Family playing LEGO Rock Band :)
Posted by: Andrea on 
Dec 27th, 2009 | 
Filed under: Art and Music, Family Life, Humor, Photos
Hope you all have had a wonderful holiday!
Be the first! 
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 27th, 2009 | Filed under: Art and Music, Family Life, Humor, Photos
Be the first! Gingerbread cookies!
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 24th, 2009 | Filed under: Family Life
Shorty made these all by himself from scratch.
He really enjoyed squishing the dough around.
And they came out not just looking pretty, but tasting FANTASTIC!
Pictures from today’s Christmas party
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 21st, 2009 | Filed under: Family Life, General Homeschooling, Photos, Thoughtful Christianity
Today Shorty and I got together with six friends and four of their kids to have a little pre-Christmas party and fellowship. We have been hanging out with these ladies for fellowship and prayer for nearly five years – it’s a group of single moms from various churches around Greater Miami. There were a few of us missing, but in general, it’s a great and very encouraging and supportive group of people and we are so blessed to know them all! The party was AWESOME, with food from 4 different countries, a fun little gift exchange and lots of good music!
This season, we have focused hard on drawing closer to God and other people around us, vs. getting trapped in the relentless materialism and stress of the holiday season, and I have to say, it’s been one of our best, if not the best, Christmas season we’ve ever had so far. Definitely worth thinking about and redoing next year! Here is a picture of all my beloved friends:
Karaoke!
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 20th, 2009 | Filed under: Art and Music, Family Life, Humor, Photos
Over the last couple of months, Shorty has developed an intense passion for music. A few weeks ago he discovered karaoke. Yesterday, much to his joy, he discovered our local mall has a brand-new karaoke booth, and now he has his very own CD. 
Abstract Christmas Tree Art!
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 17th, 2009 | Filed under: Art and Music, Family Life, General Homeschooling
This very simple but super cute craft was made by gluing successively shorter strips of green construction paper onto white construction paper into a pyramid formation, then drawing a star at the top, then taking a flat pencil eraser and dotting the whole thing with different-colored tempera paint for the ornaments. You can make this as elaborate as you want; Shorty chose to decorate his with different colored glitter glue and added his own message of cheer at the bottom! This is a really fun craft – you can make it with really little kids very simply, or you can make it more challenging for older kids by using decoupage, collages, strips of material, different-patterned scrapbook paper, whatever you have on hand.
O Christmas treeee…
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 9th, 2009 | Filed under: Family Life, Photos
Our Christmas tree from years past was several years old and pretty decrepit, so I bought a 6 foot one for this year. They were only $20 at Kmart, marked down from over $50. That was a pretty good find, as far as I was concerned. Unfortunately, I feel like it looks a little sparse, since I didn’t add any new decorations, just used the ones from our 4-footer in years past, but I’m told by others it’s really cute. We chose a purple and gold theme last year to represent Jesus and the true meaning of the season. Wait, what? Purple and gold are all well and good, but sparkly hot pink has nothing to do with Jesus, you say? Ummmm… it’s for CONTRAST – yeah, that’s the ticket. Shifty eyes.
Unfortunately, I feel like it looks a little sparse, since I didn’t add any new decorations, just used the ones from our 4-footer in years past, but I’m told by others it’s really cute. We chose a purple and gold theme last year to represent Jesus and the true meaning of the season. Wait, what? Purple and gold are all well and good, but sparkly hot pink has nothing to do with Jesus, you say? Ummmm… it’s for CONTRAST – yeah, that’s the ticket. Shifty eyes.Also unfortunately, my house is TINY and I seriously had to spend 2 days rearranging furniture just to make room for it (and it still ends up partially blocking the AC) but all’s well that ends well! This picture is pretty horrible, but it at least gives you an idea of what it looks like.
This year I decided to start small on a tradition I’ve always wanted: a holiday snow village of porcelain figurines. Fortunately my local Walgreens was having a HUGE sale on some cute little figurines – these ranged from $0.50 to a whopping $2 – and I already had the “snow” blanket, so I set it atop the console you see when you first walk into the apartment. I added a little “hill” or two underneath the blanket for countours, and the beautiful large hand-painted wooden nutcracker my mom gifted us with this yeaar stands in the corner keeping guard. 
