A Glimpse of What We've Been Up To :D

Oh my gosh! I haven't updated this blog for quite some time now. Yikes! :) I actually meant to post about the free parenting seminar on reading we attended last month here, but did so at Truly Rich Mom instead. Anyway, forgive me for the lack of updates. It's been a busy, busy almost-two-months! 

Here's a brief glimpse of what we've been up to in our homeschool:

• Reading more Bible stories :) We got a new but old (pre-loved) Bible called "The Young Learner's Bible Storybook" from Book Sale and it has been very useful! :) It contains activities, songs (some based on popular nursery rhymes), memory verses, learning "themes" and more! :) On "lazy" homeschooling days, we just read lots of stories from this book! 

(And when I feel bad or guilty about that, I will try to remember this line from the blog Simply Living... For Him: "If we were to do nothing but read the Bible everyday for a few months, then we still win. God's Word is more powerful and active than any textbook." Though of course, she was referring to the actual Bible in that post; not a Bible storybook. Nevertheless, I'll take Bible stories over not doing anything else any day!)

• More unit studies from Five In A Row (though on many weeks, it was more like "Three In A Row" and "Two In A Row" meaning we only read the books and did the corresponding activities for three or two days! Waaaahhhh!) 
• Week of July 2 to July 8: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
• Week of July 9 to July 15: The Story of Ferdinand
• Week of July 16 to July 23: Mirette on the High Wire
• Week of July 23 to July 29: The Tale of Peter Rabbit
• Week of July 30 to August 5: Make Way for Ducklings
• Week of August 6 to August 13: A New Coat for Anna
• Week of August 14 to August 19: The Glorious Flight

Books for The Story of Ferdinand

Books for Mirette and the High Wire week :) 

Measuring activity inspired by A New Coat for Anna

• Memorizing this Bible verse about glorifying God in all we do
• Birthday celebrations 

Our little flower turned 3! :)

"Making" a birthday cake for one of their fellow homeschoolers :)
With lots of help from Papa 

• A "field trip" to the Robot Zoo (Details here.)

• Starting soccer training for our little man, with fellow homeschoolers, under the Azkals Global Football School. :) (This deserves an entirely different post! :) God has been generously providing for the payment for these sessions somehow! Thank You, Lord!)

• LOTS of water play using this great water table I got at 75% off! BUT we are cutting down on that now; our water bill is ridiculous! Besides, we're trying to teach the kids about conservation and loving the environment, especially because of the recent floods.)

• "Homework" time — What the kids call workbook time. :) Rysse usually just scribbles and draws; Tim works on (sometimes) his preferred worksheets; sometimes I choose them. I'm still too flexible about this, I think! LOL! :) We do this on weeknights, sometimes, or weekends. 

• Special Playtime + Storytelling session and Arts and Crafts with other kids while Teacher Mama attended a free seminar on How to Make Reading an Effective and Lasting Habit. Tim was also assessed for free at The Learning Library. (Photos here.) We are thinking of enrolling him for additional reading (and writing?!) lessons BUT... well... y'all know our main concern when it comes to enrichment things like that, right?! Still, God is faithful, right?! :) Let's see what September will bring!

• Being interviewed for ANC :) The segment aired was super short (according to those who watched it — we haven't yet!) — but the day of the shoot was full of drama (prior to going to the venue, which I need not describe in detail anymore); playtime with fellow homeschoolers; etc. I was very proud of Tim for how he answered the reporter's questions — praise God! :) Will post a link to the video soon. In the meantime, here's a photo one of my friends posted on my FB wall:

Praise GOD for this opportunity to share about homeschooling, even if it was only for 60 seconds! 

• Lots of outdoor play + YES, videos on DVD, too, plus Disney Jr. shows when the kids are at my in-laws. Plus the occasional computer game. We try to limit screen time (mostly for Tim), though many days, the key word is TRY! *sighs* And yes, for those of you who don't let your kids watch any TV at all, you guys are truly my "idols!" But, well, for now, this sometimes-frazzled-work-at-home-often-sleepless homeschool mom will go with whatever works, especially when there are deadlines to meet. (And I will do my best not to feel so guilty about it, especially when I read non-TV-watching-homeschool-families' blogs! LOL!)

• Talking about the heavy rains + typhoons + floods and ways to help the victims

Well, I guess that's it for now. :) I really should be getting more sleep, LOL! ;) September is almost here (ohmygosh!) and since we recently registered with Kolbe Academy Homeschool and are waiting for our materials, I am a bit tempted to "restart" the school year to coincide with our American friends. :) PLUS, I really SHOULD get our CHC materials in order so we can maximize them more! *sighs* Let's see how it goes.

In the meantime, God bless, everyone!......zzzzzzzzz.....