you next week. The first What's in the Box will be up sometime Sunday or Monday.
Friday, July 30, 2010
School will be in Session...
Monday! Luk is really excited, and I am overwhelmed because the school room got pretty cluttered after I went to a public school teachers moving sale. Sigh... However, the hubby and I will be cleaning on Saturday, and I am hoping that I will have the time to get it done then. We have had a busy summer with Youth camp, swim lessons, and mini-vacations. Now, it is time to get the school year started. See
you next week. The first What's in the Box will be up sometime Sunday or Monday.
you next week. The first What's in the Box will be up sometime Sunday or Monday.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Mommy goes to school from home, too.
For the past three and a half years, I have been finishing up my college degree online. GCU was my fourth college/university to attend, and I am happy to say that in May I graduated! Today... I got my Diploma. I am one happy Momma. It has been a full seven years of schooling, marriage, and welcoming two boys into our family, but I did it! If I may also pat my back a bit, I did it with honors! YAY!!! Super excited.
Here is the proof =D
Here is the proof =D
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Bowling: Our Family Date Night
I must say that Luk usually comes up with some pretty good ideas. We were planning on just taking the boys out to eat, but then Luk suggested a great little plan... bowling. I had asked him where he wanted to eat dinner. He had suggested "Taco Bell," however I explained to him that he doesn't usually eat well there. So, he said, "how about that bowling place and then you can teach me how to bowl?" GREAT IDEA!
The Hubs used to play in a bowling league growing up, and we just have never really thought about taking Luk. This may have to turn into a more regular event because we had a blast. Luk really enjoyed himself and so did we.
It was wonderful watching Luk's reactions to the pins falling, and his team work skills. If I didn't do to great, he would give me a high-five and say, "It's okay because you did good the first time." It was cute to see him cheer us on. I think the best part was that he didn't get upset if he didn't hit too many pins (the bumper guard was up). He is usually all about winning, but with bowling he just had fun. This has been something I have worked on with him. It is not about winning, but that he has fun while he plays, and he did just that. Here are a few photos:
Mommy Thoughts: Sports has always been a big thing growing up in my family. If it wasn't for hospitals, I am pretty sure that I would have born on a Baseball field. My dad umpired, coached, and my brothers played all year round. Needless to say, this turned into very competitive off-spring. You can't play a board game without usually the two brothers getting competitive. It took a bad experience in my life to realize that sports and being competitive just aren't THAT important.
Luk is naturally competitive, and it has been a challenge teaching him that sports are for fun not to get upset over. As the years go on, I know that this will continue to be a challenge as we are immersed in a town that puts sports in front of God. The priorities of sports is almost (if not) idolatry.
So, seeing Luk just have fun was refreshing. Rules that we have at home on recreation/sports: if Luk gets upset about losing or not doing good, we pull him away from the situation and talk about why he is upset. If he can't use self-control and continue to have fun, then he doesn't continue. Luk gets this way many times when he plays video game, and we have to take it away.
How do you teach your child to not be overly competitive in recreation?
The Hubs used to play in a bowling league growing up, and we just have never really thought about taking Luk. This may have to turn into a more regular event because we had a blast. Luk really enjoyed himself and so did we.
It was wonderful watching Luk's reactions to the pins falling, and his team work skills. If I didn't do to great, he would give me a high-five and say, "It's okay because you did good the first time." It was cute to see him cheer us on. I think the best part was that he didn't get upset if he didn't hit too many pins (the bumper guard was up). He is usually all about winning, but with bowling he just had fun. This has been something I have worked on with him. It is not about winning, but that he has fun while he plays, and he did just that. Here are a few photos:
Mommy Thoughts: Sports has always been a big thing growing up in my family. If it wasn't for hospitals, I am pretty sure that I would have born on a Baseball field. My dad umpired, coached, and my brothers played all year round. Needless to say, this turned into very competitive off-spring. You can't play a board game without usually the two brothers getting competitive. It took a bad experience in my life to realize that sports and being competitive just aren't THAT important.
Luk is naturally competitive, and it has been a challenge teaching him that sports are for fun not to get upset over. As the years go on, I know that this will continue to be a challenge as we are immersed in a town that puts sports in front of God. The priorities of sports is almost (if not) idolatry.
So, seeing Luk just have fun was refreshing. Rules that we have at home on recreation/sports: if Luk gets upset about losing or not doing good, we pull him away from the situation and talk about why he is upset. If he can't use self-control and continue to have fun, then he doesn't continue. Luk gets this way many times when he plays video game, and we have to take it away.
