Weekly Wrap-Up: The One with the Rock Candy

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I’m so glad it’s Friday! It hasn’t been a bad week or anything – it’s actually been a pretty good week. I’m just ready for some downtime, plus the weather has been gorgeous and I’m ready to enjoy it.

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Last Saturday, I did Scott Kelby’s 4th Annual Photo Walk. I almost didn’t go because Brian wasn’t going to be able to go with me, not to mention that it was early on a Saturday morning and I hadn’t had a chance to sleep in for several weeks. However, I convinced myself that it would be fun and I’d regret it if I didn’t go.

It wasn’t fun.

It was early and cold, I didn’t know anyone, I wound up walking around by myself, and I didn’t get any good pictures. Well, a couple of decent one, maybe, but nothing great.

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Not great, but I had to take some self portraits so I could compare with last year.

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It excites me to see how much weight I’ve lost since last year!

The rest of the day was great, though. We had a “family date night,” during which we went with our church family to see Courageous – loved it, but take lots of tissues if you go – followed by dinner afterward – our first visit to Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Yum.

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The Highlights of Our School Week

My new method of teaching history is working out pretty well. As I mentioned in my review of All American History, I decided to start pre-reading the chapter, then, telling the story on the whiteboard. I’ve been using a combination of drawing, jotting down key facts, and using magnetic figures that I made.

The figures are nothing spectacular, I just printed off some of the notebooking figures from AAH Jr. and put magnets on the back. It just seems to help the kids keep track of who we’re talking about. Then, I use a world map placemat to draw out where the different explorers explored.

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So far, it seems to be working pretty well. I’ve made a note for a writing assignment for next week: we’ll be writing about what we think may have happened to Henry Hudson after his crew mutinied and set him, his son, and several of his crew adrift with no food or water. He was never seen or heard from again, but who knows? They may have survived and had some adventures.

The only stipulation is, no one is allowed to write, “I think they died of thirst/starvation. The end.” Not that anyone at my house would do that. Of course not.

In science, we’ve been studying rocks and minerals, so we’ve started everyone’s favorite science project – making rock candy!

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Of course, it takes awhile, but it will be worth it. We also looked at salt under the microscope – one of those times when I’m so glad we have a microscope – and made models of two basic crystal shapes.

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Note that Megan is wearing the survival bracelet we made a week or so ago.

Josh finished reading his self-selected library book on Navy SEALs with little to no complaining. Yay! Now, he’s ready to go pick out some more. I don’t think he’s willing to say that reading is fun, but at least it’s not torture for either of us right now.

Household Highlights

Thanks to a new daily checklist for the kids and a new cleaning schedule for me (more on that next week!), my house is finally decently clean and has been presentable for the majority of the week!

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I have nearly everything on my to-do list checked off for the first time in weeks and someone could drop by unexpectedly and I wouldn’t be embarrassed for them to come in.

On Thursday, I ran my first-ever double-digit long run: 10 miles! It was an outstanding day for running – cool and sunny. I felt great and was really pleased with my time, though I know some would consider it slow. I don’t care! A year ago, I never would have imagined I’d be running at all.

First Double-Digit Run[4]

Tonight, Brian and I are going on our second monthly date since coming back from our Disney vacation and realizing that we need to be more intentional about our time together. What excites me about this date is, it was Brian’s idea. That means I don’t feel like I’m dragging him out when he’d rather come home from a hard work week and veg out for awhile.

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And, tomorrow, Megan and I will be heading out to another Lowe’s Build and Grow workshops. She loves those things and the badges she’s been earning.

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How was your week? Be sure to post about it and sign up with MckLinky. If this is your first time to join us, be sure to read the Weekly Wrap-Up guidelines. You can also follow the guidelines link to grab the banner code.

**Remember, be sure to link directly to your Weekly Wrap-Up post so that others can find it easily when they visit your blog and be sure to post a link back here so that your readers can find the Wrap-Up and join us.**

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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20 Comments

  1. Now I am wanting Five Guys burgers and fries for supper! What a fabulous week. Rock candy! And you just continue to be a fabulous example of weight loss – you look great!

