OK, y'all.

I need some help. We finish school next Friday, and I need to make a summer plan. I mean, other than going to the pool, the library, and spending a lot of time reading to my little ones. What do you guys do? Modified school? Drop it completely? Organizing tasks that you can't get done during the school year? Keep up with math only? What? I feel like the days go more smoothly with a PLAN, you know? So, if you've got a plan, I'd love to hear about it. Pretty please?!?

Ahoy there, Matey!

A few weeks ago my mom and grandmother were in town. They took all the kids to McDonald's and got each of them a Happy Meal (of course! what are grandparents for?). I guess "Pirates of the Carribean 3" is the latest, greatest, because all the toys were pirate-y (I know, that's not a word...). Seth's toy was a pirate do-rag with a dangley golden earring. I put it on him just for kicks, assuming he'd yank it off and throw it to the ground, just as he'd been trying to do all winter with his hats. However, it was a HIT! He must've know he looked big and bad in it (and when you're the youngest of five, I guess you need whatever clout you can get).



In other news, I just last night, ordered (hopefully) ALL my school books for next year! Last year, with Seth being a baby and all, I didn't order until...shall I admit it? August, and it was hanging over my head all summer. This year, I tried to get my act togther a little earlier. Free shipping is a nice incentive, 'cause books are HEAVY. I think we saved about $30-$40. So Woohoo! Bring on the summer vacation!

Drumroll, please...

Tonight was our final program for our Classical Conversations year. The kids were so excited - they each got up with their classes and recited some of the things that they'd learned this year. The kids all did a great job - not one case of "stage fright"! I think I was more nervous than they were! I had to lead my class in it's recitations 8-)! But...I made it!

It's wonderful and exciting to see my children learn and love learning. As Kevin took his CAT tests this week, it was neat to read through them and just marvel at how much he's learned! Some days are difficult, and it feels like we get so little accomplished...but the Lord is so kind to encourage me - and tonight was a real encouragement! It's a blessing to contribute to the raising of a godly generation, even in a small way.

But that's not how I felt this morning as Seth pulled the SECOND glass of apple juice off of the table and all over himself and the floor. I'm grateful to say that the day ended better than it began ;-)!

Coram Deo Preschool

Well, this year I decided I needed a little more structure for my little ones. And it's working out relatively well - gasp! - and has been for almost five weeks now - gasp! - so I figured I should post about it! Ellie is four (five in Dec.) so we're doing some official school with her , but not full kindergarten. Mostly just pre-reading stuff and a little handwriting (including numbers) but that's it. So I have her and Bonnie to occupy for a large portion of the morning while Seth is napping and I'm working with the boys.

I will say right here that I am NOT a huge craft person. I'd read about doing things like this before in homeschool lit. but the idea of coming up with crafts myself was just too much. So, I hit the craft section at our local Super Stuff-Mart and found a whole aisle dedicated to kids crafts - already packaged, etc. I got some foam bead jewelry, some beads that you iron together to make a design, fingerpaint, a playdoh set, and those 3-D alphabet stickers. During our first period of memory work, we're all together, but while I work on math and language stuff with the boys, the girls do a different craft each day. It's worked out great, and they LOVE it! They can't wait to see what craft they get to do, and it keeps them occupied fully up until break time - whew! I HATE having little ones running around wild while trying to school...grrrr. And it feels like they're being neglected...grrrr again. This way, they are productive, near to me and the boys, and having fun - what more could you ask for? It does take some clean-up, but not too bad, considering the benefits!

Now, who KNOWS what will happen when Seth drops his morning nap! I'm trying to repress that thought, but hey, it's GREAT while it lasts 8-).

You've got to watch your head around here...

Here's a picture I got the other night of Robin Hood and his merry "men", and Maid Marian with the crown and her thumb in her mouth ;-). We're studying the Middle Ages right now and so Kev's been reading a book about the legends of Robin Hood for fun. Then they all got out their hats from Nonie, and made bows and arrows out of sticks from the back yard and rubber bands, and TA-DA! hours of entertainment. I guess a GameBoy would make less noise and less mess, but I don't think I want to trade 8)!

So our SECOND first day of Classical Conversations went off without a hitch. Everyone loves to pull out their backpacks and get their snacks, etc. Homeschooling is great, but there is something about all that kind of stuff that kids love - the pomp and circumstance of "going" to school. I'm glad we can do that in a small way.

One week down (not sure how many to go...35? something like that!)

So we finished our first week! I realize I still have more planning to do - we're now adding in Classical Conversations every Thurs. morning and piano lessons for the boys on Tues.

The first three days went really well, but we ended our week with a sigh. I woke up Thurs morning all psyched up for our first day of CC! I had all my plans for my class together, all the kids clothes laid out, lunch packed, etc,etc,etc. But disaster struck!

Scott (at about 7:00 a.m.): "Do you have a Plan B?"

Julie: "Whatever do you mean?"

Scott: "I think Nathan has a fever, and he says his throat hurts."

You can imagine my chagrin - the first day of the year - at 7 in the morning - what to do?!?

All of the other kids had gotten this little bug and I thought we were over it, but you never know about germs, do you. So, I called up the dear friend who is our substitute tutor and had to enlist her services on the very first day of class.

Kevin and Ellie still went to their classes, and Nathan, Bonnie, Seth and I hung out and read books at home. And school with a sickie in the house is always a little...maybe "laid back" is the proper term. Thus ended the week!

It was stille great to start to get back in the fall groove. Now if we could have some cool weather to go with it!

Oh - the above photo is the entire student body of Coram Deo Christian Academy. Look like a promising bunch, don't they?!?