Our school, week 2.

This week we spent more time on maps. The girls learned about many different uses for and types of maps. They learned about scale and measurement on maps and even made a scale map of their rooms (1in=1ft). We ended the week making two cakes depicting the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. In science we covered biomes, located the tropics, temperate and arctic zones of the globe. We also went on a nature walk and took leaves (from the ground) and made bark rubbings to identify what kind of trees grow in our "biome."they seemed to enjoy being little scientists exploring their world. We ended the week with water and oxygen cycles.
Leslie (2nd grade) is working on ar words in spelling, learning about types of sentences in English, and reviewing basic addition and subtraction in math.
Lindsay starts spelling next week. She is also learning about different kinds of sentences as well as sentence diagramming in English. In Math, Lindsay is reviewing place value and regrouping.
In Bible we have been talking about how Jesus came and died for everyone, not just Christians. Each day has started with rich discussion about this topic- it has been fun to hear these girls grow in wisdom, as well as their faith.
One struggle we have had is with our read aloud time- the book selected by My Father's world is a classical allegory. It is a bit dark and not suitable for my girls at this time. So we decided to shelf it until they are older. So for now, we are reading some of their favorite chapter books instead. The girls are also reading books on their own, as well as reading to their little sister. It was a joy to hear Leslie very expressively read Green Eggs and Ham to Lucy this week, I wish I had recorded it.
I learned a couple of thugs this week, myself. I learned that making a checklist for each girl of what they needed to get done that day was really effective. I also included things that they needed to do sometime before bed that night. Things on the list are generally things that help me out (play with Lucy, take laundry upstairs, read to Lucy, etc.). The list helps the girls stay a little more focused.
I also learned that we need a more specific time limit to some tasks. One of the girls would take all day to finish her work if given the chance! So now we set a timer and whatever isn't done will become 'roomwork,' or work they have to do in their room after school time (we can't really call it homework can we?).
Lastly, I learned that my oldest needs to have her math lesson at the end of the day. For whatever reason, she has been unable to focus during the mid morning math session. But after lunch she can sit and focus on it much better.

It has been great getting to know both girls' learning strengths and weaknesses. I won't lie and say it has been the picture of a perfect homeschool, but we are working toward a school that works for my girls. My goal this year is to not quit! No matter how hard things seem. Here are some pictures of our second week:

Home School, week 1!

So we jumped into our curriculum this week. We are using a unit study from My Father's World called Exploring Countries and Cultures (ECC). This allows me to do several subjects integrated and teach both girls at the same time. They work on math, reading, and English on their own level. Working with my girls in this way has already given me some insight into how each of them learns and what they struggle with. I also have been working with Lucy on pre-school concepts (to her we are playing games).
We are really enjoying the curriculum so far. The first two weeks are an intro to the year in which we will be traveling all over the world. This week the girls learned about maps in geography, habitats in science, and our study verse for Bible was John 3:16. In art we created a collage of beautiful faces from all over the world, and listened to traditional songs from all over the world. In math, as the beginning of the school year usually consists of review, both girls are reviewing concepts. In English, both girls are learning about sentences at their grade level. We also work on handwriting, spelling, and reading. I'm sure I am forgetting something!!
Here are some picture highlights from our week: we discovered how difficult it is to map a round world on a flat piece of paper, we observed the habitat in our backyard.

Our life, no longer in Texas.

It has been over a year since we moved back to Washington.  We miss Texas terribly but had many reasons for moving back here.  Some we knew about, some God has revealed to us in amazing ways this last 14 months.  And since we still own our house in Texas (it is being rented out), we always say there is a possibility that we will end up back in our little town once again.  We are always open to whatever God has for us, wherever he puts us.  That being said, looking back at this blog and the fun we had in Texas sure makes us miss it more!! 

So now on to our next adventure!  (Well there are a couple of them) 1) We are starting home school this year.  It is something I actually always wanted to do but didn't have the confidence.  I started looking into homeschooling last year, knowing we were moving once again (to be closer to Lance's work, going from a 2 hour commute to a 25 min commute), I wanted to see if home schooling might work for us.  I always thought that people chose home school out of fear, but in my research I quickly learned that that was not the reason for a majority of home schooling families.  I also found that all of the fears that I had about home schooling were unfounded, mostly because of my background and education as an educator.  Time and time again, books were addressing the common fears and worries of a home schooling parent- and I did not fit into any of these categories.  Most home schooling parents worry that they don't have what it takes to teach their children- I have a degree that says I have what it takes.  Many home schooling parents face challenges from their own parents and others questioning their ability to teach their children- if our parents have any doubt, they probably wouldn't express it due to the fact that they know I can teach other peoples' children.  I still struggle with my own lack of confidence, but I dealt with that when I was teaching 7th and 8th graders too, it's just part of my personality.  But I draw from my experience in public schools both good and bad to help me feel confidently that we are making the right decision for our girls.  When I started to really research our options for home schooling, I got really excited.  I get to teach the way I was taught to teach in the PLU Master's in Education program.  Something that is seemingly impossible (especially in Washington) with the mess that public schools are in trying to please everyone, being limited by an impossible budget, and increasingly strained by the number of students they have to educate.  I get to teach my kids in a way I always wanted to teach, and in the comfort of our own home.  I get to do what I love, and not feel defeated before I start.  The girls are excited too, hopefully this will continue as we get going.  The other day Lindsay (9) told us that it was the first time she was excited to start school.  She has been asking me to home school her every year since Kindergarten.  We hope to use this blog as part of our record keeping and communicating what the girls are learning.  Hopefully the girls will start making some of the posts so you can hear from them first-hand about how this adventure is going,.

