What a Day looks like at OUR SCHOOL

People have wondered what 'home schoolers' really do at home. Well, let me tell you that no two homes will ever look the same. Every one has a different teaching style and to make it worse (ha, ha, ha) EACH CHILD has a different learning style! Not to mention the different ages and how many kids you/they have.

I will say, "I got off easy." NOT. I don't think it really matters if you have one child or 10 children. We will all have our ups and downs. I do make a new schedule in the beginning of the school year. I try my best to follow it. I don't put times, but I do list the subjects that need to be done that day.

We usually school year round taking July and December off. By doing this, it offers us more opportunities for outside activities, like field trips, family time, vacations and/or sick days. This way, I don't have to worry about making up those days.

Monday - Friday (Daily)

• Bible - I will read from Proverbs (the date will determine the chapter); Plus a chapter in the Gospels
• The Story of Liberty (RA a chapter a day)
• King Arthur (RA)
  
• Math (Saxon)
• Grammar (A - Growing with Grammar)
• Vocabulary (Growing with Grammar)
• Spelling/Grammar (J - Sing, Spell, Read & Write) Which we completed!!!!!!
  
• Cursive/Printing (J)
• Map Workbooks
• Required books to read
• Piano (practice daily)
  
• Classical Conversations
  

Classical Conversation is an intensive program that we do for 24 weeks through a co-op. I will start this program a month before it begins to give the kids a head start. This program covers the following:

• History
• Science
  
• Geography
• English
• Timeline (8 cards per week)
• Art/Orchestra/ Tin Whistle/Logic

We have just completed the Middle Ages. They had to memorize important facts pertaining to a specific time period. I will supplement what the kids are learning by getting them more information or explaining why it is important to know the facts that they are memorizing. We would review the facts daily.

Now, that CC is over. We have a new schedule until we break in the middle of June.

SPRING/SUMMER SCHEDULE Monday - Friday

• Spanish (3x)
• Latin (3x)
• Spelling/Vocab (daily)
• Grammar (daily)
• Math (4x)
• Reading (daily)
• RA Bible & History
• Piano (daily)
• Typing (3x)
• Science (3x)

Outside activities include:

• Awanas (during the school year)
• Taekwondo (3x a week year round)