Shorty arranged the figures himself. I love the way it came out!
Shorty arranged the figures himself. I love the way it came out! The young woman who rang me up at Walgreens smiled at the figurines and said, “Are you adding these to a collection?” When I said no, I was starting one, she lit up and said, “I have a friend who did that! She started out with just a few pieces and added onto them every year. She started with a few like this, and now she has a whole coffee table covered in a cute little village! That’s how you get things done, you know. Little by little, you get there.”
I’m sure she has no idea how encouraging she was to me right then.
A Day in Our Homeschooling Life!
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 9th, 2009 | Filed under: General Homeschooling
A lady on one of my Charlotte Mason homeschooling Yahoo! groups challenged everyone who has a blog to chronicle a day in the life of our homeschool. Today is one of our more typical days, so I decided to blog about it.
9:30AM
We were at a friends’ house until very late last night, so we rolled out of bed at this hour, about an hour later than usual for us. It takes both Shorty and I a while to get our gears going in the morning, so we sat around and chit-chatted about last night’s shenanigans. Shorty told me all about a new video game, Guitar Hero 5, which is at the top of his Christmas list, and which our friends have. He described the details between the Wii and the XBox versions and all the different features.
10:00AM
We discover that one of our air conditioner wall units has leaked water all over the floor and spend some time cleaning that up. Ewww.
We discover that one of our air conditioner wall units has leaked water all over the floor and spend some time cleaning that up. Ewww.
10:15AM
A leisurely breakfast. Our choices of cereal, organic yogurt smoothies and some canned peaches. “Lite,” which I guess meant artificial sweetener. We didn’t love those. 
10:45AM
I give Shorty’s hair a trim which he’s been asking for for a while. He thinks it’s too short, but I really took onl a little over an inch off, except for the back. He looks really cute to me, but I’m biased
11:00AM
Shorty wanders off to get dressed/ stare at himself balefully in the bathroom mirror. I catch up on email.
Shorty wanders off to get dressed/ stare at himself balefully in the bathroom mirror. I catch up on email.
11:30AM
Advent calendar time! Today’s advent calendar featured Swedish fish, and a reading of Luke 5:4-7. Shorty has never eaten Swedish fish before, and asks to buy more when we do groceries later. I agree.
Advent calendar time! Today’s advent calendar featured Swedish fish, and a reading of Luke 5:4-7. Shorty has never eaten Swedish fish before, and asks to buy more when we do groceries later. I agree.
11:45AM
Shorty does Box #1, a reading of Chapter 27 of A Little Pilgrim’s Progress, which he is enjoying very much, and through which he is learning a lot about allegories, metaphors and symbolism in literature. Ambleside Online recommended the original, but I remember struggling through that in Advanced Placement English as a senior in high school. I think it’s too difficult for an 11-year-old, but the remarkable thing is that he picked Year 2, which some kids as young as 7 are doing. We’ve liked a lot of the books they’ve recommended – Shorty is loving Understood Betsy, this term’s literature selection, for example - but I think asking a 7-year-old to attempt to comprehend the original Pilgrim’s Progress is pretty much crazy. A Little Pilgrim’s Progress is so much more fun.
Shorty does Box #1, a reading of Chapter 27 of A Little Pilgrim’s Progress, which he is enjoying very much, and through which he is learning a lot about allegories, metaphors and symbolism in literature. Ambleside Online recommended the original, but I remember struggling through that in Advanced Placement English as a senior in high school. I think it’s too difficult for an 11-year-old, but the remarkable thing is that he picked Year 2, which some kids as young as 7 are doing. We’ve liked a lot of the books they’ve recommended – Shorty is loving Understood Betsy, this term’s literature selection, for example - but I think asking a 7-year-old to attempt to comprehend the original Pilgrim’s Progress is pretty much crazy. A Little Pilgrim’s Progress is so much more fun.
