Tennis with a large family

One day, after a long day at the park with the kids and our homeschooling friends, my husband came home with two new tennis rackets and a container of tennis balls.  He was ready, after a long day at work, to go play tennis with me!  How could I resist?  We stopped by and picked up a couple of pizzas, and went to the park.  We set the kids up on a blanket near the courts, with lots of pizza and cold water.  Then we played tennis.  Or tried.  It is a good workout, and the weather was lovely.  After some practice, we were able to keep the ball going for several hits!  But before that, we were mostly running after stray balls.  After the kids ate pizza, they wanted to play.  But first we gave them another job, fetching the stray balls so mommy and daddy didn't have to run around so much :) And that's how you play tennis with just two rackets and 7 people.  And yes, the kids got their turn, too ;)

Bees

During our study of Botany and the roll bees play, we have had some amazing bee experiences.  A few weeks ago, during a birthday party in our backyard, there suddenly came a swarm of bees right over the rose bushes, toward all of us!  As soon as they were discovered, children went running!  And a few adults. But then the bees turned the other way, in search of a quieter place to rest, I'm sure!  (We have since learned that they probably got too crowded in their hive and the queen and hundreds of her bees went out looking for another home.) 

Once, while reading out loud to the kids out in the backyard on a quilt, we saw a bee on a clover flower and could actually see the pollen on its hind legs.  Now, I don't ever remember stopping and looking at bees so closely, I'm sure I always ran away!  But man, bees are amazing! 

Another time, recently, I was watching the bees at the orange blossoms.  I actually saw the proboscis go into get the nectar! Never, ever saw a bee that close to see that, nor did I care.

My poor 8yo son got stung a few weeks ago.  He didn't know what had happened, but after investigating, we found a stunned bee on his stuffed dog that he had been hugging outside.  Sadly, we squished the bee, instead of looking at him, but we had some pretty upset kids.

And lastly, my dear husband played an important part as head of our school and took the brunt of a bee so that his dear children could check out the stinger in our Eye Clops.  It was cool.  He tried to save the bee so we could look at him up close, but when he grabbed the bee's wing to pick him up, he flew off.  Oh well.  But...a little while later, our dd somehow found the same bee (or maybe another one that just stung someone? Nahh, it was our bee.)  He was on a rose, dead.  So he got to go meet the big Eye.  It was so neat seeing the hair and pollen.  I'm not usually a bug person, but I am fascinated with bees now!

One more.  I am reading a wonderfu book called "Keeper of the Bees" by Gene Stratton-Porter.  In one chapter called Because of God, a little kid describes the miracle workings of bees.  I highly recommend it.  (It's not just about bees)

 

Spring Blessings

When we moved into our home in December, I knew there would be some surprise flowers popping up in the spring.  I wasn't disappointed!  We have 11 rose bushes along the west side of our back yard.  I trimmed them down in Dec and they are doing great!  Unfortunately, the aphids like them, too, but we're working on them. Here are some of my favorites:

Yellow Roses have always been my favorite rose

Red rose, I'm sure it has another name, it looks a little different than the others.  I will read my Sunset Western Garden book someday.

This pink one has a nice smell to it.

This lavender rose is my favorite for the lovely fragrant. Reminds me of my Grandmother.

And this "orange" rose is my favorite because of it's unique color.

It took awhile for these Irises to pop out in my backyard.  For awhile, I didn't think anything would bloom.

These Bearded Irises (I think) are in the front yard.  They aren't lasting very long because of our hot/cold weather.

Azaleas.  These were perfect for our Botany study.  They came out just in time for us to dissect a couple and look at the stamen and pollen and other parts on our awesome Eye Clops microscope.

I don't know what these are, but there are quite a few of these little bushes around the yards.  The ones in front bloomed the best, so far.  I was surprised to see more purple flowers (another favorite :)  We planted Lavender and another little purple thing that I forgot the name of, nearby.

