Eek!

Alarms are set. School items are packed. Tomorrow we are to be at the hospital by 7 AM. Please pray for my husband, for the doctors, nurses, ect- and for myself and the kids. 

1st week-complete

This was a crazy week, but we did it! Okay, actually, as I typed that I realized we did manage to completely forget our Nature Study today for school. But that, I can totally live with! With all the obstacles this week, I really can't be upset over forgetting 1 thiinkg knowing how much we did accomplish!

Oh Tuesday

Day 2 of school this year- Kindle decided to go crazy and as I'm determined to work out the kinks as we go this week, I spend over an hour fixing it. Still got through everything, and I got a message late this afternoon they Lexi's account on our planner had been fixed and all her assignments were recovered and back on there for us. Woohoo.

Also- little man had his 1st practice of the season. All new team this Fall for him, as his old team decided to take the season off. I'm very proud of him! He did really good tonight, listened and paid attention better than I could have imagined at this point, and- he even stepped up and talked to/helped out a teammate that was really shy. 

Tuesdays are going to be a nightmare very soon, though... He'll have practice, my girls will have double headers. In 2 different cities. And my husband won't be able to drive for at least 3 weeks. But I know it will be fine. Crazy, but fine!

1st day

We started our new school year today! I'm so glad. I've really enjoyed our summer and have actually been looking forward to getting back into school. Seriously!

We are trying out a new online planner that I think we will really like and stick with. It could definitely be improved upon, but I still think I like it better than writing it all in our paper planner as we have the past 2 years. Lexi's assignments for the week reappearing after mysteriously vanishing overnight would be a good start to turning that think into know.

Triumphant Tuesday

I'm going to bed tonight feeling success. I feel pretty sick as well, but fairly certain it's just really bad allergies this time... But moving on. 

I am working on a knitting loom for the first time ever and am really liking it! Project one is almost complete already! 

My little man is taking some big steps forward in all areas of school right now which is so amazing to go through with him. 

I really am so blessed to be home with my children. Teaching, sharing, learning, growing. It's so precious!

Cleaning week

That's what it is around here. Usually we go through the kids' rooms before Christmas, but that didn't happen this time. And it's just plain been too busy lately. So this week, we clean. And I've informed the kids I want us to be done by Thursday afternoon. Friday, we want to relax, and work on our daily schedules (school/chores/whatever else). Monday- it's back to the daily routine. And I'm hoping it's a better one. 

Day 2- After Vacation

It's been nice getting back to the normal schedule so far. Sure, the kids prefer not doing any school, but the daily routine is still nice after a couple weeks of just whatever. Tonight we had our league softball board meeting. My ears are ready to check out for the night now. So is my brain. But still, softball excites me. 

I snapped this pic at one of my daughters' fall tourneys just a few weeks ago. It was insanely muddy.

Fall & Homeschool

This week, Fall has finally come to North Texas. It's been wonderful. Add my little man's birthday in, 2 days straight of rain and you have a nice relaxing week. At least, this time. We were out all day Monday for birthday celebrations, but the rest of the week we've had off. That's right, off. No school. No softball. No fields to chalk. 

Okay, so we did have softball practice tonight. But 4 days straight without it before hand. Again, I do love watching my girls play. And I actually missed being out there. A little. But I chose to enjoy the time off and we all relaxed.

What about no school? Well, let's just say all these days straight and weekends in a row of tournaments took my house to a level I could no longer stand. So in between relaxing, we've been doing some serious cleaning this week. Including breaking out the cold weather clothes! But this is Texas... We can't exactly put away the warm weather clothes anytime soon.

As for school, it can wait. If your kids go to public school, do me a favor and don't tell mine when they get out for the summer. My husband and I tend to differ on our opinions of homeschooling when it comes to summer. I want to use everyday as a learning opportunity, and just take a week off here and there. He insists the kids get a typical summer. This past year we went about 3 weeks longer than most public schools. I guess that was our compromise. This year, we will at least do the same. Between this week off, and my husband's upcoming surgery- we're going to need more time for sure! 

