Happy Tuesday!  Did you know that today is free Pancake Day at IHop?   For a donation everyone can have a free short stack of pancakes.  Since it's to raise money for charity (Children's Miracle Network Hospitals), then I definitely need to go to dinner there with the family. Right?  We'll save money too so it's win-win. :)


I wanted to clarify something from my post yesterday.  Wes wasn't doing TERRIBLE in Algebra. He could do the problems and get them right.  It was the deeper meaning of WHY and the rationale of the process that he had trouble with.  That often is evident when kids do word problems.  But as much as we hate them, I tell my kids that word problems are often what I use math the most for in real life.  For example, how much would this cost if it's 15% off? How much tip should I leave?  How much is tax on that?  And, more complicated things while making things, etc.  Although I have a child that hates working with fractions and decimals, I've convinced him that they are some of the things I use the most often in daily life.


I also want to brag on Wes a bit. He recently read a book on Wilbur and Orville Wright and did a paper on the book. I was AMAZED at what a good writer he is.  He went through a phase of not like to write and I didn't really push grammar much other than the usual Language Arts workbooks, lots of School House Rock stuff when younger (c'mon, I know you're singing an episode now), and correcting their writing. I do a more intensive grammar course in upper middle/low high school when I think they're ready to "get it" rather than pounding it in over and over.  Frankly, it's boring and I don't see the point of trying to force a child to learn it over years and years when a good year at an older age does the trick.


Anyway, Wes wrote very well. His sentences were interesting and his grammar is getting better all the time.  It's encouraging to me to see the progress the kids make from year to year!


Today's workout:  Ellen Barrett's Fat Burning Fusion(pilates/yoga/dance inspired low impact cardio).  Aaaahhhhh......felt so good.

Happy Monday!  The sun is out and it's in the upper 60s so we're enjoying the weather.  I had a lovely walk with Tucker this afternoon.  It included a side trip to try to get a doggie named Beau back to his owner.  I think he had spring fever and was enjoying being out of his back yard.

We slept in a wee bit late since Tom decided to stay in bed and nurse his cold while working from home.  It wasn't a problem, however~we just got our work done and enjoyed some reading together in Story of the World on our own schedule.

I was just talking to a friend about Wes and Algebra.  Wes is a very bright young man but has struggled with Algebra a bit.  It's more of   a block with all the symbols and having to remember tons of formulas to do lots of word problems.  He's a lot like his mother in that way. So, I was saying how much I loved the freedom homeschooling gives us to explore and understand math in our own way and at our own pace.  Here's an excerpt from a note I emailed to her:

My oldest was struggling with UNDERSTANDING the concept behind Algebra this fall.  We took over a month off and worked together daily in Painless Algebra.  Now we're back to his book.  As a consequence, he's definitely behind.  We'll continue on through the summer until done, although not daily.  He and my daughter Mary Madison are old enough to understand the importance of grasping WHY and why they need to do math as a means to an end (attend college if they choose,etc) so they're fine with this.

Today Wes and I did all his Algebra together. They were called "challenge" word problems.  We neither one like them so we did them together, looked at answers when we were stuck and then worked backwards from there to grasp the WHAT and WHY, not just HOW, if that makes sense.

Since you school at home you can use your teacher book, answer book, anything on-line, etc. to help your kids "get" what's going on. It's pretty freeing to not be stuck in a "school" testing mentality!

I'm truly grateful to God for the time to explore, learn, and grow together with my children.

What I'm reading:  Another new Bible Study,  This one is about the life of Moses:  

http://www.amazon.com/Live-Reflectively-Lessons-Watershed-Moments/dp/0781405939/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330376810&sr=8-1

Today's workout:  Brooke Burke Tighten and Tone (body weight and light weight sculpting workout).

  I barely slept on Thursday night~I was so congested.  However, I got up early so we could go to our last co-op for three weeks since the kids love it.  Well, Maddie got up and was getting the cold too so back to bed she went.  I took the boys to breakfast, dropped Wes off at co-op(usually a no-no but since he's in high school they let me do that).  He really wanted to go since he'd missed last week. I came home, napped, and then did mom things~grocery store, cleaning the bathroom really well, laundry, etc.  


Today I woke up feeling a wee bit better.  Good thing since Tom now has the cold!  I guess the dogs and cats are next, lol.  Anyway, poor Tom had to do a funeral and then take Tyler to his Arrow of Light Campfire.  They'll be back late and Tom will fall in bed and get up early to be ready for his sermon.  He's also had two older members unexpectedly end up in the hospital this week, taking time away from his sermon prep. I sometimes think the small to middle sized church has to be the toughest to pastor since you don't have a staff!


Wes and I watched the Kentucky and Vandy game and then went to Goodwill.  I found a cute sweatshirt for Maddie and a book for Wes.  I hope he enjoys it as he doesn't read fiction much.  I think my Dad will like it and Wes plans to pass it on to him when done.


