Watch Out For Earl!

When we think of hurricanes we don't very often think of places North of North Carolina getting affected too much. Hurricane Earl may change all that. This huge Cat 4 storm is making a beeline for the East coast just in time for the holiday weekend. Because it is still not even to the Bahamas there is plenty of time to be sure you are prepared for whatever this massive storm decides to do. Keep your eyes to the sky my friends, and family members.

The Return Of Fun Friday

I know today is not Friday, but I am posting this today so anyone who wants to get in can. Every Friday, starting this Friday, my Blogging For Fun Group does a group post. Only those who want to participate do. This week is the first week, and I decided to make the topic insects. Now you can write about insects in whatever way you want. I am going to pick one from this very cool video about some strange, and wonderful insects. I had no idea there were so many weird bugs in this world. If you want to join our Blogging For Fun group, there is a sign up box right over there in the left hand column. Just type in your email address and it will take you to the group homepage. After you sign up you can add up to three blogs using the links section. We are always looking for new, active members. Members support each other by visiting, commenting, following, tweeting, or other ways we can think of.

School starts next week, so I am kind of crazy busy this week.

Kids Learn While They Play With Leapster L-Max

The Leapster L-Max was actually DJ's first video game system. Because it is hand held, and is all learning games I thought it was a great purchase. Now the same system is Caitlin's, so they last a very long time. We have had ours at five years, with no problems at all. Your kids can learn math, phonics, Science, art, music, and tons of other great things. The only thing I have never seen a game for is History, note to the Leapster makers. Plus games come in all your kids favorite characters like Spongebob, Dora, The Incredibles, Scooby Doo, and so many more. You don't even have to buy one new. Because they are so durable you can buy a used one for the fraction of the price and still get many years of use out of it. I love it!

The kids and Craig are off To Lowes for the Build and Grow program, and to get a box of floor tiles to repair the one my dog ate. They are making a school bus today. Caitlin got her cute little glasses yesterday, and I will post pictures soon. Her eyesight in her left eye was extremely bad, poor thing.

Morning Routines

Since we will be starting back up with our homeschooling the day after Labor Day, I thought I would discuss routines. Well actually Caitlin has already started hers, because she wanted to. She can already tell you what a noun, and a verb are, and has almost all her sight words memorized. We don't do a full day of work, maybe a half hour or so.

So back to the topic. For those of you who homeschool, or even teach, or send your kids to public school do you follow a basic routine every day? For me I am a routine kind of person. It just seems to make my day flow nicer, than a fly by the seat of my pants routine. My husband is more of the fly by the seat of your pants person.

For this school year I have set up a morning routine, that we shall follow every morning at the start of lessons. Some of these we did last year, but I have added others. Our morning routine should not take us more than 15-20 minutes or it is too long.

1- Say the Pledge of Allegiance. I do this because I think it is important for them to learn it.
2- Just some simple stretching, and moving around to get the blood going.
3- Check the daily weather online and do the weather and month, and day calendar. This is actually a goal for Caitlin for the year, and this will work nicely into her learning it in a fun and simple way.
4- Review names and phone numbers of important people and places. You can make these anything you want. We do my husband's job, my job, Nonie's house, and of course our house, and 911. The only complete address I require them to know is their own, the others they just name the town.

I am looking forward to getting back to our homeschool routine. I miss it.