slice of my life

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, May 30th

Today's PhotoHunt theme is books. Ahhh . . . summer . . . the time for reading club at the library. Half of our books are from the library here in this picture. These are the books we are reading currently. B has the record of 3 books going---A Brief History of Pants (Poskitt); Eggs (Spinelli), and Pizza, Pigs and Poetry:How to write a Poem (Prelutsky). J and I have two each, and Larry has only one. We haven't moved on to new books from what I wrote in the previous post!
If you'd like to see more books, go to TNChick's site and have a look! next week's theme is advertisement.

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Thursday, May 28, 2009

Currently Reading

Larry---Novelized form of The Phantom Menace

Me---Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl (Fannie Flagg)
I got my Cliff's Notes for A.K. yesterday. So far, so fgood for my classical challenge


J---Hot Lunch (Alex Bradley)

A Brief History of Pants (Poskitt)
Eclipse (Meyer) he is still not done!!


B---Pippi Lonstockings (Lindgren) (a chapter in Spanish, then in English to check for understanding)
I, Freddy (Reiche)

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It's Summer!

I'm out of school, the kids are out, and MY DAY is on my schedule once again! Sorta.

I'm SO glad to get the summer going.

I input all the summer options into the Yahoo calendar and we have an option for almost every day this summer. Included are calendars from:

The Library (both the regular program and the Teen program J could go to)
The Movie Theaters ($1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays @ 9:30---both our local ones!)
Troupe activities (J)
Summer Track (B)
Church camp (J and B)
Craft days at Michael's
Softball (we're stil not done)
Paydays!
Middle School band camp (J)

That's a full summer. Of course many things are just optional.

B is already half-way through her public Library reading chart---and she's doing 45 minutes per segment! J has an hour per segment, and he's doing fine. But B is reading like crazy. It may have something to do with computer time being tied to reading and chores. But it really doesn't---B just loves to read.

I'm also making an effort to raise my kids' appreciation for the lowly sandwich. I even got some Provolone for J---he makes a wonderful warm Turkey and Provolone on white bread. I got some beautiful tomatoes for my sandwiches! Kroger had some yummy ones for $1 a pound. And chicken tenders on sale for a great price---making a casserole for Diane's family tomorrow.

I've been successfully limiting computer time around here. I have an equal work for equal time on the computer plan, for the most part. B picked up dog poop for a 3 times bonus this morning! ;-o It was really yucky----I had to help her at least this first time. So 10 minutes of gross work got her a half-hour on the computer this afternoon. J got 5 minutes for taking out the trash (this one takes so little time, I just had to give a whole 5 minutes). I'm adding onto a list as I think of some more unusual jobs or things that need to be done only occasionally. The hard part is (and I saw this coming), there are chores that need to be done more frequently that the kids don't really want to do. But we have to do them! So far my plan is that I expect them to do about 3 jobs a day, and I get to pick one. Hopefully this will get the more necessary jobs done.

And get our house back in order!! Yikes, it's so out of control right now.

I have great hope for our summer, though! ;-) Hope you are already enjoying yours.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, May 23rd

This week's theme is plastic. I had my last week of school this week, and Wednesday was our Carnival Day, where I tookthis picture. These plastic flags, and the little sister of a student running her fingers along them, caught my eye. My school year is finished, right down to getting my first grade materials moved into my classroom for next fall. I feel relieved and excited about the summer! I will be finishing up those little details of getting my certification. I put this to the side while the end of the year got so hectic. I have one big test to take. My money's almost all been sent (one more paycheck garnished), and the ducks are lining up. Almost done!
This summer, I'll be able to be chauffer and just be "Mom."
Next week's photo theme is Books. Great! Go by TNChick's site and check out some more plastic!

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Saturday, May 02, 2009

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt, May 2nd

Today's PhotoHunters theme is walking. My daughter B reminded me of the pictures we took when we did the Ten Commandments Hike in Houston in February 2008. We walked 5 miles that day! We saw 10 churches along that walk.

Here are the girls at the beginning of the walk, when energy was high and the day was cool.Here are a bunch of girls walking to the next stop. I had the girls take notes along the way about the buildings or the talk that we heard at each stop. Each church had a speaker talk about one of the Ten Commandments.
Here is one of the churches with people walking in front of it. This is an event sponsored by the Boy Scouts, but it is really beneficial for anyone who can go. We tied the walk in with a Junior architecture badge.
Next week's theme is called "In Memory" which sounds like I better get serious. Check out more walking photos at TNChick's website.
Enjoy your weekend! We are going to a Secret Keeper Girls show---B and I, at noon today. Looks to be fun!

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