After surgery, he is supposed to be laid up for at least 2 weeks, and is very much planning to play and beat several video games during that time. With the kids. And me. Starting with the new Mario 3D for the Wii U that just happens to come out 3 days after his surgery. Just in time for him to hopefully be feeling up to getting out of bed and moving to the couch to play. 

All this just makes me want to shout, "I love homeschooling!". Seriously. Just another wonderful reason to love it. And that's not even the big reason I'm feeling right now.

I don't have to worry about taking a day or 2 off work, or having to go back to work before he's ready. I get to stay home and take care of him. And no matter how cranky or whiny he may get- it's such a blessing to know I will be able to be there for him. 

And not just me. Our kids too. Now, I'm sure there will be a moment (or 10, or 100), in which they are sent to a bedroom to read for a while so he can rest- they will also be there to help, and to learn. Life lessons. I pray they do, and I set a good example. 

And also, that there are a couple good movies out at the dollar movie during those 2 weeks. Because I'm sure he's going to kick us all out at least once (and I'm sure we'd welcome a little break)! 

Friday Funday!

Today, we knocked out our school work and then headed out for the afternoon. 

We had a nice picnic.

Then enjoyed some play time.

After that, we stopped on the way home to feed the ducks. I got so many great pictures, but none on my phone of the duck feeding! I'll have to post some soon!

 We definitely intend to picnic, explore, and play as many Fridays as possible this school year!

Teaching Thursday

I'd really like to take the time to sit down and post our school schedule one Thursday soon. I thought I might actually get that chance today, but it didn't work out. I'm will eventually get myself in the habit of taking time earlier in the day to make my posts. 

For this week, I just want to say- I love homeschooling! This has been a week of clicks. My daughters have been struggling with double digit multiplication, and this week, it just clicked. My son had started trying to guess words instead of sounding them out, this week, it's clicked with him that it doesn't work (though I've been trying to explain it for at least a month! Lol!). Not only have these things clicked, but the kids have each really expanded on them and ran with them!

There have been several other clicks this week, even for myself with our crazy schedule now. It's nice. It may not take long before we stumble upon another snag or several, but it's still nice. And if you ask me, it's a worthy excuse for a nice Friday picnic at the park! :)

It's really amazing watching children grow. Experiencing them learning. There's real beauty in actually seeing the moment they grasp a new concept. With homeschooling, I get to experience this more than I could have ever dreamed. I am so thankful to God, my husband, out kids, and everyone who has helped and prayed for us and continues to. 

And for the record- I do truly love homeschooling, even on the days when all 3 kids fight me at every turn. It's really a huge blessing on our family- even on the worst days!

Teaching Thursday

School is almost in full swing in our house now. We will add science and history in next week. I really enjoy having the schedule back- even if its getting started an hour later than I intend so far. Sometimes, it's just nice to sleep a little longer when you can. Or, enjoy some morning snuggles with my son who has been all about daddy for the last month. Once he crawled in my arms, I just couldn't willingly get up- until my bladder threatened a gross end, twice. I just couldn't on the first threat. Such sweet snuggles. :) Oh the precious reasons to love homeschooling.

My Happy List Tuesday

I'm exhausted. Ready to end this day early and get some sleep! The why brings me to my happy this week. School. We are up and at it this week. We are still technically taking a soft load week. We are waiting until next week to start science and history back up. But other than that, we are going strong so far this week. And it's coming together good right now. I'm pleased. Of course, my 3 kids aren't so pleased, but I've made some changes this year that are working for the better so far. Which makes me very happy also!

Teaching Thursday

So this week has not gone as planned. At all. Plan was to start school Tuesday. I did plan a very light start this week, see where each kid is on certain things, do we need to backtrack a little, not just start where we left off. And we have at least done half of that... But that's it. Thanks mostly to one of the worst migraines I've ever had, the whole house is in such a state, it's going to take a few days to get the place cleaned up and laundry done, ect. 

That's our classroom. Also the front room of our house. But hey, this is a luxury we homeschoolers have. We will fit in the other half of our planned "light week" between now and Sunday, and get the house back in order. And come Monday morning, we will start our full schedule after all!

