A Fresh Start

I've been absent. Been absent from a lot of things it seems. I am making a fresh start today, with lots of things. The biggest of those is school. Jonathan starts first grade at 8am this morning at TWIG (Trusting Wholly In God) Academy. I can't wait for this year....I can honestly say that I have missed teaching him for the past few weeks. Jacob is going to be doing some pre-k stuff: letters, numbers, sounds.

I hope to make a fresh start with blogging also. Manly Man asked me when I was going to blog again...guess now is as good a time as any. I don't really have a good reason as to why I haven't written in a while. I guess I struggle sometimes with feeling like I don't have anything exciting to tell (then again, Jonathan turned six last week and lost his first tooth the week before that and I didn't even get here to mention it!). I also got my nose stuck in some books this summer too. In the last month I have read My Sister's Keeper, The Time Traveller's Wife, Pride and Prejudice, the Twilight Saga (twice...sad huh?), and am starting To Kill A Mockingbird and am in the middle of the Mortal Instruments series. My nose in a book is a new thing for me, but I have really enjoyed it. But it has kept me from here. I don't plan on putting down the books, but trying to find a bit more balance with other things.

A fresh start with the Lord started last Monday. My coffee pot starts brewing at 5:45am and my alarm goes off at 5:55am. Last week, my alarm never woke me up...the Lord woke me up before it went off...EVERY MORNING! But it was a sweet time and I am looking forward to more.

A fresh start at the gym too. I am back at my goal weight, having lost about 20 pounds since the beginning of the year. I wore a new pair of size 6 jeans Friday night while Manly Man played a gig at a coffeehouse. Felt so good! But, I have to get back into the gym, starting tomorrow and get some areas toned and continue working on be healthy.

So fresh starts. Looking forward to it.

Blessings!

Tomatoes: A Lesson In Math

See this bowl of cherry tomatoes? They were all picked yesterday from our garden. We have two cherry tomato plants, and they can produce! Jonathan came out to help me pick tomatoes. I told him it looked like we had a hundred of them! We came inside and it was time for school to start. We got to math. We have have been working on counting groups of 10 and the left over ones to come up with a number from 20 to 29. We have been doing this for several days! I mean, forever it felt like! Today, I asked him to do it without writing the numbers....I realized that he had no connection before two groups of ten and 4 left over being 24. No connection! I kept at it, trying to explain it different ways. I finally got one way to work (don't remember which one though)! I saw a light bulb come on in his head! It was brilliant! I love watching the light come on! I have seen it a lot since i taught for six years. But, there is nothing like a light bulb coming on in your own child's head! He had it! To test it, we counted the tomatoes. 74 of them. He did it! And, he made 74 cents! SO proud!

We've Been Busy

After recovering from the worst June ever (since having mono right after I graduated from high school....caught from my ex boyfriend....I know!), we went on a little vacation (only 30 minutes from out house) to house and dog sit for my in-laws. It was wonderful, but I don't have many pictures!

We spent some time in the boat, fishing, at the beach, and eating yummy food. The highlight was the 4th of July festival in Southport. We invited some dear friends of ours to come to the parade with us and the kids had a blast! We ate some lunch, checked out the arts and crafts and then went back to the house to rest and cook some supper. We went back into town for the fireworks and they were great! The kids handled them really well...Jonathan really does not like loud noises, but he just covered his ears and did fine. Our friends stayed with us that night and then we all headed back to Wilmington for church. We had a pool party and Jonathan took a jump into the pool from a deck that was about 8 to 10 feet above the pool! He wanted to do it and did great! I have two almost swimmers...they are in lessons again, since we had to bail on the first session because on illness.

We are wrapping up school too. Jacob can write his name all by himself and that is too cool! Jonathan is reading up a storm. He reads everything put in front of him. I pray that he never loses his love of reading. Getting my curriculum order ready. We start the new school year in September and will have 3 weeks of school and a week off for the year. We will have a couple 2 week breaks in there also, around Christmas and Easter and once in the summer. I am getting excited about this year, but I am still trying to figure out a daily schedule so that I can still make it to the gym. Being able to exercise is really important to me. I am setting an example for the kids, taking a break from them, doing something good and healthy for me plus they get time with other kids. And, we are paying for it. School will be Monday to Thursday with Friday being a catch up/ field trip/ play date/ library day.

So there is the last few weeks in a nutshell. I am hoping to get back to regular postings now. I want the boys to have something to look back on one day and be able to see what life was like for us.

Oh, best of all, I am having a niece!

Finally!

