After a wonderful vacation (will be posting pictures later on this week), it is time to get back into routine. We are preparing for the upcoming school year. Over the weekend,  I prepare a few meals in advanced. I hoping that with a new menu plan and organizing our household, life will run more smoothly.

Monday
Breakfast – Fried Rice
Lunch  – Mini Corn Dogs and Homemade French Fries
Dinner – Chicken and Dumplings

Tuesday
Breakfast – Eggs, Homemade Hashbrowns, Bacon, and English Muffins
Lunch – Frozen mini Pizza
Dinner – Barbecue Beef Casserole, Salad

Wednesday
Breakfast – Pancakes
Lunch – Tacos
Dinner – Easy Shake and Bake Chicken, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday
Breakfast – Egg Burrito
Lunch – Mac and Cheese
Dinner - Spaghetti, Salad, and Garlic Toast

Friday
Breakfast – Cinnamon Rolls
Lunch – Leftovers
Dinner – Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes, and Steamed Broccoli

Saturday
Breakfast – French Toast
Lunch – Cowboy Stew
Dinner – Meatloaf, Rice, Green Beans

We always have a fruit or vegetable at every meal even though I didn’t list it. Also, I wanted to thank everyone who posted these wonderful recipes on the web. It helped make menu planning a  lot easier.

For more Menu Plan Monday, go to Organized Junkie.

However, we had a great week in school. The children worked on organizing their work did all their corrections. We are all excited because we are all headed to CBD warehouse sale tomorrow!
This is a great place to buy curriculum and Christian books. We bought several items from them.
You can view their web site by clicking here.
It starts at 7 am but I doubt we will get there at that time, as we live about hour and half away. We will probably get there around 11am or noon. We plan to make it a day out for the family.

The website can be found by clicking on the image or here.

This is an example I found on the internet. There are hundreds of examples. Lapbooks are great learning tools. Here is a website the show you how to make one. You can also view how different ones are made on youtube just by putting lapbooks in the search area.

• Select a topic
• Research the topic (picking out books about the topic)
• Write bibliography cards
• Write preliminary outline
• Take notes
• Revise outline
• Write a rough draft
• Edit the rough draft
• Write the final copy
• Write the sources page

By following these steps the children have done wonderful reports. Ashleigh and Jason have written a reports about Napoleon. Kiani has written a report about the fall of communism.

Day six: Wreaths

Activity – Read John 3:16 and make wreath ornaments.

Day seven: Ornaments

Activity – Read James 1:17 ans make wreath ornaments.

Day eight: Stars

Read Matthew 2:2, 2:10 and make paper star of David.

Day nine: Carolers

Activity – Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16 and sing Christmas carols.

Day ten: Gifts

Activity – Matthew 2:10-11 and make candy presents

Day eleven: X-mas

Activity – Luke 1:30-33 and write a Bible verse in Greek.

Day twelve: Poinsettia

Activity – Read Matthew 6:28-30 and make paper poinsettia.

Day Thirteen: Gingerbread House

Activity – Read Matthew 6:11, Proverbs 30:8, Job 23:12, Luke 11:3 and make gingerbread house.

Day Fourteen: Candlles

Activity – Read Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12 and make paper candle.

Day Fifteen: Sherpherd’s Staff

Activity – Read Psalm 23:15 and make candy cane bark.

Monday – I had a doctor’s appointment but it was canceled due to the storm. It was changed to another day. Then we met with the realtor again to discuss the pricing of the house. After the realtor left, I planned a menu for the next two weeks. The children continue to work on their scheduled schoolwork. Today’s Advent calendar was St. Nicholas.

Tuesday – This day was long for us. In the morning, we worked on our schoolwork. Ashleigh did her first Apologia science experiment. It was a great experiment.  The object of the experiment was to learn about copper hydroxycarbonate. Basically, it is the substances that see on statues.  It is the substance that changes the color of statues from white to green. In the afternoon, we went shopping for groceries. This took about 3 hours to do. I was buying two weeks worth of groceries. This way we only have to go back for milk and produce items. After we came back, it was a quick dinner of bread bowl soup and the children were off to youth group. I only had about an hour before I had to pick up the children. I organized the ingredients for the cookie exchange for Wednesday. I picked up the children and returned home. We started on the cookies. We made four different kinds. Today’s Advent calendar was Christmas tree.

1. No-bake walnut balls
2. Peanut butter cup cookies
3. Oatmeal Raisin cookies
4. Mini cupcake cookies

   
Wednesday – Another crazy day – In the morning the children worked on their schoolwork while we met with another realtor to discuss the pricing of the house. In the afternoon, we went to the cookie exchange. In the evening, we worked on cooking meals for the next two weeks.  Today’s Advent calendar was jingle bells.

  These are our jingle bell door hangs.

Thursday – Another busy day -  In the morning, we worked on school.  In the afternoon, we went to the library to get materials for the things we will be working on next week. After returning from the library, my Hubby asked me to pick up an internet stick for his PSP. After the quick errand, I got ready to go to a Tastefully Simple party. I had a great time. Today’s Advent was wreaths.

Friday – Yipee!!! It is Friday and reading day.  We spent the day working on school. In the afternoon, it begins to snow. It is a peaceful day. Today’s Advent calendar was ornaments. We combined Thursday’s and Friday’s Advent craft together and made wreath ornaments.

These are our wreath ornaments.

Monday — A full school day. We worked on what needs to be done for the day and corrected last week’s work.

Tuesday — Ran errands all over town. Dropped off the movie at Blockbuster, then to the pharmacy and last to the grocery store for milk and end up buying a lot more than milk. As well a full day of school.

Wednesday — Another full day of school — Review history with the children and help Ashleigh write a proper outline. Then Hubby tells me, we will be meeting with two realtors tomorrow. One at 11am and one at 3pm.

Thursday — Clean up house like a mad woman. Meet with the two realtors. Children work on school while we meet with the realtors. My hubby gets the phone call and said his new cell phone is ready. We run out and pick it up.

Friday — Grade papers from yesterday schoolwork. We receive Ashleigh’s new science curriculum. I review it and work on the children’s lesson plans. I have planned up to 100th day of school. Go to homeschool Mom’s night.

Saturday — Woke up late due to the fact, I was out late and when I got home was too awake to go to sleep last night. Run errands again, returned some items I brought on Black Friday. As well due some more shopping. My hubby and I decided to surprise the children and take them to see The Bee Movie. After the movie, we went out to dinner. Then we went to Barnes and Nobles. We enjoyed hot chocolate and coffee.

Tomorrow plans are to go to church. I will be in the church’s nursery (teaching 2′s and 3′s year olds) while the family goes to service. Then drop off another movie at Blockbuster. Come home and eat lunch. Hopefully, work on corrections. I have the children correct their mistakes on their schoolwork. We feel they need to learn from their mistakes. The only things they don’t correct are their quizzes and tests. These are what I based their grades on.

                    

These are both great curriculum and would recommend both of them. I just think my daughter wasn’t quite ready for ninth grade level of Bob Jones’ Physical Science.