Our second new adventure should arrive around the end of September.  We are currently expecting our 4th child.  And this time, its a boy!  So all of us have some learning to do this year as mom learns about being a boy mommy and sisters learn all about having a little brother.  We are all excited for the adventures coming our way this year!

Leslie's lunches

*warning- This is a bit long*

Since this was our second go-around with Kindergarten, I thought I pretty much had it down. Knew what to expect, how to prepare my Leslie, how to handle the first week of school. I did not, see much being a problem, since Leslie has been anticipating this week since she watched us drop her big sister off for Kindergarten 2 years ago. Well, I should have known better. Leslie's issue has been lunch. Something I did not anticipate from her.
Leslie has never had much of a problem with food. There aren't many things that Leslie doesn't like. She loves to eat things that most kids do not. Broccoli is one of her favorites, along with many other fruits and veggies. But on the second day of school, I noticed that she wasn't finishing her food. She still had her go-gurt (yogurt in a tube) and unopened Capri-sun along with 1/2 of her sandwich in the lunch bag. I asked her why she didn't eat her food- she said she didn't like the yogurt because it was strawberry, and she didn't want to finish her sandwich, no explanation for the juice. So day #3 I put blueberry yogurt, string cheese, sandwich, chocolate pudding and a drink in. Surely she would find something that she liked in all of that. That night everything except the cheese and the sandwich was still in the bag! And the pudding had been opened, two bites taken and closed up to be saved for later. So in grilling her about her meal she said she didn't like anything I gave her and she didn't have time. SO, for day #4 I decided to go easier on her. Gave her cheese, sandwich and a drink. She ate everything, so I guessed that I had finally figured out what would work for her, simplicity. But on the way home, in the car she started freaking out because her papers were wet. That is when I discovered a partially consumed Capri-sun in the bag, leaking all over. She said she thought she could save it for later! So Day #5. It seemed that Leslie was mostly rejecting things that were processed. Didn't like the yogurt, didn't like the pudding or the pirates booty (cheddar flavored rice puffs) that I sent for snack. So I would go natural for this girl. Today, I just gave her the cheese, some blueberries, a sandwich and juice. She ate it all. But today was Ice Cream day. I had given her a dollar to get ice cream from the cafeteria. We weren't out of the school parking lot yet when she screamed, " My ice cream melted!!!" "What?" I said. "I was saving it for after school and it melted!" Yes, my precious 5 year old thought that her ice pack in her lunch bag would keep her ice cream for her til after school. And the result was a soupy-orange creamsicle mess in her lunch bag. She said she didn't have time to eat it, so she wanted to save it for later. I don't know what to say, except, I hope she gets lunch figured out before too long. ;-)

The First Day of School!

Today was the first day of Second grade for Lindsay, and Kindergarten for Leslie! What a great day! They were both a little nervous and excited. I am sure they will not miss us at all! Here are some pictures from our morning:

Lindsay and Leslie's Popsicle Stand

Today was the community garage sale- so Lindsay and Leslie really wanted to have a popsicle stand. They sold popsicles and sodas. They are pretty good sales girls. They are raising money for a Nintendo DS- something they have been saving for since Christmas- Mommy and Daddy really hope they have enough to get them before our big trip to WA so they will have something to play with on the trip! :-)

Resurrection Weekend!

