Warm Nov. Weather Means Homeschooling Outside

For the 3rd day in the row we have been having what I believe to be unseasonably warm weather for Northern Illinois.  Pant/T-shirt weather so today for the 3rd day in a row we have done what any other reasonable homeschooler would do in my shoes: Homeschool Outside!

We gathered up the magazine holders with our books, notebooks, and went outside to sit at the table and do our work.

Our dogs also have been enjoying the outdoor weather. We are still working with Onyx not to bark and all our neighbors. -- we just want him to be cool with the environment around him and only really bark and be on alert if someone is actually on on property.  It's a slow process -- some days are better then others.

I'm so thankful to be able to allow my daughter the ability to sit outside and enjoy these warm temps vs. being stuck in a classroom/school building all day. Hopefully I will be able to bring my son back home soon so he can enjoy these type of days again too.

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We are walking now!

"This must be like life was like for Laurawhen she walked 3 miles for school". That is what my daughter told me earlier this week when we had no choice, but to walk home from the store because our one and only running vehicle broke down.

What a week it has been. Need to go to the store: walk. Need to go to the library so my son can do his volunteer hours: walk. Need.... well be prepared to walk!

Thankfully, my kids even though we had to cancel chorus, cancel meeting ups with homeschool friends, cancel seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream, have been very helpful and understanding. They even willing and cheerfully walked to the store with me so we could carry more groceries home then I would have if I went alone.

My daughter, who is nearly 13 now, warmed my heart and helped me stay positive this whole week. She told me "We are lucky God blessed us with a good weather day for walking".   Yes, my dear, we were. We have been blessed that this whole week has been nice. Today, I was out and and about in just a heavy sweater.  Being in Northern Illinois the weather can be a hit or a miss.  The other plus I guess to the all the walking is I actually hit 10,000 steps per day! I have been using an iFitto track my walking, eating, etc.  So it was nice to see me actually hit that mark. Most days I get around 3,000 steps in and there have been some days where is a shameful 500!

Besides walking everywhere this week, often for at least 2 miles one way, we celebrated one of our puppy's first birthday.  Puggy, our fawn color puggle, turned 1 on Wednesday.  It won't be long until our black puggle, Onyx, will be one too.  Puggy and Onyx like to share there day to day activities on their facebook page: Unofficial Puggy.  --- the page was started when we only have Puggy.  Maybe we should change the name? Maybe not! Anyway you can check out their page.

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Enjoying a Fall Day

It's a beautiful fall day here in Northern Illinois. The sun is shining, kids go their book work done, and are enjoying some fall weather by running around the yard with our 7th month old puggle.

I think it's great that even at 12/13 they still enjoy playing games. They were playing tag with Puggy.  Do your older children still enjoy playing games? Do they still enjoy running around the yard?

Mine also enjoy the computer and tablets and other things, but it does my heart good to see them outside just playing and enjoying life and each other company.



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We've gone mobile and other news.

I have updated Catholic Christian Homeschooling so that when you visit this blog from a mobile device you will see a mobile version of the blog! I hope that you will enjoy and be sure to give me your feedback on it!!

In other news: We are STILL plugging away with our studies. We have math and spelling work to finish up and if everything goes well we should be done with those subject by the end of the month.

This weekend we are participating in a charity walk: "Rock the Curve Walk" for Scoliosis.  The little girl that founded the Northern Illinois Curvy Girl Group is a dear friend of my children. Her family is a member of our church and she and Superstar were in the same 1st grade class when Superstar attended public school.  We are very happy to be supporting Julia and all the curvy girls this Sunday via the walk. We raised over $100 in sponsorship for the walk. My family and friends are just awesome! Now we just have to hope for beautiful weather.

Speaking of weather what is it like in your neck of the woods? At the beginning of the week we had temps approaching 100. However we had a huge storm front that came through here Wednesday night dropping the temps down into the 50s! It's been so cold here yesterday and today that I'm actually wearing sweat and a sweater! I'm really not complaining because we do NOT have A/C so I'm truly thankful for the cooler temps! It's wonderful really!!!

Happy Summer!
Nikki

The end of March! Already?

Wow! Where has the month gone. Little Man has been with us all of March and will be with us all of April. At the end of April he will go back to my mom's for 2 months and then we'll get him back in July.

It's been good having him here, but it also has been an adjustment. I good adjustment, but at times trying. My sister calls (skype) nearly every day and that's AWESOME, but the times she can do that aren't always the best time for us. I have to roll with, because with her being in Iraq-Army it's not like she can just call us when it's best for us.

For example, yesterday, I'm working with the kids on their math. My sister calls on the phone. Minutes are very expensive so when she calls on the phone it's almost always to say "hey why aren't you on the computer". Seeing I figured that's why she is calling I ignored the call and went on helping the kids. The phone then rang again; it was her.  I ignored the call and went on helping the kids. The phone rings again. This time I ignore the call, went to the computer to tell her give me 10 minutes to finish helping the kids and I'll chat with her.  However she wasn't on the computer...OOPS! So when the phone rang again I took the call and apologized to her. Thankfully, she was NOT upset with me.

I told her right away I was helping the kids with their math and I figured you were calling to say get on the computer. So I just ignored it thinking I could get on the computer in about 5-10 minutes and you be there and it be all cool. That wasn't the case yesterday. The only way she could talk to her son yesterday was via phone. She said I figured you were busy and if I kept calling you would get it and answer.

Homeschooling is homeschooling. It's that time of year I think and we just plugging away with it. So there really isn't anything to report. Although I will say the kids are enjoying time at our homeschool group. They especially love the art class. My mom decided to come and teach art at the co-op. It's awesome and all the kids are enjoying it. (Especially all 3 of her grandchildren).

The only other note would be I want warm weather here to stay. We get a day or two w/temps in 60's only to then have several days in the 30s WITH snow! April is just days away and it sucks to have temps in the 30s. Although today is almost 50, but I doubt it will stay. (Yesterday it was in the 30s).

Earthquakes In Illinios?

When people think of earthquakes they think of California  however here in the midwest we have them too! This morning we had a earthquake here, or I should say near here. I know many of my neighbors have said they felt it this morning, but we did NOT! Perhaps if we were awake and not sleeping we would have noticed some shaking.

So for our pen-pals the Dudiches Yes, the earthquake was every close to our home, Yes people around us did feel something, but we did NOT feel it. You know our home address so you can see how close we are to the cities and areas that did report to have felt the quake this morning.

Image Source: USGS (US Geology Source)

The star on the map above is ground zero and the shade squares are the areas that people felt the quake and how severe of a quake it was. I know that as far as intensity this is nothing compare to the quakes out in California but here in Illinois this is a BIG deal! It is all the rage at the office water coolers this morning, Did you feel it? Did it wake you up? What did it feel like? Is there any damage at your house? Check Out USGS site to learn more about the history of Earthquakes in Illinios .

Just another day in Illinois! Tornadoes, Blizzards,  and Earthquakes! 

OH MY!!