Ups, downs, ups, more downs...

But, we've ended the school week on a high note!! 

This week, we're straying a bit from the lesson plans as far as handwriting goes.  We've been many lessons behind the rest of the curriculum because cursive is new to Drew and, knowing what a perfectionist he is, we're taking our time.  We got to the point where there is a test to do, and I've put the brakes on.  We're going back and just practicing everything we've learned so far for a few more days.  I love the flexibility of homeschooling!!

The boys are getting lessons on stink bugs.   They spot them before I do now, and help me get them odor-free out of the house.  I'm looking forward to a frost that will send them into permanent hiding so I can walk out my door without first having to flick 20 or so off the screen.

I'm still trying to find a groove with Ben.  He desperately wants to do school, but nothing I have for him works.  I'm open to suggestions!!  I'm not making a big deal out of school this year for him though.  He's still a young 4, and I know he's very smart.  He knows all his letters & their sounds, numbers, can read me price tags in the grocery store, tell time correctly from a digital clock (unlike Drew at this age who use to say 1-1-4-7 or 7-4-1-1 for 11:47), and does well with his shapes.  He's never done much for drawing/coloring though, so we're working instead on those skills.  I can't expect him to write letters if he isn't even very good at controlling a pencil in general.  He loves puzzles, mazes, and flashcards, so we do a lot of those.

This ends 4 weeks of homeschooling.  It's been alot of fun!  There have been many challenges, like a teething baby, and a perfectionist 1st grader...but the rewards of having my boys all home with me far outweigh them.  I wonder why I ever sent Drew to school at all.  I'm seeing amazing things come from him.  His heart makes mine happy.  The great things he and Ben come up with to do each day.  The content feeling Sam has that Drew is here each and every day.  It's all worth it.

And hey, NOT getting up and out the door for a bus at 8am?  TOTALLY worth it!! 

Drew's Baptism!!

He had such a great time!!   We're so proud of him, and he was just thrilled that he had this opportunity.   I've been trying to post the video, but Blogger is giving me issues.  Here's some pics instead.  Video is on my facebook.



With our pastor, Dick Wright



"Pastor Poppy sure is talking alot today..."

Swimming to get used to the COLD water!!

Talking with Pastor about believing in Jesus

His first dunk was on his own...tired of waiting, he dunked himself a few times!

Getting ready to officially be baptised...

It's Pastor's turn to dunk him!

And here's my boy.  Publically stating he loves Jesus.  Watch out world...

Some things just aren't taught in the classroom

Tomorrow is a day that will be etched in my mind forever.  I'm sure of it. 

You see, last Saturday as I drove home from t-ball with my boys, Drew asked about baptism.  What is it.  Why do people do it.  He thought a few minutes, then said "I'm supposed to do that mom.  It's important since I believe in Jesus that I do it."  Warmed my heart.  After a few days of waiting and waiting to hear from our pastor about what the decision was on baptising him with the adults this weekend, I finally heard on Thursday that yes, they'll do it.  Drew will just have to sit through the children's baptism class in the Spring. 

But it's my pure joy to know that my children are starting now, starting young, loving and walking with the Lord.  It's amazing to me to watch their pure, innocent faith.  When Aaron asked Drew why he believes in Jesus, part of his response was "He hears my prayers."  When further asked what about when God doesn't immediately answer those prayers, Drew said "I guess I'm just done for if he's not hearing and answering me Dad!"  Aaron told him that sometimes God's timing isn't our timing, and we just need to wait and Drew said "So, it's like waiting to save up enough for a DS, or for the next vacation, or when you guys tell me that yes, I can do something, but it has to wait until next week....sometimes for the good stuff, we have to give God time."  His faith is sweet and childlike, yet he's showing such a great understanding.  Aaron was so moved by their conversation, by the depth that Drew was able to talk about things like salvation, the symbolism of baptism ("So, like Jesus died and rose from the dead, when I'm baptised, it's like I'm being born again!"), and the reasons he believes.  Ben sits on his swings and has full out conversations with God and will look at you like you're eavesdropping on a private conversation.  He wants to be baptised too (because, mom, I believe the same Drew does, I should do this too!), but I think we'll wait for him to have a little more concrete understanding.  Or maybe not.  I wouldn't want to be one accused of keeping any little ones from doing what they feel is right before Jesus.