We had a three day weekend thanks to school and work taking Good Friday off! Friday morning we all got to go with Leslie to Kindergarten Round-up. Basically, we just turned in registration papers and got to visit Mrs. Merchant, our favorite Kinder teacher! We are praying that Leslie will end up in her class, just like Lindsay did. Leslie was more than ready, she wanted to bring her letter worksheets that we do at home to show the teachers and she wanted to bring a backpack so she could start school now! It was also nice that we ran into 2 friends, one from Church and a friend through Girl Scouts, who are going to go to K at the same school next year. It was definitely different being one of the "experienced" moms this time around. I told one of the first time mom's who was fighting tears that I wouldn't lie to her, it is one of the hardest things ever, but I survived, and she will too! I am hoping that the first week of Leslie's Kindergarten won't be as traumatic as Lindsay's was!Saturday we spent the day cleaning and fixing some things around the house. Lance also spent a good part of the day smoking his first meat on his new grill. It turned out really great! We had too much meat for just our family so we invited some friends over from down the street. It was a very pleasant Saturday. The one hic-up was when Lindsay announced that there wasn't an Easter Bunny in front of all the little ones. Oops- It's really something we've never discussed. I guess we never told her there was or wasn't one. We never really put effort into keeping up the Easter Bunny charade like we do Santa Clause. Hopefully she didn't ruin Easter for the little ones!Sunday we did the traditional Easter egg hunt. The girls did very well. This was the first year we got to really hide eggs. It was challenging but they found all 30. Lucy just enjoyed watching the big girls and checking out the eggs. She has been feeling a little down with her teeth coming in so she was kind of mellow . We went to church, heard a great message that Lindsay really got into. Leslie even got up and sang with the kids at the front of the church! Something we have been trying to get the girls to do for a while! It was very exciting. She just decided she didn't need Lindsay to go with her to be brave. You can't tell from the picture but she was doing the hand motions and singing right along, though a little timidly. After Church we had supper with Aunt Debra and then just played for the afternoon. It was pretty Laid back!

I have to admit that Friday was so busy with Kindergarten round up and grocery shopping and house cleaning that we almost forgot it was Good Friday. I suppose many people go through life too busy to remember what Christ did for us. We almost missed it! Don't miss it! It's not about a religion, rules, tradition, its about a relationship with a God that exists and cares about what is going on down here. Though sometimes, it can seem like He doesn't care. Like so many innocents are suffering. The truth is that God knows, cares and grieves for our situation, but there is a reason for all, and as He allowed His Son to suffer for all of us to be reconciled to Him, he allows the suffering we see and hear about every day, for a bigger purpose than we can understand.

Girl Scout Powder Puff Derby and 3 on 3 tourney

We had a busy Saturday last week. First, we had Lindsay's GS troop Powder Puff Pine Car Derby which was lots of fun! Just like the boy scouts but with lots of glitter! :-)

Then, we went straight from there to the church for the 3 on 3 tournament that Lance helped organize. They also had fun things for the kids so we just had to stop! The girls' favorite thing was the big giant ball (or human hamster ball), I had to tear them away from it!

I had better be careful!

Leslie has informed me that she is watching me. She says she wants to know everything about being a mom so when she grows up to be a mom she knows what to do. This is VERY convicting. Hopefully she remembers the good stuff, and not the screw ups! :-)
Tonight we were making dinner and she was helping. I opened a can of beans to drain and rinse and put in the chili. I turned around to get rid of the top when I came back the entire can (juice and all) was in the pot with the other ingredients. I kept my cool, said "oh well, I guess it will be a little runnier than usual." Leslie said, "When I'm a mom, I'm going to say that if my daughter accidentaly puts something in that doesn't go in the pot"
Whew! Passed that test!

A few days ago, she came to me a little worried, "mom, what if I forget everything about being a mom?" I told her she could call me. :-)

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Big fluffy white stuff is falling from the sky! No Snow day though! And the PERFECT snowball/snowman making snow. So after dropping Lindsay off at school, Leslie and I went to the back yard to mess up the perfect snow and make ourselves a friend. Hope she doesn't get sick from not having a hat on!! Tsk Tsk mommy should have made her wear it!

Playing With Leslie

Yesterday Leslie and I played her favorite game: cooking in the kitchen with Mommy. She really loves this and has grown quite a bit. The only problem we have when Leslie cooks is eggshells in the batter. That's why we always make sure she breaks the eggs into a cup first, then I inspect, and she dumps. :-) It works for us.

Today I decided to let the laundry and dishes sit where they are and play with Leslie...I forgot how bossy she is!!
We played puppet show...she told me what to say and where to sit and what to do! And then she decide we were done. Then we played magic show...she wasn't happy with me when I didn't repeat what she wanted me to say exactly as she wanted me to say it. Then we played teacher. I think I did better there and got a good grade. She told me she was going to tell my parents how good I am at reading. I'm sure they will be proud!

We are now a family of five..and other things that have happened since my last post.

