Goodbye Laura- We'll Miss You!!!

This year we studied pioneers as part of our history curriculum.  I thought a good book to read during lunch would be Little House on the Prairie.  Honestly, I thought the boys would hate it.  It's a story about girls, right?  I couldn't have been more wrong.  We spent the year reading the whole series over our weekday lunches.  We just finished the last chapters of The First Four Years this week.  The boys were genuinely sad that we had come to the end.  We came to love Laura and her family so much.  We laughed and cried right along with her.  We learned so much from those books.  We talked about the differences in how they lived vs. how we live.  How Mary probably wouldn't have went blind if they would have had the medical knowledge that we have today.  We talked about hard work and more importantly- family work.  We talked about dating and marriage and respect for your parents.  Farming, schools, westward expansion, Native Americans, animals, and I could go on and on...  Don't you just love a good classic!

       

Homeschool Boys Camp

Last Saturday we spent the day in the mountains at the Homeschool Boys Camp in Mantua. We had a great time and met lot's of new friends. There were over 30 boys there! We played games, had a water balloon fight, did science experiments, archery, campfire songs, s'mores, snacks and even dinner. Very fun!

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Cash Giveaway

Want to win $200?  Homeschool Creations has teamed up with some other blogs to give away $200 in Paypal cash.  Wow!!! I could really use that about now.  So many things on my "wish list".  How about you?

"Tis The Season...For Conventions!

I love convention time!  By June we are in the final months of the school year (we take July off) and I've already evaluated what worked for us- and what didn't.  Convention is a place to get re-energized. It is a placed for new ideas and reaffirmation of why I do this every day.  I love hanging out with friends and being around like-minded people.

This year the UHEA conference was a 2-day conference held at the new Provo Convention Center.  It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it.  The family stayed at a hotel while I was in classes and then we met up for the evenings.  It was a lot of fun!  I purchased a few books and feel like I can probably tackle a new year :)  I can't believe I didn't take a single picture, though.  I found my awesome camera at the bottom of my bag when I returned home :(

Another gem I have recently found is this online homeschool convention.  It is set up like a regular convention with a vendor hall and speakers, but is all virtual!  I've listened to some of the speakers and they were great.  I also love the booths in the vendor hall.  The best part is that I can peruse the site at 2 in the morning.  I can't imagine what homeschool was like without the internet.  Those sweet families who started the homeschooling movement 30 or so years ago are truly inspiring!  Thanks for paving the road for us, ladies!!!!

Heritage History

Today a fun package came in the mail.  The boys begged me to open up the "prize!"  It was our Heritage History: Ancient Greece CD.  I have been looking for a different history program for some time now.  We have used other curriculum in the past and I have also put together our own when I haven't found what I wanted.  A few months ago, I came across the Heritage History on someone else's blog.  Could it be? The history program I've been dreaming about?  Heritage uses "living books" to provide a story-based approach to learning history.  There are no worksheets or tests, instead there are beautiful illustrations, maps, and study guides.  One of my favorite things is that I can download the books to my kids' Kindles.  The complete program boasts over 400 titles.  All of the books are available in the public domain, but I think the small cost is worth it to get the study aids.  I also love that the books are color-coded so you can see at-a-glance which books are beginner, intermediate, or advanced.  Everything is organized so nicely!  The 20 bucks is worth it to me.  We'll be starting on Monday.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Bingham Copper Mine

One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is field trips.  We love to learn by experiencing things first hand and we pick up and go as often as possible.  Our latest trip was to the Copper Mine in West Jordan.  We picked Steve up from work early and headed out for some fun!  They have a great visitor's center with a theater.  You can even download an education pack from the website and turn it in completed for a "prize" at the end of your visit.  OK, it was only a pencil that said Kennecott Copper Mine, but the kids didn't know that going into it.  We ended the day with a sandwich from Red Robin on the way home.

Bagels

I found this note taped to the pantry door.  "Mason eat bleuberry bagels".  I hardly ever buy bagels, but I found some really cheap ones at the breadstore.  Mason LOVES bagels.  He was not used to having them in the pantry so every morning he would get up and eat something else and then later remember that they were in there.  The kid was determined he was going to get a bagel!  He always makes me smile :)