is. I really feel like I've accomplished something.
India and I have experimented with making cards using my Cricut and various stamps and papers. We are hand-making our Christmas cards this year. It is fun! I'll post pictures later!
India and I have experimented with making cards using my Cricut and various stamps and papers. We are hand-making our Christmas cards this year. It is fun! I'll post pictures later!
Its Been a While...
Good day, folks. It has been a while since I posted. Once of those nagging things in the back of my mind that I need to do, but I keep putting it off!
Well, another term of Treehouse went by. Treehouse is our homeschool co-op. Treehouse is in it's 6th year of operation. I helped start it and have continued to help out around the place. This was probably the most stress-free term, though. Things went really well. I taught two classes this term. An Ancient Writing and Art class for 8-10 yr. olds and a Paper Crafts class for 7-10 yr. olds. They were fun classes. I'm contemplating what to teach in the spring. We'll start classes back up again in February.
My kids have taken an awesome art class this term seperate from Treehouse that we have really enjoyed. They are also involved in a Revolutionary War history class that recently started up.
On the home front, we plug along in language arts and math as much as possible. Sometimes this is only a couple of days per week, but we are getting it done. I've learned not to stress about it because they are learning all the time. In history, we have gotten together with friends to study Ancient History once per week. A couple of weeks ago, we had a Greek Feast and Olympic games for Family night with 3 other families. It was great fun.
Chris and I went to HAWAII in October for a week. Chris had to go for work, and I got to tag along. We stayed in a beautiful house near the North Shore. I was grateful for some time away with my good husband :)
Well, another term of Treehouse went by. Treehouse is our homeschool co-op. Treehouse is in it's 6th year of operation. I helped start it and have continued to help out around the place. This was probably the most stress-free term, though. Things went really well. I taught two classes this term. An Ancient Writing and Art class for 8-10 yr. olds and a Paper Crafts class for 7-10 yr. olds. They were fun classes. I'm contemplating what to teach in the spring. We'll start classes back up again in February.
My kids have taken an awesome art class this term seperate from Treehouse that we have really enjoyed. They are also involved in a Revolutionary War history class that recently started up.
On the home front, we plug along in language arts and math as much as possible. Sometimes this is only a couple of days per week, but we are getting it done. I've learned not to stress about it because they are learning all the time. In history, we have gotten together with friends to study Ancient History once per week. A couple of weeks ago, we had a Greek Feast and Olympic games for Family night with 3 other families. It was great fun.
Chris and I went to HAWAII in October for a week. Chris had to go for work, and I got to tag along. We stayed in a beautiful house near the North Shore. I was grateful for some time away with my good husband :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Books
I've been reading Fablehaven by Brandon Mull over the last week. I've gotten through the first 3 books in the series. Excellent fantasy writing for youth. Clean, too. Very creative. Up there with Harry Potter, even.
I started reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer. It is weird. I can't get into it. I'm a few chapters in.
I just want to read something lovely, now.
August is reading Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. I read it a while back. I'm struggling finding things for Canyon to read. All he wants to read is Calvin and Hobbes. India struggles to find things to read because she's read everything! Roman, well..... He doesn't want to learn to read, yet. And that's OK.
I started reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer. It is weird. I can't get into it. I'm a few chapters in.
I just want to read something lovely, now.
August is reading Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. I read it a while back. I'm struggling finding things for Canyon to read. All he wants to read is Calvin and Hobbes. India struggles to find things to read because she's read everything! Roman, well..... He doesn't want to learn to read, yet. And that's OK.
Peace
Unfortunately I've had some experience with mean girls. Girls who totally trash you so they can feel better about themselves, I guess. I never understood the whole mean girl thing, myself. I can only guess that is why girls are mean - that they have incredibly low self esteem. Some girls never grow out of this and become mean women.
I'm keeping my distance. It takes too much energy to be around mean people and people associated with mean people. Poor, naive people who blindly follow. My dear husband says that people can't offend him if he doesn't respect them. I totally agree. I just don't have time for the drama associated with these people.
So, I'm striving for peace in my life. Peace in the life of my family, as well. Hopefully my daughter will see my example and never have an inkling to be a mean girl in her lifetime.
