{PHRR}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, with the ladies 

at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

 {Pretty}

This is the garden we inherited from the previous home owners.  Once we bought the house, I knew the garden would prove to be both a treasure and a chore.

The treasures of the garden showed itself this spring with blooms and colors of many varieties. 

 

The chore, well just take a look at {real} down below...

{Happy}

Happy is Cecilia.

She was the lone child that got to have lunch with The Lineman and I yesterday.

It was his BIRTHday, his 43rd!!

While we were out doing some errands and celebrating with lunch, 

the other kids were baking and decorating for a little surprise later that evening.

It ended up not being a surprise after all.  

The Lineman was in a lot of pain on his birthday, he has two torn rotator cuffs... ugh!  

Yesterday was a particularly painful day.  So sad, it had to be on his birthday.

But, happy was he too.

We got a refund yesterday that came at a very nice moment.

So extra money equals a happy Lineman! 

{Funny}

 

The very last hospitality meeting ended with an "Old Fashioned Picnic"

Think Little Women out in the country, on a sunny afternoon.

It was sweet tea and lots of edible delights.

It was quilts on the floor and big straw hats.

It was also games of musical chairs; 

where the girls also played ring around the rosy with each other.

It was two legged races,

 with mommies and daughters practicing stepping in unison.

It was potato sack races,

 where many of us mommies quickly realized how

  unfit we really are.

Sorry, there are many pictures of us falling, laughing, and being ever so silly.

But, I promised to tell without showing pictures.

Those are held in some privacy among the ladies of that last picnic.

So priceless those memories.

{Real}

The garden is overgrown!

 

We've already begun to tackle the weeds 

and the many bushes of flowers and lavender growing wild.

 

We aren't complaining, except the weather is quickly becoming hot!

Other than that, having this garden is awesome!

Book Swap :: 2013

UPDATE:

THE ITEMS THAT HAVE SOLD WERE DELETED FROM THIS POST.  THUS, IF IT'S NOT PICTURED HERE IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

ALL OTHER ITEMS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

THANK YOU!

Joining up with Shower of Roses for a 

Curriculum Sale Blog Hop

Linky

Time to find new homes for some of my books.  If anyone is interested please post a comment or send me an email.

I've posted some of these over at Cathswap too; so I'll keep this updated if things are claimed over there.  The prices are kept as low as possible so that we can make room for shipping; which will be via media mail unless other arrangements are made. 

But, hey if you see something you really want; it's just a wee bit too pricey for you...

let me know.  Privately, of course.  We are into making deals here  :-)

• VGC: No markings, like new
• GC: No marking, some wear but still a clean book
• G: Few markings but still okay and totally reusable

Thanks folks!

--------------- MATH ---------------

MCP Teacher's Edition

VGC: No markings and clean pages

level A (1st grade)

$ 20.00

--------------- LANGUAGE ARTS ---------------

350 Fabulous Writing Prompts

by Jacqueline Sweeny

VGC and PB

$4.00

Making More Big Words: Multilevel, Hands-on Phonics and Spelling Activities

by Patricia Cunningham

Grade 3-6

VGC

$4.00 

Beginning Wisely English 3

grade 3

LIKE NEW

$4.00

Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method

by Carole Rich

(2005)

Used for my, then, 9th grader as she was interested in journalism as an elective for high school.  This was one of the books recommended in CHC's High School of Your Dreams.

GC: 

The cover is worn and bending, but the binding is good.

$7.00

Grammar for Writing by Sadlier

VGC (never used)

Grade 7

$9.00

McRuggy Phonics and Reading (2008)

G: First 4 pages were done in pencil and erased.  

This is the workbook that goes with the 2nd semester.

grade 1

$4.00

I Heard the Owl Call My Name

literature unit: questions, summaries, lesson ideas

VGC

$3.00

A Handbook for Reading

This is from A Beka, which I normally wouldn't buy; 

this was purchased by the recommendation of my son's previous tutor (when he was in 2nd grade).  It is a good early reading book and was very useful.