12:15PM
Math begins – box #2. Shorty is very ambivalent about math. On the one hand, he hates it. On the other hand, he REALLY wants to improve his math skills, because so many of his personal interests involve math, such as computer animation and video games. He’s getting through Developmental Math Workbook 8 (multiplication). He didn’t do all of yesterday’s assignment, so he does that and today’s. Doodling and staring off into space occurs, but finally, it gets done. I work on someone’s web site at the kitchen table along side Shorty as he goes, offering help as he needs it.
Math begins – box #2. Shorty is very ambivalent about math. On the one hand, he hates it. On the other hand, he REALLY wants to improve his math skills, because so many of his personal interests involve math, such as computer animation and video games. He’s getting through Developmental Math Workbook 8 (multiplication). He didn’t do all of yesterday’s assignment, so he does that and today’s. Doodling and staring off into space occurs, but finally, it gets done. I work on someone’s web site at the kitchen table along side Shorty as he goes, offering help as he needs it.
1:05PM
Box #3 – our Advent study. We are doing this as a family Bible study, and we’re not doing any other Bible study or devotions during the holiday season. We did days 7-9 since we’ve flaked out the last 2 days and it’s all really quick anyway.
Box #3 – our Advent study. We are doing this as a family Bible study, and we’re not doing any other Bible study or devotions during the holiday season. We did days 7-9 since we’ve flaked out the last 2 days and it’s all really quick anyway.
1: 40PM
Box #4 – Getting Started With Latin lesson 25, in which the direct object plurals are covered. We dropped the ball on this a little these past few weeks, but we’ve been “catching up” and should be back on track by next week. Shorty LOVES this curriculum, which he asked to study this year, and has been having a good time studying the relationships between Latin, English and Spanish, as a great lover of etymology. Yesterday we learned that “specto” in Latin means “I watch/ I do watch/ I’m watching”. His face lit up as he realized, “That’s where we get the word spectator from!” Then we brainstormed other English words that come from specto: inspector, inspect, spectacle, spectacular, spectre, etc. Good times.
Box #4 – Getting Started With Latin lesson 25, in which the direct object plurals are covered. We dropped the ball on this a little these past few weeks, but we’ve been “catching up” and should be back on track by next week. Shorty LOVES this curriculum, which he asked to study this year, and has been having a good time studying the relationships between Latin, English and Spanish, as a great lover of etymology. Yesterday we learned that “specto” in Latin means “I watch/ I do watch/ I’m watching”. His face lit up as he realized, “That’s where we get the word spectator from!” Then we brainstormed other English words that come from specto: inspector, inspect, spectacle, spectacular, spectre, etc. Good times.
2:10PM
Ten minute break and a late lunch. PB and nutella on whole-wheat bagels, and a piece of fruit We got a late start this morning – typically we’re done with lunch by 1:00 or 1:30.
Ten minute break and a late lunch. PB and nutella on whole-wheat bagels, and a piece of fruit
We got a late start this morning – typically we’re done with lunch by 1:00 or 1:30.2: 35PM
Box #5 – A two-page reading of Exploring Creation with Astronomy. We’re on Planet Earth, and today we read about the concept of mass and its relation to gravity. Shorty added some “fascinating facts” to his Earth notebooking page. The Apologia series came very well recommended by many homeschoolers for kids interested in learning more about astronomy. But it’s kind of repetitive – each chapter presents the material in exactly the same way – so when he’s done, we’re thinking of looking at WinterPromise’s new science projects, since they look way more fun and hands-on. Shorty is really interested in the one about the environment and weather. Today he did some really cute comic-book style illustrations about Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity
Box #5 – A two-page reading of Exploring Creation with Astronomy. We’re on Planet Earth, and today we read about the concept of mass and its relation to gravity. Shorty added some “fascinating facts” to his Earth notebooking page. The Apologia series came very well recommended by many homeschoolers for kids interested in learning more about astronomy. But it’s kind of repetitive – each chapter presents the material in exactly the same way – so when he’s done, we’re thinking of looking at WinterPromise’s new science projects, since they look way more fun and hands-on. Shorty is really interested in the one about the environment and weather. Today he did some really cute comic-book style illustrations about Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity
3:05PM
Box #6 – Trail Guide to US Geography – we’re studying New Jersey. Shorty was excited to learn from the atlas that one of the most definitive, if not the most definitive battles, that took place during the American Revolution, happened in New Jersey. He answers a handful of questions about New Jersey and the region. He is still figuring out how to look up information in an atlas or encyclopedia but he really feels proud of himself when he finds something. He’s already gotten pretty good at using the dictionary!!! But by now I’m starting to get a little aggravated at how long our day is, and I think he is too. This is cutting into my errand-running time!
