Ainsley's Mom

Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-05T00:14:00.000-05:00

Bloggy Break

2009-05-28T17:32:00.002-05:00

I have decided to take a bloggy break.

I'm not sure how often or when I will post. I have been spending most of my "on-line" time on Facebook. (I am hooked!)

Have a great Summer!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-20T00:17:00.001-05:00

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in April/May

2009-05-19T00:07:00.001-05:00

Ainsley has finished Kindergarten!

Here is an overview of April/May and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized three Bible verses:

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." ~ Hebrews 12:14

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you." ~ Psalm 56:3

"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." ~ Proverbs 18:16

2) Read the books "Storm in the Night" and "Lentil" .

(We did activities with these books using "Five in a Row".)

3) Covered the letters "K", "Q", "J", "X", and "Z".

4) Learned odd and even numbers, began subtraction and learned the concept of symmetry.

5) Discussed the subject of environmental education. (How to keep our home, neighborhood and town cleaner and healthier places in which to live.)

6) Looked (in books) at examples of using italics for emphasis and quotation marks.

7) Discussed onomatopoeia, personification and similes.

8) Discussed Memorial Day / Veterans Day and the importance of recognizing soldiers who have fought to protect our country.

9) Discussed taste buds and the four taste groups: bitter, sweet, salty and sour.

10) Ainsley memorized the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer.

(She recited this with her class at her Kindergarten graduation.)

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by KIDS like me,
But only God can make a tree."

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T00:11:00.003-05:00

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in March

2009-04-21T00:33:00.001-05:00

Here is an overview of March and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized four Bible verses:

"If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all." ~ James 1:5

"You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name." ~ Isaiah 63:16

"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink." ~ Matthew 25:35

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." ~ Matthew 7:12 (The Golden Rule)

2) Read the books "Papa Piccolo" and "Grandfather's Journey". (We did activities with these books using "Five in a Row".)

3) Covered the letters "P", "V", "W", "K" and "Q".

4) Learned the concept of nouns, verbs and synonyms.

5) Continued counting by 5s, 10s, and learned to count by 2s. (Learned even vs. odd numbers.)

6) Introduced cylinders, spheres, cones and cubes.

7) Found Italy on the map (looks like a boot) and learned about Venice. (streets of water and gondolas)

8) Discussed the culture of Japan. (kimonos, clogs, fans, construction of homes, origami) Ainsley made a heart using origami.

9) Talked about the concept of peripheral vision. (Ainsley practiced looking out of the corner of her eye.)

10) Discovered birds native to Tennessee. (Ainsley's favorite was the chickadee.)

Easter 2009

2009-04-17T17:16:00.008-05:00

We had a wonderful Easter this year!

The weather was beautiful and we had fun with Easter activities.

We attended a Spring Egg Hunt with our church family at Great Oaks.
Mrs. Kelly paints a chick on Ainsley's hand.

Ainsley made a bunny windsock.

Ainsley found a lot of eggs filled with a lot of goodies.
**********
Ainsley also decorated eggs at home.
Dan and I surprised her with a Star Wars Clone Wars decorating kit.

Ainsley making her "Star Wars" face.

Star Wars Clone Wars eggs

**********
Our Easter Sunday was spent attending services with our church family.

We love to spend time together.

Dan and Ainlsey ~ Best Buddies

Ainsley and I

Our Easter photo

Resurrection Rolls

2009-04-16T00:24:00.005-05:00

Ainsley and her friend Ashley made "Resurrection Rolls" for Easter.

We started by reading John 19:38-42.

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there."

Ainsley and Ashley each had a marshmallow...which represented Jesus.
They dipped their marshmallow in butter....

...and cinnamon and sugar...which represented the spices used to anoint the body.

They wrapped the coated marshmallow tightly in a crescent roll...which represented the wrapping of Jesus' body in a cloth.

We placed the rolls in a 350 degree oven for 11 minutes. The oven represented the tomb. We pretended it was three days.

Here is what one of the rolls looked like when we took it out of the oven.

After the rolls cooled, Ainsley and Ashley opened their rolls (cloth).
EMPTY! Jesus is no longer there.

He is risen!

Origami

2009-04-15T23:52:00.002-05:00

After seeing origami in "Grandfather's Journey" , Ainsley wanted to make something using origami.

I found THIS book at the library. After looking through the book, Ainsley decided she wanted to make a heart.

Here is her first origami creation.

We had fun! We plan to make more creations using origami soon.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T00:02:00.001-05:00

Magic Tree House: The Musical

2009-04-02T11:09:00.006-05:00

The Magic Tree House books are Ainsley's absolute favorite books. They are written by Mary Pope Osborne...or as Ainsley refers to her..."the author of my dreams". There are 41 books in the series and Ainsley has read almost all of them. We have most of the MTH books and Ainsley reads (and re-reads) at least one of the books a day.

Last Saturday, Ainsley and I were excited to join our friends ~ Kristi, Zach and Zaylee~ to see a musical based on the Magic Tree House books. The musical was held at The Orpheum Theatre.

Zeb, Zaylee and Ainsley were excited for the show to begin.
The musical was a hit for the kids! There was singing, dancing, excitement and humor. Ainsley's favorite part of the show was "the fire breathing dragons" and "getting to see Jack and Annie save Camelot". She also liked "when Jack was dancing and couldn't stop."

Click HERE for more information about "Magic Tree House: The Musical".

Bell Horses

2009-03-27T16:34:00.001-05:00

Ainsley is enjoying Kindermusik. She has learned to read music (notes: C, A, D and F) and play the glockenspiel.

Here she is playing "Bell Horses".

A "sick" joke

2009-03-25T15:13:00.003-05:00

Ainsley has been sick this week. She has had strep throat and a strep rash.

Even though she has not felt good, she has still kept her sense of humor.

