Taking a small vacation

This week dance went better. I told the teacher about Jasmine's hypotonia, so the teacher understands why Jasmine can't hop (Jasmine only just learned how to jump in July.) I think the homeschool co-op's preschool has also helped Jasmine pay attention better and to follow directions better. Unfortunately we are leaving tomorrow, Monday, to visit family in Kentucky, so Jasmine will miss next week's ballet and preschool class. Hopefully, when we get back she will remember though and not have a disastrous week at ballet again.

I am going to take our Letter of the Week things with us, and hopefully (I use that word a lot) we will have finished week three by the time we get back and I'll have a new post for it.

What we are currently reading:
Jasmine's selection: Hippos go Berserk by Sandra Boynton


This is one of the few books that Jasmine will actually let me read to her. Her other books she will flip through the pages, but she wants to turn the pages, and normally in the wrong order, without any time for me to read the words.


My selection: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn


I don't normally read romance novels, but my husband left for Nashville, TN on the 10th and I have had trouble sleeping. Reading a chapter or two of a romance novel helps so down my brain so I can get to sleep more easily.

Week Two

This weeks theme is Jungle, but I changed it to Monkey because I don't think Jasmine would have grasped the concept.

Monday: I tried to get Jasmine to pretend to be a monkey, but it ended up being a tickle fest. That's okay. I unfortunately do not remember where I got the image of the monkeys from for this week.

Tuesday: we took the square from last week and covered it with two different green glitter glues. Jasmine already know the word "green" from her green foam soap that we use at bath time.

Wednesday: was the letter "B." Jasmine made an Bee B using the letter "B" and some glitter glue. I got the idea from No Time For Flash Cards.


We also colored a "B" worksheet that had an upper and lower case "B" with pictures of things that started with "B" from Mommy Nature.com. Here is the worksheet.

Thursday: was number two. We added another fish to our fish bowl and counted out our food.

Friday: the nursery rhyme for Friday was I Had a Little Nut Tree. I printed out a picture and rhyme from Mama Lisa, but I also added A Little Nut-Tree by Roald Dahl.

Here is a view of our Learning Poster.

I had to recreate this, we went on vacation to Las Vegas for 4th of July weekend and while we were gone the paper fell off the wall. I didn't pick it up quickly enough when we got back home and Jasmine drew all over it. Right now it is a bit wonky, the words are all crooked, but I think I'm going to leave it that away until I need to do it over again. If you look really really hard you will see Jasmine has already drawn over a bit of it.

I also recently got new items for our calendar. We now have a section that tells us what today is, and what day it will be tomorrow, and what the weather is like. There is also new months that have photos instead of cartoons. Also there are holiday dates now that are photos (e.g. Labor Day is a construction worker with an American Flag background.) I don't know why, but I like photos better than cartoons, I think some times cartoons are still too abstract for Jasmine to understand.

Week One

I can't believe this post has been sitting in saved drafts since May 15th! I am so bad. :(


So, we've just finished our first "week" of scheduled homeschooling. Why is "week" in quotes? Well, it took us longer than a week to finish. Jasmine got sick towards the beginning of the week, Monday night, so we didn't finish until this week (that would be the week of May 15th.)

A couple of weeks ago I discovered Brightly Beaming Resources. I can't remember how I found it, but it took me a couple of days to look through the website. I wish I had discovered it before. It is great! And I'm not saying that lightly. I have been looking for some sort of guide to use with homeschooling before Jasmine was born.

The curriculum starts at three months old and goes up to eleven years of age. For those of you that are secular homeschooling, like we are, the infant and toddler sections have bible verses, but they are very easy to leave out and don't interfere with other things being taught.

There are also sections that are not complete, weeks 22-36 under Sound of the Week, Story of the Week only has one lesson, Science of the Week only has plans for 7 of the 80 books listed, (but it gives good ideas what to do when you get to that stage), only 3 of the Country of the Week (which can be used with the letter of the week) are done.

So, we started with "Steps to Reading" for ages 2-7 years old. We did week one of the "Preparatory Curriculum," (found here.)

Each week has a theme, week one's theme is cows and here is an example of the "Learning Poster" that you can build for/with your child covering the weeks ideas and activities.

Monday: I showed Jasmine pictures of cows and we practiced a bit of mooing. We read few board books that had cows in them. I printed out this image of a cow and calf for our poster.