Box #6 – Trail Guide to US Geography – we’re studying New Jersey. Shorty was excited to learn from the atlas that one of the most definitive, if not the most definitive battles, that took place during the American Revolution, happened in New Jersey. He answers a handful of questions about New Jersey and the region. He is still figuring out how to look up information in an atlas or encyclopedia but he really feels proud of himself when he finds something. He’s already gotten pretty good at using the dictionary!!! But by now I’m starting to get a little aggravated at how long our day is, and I think he is too. This is cutting into my errand-running time!
3:18PM
Box #7 – Map drill time – label and color a black and white line map of New Jersey. This is usually one of Shorty’s favorite things to do, but today the attention is slowly drifting off to Mars.
Box #7 – Map drill time – label and color a black and white line map of New Jersey. This is usually one of Shorty’s favorite things to do, but today the attention is slowly drifting off to Mars.
3:30PM
Ten minute break! I spend it perusing Project Gutenberg’s supply of McGuffey Readers after someone on the AmbleRamble Yahoo! group (discussion group for Ambleside Online) suggested it for reading comprehension; he spends it going to the restroom and checking his email. He sends email to his dad and they plot to talk on the phone later tonight. I decide to chuck the AO biography suggestion, The Little Duke, which Shorty isn’t getting much out of, with McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader instead, which sounds more enjoyable.
Ten minute break! I spend it perusing Project Gutenberg’s supply of McGuffey Readers after someone on the AmbleRamble Yahoo! group (discussion group for Ambleside Online) suggested it for reading comprehension; he spends it going to the restroom and checking his email. He sends email to his dad and they plot to talk on the phone later tonight. I decide to chuck the AO biography suggestion, The Little Duke, which Shorty isn’t getting much out of, with McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader instead, which sounds more enjoyable.
3:50PM
Box #8 – Shorty listens to Chapter 10 of Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield on Librivox as he reads along on Project Gutenberg. He is REALLY enjoying this book, much more than I thought. It’s very funny and very sweet! And there is a little boy whose name is the same as Shorty’s, though he’s a rather hapless character. Normally he doesn’t like stories about little girls, but this one is very charming and he warmed up to it immediately. He enthusiastically narrated and discussed the chapter. It was long, though.
Box #8 – Shorty listens to Chapter 10 of Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield on Librivox as he reads along on Project Gutenberg. He is REALLY enjoying this book, much more than I thought. It’s very funny and very sweet! And there is a little boy whose name is the same as Shorty’s, though he’s a rather hapless character. Normally he doesn’t like stories about little girls, but this one is very charming and he warmed up to it immediately. He enthusiastically narrated and discussed the chapter. It was long, though.
4:30PM
Box #9 – Our Viking Adventure literature study and lapbook. Today, we did the lapbook components for Chapter 6, though we are far ahead of that in the book, slightly over halfway. We’re not doing the lapbook components in order. Today we talked about runes and the value of formal education through the ages. We cut out some cards and he wrote a few words like his name and “Nintendo” and “Mario” and “music” in the runic alphabet. The book is far below Shorty’s reading level – something I didn’t know when I purchased it – but the story is a good one that has engaged his imagination and the unit study, combined with a few History Channel DVDs and lots and lots of Googling and web sites, has satisfied his interest in Viking culture thus far. I expect to be done with this by the time we break for Christmas.
