Mommy Brain

The kids all doubled up on assignments this week and finished Math. Natalie has the proof-reading and final draft stages left for a research paper on Venice, and we have two afternoons of Science. History will continue as part of our read-aloud time in the summer, because we need to complete Story of the World: Book 3 for Natalie to be ready to start her 7th grade history, which begins with the Civil War. So we are mostly done with our school year and heading into summer break mode: reading and read-aloud time in the morning, and then afternoons at the park or pool! I am so, so ready.

Last weekend, Kevin and the boys worked hard, building two four-by-four raised gardens.

They then mixed the peat, compost, and vermiculite – the perfect mixture according to Square Foot Gardening.

After mixing, they filled the boxes and Kevin applied a lattice-grid to help keep track of where they would plant everything.

Natalie got out of all the hardest work, because she was on a sleepover at a friend’s house. She did help with the planting, though.

They planted romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, pear tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, chives, beets, cantaloupe, onions, green beans, and carrots. We’ll have some yummy salads this summer!

This weekend will be more low-key, since Kevin is in the midst of a nasty cold. Everyone around us is planning to head to the surrounding lakes to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. We, however, prefer the lakes on non-holiday weekends, when there are less partiers. I received three DVDs to review via UPS this afternoon: Taken, Valkyrie, and Defiance – so we’ll have some good movies to watch. I will probably do some homeschool record keeping and organizing to finish up the year.

I finally got to watch the House finale – and, wow! Spoiler alert: don’t read the following paragraph if you have episodes of House waiting on your Tivo. Scroll down to the white space and you should be okay.

That was intense and crazy. Hugh Laurie is brilliant – the look on House’s face when he realized that the whole thing had been a hallucination was devastating. I liked Cameron and Chase’s wedding, although I think Chase was a lot more understanding about the whole “I want to keep my dead husband’s frozen sperm” issue than I would have been. It will be interesting to see what the next season brings.

Scrolling….

Scrolling….

Okay, you’re safe.

Lots going on at Books and Movies lately. Last Saturday, I posted a list of links that included a lot of book giveaways – many of which are still open. I’ll post another list. tomorrow. I posted part one of my list of favorite memoirs, reviewed Justice Hall by Laurie R. King, and posted the trailer for the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film, starring Robert Downey, Jr.

Here are some other links I saved to share:

~ NY Times: Some thoughts on the lost art of reading aloud

~ Bookroom Reviews is giving away the six Disney Animation Collection DVDs I just reviewed.

~ Funny video: awkward questions about Jesus.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

(Disney’s Animation Collection, Volumes 1-6 were provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review.)

Your favorite Disney characters star in Mickey and the Beanstalk, the imaginative telling of a beloved storybook tale! Based on the timeless adventures of Jack and the Beanstalk, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy climb a fantastic beanstalk up into the sky to a place where everything is huge – the food, the castle and the fearsome giant named Willy who guards a beautiful golden harp! Will Mickey and his friends outwit the giant and make it safely back home?

The Disney Animation Collection Volume 1 includes these classic Disney short films: Mickey and the Beanstak, The Brave Little Tailor, Gulliver Mickey, Thru the Mirror, and Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip.

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? “Not I!” answer the first two brothers as they build their new homes – one made of straw and the other of sticks. But when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows down their houses, the brothers seek protection in the third pig’s house, very wisely made of bricks. Will the three little pigs finally be safe, once and for all?

The Disney Animation Collection Volume 2 includes these classic Disney short films: Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Wolves, Lambert the Sheepish Lion, Chicken Little, Three Blind Mouseketeers, and Elmer Elephant.

In a faraway kingdom, two boys who look exactly alike meet by chance and decide to switch places: a pauper named Mickey, who dreams about a life of luxury, and the Crown Prince, who wishes he could be as free as his subjects. Each boy faces extraordinary challenges in his new role, and together they must figure out how to save the kingdom from an evil Captain who wants the throne for himself!

The Disney Animation Collection Volume 3 includes these classic Disney short films: The Prince and the Pauper, The Pied Piper, Old King Cole, A Knight For a Day, and Ye Olden Days.

