Academic Bowl March '14

1st in social studies, I think 2nd in English and maybe 2nd overall? I forget...

1st day of school 2013/2014

Well, I've got an 8th grader and a 10th grader this year.  It'll be a great year!

Benefit of homeschooling

On those cold days when you don't have to leave the house you can stay in your jammies all day if you want

St. Louis Vacation (PART 1 of 3) Wednesday April 27

We left the house at 6am.  *yawn*

It was about a 5h drive to get into St. Louis.  My original plan had been the Zoo all afternoon, but it was raining cats and dogs, so we went to the St. Louis Science Center instead.  OOPS, forgot to take any pictures there!!!  All in all, it was just O.K.  We had to pay $9 for parking but the entrance is free, thankgoodness.  Then we went to old Union Station.  Wow!  How beautiful!!!  We watched a little video, very informative!!  They have a museum too, which of course we walked around in :)  We got to sample some fudge at the fudge store.  The guy works right in front of everyone tempering the chocolate!

Our hotel was the Sheraton about 1.5mi from the Gateway Arch.  If we were on the other side of the hotel we'd be able to see the arch, but we weren't... oh well.  It was a fabulous room!!!  I booked on hotwire so I had NO idea before we got to either hotel what they'd be like, I just knew I got GREAT prices for where we were!!!  This room had 2 beds plus a pull-out sofa.  You can't see in the picture, but it has a nice city view too.

The pool was HUGE for a hotel!!!  At least, the hotels we've ever stayed at... It was on the 13th floor.  eek!  I'd be soooo afraid if I knew we were under it, but I didn't try to figure it out.  I didn't want to know... LOL  We were on the 8th floor.

Our original plan for dinner had been the St. Louis Gast Haus, a German place I got a certificate for on restaurant.com but it was CLOSED for Easter WEEK!!!!!  gggrrrr...Their website did not mention the closing.  So, we ended up at the Old Speghetti Factory.  It was yummy.

Update on the school room

Since I've not done a school room progress update in awhile I thought I'd do one.  The curtains are finally finished.  Ya wouldn't know to look at them, but the layers are: stripe shower curtain, insulation of old flannel sheets, and white shower curtains to show to the outside.  They're hung on a steel pipe with pipe fittings.  I just sewed them together at the top, and the white to the insulation, then lapped it overitself toward the back to form the rod pocket.  EASY!!  Well, would have been easy if either the shower curtains or the flannel sheets were SQUARE!  Which they were NOT! ggrr...

 The steps are finally replaced, but the rail still needs installed.  That will go to the outside of the steps. (to try to keep fingers off the paint! LOL)

 The view above is from the top of the stairs.

Isn't the advent calendar beautiful!!!!  My friend Kris made it for Sophie, and it's filled with toys for her.  She was sooooo excited when we opened it!!  I nearly had to pick her jaw up off the floor.  She can't wait till Sunday to start Advent readings :)

1st day of school

First day of the 2010/2011 school year.  The school room still isn't done, but at lest the workstation is done.  You can see how wonderful it is!!!  I just know we're going to LOVE LOVE LOVE that 10' countertop workspace!!!  The drawer between the kids has been divided, so they each have their own section for stuff.  Under the drawer is their noncurrent books all in order of usage through the year.  Their current books are on the shelf above their workspace.

(I used the old camera, so the quality of these photos is poor...)

Yes, the TV is on but it's tuned to a MUSIC station.  It shows you the artist/conductor/etc.  They love to listen to classical, jazz, modern instrumental, etc. while they're working.  I don't allow music with words during school time.

Eventually, above where the TV is will be a shelf for the satalite box and DVD player so only the TV will be on the counter.  That table in the foreground on the left is a computer desk.  Obviously I don't  have it set up yet.  The window isn't cased in yet, actually none of the trim is in yet.  So, there is a HUGE glare in the mornings.  Hopefully window casement will go in this week so I can get the curtains up.  That table you see slighly on the right will be where I grade and we'll use it for a craft table, puzzles, games, etc.

YAY!  Loving the room so far!!!  I can't wait until my sewing table and supplies comes in!!

Homeschool Room Remodel Progress (before and during phases)

BEFORE:

The cabinets to the right are Sophie and Christian's. they have contained their Core books for the last 3 years, and also art supplies, paper and other misc. stuff.

The door goes out to the garage.

This is the wall to the left of the first picture.  That large cabinet on the left has contained games and puzzles and movies.  It's now in the playroom in the basement.  Those upper-cabinets are our old kitchen cabinets before that remodel.  They have contained science supplies, the microscope and other misc. stuff.

This is directly next to the game/puzzle/movie cabinet.  Those steps lead up to the laundry room, then into the kitchen.

The open door you see center in the back leads down to the basement.  You can see the steps that lead up to the rest of the house on the right.  The door on the left back leads out to the back yard.  So, there are 4 doors in this room.

DURING: