How to Eat Fried Worms

This year I am doing a read aloud each day after lunch. They are completing their yellow job cards before lunch (this works better than doing them after lunch because they work much faster because they are hungry!) So after lunch Natasha and Jadon lay down for naps so does Alexa but some days she gets to stay up for read aloud and then she lays down. I decided to start the year with How to Eat Fried Worms ( I know a real piece of classic literature...ha) Anyways we had a lot of fun with it. I finished the book by the end of the week so we had a very "special" lunch......

Dare I say it's a lunch of "worms and maggots"...EEEWW. (Have you ever cooked hot dogs in the microwave? Slice them and heat them in the microwave and they curl all up) They really look like worms!!

Dessert was yummy worms in dirt! (ground up oreos, chocolate pudding and whip cream with gummy worms)

The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad

A couple of weeks ago Jay started reading to the kids each night before bed.  We all gather in our room and they each pick a quiet spot to lay with their blanket and pillow.  Jay reads one or two chapters a night.  This has been a great thing for us o share.  But let me say it didn't start out this way, especially with a two year old.  Tasha is in bed before we begin.  The first couple of nights was hard and we were almost ready to give up but now they are so into it and love hearing the story (and all of daddy's different voices)  Then after the reading we each take turns praying together and that has been awesome. 

The first two stories we read were from Fireside Readings for families.  Now we have been reading "The famous Bedtime story books" by Thornton W. Burgess.  We first read The Adventures of Buster Bear and now we have just started The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad.  These books were Jay's mom's and Jay's grandma used to read them to him.

One night after reading Jay went outside to spray some bug spray (we have had a terrible time with crickets) before he started spraying he looked down and low and behold there was "Old Mr. Toad"  Jay called me out then I called the kids out of bed to come see him.  It was a surprise we haven't seen any toads in a long time.  We got some pictures before we let him hop off.

A Great Book I am Reading

Ever since Anastasia has been about two years old and we have gone to the library I always go over to the shelf that has the homeschooling books. So by now I have read a lot of them. Well this past week I found a new one. It is a great book that I just had to share about. It is called The Well-Adjusted Child The Social Benefits of Homeschooling by Rachel Gathercole. I haven't finished it yet but it is so good. I like it because it is different and actually answers the big "S" question (socialization) that so many non homeschooling parents seem overly concerned about. Where as us homeschoolers are so tired of that question and just laugh about it. This book in turn would then also be a great read for non homeschooling parents or parents who might be considering homeschooling.

Rachel breaks through the stereo-type perception that people have of homeschoolers. I think most parents truly have good intentions when asking that question because if it is a valid concern then they don't understand what homeschooling is all about. As homeschoolers we are so unlimited in our social outlets that our kids get to experience a wide range of activities with people of all different ages and backgrounds. They are not just straped in a classroom full of kids all their same age for 6 hours a day. Okay I will step down from the soap box now so you can go get this book and read it for yourself.

You can visit Rachel Gathercole's website and be sure to click on the link for the review of her book by ForeWord magazine. It is a great review and does the book more justice than I could do. www.rachelgathercole.com

Books I am Reading

I have 2 different books I am currently trying to reread and pull info from. I usually try to read at night when the kids are in bed and Jay is working on his homework.

I am reading My Heart's at Home by Jill Savage for the 2nd time. I love the ideas presented in this book as my heart has been for my home and family. It gives wonderful, practical ideas for building your home life and great encouragement for moms. I am looking into getting some of her other books. I just visited her website and blog for the first time. Take a look: http://www.jillsavage.blogspot.com/

The other book I am reading that is awesome is The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian. I just love the insights and specific things to pray about. It is helping me stay focused in my prayers for my children. At the end of each chapter there is also a prayer and list of verses to claim. I am such a list person and I think that is what I like about this is the specific examples. But also it is not a "rule list" like you must pray for this more of just guidelines and reminders.

Our children are such a blessing from the Lord and they are my most important "job" I have. I feel so blessed even on the days I want to string them up by their toes or I can't wait for them to get to bed I can then go in and look at them sleeping and just feel blessed.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord and their offspring with them. Isaiah 65:23

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3