Our books arrived!

I love getting home from an errand or two and finding a big box from Amazon on the front steps! I didn't get a chance to open it right away, so I ended up opening it at the kids' bedtime yesterday. Needless to say, bedtime was delayed as the kids just HAD to do a math lesson! Anyhow, everything was there, and all looks wonderful. M loved the science experiment books I had picked out, and is looking forward to helping me teach science.

I also picked up a (practically new) copy of Explorers from another homeschooling mom, so that we can give it a try. I already have The First Americans: Prehistory to 1600 from the library (they have the entire set, so why spend the extra money?), so now we're set to start history next week. I plan to use the History of US as the spine, and add in projects from here and there, including the Explorers cd mentioned (plus I love the printable timeline figures). I am hoping my copy of America: The Story of Us will get here soon too!

Now I just have a few odds and ends to pick up... some graph paper for Elf (math), a three-hole punch, that sort of thing. Oh, and we need to get our Flat Stanleys out! Ooops! I mean to every week, but before I know it the week is gone. Okay, tomorrow morning. Then they can go out in Saturday's mail. That reminds me, I need two 1" binders for geography. Still debating getting a laser printer, but then my inkjet is pretty good as long as I don't buy cheap ink.

So far I am enjoying my classes for the most part. Watched a very interesting documentary yesterday on the history of American education, and I like reading the Issues book we have, with writings from John Dewey, John Holt, etc. Very intriguing. I have a lot to do for my classes, but am not feeling quite overwhelmed... yet. We'll see how I feel after adding in homeschooling next week! I did back off on pursuing a class to add - I was trying to get my ethnic studies requirement out of the way, but have decided to go ahead and take an extra semester to finish up that along with math. I don't need to hurry, and I can't be gone half days three times a week and get anything sone around here, plus I have enough homework as is!

Other than that, we're enjoying park days, fencing (today is Fairy's first class - Elf did quite well last week, and it looked like so much fun that Fairy begged to join in), gymnastics, sunshine... yes, after a grey and cool summer complete with rain, we finally have hot weather! Maybe I should take the kids to the waterpark again. M ended up only taking one class right now since the waitlist for the other was insane, but I think that's better, as it gives him a chance to get used to being back in school and the one class carries quite a load of homework. There's a new engineering club that Elf might join in on. It seems perfect since he was asking me about engineering! Oh, and he wants to dissect things, so I need to research dissection kits, maybe as a Christmas gift?

Almost forgot! I got three lovely new blog awards! Thank you Michelle!




































According to the rules of awards, I need to tell you seven things about myself, and pass the awards on to seven blogs, so here goes...

Things About Me:
1. I love being out in the evenings watering the garden by hand.
2. I am a socially awkward geek in many ways.
3. I sometimes wish I had waist length hair, but then long hair is too much trouble. Mine is nice and short right now, since M cut it for me last night.
4. I need to lose weight, but it is so much work! I have been hitting the treadmill on a more or less regular basis lately though. I don't want to lose it so I look nice (though that would be a good side effect) - I want to lose it so I am healthy for my family.
5. However, I love dark chocolate.
6. I try to meditate every day.
7. I want to learn all the Victorian meanings of flowers. I think it would be cool to give someone a flower that meant something in particular, or to grow flowers for their meaning(s).


Seven Blogs (in alphabetical order):
1. Down in the Meadow
2. Down on 3 Boys Farm
3. Foursquare Schoolhouse
4. Growing with Science
5. The Magic School House
6. Twig & Toadstool
7. Two Kid Schoolhouse

Have a great day! We're off to visit my dad now, then on to fencing.