Gold Star Moment #2

Posted on | October 4, 2008 | No Comments

I’m easily impressed, so you can imagine that when my children do anything, I am usually beaming with pride. Oh yeah, there are other times they can also make me shake my head and wonder what they could have possibly been thinking of (Did they learn that in school? Ahh…ahh.), where were they when they did it (Finding the beginning of a trail can be awful.), and when did they find the time to do it (Was I on the computer? Oops!). At this time and for this moment, it is their time to shine.

School continued more in regular form this week and that included a lot of new concepts. One of the additions to N.B.’s studies is looking words up in the dictionary, and writing and learning the definitions. Because he picks up other things so well, I also expected him to grasp the concept of looking up words really quickly, so after a frustrating day of him writing, I was wondering if we were going to have to do this later in the year. After the second day (and a little rest), he looked up all of the assigned words, spelled with a little assistance, and wrote and memorized all of the definitions.

Ms. Minna Beana has wanted to learn to read for a while. This week, she started her adventure into the freedom and power that reading offers. She not only learned and wrote her words, but was able to spell them orally minus flash cards. I’m excited for her about learning how to read.

I’ve told my older two to stop growing up and they have explained to me that God won’t let them, so they continue to grow. They also offered that if they could stop, then they would for Mommy. I tell them it’s okay to grow and to allow Him to grow them up strong. Schubaboobaly is my baby and along with his achievements dwindles the days of my baby and moves him onto being a little man. I can remember when he couldn’t even climb the stairs of the play set without assistance and this week, he climbed all the way to the top of the rock wall. As I watch him grow, I rejoice in his accomplishments, and try not to miss the baby he used to be.

These are just a few of their Gold Star Moments this week.

HR Ascension Report #2

Posted on | October 4, 2008 | No Comments

Can anyone say road-trip? Well, that was pretty much our week. We spent the majority of it on the road. Field trips on Tuesday to Montna Farms and Thursday to The CSRM, and a co-op on Wednesday made for a very busy week. We did manage to get some book learning completed and all of us are slowing getting our rhythm of the school week.

We hit the library again and added to our already growing collection. It’s amazing how quickly one can check out 50 books. We didn’t make it that far yet, but give or take another ten plus books and 50 we will have. If we come across any really special ones, then we will share them at the Homeschool Roster.

N.B.’s vocabulary words study went more smoothly this week. For now, he will learn five a week and we will see how he does. Every time I asked him the definition of one of the words he learned, his face would light up as he told me the definition. He also enjoyed sharing the new words with Dad.

Minna Beana studied the sound “an” this week. At first, she had trouble grasping the concept of pronouncing the letters and starting with the first letter in each word. She would pronounce the letters, but when she would go back to say the word, she would start with the second letter sound. I used the tutorial on Starfall, which helped it make better sense to her. After that, she did fine.

We started our math program RightStart Mathematics, which uses an abacus as a teaching tool. That is what convinced me to purchase this curriculum. We haven’t used the abacus yet, but the manipulatives are great. The older two children played dump truck and a few others.

Next week, I will be adding the remainder of our subjects we will be studying this session. Everyone is getting use to the change in schedule. Typically, we don’t do two field trips in one week, but I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity for either. I am trying to keep the field trips to no more than two per month. Although we enjoy getting out and going, it does sometimes interfere with a quiet school week. I think we all needed to recover after all of the running around.

Meanwhile, with summer gone and the arrival of fall, we’re trying to enjoy the remaining days of summer. Our warm weather continues through the first of November, so we’ll be hanging outside and may bring the pencils, notepads, and books along with us.

Look Mom, I’m A Statue

Posted on | October 3, 2008 | No Comments

I had a flash back of the song Freeze Frame. Yes, I’m a girl stuck in the 80’s and I’m not really trying to break free, just trying to rid myself of some of my old ways. The country roads are our stage and at any moment we can break out in song, skip and dance, or stop in the middle and command attention. Of course, we step aside for any horse trailers, bulldozers, or big rigs that come barreling down the road as if they own it. Schubaboobaly even knows to run to the easement when Mommy calls, “car!” He scoots as fast as his little legs carry him. Actually, the drivers are pretty friendly and everyone either gives us a wave or stops to say hello. At first, that was a little weird to a city-girl like me, but that is just how they we do it out here.

