Thursday, July 24, 2008

Our expanding family!!


So here we are, expecting our 4th child (and 3rd girl). It was truly a surprise but this has been a fun pregnancy!! The kids are so excited and that makes everything a lot funner!!


I am now 29 weeks along and am growing every minute it seems like! This pregnancy has a lot more pain and discomfort though. I am looking forward to adding another child to our family!! We have no names set in stone yet but here are some of our thoughts:
Sophia Grace, Ashley Grace, Ashley Elizabeth, Hannah Grace, Lillian and Sally.
That last one is Sammy's favorite!!! :)
Well, I've got a doctor's appointment on Monday and I'll post more then. Have a great weekend!

Our expanding family!!


So here we are, expecting our 4th child (and 3rd girl). It was truly a surprise but this has been a fun pregnancy!! The kids are so excited and that makes everything a lot funner!!


I am now 29 weeks along and am growing every minute it seems like! This pregnancy has a lot more pain and discomfort though. I am looking forward to adding another child to our family!! We have no names set in stone yet but here are some of our thoughts:
Sophia Grace, Ashley Grace, Ashley Elizabeth, Hannah Grace, Lillian and Sally.
That last one is Sammy's favorite!!! :)
Well, I've got a doctor's appointment on Monday and I'll post more then. Have a great weekend!

Lapbooking

Lapbooking, ever heard of it? Well lapbooking caught my eye quite some time ago but we are just now getting around to the actual making of the lapbooks. We have thoroughly enjoyed them!!! They are a great way for the children to learn with a hands-on approach and what child doesn't like that? The children are also cementing the concepts in their minds every time they interact with the lapbooks. GREAT!!!! Learning while playing...gotta love that!!!
Here are some videos of some of the lapbooks we've done here at Ruby Slippers School.

Transportation Lapbook:


If you would like to do this lapbook look here: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/transportation_lapbook.php

Creation Lapbook:


Here's the link for this lapbook: http://christianpreschoolprintables.com/blog1/?p=128

Addition Families Lapbook:

Look here for this lapbook: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/addition_facts_lapbook.php

If you'd like more info. on lapbooking check out this website for more explination and links to other great sites!!

www.lapbooklessons.com/jamin/2008/01/11/how-to-begin-lapbooking/

Biggest Sister Graduation #1

I can't believe that we've graduated our first little one from homeschool Kindergarten!! How quickly the time goes!!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A little portion of our day

Well, we've wrapped up another day here at Ruby Slippers and I'm glad to say that it's been a good one. We are using the Heart of Dakota curriculum this year and I am glad that we are!!! It's been a sweet four weeks and this curriculum has added such peace to our days. I will explain further in another blog so check it out! Here are some photos of what we did today!

Brother is keeping himself busy!!!!


For "recess" today we went on a "hunt" led by our resident detective Biggest Sister. (She drew a map and everything!!) A few days ago while on a walk with Daddy we found a little bird on the side of the road that didn't look like it could fly. The children were enamoured and wanted to bring it home however Daddy firmly said no. So the kids all wanted to go and see if it was still there.

Our little detective!!!

And a princess too!!!

Looking at an ant hill.

So there we went, a pregnant mom, a little boy pushing a stroller with his hippo "Chunky" in it, a princess and her baby and our detective. Armed with a magnifying glass, map and backpack (oh yeah, and a piece of rescue string "just in case some one falls or gets lost") we were off. It was a nice little stroll even though we didn't find the little bird. And Mom needed the exercise!! We returned home to complete most of our assignments and managed to stick lunch, 3 stories, clean the kitchen and the living room in there some how!! Now everyone is down...but not yet asleep...and I am talking to you all!!


Here are some pictures of our "homeschool" area. Our house has an open floor plan so everything is connected to everything else and that makes for a difficult task when it comes to "organizing the school area." (Can that ever really be accomplished?!) To help us out we purchased some stackable units from Target and have FILLED them up with all of our school items. As you can see from the pictures they are pretty packed. The lower drawers are for the kids to put their personal school books and supplies in. (Thankfully there are 4 drawers cause we are about to have our 4th!!)

Our homeschool closets.


We usually do our workbook assignments at the table (on which you can see Big Sister busily working on her Penmanship assignment) that is smack in the middle of a walkway but it's a thin table and hasn't been too much of a bother. Today Biggest Sister wanted to do her work in her room. I felt it would be fine because she tends to get frustrated with so much noise from Big Sister and Brother while she's trying to concentrate. In the photo you can see her working at a shelf which previously held their reading books but have since been packed away as we are trying to get their room repainted before the baby gets here. (Hopefully it'll happen). She was content to be working at her own little desk though!!



And as for Brother...well, you can see from the picture at the top he keeps himself occupied while the girls are working...normally!!!

It's been a good day and I am thankful for that!!! I love to homeschool!!!

School is now in session!!! Glad you came to join us!! So, why Ruby Slippers School? Well it's simple, our home is our school and there's "no place like home" right?!

This is my 3rd year of homeschooling and I am schooling a daughter in 1st grade and another who in Pre-K/Kindergarten work (at a leisurley pace of course). Tagging along with us is little brother whom I am trying to include regularly.

We have chosen to homeschool because we feel that it is the Lord's best for our children and our family. At first it was a very daunting and frightening task that I didn't feel I was up to but the Lord has allowed me to grow in many aspects and I am thoroughly enjoying it and continue to learn right along with the children. It is still scary at times however I know that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

So, read on and find out why there's no place like home for us here at Ruby Slippers School!!

My first entry!!!

Yay!! I've done it!! This is kinda exciting...my first blog!! I feel "tech savy" now. Although maybe I shouldn't cause in the terms and conditions it stated that I had to be AT LEAST 13...13!! The more I think about it the more I realize that I'm probably just behind the times and not "tech savy"...so, I'll stop thinking about it.

Anyway, welcome to our home!!! I plan on blogging whenever I get a chance but not so much that I neglect my home so it may not be too often. I'll mainly be blogging on this blog about our goings on as a family. If you are interested in our weekly adventures as a homeschooling family checkout my blog at www.rubyslippersschool.blogspot.com. There you will have a small taste of what life is like for our little ones and their schooling!!!
So, sit back, relax, read and come back and visit often!! Hope you enjoy yourself and thanks for coming home with us!!!

My first entry!!!

Yay!! I've done it!! This is kinda exciting...my first blog!! I feel "tech savy" now. Although maybe I shouldn't cause in the terms and conditions it stated that I had to be AT LEAST 13...13!! The more I think about it the more I realize that I'm probably just behind the times and not "tech savy"...so, I'll stop thinking about it.

Anyway, welcome to our home!!! I plan on blogging whenever I get a chance but not so much that I neglect my home so it may not be too often. I'll mainly be blogging on this blog about our goings on as a family. If you are interested in our weekly adventures as a homeschooling family checkout my blog at www.rubyslippersschool.blogspot.com. There you will have a small taste of what life is like for our little ones and their schooling!!!
So, sit back, relax, read and come back and visit often!! Hope you enjoy yourself and thanks for coming home with us!!!