Setting up the school room and extra preparing

Today I am rearranging my school room trying to get it ready for school to start. Not a lot of changes going on, but hoping that this will be our main place of learning.

Daddy will be doing two of her classes this year and he spent all day preparing for his Chinese class yesterday. I think he is getting as excited as I am about the possibilities for the year.

My daughter and her will to learn...

The last time that we went home to Georgia, my father in law was fussing at my husband about Madeline not knowing Chinese. He says that she is now too old to learn and we have missed our opportunity for her to learn to speak Chinese. Well, of course, my dd has decided that she will prove Ah-Yeah wrong. She has asked her daddy to teach her Chinese this year as apart of her school work. If there is one subject that she is determined that she is going to do well in - it is Chinese. All to prove to Ah-Yeah taht she can do anything!

My sweet husband has been working all day (on his day off) figuring out how he is going to teach her Chinese. He has been preparing his notes and getting ready for our first day of school. This will be his first subject that he is teaching her, but I have no doubt that he will do excellent as well as she will prove to Ah-Yeah that she CAN learn Chinese.

The Wonders of God

We can go outside and see all of the wonders that God has made. It always amazes me that there are such beautiful things in nature. Even a spider web that is so carefully sewn together is a wonder from God. We currently have more than our share of spiders in the front yard and dd and I love to go out in the morning when they are catching the dew to look at them.

We went to Gainesville this week to a butterfly exhibit and I was truly amazed at the delicate wings that are able to fly so well. God is so awesome making something so beautiful and so useful.

As we go to the House of the Lord this morning, let's remember to look around us in our travels and be amazed in the presence of the Lord.

Change of School Schedule...again!

Well, seeing that we only have 2 weeks before school starts - it seems only right that I make some changes! I decided that dd needs a health and PE class. I keep her very active and we usually do PE on Fridays anyhow, but I think this year we will add health to our lineup.

One of my main reasons for this is because I think it is time that she really study nutrition. She doesn't like vegetables at all and I feel that maybe if she learns the benefits of eating healthy, she might try to eat some vegetables. Of course, dad only eats meats and starches, so she gets it honest.

So by adding the PE/Health class to her lineup, that will give my dd 17 classes. However, I really don't think that it is going to be too much for her. If it is, I am more than happy to ease up and take off some things, but I know my girl and I know that she can do it! She is my awesome little one!

Missing my mom!

My mother has gone to Maryland for the week to be with her sister. Aunt Neenie is celebrating her 80th birthday, so it is such a blessing that the two of them can spend time together. I am so glad that mom was able to go, but boy do we miss her around the house here.

While in MD, mom went to have lunch with the "girls" for Neenie's birthday. She got to see my other aunts and some of my cousins. What a blessed day they all had celebrating the birth of one of the most wonderful ladies that I know.

It's almost time for school :)

Only 18 days before school starts. I finished some more calendars today, but I still have so much to do before school begins. Actually, I still have some curriculum that I don't have yet. But I just know that this is going to be the best year ever and that my daughter will be so much smarter for this coming year. After she finishes this year's math - she might even be able to teach Daddy a thing or two.

Day at Natural Museum of History

What a wonderful day it was today. With Dad off this week, we've been trying to do something special with the girl. Today we went to the Museum of Natural History. We were amazed by the butterfly exhibit that they had. Not only did we get to go into the Butterfly Garden - but they had wonderful displays of thousands of butterflies. DD was amazed at how they were arranged in the boxes. For me it was a great reminder of my childhood. While Dad was pastoring in Rhode Island, there was a young man in our church that needed a place to stay while he went to the University there. David moved in with us and lived with us until he married. I was five at the time and have always considered David to be my brother. David studied bugs at college and I remember all kinds of boxes with butterflies, roaches, bees - every insect you could think of. Fond memories of a great brother!

Recipes for the week:

Spicy Rice Skillet

1 lb. ground beef
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can water
1 beef bouillon cube
chili powder
cayenne pepper
4 c. cooked rice
Frito Scoops
Cheddar Cheese
Sour cream

Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Stir in Rotel, water, bouillon and seasoning. Cook on low for 15 minutes. Add in Rice and stir to incorporate. Let cook an additional 10 minutes to heat through. Serve with Scoops, Cheese and Sour Cream.

Ranch Potatoes

Potatoes of your choice, cubed and boiled
Ranch dressing
Cheddar cheese
butter

After you cook your potatoes, drain them and put in 1/2 stick of butter to melt. After butter has melted, pour ranch dressing over to coat your potatoes. Transfer to a baking pan and cover with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and it is bubbly.

Menu for the week:

This week I am blessed to have my hubby home with me (very rare). This is our planned menu for the week - with the help of dd.

Monday: Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese (found on FoodNetwork.com)
Tuesday: Steak and Ranch potatoes (recipe to follow in new post)
Wednesday: Spicy Rice Skillet (recipe to follow in new post)
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: dinner with friends
Saturday: Breakfast for dinner - pancakes, grits, sweet & spicy bacon
Sunday: Chicken n Dumplins (family recipe - can't share)

School Planning...

School starts in less than a month. I am so excited - but dd is not so thrilled! I am currently in the planning stages of school. Today I am working on the daily calendar that she will use. It will have each subject listed with what is expected of her for that day. I try to spice it up for her a little bit by putting some picture on the top of each new week. Looks like she will be extremely busy for the year though. Here is a run-down of her subjects with what text we will be using for each:
Bible: Bible Study by Mary Baker
History: Story of the World - Book 4
Language: 1st Language Lessons of a Well Trained Mind - Vol. 4
Math: Saxon 5/4
Science: Real Science 4 Kids - Physics
Writing: Hot Fudge Monday
Latin: Classical Academic Press
Reading: Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables,
Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island
Typing: Typing Instructions for Kids
Art: Usborn Art Ideas
Logic: Mind Benders, Red Herring Mysteries, Think Analogies
Journaling: Daily journaling topics
Handwriting: Famous Quotes
P.E.: Whatever Mom can find for us to do (haha!)
Chinese: Learning to speak Cantonese with Dad
Shop Project: Variety of projects - 1 per quarter

I am very excited about the material that I already have, especially the Latin. I have such high hopes for this year!