Curriculum Update as of September 2016

     Classical Conversations Cycle 2 is starting in a few days. During this past Summer, Elisha and I spent at least one and a half hours each weekday reviewing what she had learned during Cycle 1. It was a way for me to spend a quality time with Elisha, and Elisha finished notebooking geography (two times!), history (two times!), English, Latin, Science.
     Right now, we are doing two math lessons 4 days a week and about two lessons of Grapevine bible study each week. Mercy, a 14-year-old homeschooled girl who works as a mother's helper for us has been teaching Elisha violin, and I am hoping to start teaching Elisha piano soon. Also, today was our first day of meeting up with a Spanish-speaking family to learn Spanish (I will write more about this later).

Here are the curriculum we are using as of September 2016.

1. Math - Saxon Math 2
2. Phonics, Reading - All About Reading III
3. Spelling - All About Spelling II
4. Spanish - Language exchange
5. Science - Nancy Larson Science 2
6. Bible - Grapevine's Stick Figure Through the Bible
7. Classical Conversations - Notebooking for each of these subjects: History, Math, Science, Latin, Geography, Fine Arts, English
8. Cursive - Elisha has fallen in love with cursive writing this past Summer. Praise God! We will continue to incorporate cursive handwriting practice into her notebooking time.
9. World History - Continue with Story of the World audiobooks
10. Classical Music Appreciation - Classical Kids (It is a collection of CDs)

TAPO

Stick Figure Through the Bible

     Who can be more passionate about my child's soul than me? I have been searching for a good, a real good kids bible study/devotion idea for a long time. We have tried a few kids' devotional books and bibles. They were okay, but not great. I have been anxious to find something that will help Elisha and myself to dive deep into 'studying' the bible, instead of just 'reading' the bible. I did not want anything that makes bible sound as if it is another fairy tale or fiction. And we found one!
     It has been about 3 weeks since Elisha and I have been studying Stick Figure Through the Bible. We are working on the first of the Old Testament Series:Creation to Jacob, and oh, how much we love it! It is very engaging for both of us, and we get so excited that we often spend over an hour. An hour each day for a bible study is a lot for a 6-year-old, but time flies when we are working on this bible study. As we study, Elisha and I experience the joy and sadness felt by the characters and God in the bible, and we often laugh, cry, and get upset with them.
     It is such a simple bible study curriculum, but there is something, something powerful that makes the bible so real to us.
     Right now, we are studying about 4 lessons each week, but once Classical Conversations starts next month, that might need to change a bit.

TAPO

Nancy Larson Science Review

     This past Summer, Elisha started Namcy Larson Science 2. We did not do Nancy Larson Science 1, and the reason we skipped level 1 is because a huge chunk of the level 1 is dedicated to human body science, and Elisha has already studied human body science with the cute little My Body.  Actually, we covered My Body twice. So, we decided to forgo Nancy Larson Science level 1.

     Regarding level 2, this is Elisha's first complete science curriculum and we both love it. It is very thorough and easy to teach for me, and over and over I find that if I enjoy a curriculum, Elisha ends up enjoying it as well. I like how it comes with fun, easy experiments. I also very much appreciate how they let me know a few lessons in advance if there needs some special materials. For example, for the Rocks and Minerals lessons, the teacher's manual noted 3-4 lessons beforehand to start collecting various sizes of rocks. I asked CJ to get some rocks during his lunch break at work, and it was so nice to have those rocks ready on the day when we needed them!

TAPO

Wabi Steam Sterilizer and Dryer

     With our oldest, we boiled bottles after each use. However, this time with twins, we are using Wabi Steam Sterilizer and Dryer. After feeding, we wash the nipples & lid parts of Playtex Bottles and put them in the Wabi Sterilizer and Dryer, which will steam them for 15 minutes and then hot-air-dry for 45 minutes. What a time and labor-saver! We use this machine also to sterilize toothbrushes and toys. We love this light-weight, easy-to-use machine and I think it is a brilliant invention.