Here is a joke she shared with me yesterday:

"A pony came to see me today. He said he couldn't sing.
I said, "That's ok. You're just a little 'hoarse'."

ha! ha! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Harlem Globetrotters

2009-03-25T14:37:00.007-05:00

On Sunday, March 15, Dan and I surprised Ainsley by taking her to see the Harlem Globetrotters. (It had been years since I had seen them so I was as excited as Ainsley was to be at the game.)

Ainsley thought watching the Globetrotters was "very fun." Her favorite parts of the game:

~ "when (it sounded like) one of the guys from the Globetrotters pooted."

~ "when the referee was coming to see a 'baby' (one of the Globetrotters was holding) and got sprayed with Silly String."

~ "when one of the players couldn't get down from the hoop...he was holding on to it...and then one of the other players picked him up and he started crying like a baby."

~ "all of the Globetrotters' tricks."

Happy St. Patty's Day!

2009-03-17T00:02:00.000-05:00

An Irish Prayer

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

3 years ago today...

2009-03-15T00:02:00.001-05:00

...I began my journey in blogging.

Click HERE to see my first post.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T01:42:00.000-05:00

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in February

2009-03-10T00:16:00.000-05:00

Here is an overview of February and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized three Bible verses:

"Fear not, for I am with you." ~ Isaiah 41:10

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." ~ John 13:35

"I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well." ~ Psalm 139:14

2) Read the books "Very First Last Time" and "Who Owns the Sun?" (We did activities with these books using "Five in a Row".)

3) Covered the letters "R", "N", and "M".

4) Found northern Canada on the map and discussed the land and climate there.

5) Continued to learned about pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. (how much each is worth and what is on each coin) With this, she has also learned how to count by fives and tens. My friend Lisa also let us borrow this fun game that helps children learn how to count money. (Ainsley has really enjoyed playing it.)

6) Discovered the artistic style of "pointillist". (tiny dots that make a picture)

7) Learned about simple machines. (lever, inclined plane, pulley, wheel and axel, screw, and wedge)

8) Discussed slavery and its role in history.

9) Learned about question marks and how to make one.

10) Learned the colors of a rainbow using "ROY G. BIV" and how a rainbow is made.

Neat Numbers

2009-03-09T12:01:00.004-05:00

I had to show off Ainsley's number penmanship.

Such nice, neat work!

(You can click on the photo to make it bigger.)

A B See: "D" is for...

2009-03-09T00:02:00.000-05:00

DAN

My loving, caring, funny, thoughtful, kind and handsome husband.

Happy 13th anniversary, Dan. I love you!

"Mom" interview

2009-03-03T13:45:00.001-06:00

I saw this idea on Facebook. I had fun interviewing Ainsley and loved hearing the answers she gave.

1. What is something mom always says to you? “I love you, too.”

2. What makes mom happy? When she sees me.

3. What makes mom sad? When she doesn’t see me.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? When she tickles me.

5. What was your mom like as a child? Definitely had glasses. Had fun in Kindergarten and first grade and second grade and third grade and fourth grade. And very loud.

6. How old is your mom? 38

7. How tall is your mom? 145 feet long

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Go on the computer

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? She usually works out.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Taking care of me when I was a baby.

11. What is your mom really good at? Working out

12. What is your mom not very good at? Coloring very quickly

13. What does your mom do for a job? Does schoolwork with me

14.What is your mom's favorite food? Kashi crackers (I eat these everyday!)

15.What makes you proud of your mom? She is an American.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Sponge Bob

17. What do you and your mom do together? Go to Wal-Mart, play games, do puzzles, color in “doodle” book , read books

18. How are you and your mom the same? We both have brown eyes.

19. How are you and your mom different? Her hair is black, my hair is brown.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? She always gives me hugs and kisses.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? She loves him and she married him. He is funny and we like to pick on him. (Very true!)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Wal-Mart (Probably because we are there almost everyday.)

Swap

2009-03-01T21:24:00.007-06:00

I recently participated in a swap through The Homeschool Post.

My swap partner was from Learning by Living. She was VERY nice!

Here is a photo of the scrapbooking/card making goodies she sent me: ~beautiful ribbons, much needed card paper and envelopes, handmade stickers, neat metal words and a cute little Americana scrapbook kit~

I will definitely be using all of these supplies soon.

She was also thoughtful to send Ainsley two gifts:

~ A paper doll set and a "Living Like Jesus" Sing and Remember Bible storybook and CD~

Ainsley was happy to receive something, too.

She has enjoyed playing with the dolls and reading/listening to the book and CD.

(Such a fun way to learn about good character traits.)

In addition to the wonderful gifts my partner sent, she also let me know that she was and is still praying for me. What a blessing to have met such a caring fellow homeschooler and blogger!

Another snow day

2009-03-01T15:09:00.005-06:00

We got over 7 inches of snow at our house yesterday...which is practically unheard of...so we played outside for a long time today.

Ainsley and I made a "Grizzlies" snowman complete with a Grizzlies hat, a Mike Conley replica jersey and a Grizzlies flag. Ainsley named him "Conley the Snowman".

We also improvised by making a sled out of the top of Ainsley's toybox. (It is a Little Tykes and made of hard plastic.) It was perfect!

Ainsley went DOWN the hill...

...and UP the hill many, many, many times!

We also had snowball fights and made snow angels. Dan joined us, too, but was a little "whimpy" about getting out in the snow too much.

We had a great time!

Too wonderful to be owned

2009-02-26T05:29:00.001-06:00

This week, Ainsley read "Who Owns the Sun?" by Stacy Chbosky for Veritas.

It is a story in which a young black boy asks his father who owns different things in nature. (ie - the sun, the wind, the flowers) His father's response to each question is that no one person can "own" the marvels in nature. At the end of the story, the young boy discovers that his father is "owned" by another man...because he is a slave.

Ainsley illustrated a list of things "too wonderful to be owned". Here is her list. (You can click on the photo to enlarge it.) grass, sky, George Washington, rainbow, birds, Abraham Lincoln (Honest Abe), flowers, sun, wind, stars, rain and Ainsley

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-25T00:28:00.000-06:00

I can FINALLY tell the world...