My favorite (really!) scent in the whole wide world...Orange Blossoms!  I love, love, love, sitting outside in the morning with my cup of coffee and smelling this sweet, wonderful scent.  Spring is such a treat in my area!  Hot, hot summer will be here very soon.  But I will have to wait until fall to see how many oranges we end up with.  It is looking pretty good so far!  It is neat to watch the bees pollinate all of these flowers.  Have you ever looked close enough to see a bee's proboscis uncurl into a flower?  I did just the other day, for the first time in my life.  I am learning so much as a Homeschool Mom!! (Ok, so I'm still learning how to spell proboscis:)

And as an extra special treat from God.... an Apricot tree!!    One of my favorite soft fruits of summer This tree is in our neighbor's yard, but a lot of it hangs over into our yard.  When we moved in, it had lost most of it's leaves.  I thought it was maybe a Cottonwood tree or something that doesn't give off fruit.  We had the prettiest pink blossoms on it.  I might have a picture somewhere.  Then came the leaves.  I thought about cutting it back, off of our shed.  I am so glad I didn't!  One day, the kids came running in and said it was a peach tree!  There were lots of little green fruit all over it.  I hadn't even noticed.  I knew they were apricots right away.  My great-grandmother had one in her front yard and I loved picking them right off the tree and eating them.  Nowadays, I have to buy them at the store, and they are expensive, and the season is so short.  So this was such a blessing to me.  Just a little special treat from God.  This whole house was such a blessing from the Lord. :)

We have tried to plant Pansies, Impatiense (sp), herbs, veggies, but they aren't doing very well.  Oh well, we'll try again next year. 

Our new school room

The boys on either end of the table have their own desks.  I sit beside  this boy :)  My computer desk is behind the blue chair.  When the weather is nice, we sit outside on a quilt and I read to them. 

Having something in the hand sometimes helps one to concentrate :)

I'm still homeschooling in CA

Here is some great info on the recent hubbub:

http://www.cheaofca.org/courtcase.jsp

LEGISLATIVE NEWSFLASH – March 7, 2008

From:  Roy Hanson’s Private and Home Educators of California


CHEA is sending you the following newsflash from Roy Hanson, who serves as our legislative consultant.
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As you probably know, on Thursday, February 28th, The Second Appellate District in Los Angeles County ruled that a homeschooling family from Southern California (not a member of HSLDA) did not have a right to “homeschool” under the California Constitution unless the parent is a credentialed tutor.
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Current Situation
Nothing has changed in California regarding your homeschool.  HSLDA maintains that the advice they have given home school families for some twenty-five years is still accurate and that filing a private school affidavit, or enrolling in a private school independent study program (I.S.P) are valid options under the law in California.
 
In summary, homeschoolers should not panic but continue to home school as in the past.  The leaders of the statewide homeschool groups and HSLDA are coordinating with each other on this issue on a regular basis.  Pray for a positive outcome.  The attorneys at HSLDA are working very hard during this time to prepare for additional legal action to reverse this decision. Seeking legislation at this time is unnecessary and likely dangerous.
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Governor’s office press release Friday, March 7, 2008 
Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Regarding Court of Appeals Home Schooling Ruling
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the recent Second District Court of Appeals ruling on home schooling:
 
"Every California child deserves a quality education and parents should have the right to decide what’s best for their children. Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will.”
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Background
This ruling resulted from a Juvenile Court case on allegations of abuse or neglect, which originally had nothing to do with homeschooling. When the Juvenile Court judge would not prohibit the parents from home schooling their children, the court-appointed attorneys for the children went to the California Court of Appeals.  The Appellate Court went further than they needed to, and essentially ruled that State law does not provide any options that allow parents to teach their own children at home.
 
Future court action on this Appellate Court ruling cannot occur until after March 29th. This ruling is a very serious matter but not a cause for panic. There are legal options still open to pursue in the Courts.  HSLDA is working to overturn this decision in the courts.  In other words, this Appellate Court ruling is not the final say.
 
