Not a whole lot new here but I did want to wish you and yours a "Happy Easter!" We've been stuck inside again except for the occasional walk and then next week it's going to get even colder yet (40s) and rule those walks out LOL I've managed to get almost all of my monthly cleaning chores done already and it's only the 7th of the month. I just can't sit still inside. I like doing things throughout the day then working around 4 - 8 PM then settling down with a good book. Mini Me is still on he... Continue reading ...
I keep forgetting to blog *DUH* LOL We've been so busy lately, it's as if Thanksgiving just flew by. Mini Me did read a lot of great Thanksgiving books this year and we had an enjoyable time at my parents but I hate how fast the holiday season seems to go. I know it's partially due to how busy we get but I don't want to be that busy this year, which is why we will not be doing a lot of the things that we busied our schedules with in the past. Instead, I'm opting to watch many more Christ... Continue reading ...
It does! LOL I know, I know, it's that time of the year. Everyone is busy but Mini Me has just added a whole new activity. She's in the Christmas musical at our church every year but somehow this year it's snuck up on us. I keep swearing every year that I'll have Xmas gifts sewn ahead of time and even this year I'm still working on them LOL Needless to say, life is crazy. Sorry but that's the brief end of the stick. I hope all is well in your world and I also hope I'll get to update be... Continue reading ...
I'm taking a moment to look forward to the week ahead with its many events and opportunities for learning: - Tuesday we will get our hair cut (long overdo in my opinion) and go to Walmart before Mini Me has church that night.
- Wednesday I have an appointment to get my nails done while Mini Me is with her Pappy. Little does she know I plan on looking into her birthday cake too.
- Thursday is the library co-op. I need to make sure I have plenty of sewing to do LOL I finished the pumpkin and "boo" I ...
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Posted by Brenda Hoffman on Wednesday, October 5, 2011,
In :
I-CU Wednesday
“This week we want to…” I don't know about Mini Me but I want to spend some time at home. I'm so tired of being out running around everywhere everyday. Mini Me claims that she likes being on the go. One thing that we have done since Sunday is make some yummy fall treats including pear cake, pumpkin muffins and apple crisp.
“The kids are…” Not a whole lot new going on. Mini Me is just going with the flow and keeping out of trouble LOL We don't really have any great big projects g... Continue reading ...
Posted by Brenda Hoffman on Wednesday, September 21, 2011,
In :
I-CU Wednesday
“This week we want to…” This week we want to get into a better groove and also find some down time. I for 1 am sick and tired of running around and feeling like we are never home to get anything done.
“The kids are…” Mini Me is still driving me nuts at home. I want her to do an hour of schoolwork a day just to make sure she is where she should be but I know we're unschooling and it's just me going nuts. Fortunately for her, I let her choose what she wants to do during that hour LO... Continue reading ...
“This week we want to…” I think that the biggest goal for this week should be for us to fall into our new fall schedule and get used to it.
“The kids are…” Mini Me is keeping me really busy with all the stuff she has going on. It's been a real juggling act. While I knew it'd be busy I didn't plan on being this sick when I set it all up (I possibly had a stroke at the end of July so being out of the house is taking a real toll on me.)
“I am learning….” To let go and trust that... Continue reading ...
Well, we did a bit better today. Mini Me sure did get plenty of phys ed in if nothing else LOL She enjoyed playing mini golf with her grandfather and going for a walk with me. While on her walk we also managed to squeeze in some Latin roots as I pulled out a page that I'd laminated long ago clipped it to a clipboard and gave her a washable marker. She enjoyed finiding the items as we walked. This afternoon she's been putzing around, not doing much, but she's probably tired from all the g... Continue reading ...
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love - I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing and decorative achievements, but have not love - my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is pr... Continue reading ...
All of this talk of back to school has made me sick LOL Now seriously, I have noticed that I am being a bit more intentional with what we've been doing but I think that's because Mini Me has a lot of activities lined up for this year. She's going to do: - Chess class on Monday nights
- Youth group on Tuesday nights
- Wednesdays are usually spent with her Pappy
- Homeschool group (by her asking) on Thursdays
- We go shopping on Fridays
- Sundays are church
Now if that's not a busy schedule, I don't know what i... Continue reading ...
“This week we want to…” I'm not sure what we want to do this week. We've been kind of flying by the seat of our pants... it's summer after all. I know Mini Me wants to get out and about more but finding time and resources to do so is difficult. I hope she'll hang in there until Friday when we have free tickets to go see "Jesus Christ Superstar" but somehow I doubt it LOL “The kids are…” Mini Me is feeling restless. She wants to be out and about everyday going somewhere exciting.... Continue reading ...
It's blisterin' hot... Supposed to be over 90 tomorrow and Friday (UG). We've been doing our best to stay cool and in order to do so we're all stuck in 1 room. So, yesterday Mini Me and I went and collected some flowers and leaves and such to make natural paint dye. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Today she's off to see "Zookeeper." Tomorrow we'll try a pop rock experiment and make some puffy paint, maybe play a few games or something. What are you doing to try to keep cool without goin... Continue reading ...
