A time of reflection

I am beginning to think about next school year and the choices I will make. It is part of my teaching that I take stock of what we have learned, assess if it has been effective and decide what to do from here. I do this constantly, however as I think about next year I feel very conflicted.

I would really like to use the Charlotte Mason approach to educate my children. I have been reading several books on the subject and I like the method and I know my daughter would love it. The problem lies with my son. I tried last year and this year to do more literature based and relaxed approach and it did not work for him. He is not comfortable with reading and gathering his own information about a subject. He would rather me give him assignments. It is also a struggle to get him to read hardly anything. We have been mostly doing read a louds. He is on a high reading level, but doesn't have the passion for reading that I would like.

I just don't know what to do. If I do choose to use a curriculum I know I want to get most of it from one publisher so that I don't have to spend so much time planning lessons and such. I would like to do some of his lessons on the computer so that I can devote more time to my dd who will be in first grade. He does monopolize my time. I guess I will ponder this more and see what comes. Your views, opinion or advice would be greatly appreciated.

What's for dinner?

That is one question I have been trying to be prepared for as of late. I am trying to be a better shopper so that I can spend more money on better produce and meat and less on junk that never gets eaten. So here are some of my menus for the next week or so.

Breakfast:
-Muffins (Raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, triple berry, and pumpkin) I just bake up a batch of
one kind and we eat them till their gone.
-Waffles
-Cinnamon toast
-Oatmeal
-Cereal

Lunch:
-Mac and Cheese
-Bean Burritos
-Soup
-Quesadillas
-Taquillos
-PB&J
-Left overs

Dinners: (All are homemade unless noted)
-Beef & Noodles, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas and rolls
-Chicken Pot Pie, stuffing, and rolls
-Roast (Crock pot) with potatoes and carrots
-Lemon Pepper Shrimp (Frozen) with Rice Pilaf and steamed green beans
-Chicken Parmesan with a green salad and bread
-Meatloaf Meatballs with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, veggie and rolls
-Veggie Chili

Most of these meals allow me to cook enough for leftovers so I hope to get two days out of all meals but the shrimp. I know lots of meat and potatoes, but I try to throw in healthy stuff too. I tend to eat a lot of salads and steamed veggies instead of fried stuff so that helps. All my meat is boiled, baked or cooked in the crock pot. I've been trying a lot of new recipes to shake things up a bit and the kids have really enjoyed it.

I hope by planning these meals like I have seen so many of the other moms have shared on their blogs that I can take over control of my pantry. We'll see.

I'm still in shock!

My hubby called me this afternoon and told me to turn on the tv, he said that actor Heath Ledger died. I couldn't believe it. We both liked him as an actor. I always felt that he put his heart into each character he played. I know he portrayed some controversial characters but I will always remember him in my favorite role as Gabriel Martin in The Patriot. My thoughts are with his family, Michelle and his daughter Matilda tonight.