Learning Journal *week 2*

It is only the second posting of our Learning Journal....and I am already late....but o well, I am a Mother among many other important things so that comes first. Better late then never.

Last week was not as eventful as before. In fact I am having a hard time remember what we did! I know I had some struggles through out the week. We were also fighting a cold virus among us causing everyone to have the cranky monsters picking on them. I spent a good portion of the beginning of the week trying to prepare some activities for entertaining the younger ones and for the older ones during the times when they are waiting for me to make the rounds.

Is this a hug or a choke hold?!?

.....................................Resource Favorites..................................

Because I was looking for some good "busy" activities for my young ones, my favorite resources this last week were from the web.  I found all sorts of useful ideas from fellow blogger: The Homeschool Den, in her Preschool and Toddler page. I was able to use a lot of the ideas there for us and from other links she has posted. One thing I did was take the "Mail it!" idea and turn it into our own. I found a small plastic trash can at the dollar store and labeled one side "Mail it!" and the other side "Trash it!". So far I have only used the "Trash it!" side with my first grader to practice her sight words. I flash the cards at her and if she reads the word she keeps the card, if she doesn't know it I say "Trash it!" and she puts it in the "trash". When we get through the stack of words, she then has to go "dumpster diving" and pull out one card at a time to practice that word. It seems to be working out well, and so far a favorite game for my HanaRose.

....................................Book of the Week..................................


Lyllian (10) has really been enjoying reading  the Ramona books by Beverly Clearly. I think this is fun because I can clearly remember enjoying these books too!

.....................................Star Students..................................

Everyone did okay, but I do have to say that my big girl Lyllian was incredibly helpful to me last week. She helped me print, laminate and cut all of the above mentioned new activities. She also spent a lot of time with her little sisters keeping them happy when I was my wits end.

.....................................Special Occasions..................................


HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

It was our DOUBLE birthday week. We had Ephraim who turned 8 and Evalynn who turned 2 the next day! We waited for Saturday to celebrate because........Dad came for a weekend visit! We were all happy to see him and it was fun to be able to celebrate together. We also got to enjoy watching General Conference (a LDS church  broadcast). It was wonderful to here the council given, I am always strengthened when I listen to Conference. 

Ephraim being the ONLY boy, always gets a totally BOY toy for his birthday. This year he received a large Remote Control Monster Truck and of course a practical gift (because Mom's are like that) a nice warm winter coat for our first real winter in 2 years! 

Evalynn received her first very own baby doll, two in fact, and a shopping cart/stroller 

to push them around in.

Other stuff we did:

So because last week was so off I am not going to delve into the other categories this time. But we did finish canning the peaches. We did not however do black berries...we were too late. There is always next year. We did have some great fun making play-dough and flubber. I found the recipes at this great website. We made the chocolate play-dough with the cocoa powder to use for our Volcanoes we will be erupting in the near future. I had to remind the kids that although it smelled like brownies....it's not...don't EAT IT!

Here is a video of Lyllian and Ephraim having a great time with the Flubber:

Happy Day!