NaNoWriMo 2009

NaNoWriMo has started and I am already three days behind. I’m going to get started tonight. My goal is to write 1,000 words today. I haven’t even picked a topic yet. I have a few ideas bumping around in my head but we shall see.

What is NaNoWriMo???

What’s up with NaNoWriMo today?

Fall Cleaning, Part Deux

Today I’m trying to get a bit of fall cleaning/preparation done. I’ll be working on these things in ten minute bursts:

1. Pick up living room
2. Organize bookcase
3. Vacuum living room
4. Pick up dining room
5. Clean dining room table
6. Sweep dining room
7. Mop dining room
8. Pick up bathroom
9. Wash bathroom walls
10. Clean toilet
11. Clean tub/shower
12. Clean bathroom counter/sink
13. Sweep bathroom
14. Mop bathroom

I’m going to go work on those things before I get to a deeper cleaning.

Update: I’ve finished all but four of the first list. I’ll finish that off and then I’ll work on the following:

1. Organize entertainment center
2. Clean coffee table
3. Unload dishwasher
4. Load dishwasher
5. Pick up kitchen
6. Clean kitchen counters
7. Sweep kitchen floor
8. Wash kitchen walls
9. Mop kitchen floor
10. Clean refrigerator
11. Pick up bedroom
12. Make bed
13. Organize vanity
14. Vacuum bedroom

Whew. Taking a quick fifteen minute break and then back to the grind.

Naked Crochet?!?

You have got to check out Everyday Crochet’s blog post, Naked Crochet, about the Knitting Nora’s calendar. She’s got a link in her post where you can order the calendar. I’m buying it. It is so totally cool and affordable at that!

Christmas Stockings

So, I’m kind of skipping over Halloween for the moment. I need to find a few crafts to do with the kids this week as Fin pointed out that we haven’t decorated for Halloween at all. We don’t normally but I guess he’s old enough this year to question why not. So we’ll do something, at some point this week. However, Christmas is my favorite holiday and I’ve spent much of the night looking up ideas on (you guessed it) MarthaStewart.com. (This is what happens when one drinks too much caffeine in an attempt to stay up and do schoolwork to meet a deadline. The caffeine doesn’t wear off in time to get any sleep!)

Keepsake Stocking I think this is a great idea. As this will not be the first Christmas for any of my kids, if I choose this option I’ll probably pick a design for each previous year and glue it on.

Mini Stockings Yet again I’m going to attempt this for Advent. It is the best way I can think of to include something for all the kids. I’m thinking of small things like matchbox cars, stickers, crayons, et cetera. I’ll likely add little handmade gifts as well.

Jingle Bell Stockings Part of the magic of Christmas is hearing jingle bells everywhere I go. Some find it annoying, I find it joyous. Bells on the stockings would make me happy. As an added plus, I could hear any little hands messing with the stockings this way.

Knit Stockings I’d like to learn to knit, I like the look of the fabric that it makes, but it isn’t likely to be this year. I included this one just in case anyone reading is interested.

Baby Sock Advent Calendar Since I’ve been in a major declutter/purge mood, I’m not sure if I have any stray baby socks. It is a good idea though.

Nutcracker Stockings I love the ballet. I love the Nutcracker. Thus, I love these stockings! This is one of the main ideas I’m considering.

Embossed Velvet Stockings Velvet is pretty and soft. These stockings would be nice.

Homeschool Powerpoint

With Story of the World ordered and on its way, I’ve moved on to the next subject that needs attention: language study. I’m going to make each of the boys a LiveMocha account of their own. I’m going to have them do German and Spanish, studying each language two days a week. Until they each get a stronger foothold in writing in English, I’m not going to have them do the writing part of the lessons.

Today we’re “officially” restarting homeschooling. I was going to do it last week but then I got a concussion at work (yes, my luck has been seriously sucking lately) and had to delay once again. I’m still not recovered from that but the show must go on eventually. With the everyday bustle of life combined with my new health issues, I need a more solid plan to keep up. I’ve written out a basic plan for this week. I’ve decided to go with a four day school week, meaning that I will attempt to do schoolwork with the boys at least four days a week.

Download Powerpoint Example

Bob the Builder – Polish

Bob the Builder in Polish. On our list to watch.

more about "Bob the Builder – Polish", posted with vodpod

Getting Back to the Grind

I’m waiting on The Story of the World: Volume 1 and The Story of the World: Activity Book 1 to arrive in the mail. I had been using a copy of the book from the library but they only have one so it was a pain having to return it and reorder it. Also, my library doesn’t have the activity book so I was going to have to buy that anyway. I figured that while we were on a hiatus, I may as well place the order so that we could resume our activities with the books in hand as I had to return the library’s copy for another patron’s usage.

I really like the Kumon Addition book that Fin is using. So far he’s only done two sections in the book due to our unexpected hiatus but I really like it. So much so that I’m going to get a few more, both for him and for Dul.

