Curriculum Ordered!

We were unable to attend the homeschool book fair so I missed out on the seminars I was hoping to attend.   Thankfully I was already confident in my decisions on what curriculum to order.  I JUST placed our orders and I cannot wait for it all to arrive so we can sort through it and get our plan in order. I am really excited!  I have got to get busy decluttering our office/school room so we will have room for the 100+ books that will be arriving!  That's a lot of books.  (That count includes my instructor guides and their workbooks.) 

Nelson is going in to 5th grade and Henry 2nd.  Henry is old enough to be going in to 3rd and is a quick learner so we ordered the core that is for ages 8-11 (3rd-5th grades).  They will be learning about the same things when it comes to History, Geography, & Bible but they'll have different work to do over what they learn and I'll have a different set of expectations for them each.  I did order some of their curriculum grade specific.  Here is a list:

From Sonlight

• Core D Advanced 5 day - this includes Readers & Language Arts (for Nelson), History & Geography, and Bible
• 2nd grade readers and language arts (for Henry)
• Singapore 5 Math Program - Nelson
• Singapore 2 Math Program - Henry
• Sequential Spelling, Vol 1 - Both
• Handwriting Without Tears Package 5 - Nelson
• Handwriting Without Tears Package 2 - Henry
• Required Resources
• Extra consumables for the things they'll both be doing.

From Apologia's elementary science curriculum:

• Exploring Creation with Astronomy - Both
• Astronomy Notebooking Journal - Nelson
• Astronomy Junior Notebooking Journal - Henry

Wordless Wednesday - My oldest and youngest

Jalapeno Salsa Breakfast Casserole

I've tried many different recipes for breakfast casseroles... there are tons of great ones.  I combined some recipes to come up with one that my family loves.  It's cheesy, it's spicy, it's got potatoes and sausage... you can't go wrong with that combo!  The key ingredient is the green salsa.  It's not your typical green salsa... there are NO tomatillos! It's green because of the jalapeno's.  Yum yum!

1 dozen eggs
Mrs. Renfro's green salsa
1 lb of mexican style shredded cheese
1 lb of breakfast sausage, browned
1/2 bag of shredded hashbrown potatoes
Lawry's season salt

Spread potatoes on the bottom of a 9X13 casserole dish and season with Lawry's.  Top with sausage then cheese.  Beat eggs and mix with salsa.  I use between 1/3 and 1/2 a jar depending on who I am feeding.  If I were ONLY feeding my husband, I could add the whole jar.  Pour eggs over top of the cheese.  Bake at 350 until center is set -  I honestly can't remember how long... at least half an hour but just check periodically.  If the center jiggles when you shake it, bake it some more. 

You can always prepare the night before and just bake it first thing in the morning.  I keep forgetting to buy the mexican style cheese so last time I used mild cheddar that I had on hand and tomorrow I'll have it with colby.  We've made it so often we've nearly used up half a hog's worth of sausage my husband made.  I guess we'll have to go back to Jimmy Dean! :)

*I forgot actual pictures of the casserole!  I'll try to remember next time I make it! :)

Homeschool Room

For Mother's Day, James is buying lunch for me and a couple of friends and sending us on a shopping trip to Ikea.  Yay! Yay! Yay!  I don't have the date picked but I am SO excited.  I also haven't told my shopping buddies yet... I will just send them the link to this blogpost :)  Anyway, I am on the hunt for shelving and desks/tables to make our homeschool room (which is our office) functional and organized.  It's not actually it's own room... there is no door to close to keep toddlers out of it so I have to make sure what ever is in their reach is closed and not open shelving.  I want it to be an inspiring room that is easy to keep organized and decluttered.  I also want it to be a fun room.  I've already picked out some furniture from Ikea - I just need to see it in person to be certain!  Besides the shelving and desks/tables and chairs, a few things on my wish list are:

• Beanbag chairs or floor cushions
• Globe (I wouldn't mind having a couple to hang from the ceiling, too)
• Wall map
• Wall calendar  (probably something I'll make myself)
• Desk lamps
• I would love a school zone sign (if anyone has one that was obtained legally hook me up!)
• Clock

I know there are some other things I just can't remember right now!  If you have any ideas please let me know. 

Oh, another thing... I am seriously considering moving our bedrooms around again and making a dorm room and a play/game room.  I won't do it if the older two aren't open to the idea but I think it would make things easier.  We all really liked it when we had a sleeping room and a play room before #3 and 4 came along but I know it's a stretch to think a 10 year old is going to want a 1 year old in the same room :)

Dreams and Charitable Donations

Nelson had a game tonight.  It was really good even though we did lose by 1 point.  It was SO close!!  He got hit by the ball twice while at bat and was so tough.  Nelson's dream is to be a major league pitcher.  Tonight for the first time, he got to pitch during a game.  I was SO excited and nervous for him.  And bless his heart, he was SO nervous, too!  He only got to pitch to 2 or 3 players and walked them all but hey... that's a step towards his goal and I am SO proud!  He does really well during practice so I know he'll do better during future games.  He is so driven and works so hard! 

My parents (dad and step-dad, lol) drove in to watch so that was cool too.  My dad, aka Papaw, sent Henry to the concession stand with a $5 bill to buy a drink for himself.  He came back with no change....and the drink just cost a buck.  Where did the other $4 go?  To a pretty little girl saving money for cheer camp. Yup.  That's my Henry.  Girl crazy and generous... with other people's money! Ha!

Decisions Decisions

We've made a decision on which curriculum to go with.  Based on recommendations, my internet research, quality, ease of use (lesson plans/instructor guides), and style (lots of good reading) we are going to use Sonlight for our core.  We are going to order one set that is closer to Nelson's level and use for both.  This will make things more streamlined for me which is important for our first year since I'll be learning the ropes... you know, juggling school, a 3 year old and a 1 year old and all the other daily household fun. :)  We will order math, handwriting, and language arts specific to their grade levels. 

While they both tested well above their grade level on reading, we are going to go with their actual grade level for their readers because the language arts ties in with the readers and that is specific to their grade level.  For any extra or fun reading they will get to read things on their actual reading levels... or close to depending on content.  I'm not sure there are many things on a 9th/10th grade level that I want my 5th grader reading! 

I am pretty sure they are right on target for math but we're taking assessments for this too just in case.  It's a long test and with baseball going on, we haven't had the time to finish them yet!  But, Singapore math is what we're going with.

When it comes to science I am not sure if we'll use Sonlight or Apologia.  We want to make sure they learn science based on creation ... biblical ... but do not plan to shelter them from more worldy views of how we all began. 

So... that is where we're at!  I am looking forward to placing their order so I can have time to look things over and get an idea of how this is all really going to work!  Our summer isn't going to be as long as normal because we'll be starting school when it's 110 outside and no one wants to be out in it!  It won't be full time because we want to play and go to waterparks with our friends but this way, when we don't have plans we can get some school work done and then have time during the fall and spring to take off and do outdoor things when it's nice out.  (how's that for a long runon sentence?) Plus I'm trying to talk James in to a road trip in February! 

~Kassy

Plans

My plans for this blog:

• Journaling our homeschool adventure
• Posting our weekly menu plan... I have fallen off the menu planning wagon but I getting back on!  I normally do that on payday/grocery day which is Friday but I may not post it until Mondays.
• Wordless Wednesday - a recent pic I have taken or found that I love.
• Posting all the funny little things my boys do so I won't forget... since I don't do the baby book thing or the scrapbook thing
• Any homemaking things I think would be useful for my readers.

Of course, there will be more on occasion but the above list is my goal to always keep up with. :)
~Kassy