Join in the excitement as unlikely competitors Max Hare and Toby Tortoise challenge each other to a foot race. Max is so confident he will win, he takes time out to flirt with some cute bunnies, show off his skills in other sports and break for a nap. But when he hears the crowd roar for Toby, who has slowly and steadily kept to the course, Max must make a last-minute dash for victory. Will the ever-persistent Toby beat him across the finish line?

Disney Animation Collection Volume 4 includes these classic Disney short films: The Tortoise and the Hare, Babes in the Woods, The Saga of Windwagon Smith, The Goddess of Spring, Toby Tortoise Returns, and Paul Bunyan.

Join the adventures along the riverbanks as one of the most enchanting storybooks of all time comes to life with classic Disney animation. Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad has got himself into a bit of trouble – from buying fancy new cars and dealing with some weaselly weasels! Now his beloved home, Toad Hall, is at risk of being lost. It will take the help of his dear friends Ratty, Moley and Angus McBadger, and a promise to change his ways, for Mr. Toad to set things right.

Disney Animation Collection Volume 5 includes these classic Disney short films: Wind in the Willows, The Ugly Duckling, The Robber Kitten, The Grasshopper and the Ants, The Wise Little Hen, and The Golden Touch.

This lighthearted story follows the adventures of a brave young boy who, emboldened by the tales of brave knights, decides to pursue the horrible dragon that is terrifying the villages. But what he discovers is a surprisingly friendly dragon that is more interested in reciting poetry and making music than devouring fair damsels. Will the boy be able to stop the local hero before he challenges the dragon to a fiery battle?

Disney Animation Collection Volume 6 includes these classic Disney short films: The Reluctant Dragon, Goliath II, Ferdinand the Bull, and Johnny Appleseed.

These are the cartoons I remember watching on Sunday nights! Anyone else remember Wonderful World of Disney? My family would watch each week, and I remember so many of these cartoons. This past week, I have had the pleasure of watching these with my kids, and it has brought back so many good memories! I like the new stuff that Disney and Pixar are doing, but there’s something about the innocence of these older short films that I absolutely love. And the great thing is that the kids love them, too. After watching them, Jonathan said, “We have to loan these to Jacob and Nicholas!” That’s a sure sign that he thinks they’re pretty wonderful.

Disney’s Animation Collection Volume 1: Mickey & the Beanstalk, Disney’s Animation Collection Volume 2: The Three Little Pigs, Disney’s Animation Collection Volume 3: The Prince and the Pauper, Disney Animation Collection 4: The Tortoise and the Hare, Disney Animation Collection 5: The Wind in the Willows, and Disney Animation Collection 6: The Reluctant Dragon are all available on DVD now.

(Dr. Doolittle: Million Dollar Mutts was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review.)

Kyla Pratt (Hotel for Dogs, Fat Albert) returns as Maya Dolittle, the “animal whisperer” in DR. DOOLITTLE: Million Dollar Mutts. Maya’s off to college when a Hollywood starlet seeks out her canine counsel to help with her depressed Chihuahua. When she experiences the razzle-dazzle of Hollywood, Maya’s plans for college get put on the backburner. With her faithful sidekick, Lucky, Maya sees past L.A.’s rich and famous and stays true to what’s really important in her life.

Noah’s review: This is a very good family movie. I liked the part when the turtle says, “Full speed ahead!” when a set piece is moving past him so it looks like the turtle is going really fast! 5 stars.

Jonathan’s review: It was super funny! It’s about this girl who can talk to animals. My favorite part was when the monkey said, “Star map? What kind of star map doesn’t feature King Kong? What a rip-off!” 5 stars.

Josiah’s review: My favorite part in the movie was when all the animals that Maya helped went after the bad guy. 5 stars.

Dr. Doolittle: Million Dollar Mutts is available on DVD now. The DVD special features include: “Tiffany’s Tricked Out Cell Phone” featurette; “No Business Like Show Business” featurette; and “Star Tours: Dolittle Style” featurette.

Three weeks of school to go. I am so ready to be done and have summer break – more so than I remember feeling in the past few years. Math has been a struggle this year for both Natalie and Jonathan, and all three of us are ready to not look at numbers for a few months. Can I just say that 6th grade math is insane? I am having to relearn so many things that I really have no reason whatsoever to relearn – except to teach them to my kids.