Box #9 – Our Viking Adventure literature study and lapbook. Today, we did the lapbook components for Chapter 6, though we are far ahead of that in the book, slightly over halfway. We’re not doing the lapbook components in order. Today we talked about runes and the value of formal education through the ages. We cut out some cards and he wrote a few words like his name and “Nintendo” and “Mario” and “music” in the runic alphabet. The book is far below Shorty’s reading level – something I didn’t know when I purchased it – but the story is a good one that has engaged his imagination and the unit study, combined with a few History Channel DVDs and lots and lots of Googling and web sites, has satisfied his interest in Viking culture thus far.
I expect to be done with this by the time we break for Christmas.We gave up on the 3 remaining workboxes, at this point. They included a family tree project we’ve been working on, a Klutz set and a typing program.
5:20PM
Shorty showers and hangs out at my grandma’s house watching TV and I go run and do some groceries. Today was WAY too long, even though we did start at noon and took 50 minutes worth of breaks.
Shorty showers and hangs out at my grandma’s house watching TV and I go run and do some groceries. Today was WAY too long, even though we did start at noon and took 50 minutes worth of breaks.
7:10PM
Groceries took FOREVAH. I get home, grandma helps me unload. Shorty is on the phone with his Dad!
Groceries took FOREVAH. I get home, grandma helps me unload. Shorty is on the phone with his Dad!
7:25PM
Grandma offers to spring for Pizza, since it’s 2-for-1 Tuesday at Domino’s.
Grandma offers to spring for Pizza, since it’s 2-for-1 Tuesday at Domino’s.
7:50PM
Pizza arrives. I know a lot of people have dinner at crazy early hours like 5PM, but in many Latino and Spanish cultures, it’s common to have dinner much later. When I visited my paternal family in Spain, the family had dinner at nearly 10PM! Still, today we ran later for everything – usually our dinner is sometime between 6 and 7.
Pizza arrives. I know a lot of people have dinner at crazy early hours like 5PM, but in many Latino and Spanish cultures, it’s common to have dinner much later. When I visited my paternal family in Spain, the family had dinner at nearly 10PM! Still, today we ran later for everything – usually our dinner is sometime between 6 and 7.
8:00PM
We have dinner, and watch a little TV. We’ve DVRed A Charlie Brown Christmas and we’re excited for the premiere of Disney’s new Christmas special, Prep and Landing on ABC!
We have dinner, and watch a little TV. We’ve DVRed A Charlie Brown Christmas and we’re excited for the premiere of Disney’s new Christmas special, Prep and Landing on ABC!
9:15PM
Shorty is sleepy and starts getting ready for quiet time. We read a little bit of the Bluedorns’ The Fallacy Detective and a little of Viking Adventure before bed while listening to “Pomp and Circumstance” and a little of Ralph Vaughn-Williams’ first symphony.
Shorty is sleepy and starts getting ready for quiet time. We read a little bit of the Bluedorns’ The Fallacy Detective and a little of Viking Adventure before bed while listening to “Pomp and Circumstance” and a little of Ralph Vaughn-Williams’ first symphony.
9:30PM
Shorty has quiet time in his room, I refill the boxes for tomorrow, shower, and clean up in the living room. Usually at this time, he listens to the radio or his iPod, sometimes while reading.
Shorty has quiet time in his room, I refill the boxes for tomorrow, shower, and clean up in the living room. Usually at this time, he listens to the radio or his iPod, sometimes while reading.
10:00
Lights out for Shorty, and now I work, watch TV and catch up with my various social media outlets until around 2 – 3AM. I make sure to set the alarm for 8:30AM, and then we start it all over again. If I’m up particularly late or feel like I need a little extra sleep, I will leave Shorty and my grandmother a note with instructions for breakfast, and will sleep in until 9 or 9:30. I am working on waking up earlier though!
Lights out for Shorty, and now I work, watch TV and catch up with my various social media outlets until around 2 – 3AM. I make sure to set the alarm for 8:30AM, and then we start it all over again. If I’m up particularly late or feel like I need a little extra sleep, I will leave Shorty and my grandmother a note with instructions for breakfast, and will sleep in until 9 or 9:30. I am working on waking up earlier though!