TAPO

Playtex Bottles with Drop In Liners

     With our oldest, my husband and I were very particular and with her being the first and only child, we could afford it both time-wise and money-wise. Well, with twins, things are much different and we are forced to choose the most efficient ways instead of the most health-conscious ways.
     So, with twins, we are using Playtex bottles with drop in liners instead of fancy glass bottles, and we love these! These bottles are so much more time-saving and lighter for my hands than the glass ones. I probably would have used glass bottles if we had just one baby, but, with twins, it is better for me to spend time interacting with them rather than washing bottles. 

From 3 to 5

We just welcomed twins into our family! They came out about 3-4 weeks early, but, thankfully, both are healthy. I had hyperemesis for 8 months just like 6 years ago when I was pregnant with Elisha, and it was very tough time, especially with another child to take care of.

However, there is a small testimony I would like to share. Being so not functional for such a long time, many days and many times I doubted if the pregnancy was right decision or not. Being unable to take care of Elisha as I used to made me feel very frustrated and, often, depressed. CJ and I had decided to have more children for the sake of Elisha, but many days during the pregnancy, I felt like we made a wrong decision. As she saw me throwing up day and night for 8 months, Elisha often covered her ears and cried she didn't want me to be pregnant, that she didn't want any brother or sister. I had asked God if we made the right choice, if we were doing good to Elisha...it was not even a prayer. I was just venting out.

Then 5 days before the C-section, Elisha came up to me and said 'Mommy, at CC (Classical Conversation) last time, all my friends were holding hands with their brothers and sisters but I didn't have anyone to hold hands with'. I asked Elisha how she had felt about it, and she said she had felt very lonely. Oh, the joy and tears! Just 5 days before we welcomed twins into our family, God made it very very clear that we had made the right decision for Elisha. It released me from all the doubts and burdens I had been carrying all along the pregnancy and...5 days later, our family became from 3 of us to 5 of us. Isn't God awesome?

TAPO

Homeschool Curriculum I Use

When I first entered the world of homeschooling, it was quite overwhelming that 'I' have to find the 'right' curriculum for me and my daughter out of so many available out there. To actually look at them and even try one or two lessons will be ideal, but that most likely means possible waste of a lot of money.

Here is the guideline that helps me to choose the right curriculum for our homeschool:
1. Read reviews and choose top 2~3 curriculum/books for each subject.
2. Take more time to read as much review as I can find about those top choices.
3. Purchase and stick to it.

Here are the curriculum we've used so far at our homeschool:
1. Math - Saxon Math I
2. Phonics, Reading - All About Reading I, II, III
3. Spelling - All About Spelling I, II
4. Spanish - The Easy Spanish, Junior
5. Geography - Evan-Moor Beginning Geography, Evan-Moor Daily Geography Practice Grade 2
6. Devotions - Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
7. Latin - Song School Latin Book 1 (*We purchased this one, but I haven't mustered up enough ump to start on it yet. I might need DVD help for this curriculum.)

What I like about the curriculum we use:
1. They are pencil & paper curriculum, not DVD based. I personally believe homeschooling, especially during the early years, is about establishing strong, healthy bonding between parents and child(ren). I want our homeschool to come with lots of personal touch and interaction, and for that reason, we try to avoid DVD/online based curriculum.

2. With very minimal preparation, they are 'open & go' style curriculum. My daughter is 5 1/2 years old and I usually spend 30~45 minutes to prepare for one day's lessons. For the worksheets that come with each curriculum, in order to be able to use them again for second child, I make & use copies.

Curriculum that we are still looking for:
1. Science - I am looking for something that (1) comes with lots of hands-on activities (2) requires minimal preparation.
2. Piano - I need something that will help me teach music fundamentals and basics in piano.
3. Christian Character Development

Hawaii Vacation - Maui

Where: Maui, Hawaii

When: January 19-21, 2012
1. Hotel
We stayed at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. It is a luxury hotel with its own beach. Thanks to a special rate applied to federal government employees, we were able to stay at 'good' rates. This hotel is very ideal for families like us. From  parrots and flamingos to swans and penguins, there is an abundance of wildlife inside the resort. Our favorite kiddie pool, 'Keiki Lagoon', was relaxing and fun for both adults and kids. Also, there are many free classes and activities throughout each day for both adults and children.