Tuesday: the shape was square, and we ate a few square foods, like crackers and cookies.

Wednesday: was the letter "A." Jasmine made an Alien A using the letter "A" and some water colors. I got the idea from No Time For Flash Cards.


We also colored an "A" worksheet that had an upper and lower case "A" with pictures of things that started with "A" from Mommy Nature.com. Here is the worksheet.

Thursday: was number one. I found Five Fish in a Fishbowl from First-School. I colored it with crayons, and we will add a fish a week.

Friday: the nursery rhyme for Friday was Hey Diddle Diddle. I printed out a .pdf from Laura B. Smolkin, found here.

Here is a view of our Learning Poster, sorry it is so blurry.


And a picture of our bulletin board,


I do think this is a good series, but I think if we do it again I will change the themes to fit the letter we are studying that week (i.e. A is for Astronaut or something like that.)

We did week two in early July, hopefully I will post it quicker than it took me to do week one.

Doing better

Yesterday was a much better day. I was so worried about the co-op since ballet didn't go well yesterday, but Jasmine had a good time today and followed some directions. I left her in the class alone, but I peeked in the room a few times. And no one asked or talked about religion, which was a relief to me. We were supposed to go to a lunch gathering for the co-op, but I had to call out of it. Maybe with the preschool Jasmine will calm down a little for ballet.

Ballet update

So, ballet wasn't a complete disaster, but it was close. When I called to register I made sure to ask the teacher if 3 years-old was okay and she assured me that it was. Jasmine was the youngest in the class by a year, and the other girls had all taken classes before. Jasmine just wanted to dance, get up, run, jump and move around. She wouldn't sit or follow directions, she was too excited. We are paid up for the month (and they owe me money, as I over paid), so we'll give it a few more tries, but I don't think she'll be continuing, she just isn't ready to stay still for that long.

I admit I'm kind of disappointed, but I'm really trying not to be. I don't want to be the crazy dance/cheerleader/pageant mom. I really think that Jasmine will like ballet, or some other formal form of dance, eventually. She loves to dance around the living room all the time.

I guess part of me is disappointed, because I took ballet and I wanted Jasmine to like ballet.

So, trying not to be disappointed, but I'm stressed out. I was already stressed out about the co-op tomorrow, but I am even more so now, because what if Jasmine has to sit down there too, and what if she doesn't follow directions?

Time yet again for another brief update

I have three posts waiting to be finished, but for some reason I can't seem to get motivated.

9/1/09 I knew I should have posted this right away. :\

We had to quit the art class because they changed the day it was on from Monday to Thursday and we already have some planned for Thursdays. Jasmine starts pre-ballet class tomorrow. I hope that she likes it, she really likes dancing around the house.

Our big news for Thursday is that Jasmine will be attending a one hour co-op preschool class. I'm really nervous about this because the co-op is named "Faith Co-op." It is very Christian, and we are not. I don't want to lie and say that we are Christian, but I also don't want to be preached at. I'm there to see if Jasmine will make any friends mainly, if she does that's good, but if she doesn't that's okay too.

I little later in the month we will be continuing with story time at the library and swim lessons at the community center.

I read this quote, hilarious, but I don't know where it is from, hence the lack of source:

“When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, ‘But what about socialization?’ Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the ‘in’ crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be ‘Fad and Peer Pressure Day.’ We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality…. And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values.”

What we are currently reading:
Jasmine's selection: We Love Ballet by Jane Feldman


I realized I never wrote any reviews for any of the books we are reading. I've been reading this book to Jasmine because she is starting class tomorrow. I'm not quite sure that she understands, plus she likes grabbing books away from me and flipping through the book herself.


My selection: The Silver Needle Murder by Laura Childs


I think I read this series mostly for the description of the teas and foods. Plus, there are recipes for the foods in the back!

What would you do?

AH! I've had this post sitting in draft for about a month now, but when I came back to finish it I see that almost half of what I wrote is gone. I've recreated part of the post, but I know that I can't remember a lot of it, so if it seems jumbled I am sorry.

There is something that I have been mulling over in my head for a while and I just need to write it down and think about it some more.