Hopefully this has given you an idea of what a “typical” day in the life of a single parent who homeschools looks like. But of course, that’s with the caveat that there IS no typical day… which is just how we like it
December Girls’ Night Out!
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 8th, 2009 | Filed under: General Homeschooling, Photos
Every month, the homeschooling moms (and one homeschooled graduate older sister!) from our local park group get together one night to go to a restaurant, while the kids all hang out together at home or visiting each other. Here are the pictures from tonight’s shindig at the California Pizza Kitchen!
Thanksgiving 2009
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 5th, 2009 | Filed under: Family Life, Photos
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my grandmother, my parents and a family friend who was by herself for the holiday. We spent 2 days at my parents’ home and I spent most of that cooking the wonderful Southern recipes from Country Living’s Thanksgiving issue this year. On the menu:
Appetizer:
- Three balls of fresh, handmade buttermilk cheese, each with a separate topping: chopped pistachios, pickled fennel and brandied figs. AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. If you compare my picture and the one from the magazine, I’m proud to say they came out very similar! The cheese was incredibly easy to make.
- Whole wheat crackers, for spreading the cheese on
- Sparkling white wine (I would have loved to have tried the brandied plums sparkling white wine recipe from Country Living, but we just didn’t have the time. Maybe next year!)
Salad:
- Cold brussel sprouts slaw with vinaigrette and sesame seeds – delicious! Brussel Sprouts totally get an undeserved bad rap. We had optional spicy Italian herbs available for those of us who wanted a little kick to the salad. It was a bit cabbage-y, but we all like cabbage, so we liked this.
Side dishes:
- Steamed green beans in white wine and butter sauce topped with fried leek rings. This was a much lighter and much tastier alternative to the goopy soup-recipe green bean casserole and got many raves. The fried leek rings were a really nice touch. We opted for this over the au gratin potatoes that the magazine article recommended.
- Cornbread, Italian and sage stuffing. INCREDIBLE recipe. The only substitution I made was that I used a bag of dried tropical fruit instead of fresh pears. No one in my family likes pears. But we do like dried papaya and things like that! It came out SO GOOD, I should’ve made twice as much.
- Lemon-glazed baked sweet potatoes. I bought limes by accident and the glaze was way too sour for me :/ I had to drizzle on brown sugar to make it palatable. It was a really good recipe, and we love sweet potatoes so I may make it again, but next time I think I’ll use a lot less lemon/lime.
Main course:
- Smoked Paprika roasted turkey. The magazine had instructions about making Madeira gravy, but it was a lot of work and I’m the only one who likes gravy, so I didn’t bother. The turkey, I have to say, came out INCREDIBLE. It was a joy to eat leftovers for 2 days. LOL. I used a turkey baster – my family usually doesn’t – and it made a huge difference. It was so tender and juicy and the paprika gave it great flavor - and as the pictures show, it was awfully pretty.
Dessert:
- Sweet potato pie from scratch, using their recipe, made the night before. They recommended homemade buttermilk ice cream, but since all of the above already took 2 days to make and I don’t have an ice cream maker, I bought Publix brand Dulce De Leche ice cream. It was perfect with the pie! Which, unfortunately, didn’t last long enough to get a picture! LOL
It was a very peaceful and joyous Thanksgiving filled with lots of together-time – possibly one of the best we’ve ever had! Pictures below. The one of all of us at the table was taken by Shorty himself.
Say hello to my leetle friend.
Posted by: Andrea on Dec 2nd, 2009 | Filed under: Photos, Unschooling
It was raining yesterday, and rain in our area means teeny tiny snails by the back door rain gutter (which explains the water-blackening on the stair paint). A perfect time to go outside and observe all the creepy, crawly things that come out to play after the rain! This guy was so cute we spent a considerable amount of time observing him… and then Shorty discovered that he had a companion! Note the snail buddy by the water-blackened part. Cute! Slimy, but teeny-tiny and cute. As Shorty observed, he didn’t seem to react at all to the camera’s flash – didn’t even turn away from it. Shorty surmised that might mean snails don’t see very well, and online research confirms this.
We live in the inner city, though we have a small yard. Proof that you can do nature studies even if you don’t live in the country.
