Body Parts Art

Today, our Bible lesson led us all over the Bible exploring different body parts. We talked about how God wants our eyes and ears to glorify him. How our lips and hands should serve him. How our feet are beautiful when they spread the Good News! (I couldn't resist sticking my feet in my 8 years old's face!)

Thanks again to pinterest! We traced his hands and feet, drew a circle for the head and connected it all. So fun!!

Homeschooling: Codes

This week, we are exploring codes. Here are two that we used to write a letter to Auntie.


We will mix letters and numbers tomorrow.  Possibly for a letter to cousins or Grandma.

We are having so much fun together. The struggles are overcome by the fun and laughter and getting to know each other better! (Keep reminding me of that!!)

word of the week

I thought it would be fun to share part of our week with my Facebook family & friends.  I started posting our "word of the week" on FB and have gotten some great sentences to share with my son. He has to come up with his own first!

Since we moved half way across the country, it's also a way for family to connect with him!

At first, I wrote it for him, but a friend picked up on the idea and had her daughter write it out . She then took her picture, so I did that too!

We also make Daddy guess the word at dinner by being very obvious and silly. It helps my 3rd grader remember the meaning if we are goofy about it. I sometimes tell him what do say at the table, but he has it on his own the next day after our little game with Daddy! I love it!

Math Project

Again, thank you pinterest!

We modified this game to be for multiplying. We are currently working on memorizing the 3 times tables.

Roll the dice. Multiply your roll x 3 as fast as you can. If you have to "figure it out," you don't get to move your person up. If you get it right, move your person the number of spaces that you rolled & draw those long legs!

My son had so much fun memorizing! And that boy competitiveness got to shine through in a positive way!

Art project

I am trying to do an art project every Friday. Something fun but that takes more than 5 minutes; something involved.

I was afraid this first one would be a flop, but my son got totally into it. Thank you pinterest!

His is the bottom one. I kinda got into it too! We tried not to paint the same color next to itself.

Then we used these pictures to decorate his school binder that has clear plastic for the front and back.  SUCCESS!

Homeschooling: the beginning

Homeschooling has begun! We just finished week 3 and I am both excited & going crazy. My 8 year old has been inspired & agitating also. What a rollercoaster!!

Mostly, I feel like we aren't covering enough material, but we are able to go into such depth that he will remember the material much longer than breezing through it in public school.

We are committed for this school year but I do hope to work next year so we'll see.

Here is our first project together. We made a tree that we will add leaves to as he learns new concepts and reads more books.

SR Sylvan

I LOVED working in San Ramon for Sylvan.  It was a fun and easy going place.  There was stress, but all jobs have some.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  A great boss and secretary.  Amazing teachers!

Jon, Kelly, Me, Joy / November 1, 2012

Just the commute sucked.  I was hoping to move out that way, but the hubby couldn't find a job out there.  San Ramon is truly an expensive place to live.  I tried to wear makeup everyday for the clients. Especially pregnant, I was running out of clothes to wear!

Gift Exchange 2012

I haven't sewn anything since March, when my new job went into full swing.  Now that I'm on maternity leave, I can sew again!  I decided to do this gift exchange to get me started, set a deadline, and actually uncover my sewing machine.

So I did just that.  I mailed it a day late because my stinkin' car battery died yesterday and I got stuck at the dentist.  A friend came to rescue me but I didn't make it to the post office in time.

Here is what I made.  I sent a couple of bags I made for kids too.  My partner in the exchange has two little girls.  I forgot a picture of that stuff. 

I love this combination together!  I hope my gift exchange partner likes it too!
Always wish I could do more, but in the middle of moving, pregnancy, and being a single parent temporarily, I did what I could!

It's not much, but I hope she likes it.  I would list the tutorial I got this from, but I had to make so many modifications that I practically made it up myself.  Plan on making more in the future, possibly with inside pockets and definitely with longer handles.