I'm keeping my distance. It takes too much energy to be around mean people and people associated with mean people. Poor, naive people who blindly follow. My dear husband says that people can't offend him if he doesn't respect them. I totally agree. I just don't have time for the drama associated with these people.
So, I'm striving for peace in my life. Peace in the life of my family, as well. Hopefully my daughter will see my example and never have an inkling to be a mean girl in her lifetime.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Beauty
I was just looking on a friend's blog and at the blogs this dear friend follows. Now, I have some new faves. There are women who create BEAUTIFUL things for their homes and it is really inspiring! I mean, I knit some measly things and take FOREVER to finish projects....or....gasp.....never finish projects that I start. That is shameful. I need to organize my life so I can enjoy creating more beauty for my home.
My dear husband may be getting a raise at work, soon. The amount of the raise to go with his promotion would be more money that I could make if I were to go to work after 14 years and half a degree. Wow. I'm so proud of him and how hard he has worked for this - working himself through school and through his career. I'm grateful for a husband who works hard outside the home, so I don't have to go there. He laughed when we when I was telling him this and said I make it easy for him. HA! Easy in that there is food on the table and clean clothes on his back and a tidy home - well, half of the time, anyway! I love this man.
I have watermelons growing out at our land and I'm psyched! I cannot wait until I get the huge garden I want for next year. I planted some watermelons out at the land 2 months ago using the lasagna garden method. They were organic, native seeds, so I figured they would thrive without much care from me and boy, are they! I'm only out there about once per week to water them and they are very happy growing along the stream flowing out of our spring-fed pond. I have a couple of melons the size of the palm of my hand. Keep growing, little beauties.
I have never grown a large garden, so I'm planning and excited to get to do it next year. We will be living out at the land by then. Right now, the house we lease has a very shaded and sloped yard. Our TX yard was too shady, as well. Our AR house before that was OK - I grew a couple of things, but Roman was very small, then, and I didn't have time or energy to do much. So, I've container gardened for a few years, now, but I'm ready for something on a larger scale.
My in-laws gave us an Aerogarden for our anniversary this year. I have basil, purple basil, chives, thyme, mint, and parsley growing in my laundry room! I have harvested the basil several times. Yesterday it all looked like a jungle, so I harvested and froze all the herbs for later use. Love it.
Well, this afternoon is HISTORY! My favorite subject. We're using Usborne World History, Story of the World, and a Kingfisher World History book that is on it's lovely way.
My dear husband may be getting a raise at work, soon. The amount of the raise to go with his promotion would be more money that I could make if I were to go to work after 14 years and half a degree. Wow. I'm so proud of him and how hard he has worked for this - working himself through school and through his career. I'm grateful for a husband who works hard outside the home, so I don't have to go there. He laughed when we when I was telling him this and said I make it easy for him. HA! Easy in that there is food on the table and clean clothes on his back and a tidy home - well, half of the time, anyway! I love this man.
I have watermelons growing out at our land and I'm psyched! I cannot wait until I get the huge garden I want for next year. I planted some watermelons out at the land 2 months ago using the lasagna garden method. They were organic, native seeds, so I figured they would thrive without much care from me and boy, are they! I'm only out there about once per week to water them and they are very happy growing along the stream flowing out of our spring-fed pond. I have a couple of melons the size of the palm of my hand. Keep growing, little beauties.
I have never grown a large garden, so I'm planning and excited to get to do it next year. We will be living out at the land by then. Right now, the house we lease has a very shaded and sloped yard. Our TX yard was too shady, as well. Our AR house before that was OK - I grew a couple of things, but Roman was very small, then, and I didn't have time or energy to do much. So, I've container gardened for a few years, now, but I'm ready for something on a larger scale.
My in-laws gave us an Aerogarden for our anniversary this year. I have basil, purple basil, chives, thyme, mint, and parsley growing in my laundry room! I have harvested the basil several times. Yesterday it all looked like a jungle, so I harvested and froze all the herbs for later use. Love it.
Well, this afternoon is HISTORY! My favorite subject. We're using Usborne World History, Story of the World, and a Kingfisher World History book that is on it's lovely way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
