Glendale Memorial Day

For the last four or five years, we've made the trip down to Kentucky Lake for Memorial Day weekend.  We decided to stay close this year because we hated to ask somebody to take care of all the animals (with Tucker's insulin and the chickens needing to go in and out of the coop, it requires two trips daily). 

We had a lovely weekend.  The weather was gorgeous.  We had some downtime...

Lots of card playing and loaded sandwiches...

LOTS of bike riding.  And guess who learned how to ride her bike after about 15 minutes of Daddy working with her?!  She was so, so, proud.  She only had one spill and by the end of the weekend, was riding all the way to the playground with Jenna (no adults!.

And this big sister was so happy and so proud!  She exclaimed, "YES!  Now I have a riding buddy!" 

There was lots of friend time too...
On Saturday night, we went to the Quints for a potluck dinner and party.  Bryan and I were talked into being the cops and chased a slew of kids all over the Quints' yard.
We spent several hours swimming at the lake on Sunday (no pics!) with some friends the girls met up with that we recognized from the Paducah Homeschool group. 
On Sunday night, the Turners came up for a visit.

Cozy camper at night...  Jenna took these two pictures of a card game right before bedtime.

Sweet Holiday

The Ideas Post

Here is a compilation of things I think look appealing for our Fall 2011 school year:
Oh Wait...Here's a couple of summer to-do's this month!!

Chocolate Banana Popsicles
Fudge Popsicles
Chocolate Kiwi Popsicles



Science

*Great List of Water Experiment Questions
*Making Field Guides
*The Magnifying Glass
*Nature Study in Action
*Thoughts on how to keep a nature study guide
*Authors Jean Craighead George and Gail Gibbons
*Ordering Magic School Bus videos according to what we are studying
*Great Science Ideas for Caroline and Jenna

Encouragement for me on teaching Science

Math/Logic

*Shrinky Dink Tangrams

*Mysteries to Solve similar to that at the Magic House

Writing/Reading
* A list of reading from Sonlight
*Another list from Sonlight (younger readers)
*Five in a Row reading list
*Charlotte Mason Lists:
Kindergarten
Year One

Art/Crafts
*salad spinner
*Rotating books for Jenna to pick from:
*Shrinky Dink jewelry


The girls and I exploring the museum under the St. Louis Arch while Daddy was taking a class

History
Great post on studying history

*How to make your own modeling beeswax
*A book and craft ideas




Lots of links to preschool ideas...
*Mary Kohl's books

Some to-do's for the fall:
*Go tent camping multiple trips--H.A. Rey's stars book, flashlights,
*Colonial and Indian Unit before/during the encampment


A collection of "curriculum" blogs I like in order to write my own:
*FIMBY's thoughts
*Lessons for a beginning Homeschooler

Materials:
Beeswax Clay
wooden people--different sizes
Shrinky Dink Plastic

"Stations" in the schoolroom--Rotating C.D. reads by grandparents, Uncle Ryan, Mom, Dad, etc.

Ideas for making our own notebooks...

Inspiration for going outdoors with the family more
Info on tents and gear
Lessons learned while camping

A Kindness Curriculum
Character Studies

Brainstorming--
Let them pick an animal and historical period to study. Create around that, including them choosing interesting books from the library ...
Alphabet glue ideas at the library--different one each time
Mailbox and delivery--hope to encourage writing

Books for me to write ideas: The Write Start, Peggy Kaye, Math for families,

Dealing with opposition and Bad Days

*Have Jenna and Caroline help me to design an art room!!!! Dictate a list of things they would like. Let them plan a meal and help to fix it (again dictate). Mama choose and then have them choose one!

*Ways to add Montessori to the mix!

*Singing!!!!! BBQ on the River Race Training