2. Restaurants
There are several restaurants and bars within the resort, but it was quite pricey. Again, for breakfast, we had bagels, juice, and milk which we purchased from Safeway in Maui.
(1) CJ's Deli & Diner
We had two meals at this restaurant. They have non-greasy food such as salads, sandwiches, fish, etc. Also, as it's a self-serviced restaurant, we didn't have to give tips.
(2) Safeway
Safeway is the major grocery store in Maui, and there are meals-to-go such as rotisserie chicken, cold sandwiches, sushi, etc. We tried rotisserie chicken and sushi, and both meals were very good. If you have a little one like mine who's got too many ants in her pants to allow the grown-ups to enjoy a long, sit-down meals at a nice restaurant, to-go-meals from Safeway is a great way to enjoy your meal while watching your little one(s) roaming around.

3. Grocery shopping
We didn't see any Walmart in Maui. Safeway seemed to be the major grocery store in Maui. Of all three islands we've been to during this trip, food cost was the most expensive in Maui.

4. Laundry
There is a small coin laundry room inside the resort and it worked out great for us.

5. Sightseeing
Maui has lots of things to see, and we wished we could stay one more day in Maui. Here are the things we did during our two day stay in Maui.
(1) Sugar Cain Train Ride
After late lunch, CJ and Elisha hopped on this train. Around that time before we left for Hawaii, Elisha was introduced to Thomas trains, so this train ride was very special to her. We paid $23.91 for CJ & Elisha. Click here for more information.
(2) Road to Hana
The most unforgettable ride ever! Turns are so sharp that we couldn't see what's coming 5 feet ahead. You have to plan to spend a whole day to make this round trip. If you are not up for spending several hours in a car, this is not for you. Leave early morning to avoid a bumper-to-bumper rental car parade. If we had one more day to spend in Maui, we would have stayed overnight at Hana.
(3) Whale Watching
You will see so many advertisement about whale watching and there are many companies that offer whale watching boat ride. We picked Pacific Whale Foundation, because it was cheaper than others and the organization carries a important mission - educating people about marine environment and supporting important conservation programs.

Important tip! Inter-island flights are the cheapest when purchased from Hawaiian Airlines. When I was planning this trip, inter-island tickets were about $100 more expensive per tickets at Cheaptickets.com than at Hawaiian Airlines website.

TAPO

Hawaii Vacation - Big Island

Where: Big Island, Hawaii

When: January 15-19, 2012
1. Hotel
We stayed at the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. What a lengthy name! People usually call it Kona Beach Hotel. It's owned by Marriott, so if you are a member of Marriott rewards program, you can accrue some points. This hotel recently went through total renovation, and, even though it looks old outside, the room was clean and beds were very comfortable. It has a small beach, and it is very close to Kailua-Kona downtown where you can find lots of restaurants including Island Lava Java.
2. Restaurants
We love to eat 'good' food. Good in quality. Wherever we go, we do quite extensive research on food and restaurants. Here are the restaurants we tried while staying in Big Island.
(1) Island Lava Java
It was the very first restaurant we visited in Big Island. I believe we had dinner there on the day we arrived. High quality food. Not greasy. Casual ambience. Good portion size. Not a cheap-eat, though. We paid $47.24 for three main dishes. With tip added, it was over $55.
(2) Breakfast
We tried McDonald on our first morning. It was on our way to Hawaiian Volcano National Park. In Hawaii, McDonald is very expensive! We paid $12.87 for two egg muffins and two small OJs. From the next day, we ate bagel with cream cheese and orange juice which we purchased from a grocery store. That way we not only saved money, but also could save time.
(3) Coffee Shack
We still talk about this restaurant! We loved their food. It sounds like a coffee place, but it's a very popular breakfast and lunch place. As there is usually a long line of people waiting, you'd better be not too hungry. Try their outdoor seating, which gives you a breathtaking view. We ordered three dishes and paid $39.72 plus tip.
(4) Big Island Grill
To save money spent on tips, we had some take-out meals, and Big Island Grill is one the of places we tried. We had two to-go meals from there. Except salads, their entrees are mostly 'grilled', which translates to 'quite oily'. We paid $22 - $23 for two entrees.
(5) Harbor House
Their food is very similar to Big Island Grill. I think people like this restaurant because it's sitting right at the harbor with a great sunset view. For two to-go entrees, we paid $24.48.
(6) Cafe 100
We had a brunch here while we were in Hilo. One of the cheap-eats. Lots of different kinds of loco moco. Outdoor seating with self-service. If you want McDonald-ish food but don't want to pay too much, this is the place to go. For two entrees and one salad, we paid about $14.
(7) Cathee's Kitchen
We found this hidden gem on our last day in Big Island. It's literally hidden inside a gym. Oh, how we wished we had found this place earlier! It was within the walking distance from our hotel, and offered homemade, healthful food at a reasonable price! If we ever get to stay in the same area next time, we will make this place our 'designated' eatery.
3. Grocery shopping
Safeway and Walmart are the two major grocery stores in Kailua-Kona area. We checked out both of them, and found out Walmart offers much better price than Safeway.
4. Laundary

