school day 64

Starting back from vacation yesterday was not a school day. Though I'm pretty happy to say that we are back into our routine which is really awesome. I thought it would take awhile.

Vacation did several wonderful things for us. One of which is that the kids seem to be a little more "free and peaceful". They are working their through the day without stress and finding playful and useful things to do on their own. Playing=learning! Useful=learning!

No one has yelled or been irritated today. I like this and want to work with this throughout the rest of the week.

We did math today. Moving the Proverb for the Day reading to the breakfast table.

As I look back, it is simply miraculous that we are doing some things we didn't used to do. Like our breakfast time together. I really enjoy that. And lunch, too. We review our Awana verses at lunch each day but not on weekends. What a delight is really is to have them at home!

today's joy-the rain cycle

OK, so I'm in a space right now where I'm questioning my methods since I started reading LOL. One thing that has been a cool thing we've done is this Calendar Workbook...once a day the kids mark down something to do with the weather and for November we note if it was "dew, dry or frost". We haven't had our first frost (that I know of) which is weird, so we have "dew" everyday.

Sarah said, "what's dew"? I googled it and read the definition and she said, "Oh, (in a knowing way) I know the rain cycle".

Really?

She explained the rain cycle quite eloquently. I was very impressed that she knew it well enough to explain it and suggested that she draw a picture of the rain cycle. She gladly agreed and proceeded to draw with crayons, standing up at the table and SINGING. Happy heart!

"Honey, where did you learn the rain cycle?"

I expected her to say "school" and put my homeschooling efforts to shame, because as of today I feel like she hasn't learned anything (not true, but it FEELS like that)...

She answered,

"Blues Clues"

school day 63

58 - Tuesday Nov 2
59 - Wed
60 - Thurs
61 - Fri
63- Mon Nov 8
63 - Tues Nov 9
Wed decided to take 2 weeks off

I'm reading Wisdom's Way of Learning, also Lifestyle of Learning by Marilyn Howshall. I need some time to digest and evaluate what parts (all, some, none) I am going to incorporate.

In starting this grand adventure, I find myself "double-minded" (but more like quadruple schizophrenic!) and I'm swayed by this wind of reason and by that. So I need to ground myself...and one thing I've needed to grasp IS HOW FAR WE'VE COME in such a short time. As I look BACK, I'm encouraged because looking ahead is somewhat (terrifying!) since I just don't know how this is all going to turn out.

One thing I am extremely confident about...I have zero faith in the public school to accomplish anything near to what we're going for, so I don't have to be intimidated by that ever again.

So I will continue to post our vacation days, we've already been having a lot of fun! Dan and I have great challenges of Tank Battle and Backgammon...he kicked my butt at the game of LIFE, too!

Pics are from one of our morning table time, Daniel was building with his crayons.

what happened?

OK...what happened?

I was posting daily and then-stopped.

Now what do I do???  I'm a master at sabotaging my perfectionist behavior...Ms Perfectionist wants to ditch the blog and start over...BUT Ms MakeLemonade says, "don't worry, just KEEP GOING despite the fact that there's a HUGE HOLE in the school days unaccounted for!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Move over, Ms P! Onward!

Photo is Sarah with her Lava Glitter Slime...we just finished reading "Caddie Woodlawn" together.

tuesday nights

This was my first Tuesday night meeting up north. It was dark and wet and we were 20 minutes early!

The kids LOVED it. I LOVED it. Can't wait to go again next week.

Photos are after Campbell's baptism. M & A treated all of us to doughnuts down the street, it was such a lovely day!

campbell's baptism

Campbell was baptized in the Catholic church today. It was a gorgeous day!

influential parenting seminar #2

Today was my 2nd seminar and it was really awesome! I've been going through my notes and want to make some comments here on the topics.

more on this later

Photo is Sarah's "train" that turned into a fort for dad's birthday. LOVE the no-soliciting sign next to the doorbell!

school day 58

I continued to purge but the kids did do a list of individual studies today but not a normal day. Went to the park because the weather was GLORIOUS! About 70 today...balmy and sunny! Sent in our ballots, hope you voted, too!

Only a few more very short chapters remaining in Pilgrim's Progess! We have SO enjoyed it and will certainly read it again together.

school day off monday

We took today off. I needed to have some time to purge out the perfume room. John has been working a lot so here's the kids saying good night on the phone.

Cursive First arrived and I scanned most of the sheets...I am excited to use the practice sheets with Sarah. She is very excited to be learning cursive! I think everyone enjoyed not having a schedule today. Kids played and watched Sonic videos which was just fine because I was able to focus on this very gray and rainy day.

Thanks to Mr G who helped us get the flat tire fixed at LS. And it was FREE! Thank you Lord!