School

Honestly I've barely taken any pictures of our school days. I think I've been trying too hard to "get it all done" that I've not yet really relaxed in the school area. After over a month now, here are a few thoughts and strategies I'll incorporate after a few failing experiences... 1. play more 2. teach by playing 3. my relationship with my girls is far more important than their level of academic success 4. being a former teacher may be very helpful and very hard in terms of expectations 5. i need to pray more. lots more. for my patience and their desire to learn 6. they really are learning, praise the Lord I can see progress. deep sigh of relief! 7. I have all but done away with most of my curriculum except for Grapevine Bible Studies which I absolutely LOVE!!! The girls are learning in depth stories of the bible and stick figuring their lessons. They have also memorized 10 bible verses in the past 5 weeks which I am so proud of them for. 8. I have the sweetest boys ever, who are playing so well together and then when they are ready will come down and do their "tot trays". talk about "UN structured"!! 9. Despite some hard times I truly truly LOVE the time I am getting with my girls. I LOVE reading together on the couch...by FAR my favorite time with them all. 10. no school situation is perfect. Home, Public, Private. There is no perfect, but I am glad that for this family, for this year, I know we are doing what we think is best. Enjoying more time as a family:)!

what its like

This is what its like trying to take a family photo for the 7th year in a row...with now 4 kids who have an opinion of their own. More to come later:):)

when we aren't doing school

we try to get out. soccer and gymnastics have filled our thursdays and some saturday mornings so far. and many a friday at the Magic House, by far our favorite place to go. Me and the kids just wonder around from place to place exploring and doing "hands on" school. I love the ages they are at and the fun we can have together there. Some Saturdays in Columbia for the MU games, and a night at Disney on Ice. Up next for this week, Daddy's birthday, the circus, our favorite homecoming parade, a pumpkin patch and off to Dallas. "Home" school and "life" school all in one:)

the above picture was taken before their first practice...ie: before Avery took the field once and decided soccer isn't her thing:)

when grandparents come to town...

what a blessing they are!!:)

Soccer

I SO love my little "Stingers" Soccer players. precious precious! and.....Pictures can be deceiving. When you look at these just remember 4 things: 1. Avery quit Soccer before we even left for the first game 2. Atley is my sweet timid joyful player who is content to stand and watch the others play 3. Canon thinks soccer is a mix of track and tackle football. 4. I'm so glad they get this experience and daddy is their coach. Yes I think its actually too young to start them, but this year they can play on the same team and daddy can coach them all. Or at least that was the plan until Avery quit 5 min. into putting on her shin guards:) I'm proud of them for getting out there and playing, running and having fun. Even if Canon's first and only goal so far was scored on the other teams goal. haha. These are the days to remember:)

Fall at the "Farm"

Every year we are blessed to go to the "Farm". It's not really a farm, but Uncle Kent (who is not really our uncle either, haha), has a fox, zebra, horses, dogs, chickens, ducks, a cat, a pond, a huge tree swing, a huge yard, a huge TV, a craft area and lots of books. All things my kids love:)! Its also really nice when we take our "second" daughters who are old enough to babysit while Phillip and I go to the MU game!:)

What we actually DID the first day of homeschooling

We began the day in prayer! Nothing is more important:)!! Calendar time was not photographed Actually nothing regarding me teaching them is ever going to be photographed unless I teach Canon or Champ how to use my camera...but there was lots of that going on this day:)

 began our new All About Reading program

 exploring manipulatives for math (champ got to be in on this one)

 he did his "tot trays" and then got to play playdough.  after this I put him in his crib for reading time. 

she made a rocket with her unifix cubes, so creative:)

 the end of All About Reading getting to practice cutting, pasting, sounding out words and matching to a picture

 our favorite, Grapevine Bible Studies.  This week we began Creation:)

 after he threw all his books out of his crib and began yelling for me, he was able to play on the ipad until I was through teaching

 she made a "person" out of pattern blocks (its upside down in this picture, can you see it?)

A Reason for Handwriting, which was part of their 5 workboxes.

I did not get pictures of everything, but its a great reminder for me to see them having "fun".  What I want them to mostly think of when they think of school. 
The next day Canon was not at preschool and I took ZERO pictures because well, it was simply a little harder day.  And yesterday was the 3rd day and we had a big distraction...our dog.  one little girl is madly obsessed with the dog and it became a big issue.  Needless to say we are still figuring this out:)  Time blessings: the girls got to go to the carousel and butterfly house with mimi, next day we took the kids to a Cardinals game, and today (Friday is NO school) we went to the Magic House for 3 hours and played and played and played and it was awesome.  And I called it Science:)
Biggest bonus: having one on one time with my girls and getting to teach them how to read, count, memorize scripture, and stick figure their way through the bible.  Its not perfect, it will never be, but homeschooling is working for me:)