Friday's workout:  Powerfit Harmony Upper Body Blast; Jessica Smith Lethal Legs/Slim Hips and Thighs combo


Saturday's workout:  Ellen Barrett Skinny Sculpt; 1 1/2 mile dog walk (first walk since I got sick).

I started feeling "off" last night so I took the kids to church and stayed home.  And, I feel asleep at 7pm!  I would have stayed asleep if the kids had not called me to come get them as Tom was staying late.  So, it was no surprise when I started feeling stuffy later that night.  I woke up this morning after not sleeping well with an AWFUL sinus headache.  I took some ibuprofen, heated a moist heating pad and placed it on my head and went back to bed, lol.  I guess the kids' head cold finally found a new home in my body. :p


The kids were great today, I must say.  I went over Tyler's Astronomy lesson on Saturn with him and they all pitched in to help me with the dogs and housework, etc.  They also let me take a long nap.  After I got up I did an Ellen Barrett workout to sort of help with some endorphins and then ran an errand to get Tucker a hoof to chew.  If he doesn't have anything to chew, he starts eyeing my furniture and yoga mats~which is not good.


Tomorrow is co-op so I'm asking for prayers that I'll feel good enough to go~the kids love it and it's our last one before a two week break.


Today's workout:  Ellen Barrett Power Fusion Live

After a busy weekend, Tyler ended up with a head cold Monday morning.  Tom was having a medical procedure (routine and he's totally fine) so he was hanging around the house Monday afternoon/evening. So, we all skipped scouts on Monday night, stayed in together, and watched a family movie.  It was really, really nice.


Yesterday I took Tom to his appointment and brought him home.  He stayed with us the rest of the day and got to "do school" with us.  He observed Wes do his Algebra, read about Legos with Ty, and did Bible Study and history with us. There was something nice about him being here.


Today we are getting our usual school stuff done quickly since we have piano and then church.  Wes and I are tired from staying up until after 11pm while the Kentucky Basketball team gave us a heart attack by waiting until the last minute to win their game.


Saturday's workout:  Ellen Barrett Grace and Gusto.  Ellen's workouts are performed barefoot and are low impact and lovely. They fuse together pilates, yoga, dance, and calisthenics to make for a feel-good, effective workout.  I also walked Tucker.


Monday's workout:  Brooke Burke Strengthen and Condition.  One thing I appreciate about Brooke's workouts is the emphasis on quality of movements, not quantity, and how many of the movements incorporate your total body while focusing on one area a bit more.  One mile walk with Tucker.


Tuesday's workout:  Caribbean Workout Abs, Buns and Thighs Hi/Low Workout; Powerfit Harmony Move It Low Impact Cardio.  Wes and I walked Tucker for a mile.


Today:  Slim Series Mix it Up (full body high rep/low weights).  I will try to walk Tucker but we're having rain showers off and on.

This week got away from me, blogging wise.  I have Wes down with a cold since Tuesday~today's the first day he's felt better but he still stayed home from co-op.  I also had to teach Astronomy at co-op and get all the goo for our experiment there and Wes and Maddie had to take snacks for co-op book club.  Plus we stayed there until after 3pm putting together the schedule for the next 6 week session.  Whew.


We've also done some school stuff and frankly just tried to hunker down this week do doing some boring work that needed to be done. I'm looking forward to the weekend big time.


Wednesday's workout:  Crunch Fat Burning Blast


Thursday's workout:  10 Pounds Down Better Body Blast, Upper Body; Slim Series Express Cardio Core; 1 mile dog walk


Friday's workout:  10 Pounds Down Better Body Blast, Lower Body; 1 mile dog walk.

Happy Valentines Day from the McElroys.  The kids are enjoying their time off and have done some cleaning and "unschooling" and will be mopping the floors in the afternoon. What a task master I am, lol.  We've also read and played with friends and just hung out and enjoyed a relaxed schedule~although both boys did have Scouts last night.


Today I'm going to lunch with Tom and then to the grocery store.  I lead a glamorous life, don't I?  I also see a nap in my future as it's grey and rainy outside.  Since the dogs have decided to spend the day sleeping, why shouldn't I?  Oh wait, that's what they do all the time, lol.


Anyway, I've been thinking about how blessed I am by love. Not to get perfect love, although the Father loves me that way, but to be able to give love.  It's a joy and a privilege and I thank God for so many people in my life to love daily.  I pray you too take time to thank God for all his blessings, his mercy, and his grace.  


Saturday's workout:  Caribbean Workout Aerobics, 2 Low Impact Sections; 1 mile dog walk. I had to pick up Maddie from a sleep over~an hour away, yikes!


Monday's workout:  Caribbean Workout Hi/Low Aerobics; Slim Series Express Cardio Sculpt(mostly upper body with some cardio thrown in); 1 mile dog walk


Today's workout:  Lesia Hart Funky Fat Burn Aerobics (I'm so NOT funky so I'm glad there were no cameras here); Powerfit Harmony Lower Body Blast.  Instead of the dog walk (I'm a fair weather walker) I'll do AM Yoga for Your Week, Backbends, for a heart-opening practice on Valentines Day.