It is important to realize that no laws have changed that affect private schools whether in one’s home or on a campus.  California is still one of twelve states where homeschoolers can operate legally under the private school provision.  See our Legal Fact Sheet .  The Court does not have the power to change the law but only to interpret it, and this court has made critical errors in their interpretation of private school laws as they apply to private home education.
 
No court has the authority to universally order every homeschooler into a public or private campus school.  Under due process the court can only issue orders directed to the parties before the court.  Any attempts of enforcement would have to be one family at a time.  As in the past, a family could be charged with truancy and then go to a SARB hearing even before any court hearing.  This should not be a dread for anyone who is a member of HSLDA. If you are not a member of HSLDA you should join now!
 
If a public official comes to your door and tells you that home schooling is illegal and that you must put your kids in a public school or a private campus school, do not let them in your house, call HSLDA if you are a member, and let the HSLDA attorney talk to the person at the door.  HSLDA attorneys are available to their members 24 hours a day seven days a week.
 
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What can homeschoolers do right now to help?
(1) This court's ruling could provoke well-meaning individuals to seek a legislative remedy.  Legislation at this time would be detrimental to our current freedom to home school privately in California.  If you become aware through first hand knowledge of any such attempt to have a legislator introduce legislation addressing or dealing with home schooling, please contact us at contact@pheofca.org immediately!
 
(2) Please encourage your home schooling friends to join HSLDA now (www.hslda.org)  for two reasons! (a) Membership in and contributions to HSLDA will help provide the financial resources needed to carry on this complex and lengthy court process for judicial relief from this current ruling.  This will benefit all homeschoolers. (b) HSLDA membership will protect your family should you be contacted as a result of this Appellate Court ruling.  This will also give you the piece of mind that, whenever you might need it, you have immediate support from the only experienced highly successful team of attorneys specialized in defending private home schoolers in California and our Nation.
 
(3) In all situations, it is the Lord Jesus Christ Who is our refuge, provider, and protector (Psalm 50:10-15).  He is sovereign over all.  Our Lord reigns!  We are asking that you pray daily and also consider some kind of periodic fasting during this protracted battle that is shaping up.  Pray for:
*  those in authority, especially the judges involved in this case,
*  the Long family involved in this case,
every fellow private homeschooling family
*  HSLDA as they prepare to not only handle this situation but as they respond to all future legal contacts,
*  for us here at Family Protection Ministries that God would sustain us and that we will be able to intercept every legislative proposal that could further erode our freedoms,
*  CHEA and every other home school organization in California, and
*  all other individuals and groups supporting this effort to defend home education.
 
(4) Continue on with a peaceful heart in your homeschooling and family life.
 
 
 
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Permission is given to reprint this document or distribute it by email in its entirety without alteration.  You are encouraged to link to this document on our website www.pheofca.org
 
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Roy Hanson's HELP Tree
Private and Home Educators of California
P.O. Box 730
Lincoln, CA 95648-0730
Fax: (916) 415-9470
contact@pheofca.org
 
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The purpose of this communication is to present information and express our position on the issues addressed.  We encourage you to research this for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Regardless of your position, we strongly urge you to exercise your constitutional right to express your position to your elected representatives.  We have included an example of how we have expressed our position.

 

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DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for the accuracy of copies printed, forwarded, or sent by any party other than directly from Private and Home Educators of California.

 

Salt Map of Egypt

For our study on Ancient Egypt, we made a salt map.  Here are pics showing our progress:

Working together

Painting the water

Finishing touches

All done!

To The Snow!!

We finally made it to the snow.  We have to drive an hour away to find good sledding snow. The sky was so blue, the trees so green, the ground so white....beautiful!

 Ready, set, go!

Lunch timeDaring girl!!!Up the hill....

Down the hill....

Down the hill....

UP the hill......Thanks Daddy & Mommy!!  We're cold, can we go home now?

Cough, cough!!