Piano recital -2018

Music is a big part of our family culture and we are so blessed to have a wonderful Catholic piano and guitar teacher who comes to our home each week to teach our children.  This year was Luke's (5 years) first recital.  He was so nervous and so excited and did a simply fantastic job.  Ryan (8 years) and Connor (7 years) both played the guitar for the first time at this recital.  All three boys also played two songs individually and a trio on the piano.

First Week of Advent 2018

Advent is among us and we love continuing our family traditions . We have started our Jesse Tree and brought out our favorite Advent story books to read together.  Our boys all love to play songs on the piano and one of my favorite things to do is sit by the tree and listen to them play.

We've been trying to decorate our home more for Advent using the colors of Purple and Pink and also our Advent tree with Purple and Pink ornaments as well as ornaments of the Saints that we celebrate during Advent.  We also use a pregnant Mary figurine in our Nativity set that we have traveling with Joseph during Advent.

I love to try to slow down during this time of the year and enjoy the little things and each person!

Curriculum Plans for 2018-2019

Curriculum Plans for 2018-2019

Morning Basket (with Everyone):

Reciting the Morning Offering Prayer /Memorare

Ancient Morning Time plans from Pam Barnhill

Saint of the Day & Once Upon a Time Saints / Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints

Read Aloud Book of Bible Stories/Catholic Mosaic

Baltimore Catechism with Angel Food Stories

Days of the Week/Months of the Year/Season/Weather

Ryan (8 1/2 years old) 3^rd Grade

Mathematics:

Teaching Textbooks 4

Saxon Math 5/4

Life of Fred: Goldfish, Honey, Ice Cream and Jelly Beans

Religion:

Faith and Life Series: Jesus our Guide (4) - (Online Faith and Life Resources)

Great Adventure Storybook: A Walk Through the Catholic Bible

Catholic Mosiac

Catechesis of the Good Shepard Level 2

English/Spelling:

Language of God: Level C

My Catholic Speller: Level C

Reading:

Memoria Press Third/Fourth Grade Literature Novels and Guides

Charolette’s Web

A Bear Called Paddington

The Moffats

Homer Price

Independent Reading Novels

Geography:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Geography

Handwriting:

Catholic Heritage Handwriting: Level 4

Science:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Science with Co-Op Science Lab

(Botany / Chemistry / Astronomy/ Sound and Light)

Living Science Books to Enhance Study

History:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 History

(Ancient /Medieval History)

Story of Civilization 1 & 2 (TAN Books)

Living History Books

Latin:

Prima Latina

Art/Music/Enrichment:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Science

Weekly Music Class with Catholic Schoolhouse

Weekly Piano / Guitar Lessons

Connor (6 1/2 years old) 2^ndGrade

Mathematics:

Teaching Textbooks 4

MCP Mathematics: Level C

Life of Fred: Edgewood and Farming

Religion: 

Faith and Life Series 2 (Online Faith and Life Resources)

Great Adventure Storybook: A Walk Through the Catholic Bible

Catholic Mosiac

Catechesis of the Good Shepard: Level 2

Sacrament Preparation:

Preparing to Receive Jesus:  A Hands on Religion Resource

St Joseph First Communion Catechism

A Little Book about Confession for Children

My Path to Heaven

English/Spelling

Language of God: Level B

My Catholic Speller: Level B

Reading:

Memoria Press Third / Fourth Grade Literature Novels and Guides

Farmer Boy

A Bear Called Paddington

The Moffats

The Cricket in Times Square

Independent Reading

Geography:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Geography

Handwriting:

Catholic Heritage Handwriting: Level 3

Science:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Science

(Botany / Chemistry / Astronomy/ Sound and Light)

Living Science Books to Enhance Study

History:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 History

(Ancient /Medieval History)

Story of Civilization 1 & 2 (TAN Books)

Living History Books

Latin:

Prima Latina

Art/Music/Enrichment:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Art

Weekly Music Class with Catholic Schoolhouse

Weekly Piano / Guitar Lessons

Luke (5 years old) Kindergarten

Mathematics:

MCP Mathematics: Level A

Life of Fred:  Apples and Butterflies

Religion: 

Great Adventure Storybook: A Walk Through the Catholic Bible

Catholic Mosaic

Catechesis of the Good Shepard: Level 1

English/Phonics/Handwriting:

CHC English A

Catholic Heritage Handwriting: Level 1

Reading:

Little Stories for Little Folks

Seton Pre-Primer and Readers

Memoria Press Story Time Treasures

(Caps for Sale, Make Way for Ducklings, Little Bear, Frog and Toad are Friends)

