Keeping It Simple

NOT BLOG HOP I love to participate in the Not Back To School Blog Hops. August was just not having it though! So here is our "Not Back to School All in One" post. Meet the students: Our oldest student at home is Paul. He is 15. He LOVES volleyball! If there is a kid around, he/she will usually find Paul. He is always willing to give a ride, read a book, or have a good wrestling match with the little ones in his life. He loves to be doing- biking, boarding, snow boarding, long boarding... School, he does not love so much, but always mostly keeps a great attitude. Mark is "the middle child" in our homeschool. Mark loves football (playing flag and watching the Raiders), anything to do with the Civil War, dogs (that's his dog Fozzie up there), drawing, and generally being a goof ball. If there is a fussy baby in the crowd, Mark is your man. He has patience galore with the little ones. As far as studies go, he is an interest led man- if he ...

And A Little Of That We had our first turn with our little visitor. I'm going to need to come up with a blog name for him- I think I'm going to have the boys work on that. That is Mark's hand in the picture. As of right now, everyone is very anxious for "their turn" to help out. I hope that sticks! :)  Getting out and walking the dog and the new remote control truck. That's normal- right?  Doing some cooking. I'm trying to find some good quick breakfast ideas. Jen @ Forever, For Always, No Matter What has some recipes posted.  The bread was such a hit that we have made it twice already. My boys, who are still retraining their tastebuds that were too used to added sugar, are not as sure about the cookies (even though I sprinkled in a few chocolate chips!). I suspect the cookies would be a hit with little ones.   Trains are the new thing with the nephews around here.  And James discovered silly putty. Poor deprived boy!...

Some of this is a rerun, but I have gotten a lot of interest in last year's American History Studies, so I thought I'd post an overview of the "Division and Civil War" portion of our studies. Mark and James (9 and 12yo) used History Pockets to document these two history units. Paul, my high school student, used notebook pages that I will add later (don't have pictures). We used " Hands on History " to document our Colonial and Revolutionary War studies, but I was not as happy with the Hands on History Civil War volume.  (By the way, if I could go back in time, I'd make this two posts. Lots of pictures and very long! It took too long to get it up, so I leave it as it is with my apologies.) American The Story of Us- Episode 4: Division  (We purchased the DVD series new at a very reasonable price after it became unavailable on Netflix) Episode Guide:  (IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT EPISODE GUIDES AT BOTTOM OF POST) I fi...

Hi all!! Okay, hi to the two or three faithful readers of this blog. I have attempted to keep up on blogging, but... We had wild ride through May of birthdays, sacraments, parties, and trying to end the school year... on to the summer that was suppose to be "laid back". Not so much!!! But we have had some wonderful days! (if you have the patience, there is more past the pictures all the way at the bottom ;)) Here's a little photo wrap up of the last few weeks (month or so):  'Cause you need an uncle to show you how to stick out your tongue in pictures.   And one to hold your hand while he pushes you on the swing so that you can "be brave".  Selfies always make these boys happy and goofy.   Doesn't everyone read on the beach?   Uncle Paul is pretty much "it" with all the little kids.  No, I do not have them in baby jail! This is our kitty proof sandbox. ;)   Sometimes, when driv...