Monday, November 9, 2015

Dreams of Montana....









Is it every man's dream to move out to the middle of nowhere in Montana?
or just my husband's?  He's been talking about ever it since we were first married.
{maybe even before...}

My kids are totally be up for it. I suppose I am too...but I'd miss family.
Okay, who am I kidding..I'd miss Chicago too.
...even though it's an hour away....it's close enough. doughnuts.pizza.

But on days like yesterday...when my girls spent time with beloved horses
and talked about having a barn and animals of their very own...
...then I share Jeff's dream.

...and then I wake up! Joking...joking. (Sort of. ;)

Thanks so much for inviting us out Jason. The girls Loved it!

Happy Monday.
XxOo

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

It's warm outside in November and you should eat a doughnut.






My mums are blooming.
The windows are open.
Sophia read her book in the sunshine barefoot on the front porch.
I picked beets from my garden.
I wore sandals while I raked leaves.

Just a regular old November day in Northern Illinois. {insert confused face here}

Quote from Sam:
"Mom, the weather is getting me really mad!
We should be wearing hats and sweatshirts and seeing our breath outside right now.
Fall is being wasted on warm weather. It's the worst year!"

Only some in the house are happy with 75 and sunny.
This is most likely the last hurrah....we will not have this again until April!
You will not hear me complain. :)




Also..in case you don't know this, tomorrow is {yet another}  National Doughnut Day.

We love doughnuts.
Jeff and I actually loved doughnuts before they were trendy.
Now they are a "thing"...like Coffee. and Cupcakes.
{I think the cupcake trend is coming to a close though...now it's doughnuts all the way...
...which is fine by us.}

If you google, you will find that National Doughnut Day is very important.

How special to have TWO National days dedicated to something so wonderful.
I may even put up streamers and balloons..not sure yet...
...I may be too busy stuffing my face...with doughnuts.
XxOo



Tuesday, November 3, 2015

We do school at home.


Homeschooling #3

Unschooling. NOT to be mistaken with NO schooling.
There is a difference.

No schooling at all is a disservice to your children.

Unschooling is a method of homeschooling that puts
the desire, drive, motive and responsibility for life – this thing we call learning,
or education – in the hands of the learner.
 ~ quote found on unschooling.com


I believe children learn best when Not confined to a seat with a pencil,
a stack of workbooks and a long grueling school day.

Don't get me wrong, pencils and workbooks have their place, we use them!
BUT...I believe children and teens {and adults for that matter!}
learn more from experience than just reading about it.

I also believe that a lot of homeschooling families burn themselves out
because they stress over doing too much "school".

This article sums up so much of how I feel about young children.

Creativity flows like a river when my young kids are playing!

When you give students of all ages a learning environment to create in...

Watch out!
Science 101 will be happening in your backyard.
Novels will be written. Your kitchen will turn into a bakery. Your piano will be played.

You will be amazed at what your children come up with
when they are left alone in a learning environment.

What is a learning environment? How do you create one?



It's easy.

Get a library card. Let your chidren choose books that interest them.
Set aside time each day that they have to read. Even if it's just for 15 minutes!

Visit Hobby Lobby and go crazy in their art supply section. You can do a lot of damage for $20.00.
blank paper. sketching pencils. paint and fancy brushes.
Also, I have found if I buy the better quality art supplies,
my children are more apt to use them.

Teach your children your passions.
Jeff and I love music...guess what every single one of our kids love?
That's right...Music.

If you love to garden, bring them in the garden.
If you love technology, show them how it works.
If you love cleaning, teach them how to wash a floor!
Give them life skills! They will appreciate it when they are older.

Find out what your child's passion is and let them run with it.
They will learn leaps and bounds when the subject is of interest.

Yes your children will have to learn math and language arts...
....but don't let that crowd out your homeschooling.

A huge blessing of homeschooling is being able to provide your child
with an education suited to fit them as an individual.




The goal of our homeschooling is to teach our kids how to teach themselves.
We want them to go out in the world and be able to learn without someone holding their hand.

We don't want them to view school as something that
starts at age five and ends when they are eighteen.

We want them to love learning.
There is a great big world out there... beyond a workbook and a test!



The beauty of homeschooling is being able to do it your way.
Whatever works best for your family.
XxOo

Monday, November 2, 2015

At the Sock Hop....


To set the tone.  {Play before you read...}

My sister Stephanie held a Sock Hop Friday night.

Cheeseburgers. Root Beer Floats. Saddle Shoes. Poodle Skirts. Vintage Cakes and Pies.
Dancin' to the Oldies. Lots of Family. Lots of Friends. ...and the most handsome DJ you ever did see. 












Time for me to split....
After while crocodile. See ya later alligator.
XxOo

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The two just don't line up...and that's okay.





When you have little ones, parts of your day are very busy and other parts of your day are calm.
When you have older kids, parts of your day are very busy and other parts of your day are calm.

I have learned in the past couple of months that the two parts of the day do not line up!

I have a baby who wakes up in the wee hours of the morning..which is fine...I am a morning person..
...but that used to be MY time! Reading, Coffee, News!...Haha.

By the time he takes his morning nap...the older kids are going full force.

There are not many moments...if any..that are mine anymore.
I am never alone.

I don't mind it..please don't think I'm complaining....I absolutely love my life!
....but every once in a while...every once in a greeeeaaaat while...I want my own apartment.
My own immaculately- clean- Pottery Barn- decorated apartment.
With Jeff of course. I'll take him along. ;)

XxOo

Friday, October 23, 2015

Fashion Tip Friday ~



By now... everyone in the world knows braids are trendy.
This week I am in love with her hair...and shirt. I WANT that shirt!
Thought I'd share how to do this and where I found it.


....and one more song from  Drew Holcomb because he's just so good!

Have a great weekend.
XxOo

Thursday, October 22, 2015

This week we've...



...gone on 50 walks.
.....baked 1 batch of double chocolate m&m cookies.
...majorly cleaned out the girl's closet.
.......been listening to our Drew Holcomb vinyl...because he's our best friend.
.....purged the school room shelves. {sort of..still working on that}
...washed lots and lots of laundry and hung it out on the line to dry.
......gotten Frankie on a good sleeping schedule.
...read lots of books...mostly That's Not My Snowman. ;)
......watched our maple tree change from red to orange to yellow to the ground.
.....enjoyed the last of these 70 degree days!

.
Looking forward to the weekend.
XxOo