PHEW....seems like a lot. It is! I don't stress like I use to. It is hard with a toddler but we have managed. We did have to switch the way we did things to keep the little guy happy!!

~~~photos of our classroom will be posted soon~~~~~

QUILTING galore

Alright friends....this is what I have been up to over the Christmas holiday. I know it was several months ago. But, now I have time to post them!

The quilt blanket below was a wedding gift.

Oma's blanket

This one took several steps. First, I hand embroidered the Swedish motifs.
Then I put the triangles together. Then I matched up the squares.

Here is a close-up of the embroidery pieces.

Jack's blanket...he likes monkeys!

Eva's blanket
I wanted the vintage look and I think I succeeded.

A close-up of the dolls.

This I made for my secret santa...Carie.

I will be posting more photos. I need to take a photo of the kids (Anna & Joshua's) blanket! Also, I have done some small knitting projects that I will add on here, too.

I have posted 3 times....don't expect that to happen too often! Especially, since it took me 3 months to post again.

God Bless and have a wonderful day!

LENT - unexpected growth & changes

The kids and I have been following LENT this year. Anna and I gave up something that would be difficult for each of us. She gave up playing computer games on the laptop (she was very specific on WHERE she couldn't play). Hmmmm, smart girl. Joshua did not want to participate with us.

I gave up yelling. I have been thinking a lot on how I treat God's children (my children). God has been working on my journey to take it to the next level. Next level?? What level? I asked the same thing! I thought I was walking the talk, and then God nudges me to do more, show more. How can I do that?? Well, it starts with my actions. Like yelling. I have my highs and my lows. Good days and bad. Just like everyone else. Then I recall this verse from the bible:

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Psalm 6:1
[ Psalm 6 ] A psalm of David. LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

Exactly, what I was doing. So, I gave it up. Just like that. NOT. It was easier than I thought. But, I do occasionally fail. I am human. But, at least it is not daily. It is so nice not to get so angry at my angels. It is so nice to be able to talk to them. I did talk to my husband, then to my kids about the change God wanted me to make in myself. I asked all of them for forgiveness of my sin; my anger.

John 9:25
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

God opened up my eyes! He showed me the truth of my sin and actions. I love it when I can turn to scripture and see the TRUTH!

Psalm 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

This is what my family has been enjoying! PEACE, LOVE, HOPE! God IS Good!

We has a family have been learning a lot about what God wants from us. Each household will be different. God has a plan for all of us....and we choose to follow.

Every morning I have been reading Jesus' journey leading up to his resurrection. I also read Proverbs (the chapter is picked by the day of the month). What an awesome journey for us as a family to watch the kids grow in their faith. Again, I thank our Father in Heaven for each day I am given! Amen.

I want to be the woman God created me to be. That is with a love for HIM and for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I can only move forward by starting within myself. I have chosen to stand on my two feet for Christ and for my family. To be able to lead by my faith, trust, love for God.

Proverbs 31

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.............

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

LifE - it goes so quickly

Just noticed that I haven't blogged since February. Where does the time go? Time goes by in a blink of an eye. Sometimes, I feel my life goes just as fast. I think what I will do (for now) is update you on each of the family members (from youngest to oldest).

ERIC - He will be turning 19 months old soon (still only 20 lbs.) and busy as a bee!!! Cute as ever, too! Since his ear tubes has been put in....that cutie is learning new words daily. He still does his 'gibberish' talk. He can go on and we won't have a clue to what he is trying to tell us. That can be very frustrating to the little guy. He likes to repeat 'words' that we say. He can stack blocks and tear them down. He also LOVES music! He will strum Karl's guitar and bob his head. He has no problem saying, "uh, uh" (meaning NO). Enjoys listening to K-LOVE. I cannot keep him indoors if the big kids are outside. He loves to be outside. I am so in trouble this summer. I am going to have a very, dirty baby!

When we pray at dinner, he will fold his hands and pray with us. It is a blessing to see that it is never to early to teach the children God's word. He has truly been a blessing to our family.

Eric and Joshua has that special 'boy' bond. Anna has that natural 'big sister' role. She can be very protective of him (when she wants to be).

JOSHUA - He has grown so much this past year. At 7.5 he has taken on 'big boy' roles upon himself. He enjoys cooking; making omelets, eggs, sandwiches and snacks. Picks up Eric in the morning out of his crib. Looks after his 'little' brother. Now, Joshua is very protective of Eric.

Recently, Josh has been doing a lot of drawings. Taking after his dad??? We will see. He will pull out drawing books and start copying the pages. He also enjoys playing the piano. I think he has been taking lessons for 2 years now. (I tell ya, time seems to disappear.)

Currently, still taking taekwondo; attending Awana, CC (Classical Conversation a local co-op), piano lessons, and baseball starts this Tuesday.

Joshua has a heart for the Lord and His word. Watching his faith grow in the past year has been a blessing to me and the family. He truly wears his faith on his sleeve. You can see it!

ANNA - WOW. What can I say...she is turning 11 in May! She has also grown up so much this past year! In her responsibilities, her brothers, school, and growing into a young lady. She has learned to (at least) enjoy her school work vs fighting to do her work. Her 'attitude' has been a process but we have met in the middle. Meaning, I had to chill my temper so, I can teach her how to chill her temper. We BOTH have learned together about our attitudes.

She is still involved with taekwondo (red/black belt), Awana, piano, CC, summer camp (first time this summer), and will be taking baseball, too.

I have redecorated her room and she really does keep it clean! I simplified her furniture to one dresser, one end table and one cabinet for her 'chotskies'. Simplifying, really does work. She enjoys the outdoors, baking, cooking and prefers to clean than do any extra school work.

I am blessed to have children who love the Lord. She tries to live by the word of God. She reads her bible almost nightly. She enjoys listening to K-LOVE as much as I do!

Each of my children have been a true blessing from God! I love them all for very different reasons. I love learning from them as much as I enjoy teaching them.

Upcoming posts: more about me and my journey; quilts that I have been making; and what a day looks like in our home school class.