How do you teach your child to not be overly competitive in recreation?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
VBS and Our 4th of July
VBS was a great success for our church. Luk had a wonderful time, and the so did Reson and me. We challenged the children to bring any change that they could to raise $40.00 to send the blankets that they made for the children sponsored by World Vision in Africa. Well, our 51 kids brought $123.01. We were really proud, and for their awesomeness they got to pie our pastors. Luk was not too found of dad getting pied. He actually had to leave with one of the crew leaders because he was crying, poor kid. =) Here are some last day shots.
We had a wonderful celebration of the Fourth with the Landress clan, eating hamburgers and firing up some fireworks.
One last photo is our wonderful Ms. Linda taking care of the kiddos during VBS. Can you tell they love her?
We had a wonderful celebration of the Fourth with the Landress clan, eating hamburgers and firing up some fireworks.
One last photo is our wonderful Ms. Linda taking care of the kiddos during VBS. Can you tell they love her?
Friday, July 2, 2010
Continuous of Swim Lessons and VBS
Even though this has been a crazy busy week, I have to say that we have been tremendously blessed. Seeing young children and adult worshiping together is a wonderful sight at our VBS. As for swim lessons, I must say that I am incredibly proud of Luk. He has been doing an amazing job! Here is a short video clip of my little swimmer (by the way, if I haven't mentioned, we LOVE our instructors!).
Here are some still shots of him doing his thing in the pool.
VBS week continues, here is what got added to Luk's wardrobe.
Last night was the "Gospel" night at VBS, it was a beautiful drama that Group puts together for churches. Here is just one small thing of what the kids saw last night.
Logan has been having fun in the nursery this week, and in the pool. He is my water baby, so for him it is tough seeing his big brother in the pool and not him. Here is Logan with Ms. Niki, she's the sweetest!
Ms. Brittany (one of Luk's Sunday School teachers, her wonderful mom is the other teacher) took him for a little dip, and Logan showed her the love for cooling him down in the pool.
One more day for VBS, and another water filled week of Swim Lessons!
I leave you with Logan beginning to crawl!
Here are some still shots of him doing his thing in the pool.
VBS week continues, here is what got added to Luk's wardrobe.
Last night was the "Gospel" night at VBS, it was a beautiful drama that Group puts together for churches. Here is just one small thing of what the kids saw last night.
Logan has been having fun in the nursery this week, and in the pool. He is my water baby, so for him it is tough seeing his big brother in the pool and not him. Here is Logan with Ms. Niki, she's the sweetest!
Ms. Brittany (one of Luk's Sunday School teachers, her wonderful mom is the other teacher) took him for a little dip, and Logan showed her the love for cooling him down in the pool.
One more day for VBS, and another water filled week of Swim Lessons!
I leave you with Logan beginning to crawl!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Busy House this week as...
we are in the midst of VBS and Swim Lessons. There is one thing that I know about teaching my boys and that is, I have no problem letting someone else teach them how to swim! It helps that there is a wonderful group of students there to teach, and one of them being one of Luk's Sunday School Teachers. He loves Ms. Brittany, and it help tremendously that she is one of the instructors. I wanted to share some of the photos from his swim lessons, along with the wonderful week we are having at VBS. My husband and I have had the opportunity to lead the music this year, and what a blessing it has been. Our church's VBS comes from the publisher Group presenting the "High Seas Expedition."
This is just Day 1
VBS: Day 1 and 2 (wait til you see what he added to his wardrobe on Day 3)
Friday, June 25, 2010
Topic brought up to me...
First, I want to say thank you to those of you who let me know that my blog has helped them figure things out about homeschooling. My main purpose for this blog is to help those that want/need information about how to go about homeschooling, searching for curriculum, co-op programs, etc. So, when I get emails and messages of "thanks," it is pretty encouraging. The most recent message mentioned parents that homeschool for their selfish benefit and not their children's.
She wrote:
"There is one small problem I have encountered with homeschooling (as we are surrounded by A LOT of homeschooling families). And that is the parents who homeschool for convenience sake, and just do what they have to do to get by. These children end up getting an inferior education to what they would have gotten in public/private school."
Reson and I have actually had this discussion, as well. It's a hard thing to swallow, really, that a parent is not watching out for the well-being of their child. There a few ways we can look at this type of scenario: 1) Is the decision to homeschool a calling that you will dedicate your heart to teaching; 2)Are you homeschooling so that you can control everything and keep your child all to yourself, secluded with no real outside living? 3) Is homeschooling just convenient because you don't want to expose the world to your child?