  2. I loved Courageous!  But I agree with you on bringing the Kleenex.  

    Congrats on your run!  I am super impressed with the fact that you did it and know nothing about times, but that seems like a great time to me!

    They are building a Lowe's near us.  I will have to check with them when they are open if they offer the Build and Grow workshops.  Thanks for the tip!

  3. Thanks, Tricia! I hope I'll continue to be an inspiration…we're eating at Five Guys again tonight! lol (Shhh…don't tell the kids.)

  4. You look fantastic…great job Kris! We had one of those really great weeks and I got a haircut! That says it all. 🙂
    Thanks for hosting the Wrap-Up.

  5. I linked up for the first time and am a new follower.  You look fab!   Looks like you had a fun week too!

  6. Sounds like an ok week. I hate it when I drag myself out then don't have fun.  Great job on the run!

  7. We recently made rock candy with our 12 year olds mother/daughter book club in conjunction with reading the book The Candymakers (which was fantastic).  Now my 8 year old is counting down until the unit when we do it in Chemistry this year because he wants to make it too!

  8. just wondering, you are a christian family, correct?  i noticed that your daughter had a bracelet on that has a pink skull and cross bones on it. what does death have to do with christianity? otherwise, i like your posts and appreciate your efforts to promote homeschooling.

  9. Good week! I mentioned the Lowe's workshops this week, too. 🙂 I've always wanted to make the rock candy with the kids.

  10. I meant to thank you last week for mentioning the Lowe's program for kids.  We are definitely going to take advantage of these, and last week my husband found a similar thing going on at Home Depot.  My 5 year old LOVED it! 🙂 
    You look terrific – you must feel so proud of yourself – way to go!! 
    I am so interested in your new checklists – can't wait to read about them.  Thanks for hosting!!

  11. I can't wait to see Courageous! Sorry you didn't have a great time at the Photo Walk; we didn't go at all this year because of crazy schedules. Maybe next year we can venture up closer to your neck of the woods like we talked about doing last year and photo walk together. 😉

  12. Ack.  There is an extra .html in my link submitted above, so nobody can reach my page via the linky! It is https://www.sevenkids.net/blog/2011/10/weekly-wrap-up.html. I e-mailed the Mr. Linky guy about it, since it seems like mine is the only one that isn't working.  If you can fix it on your end, that would be great.

    BTW, I'm amazed that you're able to eat 5 Guys…I went once and found it way too greasy for my taste.  Do they have any lighter options?

  13. 10 miles!! That is fantastic!! I do three miles 3x week, and I honestly cannot imagine doing 10 miles! Do you walk/run or straight run?

  14. Looks like a great week.  I'm impressed with your time as I don't think I could walk 10 miles!   And as always thanks for the link-up!

  15. Yes, we are a Christian family. She wears the bracelet because she likes it. It was given to her years ago at Disney when Pirates of the Caribbean was so popular. I would sincerely hope you would take Romans 14 into consideration before judging another family's faith on something so innocent

  16. Hi! It's my first time linking up with your Weekly Wrap-up. Way to go on your weight loss! It is hard work, but well worth the effort. It sounds like your girls are a lot of fun and I liked your magnetic historical characters and the science activities! Have a great week!

  17. Well, I think I just accidentally posted a comment here as my hubby, oops!  I was the one linking up here.  We will have to try making rock candy.  Anything with candy sounds fun to my kids!  Your magnetic timeline pieces look like a great idea too.  Have a fantastic week!

  18. There's so much I love about this post.  The first picture is stunning.  Your weight loss is inspiring.  Reading history yourself ahead of time and making visuals for the kiddos is smart and exciting.  Making rock candy will surely qualify you as "best mom ever," at least for a day! I'm totally impressed with the fact that you checked off all the chores on your list.  And the class at Lowe's must be so much fun for your daughter.  I didn't even know they offered such a thing.  I'll have to look into that.

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