We bought a small bottle of laundry detergent on our first day, and throughout our two-week stay in Hawaii, we used coin laundry machines. Kona Beach Hotel has a coin laundry room on the first floor and it was very convenient.
5. Sightseeing

We planned our sightseeing with the assumption that this might be the only chance we get to see Hawaii. So most of the places we visited are the ones considered 'major'.

(1) Hawaiian Volcano National Park

We were here on January 16, 2012, which was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and we got free admission to the park thanks to MLK! It saved us $10 per vehicle entrance fee. Click here for information on fee free days and entrance fees. Craters and steam vents were really cool. The small Jaggar museum was not very impressive, but the view from the Crater Rim Drive in front of the museum was awesome.

(2) City of Refuge = Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National History Park

There is a very interesting story behind this place and that's what took us there. In old Hawaii, this was a place of refuge for people who broke law and could not avoid death penalty. It was a great learning experience for us. For more information on entrance fees, fee free days, hula programs and Ulana Lauhala (weaving) workshop schedules, click here.

(3) Rainbow Falls

Don't go here. Not worth of visit.

(4) Akaka Falls

Akaka Falls is not as grandiose as Niagara Falls, but we enjoyed the view and walk around the park. There is $1 entrance fee. Click here for more information.

(5) Hilo

(5-1)Hilo Banyan Tree Drive - Thanks to a 19-month old girl who woke up 4 AM, we arrived at Hilo really early in the morning. Instead of sitting around until the Farmers' Market opened, we decided to look around the area and we found Banyan Tree Drive on the map. It is a beautiful park with Jananese gardens and Banyan tree-lined drive. The view of the adjacent Hilo Bay makes this place even more charming.

(5-2)Hilo Farmers' Market

I like walking around farmers' markets where locals come and sell local stuff. At Hilo Farmers' Market, we bought mangoes, passion fruits, and papayas. We also tried Malasada (Portuguese donuts). I suggest you visit either on Saturday or Sunday. If you are not a Farmers' market person, you might not want to visit, though.

TAPO

Hawaii Vacation - Overview

We started the year 2012 with a "grand" two-week vacation in Hawaii. I usually spend Decembers and Januaries in a slow, quiet manner, but we could not pass up this opportunity to explore Hawaii.

CJ had a four-day training in Oahu, which meant his flights, room & board were to be all paid. So, we decided to add me and Elisha, along with another 10 days to the trip so that we could travel Oahu and other Hawaiian islands.

I described it "grand", because, even though, we didn't splurge in sightseeing or shopping, we did stay at nice hotels/resorts through the two-week period. With a 19-month old toddler, we needed to stay where we could keep our little one entertained for a few hours each day. So we picked beachfront hotels and resorts with swimming pools, gardens, and even some live animals roaming around inside.

However, wherever we could, we did save. Next few postings will be about our this grand & frugal Hawaii vacation covering Big Island, Maui, and Oahu. I hope you could glean some useful tips for your own trip.

TAPO