Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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A Snapshot of our Day

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August 25, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Here’s a day in our homeschool life.

We have a toddler, 2 preschoolers, and 1 finishing elementary.

A Day in Our Life | Our Homeschool Schedule

We’ve pushed our schedule back some…I really just am not a morning person! No 6 AM wake-up calls for me, please!

We get up around 0730 and have breakfast.

The kids get cereal and juice and I guzzle a pot of coffee. Then, together on the sofa, we do Bible and calendar time. We do history and literature reading together as much as their itty bitty attention spans can manage.

Then, we get dressed. Some days, that’s about 10 AM.

So, don’t visit me before noon, y’all. I ain’t like them storybook Southern belles who roll outta bed fully coiffed and already in impeccable makeup. NoSiree. It takes lots of work to look this good and I seldom feel up to it if I don’t really have anywhere to go. Ponytail and glasses and clean clothes will suffice at home, thank you. I know you FlyLady followers out there probably need oxygen right about now to get through the rest of this post.

We do laundry and dishes. I used to have a chore plan with a zone for each day, but I’m not sure what happened. We just clean when we need to lately. Most areas need daily cleaning. That works for now.

I try to get the girls started on their workboxes and computer work. I try to occupy the Bubba during this time. Lately, I’ve had all the kids go outside to play before it gets too hot. Then, they do school work when he naps. They’re much more amenable if they get their outside time. I’m much more amenable if I get some quiet time too.

We eat leftovers for lunch, or snacky things like deli meat, fruit, and veggies. Usually around noonish.

I need to get back into the habit of listening to our composer of the month or an audio book, or at the very least, some jammin’ praise and worship music.

I try to keep the Bubba up as long as I can.

On a good day, he naps about 2.

If he goes down earlier, we don’t get much done in the afternoon. While he naps, Elizabeth gets all her school work finished – Latin, math, reading, writing…all that good stuff. Sometimes, Tori and Katie do more school-related activities, other times, they watch a DVD or play computer games. It really depends on the day and how organized mommy-teacher is that week. And sometimes, they complete their entire week’s worth of activities in two days. Then what?!

Snack time and playtime commence when the Bubba awakes. I prep for dinner and we try to clean up before Daddy gets home. Some days, that happens, and others, well, it doesn’t. Luckily, Daddy doesn’t care too much. But I do. I detest dishes marching across my countertops and partying on the stovetop. Right now, I think they’re doing West Coast Swing in there. I don’t even want to look. On good afternoons, I get to lie around and read while the lil boogers play cuz everything is mostly done. Not this week. Nope. And Daddy has been rolling in after 6:30 PM since he returned from his deployment. With all that extra time, the boogers could be cleaning up, but they’re making more messes. Rather counterproductive. So rude.

Soccer started this week, so our dinner plans are unpredictable. Last night, we ate at 8:30 PM. Tori has practices Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 PM and Elizabeth has practice on Mondays at 7 PM. Katie has an hour in there somewhere, but no one has felt the need to inform us yet. Commence insanity and slow cooker meals which look like pet food. We will have AWANA beginning next Wednesday at 7 PM. Dinner isn’t that important, right? Don’t studies show that you’ll get fat(ter) if you eat after 6 PM? And don’t most cultures eat larger lunches and smaller dinners anyway? And they’re healthier. That awful S.A.D. diet. sigh

I could do so much more if I didn’t have to eat or sleep.

 
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First Day of Summer

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June 21, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

It’s the First Day of Summer!

Yes, I am a total slacker when it comes to Nature Study. I am a bad Charlotte Mason mommy-teacher.

We love being outdoors and we do talk lots about nature and plants and critters, but I just never seem to document any of it or have drawing pages at the ready. And it’s hard to snap photos while holding a squirmy 30-pound almost 15-month-old (as you can see from the blurry images)!

I have lurked on The Blog for many months and I finally got in gear today to do something productive. We did study dandelions last week, but alas, no photos.

We explored our yard in earnest this morning. Here we have a happy little spider on the spirea. He had lots of buddies hopping around too! Katie just loved him and drew him on her page (see below).

Spider on the Spirea

Excited to see our roses about to bloom!

Blooming Roses

The last of our lilacs. So pretty!