But watch out...my sweet, faithful Drew is full of a fire & brimstone message.  We're working on him also sharing LOVE.

I'm learning a lot from my boys.  Pure, innocent faith.  If only we all came like the children...

So this is what happens...

You know, when the teacher gets sick?  Ugh...had I gotten lesson plans prepared completely before getting sick, our "substitute Mr. Dad"  could have easily jumped in, but instead the kids got a lesson in keeping the house running while mom is passed out in bed.

The good thing is that we didn't miss much.  We kind of glossed over stuff on Monday, completely skipped yesterday, and made it through today stumbling.  Drew has a little bit of work to do on his own tomorrow before we start our day officially, and we'll be caught up.  I'm hoping one more night of good solid sleep will knock whatever this crazy sinus/fever/exhausted thing I've got right out of me. 

Anyone have good tips on helping a kid write cursive b?  He can do l, so how hard could it be to add a little hook on the end?  But he's struggling, doesn't get it, and certainly doesn't like to make it connect to another letter.  He's willing to keep trying though, and that's the good part. 

Me, NyQuil, and my pillow...take 2.  Hopefully, the last time.

Making a believer out of me

Last year, as I was thinking about homeschooling, a friend talked to me about the natural pecking order in a family and how putting kids all in a class together with others their same age disrupted that.  As I observed my boys more during the day while Drew was gone for kindergarten and when he got home, I realized how this was showing in our family.  Ben happily played the oldest all day long.  When he woke from his afternoon nap though, Drew would be home and fully taking back his status as the oldest.  They would fight.  For a few hours.  They fought through a big chunk of the summer.  But now, just 2 weeks into school, and 3 weeks since our "normal" schedule started up, my boys are back to where they were before Drew ever left home for school.  They play well together.  The engage each other.  Sure, they fight sometimes.  All siblings do.  But order is restored, and they are back to loving on each other, respecting each other, and having a great time.  Mom and Dad don't have to intervene much at all. 

Just another way God is showing me we made the right choice for our family. 

Loving our Thursday

To completely make up for our horrible Wednesday, we are just blessed with our time together today.

1. Everyone slept in.  Even mom.  Ahh...
2. I had 30 minutes of snuggles with all the boys watching VeggieTales all about LOVE!
3. The first 3/4 of our lessons went smoothly.
4. I declared recess, because, well, who wants to waste a day like this inside??  RUN BOYS RUN!!!!
5. My 6 1/2 year old is devouring his lunch and asking for more.  It's rare, and I love these days.
6. I turned my doubting neighbor, who has told me that my boys belong in school with a "real teacher", into a believer.  The boys invited her to our classroom and showed her their books and all that they've learned already this year.  She said "I had no idea it would be this great!!  Wow, what a wonderful setup you have for these boys!"

And folks, it's only 12:30.  We still have a bit more school and nap/rest time to do, but just our morning alone makes me think this is going to continue being a wonderful day.  The Lord's been good to me.  :-)

Tuesday mornings...

Tuesday mornings are my MOPS morning.  Did I mention that along with our homeschool journey I'm also the coordinator for our local MOPS group?  I like to keep things lively, you know?

Well, anyhow, Aaron will be teaching on Tuesday mornings now.  It keeps him involved, and the boys get a break from the "really tough teacher mom."  Yesterday was the first day Aaron was with them, and after Drew repeatedly called him "mom", he wrote this on the board:

They had great fun calling him Mr. Dad all day after that. 

Waiting for a Monarch butterfly

Thanks to Julie (and Holly for being transporter!), we are watching the process of a Monarch butterfly.  I think we scared the poor little caterpillar the first night because he/she went right into a cocoon by the end of the next afternoon.  The boys are excited to watch the transformation!! 

And this is where flexibility comes in, right??

We had one of "those" mornings.  I overslept.  I found that Ben has been using a tote full of stuffed animals as a toilet during the night (for who knows how long, it's not the first pee puddle I've cleaned up in there).  Drew spilled a full cup of oj all over the kitchen.  Sam is teething and MISERABLE.  After scrubbing the kitchen floor, clearing the closet and mopping, making a keep and toss pile of stuffed animals, endless loads through the washer to clean the precious keep pile, and trying to salvage any sanity left, we finally got around to starting school at 11:15.  Thankful for yet another "review" day in our curriculum, it went quickly and we were having lunch by 1. 

