Our summer break

I've been a terrible blogger... ok, now that's out of the way.. let's see if I can do better these next few months.

We had a great summer break...long, but great.  We headed to the USA mid-May (one of the many advantages of homeschooling).  The weather was amazing, so we got a lot done around our house in Texas.

Clint and his dad dug a trench.  Then they got some pvc pipe laid to pipe water from a natural spring to the pasture (to keep water for the donkey and goats).  His uncle dug out one of the spring fed ponds (to hold more water).

I rearranged furniture and did some organizing.  We still had cardboard boxes from the move in 2005.  I feel like we have a good excuse (we are only in Texas 3-6 weeks per year)I purchased some heavy duty shelves from Lowe's to go on the breezeway.  I put the first set together by myself, and realized that I had room and need for another set. I was able to put ice chests, totes and assorted items on the shelves.

I rearranged some of the furniture in the house. I moved a dresser from the hallway to the laundry room.  I bought some nice canvas laundry bins from Lowe's to sort my laundry. I put them on top of the dresser.  I moved a bookshelf from the work shop outside into the laundry room to store extra items, such as a crockpot, cleaning rags, etc. I moved a chest of drawers from the guest bedroom to the master bedroom for storage of t-shirts, jeans, and sheets. I moved a dresser into the hallway to store extra sheets and towels.  I moved a chest of drawers from the work shop outside to the guest bedroom for extra toy storage.

After all of this rearranging, we realized that our refrigerator/freezer that we had on the breezeway (in the heat) decided to surrender.  so we were now on the hunt for a freezer.

Clint had to go to South Padre Island, Texas for a quick work trip at the end of May.  The kids stayed with Gammy & Poppa, while we made a mad dash to south Texas.  I enjoyed the time reading by the pool, soaking up the sun. (oh, and also searching online for a new upright freezer).

On our drive back to Jasper,  we purchased a new freezer from Best Buy and brought it home.  Lucky for us, it fit between the dresser & the bookshelf in the laundry room.

We spent a few more days in Jasper, then Clint flew to Curacao for work.  One of the rigs that was completed in Singapore arrived in Curacao for some more equipment to be installed.  The kids and I drove to Oklahoma to spend time with my family.

We attended a small family reunion. (next year I'll send out invitations by snail mail..hoping for a better attendance).  My brother was able to come in for a week from Washington (before he went to Afghanistan on July 8th).  My sister was able to pass through for a few hours before heading home for a funeral for their next door neighbor.

We dropped my brother off at the airport on our way back to Texas.  Then the next day the kids & I flew to Curacao to spend some time with Clint.  We were in Cuacao for 10 days.  It was hot, but beautiful!  The water is very clear, but deep (so great if  you snorkel).  The kids got tired of going to the pool/beach every day.  Clint wanted us to stay longer, but his sister wanted us to go back to her house.

We spent our time with his sister, mom & dad.  We were able to visit with a few friends, too.  Then when Clint returned we went back to Jasper for a few days, before he had to go back to Singapore.  We stayed in Texas one more week, before going back to Singapore on Aug 1st.

Well, that's not a very detailed overview of our summer, but you maybe you get the gist of it..

Love American Pickers

We, as a family, LOVE American Pickers TV show.  We have downloaded the first season on AppleTV.  We could spend hours just watching show after show.  I love how Mike & Frank tell the history of the items that they find.  I think they should auction off a spot for someone to pick with them..wouldn't that be cool?!  I'm practicing....

 My Princess has started calling me a Singapore Picker.  We live near a condo that people seem to be always getting rid of things...it sits by the dumpster until there is room for the item.  What a shame to fill the landfill with good useable furniture.

A month or so ago, I had been eyeballing a bench.  Well, it's more the size of a couch but made of wood, no cushions or cloth.  One slat in the seat needs a little repair..so did I "pick it"? Of course, I did.  I asked the gentleman that "mans" the dumpster area what they were going to do with it.  He said they were going to throw it away as soon as it would fit in the dumpster.  What?! I asked if I could have it, he said sure.  So the kids & I went home.  Little Prince didn't want to be a part of our "pickin", so he stayed home.  We laid down the seats in the Toyota Picnic & drove back down there.  We had to ask garbage man to get up.. Princess & I wiggled & wrangled it until we got it in the car.  We were both giddy with excitement.
My Prince has already advised me how to repair it.  I have been looking for cushions to go on this bench, I don't want to pay a fortune for it.  So I'm still looking.  If I get really crafty, I could sew some myself.  