2009-02-23T20:48:00.003-06:00

I am going to be an aunt in September!

My wonderful sister-in-law and brother-in-law are expecting their first baby.

Congratulations, Meghan and Ben!

"My Mom"

2009-02-19T15:57:00.003-06:00

For "M" week, Ainsley wanted to take a photo of me when I was her age for sharing time at Veritas. ("M" is for "My Mom")

When she saw my Kindergarten photo, she was very excited!Ainsley shared three things: (in her words)
1) This is a picture of my mom when she was in Kindergarten...just like me!
2) My mom is as sweet as a cherry.
3) My mom is a good cook.

My heart is smiling.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-18T00:10:00.001-06:00

Happy President's Day!

2009-02-16T11:50:00.001-06:00

Ainsley and I watched this video today. I told her that we don't have any video or photos from when George Washington became President but this video shows us what it was probably like.

(This video is from the mini-series "John Adams" which Dan and I saw recently. It was very good and makes me so proud to be an American.)

Homeschooling activities

2009-02-15T22:35:00.004-06:00

On Monday, our little homeschooling group visited the Fire Museum of Memphis. Ainsley enjoyed the tour and a refresher on fire safety. (how to prevent fires and what to do in case of a fire) When the tour was complete, she played in a fire truck and ambulance. After the tour, we ate at Ainsley's favorite restaurant. (The Spaghetti Warehouse)

On Friday, my friend Lisa hosted a Valentine's Ice Cream Party. She had vanilla and chocolate ice cream and every kind of topping you can think of. (sprinkles, "magic shell", conversation hearts, chocolate chips) One of my other friends, Kelly, brought yummy brownies. Ainsley had a fun time making and eating an ice cream sundae with her friends, Mitchell and Ashley.

As a side~ I am blessed to be friends with such wonderful homeschooling moms. They are important to me and I cherish the times we spend together. They are great listeners, give sound advice and encourage me. They also have children who are very special friends to Ainsley.

MELANIE, LISA, and KELLY: You all are the best!

Vote for O.J.

2009-02-12T13:29:00.005-06:00

This is one of the O.J. Mayo billboards that will be in Phoenix for the NBA All-Star Weekend.

O.J. is one of Ainsley's favorite players. We are hoping O.J. wins the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year. He really is a great player!

He leads all rookies in scoring (19.3 ppg) and minutes (37.9 mpg) and is in the top five in four other major categories. He is also one of only three rookies since the 2000-01 season to record a 20-point, 15-rebound and five-assist performance.

Click HERE for more information about O.J.

(NBA All-Star Weekend is one of our favorite sporting events. We will enjoy watching the Slam Dunk Competition and the new "H-O-R-S-E" competition.)

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in January

2009-02-10T08:30:00.001-06:00

Here is an overview of January and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized two Bible verses and The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20):

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." ~ Proverbs 10:4

"Oh, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" ~ Psalm 8:1

2) Read the book "Katy and the Big Snow" and memorized the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". (We did activities with these books using "Five in a Row".)

3) Covered the letters "H", "U", and "B".

4) Learned the difference between vowels and consonants.

5) Learned about pennies, nickels and dimes. (how much each is worth and what is on each coin) With this, she has also learned how to count by fives and tens.

6) Looked at city life, how a city operates and the departments/occupations that keep a city moving a long. (ie - water department, electric department, police department, post office, doctors)

7) Discussed responsibilities and how we all have a responsibility to do our work faithfully. (We discussed Ainsley's responsibilities...as well as mine and her dad's.)

8) Focused on the points of a map's compass and where the different directions are.

9) Learned more about personification. (giving human qualities to non-human objects, animals or things.) She wrote a story and drew a picture using this device.

10) Learned about poetry: what makes a poem and some of the devices used in poetry. (repetition, rhythm, sometimes rhyme, personification, etc.) She also learned about rhyme scheme. (ie - AABA pattern)

A B See: "C" is for...

2009-02-07T18:34:00.002-06:00

CHOCOLATE

These are fudge football brownies I made for the Superbowl.

To participate in this photo meme, click HERE.

"R" is for Recipe

2009-02-04T15:43:00.002-06:00

For "R" week, Ainsley and I talked about recipes.

We looked at some recipes and discussed the different parts to a recipe. (name, ingredients, pre-heating instructions, directions, and serving size.) We also reviewed how it is a very good idea to set-out all of the tools and ingredients FIRST...to be sure you have everything you need. (This is something I remind her of everytime we cook together.)

I asked Ainsley to pick her favorite thing to bake and to tell me the recipe. (how she would make it)

Here is her recipe (in her exact words) for "Banana Bread"....for her and one million of her closest friends. (If you have a hard time reading the recipe, click it to enlarge.)

(For "B" week, Ainsley made Banana Bread to share with her Veritas class for snack time.)

Ainsley's first salon cut

2009-02-04T15:00:00.004-06:00

Ainsley got her first salon wash, cut and style yesterday at Sweet & Sassy.

I just love her hair and thinks she looks so cute!

Ainsley has never had her hair washed at a salon before so she was little nervous. The sylist let her choose the shampoo (it smelled like chocolate) and the conditioner (it smelled like watermelon). While getting her hair cut, she watched one of the "Fairies" movies. After her hair was cut and styled, her hair was sprayed with glitter and a "hair perfume" that smelled like cupcakes.

Ainsley had a fun time and wants to go back to Sweet & Sassy again. They also do mini-manicures and pedicures so maybe we'll try that next time.

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Morning"

2009-01-28T23:20:00.003-06:00

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Morning
by Ainsley Feeney

I made a snow angel between the woods and the house
But then I saw a cute little mouse.
The mouse was brown and very fat
And it was chased by a big yellow cat.

The yellow cat fell in the woods.
I held him in my hands quite tight.
I could barely feel his fur.
It was very light.

I also saw a big huge deer
Running to my house, which is right here.
The deer was chased by a bear.
The bear had lots of hair.

