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Friday, October 9, 2009

Our Wizard Of Oz Party

Well, today we had a Wizard of Oz party. I have been reading the book to Kyle, Noah and Lacey in school and since Kyle and Lacey had never seen the movie so I told them when we finished the book we would have a movie party. It was so much fun! First let me say that I love the movie but dreaded reading the book. But I think the book is even better than the movie! I highly recommend reading this book to your child. But anyway back to the party. Anytime I throw a party I go to this site
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html it has ideas for almost any theme imaginable. Anyway I bought some green decorations ( to represent the Emerald City) not alot just a few to give the place a party atmosphere. And we had a green theme to our snacks- green jello, green kool - aid and green cupcakes. We played "melt the witch and get her broom stick". This was a frozen cube with a popsicle stick decorated like a broom stuck in it. They loved this game. And we played follow the yellow brick road ( musical chairs with yellow poster board to stand on instead of chairs to sit in). And we popped popcorn and watched the movie. Even the older kids joined us in the party- just to get out of school I suspect. But Donna and Ash had never seen the movie either. We all had a great time. BTW- we don't do this every time we finish a book but I just thought it'd be fun especially since my kids Had never seen the movie. And it worked out perfectly with this being our last day before break.
The site I mentioned before had so many great ideas I think I may throw Lacey A Wizard of Oz birthday party in May!

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sonlight, New Schedules And No Summer Vacations!

Well, we are in our 6th week of school and it's going soooo good. Of course I love the books we are reading ( mostly Sonlight, naturally), we are doing several things different this year. The first big change I gotta mention is that this year I'm teaching my sister's 2 kids also. So I'm teaching 5 kids ( ages 15,15,12, 8 and 7) plus I got the 2 little ones (4 and almost 2) running around. I thought it would be really, really hard and some days it is, but most of the time it's great. I found out the key to schooling so many especially since they share alot of subjects and I have 2 separate group times, 1 with the older three and another group time with the younger 2, plus separate reading lessons with the younger 2, in organization! I'll post more about that in another post though.

The second big change this year is we are trying out a new schedule. We are going to try out year round schooling. So we will school for 6 weeks and then take 2 weeks off. I know normally it's 6 weeks on 3 weeks off but I'm doing it this way because for one thing we didn't start school until September, also I want extra time off in the summer. Actually the kids want extra time off in the summer. I decided to try this schedule for several reasons: 1- I don't like going anywhere like zoos, museums or parks in the summer because it's too hot and crowded. So this way I can plan that kind of things during our off time. 2- The kids get bored with so much off time and then they get to bickering and arguing or nagging me half to death to take them somewhere. 3- I thought with schooling so many this year I might need several mini breaks for sanity sake. Which brings me back to the point of this post. This is our last week before our 2 week break. And I'm very excited about that.
I already have several things planned for our break.

1.I plan to have a fancy tea party with Lacey and my sister Becca and her little girl. We are going to go all out- dress up, make fancy finger food. I think it will be so much fun!
2. I plan to go shopping and out to lunch with a friend ( and maybe a movie)
3. Me and my mom and Becca plan to go to dinner and a movie.
4. If I happen on a pretty day go to the park
5.Maybe the zoo.

But that's it I don't want to spend the whole 2 weeks running and busy.
Well that's it for now. I'm off to read The Wizard of Oz to the kids!

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