Well, we started our morning walk today standing still. Everyone decided to be a statue and I had to give the command to unfreeze them. Once I gave the command, they were off and the defrosted children went running on their way. I’m going to suggest this game at home the next time I need them to settle down. I just won’t be so quick to defrost them.

We have been taking the same path and it’s amazing how many different things we see each day. Today, we had a mini session of math and anatomy, together.

Schubaboobaly identified the horse. We counted them together and the older two determined that there was one male in the bunch. Can you guess what gave it away? They couldn’t stop talking about it. Oh, it’s definitely one of mom’s favorite conversations; NOT! Well, what can I say? At least they’re learning.

Schubaboobaly likes horses, but doesn’t like their stature, compared to his, or the sounds they make. He didn’t believe me when I told him they were just saying hello. I ended up carrying him all the way home. He’s a heavy baby!

Climb Every Mountain

Posted on | October 3, 2008 | No Comments

I thought this may deserve some text and then I thought that maybe it didn’t. It doesn’t really, but I want to add that I hope all three of my children continue and carry this determination throughout their lives. Having a spirit of fearlessness is wonderful as is an eagerness to make it to the top (or on the other side). Sometimes, the grass is greener on the other side and there is nothing wrong with wanting to find out. Your motivation and where your heart is matters the most.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Grumble, Grumble, Choo - Choo

Posted on | October 2, 2008 | No Comments

I was looking forward to this day. Plans were made, school work was completed, and my taste buds were watering. The thought of biting into a fresh, crisp, apple plucked from the orchard was nice, but where were the apple pies. We were headed to Apple Hill and I had, ready at home, all-natural vanilla ice cream eager to make a debut appearance on the side.

The day was beautiful only causing my excitement to grow. We pulled out of the driveway about 30 minutes later than we should have, but there was still time to spare and I was determined to make it. Somewhere between hwy 65 and hwy 80, I got lost and that was where the trouble began. Word to the wise, trust your instincts. If you know you’re right, then you probably are right. Instead, I made the mistake and asked for directions. Men are supposed to do that and women are supposed to follow the directions they conveniently printed the night before. Well, the new directions sent me to a land far, far away, and somewhere on my way to wherever it was, my confidence returned and I realized that I was headed in the right direction from the beginning when I suddenly thought I “became lost.”

My children had remained relatively calm throughout the entire ordeal. I have learned to keep my comments about being lost to myself because lost to me is just irritation at turning the wrong direction. Lost to them is never finding your way back home; ever! I broke the news to them that we were not going to make it on time to the orchard. My son breathed a sigh of relief and my daughter just stared at me. It turns out that I was really the only one who was looking forward to the trip. My daughter did express a little disappointment, but when I suggested a trip to the train museum (CSRM), everything was made good. I still owe her a trip to Apple Hill.

If you’re a train lover (and even if you’re not), then the California State Railraod Museum is definitely a stop to put on your list if you’re in Sacramento. We have been members of the Caboose Club for a few years and we have gotten more than our money’s worth. I take the children quite a few times a year and they haven’t grown tired of it yet.

The CSRM exhibits the history of the Transcontinental Railroad with a focus on the Central Pacific Railroad which connected with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869. The union of Theodore Judah, an engineer, and four business men (the Big Four) by the names of Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker was the beginning of what would bring people, products, and services together from around the world to the west coast. Just like the computer, I’m sure they never imagined the magnitude of the impact the railroad would have on the world.

The history in this museum is incredible. Recognition is given to Mexicans, Irish, African-Americans, and especially the Chinese whose hands were mostly responsible for the chiseling, blasting, laying tracks etc. that brought the railroad into existence. You definitely can’t complete the entire museum in one day and each time we go there we learn something new because we spend more time in specific exhibit areas. It’s amazing that a concept that brought diverse cultures together was also constructed and maintained by so many diverse cultures.

This is a sleeper car. During the day it would seat four and in the evening, the seats would fold forward, sleep two, and an upper compartment opened for another two sleeper bed.

If you were privileged, then fine dining is what you would expect and receive while travelling across country. I can’t imagine getting a full meal for under $2, but the best hasn’t always been expensive (I guess that’s all relative).

This mail car travelled between Chicago and Seattle delivering mail until it became antiquated and replaced by the delivery speed of airplanes. The mail was collected in the bags and sorted on the trains to be delivered at their destination. This was really a neat car. The organization and how the mail was processed is incredible.