This was the week of series finales on TV: House (which I haven’t watched yet), Castle, Fringe, Lost, and Bones all sailed off into the summer season of reality shows. Tentative news says that Castle will be picked up for another season, which makes me much happier than a mere television show should, but it’s Nathan Fillion as a mystery writer – Captain Tightpants himself! If I can’t see him helm the Serenity, I’ll happily watch him banter and solve mysteries. (Speaking of which, did you see Nathan Fillion on Craig Ferguson?) Plus, Castle ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger, so I’ll have to pitch quite the fit if it doesn’t get picked up.

Speaking of cliff-hangers, anyone else out there watching Fringe? If so, what was with that grave Walter visited at the end?

Lost was so mind-blowingly fantastic and weird-making that I still haven’t processed it yet. Biggest question: Is Jacob good or evil?

Bones was the only finale that I found very disappointing. I hate it that they wasted an entire episode on a coma-induced hallucination. And then that last line: “Who are you?” And we have to wait until fall? Aargh!

As you can see, TV has occupied much of my time and thoughts this week. Now that all our favorite series are gone for the summer, we will be very happy with our Netflix subscription. We are waiting on the next season of many favorites: Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Eureka, and Battlestar Galactica.

Other than TV, I’ve also had some great reading time this week, and finished three books: Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine, and Evidence: Poems by Mary Oliver. (Click on the title to be taken to my review.)

Besides reading and watching TV, I’ve been going through Michelle withdrawals, since my best friend and her family have been across the country visiting grandparents for two weeks. They come home tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to some long conversations – and the boys can’t wait, either, cause they’ve missed their weekly playdates with her boys.

This weekend, Kevin and the kids will be putting in some box gardens, using the methods in All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. I’m looking forward to lots of yummy produce this summer. Any of you planning a garden this summer?

Here are the links I saved to share with you:

~ Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) talks about becoming a mom overnight through adoption. Have a kleenex handy!

~ If you Twitter, check this list to see which of your favorite authors tweet, too.

~ Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was a favorite read last year (or was it the year before?) and the trailer has me looking forward to the movie.

~ Michelle at Scribbit has a hilarious post displaying things she will never wear. I can positively say – me, either.

~ Have you seen the trailer for the new Fox series Glee? I can’t wait.

And lastly, be sure to check out Books and Movies on Saturdays, when I do a purely book-related links post. You’d be amazed at how many book giveaways there are each week in the blogosphere.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

We have been using Saxon Math for Homeschools for a few years now, and it has worked very well for three of my four children, and the early grades worked well for the fourth, too.

The early grades are very structured and make frequent use of manipulatives, which give the students a good understanding of the “why” of math. There is no rote memorization of facts without knowing what addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are. Once the child understands the “why” of each operation, they then work on memorizing their basic facts through drill sheets. This was something that was missing from the curriculum we used previously.

If you decide to use the primary grade math curriculum from Saxon, you will definitely want to purchase the manipulatives kit. You can purchase just the 1st grade kit, and then each year purchase the “expansion” kit, but it’s cheaper in the long-run to purchase the entire K-3 kit, especially if you think you’ll continue to use Saxon through the primary grades.

I skipped the kindergarten year with Josiah, because the kindergarten program is very simple and any child who knows their colors and basic shapes, and can count and recognize numbers to 10 doesn’t really need the kindergarten year. Josiah is finishing up his 1st grade year, but finished Saxon Math 2 today, and he has had no problems keeping up with the program. We may have to slow down later – and I will have no problem doing that – but so far he’s excelling at math.

The primary grades require lots of one on one instruction time with your child, unless he or she is very self-led in math. Some of my kids have required more time than others. My youngest, Josiah, is the most self-directed and the most naturally gifted in math, and I’ve skipped a lot of the manipulative instruction with him, because he just seems to “get” it.

Math for the middle grades changes, with a switch from a workbook to a textbook, and no manipulative work. The middle grade books have very little pictorial representation of concepts, and the student must copy the problems from the text book onto his or her own paper. The program continues to drill math facts, reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division each year. This starts with Saxon Math 5/4, which is the 4th grade program.