The snowy woods are pretty and nice.
I’ll play in lots of snow and ice.
And miles to go before I see Mom.
And miles to go before I see Mom.

Stopping By Woods...

2009-01-28T23:10:00.003-06:00

Ainsley has been learning about Robert Frost and his poem "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening".

Click HERE to see Ainsley say the poem from memory.

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Snow Day

2009-01-28T17:03:00.003-06:00

Ainsley and I played in the snow today!

(It was less than an inch but we had so much fun.)

Ainsley catching snowflakes on her tongue.

Sweet little snowbunny

"I love the snow, Mom!"

Warming up with a nice cup of hot cocoa.

Beethoven Symphony no. 5

2009-01-27T13:25:00.001-06:00

For "B" week, Ainsley is learning about Beethoven. (She is also learning about Beethoven in her Kindermusik class.)

I wanted to share my favorite Beethoven symphony with her and found a very good video of it on YouTube. When Ainsley watched the video, she liked "the way the conductor moved his hands" and the music. ("It was very pretty.") She also enjoyed identifying the different instruments in the orchestra.

(If you are receiving this by email or on Facebook, you will need to go to my blog to see the video.)

Upward Basketball update

2009-01-26T15:32:00.006-06:00

Ainsley has now played three basketball games and is having so much fun.

*****

Her games are on Saturday mornings. Each Friday night before she goes to bed she gets very excited because "I get to play basketball tomorrow!"

*****

She receives a star after each game.

Her first star was for "Best Effort".

Her second star was for "Best Sportsmanship".

Her third star was for "Best Defense".

*****

Dan and I have enjoyed watching her play. She has the fundamentals down so well...especially when it comes to dribbling and holding out her arm to guard the ball.

Here is a quote from an email her coach sent us today:

"Ainsley is showing awesome form – especially when she dribbles."

*****

(The photo was taken by my friend, Kelly. Her son, Mitchell, plays basketball, too, but is on the opposing team. Ainsley is visiting with Mitchell while they are sitting on the bench.)

From Shalee's Diner

2009-01-24T20:06:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite bloggers is Shalee of Shalee's Diner. She is down-to-earth and so funny!

Click here to see one of her latest posts that made me laugh...a lot.

Inauguration Day

2009-01-21T19:15:00.003-06:00

Our dear friends ~Melanie and Samantha~ came over to watch Barack Obama

become our 44th President.

Ainsley and Sam were quite excited when President-elect Obama was introduced. Our new President!
For lunch, Ainsley and Samantha made "Presidential Pepperoni Pizza". Yummy!

********************

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."

1 Timothy 2:1-4a

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in December

2009-01-20T00:10:00.000-06:00

Our month of December was busy getting ready for Christmas, doing Christmas activities, and celebrating Christmas with our family. We did fit in a few "school" activities. Here is an overview of December (2008) and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized two Bible verses:
"For God so loved the world, He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:16

"He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given." ~ Proverbs 19:17

2) Read the books "Another Celebrated Dancing Bear" and "The Clown of God". (We did activities with these books using "Five in a Row".)

3) Covered the letter "E".

4) Found Russia on the map and discussed some of the things Russia is known for, like caviar (Ainsley thought that was icky!), ballet, musicians, and stacking dolls. Ainsley also made a picture with "turrets", the spiral "onion" tops on some buildings in Russia.

5) Talked about "occupations" and discovered the occupations of some of our family members. (Ainsley would like for her occupation to be a veterinarian.)

6) Discussed ways to be hospitable to others.

7) Learned what an apostrophe is and how it shows possession.

8) Found Italy on the map and learned some Italian words. (Arrivederci, Grazie, Signor and Fine)

9) Learned about elderly/aging people, how we should show them respect and how they can be recognized for their wisdom, skills and knowledge.

10) Introduced the math concept of multiplication.

Meeting OJ

2009-01-18T23:37:00.004-06:00

After standing in line for over an hour, Ainsley met one of her favorite players for the Grizzlies... OJ Mayo!

Ainsley was excited to meet OJ. (A little shy, too.)

He was very nice and gave Ainsley an autographed poster which is now hanging in her playroom.

(There is a good chance OJ could be Rookie of the Year for the NBA. He is a terrific player!)

A B See: "B" is for...

2009-01-16T15:52:00.003-06:00

Ben

(Ainsley sure does love her Uncle Ben!)

To participate in this meme,click here.

Ainsley's first basketball game

2009-01-12T16:56:00.006-06:00

After one month of practice...and several years of wanting to play...Ainsley had her first basketball game on Saturday. She is playing with Upward ~ a program through one of our local churches.

Here she is in her uniform...ready to go!Dan and I asked her if she was excited about the game. She told us she was "a little nervous" and wanted to know what would happen if she got a "techincal" (foul). (I think she watches too many NBA games.)

Here is her team...the Oakland Bulls. Coach Eric...the second from the left...has been an encouraging coach and has taught the kids a lot of basketball fundamentals.

The teams, coaches and referee said a prayer before the game.

I didn't take any photos during the game. (too busy cheering!) Ainsley was very much into the game and had fun! It was neat watching her use the fundamentals she has learned. She was dribbling, pivoting, defending the player assigned to her, shooting and rebounding. (Dan assisted Coach Eric during the game.)

Each child received a star for something they did well during the game. Ainsley received a star for "Best Effort". Dan and I are so proud of our little basketball player!

Helping Hands

2009-01-12T16:40:00.004-06:00

For "H" week, Ainsley made Helping Hands. I traced her hands on a piece of paper and she decorated the prints with paint.

She then told me how her hands can help:
~fold clothes
~help Pa and Ma sweep the floor
~share toys
~set the table
~pick weeds
~help cook
~pick-up room
~help Pa pick tomatoes

Ainsley ~ our little helper!

Update on my dad ~ 3

2009-01-12T15:21:00.003-06:00

My dad was released from the hospital this morning and is at home. (yay!)