These cubby holes were used to sort mail for the various cities where deliveries were made. The brown trim on the edge of each compartment was labeled with a city name for each stop. Once that delivery was made, the trim was turned to reveal the city for the next delivery stop. Each trim piece had about four city names on them. Efficiency was definitely necessary for accuracy.

Hey! What’s a train museum without Thomas?

Additional Resources
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum

Featured Artist: Casting Crowns

Posted on | October 1, 2008 | No Comments

“I la, la, la, la, love Casting Crowns!!!” I’m a Casting Crowns groupie! I’ve been a fan for decades. Okay, well, that’s not possible because their music ministry has only been around for about three years. They allow God to soooo speak (no scream - Does God scream?) through them. Casting Crowns is truly an example of what happens when one (or a group) follows God’s lead. They are celebrities, but don’t tell them that because they would probably consider themselves just foot soldiers for God like any other Christian. The songs they sing are like mini-sermons (a thump to the head and a tug on your heart) that make you really think and sometimes convict you, but always leave you feeling like God just reached down and gave you a big fat hug.

Lead singer Mark Hall continues his position as youth pastor (his real job) at his Georgia church, Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church, where he’s served more than 15 years. That is his passion and the song writing and leading a band that has “sold millions of records (as in 4 million) and winning GRAMMY, Dove, and American Music Awards” is really something he does on the side.

Minna Beana and I had the opportunity to FINALLY see Casting Crowns in concert. It was their first northern California performance. They had been to California, but for some reason never made it far enough north. I was beginning to wonder and had considered driving more than five hours to one of their gigs. I just don’t do that for any group. Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary (I only had to drive about 1 1/2 hours), but if they come within five hours distance again, I’m going.

Sitting sixth row, center from the stage was pretty good considering the tickets I purchased were after the pre-sale to church members and the sanctuary was huge. My original date was Daddy, but when he couldn’t come, Ms. Minna Beana graciously stepped in and was a great date. There is nothing like enjoying a late night worship service with your four year old daughter and your favorite band. She excitedly sang along with mommy. They sang many favorites and I heard a few new songs, which are now favorites too. I really like all of their songs.

It was neat the lyrics played on a screen, which I thought was only for the benefit of the audience. Later, Mark (Yeah, first name basis. I’ve got it like that - hee, hee - I wish!) revealed quite comically, but sensitively, that displaying the lyrics helped him because he has ADHD as well as is Dyslexic. He pointed out that here he is in the position of authoring songs, which he sometimes has difficulty remembering (concentrating on) the lyrics and also occasional trouble of reading them backwards. Mark again emphasized how God can use anybody to share the gospel.

If you have heard the music of Casting Crowns, then you already know that their ministry is a blessing. If you haven’t heard of them, then get ready to be blown away. I love them and wanted to share the group with you. So, for the month of October, they are the featured artist. Here is one of my favorite songs. Each week, for the remainder of the month, I will share a few of my other favorite Casting Crown songs. Enjoy!

Surrounded By Rice Farms

Posted on | September 30, 2008 | No Comments

Whenever we leave our home, we always pass one rice field or two. I never really thought about it, but we could be passing fields of grain that may later appear on our kitchen table. You have to really be passionate about your work if you’re a farmer because the livin’ (or workin’) ain’t easy. Thank goodness there is somebody out there who enjoys the work, otherwise, many tables would be bare. We truly owe them a lot of gratitude.

Over the years, we have visited a lot of farms and one thing I’ve realized is that farmers really like sharing the work they do. We had the opportunity to visit Montna Farms in Dingville, California, which is family owned and managed. The farm scales over 2600 acres of which 1200 is deemed as easement for wildlife conservation, which also ensures the security of the acreage as farm land for future generations.

Jon, our tour guide, works at Montna Farms during the day farming rice and at night he goes home to his own farm where he also grows rice. While we were waiting, I started questioning him and decided to give him a break so he wouldn’t have to repeat himself. He was full of information and just as excited as were we about the impending tour. Montna Farms grows super premium, short grain rice (also organic walnuts) used in sushi and other Asian dishes. Most of their customers are high-end restaurants and companies that serve and produce specialty foods. If you ever see Tamanishiki bagged rice, then it probably came from rice that was processed at Montna Farms.

Planting of the rice begins in March, which starts with four days of flooding the fields with water into which the seeds are dropped in by airplane. Great precision is required when planting by air to ensure the seeds land in the prepared beds. There are 125 pounds of seeds per acre that are planted which yields approximately six to seven thousand pounds of rice production for the year.

