I've seen these books suggested in my homeschooling Bible before but always used something else or what I had on hand, but finally checked out Janice VanCleve's Astronomy for Every Kid when I couldn't come up with good science experiment ideas on my own. WOW. Fabulous book. The variety of experiments means they work for all three kids, and the concepts they cover are simply explained (my weakness is over-explaining and going too far into other topics). We are having the best time trying these out for ourselves. I'll be adding the Earth Science, Chemistry and Physics books to our Christmas list.
I'm also adding Learning Through History magazine to my wish list. We subscribed to LTH a few years ago and I was amazed at how much information and fun they were able to pack into a single issue, but the expense was a bit much at the time, so I didn't renew. The majority of the articles were a bit old for Timo at the time, too, but I knew I could hold on to them and they'd be appropriate again. We have just hit Medieval Japan again, and voila! Perfect for Timo with neat things thrown in for Meg and Lillie as well. I just wish I could get all the back issues as well!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Mental respite
This weekend was supposed to be a creative, fun getaway for me, but alas, the event was canceled. So, I've got this afternoon and all day tomorrow open all of a sudden, and I'm trying to figure out how best to use the time. (I promise myself I won't waste it all on the computer - I WON'T!)
I'm always torn when I have time like this. Is it fair to go off and be totally selfish, wandering into stores I won't take the kids in, perusing the shelves at the library, enjoying a coffee on my own in silence and leave Chris to hold down the fort? He doesn't get days like that. He goes to the Episcopal Men's Conference once a year for a weekend, but he's still sharing a hotel room with someone and surrounded by people all day.
Plus, I'd much rather spend time with him. The caveat is that I want to spend time with him without the kids interrupting. I want to go wander in stores with him, share a coffee with him and peruse the shelves with him (though he'd rather go to Borders than the library; he's a buyer, not a borrower). That doesn't happen often because sitters are expensive and the grandparents don't remember to offer to sit often.
So my guilt keeps me at home, doing things I ought to do but don't really want to do. Like make Halloween costumes. Or vacuuming.
For the moment, I should be happy. Chris is helping Timo make his Halloween costume downstairs and the girls are outside playing with Jan and Frank's littlest grandkids. They're all happy. I ought to join in as well.
I'm always torn when I have time like this. Is it fair to go off and be totally selfish, wandering into stores I won't take the kids in, perusing the shelves at the library, enjoying a coffee on my own in silence and leave Chris to hold down the fort? He doesn't get days like that. He goes to the Episcopal Men's Conference once a year for a weekend, but he's still sharing a hotel room with someone and surrounded by people all day.
Plus, I'd much rather spend time with him. The caveat is that I want to spend time with him without the kids interrupting. I want to go wander in stores with him, share a coffee with him and peruse the shelves with him (though he'd rather go to Borders than the library; he's a buyer, not a borrower). That doesn't happen often because sitters are expensive and the grandparents don't remember to offer to sit often.
So my guilt keeps me at home, doing things I ought to do but don't really want to do. Like make Halloween costumes. Or vacuuming.
For the moment, I should be happy. Chris is helping Timo make his Halloween costume downstairs and the girls are outside playing with Jan and Frank's littlest grandkids. They're all happy. I ought to join in as well.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Lookie here........
Playing catch up. :)
Okay, so I have been indulging myself in completely useless, tawdry, thoroughly enjoyable reading, but it's not trash (by which I mean Dan Brown or Danielle Steele). It's literary-ish. Kinda.
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy and Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll are unadulterated fun. If you're a Jane Austen fan, you'll enjoy following Lizzy and Darcy into married bliss, but only if you're willing to read about them cavorting around Pemberley christening every room. Make sure you're husband's home and available while you're reading this. Whew.
When I'm not fanning myself from reading about Lizzy and Darcy's boots knocking, I've been reading a few Elizabeth George mysteries. Not having television has prevented me from watching PBS' Mystery! or else I'd already be aware of Inspector Lynley, I suppose. The two I've read so far kept me guessing, weren't too tidy, and didn't frustrate or let me down with their endings. CMCPL doesn't have the first book in the series, so I began with #2, Payment in Blood. Ignore the cheesy titles; the stories are better than they suggest.
Christina P. has lent me Jon Krakauer's newest, Where Men Win Glory. I'm not a Pat Tillman football fan, but Krakauer does a good job of taking you along for a pleasant read regardless of where he's going. We'll see how well I keep up with this one.
As for pens and paper - I have been scrapbooking a bit (yaaay!) and have FINALLY figured out how to print photos on our new printer. The ink is pretty expensive but I (DUH) tried printing in black and white last night for the first time and whadduyaknow? They look pretty good! Maybe this will get my creative juices flowing again. :)
Okay, so I have been indulging myself in completely useless, tawdry, thoroughly enjoyable reading, but it's not trash (by which I mean Dan Brown or Danielle Steele). It's literary-ish. Kinda.
Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy and Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll are unadulterated fun. If you're a Jane Austen fan, you'll enjoy following Lizzy and Darcy into married bliss, but only if you're willing to read about them cavorting around Pemberley christening every room. Make sure you're husband's home and available while you're reading this. Whew.
When I'm not fanning myself from reading about Lizzy and Darcy's boots knocking, I've been reading a few Elizabeth George mysteries. Not having television has prevented me from watching PBS' Mystery! or else I'd already be aware of Inspector Lynley, I suppose. The two I've read so far kept me guessing, weren't too tidy, and didn't frustrate or let me down with their endings. CMCPL doesn't have the first book in the series, so I began with #2, Payment in Blood. Ignore the cheesy titles; the stories are better than they suggest.
Christina P. has lent me Jon Krakauer's newest, Where Men Win Glory. I'm not a Pat Tillman football fan, but Krakauer does a good job of taking you along for a pleasant read regardless of where he's going. We'll see how well I keep up with this one.
As for pens and paper - I have been scrapbooking a bit (yaaay!) and have FINALLY figured out how to print photos on our new printer. The ink is pretty expensive but I (DUH) tried printing in black and white last night for the first time and whadduyaknow? They look pretty good! Maybe this will get my creative juices flowing again. :)
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