He said he feels fine...just tired. He is still in some pain and is taking medication to help.

His lymph nodes (which were removed and tested) show no signs of cancer cells so his prognosis looks very good.

He will be on breathing treatments one time a day until he has his next appointment to see his doctor...which will be in two weeks.

Thank you, again, for your thoughts and prayers for him and our family.

Update on my dad ~ 2

2009-01-10T21:46:00.003-06:00

My dad is doing remarkably well after his surgery.

He has been out of bed the past two days taking short walks down the hallway of the hospital.
He has also been sitting up in bed frequently.
He has had both drainage tubes removed. (This is a very good sign he is healing well.)
All of his x-rays look very good.
He did say that today was the worst he has felt. He was very light headed at one point and did get sick. They were able to give him some medicine in his IV to calm his stomach. As of this evening, he is feeling much better...but still feels weak and tired.
He has not received the results of the tests from his lymph nodes but his doctor said there should be nothing to worry about. (He should receive the results on Monday.)

It looks like he will be released on Monday or Tuesday to return home. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to recover.

A B See: "A" is for...

2009-01-09T20:37:00.005-06:00

Ainsley

(I am so blessed to be Ainsley's Mom.)

To particpate in this meme, click here.

Christmas 2008 Slideshow

2009-01-07T23:44:00.001-06:00

Christmas 2008

2009-01-07T23:26:00.004-06:00

Here are a few of the things I loved about our Christmas:

~ spending quality time in Chicago with our terrific family
~ Ainsley playing in the snow with her grandpa
~ celebrating Ainsley's great-grandfather's 88th birthday
~ hosting a "country" family Christmas party and learning to square dance
~ welcoming a new cousin for Ainsley into the family ~ Kellen Christian
~ watching Ainsley have a fun time with her wonderful grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins
~ eating a lot of great "Chicago" food - Lou Malnati's and Photo's
~ being with my two favorite people in the world ~ Dan and Ainsley

Update on my dad~ 1

2009-01-07T17:23:00.003-06:00

My dad made it out of surgery and is doing well.

I talked with my sister and she said the surgery lasted a few hours. The surgeon removed the upper right lobe (from his lung) and a lymph node. The lymph node looks clear but they will send it off to be analyzed. Thankfully, it looks like the cancer has NOT spread.

Thank you for lifting my dad (and our family) up in your prayers. I will post an update when I hear more.

Prayers for my dad

2009-01-06T16:47:00.002-06:00

I would like to ask for prayers for my dad.

He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:30 am to remove his upper right lobe and lymph nodes.

Please pray:
~ for the surgeon and medical staff who will perform the surgery.
~ that they will be able to remove all of the cancer and that the cancer has not spread.
~ for a speedy recovery for my dad after surgery.
~ for my dad's wife and our family...that we will best know how to support him during this time.
~ for safe trips for my sister's famiy and my family as we travel to be with him.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T14:05:00.002-06:00

An Irish Christmas Blessing

The light of the Christmas star to you.

The warmth of home and hearth to you.

The cheer and good will of friends to you.

The hope of a childlike heart to you.

The joy of a thousand angels to you.

The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

Love,

Karla

(Thank you for stopping by my blog this year. "Ainsley's Mom" will return in January.)

Making Ornaments

2008-12-20T13:35:00.004-06:00

Ainsley made spice Christmas ornaments this week.

We combined two cups of applesauce, 1-1/2 cups of ground cinnamon, and 6 tablespoons of ground cloves. We mixed the dough until it was well blended and stiff.

Ainsley rolled out the dough on wax paper. (to a 1/4 inch thickness) She used cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes.

We used a straw to poke a hole in the top of the ornament. (Later we will weave ribbon through the hole for hanging)

Here they are!

It will take about 4 days for the ornaments to dry. (We have been turning them over each day.)

Ainsley really liked making the ornaments.

"They smell so good. Like tea leaves."

(They have made our house smell very "Christmassy".)

Ainsley's Letter to Santa

2008-12-19T21:49:00.003-06:00

Ainsley was excited to see her letter to Santa in our local newspaper this week.Here's what it says...in case you can't read it:

(You can also click on the photo to make it bigger.)

"Dear Santa,

How are you doing Santa? How's Frosty doing?

Please give me the My Little Pony Amusement Park.

Please give me Trick Tracks.

Please give me some bikes for my friends if they come over and one for myself, please.

You probably know what else I want.

Love Ainsley"

Thirteen on Thursday: Christmas activities

2008-12-18T00:22:00.003-06:00

Here are a few of the fun activities we have done during the past few weeks as we prepare for Christmas:

1) I had a cookie swap and Christmas get-together with my dear homeschooling friends ~ Lisa, Melanie and Kelly.

2) We attended The Memphis Christmas Experience here with the Mims family. (A lot of arts/crafts/games for the kids and a live nativity. Ainsley was amazed by the camels...and by Gabriel.)

3) We attended breakfast with Santa here and made Christmas crafts here with the Glas family.

4) Ainsley found out "What God Wants for Christmas". (If you have a child, Dan and I highly recommend this Christmas activity. Ainsley LOVED this.)

5) Ainsley and I made Christmas ornaments out of a cinnamon/clove dough. (They smell SO good!)

6) We decorated our Christmas tree. (I love this part of Christmas. Each ornament on our tree has a special meaning to us.)

7) Ainsley and I made these Christmas cookies.

8) We watched "Elf" and are watching other Christmas favorites on this channel. (This is Ainsley's first year to see classics such as "Frosty the Snowman" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".)

9) We mailed Christmas cards. (We've received so many nice cards, too!)

10) We shopped for a food basket to help Fayette Cares. (We did this with the Glas family.) I also organized the food at their food pantry one morning.

11) We listen to "Holly" Christmas music everyday. (DirecTV ~ channel 822)

12) I created and sent out invitations for a "country" family Christmas party. (We're even going to learn to square dance.)