Obviously, the first one is okay. As my friend wrote, "Full-Time" job is now being a parent, teacher, giver of guidance then you are in it for the right reasons. Your life work is dedicated to your children. You know that you want full responsibility on how they learn and experience the world. Now, does this mean control that is mentioned in 2, no. As I have written before, I want my boys to know what the world has, but I don't want them to learn it from an ungodly person. Is sex bad? No, not in the context marriage. Is alcohol bad? No, but if you allow it to consume your heart and you strive on that then yes. Is learning about evolution bad? No, but it should be taught that over time animals do evolve to adapt to the world they are living in, and humans do not evolve from apes. If you plan to control that your children will only learn certain things, control who they talk to, control can be a devastating situation to almost produce abuse.
I would hope that this type of problem is not the norm for those that homeschool. I do know of two people that were taught in one of the "easiest" forms, and as I told the person who wrote to me, you can see it! Those that homeschool for convenience sake usually have children that show it. They usually had social skill issues, they seemed like they just didn't know how to interact with people. They even seem to have attitude problems.
I am not a fan of using social skills as an issue, however when you have parents that are not really looking to out for their child's best interest, this is one of things that is effected.
We see public schools are harboring stumbling blocks to our children; we cannot be that as our children's parents. We have to show them godly guidance, practice self-control, and most importantly that we love them and want the best for them.
If we don't guide but control our children than homeschooling is not going to be what you wanted it to be. I also have to state that I'm not 100% sure that the education would be inferior than if they went to public school, however I would say that the family relationship will end up being worse than if the child did for to public school.
As I write this, we watch Mary Poppins. Jane writes in her letter, The Perfect Nanny, "If you won't scold and dominate us. We will never give you cause to hate us." Ouch! Think about that from a parent's view point...
In the end, there are always going to be those parents that homeschool for convenience. It may even be so bad that they just stick workbooks in their children's faces all day, or force another home teacher to teach them. Is the education inferior to a public school teachings, I don't know, but I do know that it may give cause to hate you.
She wrote:
"There is one small problem I have encountered with homeschooling (as we are surrounded by A LOT of homeschooling families). And that is the parents who homeschool for convenience sake, and just do what they have to do to get by. These children end up getting an inferior education to what they would have gotten in public/private school."
Reson and I have actually had this discussion, as well. It's a hard thing to swallow, really, that a parent is not watching out for the well-being of their child. There a few ways we can look at this type of scenario: 1) Is the decision to homeschool a calling that you will dedicate your heart to teaching; 2)Are you homeschooling so that you can control everything and keep your child all to yourself, secluded with no real outside living? 3) Is homeschooling just convenient because you don't want to expose the world to your child?
Obviously, the first one is okay. As my friend wrote, "Full-Time" job is now being a parent, teacher, giver of guidance then you are in it for the right reasons. Your life work is dedicated to your children. You know that you want full responsibility on how they learn and experience the world. Now, does this mean control that is mentioned in 2, no. As I have written before, I want my boys to know what the world has, but I don't want them to learn it from an ungodly person. Is sex bad? No, not in the context marriage. Is alcohol bad? No, but if you allow it to consume your heart and you strive on that then yes. Is learning about evolution bad? No, but it should be taught that over time animals do evolve to adapt to the world they are living in, and humans do not evolve from apes. If you plan to control that your children will only learn certain things, control who they talk to, control can be a devastating situation to almost produce abuse.
I would hope that this type of problem is not the norm for those that homeschool. I do know of two people that were taught in one of the "easiest" forms, and as I told the person who wrote to me, you can see it! Those that homeschool for convenience sake usually have children that show it. They usually had social skill issues, they seemed like they just didn't know how to interact with people. They even seem to have attitude problems.
I am not a fan of using social skills as an issue, however when you have parents that are not really looking to out for their child's best interest, this is one of things that is effected.
We see public schools are harboring stumbling blocks to our children; we cannot be that as our children's parents. We have to show them godly guidance, practice self-control, and most importantly that we love them and want the best for them.
If we don't guide but control our children than homeschooling is not going to be what you wanted it to be. I also have to state that I'm not 100% sure that the education would be inferior than if they went to public school, however I would say that the family relationship will end up being worse than if the child did for to public school.
As I write this, we watch Mary Poppins. Jane writes in her letter, The Perfect Nanny, "If you won't scold and dominate us. We will never give you cause to hate us." Ouch! Think about that from a parent's view point...
In the end, there are always going to be those parents that homeschool for convenience. It may even be so bad that they just stick workbooks in their children's faces all day, or force another home teacher to teach them. Is the education inferior to a public school teachings, I don't know, but I do know that it may give cause to hate you.
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