We have finally all recovered! Praise the Lord!
I had pneumonia. Jonathan had double pneumonia. Jacob had strep. Manly Man...he went out of town, came back early because we were so sick and then had to nurture us back to health! But, we are finally feeling well!!!! We are spending a little time away from home this week and are really trying to enjoy the time away, because we really need it. We learned on Friday that the bank that took over the bank that owned Manly Man's mortgage office closed them down. That means that he was laid off from his part time job. We are taking the week to regroup...to pray and seek God for His direction. After all, His plan is so much better than our own!
The boys have been swimming a ton in the last week. They are both making great strides and I am so proud of them! They are also learning how to boogie board! Absolute pure joy of their faces when they ride a wave in...pure joy!
We are hoping to do some boating, fishing, beaching and sleeping while we are away. I need the sleep...last night's sleep was terrible!!! Manly Man snored, so I was headed to the couch when Jacob called for me. He and Jonathan were sharing a bed and they had already woken up fighting about kicking each other in their sleep. I crawled in the double bed and slept like a mummy in the middle of the two! I say slept. I didn't sleep. I tried. I failed. I hate failure. Especially when it comes to sleep! I feel a nap coming soon. But, being that almost the whole month of June was taken off from school, (I'm so mean aren't I...having school in the summer, but when it is 95 with a heat index of 105, I think being inside and learning is much better. We will take time off in the fall when the weather isn't so miserable!), the boys have some learning to do.
What is the worst illness you have had in the middle of the summer?

New Reading Material

Jonathan was looking at the Sunday Comics right before school started today. I let him read the first row of Blondie. He did great! Note to self: read them first...you never know! Thankfully, this one was fine!

Jacob's First Day of School

Jacob started school today, officially. I got one of those giant curriculum books and mapped out what to do each day. It isn't anything "major", but it is getting him used to the whole homeschooling thing. Today he worked on coloring things that are red, drawing lines from left to right and writing a big "A". He did really well. My biggest issue is going to be figuring out what makes Jacob tick or learn best or motivates him.

All in all, I was very pleased. Hopefully, the excitement will continue...

Back To The Grind

I have enjoyed a month off from homeschooling. We start back today. I am not sure how I feel about that. Some mixed feelings I guess. I am ready to get back to it so that I can finish the curriculum that I started back in August. The boys need some structure back in their lives. So do I. I am anxious about what to do with Jacob. He could give up his nap, but I really enjoy having a break from the craziness that is Jacob. I am debating starting to work with him on writing his name and just a few other things. Also, our schedule is different every day so I tried to find a time to have school, at the same time. The result? 1pm. Not really sure how I feel about that. But, at least there will be some consistency.

Our school schedule, in terms of the year, will be three months on, one month off and we will be having school Monday thru Thursday and every other Friday. I am hoping that this will allow for more time with friends, mine and theirs:)!

I have started back to Weight Watchers and will keep you posted on my weight loss progress. I am impressed with their new program...as long as I can embrace it. I am having some tests run and if there is anything to report, I will, if it is appropriate.

I am starting on the venture of reading through the Bible this year also.

My plate may seem full, but I feel really good about all of these things this year. The daily schedule of school might be the only thing that I am feeling iffy about. So, there it is!
Back to the daily grind!

Blessings!

Holy Words Batman!

Check this out!!!

This is how I feel...

No there isn't anything wrong really. We are just busy and my brain feels fried! Remember that commercial...

"This is your brain...this is your brain on drugs"?....

NO...I am not on drugs (smile here!), just a little fried...homeschoolin' is tough! Funny, I'm not physically tired...thank the Lord for that.

Perhaps next week will be fall break!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Please say a prayer for me. I am really having a tough day and just kind of want to walk out of the door for a few hours. But that would require me to leave the children home alone. I am afraid they might burn the house down while I was gone. Questioning our decision to home school today. A few moments of questioning being a mom. Please say a prayer for me.

Labor Day!

We really know how to live it up here! We even had school on Labor Day! Oh the horror! Call the police! See how exciting our day is? Manly Man is at work, so I figured we might as well have school and then play. The play was good. The boys have played really well together. School, not so great today. I was really frustrated with Jacob today because he was distracting Jonathan A LOT! I have to find something different to do with him. Maybe I need to start playing with him first, and then doing some school work with Jonathan. Any ideas of what to do with a distracting 3 year old???

PS...so excited that I finally figured out how to successfully post a video!!!

The First Week of Homeschool

(GRRRRR...I tried to post this yesterday, but blogger wouldn't upload my photos!!!)

August 18th officially marked our endeavor into homeschooling our boys. We aren't sure how long we will home school...we're taking it one year at a time. So, Jonathan is in kindergarten and Jacob is three. Jacob has been the most challenging part because he so wants to be able to do everything that Jonathan does, but really isn't able to yet. He tries though.

We are following the book The Well-Trained Mind (it is a classical education "guide" if you will). Formal classical education doesn't start until 1st grade, but you can start in kindergarten with the basics...handwriting, math, and phonics.

Curriculum:

Handwriting: Zaner-Bloser (they teach continuous stroke which makes it easier to transition to cursive writing...so wish they would have taught Jonathan this in preschool since we are having to redo a few letters!)

Math: Singapore Math (I love math and really want my kids to love it and maybe even excel at it too...they teach multiplication and division together, since they do go together!)

Phonics: An Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (the boys are both do this...why not let Jacob learn his sounds right?)

We start with a Bible lesson and then go on to the other three...I let Jonathan pick which to do first, math or handwriting, then we do the other and then phonics. I will have to do another post about what I am going to do with Jacob, after I see if it works.