Around the middle of February Impact co-op was registering children for their Spring classes. I saw that they have a Nursery class, infants to 2 years-old the preschool class doesn't start until 3 years-old. This class doesn't cost any money, unlike the preschool class. I volunteered to help in this class, to watch and make sure Jasmine was okay with the class, but to also meet other parents who were going to/are homeschooling there children. I got this e-mail in reply...

"You signed up Jasmine for the nursery on Wednesdays at the co-op. I am sorry to tell you that we do not open nursery up for families that do not have other children taking classes at the co-op. This is available strictly as a convenience for our families while their older children are in classes.

However, we will be more than happy to see you in a couple of years when Jasmine reaches preschool/kindergarten age."

The wording of this sentence really bothers me, "This is available strictly as a convenience for our families while their older children are in classes."

It bothers me because it implies that we, me, Jasmine and my husband, are not a homeschooling family because Jasmine is not old enough to go to the co-op's preschool. I hate that. I hate that I am dismissed from homeschooling in this woman's mind as a homeschooler because Jasmine is not old enough for me to have to worry about filling out a letter of intent to homeschool.

Honestly? It makes me not want to spend any money at Impact co-op. Eagle co-op is closer to us and so far, has been much more friendly to us. I hope someone who does attend Impact co-op sees this and mentions it to the woman who wrote the e-mail. If she sees it, I hope that she actually thinks about what she is writing.

The wording really irritates me, but am I putting way too much thought into this? What are your honest opinions please?

Just a note, your opinions won't change what I do, my thinking maybe, and I have been reading a lot of articles on discrimination, which may be effecting my thinking.

We were in Virgina

There are tons of things that I need to write about, and hopefully I will remember them all. (It was April 18th when I started writing this post, but the internet at the hotel we were staying at kept dropping out, so I wasn't able to post until now.)

Jasmine and I have been in Virgina since the 9th of this month. We joined my husband in Hopewell, VA. My husband is going to a school at Fort Lee and we thought that we'd have time to see the area and explore, but it has not been so. Until today I have been taking 24-hour Claritin twice a day and Benadryl-D every four hours. It has not been fun and poor Jasmine has been mostly stuck inside watching T.V.

Today we went to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, VA. (http://www.lewisginter.org/) It was very lovely. We spent most of our time in the Children's Garden. I had heard on an advert that there was a butterfly exhibit, Jasmine really likes butterflies right now, but unfortunately that doesn't start until May 22nd and we leave this Wednesday.

Tomorrow we are going to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. (http://www.buschgardens.com) We will probably spend a lot of time in the Sesame Street area, hopefully Jasmine will like it, although even if she doesn't it is a one-time free deal (http://www.herossalute.com) And hopefully the weather will cooperate and be nice too.
EDIT: Jasmine loved the water park at the Sesame Street area, and about $25 later we now have a new swimsuit and towel (we had both before, we just have more now.) If I had known they had this kind of area I would have just brought her swimsuit (it was in our suitcase) and a towel from the hotel with us. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day and the water wasn't warm, so she mostly stood with her hands in the water and shivered. She was pretty good about leaving the water, even though she didn't want to. We were kind of worried about if she would have a good time, we started out later than we should have and she was getting cranky about such a long car ride (over an hour), but refused to go to sleep. We thought we might have to just turn around a leave, but she pulled through. She rode with her daddy on Oscar's Whirly Worms and really seemed to enjoy it swinging back and forth and spinning. She was a real trooper about walking through a lot of the park and fell asleep as soon as we got into the car.

Tuesday Jasmine and I met a friend and his wife for lunch at Weezie's Kitchen for lunch. (http://www.weezieskitchen.com/) I don't think we ordered anything crazy, but the wait for our food was long, and the resturant wasn't crowded. I had the Portabella Melt, it was very good, but I would hate to see the wait for food when the place is busy.

Afterward we went to Maymont Park. They had tanks of fish, turtles and otters. I think some of the fish scared Jasmine, there were at least 2 that were as big as her. Then we walked some of the trails and saw loads of wildflowers, a Scottish bull, Gray Foxes, hawks, Bald Eagles and a bear. Jasmine did really good with the walking again, but got tired and had to be carried most of the way back and we didn't really see that much of the park, maybe an eighth of it.

So the best part of our trip was at the end of it. Oh, yeah I got to drive in a thunderstorm with hail while a tornado waring was going off. Good times (that's sarcasm in case you don't know.