VGC

$3.00

Our Lady of the Rosary School 

Various items from 

K-3

Coloring books and saint reading

If interested please email me and I'll give you more details

These are an older version to their school items

$4.00 for the set

---------------- RELIGION/FAITH FORMATION ---------------

Guiding Your Catholic Preschooler

by Kathy Pierce

VGC

$8.00

Handbook for Today's Catholic Children 

by Francine O'Connor

early elementary age

VGC

$2.00

Not Pictured

Handbook for Today's Catholic Teen

by Francine O'Connor

teen age

VGC

$2.00

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life

Image of God Series

VGC: This is the student book; not the workbook

Grade 7

$8.00

Who is Our Example?

Image of God Series

GC: The binding of the teacher manual is loose.  In used condition, but clean pages and NO marks

Grade 3

TM: $9.00

Student Worksheet: $10.00

God's Merciful Love : The Old Testament grade 6

Image of God series

Student book, VGC $10.00

Teacher's manual VGC $10.00

Fr. Lovask's books

Going to Confession

The Seven Sacraments

My First Catechism

NEW

$3.00 for the set

The Forty Days of Lent for the Catholic Family

by Teresa Zepeda

VGC: older manual/gift on traditional celebrations/observances for Lent

$9.00

--------------- MISC ---------------

Disney's Bambi 

Children's abridged version

GC

$3.00

Pre-School Flash cards

GC

$1.00 (pending)

ABC wall hangings

GC:  yes, it's complete

$3.00 

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four

GC: Lots of chants and hand games for your young ones; though dad often joins too.

Preschool-K

$4.00 

●Pure Love by Jason Evert

●Pure Womanhood by Chrystalina Everty

Gem little pamphlets for the single young adult and newly married couples. 

Pure Love answers the questions to chastity, waiting, real love, and what to look for in a spouse.  Pure Womanhood speaks to the young lady.  "Pure Womanhood" gives them the reasons — and the assurance — that chastity is the right choice and that it's never too late to start over."

VGC

sold

Maya Angelou set

GC

set $2.50 

The Sempster's Tale by Margaret Frazer

VGC

$2.00

That's it.

Thanks for looking!

Click on over to Shower of Roses

for other links to the sales!

{P,H,F,R}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, with the ladies 
at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty}

Okay, I blogged about the Marian ATC swap.  Then, I apologized that I posted the wrong dates for the swap.  In fact, Kimberlee hadn't opened up the 2013 ATC swap yet.
Now, I get to post that in fact Kimberlee IS hosting another ATC swap.
The details are here on her blog Pondered in my Heart.

I emailed Kimberlee requesting her address, way before I knew she hadn't posted anything about hosting this activity.  Boy, was I embarrassed.  Luckily, Kimberlee is so gracious and kind; she didn't mention my blunder at all.  In fact her email was filled of sweetness; mentioning that the family was just a little behind this month.  God bless you Kimberlee, you are in my prayers!
And thank you for hosting such a pretty activity for my brood to participate in.

The girls mailed out their cards this week.  They are so excited to receive the news ones; hopefully making new friends along the way too.

The completed cards.

Cecilia's are to the left and Rose's are on the right.

{Happy}

Rose in her new glasses.  

Our family racked up some heavy expenses this past week.

4 new eye exams

4 new lenses and frames

ONE whopping bill.

The optometrist was VERY happy indeed.

{Funny}

 Rose woke up in a fright when she realized she hadn't completed her Father's Day card.  We were trying to get to early Mass on Sunday; poor Rose was frantic.  In between the hustle of getting ready, eating, morning chores, and keeping this card secret; she was able to finish it.  It was a sight!

Happy Father's Day, honey!

{Real}

When in the world did this child of mine become of legal age to drive!
She is driving folks!
DRIVING!
Oh my heart...

Bye, Lucy!

And BUCKLE UP!!

What Worked, What Didn't

2012-2013

They are done.

I still need to finish the actual portfolios, though.  Lucy's is taking the longest to complete.  We are finding that as she nears college {gasp!} these keepsakes are totally going to come in handy.  

For now this is my record of what worked, what got done, and what failed. 

Along with some pictures of their year.