Jonathan will be entering the 4th grade in the fall, and for the first time I will be using a different math program for the 4th grade. My Jonathan is very much a tactile learner, and has a lot of focus issues. I’m sure if he was in public school, his teacher would want him medicated, but I prefer to teach him ways to focus and have chosen to fit his curriculum to his learning style. He also absolutely hates to write, so I can see the fact that he has to copy each problem down causing him to hit a major wall. I will be switching to Horizons Math, which continues with a workbook approach in the 4th grade, and is much more colorful and full of pictures. It continues at the same pace as Saxon, but is an approach that I am hoping will work better with his learning style.

All in all, Saxon Math is a comprehensive math program that is easy for a homeschooling parent to use, and that gives the student a good foundation in math concepts and lots of practice memorizing the necessary facts. It also goes beyond basic arithmetic, covering geometry, measurement, money, and time.

This guest post comes to you courtesy of Suzanne, an expert from All Children’s Furniture. Thanks, Suzanne!

When it comes to designing your children’s bedroom, there are many different aspects to consider. You want to create a room that helps stimulate your child’s imagination with bright colors and fun decorations, but it is important to keep their health in mind as well. Simple things like the type of paint used to color the room, your child’s bedding, and even your kids beds themselves should all be chosen with eco concerns in mind.

Paint the Walls “Green”

When it comes to decorating your child’s room, choosing a color to paint the walls is usually the first major decision. But before you decide on a color, you should make sure that the brand of paint you are considering doesn’t contain any Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC’s. These chemicals can release harmful toxins in your child’s room, which isn’t healthy for them or the environment. VOC free paints come in a wide variety of colors and can be found at almost any home goods store.

Opt for Organic Bedding

When you buy bedding for your child’s room, organic cotton and wool is the way to go. Just like organic paints, when you use organic bedding you avoid unneeded exposure to synthetic chemicals that can be harmful for your child. These early years are a crucial time for your child’s development and keeping their bedroom free from dangerous toxins while they sleep is an excellent way to help them grow up healthy. Organic sheets, pillows, and comforters can also cut down on the number of allergens present in their room and can be found in most retail stores or online.

Invest in Eco Friendly Furniture

Eco friendly beds and bedroom furniture can help put the finishing touches on your children’s room. Today, eco friendly furniture is common place and can be found in almost any furniture store. There are many different types of eco friendly furniture available and they can be defined by either being made from organic materials, using sustainable wood, or employing policies that replace any trees used during the manufacturing process. The bottom line is that many furniture brands have decided to do their part to reduce their carbon footprint and they should be supported for their efforts. Not only will eco friendly bedroom furniture be healthy for your children, but it will also help the environment. By teaching the importance of nature to your children at a young age you can help insure a new generation of environmentally aware adults.

I want to write something
so simply
about love
or about pain
that even
as you are reading
you feel it
and as you read it
you keep feeling it
and though it might be my story
it will be common,
though it be singular
it will be known to you
so that by the end
you will think -
no, you will realize –
that it was all the while
yourself arranging the words,
that it was all the time
words that you yourself,
out of your own heart
had been saying.

~ by Mary Oliver, from Evidence: Poems

(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review.)

“I was born under unusual circumstances…” Thus begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Academy Award-winning film starring Brad Pitt as a man who is born in the eighties and ages backward, and Cate Blanchett as the woman he is destined to love forever. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a monumental journey – as unusual as it is epic – that follows Benjamin’s remarkable adventure of romance and redemption from the end of World War I through the twenty-first century. Directed by David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a powerful testament to life and death, love and loss.

I think my opinion on this one is going to be in the minority. It was brilliantly-acted, beautifully-filmed, and the visual effects wre amazing. However, I thought it was very slow-moving, almost boring, and I didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters. It’s very possible that I was just not in the right frame of mind to enjoy this movie – I don’t know.

So, please don’t take my word for it. Most people have loved this movie – it was nominated for Best Picture, and Brad Pitt was nominated for Best Actor. See? It’s probably a really good movie. It just didn’t do much for me.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is available now on DVD. The two-disc special edition features interviews with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett; audio commentary featuring the director; footage revealing the innovative techniques behind the Academy Award-winning visual effects and makeup; step-by-step examination of the motion-capture process aging Brad Pitt; in-depth explanation of David Fincher’s creative process on the set; featurettes on the film’s storyboards, costumes, and Acadmy Award-winning art direction; stills galleries, including costume designs and candid behind-the-scenes production photos; optional French- and Spanish-dubbed soundtracks; closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing; and optional French and Spanish subtitles – plus an essay by film credit Kent Jones.