13) Ainsley has enjoyed playing with the neatest gingerbread playdoh (from Lisa) and a Christmas stamp set (from Mrs. Kristina).

I hope you are having a wonderful time counting down the days until Christmas.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-17T00:05:00.000-06:00

(Ainsley with her great-uncle Ken)

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in November

2008-12-16T00:45:00.001-06:00

Homeschooling continues to go very well. Every month we enjoy it more and more. Here is an overview of November and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized three Bible verses:

~ John 3:16 (Ainsley chose her favorite verse.)

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these things there is no law." ~ Galatians 5:22-23

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High." ~ Psalm 92:1

2) Read the books "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World" and "Cranberry Thanksgiving" . (We did activities each day using "Five in a Row".)

3) Found Italy, France, Sri Lanka, England and Jamaica on the map.

4) Discovered how salt is made by evaporating salt water.

5) Learned how to measure in inches.

6) Found all four oceans on the map. (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic)

7) Covered the letters "L", "I", "T" and "F".

8) Learned about silhouettes and profiles. (I made a silhouette of Ainsley's face.)

9) Created sentences using alliteration. (Ainsley's favorite sentence was "Camels like crisp cranberries.")

10) Started working with money (pennies) and telling time. (hour hand/minute hand)

We also took a few days off to celebrate Thanksgiving. (Ainsley helped me make a very yummy cranberry orange bread for Thanksgiving Day.)

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-11T17:27:00.005-06:00

I am a few weeks behind on posting Thanksgiving photos...so here they are.

We were blessed to be with most of our family on Thanksgiving. (We wish it could have been everyone. We really missed those of you who couldn't join us.) Since we live a distance from everyone in our family, we are so thankful for the times when we are together. (Pa, Uncle Ken/Aunt Ebby, Dan/Me/Ainsley, Meghan (Dan's sister), Uncle Joe and Aunt Cindie)

We ate yummy food, played several games of "Apples to Apples" and "Scattergories", visited a lot, and kept the tradition of taking a walk in the woods behind Ainsley's great-grandfather's house.

Here is one of the placecards Ainsley made (with a little help from me) for Thanksgiving dinner.

We are thankful for our family. They truly are one of our greatest blessings!

Fancy Feet

2008-12-11T17:03:00.003-06:00

For "F" week, Ainsley made Fancy Feet.
I traced her feet on a piece of paper and she decorated the prints with paint.

She then told me and showed me everything her feet can do.

Ainsley's New Favorite Song

2008-12-07T21:38:00.001-06:00

Enjoy this AMAZING video..."Star Wars" - an a cappella tribute to John Williams.

Ainsley has watched this many times and now runs around the house singing, "Kiss a Wookie!" and making Wookie sounds.

(Special thanks to Clif for telling us about this.)

May the Force be with you all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T00:15:00.001-06:00

To my family and friends:

"I thank my God every time I remember you."
~Philippians 1:3

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Fantastic French Toast

2008-11-25T16:18:00.002-06:00

For "F" week, Ainsley made "Fantastic French Toast". 1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
2 pieces of bread

Whisk egg, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth.
Dip bread into egg mixture and place in non-stick skillet over medium-low heat.
Cook about 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

After the toast was ready, Ainsley cut it into slices and made the letter "F".

She tried the toast "plain" and didn't care for it...so she spread it with grape jelly and thought it was "mmmmm....GOOD!"

Thirteen on Tuesday: Things Ainsley is thankful for

2008-11-25T13:09:00.003-06:00

1) My house

2) My family

3) My room

4) The world

5) Christopher Columbus

6) My mommy

7) My daddy

8) TV

9) My Grizzlies blanket

10) Food

11) My friends

12) God

13) Myself

Geography with the Grizzlies - Part 2

2008-11-24T17:55:00.002-06:00

You might remember this post where I discussed incorporating Ainsley's love for the Grizzlies and her love for finding places on the map.

Ainsley had a new idea today. She wanted to look on her maps and find where each Grizzlies player was born.

She discovered that the Grizzlies have players from all over the world.
Dallas, TX (2 players)
Hopkinsville, KY
Indianapolis, IN
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Baltimore, MD
Philadelphia, PA (2 players)
Huntington, WV
Barcelona, Spain
Ahvaz, Iran
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Novi Sad, Serbia-Montenegro

Ainsley really enjoyed doing this!

Potato Turkey

2008-11-24T17:08:00.004-06:00

Here is the turkey Ainsley made out of a potato for Awana.

(It is now proudly displayed on our fireplace mantel.)

Gobble, gobble!

Apple Tasting

2008-11-14T15:46:00.003-06:00

To go along with our FIAR book this week ~ "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World" ~
Ainsley and I had an "apple tasting".

I cut up 5 different types of apples. As Ainsley took a bite of each one, I wrote down her comments about each one. Her favorite apple...by far...was the Honeycrisp.

We also discussed the parts of an apple (stem, core and seeds) and some of the states that grow apples. (Vermont, Michigan, Washington and Oregon)

~ The apple of my eye. ~

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T22:52:00.002-06:00

Ice Cream in a Bag

2008-11-11T15:46:00.002-06:00

For "I" week, Ainsley made "Ice Cream in a Bag". 1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar
4 cups ice
1/4 cup salt
1 gallon ziplock bag
1 quart ziplock bag

Pour the milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small ziplock bag. Squeeze as much air out as possible and seal the bag tightly.

Place the small ziplock bag down into the large bag. Cover with ice and salt. Seal the large bag tightly.

Shake, toss, and flip the bag for 10 minutes. (We wrapped the bag in a towel because it got very cold.)

Open both bags and spoon the ice cream into a bowl. Enjoy!

(Ainsley thought this ice cream was very good. She topped it with chocolate syrup to make it extra yummy!)

Playing in the leaves

2008-11-07T16:32:00.002-06:00

Happy Fall!

Lovely Lemonade

2008-11-06T01:54:00.003-06:00

For "L" week, Ainsley made "Lovely Lemonade".