So I realize that we haven't been updating much in a while. Life has been pretty busy, to say the least. The last post was the beginning of summer, and now we find ourselves at the end of summer and getting Lindsay ready for first grade! Where does time go?
Anyway, June was a busy month right down to the last day. After school got out, we had one quiet week, then Uncle Brent came for a little visit. Really, it was work but he got to stay for the weekend and play with the girls, Lance, and Debra in the pool. The girls really loved having Uncle Brent around! That weekend, I turned 33. And moving right along...We had a visit from Lance's Aunt Cathy, also here on business but a great visit as well. The week of the 21st-26th, we had VBS, which the girls loved! I was crazy and had volunteered to teach. After thinking I was going into labor after the first day (I was 38 weeks pregnant) I figured out that I was just dehydrated and made it through the rest of the week just fine. The girls loved it! And REALLY enjoyed the music and activities. They are still singing those songs at the top of their lungs all around the house! That week, Lance and I also Celebrated our 10th Anniversary. Being overly pregnant, we settled for a simple dinner to celebrate. We'll have to do it up real good next year! The last week of June brought our last visitors for the month, Mom and Heidi, coming to help us whith the arrival of Baby Lucy.
Which brings me to July, which started with the birth of our third little princess, Lucy Jo (Lucile JoAnn). For details on her birth, if you haven't already checked it out, you can take a look at Lance's blog (www.lancebauslaugh.com), he was there blogging, twittering, and anything else you can imagine in social networking while I was laboring and delivering a baby. :-) It kept him busy! Lucy Jo came into the world in a hurry, and we have been enjoying our beautiful baby girl every minute since. The fourth of July weekend was spent mostly taking care of baby girl, but Lance and the girls (along with Grammie and Auntie Heidi) got to do a lot of swimming. Lindsay participated in the local Fourth of July parade with her Girl Scout Troop, and They all enjoyed the Melissa Fourth of July fireworks. Having baby around took a little adjustment on the two older girls' part but they have come through pretty well. Lindsay is a responsible helper and Leslie is endlessly kissing and loving on her baby sister. The rest of July was pretty much spent locked up inside. With the heat, going out with the baby was not really an ideal situation. The girls have been playing all day long with each other every day, with very few altercations. Two of their favorite things to play are "Food Network Star" and "Design Star." Can you tell what mommy likes to watch? They love it too and will sit and watch an entire show about making delicious food or designing an amazing room with me. At the end of July, we celebrated Leslie's 4th birthday with a small family dinner of her request: pig (pork roast) and green beans.
When August came, we had a visit from Papa Jim and Auntie Heidi just in time for the joint birthday party for the girls (maybe the last year we will get away with that!). Lindsay says it was her best birthday yet, as we celebrated her 6th birthday. The party was planned as a pool party, but a torrential down pour turned the party into an impromptu house party. Thanks to Papa, and Aunties Heidi and Debra we were able to quickly think of games to entertain 15 kids and their parents and clean up the house in order to make it acceptable for guests.

The summer has included some exciting events such as Lindsay losing her first, then her second tooth and learning about the tooth fairy. And both girls learning how to really swim (we have taken FULL advantage of our neighborhood pool once again this summer). Leslie followed Lindsay's lead in this area and has been a true swimmer for a couple of weeks now.

The summer has calmed down a little in the last few weeks. Thankfully. We are currently getting ready for Lindsay's first grade year and Leslie starting to work on pre-k curriculum with me at home, as we did when Lindsay was 4.

Lucy is now 7 weeks old! Time has gone so quickly. She is just now starting to smile at us, and has recently started to notice that there are interesting things too look at all around her. Lucy has been just as easy and content as her sisters. She is still waking us up at night, but we trust that this will be over soon as it was for the older girls at around 8 weeks.

So that is us, hopefully It won't be another 3 months before my next post! :-)

A busy couple of weeks...

The last couple of weeks have been busy for us with a fairy princess birthday party, Daisy patch ceremony, Lance and the girls going to South Dakota for a wedding, Lindsay's Kindergarten field day and graduation. Unfortunately, our digital camera showed up to the wedding broken (it won't focus) so we only have a couple of pictures from that and my mom has all of the pictures from field day. Aunt Debra loaned us her digital for Graduation but we had a hard time getting good pictures there too. So we will have to be satisfied with the following:

Fairy Princess!

Daisy Patch Ceremony- She was excited to get a patch none of the other girls got- Cookie Mom!

So much fun to dress up! Thanks Aunt Kristin for doing their hair.

Not a great picture but can you see how shy she was? She was worried because she hadn't seen where we were sitting and didn't think we were there.

Lindsay and the best Kindergarten teacher ever! We are really going to miss her.

Leslie is Worn Out

Tonight Leslie had a hard time with Dinner. I think she was just tired. On a side note... Katie told her to finish her dinner. She was going to sit there until she was done eating. Katie told her that she stays up late and Leslie should, "try her!" :-) Those comments were several minutes before this video. Also, do you like Lindsay's singing? She is upstairs in the SHOWER!