 ~ Lucy ~

Lucy, is easy. She works pretty much independently from me now; with only some exceptions in discussion and advice on her readings.  I don't edit her written work anymore.  This was a big year for her in so many ways; carrying 8.5 credits in addition to keeping up with outside activities.  The Lineman and I couldn't be more proud. I'm SO, writing this last line because I know she reads the blog every now and then.

Hi Lucy!

Just kidding.

We are very proud;

Lucy's year:

• Biology: Science Shepherd's Biology
• Geometry: Jacob's Geometry
• History/Literature: MODG's Medieval European History (11th grade) 
• Composition: Co-writing a book with 2 friends and assorted work via history, religion, and literature assignments
• Religion: MODG Mass and the Sacraments/Catholic Apologetics
• Foreign Language: Homeschool Connections ASL class
• Music/orchestra: Viola
• Hospitality:  Little Women's Hospitality
• Driver's Ed
• Softball

Lucy's highs:

1.  Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  It was a beautiful thing to watch and we were over the moon for her.  As she put it, "It was my next step in my faith, I said 'yes' to Jesus."  Cool!

2.  Biology was a huge success this year.  She is a science kid; has been since she was little.  The text was still a bit too dry for her.  She felt that right when the text took you into a deeper level of understanding a concept; be it photosynthesis or cell reproduction, the text often left her wanting more.  That, and the wording was to technical.  There was also a couple of chapters that were about creation vs. evolution.  Lucy, is NOT a creationist; she ended up skipping the chapters after reading a few pages.   

Her science blog, Scientia-Biology, was created with the high schooler in mind.

Simply, Lucy says:

"As a sophomore student, I've found that reading textbooks that explain a lot and yet leave so much unanswered can be extremely infuriating and very tedious. This journal is my inspiration to learn more. It is my hope that it also inspires others to disregard the opinion that "science is boring" just because some lovely textbook left you hanging."

3. She got her driver's permit!

Lucy's lows:

• Okay, what didn't work for sophomore year?  My editing skills.  Sadly, I am terrible.  Either I felt too critical or I felt like I needed to be more critical because she is my kid.  I finally gave up and delegated the task to someone else.  Evidently, she is a pretty good writer; I worried for nothing.  See, "pray and don't worry".  St. Padre Pio has it right.
• Another low was in some of the selections in the history.  Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples was especially difficult.  His writing was long winded and dull, per Lucy.  We tried to find his speeches in order to persuade her that the man was awesome.  Sadly, his writing didn't win Lucy over at all.
• Lucy kept up with her ASL lessons but ended up refocusing on Spanish after the first semester.  She'll continue with Spanish for the remainder of high school; practicing ASL on the side.

Those was really the only lows.  Before the second semester started Lucy wanted to start a class at our local community college; we were all for it.  She only found an Algebra 2 class for early Tuesday mornings but, she was eager to start.  That first day, we got up and ready to roll out... to a college math course.  I suddenly realized how crazy that was.   Her school work was already a lot.  She was gone to music on Thursdays.  She was on the softball team for our local league.  So I told her she had to choose.  Either softball or algebra; she couldn't have both.  

We had some great moments on the field this spring!  

~ Max ~

This year proved to be the hardest for my Max.  He worked his tale off this year; both in math and writing.  I must say, that through all the frustrations we were both glad to see the positive results at the end.  Sometimes  the light bulb takes a bit longer to light.  The point is, that it finally did.  Does this mean that next year should be a breeze?  Nope, neither of us think so.  But, no one beats Max's attitude.  He may have gottan down every now and then, but he always picks himself up.

Max's year:

• Math:  Saxon 7/6
• Grammar:  Winston Basic Grammar
• Spelling: Phonic Zoo level A
• Writing:  IEW student writing level A
• Literature:  Assorted assigned readings
• History: RC History Vol II
• Science:  Noeo Science Biology II
• Music:  Percussion/orchestra

Max's highs:

1.  Max made long strides forward in math.  He'll be moving on to Saxon 8/7 and work through the summer; reviewing grade 6 via Teaching Textbooks 7.  We stopped using TT ages ago but, the graphics and ease of it would be a good summer 'fun' review for him.