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of lemon juice
2 quarts of water

Let the sugar dissolve in the lemon juice. Add the water. Mix well. Serve over ice.

Ainsley thought it was "mmmmm...very good". She made enough to take to Veritas to share with her friends during "sharing time" today.

Geography with the Grizzlies

2008-11-06T01:35:00.004-06:00

You might remember the maps Ainsley has for school. She really enjoys using them to find states and countries.

I decided to incorporate her love for the Grizzlies and her love for finding places on the map. Each day we check the Grizzlies' schedule. If they are on the road, we look on the map to find where they will be playing. Ainsley then places a small basketball on the map to mark their location. This is making geography a lot of fun for her!

This photo shows where the Grizzlies played their first road game.
Do you know what team they played?

Thoughts on the election

2008-11-06T01:04:00.004-06:00

My political "advisor" ~ Mick Wright ~ posted some very good thoughts on the election and our new president.

My favorite part of his post is the last few sentences:

"Furthermore, I also recognize that God is at the helm, and he has a purpose
in all things, in all people. That’s something no man and no government can
change."
Click here to read more.

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in October

2008-11-03T22:50:00.007-06:00

Homeschooling continues to go very well.
Ainsley can't get enough of her school work/activities.

Here is an overview of October and a few of the things Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized four Bible verses:

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
~John 8:32

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger."
~Proverbs 15:1

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
~Ephesians 4:32

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, but in all ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths smooth and straight."
~Proverbs 3:5-6

2) Read the books "A Pair of Red Clogs", "The Rag Coat" and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" (We did activities each day using "Five in a Row".)

3) Found the country of Japan on the map and made the Japanese flag. Also learned about Japanese culture.

4) Discussed weather, forecasting and who meteorologists are.

5) Learned about steam and steam power. (Ainsley made a pinwheel and held it over steam. The steam caused the pinwheel to move.)

6) Learned about mountain ranges (Appalachians, Rockies and Cascades)

7) Covered the letters "G", "A", "D" and "S"

8) Learned about "reminiscing" by writing a true story that happened a long time ago. (Ainsley reminisced about a time when she fell on the concrete and hurt herself.)

9) Learned about Christopher Columbus.

10) Learned about the significance of quilts and created a quilt block. (by painting)

Ainsley received an 8 week progress report from Veritas. It was glowing! Dan and I are so proud of her.

Our little Ninja Master

2008-10-31T15:36:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween!

Craaaaaaaazy Hair

2008-10-30T17:12:00.008-05:00

It was "Crazy Hair Night" at Awana this week.

Ainsley told me exactly how she wanted her hair. "Lots of pig tails with different color bands"

So..here's the back:
...and here's the front:
Crazy, huh?!

Although we did not make it to the Awana meeting (because of a dead battery in my car), Ainsley still had fun with her crazy hair.

Ainsley has really enjoyed participating in Awana since she started in September. She looks forward to going every Wednesday night. As you can see, she wears a special vest. A few weeks ago, she earned her wings by memorizing John 3:16. To see more about the Awana program she attends, click here.

(As a side note: Dan participated in Awana 30 years ago so he is happy Ainsley enjoys it as much as he did.)

I voted today!

2008-10-30T16:45:00.007-05:00

We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom to vote.

Don't forget to exercise your right!

Proverbs 3:5-6

2008-10-30T16:24:00.002-05:00

Click here to hear Ainsley's memory verse for this week.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-29T04:40:00.000-05:00

Stoplight Snack

2008-10-28T16:18:00.004-05:00

For "S" week, Ainsley made a "Stoplight Snack". To make the stoplight, she took a cracker, spread it with peanut butter and put "M&M"s for the lights.

She thought this "S" snack was "very yummy"!

(As Ainsley was getting ready to put the candies on, I asked her if she knew what order the lights were in...and she did. Very observant!)

Photo Tag

2008-10-27T23:25:00.005-05:00

I've been photo tagged by one of my sweet bloggy friends. (Thank you, Ashley!)

The rule of this tag is to pick the 6th photo from the 6th picture file on your computer and blog about it. Here is mine:

This is a photo of Ainsley and I in front of the FedEx Forum. It was taken in June...the day of the 2008 Grizzlies' Draft Party. (Click here to see my post about it.)

Melanie, Joy, Amy, LAR and Robin: Tag! You're it! I look forward to seeing the photos you share.

Delicious Dough

2008-10-22T15:29:00.003-05:00

For "D" week, Ainsley made "Delicious Dough".

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, using your hands. Dough should feel soft and pliable.

Ainsley enjoyed playing with the dough and made a doll, drum, dinosaur and drum.
She loved the fact that she could eat the dough, too!

Pumpkin patch 2008

2008-10-21T15:45:00.006-05:00

Last week, Ainsley and I went to Tom's Farm with some of our homeschooling friends.

We took a hayride from the farm to the pumpkin patch. It was an actual pumpkin patch complete with vines, tall weeds, and hundreds of pumpkins.
(These were not pumpkins already picked...sitting in nice, neat rows. These were pumpkins still attached to their vines and they were scattered everywhere.)

Ainsley searched and searched with her friends, Samantha and Jackson, and finally found the "perfect" pumpkin to pick. After our picnic lunch, Ainsley used an antique corn sheller. (This was her favorite part of the visit.) She shelled at least 10 ears of corn and played in the corn box with her friend, Ashley.
What a fun visit to the pumpkin patch!

Fall Leaves

2008-10-21T15:18:00.006-05:00

Ainsley's Ma and Pa sent her some colorful Fall leaves from Chicago.
(Thank you, Mom and Tom. She loved them!)

Today, Ainsley made some "leaf rubbings" using the leaves.
Didn't they turn out beautiful?

This is a great way to preserve Fall after the leaves are gone.

Click here to see how you can make your own "leaf rubbings".

The worst grade

2008-10-21T15:10:00.003-05:00

Ainsley and I were looking through her school work from Veritas. Her teacher had put an "A+" sticker at the top of one of her worksheets.