Lilacs

Radishes galore. Katie adores radishes and begged to plants lots and lots. A red lettuce off the side (that’s mine!)…

Radishes
Purple Flowers

The girls wanted to do nature notebooking.

We love Productive Homeschooling for printable pages and The Handbook of Nature Study for great ideas.

Here is Tori’s Summer Drawing page. She drew our neighbor’s cherry tree, with a bird’s nest, strawberries, flowers, and radishes.

Katie drew a rose, spider, red pepper, and lilac.

How do you celebrate the first of summer?

I love Productive Homeschooling for notebooking pages.

 

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Preschool Summer

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June 10, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Well, we’ve been displaced from our school room for almost 2 weeks, but we’ve managed to get some stuff done.

The girls love Funnix and now they’re doing the math one too! Katie actually prefers the “numbers game” and I have to make her do the reading one first and then she can do the math one as a reward. Too funny!

Katie was playing the bingo review from You Can Read. I’d call out a word and she’d say, “I’m gonna catch you, ‘my’!” It was just precious.
Phonograms Bingo

 
Tori completing her Bible copywork. We’re going through the Seeds Family Worship CDs and using the printables here.
Bible Copywork
 
Katie “posing” while completing more of her sight word work.
You Can Read
 
I finally broke down and got a lil pool.
I just love this photo of Katie leading Alex. They had so much fun and it’s been the only warm day we’ve had yet.
Pool Kids
 
Tori thought the rain canopy was the coolest.
Pool Girl
We love the warm weather!
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Tween Update

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June 6, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Well, it finally decided to get warm around here. It did snow last Monday.

So…I’ve noticed some interesting things lately about my tween.

She’s been much more cheerful and agreeable. She’ll do the dishes without complaint. She’s been willing (mostly) to complete her school assignments. She’s been lots more affectionate, initiating hugs and kisses. She’s been funny and playful. I actually like being around her, most of the time. I think it’s all about God. I think He’s working on her heart and mine. I’ve been trying to give her more freedom to be a kid and have fun, if her chores and schoolwork are completed. And I’ve gotten to the point where if she is having a nasty attitude or being non-compliant, I simply tell her to go pray about it. So much less stress than yelling or snapping at her or any other punishments that never worked. She’ll go away for a few minutes and then come back and apologize and be so much nicer.

Here she is, acting goofy on the swing. She begged for a picture doing her “acrobatics.”

Acrobat on a Swing

Here is Elizabeth being artistic with a pool toy.

Pool Ring

And this is what I found after the 4-year-old asked me for an old toothbrush and carried out an armful of rags and sponges.

Nothing like washing the van and getting on top to really get that icky roof clean, eh?

Washing the Van

Before her spring piano and voice recital. She was nervous. She played “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Puccini and “Can Can” by Offenbach. She sang “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats. She did well.

Music Recital

So, we’re trying to finish up Unit 1 from Tapestry of Grace, Year 1. Yes, I realize we’re totally off a normal schedule. Who cares?!

We’re still working on Apologia Anatomy. We will pick back up with math and Latin this fall.

We found a Friday park day! And we’re going to be a part of a co-op beginning Sept. 1. They do Apologia science and art and PE, among other things. I’m pretty excited.

We’re heading to Chicago soon for my husband’s sister’s wedding. yay plane ride alone with four kids!

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Heart Anatomy Craft

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May 27, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Making a model of the heart with marshmallows, colored icing, and graham crackers…sounds so heart healthy, eh?

Doing Lesson 9 of Apologia Anatomy for science.

Of course, Lil Sisters had to get on it…there was icing to lick!

Icing for Heart Craft

Spreading on the icing…(so serious)

Painting the Heart with Icing

The finished product…more pink than red and the blue is too light…oh well…

Our Science Curriculum:

Anatomy Notebooking Pages
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Reading Readiness

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May 24, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

The girls have been showing lots of signs of reading readiness.

I’ve gathered some reading materials to help them learn as they’re ready.

Signs of Reading Readiness:

  1. Print Awareness
  2. Letter Knowledge
  3. Phonological Awareness
  4. Listening Comprehension
  5. Motivation to Read

There’s no need to rush or push.

We do only as much “work” as they desire at this age. Often, they beg for more.

I use printables, manipulatives, games, videos, apps to encourage their reading interest.