Summer is speeding by and I've barely had time to share what we've been up to. There's a lot of great learning that can be done at this time of the year and we've been taking full advantage of it. Seems to me we've been out and about more than we've been home. I miss being home but this winter I'll probably say I'm bored because we'll be home so much. Here's a science experiment that we did today that you might enjoy. Take some time to do these great outdoor activities while you ca because... Continue reading ...
"If you hold on to all your old ideas and fears and images of learning,
every bit of that builds a curtain of "what should be" and you can't
relax, see and appreciate what is." ~ Sandra Dodd This quote makes sooo much sense to me. We've been unschooling for about a year but I've just really truly let go over the course of 2011. I've watched my daughter go from watching a lot of TV and playing a lot of computer games to actually doing a lot of great, neat things. We know argue less and have ... Continue reading ...
 *** This blog is part of A Writer's Mojo network *** Continue reading ...
That unschooling doesn't work and to get back to the lessons and workbooks and such. I'm sorry Mom... Even though I really do love you I find that unschooling has been one of the best things I've ever done for my daughter. I've found it's also been one of the best things I've ever done for our family. While I know I still have my daily struggles, my daughter is really blossoming. Just yesterday she was sharing things with me about bugs that I didn't even know. When I asked her where she'd... Continue reading ...
 Death is a part of life that we're learning to live and deal with around here. In November my Aunt Connie died. A good friend took us back shortly after the funeral to see the rest of my family, whom we hadn't seen in quite a while. I then proceeded to grow really close to my Aunt Alice, whom I'd never been close to before. Then in April she died. A few weeks later my daughter's pet mouse, whom she'd only had for a few short months, died. We had a funeral for him and to this day still p... Continue reading ...
Traditional schooling or even traditional homeschooling... Things that are hard for me to let go of. I have done both. I grew up attending a traditional school. Once I started this homeschool journey with my daughter, we started off as traditional homeschoolers - only to find that this really didn't work for us. Now we unschool. Unschooling goes against everything that is in me. Not in a bad way. It's just that traditional side of me tends to bulk at unschooling. However, I have seen that ... Continue reading ...
A. Age: me: 35 - daughter: 9 B. Bed size: twin C. Chore you dislike: laundry D. Dogs: No just cats E. Essential start to your day: me: Checking email and a few other sites - daughter: watching TV F. Favorite color: me: purple - daughter: Blue G. Gold or silver: me: silver H. Height: me; 5' 2" - daughter: 5' I. Instruments you play(ed): both of us have played piano - daughter plays guitar J. Job title: freelance writer K. Kids: 1 girl L. Live: PA M. Mom's name: Kay N. Nicknames: None O. Overnight hospital ... Continue reading ...
I seem to spend a lot of time online. This is because I work at home as a freelance writer and blogger but I must admit that it has also led me to choose to unschool my daughter. Of course, before you argue that this isn't a good reason to unschool, you should know that this is only one of my reasons and that there are many more as well. So, you may wonder what I enjoy doing while I'm offline. The funny thing here is that I actually blog about what I enjoy doing in my spare time. I love sp... Continue reading ...
And here are some great ways to celebrate: - Make a PB&J sandwich
- Swap recipes for the best tasting PB&J sandwich - Maybe there's something that someone adds to make theirs taste even better (i.e. marshmallows, raisins, butter, fruit)
- Make a triple decker PB&J sandwich out of 3 slices of bread instead of just 2
- Make a PB&J sandwich then put butter on the outside of the bread and grill it in a skillet until it is golden brown
- Have a crustless PB&J
- Use a cookie cutter to make a PB&J sandwich in the sha...
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I was doing some reading and some posting this morning on a few of the blogs I follow when I came across a big debate. People were questioning whether unschooling or classical homeschooling (in which Latin is taught and rote math drills used) was more "Christian." Now I honestly don't think that we were ever called to debate Christianity in these terms and especially not when it comes to our children's education. However, I'm not going to go into theology here. What I'd rather say is this... Continue reading ...
Posted by Brenda Hoffman on Thursday, March 24, 2011,
In :
local events
Are you ready to immerse your family in a
multicultural program? Wouldn’t it be
even better if this were a hand on program that included crafts, dancing, music
and exhibits that taught about the history, geography and customs of different
people? Add to this some shopping and
food and you say you’re ready to go?
Well, you will find all of this and more at the Pittsburgh folk festival
this year.
*** This blog is part of A Writer's Mojo network *** Continue reading ...
Posted by Brenda Hoffman on Monday, March 14, 2011,
In :
local events
With spring right around the bend (it'll officially be here in 6 days), it's time to start thinking about your summer plans. Does an art class for the children fit in there somewhere? Do your children love pottery? Are you located near Zelienople, PA? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you should know that a local potter and homeschool mom is offering pottery classes for children ages 7 and up this summer. More information on these classes can be found here.*** This blog is p... Continue reading ...
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