My Happy List Tuesday

This week, is all about play. :) Well, it's not really ALL about play, I do intend for us to get some serious de-cluttering done as well, but the last two days, it's really been a lot of play. We start school next week, and I'd like to go through every room in the house beforehand. But I'm also trying to relax and let the kids have some major free time as well. I bought stuff to make our favorite so completely unhealthy ice cream cake to have a last little summer celebration at some point. Probably Friday. I really have to sit down and make out our schedule for school. It's all in my head. We have all our curriculum and supplies, but I am changing the schedule a bit from last year, and I need to take the time to sit down and really write it out and change anything that doesn't work out once I look at it on paper. And, I am definitely getting a better chore schedule set for each of us.

But for now, we've spent most of the week playing Mario as a family, and Demi has had me teach and help her sew up every stuffed animal of theirs that had a hole it in. Seriously... My kids have a TON of stuffed animals, and that's an understatement. I have a knack for claw machines, and they each seem to be learning it pretty quickly as well. We know which machines are too loose to bother with, and which ones are just right. The kids typically can look at the machine and tell me in 30 seconds whether it's worth trying or not. It's seriously crazy. So, the 3 of them even decided they are saving their money to buy a claw machine for the house... I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that.... But since the cheapest used ones we've seen are about $700, I figure my husband and I have a while to decide if we want to encourage this decision or not. Clearly they have enough stuffed animals to fill it with and keep a variety going for themselves already! And, they would apparently be able to get quite a bit of money back for it if they were to buy one and then decide to sell it when they've had enough.

I've gotten a bit off topic, huh? Tomorrow AWANAS starts, and we are super excited for that also! I'm ready to get the school schedule going in this house again. I've slacked on my bible reading and devotional time the last few weeks, and man- I miss it. I always can tell when I slack on it. My whole attitude seems to go downhill, and I definitely get more emotional. I build the time in easily on school days, and most days.. But I chose to try and sleep in the last few weeks. The funny thing- God's been waking me up every morning between 7:20 and 7:40... The bad thing is, I've been laying in bed trying to go back to sleep instead of getting up and using that time. Come on school schedule!

Make It Monday

So love my new shirt (and one for a friend). :) Thank you Cameo. Will be sporting this one on our first field trip this year!

Project Life- 1st 1/2 of February 2013

I've been working on February for a few weeks now. I've had pages to show but life has been getting in the way of me actually getting the pics on here. I did a couple more pages today, so here goes!

used my cameo to make the month and week cards

definitely plan to use more FB posts- really like how it turned out.

Here kitty kitty courtesy of my cameo as well.

Cute Valentine's cards for my kids from my parents and my lil sis!

Used a full page insert and cut the cards and then placed back vertically instead of horizontal.

I promise he's still breathing. He fell asleep like that a couple times...

Really love this page! My kids love singing at church!

The speech bubble post its are awesome!

I also helped my little sister start her first PL album this month! :)

I'm linking up with The Mom Creative.

Five Things Friday

1. I made a new wreath and will post it Monday.

2. I have worked to get out of my comfort zone with my cameo. Now, I've got some new tricks to play with!

3. I am working to have some other new items to show Monday, as well.

4. We just finished the 3rd book in the Percy Jackson series!

5. Homeschool prep brain.

Teaching Thursday

I planned to school through the summer, but my husband wasn't happy with the idea. So I've kinda done a 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off deal so far. Right now, we're at the end of 2 weeks off. And I'm thinking we won't start again until late August. Or better yet, after Labor Day. However, I am in total preparation mode. I don't know how exactly, but it just happened. The reason I don't want to do 2 more weeks on right now is I want to keep prepping. I want to be more purposeful this upcoming year.

We pulled our daughters from public school before school started last year, and started homeschooling them and their younger brother. So we've got a (school) year of experience now. I want a stricter schedule this year. But a more forgiving one as well... Trust me, it makes sense to me. There are certain things that I've tried that just do not work for them. And there are others that they really enjoy and we need much more of!

So I have my new planner, a wonderful friend with several years of experience to lean on for advice, my own year of experience, a couple library cards, and the internet. Let the planning begin!