The crop grows through mid-August when the fields are drained in preparation for harvesting which usually begins in September. Several thrashers, which cut 25 feet wide, are run through the fields to cut the rice stalks.

The stalks are sent through another machine which separates the stalk (or straw) from the kernels. The straw used to be left for waste because it is very coarse and too hard on the digestive system of animals. It has only been recently that rice straw has become a commodity and now is another means of profit, although minimal, being repurposed as art, used in straw bale building, etc.

This is carbohydrate overload like you’ve never seen it before.

Montna Farms not only processes the rice they harvest, but they also receive rice from other farmers for processing. The first stop is quality control and moisture testing which determines how much they will pay for drying the rice. The probe dips into the rice and records the reading. The more moist, the better the quality.

The rice is then taken and released into an area where it will go to be dried.

The rice is dried here and stored awaiting pick-up from customers.

These are rice kernels in their natural state; brown and with hulls.

Unlike Children of the Corn, Children of the Rice are happy, healthy, and loving children. Believe it or not, they actually smile sometimes.

This could end up on your kitchen table.

Are We There Yet?

Posted on | September 30, 2008 | No Comments

If your school year looks anything like ours, then you have some exciting days planned for field trips. I still haven’t completed our schedule because I know we can’t go everywhere, so I have to pick and choose from my list of desired destinations. As homeschoolers, we have the opportunity to go more places, as well as the distance, than the average student. There are no permission slips to sign, no fundraisers to be had (but donations are always accepted :)), and no one age/grade only appropriate sites. If the six year old goes, then so does the toddler. Yes, one child may enjoy the field trip more than other, but that’s what you do as a family. So far, I have done well with our selections because everyone manages to find something they like to do wherever we go.

I thought I would share the behavior rules our co-op uses when planning group field trips. We also sat the children down, read, and discussed each point to ensure that everyone understood what was expected of them (parents too). Whether your field trips are taken as a family or you participate in a group, you may find some of these useful to ensure a smooth coming and going. Is that possible with children?

Field Trip Behavior Rules (adapted from CHESS of El Dorado County)

One of the most obvious ways for homeschoolers to leave a good impression on the community is through organized field trips, demonstrating good manners and a respectful demeanor. Individually, and as a group, we should remember that when we visit, it is our responsibility to learn the establishment’s rules and comply with them consistently. This demonstration of self-government will not go unnoticed. In addition, we have a few guidelines for our trips, with the hope that we will become more pleasantly organized, thus able to put forth our best witness in our community.

1. If there is a fee involved, please pay the coordinator ahead of time to simplify things the day of the trip.

2. Please contact the field trip organizer if you are unable to attend an event you have signed up for, so those on a waiting list may be given ample notification to take your place.

3. If you cancel, be aware, you may not receive a refund. If we can fill your spot we will refund your money.

4. Arrive on time – generally we will plan to meet for prayer 15 minutes before the start time. Please plan to arrive early enough that you can use the restroom and be ready to pray. This is a critical time to remind ourselves and our children who we represent – Christians, homeschoolers, and our own families.

5. Parents, please stay with your own children whenever possible. Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior and safety upon arrival and for the duration of the gathering. Delegate this responsibility to another parent if the group is divided.

6. Parents, please encourage your children to listen when someone is speaking to show consideration and respect.

7. Dress, as well as conduct, should be appropriate for the occasion.

8. Parents, please be sure to determine if your younger children are able to behave appropriately on certain field trips which may be geared for older children. If necessary, consider sharing the care of young ones with other members with young children. If children in attendance are disruptive, please excuse yourself from the group to handle the situation.

Whatcha’ Readin’? One Moose, Twenty Mice

Posted on | September 29, 2008 | No Comments

I love to read even though I can’t tell you when I last read a book from cover to cover. I have read quite a few magazines because that is about all of the time and attention span I have to spare. It is really important to me that my children read and I also hope that they enjoy reading too. So far, we are heading in the right direction. They still enjoy mommy reading to them and since I only have one reader, they need me to read to them. My daughter has been expressing her interest to start reading for quite a while, so we have been practicing and hopefully, she will be able to read to her little brother before long.