I have short-timer’s disease. You see, we only have four weeks in our homeschooling year, and I am really ready for summer break. It is so easy to get lax in the final weeks – I’m a soft touch when I hear, “Can I just do 1 through 10?” or “Can we skip grammar today?”

We’re having a typical Northeastern Washington spring, which means one day it’s 80 degrees, and the next it’s raining and freezing cold. Sometimes it’s beautiful in the morning and then cold and rainy in the afternoon, or vice versa. When the weather allows, we are spending time at the park. With trips to the park and dentist and orthodontist appointments, I’ve had lots of extra reading time, and I finished Specials, the third book in Scott Westerfeld’s series, and also The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, which was outstanding.

Natalie and I sang at a Mother’s Day Luncheon on Saturday and Kevin posted a video at our family web site.

Monday, I took Jonathan to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and we both loved it. In fact, as much as I liked the X-Men movies, I liked this one more. Of course, it helped that Hugh Jackman was in it.

Kevin and I are watching the HBO mini-series John Adams, and the kids and I are watching the PBS series Liberty’s Kids – can you guess what part of history we are currently studying? John Adams is excellent, by the way. I haven’t read the book, so I can’t vouch for how well it follows, but it’s enthralling and extremely well-acted.

We’re also enjoying ABC’s new Monday night show Castle – and keeping fingers crossed that it is renewed for next season. We continue to enjoy some old favorites this season: Bones, House, and NCIS. I’ve been watching Lost and Fringe, which Kevin refuses to watch with me, but I record to enjoy on rare occasions of alone-time.

Okay, on to a complete change of topic.

Today was the National Day of Prayer here in the United States. It saddened me to see a Christian post on Facebook that she is actively praying for the destruction of President Obama. Is this what Paul intended by 1 Timothy 2:1-4? Is it any wonder that the media portrays us as hate-filled? Is this how we walk in the steps of Christ? As I read those comments, the faces of President and Michelle Obama’s two beautiful daughters came to mind. I pray that they are protected from the hate-filled words spoken about their father.

Please don’t construe my comments to mean that we shouldn’t speak our mind when we disagree with the president and with Congress, and their actions. We should make our voices heard. I just happen to believe that when we pray for our president, our time would be better spent praying that God would grant President Obama wisdom and a heart that seeks Him.

Okay, I’m stepping off my soapbox now.

We will have Mom and Dad over for Mother’s Day on Sunday – Kevin is grilling steak and Dad is bringing a yummy (most likely chocolate) dessert. I hope all of you also have a wonderful Mother’s Day.

(Enchanted April was provided to me by Click Communications for the purpose of review.)

Two proper Englishwomen, determined to get away from their drab lives and inattentive husbands, find paradise in the serene countryside of the Italian Riviera in this enchanting adventure starring Josie Lawrence and Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). When the pair rent a magnificent villa for a month, they share expenses with two unlikely companions – an austere widow and a bored socialite. At first, personalities clash, but the hideaway holds a special magic that soon sparks friendships and reminds the women of ways to live and love that have long eluded them. Stellar performances and breathtaking scenery make the Academy Award-nominated Enchanged April (1992: Best Supporting Actress, Joan Plowright; Best Costume Design, Sheena Napier; Best Adapted Screenplay, Peter Barnes) a captivating delight for everyone who’s ever dreamed of taking the perfect holiday!

Michelle and I watched Enchanted April for a Mom’s Movie Night last week, and we both enjoyed it very much. Not only is the acting first rate, but the cinematography was dazzling. In fact, when we finished watching it, Michelle said she would willingly watch it again with the sound off, just to get to look at the scenery again. We both agreed that a month at an Italian castle – servants provided – would do us much good.

The thing that I appreciated most about this movie was that the women didn’t find the answer to their discontent in adultery. So many times in modern films, we see a woman who is in a marriage that has grown flat, with both parties taking each other for granted, and she finds new life in the arms of another man. This film demonstrates that we can all find new reasons to be content and to love others – if we just look for them.

Enchanted April will be available on DVD on May 5th. The DVD includes a commentary by the director and producer.