We started Accountable Kids this week, and that is what saved me.  The kids were able to get through their morning and early afternoon routine with no intervention from me.  Just a brief reminder here or there to be sure they were done before running off to play.  Ben came and helped me with the laundry and mopping in his closet.  Drew kept Sam occupied.  We just got through a chunk of the afternoon being quiet time, and I regrouped.  Ready to start our day over.

Here's the boys' daily board from AK.  They love it, we love it, and it sure has made life easier.

It's about mom getting an education too

Obviously, I'm a girl.  As much as I prided myself on being "a tomboy" as a kid, really  the only things that qualified me were 1) my dislike for dresses, and 2) how much I loved to play with guns (real or pretend).  So, when my boys come to me and say "What will happen to my worm if I put him in a cup of water?" I honestly have no idea what the answer is.  Do they swim?  Sink?  It wasn't until Aaron walked in and said "You're drowning the worm guys" that I got any clue at all. 

Looks like mom needs an education in all things bug.  But, really, can't I leave that to their dad?  I'm no more inclined now than I was 25 years ago to pick up something crawling and slimy.  I'm leaning more toward girly everyday, even with 3 of the most full-of-boy boys in my house.

Pictures

Here's our current layout.

Our little classroom

Working hard

Date and weather chart

Everyone at their desks, ready to learn!!

Having our classroom in the playroom makes it really easy for Sam to stay occupied, and for quick breaks as we need them.  Sometimes they just need to go play basketball for a bit, or we need to move over to the rug for some busy hands learning time.

And for some just plain silly time too....

Yeah, I'm just cool like that Mom...

Told you...check out my throw!!

Patience?

So, if anyone has any to spare, send it my way.

Someone told me today that they just don't have the patience to homeschool their kids.  I'm pretty sure if you asked homeschooling moms, most would say they don't either.  But, thankfully, especially today, God is providing exactly what I need exactly when I need it.  It's cloudy outside, things got off to a rough, fighting between brothers kind of start.  They desperately want to have school time but can't seem to get along.  A few breaks, including one in bed, seems to have improved things.  We're in the midst of a snack break.  I totally believe that low blood sugar in boys is detrimental to the learning process.  We have our best times so far immediately after breakfast and again immediately after a snack.  And if that doesn't work, we run in circles or play some basketball.  Math today was done while building.  They calmly answered everything right, while their hands were busy building.  True boys.  Hands kept busy means their minds can really focus. 

Start the day with recess

This morning, I set our timer for 40 minutes and told the boys "By the time this goes off, I want you ready to start school.  Be downstairs ready for me."  One by one, we trickled outside and got some serious running time done playing with our dog, swinging, chasing each other around.  It was a great way to start our day before the heat and humidity kick in!!! 

2 days down...

We officially started on Wednesday, September 1. The first day went well. The boys were excited, and Sam got some undivided Daddy time. I'll admit that I pushed through 2 lessons on our first day because 1) we would have been done in 30 minutes otherwise, and 2)I had really intended to start on Tuesday. But the boys knew nothing different anyhow. Ben's lessons for Abeka's K4 don't really start until day 6, so right now he's learning along with Drew. It's good though, because we're reviewing letter sounds for phonics, basic letter writing, and math only up to 10 (Drew is BORED with that!!). Next week the more challenging stuff begins, and they'll each be doing their own books.

Today was our first day doing school without Aaron home. It was also his first day on day shift in a few months, so the boys were completely out of sorts. We had a few restarts to the day because attitude tune-ups were needed. But once we got in our groove, it was smooth sailing. Until we were done, anyhow. The second we were done, Ben threw a fit, Drew threw a fit, Ben punched Sam, Sam punched Ben....and the drama led everyone to their beds for a 15 minute rest. And from the sounds coming from the playroom, lunch is desperately needed soon! Boys and low blood sugar are a bad combination.

I'm having fun with it all so far. I love having all my boys here with me every day. I don't regret not putting Drew on the bus at 8am to have him returned to me at 4:30 in the afternoon. Is it really necessary for him to be separated from us that long every day? I don't think so. Not yet. At 6, I feel it's best for him to be right here where God put him in the first place. I can reach him where he's at. If he's bored, we can move along faster. If he needs some more time, we can stick with it as long as he needs. His learning is no longer restricted by 20 of his peers. The sky is the limit for my boys, and I'm sure God will provide us the ladder to get them there.