2.  Tutoring.  We are very grateful to have found a good tutor who understands Max and his needs.  Mr. P was great with him and we did see the results.

3.  Max read and completed The Hobbit!  

4.  Winston's Grammar was a hit.  This simple format uses the hands on style that Max does well with.  We used the white board for extra sentence structures and the cards for the decoding.  It was simple enough, yet clearly taught the concepts.

Max's lows:

No lows!  How about that.

• Okay, there were some lows. Sometime around November, we had just moved into a new home, we lost our rhythm.  It's taken us until, ummmm, the last two weeks before summer break to find it again.  Luckily, the books and lessons we had planned last summer was a good fit for Max.  So, even with distractions and extra long periods of working through subjects; it got done.
• Noeo Science.  Along the way we had to stop for a bit.  The kids loved the books and readings.  Only, the experiments were too spread out to keep their interest.  Sadly, this will probably be one area I'll change for next year.

~ Rose ~

Our Rose.  What a year for this one, she rocked it!

The avid reader was often found up a tree or curled up in a corner, reading.  She devoured The Secret, Garden, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Charlotte's Web, and is currently working through The Phantom Tollbooth.  3rd grade really agreed with Rose.

Rose's year:

• Math:  Singapore 
• Grammar/Phonetics:  Simply Grammar and Explore the code/Beyond the Code
• Spelling:  My Catholic Speller B (CHC)
• Literature:  Assorted books (quite the list, which will be added to her folder)
• History:  RC History Vol II
• Religion:  Faith and Life 3, Papacy Lapbook, My Path to Heaven readings
• Science: Noeo Science Biology II
• Music:  Cello/orchestra 

Rose's highs:

1.  She's fallen head over hills with books.

2.  One of her memorable moments was at the spring music festival.  She performed a solo piece on the cello; her first ever solo performance and rated superior.  On the drive to the college, everyone in the car could tell she was nervous.  It was really cute but, I did feel for her.  That was until she stepped out on stage.  Rose rocked the piece!  Her feet tapped, her head swayed, and with all her quirky movements she had the audience smiling and swaying along with her.

Rose's lows:

• Simply Grammar!  We wanted it to work, really we did.  By, the second semester we just knew that the lessons weren't working well for Rose.  She enjoyed the reciting of the grammar and the oral lessons, in general.  The problem was that she wasn't retaining the lessons.  I found myself supplementing worksheets, she is a worksheet kind of girl, along with her lesson.  That was fine, except I didn't have the extra time to continuously do this.  I've found that with this child, a Charlotte Mason approach isn't quite the fit I had thought it would be.  Instead, she enjoyed working on grammar alongside Max.  It was more hands on for her, fun, and she was retaining the lessons better.  Go figure!
• What do you do when at the end of a week your child scores pretty well on their spelling quiz; yet their everyday spelling is horrible?  Here is another lesson that I really wanted to work for Rose... failed!  We love Catholic Heritage Curricula here, Cecilia uses their lessons exclusively, but this subject didn't work well with Rose.  We have found that she presents similar learning issues as Max. Not as extreme as his, but enough so that My Catholic Speller wasn't a good fit either.  It really doesn't matter if Rose can learn to spell that, what, does, said for a spelling quiz, then not spell them correctly every where else. So we are off to All About Spelling; I wish I would have started this from the beginning with all the kids.

~ Cecilia ~

Cecilia's year:

• Catholic Heritage Curriculum
• Math:  MCP level A
• Reading: 100 Easy Lessons to Reading
• Literature:  Assorted k-1st grade read aloud
• Science: Behold and See
• Religion:  King of the Golden City readings, Faith and Life 1, CHC 1st grade lessons

Cecilia's highs:

She is reading... nuff said :-)

Okay, Okay, there were lots of highs for Cecilia.  Cecilia stared the violin, she was part of the choir for the co-op's Mass, she is becoming a better swimmer, and play-plays-plays all day long.

A really good year Cecilia!

Next up:

The post for 2013-2014 school year