I would have to say that I enjoyed the first week, and that I can honestly see us doing this for at least a few years, if not all the way. I am not sure if we can afford it though, me being at home and not working. We will have to see.

Here are a few snap shots of the first day.

Here they are at the table working on handwriting and tracing lines.

Here they are being horizontal and vertical lines.

Here they are learning phonics.

I love that I can teach on the floor!

I am trying to implement a rest time for Jonathan during Jacob's nap. He normally piles up with me to watch some TV. I am trying to be more proactive about the TV time. Don't get me wrong...I turned out OK and grew up watching a lot of TV and I think there is a place for TV, but I am starting to wonder if the attitudes we are getting from our boys are coming from the TV. Hmmm??? So, I will let you know how the rest hour and a half goes. Today, it went tell. Jonathan went to his bed with some mazes, which he loves, and a few books. He did great! I slept, showered, and worked on the computer a little.

So, I imagine that my schedule will change a hundred times or so. Once I get it tweaked a little I will post it.

Melt My Heart (x 2)

I just finished our Bible study for the morning with the boys. I am using a one year Bible for children and as asking them questions after I read them the lesson for the day. I started at the beginning even though it is August. Today's lesson was about Adam and Eve being sent away from the garden because they had sinned. After the lesson, I prayed for us that we could stand strong when tempted and that we would try our best to obey. I also prayed for the boys to have kind hearts and loving hearts when their friends came over in a little while. After I said the words "kind hearts and loving hearts", they both, at the exact same time, sat up on their knees and kissed me on my cheek, one on each side! I started to cry and could barely finish the prayer. I am truly blessed! Thank you Lord for these sweet boys and for the chance to be home with them!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for...

1. Manly Man working so hard for us
2. second chances (and third, and fourth...)
3. the right to home school my children
4. homeopathic allergy relief "medicine"
5. friends who really know me
6. Jacob's laugh that I have to get on tape because it is just way too hysterical!
7. my family's health
8. health and dental insurance for all of our upcoming things that need to be taken care of (next on the list...wisdom teeth out for me...if I can be brave enough)
9. Jonathan randomly hugging me, kissing me and telling me he loves me
10.God not giving up on me, even when I don't believe Him...Lord help my unbelief!

The Countdown

3

We have three days left. Three days! How crazy is that? Homeschooling starts bright and early at 8:30am on Monday morning. I am still having some mixed emotions about it all. I have a feeling that some of those may get hashed out here in bloggy land. A lot of them I have already mentioned, but haven't necessarily had them completely resolved in my heart.

I do have to say that I am really looking forward to starting school at 8:30 in the morning, being finished at 10am and then heading to the gym for about an hour, run errands and still get home in time for lunch. Lunch. Not dinner! Amazing to me how long a day in "school" can last!!!

Taking The Leap

We are going to home school. Wow, that feels really good to be firm in that decision, and totally terrifying also! Anybody with me on that one? I have started ordering curriculum...what a daunting task. I think that I have picked some good "stuff" for Jonathan. We still haven't decided what to do with Jacob...preschool or not? It would be good for Jonathan if Jacob isn't home during school since he is such a distraction...love you Jakey! Thankfully, you can't read this yet :) Financially and logistically, it doesn't make sense to send him though. Any suggestions from anyone who is homeschooling as to what to do with a younger sibling?
There really are some serious fears when it comes to being your child's teacher! What if my non-love of reading rubs off on him? What if he won't listen to me? My biggest fear is that I will stop enjoying being around him. Manly Man and I have talked about all of these things. Our commitment is on a year to year basis. If I stop delighting in Jonathan, then I am done...I don't want to lose that joy!
There are some really good pros for it though. Be finished by lunch time! Really in about an hour, to an hour and a half for kindergarten....makes you wonder what takes so long in public school doesn't it? I can set the schedule around holidays that are important us, including birthdays! I am actually going for a more year round approach. We will start mid-August and work for 4 weeks and then take a week off for a little break. This will continue for the year. They will have two weeks at Christmas, a week at Easter, and a week at the 4th of July, and then 4 weeks off from mid-July until mid-August. Sounds kind of weird, I know. However, if you have had kids in any kind of school setting (school or preschool) then you know how bored they get in such a short period of time in the summer. This schedule will cut down on that!
Jonathan will be studying reading/ phonics program, math, handwriting and having a Bible lesson 4 days a week. We will take Thursdays off, since I have a women's Bible study that morning. We will also do some arts/ crafts one or two afternoons a week as well as some social studies types of things. Grandma is a pianist and she is going to teach them how to play, so we will make weekly trips to her house for lessons, lunch and fun!
It is interesting to responses we have gotten. Some are all for it. Some know nothing about it and therefore say things they shouldn't. Some just don't know what to say so we get an "oh" response. There are several families at our church that home school so I have a good network there.
Any tips, ideas, websites, or suggestions anyone has, feel free to share them!
Did I mention that I used to teach? That would make you think that I would not be fearful of this right? I taught high school chemistry....they already knew how to read and write!