Blueberries, Bees & Boys

Choosing the right curriculum is so hard for me. When we first started, I went to our local homeschool book store and just looked at all the Math curriculum. I choose to use the Bob Jones University Press, Math. At that time, it was the best fit for me. It gave me directions on how to explain everything, down to exactly how to phrase the prompting questions. I needed something like that, I had really no idea how to teach. I needed help relaying the information in a way that would made since. I also remember using it in the 1st grade way back in the 90's. It was simple for me to finish out JD's 1st grade year. Since he had started the year in public school, there was a lot of review for him. I also started JJ with the BJUP kindergarten math. He saw JD doing school and wanted to also. When we moved here to Germany, and decided to continue homeschooling, I just continued using math from BJUP. It was expensive, I could sometimes find it used on Amazon or at our base t...

During the summer we spend our morning doing school work, them head over to our village playground (spielplatz is the German word for playground). One of the things we love best about living in Germany is they build the best playgrounds. They have them everywhere. Park for our Village. I love the way the build the playgrounds. I feel like they are made for kids to take risks, learn coordination, and have fun. The playground pictured above has 2 platforms on it (just the tent on the right side). I have seen kids climb up the outside of it, if they fall it would hurt. But no one is telling them to get down, you will hurt yourself. They let the kids learn what is their limits. Thankfully my boys don't want to climb up the outside, they stay in the safer areas. I always say, they design the playgrounds to break an arm. I also love that kids go to the park without parents. The helicopter parent is very rare in Germany. I see kids there without their parents. My boys have learned...

I have wanted to start a blog for about a year. I thought it would be something fun to do, a way to share and encourage. The one thing holding my back was a Title. Then this past spring it just came to me Blueberries, Bees & Boys. Every word represents something important to me. Blueberries ...This is me taking dreams and making them real. We are trying our hand at a blueberry plant. My boys love blueberries, and they are very expensive here in Germany grocery stores. So we got ourselves a blueberry bush this past spring. It has been so fun   to watch it grow, to be able to see how the berries are formed, and of course eat them. It is a dream come true. So to me this bush represents taking a dream and making it real. Not just talking about doing something, but actually doing it. Showing my kids how to realize a dream, and see it through. Our Blueberries Growing. Time For A Snack My Husband And JJ Helping Me Plant Our New Blueberry Plant. JD Took The Picture. ...

I love to read. I have since I was a little girl. I love classics, mysteries and historical fiction. My most favorite author is Jane Austin. Every year i reread one of her books. This month I am reading, The Count of Monte Cristo   by Alexander Dumas, The Life Giving Home  by Sally & Sarah Clarkson, and Know and Tell  by Karen Glass. I am trying to read more nonfiction. My Reading Stack I love when the boys see me reading and it motivates them to read. JJ saw me reading "The Count of Monte Cristo", and then found a copy of the "Great Illustrated Classics" version at the thrift store. He loved being able to read the same book as me, and is excited to read the original when he gets older. JJ is reading the same story only "Great Illustrated Classics" version. My kids do wine and complain about reading, but then I see them snuggled up on the couch reading without being told to. It makes my heart so happy. I am trying to set the example. ...

A couple of people have been asking about a digital PDF, so I have created a free one. Subscribe by email and I will be happy to send you a copy. Free weekly PDF I have always struggled with being organized and remembering to do stuff. My grocery lists would never make it to the store with me, or I would forget when we had something going on. I have had planners, and there were good. I would use them for half the year, and then stop. Then I heard about a bullet journal...life changing. This is how I spend my Christmas holiday, setting up my next years bullet journal.  Two years ago, I got a dot grid journal and never looked back. I use it for everything. Every weekend I make time to sit down and plan out our next weeks adventures.  I have two formats that I switch back and forth between. But the basics are daily spots, meal planner and a to do list. I have just started picking a color and using that to make it pop every month. This month is Purple, last month...