Ainsley: "See, Mom. It says 'A+'. That's the best grade ever!"
Me: "I know. That's very good work!"
Ainsley: "I guess the worst grade would be 'Z+'."

Who's this Bible hero?

2008-10-21T15:00:00.002-05:00

"With these 4 clues, who is this Bible hero?
1) He had long hair and was very strong.
2) He was friends with Delilah.
3) He ended up dying at the end.
4) He trusted in God."
~by Ainsley

(If you know who this Bible hero is, please leave a comment.)

Making Awesome Applesauce

2008-10-16T23:57:00.004-05:00

For "A" week, Ainsley made "Awesome Applesauce".

First, she cut 5 apples into little chunks. Next, she added one cup of water...
...along with 2/3 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
Finally, she stirred it all together.
We cooked it on medium-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Our house smelled so good as this was cooking. Very "Fall" like.)

The results? Dan and I thought it tasted delicious. Ainsley liked it "just a little bit".

Cinderella! Cinderella! CINDERELLA!

2008-10-14T15:45:00.003-05:00

Heard at our house last night...after I asked Ainsley to take some toys to her room.

(LOUD SIGH) "I feel just like Cinderella when she was a maid!"

Ten on Tuesday: Favorite television shows

2008-10-14T15:05:00.001-05:00

Here are 10 television shows I am currently watching. (Most of these shows are recorded and I watch them when I can....which is usually at night after Ainsley has gone to bed. Watching them recorded is great because I can fast-forward through all of the commercials.)

1) Heroes

2) Ugly Betty

3) The Office

4) The Biggest Loser: Families

5) The Amazing Race

6) Life on Mars

7) Saturday Night Live

8) My Own Worst Enemy (haven't seen the first episode yet...but looks great!)

9) Hannity & Colmes

10) The O'Reilly Factor

What are your favorite shows on television?

Columbus Day 2008

2008-10-14T15:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, Ainsley and I discussed Christopher Columbus. We watched this presentation on-line and she painted a replica of The Nina.

(I love the color of blue she used.)

Here is what Ainsley learned about Christopher Columbus...in her own words:

1) He had three ships ~ The Nina, The Pinta and The Santa Maria.

2) He mostly rode The Nina.

3) He was born in Italy.

4) He wanted to get money from kings and queens.

5) He was trying to find new lands.

6) He was a Christian.

7) He found America.

8) He sailed to the Bahamas and Cuba.

Ainsley's Drum

2008-10-13T21:15:00.004-05:00

Last week in Kindermusik, Ainsley learned that a percussion instrument is "an instrument you hit or shake". Her assignment? To create a percussion instrument and name it.

Introducing: "The Clone Wars' Spoon Drum"!

Yes. That's right. A "Clone Wars" drum.

Ainsley is very fond of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" . Dan took her to see the movie opening weekend and she now watches new episodes on television each week.

Click here to see another post about our little "Star Wars" fan.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

Costume

2008-10-05T22:55:00.003-05:00

I am so excited because Ainsley's Halloween costume arrived in the mail on Friday!

She is going to be THE cutest Ninja Master ever. (Remember this post?)

(Photos will be posted in a few weeks.)

Turning Japanese

2008-10-05T21:58:00.004-05:00

Ainsley's storybook for school this week is "A Pair of Red Clogs" by Masako Matsuno.

In one part of the book, Mako (a little girl from Japan) is eating dinner with her family. So... tonight at dinner, Ainsley wanted to eat "like Mako does".She wore a kimono (her cat robe) with chopsticks in her hair. She sat on a pillow on the floor at a small table eating her favorite Chinese dish...white rice with duck sauce...with chopsticks.

She had a lot of fun and wants to eat "Japanese-style" again very soon.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-01T00:07:00.002-05:00

Ten on Tuesday: Homeschooling in September

2008-09-30T17:48:00.008-05:00

Homeschooling is going very well. Ainsley is always eager to start each day and has enjoyed learning new things and doing a LOT of activities. Here is an overview of our September and some of what Ainsley did/learned:

1) Memorized four Bible verses:

"Follow the lead of every human authority. Do it because the Lord wants you to." ~ 1 Peter 2:13

"Give me an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil." ~ 1 Kings 3:9

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way." ~ Psalm 37:23

"Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." ~ 1 Peter 3:11

2) Read the books "The Story About Ping" and "Madeline" (We did activities each day using "Five in a Row".)

3) Found the countries of China and France on the map and made a flag for each country

4) Learned about two rivers: the Yangtze and the Seine

5) Learned meanings for the following "art" terms: illustrator, medium, point of view, symmetrical/asymmetrical, monochromatic and impression

6) Discussed ways to be healthy (Ainsley's favorite way? "Get lots of sleep.)

7) Covered the letters "C" and "O"

8) Covered the numbers 0 through 9

9) Learned that wood floats and metal sinks

10) Learned about syllables by counting the syllables in each of our family members' names (first and last) to see who has the longest name. (The winners? Sienna, Kelly and Patty)

A toy that will NOT be under our Christmas tree

2008-09-28T20:07:00.004-05:00

Ainsley and I were browsing the toys at Wal-Mart today and came across the creepiest toy I have seen in a long time.

Click here to see it.

"I like to play the sticks..."

2008-09-26T23:51:00.007-05:00

One of Ainsley's favorite activities is Kindermusik. This is the second year she has been a part of Kindermusik. This year, she is in "Kindermusik for the Young Child".

Her teacher ~ Ms. Amy ~is teaching her so many neat things about music. During the past 4 weeks, Ainsley has learned about:

~ Fast beat / slow beat
~ Steady beat / rhythm
~ "Ta" and quarter rest
~ Singing on pitch

Dan and I are so happy that Ainsley has always enjoyed music...whether it is making music with one of her "instruments", listening to opera (yes...she loves opera), or creating songs and performing them for us. We know that Kindermusik (and Ms. Amy) is helping Ainsley develop a deeper love for music.