Spring Break

We've been on Spring break this week. This has been such a nice break in routine for us. The kids have had multiple sleepovers, with kids coming in and out of the house constantly. It almost feels like summer. With the sunny days and nice warm air my mind is definitely playing tricks on me. But alas these days will end soon and our normal routine will begin again.
A few of the things we've done this week:
Met with our ES.
Bug had to take the 5th grade PE test.
Frodo had his endoscopy and biopsy (which went well).
Monkey got to see how a tow truck works.
Everyone just played.
We had a few school like things in there since we were supposed to take spring break last week. All the kids friends were on it this week so it worked out so much better.

Catching Up

So even though I have the never ending cold we still managed to have a busy week.
Monday: Bug performed her Shakespeare pre-show scene for critic by the director. She is Juliette in the scene. The three kids working on it have to do all the blocking, directing etc. themselves, so this was sort of their approval to go forward with what they have done.
Tuesday: We got lots of school work done. We read The Librarian Who Measured the Earth and more of Archimedes and the Door of Science. We also read more Greek myths. Frodo also made a new friend who is new to homeschooling.
Wednesday: Monkey played with a friend all day. Bug went to Kidspace Museum all day and I chaperoned Frodo's Boys survival skills class. Frodo's class was really cool, this week was wild edibles week. The boys foraged for food and cooked an entire meal out of it. We had a wild salad, rose hip tea, prickly pears, cactus, and yucca root. It was surprisingly tasty.
Thursday: The kids went to a spring party. Then I began to sleep for the next two days!
Friday: I was still on the couch but we watched some History channel and the doctor's office finally called to schedule Frodo's endoscopy for next week.

Sick again

Sorry for the lack of post but I am sick yet again...

In good times and bad

This week has been full of wonderful things but also some not so great things. I'm going to start with the good. We are having a FABULOUS week in regards to schooling. Things have never been smoother and I feel wonderful that I have renewed energy and enthusiasm.
We also had a great play date for the kids and mom. We went to a local art museum with a friend who just moved to the LA area. I also read a book this week that was non fiction *gasp*.
Now on to the not so great things. Baxter got neutered today. He's not feeling so great and has a bit of recuperating to do. But in the end it will be a good thing. He just breaks my heart looking so sad. I even had to put the "satellite dish" on him because he was trying to lick his wounds.
Now on to my dear Frodo. Just when I think this kid has already had enough to deal with more gets put on his plate. So we saw the pediatric endocrinologist on Tuesday. Which led to X-rays and a huge amount of blood work on Wednesday. They took 8 vials of blood. This seems like a huge amount when you look at the size of him compared to all that blood. There is a good chance he will be doing an all day test soon. He'll need to be admitted in the hospital for the day for this blood test. We are having to move quickly because even though you can't tell by looking at him he is full swing in adolescent changes.
Then today we had his usual six month check up with the pediatric G.I. doctor. This lead to the discovery of an allergy to corn. Given that the child can not eat gluten, oats or soy he has been practically living on corn! To top it off the biopsy on his small intestines and stomach that we have been putting off really needs to be done now. Hubby and I discussed it this evening with him and we're going to go ahead and schedule it.
Believe me I know there are much worse things in the world that he could be have. I do feel blessed that it isn't anything worse. We've also made him very aware of this. But my heart just breaks that its always him with the health problems. Of course for the rest of today he was incredibly upset that he will not be able to have corn. Lucky for him that in order to get a proper biopsy reading he needs to continue eating it. He wants me to make him everything he loves that has corn in it before he has to stop. So it looks like I'll be making lots of cornbread tomorrow!

The Plan

Here is my direction for the rest of the year:

Everyone:

History:
Finish ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
World Geography

Science:
Archimedes
Nature Journaling (local plant, animal life, ocean life)

Art:
Hokusai
Trip to Getty Villa to see Greek and Roman art works
Child's introduction to poetry

Math: Finish current programs

Literature: Continuing with classics

Archery

Older two only:
Copy work: From Aesop and various sources
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Shakespeare program

Frodo:
Finish phonics program
Start Japanese?
Guitar
Fencing

Bug:
French
Piano?
Art lessons
Italics handwriting

Monkey:
Piano
Duo reading (he recently told me he doesn't want to read because he enjoys being read to. But he seems to know how to read much more than he lets on.)

I'm excited to have direction again!

Renewal

I finally feel like I have a grip on schooling again! I've done a lot of reading lately on different educational theories trying to find the right fit for us. I have felt very overwhelmed lately with what the kids have been doing. And I have just wanted to find the right nitch. The hard part is that I find things I like about most all the theories.
Today I attended a Charlotte Mason seminar, which has me feeling like this is exactly what I've been trying to accomplish. I loved that the speaker was so honest about working things out with in a large family. I also loved that she talked about working other philosophies into what your doing.
Now I have always been interested in Charlotte Mason but there always seemed like so much to read before diving in. It was so wonderful to have a speaker lay it all out there for you. It was also great that she was so normal and human, not some super mom who gets tons of great books read to her 4 children of all different levels. I finally feel comfortable going back to teaching the same general things to everyone, just tailoring certain things so they are appropriate to each child. Because I can't complain enough how doing three separate curriculum's has killed me this year! I have been suffering from some serious burn out.
My favorite things that I got out of today were the nature journals and the art appreciation. The nature journals were remarkable. It is something I know my kids would love to do and it seems so communal with nature and their environment. The art appreciation has been very lacking around here lately. I love the suggestion of breaking it up with poets and musicians as well. I can't wait to get started!

Getting through the colds

Everyone in the house has been sick this week. I dragged them through DLand while they were coming down with the cold. Boy do I feel like an awful mom! I have a lot to report as soon as I can stop being called for by the invalids! ;)