And school goes on...

You may have realized that I'm homeschooling Kimball again this year, but if not, I am.  We started about three weeks ago and time has sure passed quickly.  I have been trying some different things this year--for eample, the book Kimball is reading every day is the Book of Mormon--that is not standard but we sure can use all the help we can get to help him.  When I compare him to what they are doing in public school, I feel guilty he doesn't have comprehension tests, accelerated reader tests, or book reports to show me how well he is retaining information.  All I get are snippets of facts here and there, playing with the globe, and listening to his playing with the other kids--so I think he is getting stuff.  I do have a good story though-Kimball came up to me in the morning yesterday (Sat) and told me that he had a cool dream.  "Not like Lehi's dream, but a different dream."  That gives me hope. Reading is going better-he is slowly iincreasing in understanding and speed.  Nothing ever goes as fast as --I-- want it to but I am pleased with the progress he is making.  And Kimball did say to me, "Mom, I just wanted to tell you that I like reading.  I'm good at it."  That is a major improvement in his attitude and confidence from 8 months ago. 

What I really enjoy this year about homeschooling is something called "Story of the World."  It's a book--well two books actually--that chronicles history of the different countries in the world in order.  These simplified stories are engrossing--the first time I "flipped" through it I ended up reading half the book!  The stories are accompanied by an activity book with coloring pages, map work, some recipes, crafts, and titles of other books (with a list of reading levels so you can get the harder ones for more advanced readers and easier ones for reluctant readers).  Sometimes, like on Friday, we go off on tangents.  In talking about some history of Japan, we discussed the Japanese trying to invade China through Korea-which led us to North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone.  So we ended up watching a National Geographic video about North Korea.  Kimball's whole response to the communism there and the dictator was,"I can't wait to preach the Gospel over there.  They sure need it."  While we don't do Story of the World daily--this is Kimball's favorite part.

Now, here is a picture of one the crafts Kimball (and Sam-since he loves boats) made after we talked about Henry Hudson trying to find the Northwest Passage.  I'm not crafty so I followed all the instructions in the book and it came out!  I gave Kimball the option of painting it but he declined.  Sam's is covered in a paper bag and duck tape (those poor sad ducks.).  While homeschooling is work, and I don't get everything done I want to, I wouldn't trade this time with Kimball for anything. 

This is just the 4 boys at Flaming Gorge in July.  They sure are growing up fast!

We have been camping!

I think we are a family that likes to camp and boat.  Or camp with out boat because it carries all our junk in it!  We went again into the "wild" outdoors forty five minutes away to Pineview Reservior to spend some time with the extended Wilks clan.  Aside from the earwigs that were EVERYWHERE--we didn't have to stash our food in the truck every night in case bears wanted a free meal, there weren't any snakes hanging around rocks or corners waiting for us to walk by so they could get a simple snack, there was a beach with real sand and some water we could put the boat into.  We were able to roast/sacrifice marshmallows (--and I'm sorry for buying the wrong chocolate ok?  I got the one with almonds in it because I was in a hurry and the teenagers gave me a hard time about it--look they will understand when they are a parent rushing around), visit around the fire, sleep in an air mattress that leaked really fast and there was a rock (big surprise) right in my back.  Since other family members were there with their boats and families, Cameron had tons of fun tubing with his cousins.  Trent and Kimball also made it in the tube too--but I don't think Sam did.  Shawn succeeded in throwing three teens off the tube (it wasn't as easy as Jeff made it look apparently), and the big boys were able to ski both mornings with limited kid interruption.  Going into the "cove"--which was just a private spot we found (WE didn't--one of the cousins did) where we tethered our boats together and let the kids play in the water.  Bear was with us too and had a great time jumping off the boat and wasting energy.  I swam him to the shore (was farther away than in looked) and let him romp around there.  And I haven't even mentioned THE BEACH.  Kimball's favorite part.  Hours were spent there building, getting wet, using the life jackets for things they weren't intended for I'm sure, and digging holes to the center of the earth.  Or burying Kimball up to his neck.  Having spent Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday there--we came home in the afternoon to get the necessary school work out of the way and to do the mounds of laundry that comes with camping.  (I still don't understand that--how can you do laundry the day you leave and then have TONS to do after you get home and you were only gone two days?!!!)  Now the boys are back in school, back to the grind, and back to work.  I think I'm going to start planning the next trip...where can we go?

I'm trying something out

Just to let you know that  I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. Time4Learning can be used for homeschool, afterschool and summer skill sharpening. Be sure to come back and read about my experience.

I have to put this disclosure on here--I can't wait to try this with Kimball and Sam and maybe the two others who are in school.  I will let you know how this website works out for me so be sure to check back in a month!

I have just tried to log on and the website isn't letting me log on.  I have tried numerous times and it isn't working.  I'm not sure this program is going to work for me if it is going to be a pain every time to log in. 8/19/11