I signed Jasmine up for some art classes at VSA arts of Nevada. (http://www.vsanevada.org) She will be attending both summer sessions of Start with the Arts. It is on Mondays from 9-10AM, which means my husband will be able to take her some times (he has every other Monday off, but he isn't an early riser, if given the opportunity he'd stay in bed until evening.) I wish I would have known about theses classes a long time ago. The Start with the Arts class is for 18 months to 3 years and Jasmine will be 3 years-old at the end of August. I was able to find an art smock for Jasmine while we were in Richmond, I was looking for one because I didn't see any of the children on the website wearing any and Jasmine has grown recently so none of her clothes are old or stained yet.

Jasmine should be starting pre-ballet dance classes this fall at Western Nevada Performing Arts Center. (http://www.westernnevadaperformingarts.com) This is supposed to be the best dance studio in our area. She really loves to dance when music is playing on the television or radio, so I am really hoping that she will like this class, but I am kind of worried because she tends to be shy around new people and new situations. Which unfortunately means that it will take her a few minutes (about 10-20 minutes) each week to warm up to the people in the class as it would be a new situation to her each time we go. But hopefully with starting the art class first the dance class won't seem so intimidating. Another reason I like this studio is they have this statement on their rules page,

"This studio does not agree with young children performing in mature dance routines. We want strong technique first and foremost.
There are plenty of dance studios around that will put your young child in routines that we believe are too mature in nature and content. You are welcome to take your child somewhere else if you do not agree with our philosophies."

As a mother to a daughter I really appreciate this philosophy. There is too much sexualization of young girls in the media as it is. I'm sure that Jasmine will see it eventually, on television, in a movie, in cartoons, in an advert, whatever, but she doesn't need it in her dance class.

What we are currently reading:
Jasmine's selection: Meet Blueberry Muffin by Silje Swendsen



My selection: Pandora gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

Hello again.

Well, we have and haven't been busy. The Carson City Moms Club that Jasmine and I were attending seems to have taken a mid-winter hiatus (something that I am not happy with,) but, we have started swim lesssons again on Wednesday nights.

I also discovered that NNHS runs Eagle co-op, and that they have a one hour preschool class on Thursdays in Reno. Here is the description...

"This class will have a relaxed schedule of art activities, stories, outdoor and indoor free play and snack time."

I'm kind of excited to discover it, but also kind of wary. 1.) it is held in a church. 2.) there are bible quotes on the Eagle co-op website.

We missed the deadline to sign-up for this session any way and the next session doesn't start until the end of May, so I joined the NNHS's e-mail list. I think that will help relieve some of my worry about religion being stressed at the preschool level.

My husband and I have always wanted to allow Jasmine, and any other kids we may have, the opportunity to explore religion on their own, without forcing any doctrine on them previously. Because we have so many different religions, philosophies and ideas about spirituality in our family it just seems like it would be easier to wait until Jasmine understands the ideas before encouraging her to choose something herself. This doesn't mean that we won't be teaching to be respectful of all faiths, so if her preschool class, as an example, has prayer before the class starts I want her to be respectful and stay quite during the prayer, I don't however want her to participate in the prayer. Of course we are getting a head of ourselves and I just need to wait and see.

Impact co-op also has a preschool class, on Wednesdays, but it doesn't start until age 3. So, I might use the Eagle co-op to see how Jasmine does, and then add the Impact co-op if she does well. The only problem with the Impact one is that it is in Sparks, even farther than Reno, and I already consider Reno far to drive.

Eh, I think I'm just rambling at this point.

What we are currently reading:
Jasmine's selection: Strawberry Shortcake's World of Friends by Megan E. Bryant


My selection: May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

We are still here.

I know, I know. I had hoped to post here more often, but I am failing. I have been working on the webpage listing some fantastic links I have collected for home schooling, but yesterday I discovered that my computer (not the one I am working on right how, had at least 10 viruses! Which may explain some of the problems I have been having.

I have updated the layout of this blog, as you will see on the sidebar, to include fact and word of the day calendars, and a useless knowledge bit.

What we are currently reading:
Jasmine's selection: Baby Einstein: Dogs by Julie Aigner-Clark



My selection: Empire from the Ashes by David Weber