I intend to make a reading corner in their bedroom, but until then, they enjoy reading in mommy and daddy’s bed. The older two listen the best they can while all of us try to keep the baby from falling off of the bed. He gets very busy playing and jumping and hasn’t gotten the fact that he should sit and not jump. I often wonder if he is paying attention and every once in a while he will roll over and point to what is being read. I think he gets it.

Each week, one of the children will feature a special book they enjoy reading (or one that was read to them). We will start off the week with Schubaboobaly’s pick of One Moose, Twenty Mice (also available in Spanish). This book is a Barefoot Book publication. These series of books, are fun, colorful, attention capturing, and all of my children absolutely love Barefoot Books. One of my aunts buys alot of books for my children and one of the Barefoot Books she gave to my oldest, which I used to read to him, he now reads to his brother and sister. So, these books are great for the early listeners as well as the early readers.

This board book is a little longer than some of the other board books I’ve read. Throughout the story of patchwork pictures, bright colors, counting from one to 20, the lingering mystery remains, “…where’s the cat?” This is a great book for enfants because of the colors and the introduction to animals (even the spiders and mice are cute) and also for teen toddlers because of the ascending counting skills it promotes. The felt, patchwork pictures make me want to break out needle and quilting hoop to create some of the pictures. Several of the pictures would make great wall hangings.

Schubaboobaly enjoys sitting and “reading” through the book. Every once in a while, he will bring the book over to me and show me the pictures. It won’t be long before he’s reading to mommy.

Related Post: The Joy of Reading

Did You Remember To Say Thank You?

Posted on | September 29, 2008 | No Comments

There is something about the simple words thank you. I say them often, which sometimes may be a little too much, but my sincerity is there. When my oldest turned five, he had his first birthday bash, which included more than just family as guests at his birthday party. It was a joyous and blessed occasion as is every birthday. The many guests brought many presents. They were special gifts that were chosen for a special little boy. The day after the party, we started working on thank you notes for the new and exciting gifts he received. He drew a picture of the gift and hand wrote a note specific for every gift received. I took a picture of him using every gift and also included it on the card. Needless to say, his penmanship improved and he gained a new appreciation for the gifts he received. It also reinforced that when someone performs an act of kindness towards you, then the proper response is to say or write “thank you.”

Thank yous come in verbal form and they also come in hand written form, but not as often as they should. It’s easier to say thank you, than it is to write thank you, so most people opt for the former and call it a day. In some instances a verbal thank is fine. Most people don’t expect to receive a written thank you note for holding the door open for you. Today, most people don’t expect to receive a thank you note because not too many people send them anymore. If I give a gift to someone, then I do expect a thank you, but I don’t expect a thank you note. To clarify, I don’t give a gift to receive a thank you, but instead to show my appreciation for that person. When I do receive a thank you note, I’m grateful and also impressed because I know somewhere that person learned the importance of thanking someone for their effort; they were raised right.

Besides building character, teaching your children to say thank you and also understand the importance of writing thank you notes (basic etiquette) and when to send them are values that will carry them through to adulthood. Their thank you note may bring needed comfort to someone. Think of how good you felt after receiving a thank you note. They may also be that remembered, and later hired, candidate after a job interview.

Some tips on writing thank you notes with your children:

Start Early
As soon as your child can hold a crayon, then start him drawing pictures for their notes.

Let Them Be Creative.
If your child wants to send handmade cards (draw pictures, cut, or glue), then let them design their unique card. These will be cherished upon receipt as well as when the child grows older. My grandfather kept many of my handmade cards, which I saved after he died.

We’re Not Worthy
No one deserves a gift! Just as one should not give to receive, one should also not expect to receive just because they live and breathe. Explain to your child that if someone took the time to give a gift, then they should take the time to thank them.

Feel Good
When the recipient receives the note, you want them to not only feel good that time was taken to say thank you, but that the gift they gave was something of true value to the child. Try not to “write” the note, but guide your child so they include key points in their note. They should address the giver by name, specifically mention the gift(s), and maybe mention how much they enjoyed the gift or how they plan to use it. There is no need to mention that it is one of many or that they “didn’t really like it.” Instead they can say they “plan to share it with their sister or brother, etc.” Remember to always encourage honesty.

My daughter received a gift the other day and my birthday bash boy, now six, told me that he was happy he didn’t receive a gift because he didn’t want to have to write a thank you note. Expressing sincere gratitude isn’t learned overnight.

Additional Resource
My Thank You Site

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