Memoria Press More Story Time Treasures

(The Little House, Billy and Blaze, Blaze and the Forest Fire, The Story about Ping, Stone Soup, Keep the Lights Burning Abbie, Mrs. Rumphius)

Geography:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Geography

Science:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Science 

(Botany / Chemistry / Astronomy/ Sound and Light)

Living Science Books to Enhance Study

History:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 History

(Ancient /Medieval History)

Story of Civilization 1 & 2 (TAN Books)

Living History Books

Latin:

Prima Latina

Art/Music:

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2 Art

Weekly Music Class with Co-Op

Weekly Piano Lessons

Peter (2 /3 years old) – Preschool

Mathematics

I Can Find Numbers and Shapes (CHC)

Religion

Catholic Mosaic Booklist and Activities

Who Am I? (CHC)

English/ Phonics

I Can Find Letter Sounds (CHC)

Reading

Before Five in a Row Booklist and Activities

Art/Music

Catholic Icing - Catholic ABC's Crafts

Making Music Praying Twice

Simon (<1 year) - Tot School

Reading Stories, Cuddling, Playtime and hopefully taking a few naps so that we can have some time to focus on more structured lesson time!

First Day of School 2018-2019

We are off and ready to go with another year of school.  It is hard to know when we really stop and begin again as with homeschooling we just kind of keep learning in some degree every day, but it is still nice to check in each year to make new goals and plans for the upcoming year.  We are loving life in the country and the boys are outside all of the time exploring the land, bird watching, building forts or caring for our chickens.  We are looking forward to joining other families in our community this year for a new cooperative learning experience.  We pray for a wonderful year ahead and for God to continue watching over and blessing our family.

Ryan-

Age:  8 1/2 years old

Grade: 3rd Grade

Favorite Subject:  Science

Future Occupation:  Wild Life and Nature Specialist  

Connor-

Age:  6 1/2 years old

Grade: 2nd Grade

Favorite Subject:  Music/Math/Typing

Future Occupation:  Paramedic/Doctor

Luke-

Age:  5 years old

Grade:   Kindergarten

Favorite Subject: Reading

Future Occupation: Paleontologist / Dad

Peter-

 

Age:  2 1/2 years old 

Grade:  Pre-School

Favorite Subject:  Art/Music/Story time

Future Occupation: Farmer

Simon-

Age:  6 months old

Grade:  Nursery School

Favorite Subject:  Story Time / Cuddling

Future Occupation:  ??

Simon's Birth Story

My dearest Simon,

How I love that God so perfectly knows exactly what our family needs, as we are so grateful that we have been blessed with you as a part of our family!  We were all going about the craziness of winter and unfortunately we all got hit with pretty bad illnesses.  Thankfully I was starting to feel better when contractions started.  Having had multiple children before you it was pretty easy to know that the time was getting closer.  I went to my 38 week doctor visit on Thursday February 8th and I was already 4cm dilated.  He told me that because I was not regularly contracting that I could go home and just come in whenever I felt ready.  The following day February 9th after I was helping your brothers eat lunch I had a contraction around 1pm.  It was decently strong but another one didn't come for about 20 minutes.  Finally around 3pm and I had a few more contractions I called your dad and told him that we would probably be going to the hospital.  

We went to the hospital around 5:30pm and got checked in.  At that time I was 5-6 cm dilated so they admitted me and we were there to stay!  The Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics was the evening you were born and it was also snowing pretty heavily.  Your dad and I walked around the hallways of the hospital and then watched some of the Olympics as we waited for your arrival.  When I was about 7cm at 8:30pm I decided to get an epidural so I could rest a bit.  The broke my water and the contractions picked quite a bit.  My doctor was helping with another delivery so the resident kept coming in to ask if I wanted to be checked or how I was doing.  I kept saying that I was getting closer but I would wait for my doctor.  

My doctor came in the room around 11:20pm to check on me and we started pushing shortly after.  You were born at 11:37pm and were simply perfect!  You weighed 6lbs 13.8oz and were 20 inches long.  You started breastfeeding like a champ right away and we tried to settle down for a short nap before the next day began.

Unfortunately, since most of our family was sick prior to your birthday, most of your brothers were still sick.  We did not want to risk spreading any germs when you were so little so only your big brother Connor was able to come visit you at the hospital the next day.  Your grandparents and Aunt Jodi also came to visit and were so excited to meet you.

Thankfully, we were able to go home early the next morning where your brothers were overjoyed of your arrival to our family.  You were met with lots of love and cuddles and instantaneously were a perfect addition to our family.   We are so excited to see what your little personality will be like and so thankful for the gift of you!

Love,

Mommy