So then a couple of weeks after "picking" this one up..I came across another one...about 15 miles away in another part of town.  It's identical.  Yes, I picked it, too.  So now I have 2 that need cushions!

I have been shopping Salvation Army stores here.  (They are a bit proud of their things or they like to keep them, because I think they are overpriced on most things).  I have bought some vases & plates that I have glued & spray painted for tiered fruit stands. (I use wax paper for the fruit to sit on, since it's not food safe).  I need to figure out how to post pictures....

Field Trips

It seems this is the week of field trips for our homeschool. Tuesday, after joining MomsNext (a part of MOPS (mothers of preschoolers)), we had lunch.  While we were eating lunch I received a text message from a friend inviting us to go with them to see a Bugs 3D movie at the Science Center.  We are so glad that we went.  The movie was very educational.  The Science Center had a fire demonstration that the kids thought was really cool.  Yesterday, we took another homeschool family (new to Singapore) to Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve.  We were hoping to see some monitor lizards.  This must be the time to go..monsoon season, must make the tide really high.  It was great, because they were all right near the builidings.  (in other words, we didn't have to take a long hike in the heat to find them).

We went to have lunch at Bollywood Veggies (an organic vegetable farm).  It was D-lish!  The kids enjoyed it, too.  As we were getting up to pay, a gentleman walked up to us & asked if we would like a short tour.  Absolutely!  He was brilliant, he talked to the kids and asked them all sorts of questions.  We had a great time..until we got too hot & were bitten by mosquitoes.  (even though he gave us each a piece of citronella grass to carry).

Today, we went to the Pompeii exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore.  It was really good.  The kids & I both enjoyed it.

 On our way to the museum, we were held up in traffic because of Thaipusam.  It's a Hindu festival.  It's not something you get to see everywhere.  It's only allowed in certain countries, due to the dangers involved in the piercing of skin. It's a real eye opener.

Tomorrow, we will go with the homeschool network to the Land Transport Authority Gallery.

It's been a busy week, but it sure has been fun. Many moments of confirming that lessons aren't only taught in a classroom.

I'm going to try to post some pictures...I'm new to this blogging thing, so I don't have a clue how it will turn out...

Back to School

                    Since we live in Singapore, we follow the American school calendar here. (that doesn't even make sense). We follow the Singapore American School's calendar.  So it's Sunday night, and I need to be getting the kids workboxes ready for them to start tomorrow morning.

We have been reading Little House on the Prairie at bedtime.  We finished it tonight, and I read the first chapter of Farmer Boy.

I'll start our day tomorrow teaching a little about Martin Luther King, since his birthday is this month.
I also want to start reading about Corrie Ten Boom.

Most people want to know what curriculum we use:

Science: Apologia-Botany
History: Story of the World-Middle Ages
Math: MathUSee
Geography: Trail Guide to World Geography
Handwriting:
Bible: Champion's Walk Camp Kanakuk

Perplexor

I use Sue Patrick's workbox system, if you aren't familiar take a look at her site. www.workboxes.com.
I bought 2 of the Trofast shelves at IKEA with 12 of the small white bins.  I made numbered tags for the workboxes in colors that the kids like individually.  Then I change them up for the holidays.

The first 4 boxes we work on together.  Then they start working (hopefully) on their own.  I will put in an assortment of things in their boxes.  I use File Folder games to help with learning the Books of the Bible, or telling time, or spelling words.  Sometimes I put in a tag that says "practice guitar 10 mins"; or do 10 jumping jacks to work out those wiggles; or "write a letter to Gammy"; or worksheets from puzzles/crosswords.  Then they have reading...I like them to read to me.  We have a reading corner set up for this time.

I will try to post some pictures of our classroom, to give you a better idea how our classroom works.

It's a New Year

It's been well over a year since I've posted.  Not that it was a bad year, by no means...just busy.

We went to Texas again in June. My sister & her 2 children came back with us.  They were here three weeks..seeing the sights.  We toured them all over Singapore, and spent 4 days on Nikoi Island, Indonsia.  Fabulous!
October- Prince Charming's parents & sister arrived.  Then we flew to Sydney, Australia for 1 day; then to the South Island of New Zealand for 15 days.  We had 2 caravans (motor homes) to tour the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
Halloween was spent with friends trick or treating.
November: Thanksgiving with friends at our house.
December: a 4 day trip for the prince, princess, & myself back to Nikoi Island, this time with a friends.  Christmas eve dinner with friends, Christmas day-quiet at home watching the classics. New Year's Eve dinner at our house with friends.