Florida Soft Shell Turtle In Our Yard!

Here is a video and some pictures Kelly took of a Florida Soft Shell Turtle that wondered into our yard during the heavy rains we had in the middle of August. This is the first time we had ever seen a turtle like this one.... She walked right through the horse pen, Kelly was taking a video and trying to hold the horses back so they wouldn't step on her. The turtle left and we haven't seen her since : (

20 Books....

I never would have belived that being able to take 20 books out of the library would not be enough books!
I am really trying to have all the books needed for the whole weeks worth of schooling so I do not have to run all the way up to the library mid week, but there I was today driving up there at 9am.. I had my list of books to get so I could wisk in and out. Again some of the books I was looking for that are listed in their search catalog are missing/stolen..... our library really seems to have a major problem with that (they want to install a anti theft beeper at the door but as of yet have no way of knowing when books are going out the door stolen). Anyway, I could have taken out at least 30 or more books (remind you I was just there on Sat,) but cut my list down to the 20 allowed. I'm not allowed to use my daughter's library card only when she is with me to use the card herself which is NEVER the child hates going to the library : (
I could spend the day in the library.... If I let myself ramble along I can find a topic that interests me in no time at all.
Note: We read a cute story while doing our Just Plain Fancy book study about the Amish. The book was an example of jealousy/envy/equality : "A Bargain for Frances" by Russell Hoban.

China Study & World War I ?

We had our Chinese food to go with our study of China for lunch today - "Chicken Chow Mein", It is amazing how filling a plate of that is.... of course we had to have fortune cookies too : )

I think it is these little added touches that are making our school day more enjoyable.

I wanted to ask you all if any one can suggest a good World War I book? We are starting it and the books I have gotten so far are way to hard to follow (even for me). The suggested reading books are: "World War I" by Tom McGowen & "The Yanks Are Coming" by Albert Marrin, my library has neither one of these so I have to order them with inter library loan program which will cost me $4.00 dollars ($2.00 for every book you order even if they can't find it for you...). They need the money before they can order, I wasn't going to order them but since the choices of books for World War I are so slim I guess I will.

Today is the first day of Autumn! Have a great day : )

Jumping For Joy : )

If you have been following my blog you know the struggles I have had with homeschooling my daughter Kelly.... Well I have to share this little tidbit with you : )
On Friday I went down town with my husband to cash my husbands unemployment check (Yes, He is not working AGAIN), When we got home I had one of those blister of a headaches brewing so I told Kelly I was going to lay down for an hour, Well I slept right through our schooling time. When I got up she said to me "So how was schooling today" in a sarcastic tone - meaning we didn't get to it and she was UPSET about it! She was upset we didn't do schooling...... My heart jumped for joy : )

Homeschool Share : )

I just have to mention again about "Homeschool Share"
It really has been such a help this year already for us!
We have added "Special Interest" to our school day - That is where Kelly & I pick things we are interested in to learn about.
So far we are working on the Amish (in one of my all time favorite places Lancaster PA.) - If I could redo our move to Florida I think we should have moved there....
Anyway, I just typed in Amish and got a number of possible books to use (We went with "Just Plain Fancy") we are using the suggested topics and I have found more books at our library to add to it.
I really hate to breath a word of it because it may change but our school year this year is going along beautifully : )

Origami Kit Making - "China"

As part of our Galloping the Globe study of China, I found these Origami Kits at the Dollar General store for one dollar. Kelly & I made the sting-ray's - Her's came out nice, mine I cut in half (Yikes!) so I had to tape it together..... There are a number of different designs to make in each box, the sting-ray looked the easiest to start with. It's alot harder then I thought.

"How to Make an Apple Pie and see the world"

We were working with Galloping the Globe and one of the activites was to make an apple pie... Don't laugh at our attempt at it : ) First we got all the ingredients together then I coudn't find a pie plate so we used a cake tin, then we couldn't find our rolling pin and tried to use a pepsi bottle - Yikes! Nothing like being prepared - Not! Some how we didn't come up with enough dough to cover the entire top of the pie.... but eveyone said it tasted good so I guess that's all that matters : )

Beyond Five In A Row

I can not tell you how much we have enjoyed Beyond Five In A Row !
At first I was a bit worried about it being to easy for Kelly being that is states for ages 8 -12, sure some things she has covered before and some are introduced in a very basic form but I just love it. It keeps things moving for us which for Kelly is very important if it goes into to much detail I have lost her.... It also tells you if your student shows interest they give you more ideas to follow up with ect. so you can make it more challenging or as simple as you need to. We are really cruzing through Sarah Plain and Tall, Kelly hasn't done many of the writting assingments suggested : ( Which I am sad about because there have been some real good ones mentioned but being that we are just getting school back up and rolling again I'm letting it slide..... I think we will shoot right to Skylark after finishing Sarah Plain & Tall. I have to buy a copy though, Our library has it listed as being in but when I checked on it it is missing, they have been having alot of trouble with people stealing books : (