First Day of School 2013

Wednesday August 7, 2013 was the first day of school for our kids in Georgia.  Our oldest two boys are in 10th and 9th grade this year.

 

We made the decision at the end of last school year to keep our oldest two boys in public school since they were both in high school and to home school our younger kids this year. 

Saying goodbye to their older brothers

playing rock/paper/scissors in the driveway waiting for the bus to pick up our older boys 

Off for their first day of school....high school or bust!

 

Now our day begins in our new classroom!

Kate-Kindergarten

Andrew-1st Grade

Our class-2013/2014

Emily-4th Grade

Matt-2nd Grade

Caroline-Tot School

Luke-Along for the journey

 



It's almost time for football

Beginning the journey of home schooling this school year has been a real undertaking.  Most nights, after the kids are in bed, I retreat to my classroom to begin the preparation for the next day.  Friday nights have become my weekly grocery shopping night.  Saturday nights, I try to reserve for Brett.  Sunday night is the night our home group from church meets.  This leaves little to no time for blogging.....my email box is currently at 300 unread emails.  I am behind!

 

Fall is right around the corner and that means football starts soon.  In house that means one of three things...high school, college, or COWBOYS football.  Next weekend is the start of high school and college football.  Jake's team will play their first varsity game on Friday night.  Stay tuned for a post about high school football soon.  In two weeks, the boys will make their first trip of the season to cheer on the Clemson tigers with Brett's boss.  But, for now here are our COWBOY fans ready to cheer on their Dad's favorite team when the opening kick-off takes place.

 

 

Our littlest fan!  Luke is wearing the jersey that Brett's parents bought for Jake when he was born 15 years ago.

Here's Jake today wearing his current jersey

Our next oldest, Nick with several of his siblings

 

 Emily still insists that she doesn't like football or racing for that matter!  The jury is still out on whether or not she will maintain her position living in a house where the boys hold the majority! 

 

 

Our home school verse this week

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

 

 

 

The Excitement of a New Journey

A snapshot into our new homeschool classroom

The board our Dad built for us

The view coming into our classroom

kids computer and my desk

The beginning of our reading area

Two of the kids desks with their work boxes behind them

Our calendar area

One of the maps that is ready to hang on the wall

A glimpse of our curriculum

Our work boxes- to keep us organized and to instill some independence



 

Our curriculum for 2013-2014

4th Grade

Bible- My Father's World and Community Bible Study (Romans)

Reading- McCall Crabbs Standard Test Lessons in Reading

Selected Chapter Books (Book Basket)

Grammar- Rod and Staff Building Christian English-Level 4

Writing- Writing Strands Level 3

Spelling- Spelling by Sound and Structure

Handwriting- Cursive Instruction

Math- Math U See Gamma

History/Geography- My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures

Science- My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures 

Art- Drawing with Children

Music- Confessions of a Homeschooler-Composers

PE-Rec Soccer

 

2nd Grade

Bible- My Father's World and Community Bible Study (Romans)

Reading- McCall Harby Test Lessons in Primary Reading

Selected Chapter Books (Book Basket)

Grammar- Rod and Staff Building Christian English-Level 2

Spelling- Spelling by Sound and Structure-2

Handwriting-Cursive Instruction

Copywork- My Father's World

Math- Math U See Beta

History/Geography- My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures

Science- My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures

The Complete Book of Animals

Art- Drawing with Children

Music- Confessions of a Homeschooler- Composers

PE- Rec Soccer

 

1st Grade

Bible- My Father's World and Community Bible Study (Romans)

Reading- McCall Harby Test Lessons in Primary Reading

My Father's World- 1st Grade

Bob Books

Grammar- My Father's World- 1st Grade

Spelling- Spelling City

Handwriting-Manuscript Instruction

Copywork- My Father's World

Math- Math U See Alpha

History/Geography- My Father's World 1st Grade

Science- My Father's World 1st Grade

Art- Drawing with Children

Music- Confessions of a Homeschooler- Composers

 

Kindergarten

Bible- My Father's World and Community Bible Study (Romans)

Reading- My Father's World- Kindergarten

Spelling- CVC Words/ Sight Words

Handwriting-Manuscript Instruction

Copywork- My Father's World

Math- Math U See Primer

History/Geography- My Father's World- Kindergarten

Science- My Father's World- Kindergarten

Art- Drawing with Children

Music- Confessions of a Homeschooler- Composers

 

 Our playroom off the classroom.  This will hopefully provide enjoyment for our little ones during school time

 

These are the two verses I have been praying over as I prepare for our first homeschooling year.

"The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit."