I print and laminate lots of items for reuse. They’re great for portability. We “do school” everywhere in the house, back yard, library, in the car…

We’re starting the 2nd unit and already the girls are showing great improvement!

We also love the LOTW K4 Expansion pack from Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Working on the computer with Funnix.
Funnix on the Computer
 
New CVC chart Funny Words.
CVC Words
Garden Pack clip cards…
Garden Clip Cards
 
Tots on a Mission work.
Anything that involves cutting and gluing is a hit!
Missions Work

We are LOVING these You Can Read printables.

Fun sight word puzzles from You Can Read:

Click here

Cute sight words mats from Mama Jenn

Click here
Click here

Then soon I find them reading on their own!

They were fluent readers after AAR2:

All About Learning Press

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How do you encourage reading readiness?

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Little Helper

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May 9, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Alex enjoyed playing with his Lego Duplo Train.

I love his expression here as he tried to put these two pieces together!

Playing with Duplo Blocks

My little helper!

He loves putting bowls away!
(and taking them out. and handing them to me. and carrying them around the house. and demanding Goldfish crackers in the bowl.)
Putting Bowls Away
 
Alex really did help me unload the dishwasher. I was impressed he knew where things go!
 
Then he had to get the bowls back out and do it over and over and over and over…
Helping with the Dishes
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Tot School Spring 12 Months

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May 5, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Lots of outside time this week as the weather has been nicer. It’s still in the 50’s, but since we’re so elevated, we need hats and sunscreen.
 
Dumb Mama got super sunburned. Thank God the kiddos didn’t!
 
We played in the sand with excavation vehicles! Yay!
Playing Outside
 
We like swinging!
Swinging Bubba
 
Mom’s favorite: “Hark! What is that over yonder?”
Hark! What Is That
“It is Big Sister Tori, playing with chalk. I shall join her.”
Playing with Chalk
 
Alex really enjoyed putting the coins in his Piggy Bank. He figured out how to open it and loved putting them in the slot and watching them fall.
Playing with His Piggy Bank
 
Same concept, different toy. I love this sideways look. I think he was concerned about the music and laughing that the mailbox does. He likes the piggy bank better.
Mailbox Play
 
And lots of time spent with his baby gears toy and Lego Duplo and our plastic animals bin (mostly Toobs).
 
He really likes the jellyfish.
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Spring Celebrations

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April 23, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Our review of this past week…

We had fun at the Ogden Nature Center.

Here is my monkey who climbed a rock wall in about 2.5 seconds.

Rock Climbing Wall

Not to be outdone, sister quickly followed suit.

Monkey Girl Rock Climbing

Our neighborhood had a really cool Easter egg hunt. It was like trick or treating. Everyone put plastic eggs or treats on their front lawn and the kids went around a-hunting.

Loved it! Yes, my eldest has bunny ears on…

Easter Egg Hunting

Our Christian Passover meal…with Bible reading.

Passover Seder

Our butterfly release…We got to say bye to our butterflies!

Butterfly Girl

Love the delight in her expression here!

Holding Butterflies

Happy spring!

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Tot School Easter 12 Months

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April 19, 2011 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

We played with our farm Uno Moo matching game…mostly rolling and throwing…

Farm Uno

We started doing this! (walking, not dancing, though doesn’t it look like dancing?)

Dancing Bubba - First Steps
 
He came up with this one all on his own…pretending to mix the bowls with spoons!
Bowls and Spoons
 
Drumming with spatulas.
 
Drumming with Spatulas
 
Being a backseat driver…the back yard is totally flat, so I feel safe doing this.
Cutting the Grass
 
Easter sensory basket…”Ew, what is this stuff?!”
 
Easter Grass
 
Obviously, got over the ew factor.
Easter Play
 
Dumping and filling basket with plastic eggs.
Playing with Easter Eggs
 
First Easter egg hunt. Missing the concept of putting eggs in the basket.
 
Easter Egg Hunt
 
Missing the basket entirely.
Missed
 
Turkeys! @ Ogden Nature Center
 
Turkeys
 
Alex’s reaction to turkeys gobbling and displaying…soon there were tears! oh no!
Scared of the Turkeys

Who needs a ball pit when you have an egg bin?

Plastic Egg Bin

Happy Easter!

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