Tomorrow we’ll work on math, reading, science, and Polish.

Yes, I’m testing the waters with Polish. I know, I know. I swore that I wouldn’t include any more languages until they were fluent in the ones they are exposed to right now. But Polish has always been close to my heart. It was the language that I intended to speak to my (future, at the time) children until I realized how hard it was to find Polish material in the United States. German was just a runner-up.

The links we’ll be using for learning Polish this week:

Polish dot-to-dot The numbers are spoken in Polish as you click them and in the end, the shape comes to life!

Polish Gwiazdy Make a Polish Gwiazdy much like a paper snowflake.

Polish star

Polish thumbprint cookies Recipe

Polart Various Polish things to buy from toys to dvds.

Polish worksheets Very bland but helpful.

Polish word seek

Polish Songs for Kids Mama Lisa’s World

Various Polish links that mention Christmas carols:

Polish Center

Polish Things

Christmas Archives

A Polish Christmas

Some random people singing a Polish carol on YouTube

And for the adults: Polish Forum More than just learning the language.

Keeping the Pieces Together

I haven’t been posting because my life kind of turned upside down. I didn’t have any words. I’m in my first year of college which requires a lot of writing. All of my energy was going to trying to keep my life together. Anyway, I’m fine, kids are fine, and I’ll be posting again soon.

We’re Learning

We’re doing ancient Egypt right now. I’m going to buy Story of the World today (I’d borrowed it from the library previously) so that we can get started reading the chapters. I’ve ordered a million books on Egypt from the library and I believe I have a few laying around the apartment somewhere.

There is a fabulous blog, Run of the Mill, that has great resources for Story of the World Volume 1. I found it awhile ago and it has proved as useful as I thought it would be.

I went to Barnes and Noble on a book hunt for my schoolwork (one teacher assigned a book that is apparently unknown to man, besides her that is, but that’s another story) and after failing to find what I went for, I checked out the workbooks. I got an addition Kumon math workbook and a smaller math book with drills that the manager of the children’s section recommended to me after I expressed my regret at not finding the Singapore math book that I’d been looking for. He was a retired librarian and I could tell that before he even told me. His love for the books was truly authentic. I’m going to put a visit to one of their storytimes on the calendar.

Borders got a visit from me on another failed textbook expedition. Their bargain zone was full of so many great kids’ books and it was hard decision time at one point. I ended up walking out with two copies of 101 Things Every Kindergartener Should Know About Reading (one for each boy) and a Wee Sing Book that has four cds and over 250 songs. I saw a ton of books but I’m trying to budget my money wisely.

Today Dul worked on writing uppercase and lowercase As in the 101 book. He was also to draw a picture of an animal eating an apple. He decided that he wanted to draw a person eating an apple and I told him that was fine as people are animals too. He got a kick out of that. Since he’s in preschool and I’m treading lightly as he does not like workbooks or written work, I let him stop after that. I asked him, “Do you want to be done with schoolwork or do you want  to do another page?” I was hoping he’d say no as he needs more practice writing letters. He yelled out “BE DONE!!!” So he’s done for the day.

Fin did the same page as Dul and he went forward a page and drew a picture of an ape wearing an apron. He decided to add apple trees to the picture as well. He then did the first two pages in his Kumon book where he traced numbers. I’ve decided to check out some Kumon books for letters as well, to help both the boys with legibility. I can read Fin’s stories but he is five and there is much room for improvement. Dul’s letters are nonexistant unless he’s tracing in a book so he needs a lot of work.

I believe we have a scanner somewhere that we got years ago as a gift or a freebie with another buy. We may have even just bought it. Anyway, we’ve never used it but this is the perfect time. If I can get it set up with my laptop, I’ll start uploading some of their work here to keep track of progress.

So today’s work in a nutshell (crossed out means done)

Fin (5 year old kingergarten/first grade)

Math: Section 1 and 2 in Kumon Addition, As in 101 Things, write a thank you letter to family friends (they were gifted a ton of toy cars and action figures along with some other toys), listen to Bible read aloud, listen to classical music during free play, read chapter 2 in DK History of the World, play Adventure in Art History (like one of those tell your own story books where you decide what decision to make/answer to give).

Dul (4 year old preschool)

One page of A in 101 Things.

My Reason For Not Posting

I’ve been slacking, I know. But there is at least a viable reason that I’ve been MIA. Besides starting college classes and a new job, I’ve also begun homeschooling.

I’d been worried about the decision but in the end, it was made for me by the school. I’m not going to get into details, that’s just how it is.

Fin loves “doing his schoolwork” and Dul actually asked me today to do some schoolwork of his own!

I don’t have much time right now, I just wanted to post that I am, indeed, still alive and that I’ll be posting tonight or tomorrow.