Proverbs 21:5

"Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts."

Psalm 90:12

 

God is leading us and our experiences as we work through our first year homeschooling.  He has designed me and our kids and will fulfill His purpose in our house to bring the honor to Him alone.

-Taken from the book "Homeschooling at the Speed of Light"

 

 





 



You would think I would be an expert by now

By the time you reach #7, one would think you might be pretty close to being an expert.  Ever since I first bought the potty chair back in February, I have dreaded having to begin potty training again.  My last two that I trained were HORRIBLE, and took months to train because they were stubborn to the core.

When Caroline turned two, she started showing signs of being ready to train.  So, I bit the bullet and bought the potty chair and some Dora underwear. We got the potty out of the box, it was a hit.  So far, so good!  This might not be as bad as I was anticipating.  We broke out the underwear, which I thought would be a total hit and she pitched a huge fit.  So, the potty went on top of the refrigerator and we decided to wait.

Months later, it is now summer and I have to decide.....train her now or wait until Christmas break.  With homeschooling starting in August, I knew I would not have the time to devote to training her until the kids were on break this winter.  I had pretty much talked myself into just waiting until December, when Brett got tired of the potty being on top of our refrigerator and got it down.  In my head, I was screaming....NOOOOOOOO!  Caroline saw the potty and was immediately enthused with it again

So, the next day we tried the Dora underwear again.

We are now on week two and are on our way to having just ONE in diapers.  She has done really well and after a few days of figuring out that she is not wearing a diaper and underwear gets wet, I think she has the hang of it.  We are down to one accident a day!

 

Feeling thankful that #7 is under my belt!

 



A Fashion Show Kind of Day

Emily and Kate decided yesterday to put on a fashion show.  As outfits began to change, more and more siblings decided to join the runway.

 

First up, Emily wearing a summer outfit fit for a day in the sun.  Her big floppy hat is sure to keep the hot summer sun out of the eyes.

Kate is enjoying wearing her bee Halloween costume, complimented with a flower head piece and her sister's Dora purse.

 

 

Staying with the floppy hat theme, Emily is ready for a day of summer shopping.  While Kate has quickly changed into her cheerleading dress and is ready to cheer her sister on! 

 

A third sister has joined them on the runway.  Emily is now dressed in her soft white sweater dress, complimented with her blue flip flop over the shoulder purse.  Kate has managed to find a Mickey Mouse dress that is sure to please the Disney enthusiast.  Our newest model, Caroline has now changed into the bee costume we saw Kate modeling earlier.

 

Loving our newest model on the carpet.  Matt has heard the laughter and joined the fun on the runway.  He has chosen an outfit I know is father will be so proud to see him modeling.  Who doesn't love a good blue Cinderella ball gown!

 

Finally, our final participant has joined our show.  Andrew has chosen a Florida Gators football uniform to compliment the cheerleader outfit Kate is wearing.  While Emily, Caroline, and Matt have chosen gowns fit for a ball.

 

 Now wait, the roles have reversed yet again. 

And the final pose of the day....  Emily has chosen to wear an all pink outfit, while Kate and Andrew have to take the more eclectic route.  Who doesn't need a good pair of fairy wings?

The kids had a blast which was quite evident when I walked into the playroom to find every dress up outfit on the floor.  I'm glad they are using their imaginations and having fun.

 

"Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Colossians 4:6

 



Our 16th Anniversary

Brett and I celebrated 16 years of marriage on July 12th.  It seems hard to believe that we have been married this many years already.  The years truly do fly by.  We have known it each for almost 20 years!  Our dating days at Bethany College still seem so fresh in my mind.  I recently saw a video of a couple getting engaged on Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh, PA and memories came quickly back to our night on Mt. Washington, the flowers, the ring hidden in the flowers, me almost losing the ring over the railing high above the city.

Our engagement picture

Our wedding day was perfect.  A beautiful summer day in July.  Our ceremony completed with loved ones and friends.

Over the past 16 years, God has worked in our lives in a way that we could never have written ourselves.  Through the prayers of our family, we have come to know, understand, and believe that our life, our marriage, and our family are blessed by acknowledging God as our savior and putting Him at the center of our marriage.  Our life is full with the awesome responsibility that comes with raising the eight children we have been blessed with.  However, we have come to understand that the greatest gift we can provide our children with is showing them everyday that God is first, our love for each of is second, and our family is third.

This year, we have taken time for date nights, and even had the chance to get away for 5 amazing days to reconnect.  I'm looking forward to this year and trust that God has great things in store for our marriage.

 

"complete by joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind."

Philippians 2:2