Viking Longhouse

Aubrey studied the Vikings a few weeks ago in history.  To go along with one of the lessons the he kids made Viking longhouses. It is always fun when we get to do a craft to go with our lesson!

 They had such a great time making these!!! 

First Day of Homeschool

Wow. I cannot believe it has been almost an entire year that I have posted on my blog. Life gets crazy and we have had a super busy year.

We started our homeschool year August 1st. I started earlier than usual so we could take a little bit more time off during the year if we need to. We took several breaks last year and we didn't finish up till the end of June and I do not want to have to do that again this year!

We also have lots going on with our homeschool groups so I want to be prepared to take "days off" for field trips etc. Even though technically those are still school days! ;)

Aubrey is in 4th grade this year. I know, hand me a Kleenex. I can't believe she is old enough for this.

She is doing a mix of curriculum this year and so far I believe we have everything figured out and I'm hoping it will be a smooth year for us both.

Kade is in Kindergarten. Or Pre-K. I really can't make up my mind. He's at a K level for everything except phonics. He just didn't catch on as well as I hoped last year. So we are reviewing/relearning to recognize certain letters and sounds. He was thrilled to do more school this year. I hope he will stay excited about it!!

Here are our first day pictures!

(I wish I had used my big camera)

Getting in the swing of things...

We are entering into our third week of school. I feel like we are finally figuring it all out. We know how much time is needed for each subject and I found Kade only lasts about 10 minutes at the table before he starts fussing "I'm so bored". 

Last week was really busy for us. And I'm realizing that I like schedule and I'm going to have to learn to be flexible. Kade has speech on Mondays, meaning we have to leave at lunch to make that. Aubrey has gymnastics Wednesday nights, which doesn't affect our school but stresses me out with dinner.. And Thursday mornings Aubrey has piano. So we can't even start school till later in the afternoon since that is also my grocery shopping day. Ahh I felt so drained last week. Not to mention we saw Dave Ramsey Thursday night and got home super late. But it was such a good time! 

Here's to a new week!! May it be filled with lots of coffee! ;) 

Field Trips- September

I really want to try to get back into blogging or really more like journaling for our family. It's not as easy blogging on my iPhone but it will have to do for the time being :) 

Let's start with our monthly field trips and activities with our homeschool group shall we?! 

This September we did:

• roller skating

• family hoedown- kickoff party 

New School Year

We started school last week so I thought I'd share our first day of school pictures. 

I think this year is going to be great! Kade is so excited to start school. He feels like a big boy. I'm still trying to find balance on how to teach both. I know it will come with time though. 

Our 2015-2016 Mission Statement:

In our homeschool we believe that learning is a lifelong adventure. We believe in facing each day with minds open to knowledge and hearts open to love. We believe in the freedom to explore, to ask, to imagine, and to create. We believe success means doing our best and feeling proud of our efforts. 

Quote of the year:

"You are responsible for the choices you make. Therefore, be careful to think before you act."

Thoughts on Motherhood // It's Not Easy

(November 2013)

Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher and later on wanted to be a mom.
At 19 I became a mother for the first time. It was pure bliss. 
We started homeschooling when Aubrey was 4. By choosing to homeschool, I was now a teacher. Both of my childhood dreams had come true.

Kade is born. Fast forward a couple years. Then I'm starting to realize, this motherhood thing is hard. Really hard.

Motherhood is...Waking up at night by sweet little voices say, "mommy can I sleep with you?"  Sleepless nights when your littles are sick. Early mornings when you keep refilling your coffee cup wondering when you're going to "wake up". The piles of laundry that never seem to go down. The fighting of the kids. Constantly reminding them to love like Jesus. Nap time, and you realize that you need to use this "quiet" time to get caught up, yet you know you won't really ever get caught up. Legos, ninja turtle action figures, ponies, and puzzle pieces are scattered across the living room floor. Fingerprints on everything. Baths that turn into pools on the bathroom floor. Bedtime prayers and kisses. Staying up late to make sure the house is clean and ready for tomorrows mess. Going to bed and realizing you will do it all again tomorrow. 

"Our daily grind, is holy ground. The love that ignites in our home has the power to change history."

-Tiffany Gray (thegraygang)

Yes, its hard. 

"This job has been given to me to do.  Therefore, it is a gift.  Therefore, it is a privilege.  Therefore, it is an offering I make to God.  Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him.  Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God's way.  In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness."

-Elisabeth Elliot

Slowing down and realizing how these things that seem to stress and break me, are some of life's greatest blessings.  One day the kids will be grown and gone.  My house will be quiet and spotless. I'll be getting a full nights sleep. And I will miss it all.

Now, this is a beautiful and messy season of life we're in. The Lord has given me a hard job, but the most important job. And I will embrace it all. 

Currently...

I absolutely love to write and share our lives on this blog but I've been struggling lately with time.

I'm trying to find time to sit down and write and there just hasn't been any.

We have been schooling now for a month and it takes a good 3 hours at times for us to get done.

So between homeschooling and everything else that has to be done, blogging has definitely been on the back burner and that's OK. 

So if I'm a little absent from time to time that's why. Life happens. 

I have a book to finish for a review (you can read about that here). Which is taking up some time as well.

If you're a mom of littles you know how hard it is to find time to read. 

Anyway, I wanted to share some pictures from a little craft the kids and I did with toilet paper rolls. :)

Happy Thursday and have a great weekend! 

This and That

 

 

I'm so ready for Summer to get here.

I know most kids are out of school by now, but we got so behind during our few month

moving process. So we will be doing school for at least another month.

 

We are just trying to double up our math lessons and Aubrey finished her phonics, but

we are trying to read at least one chapter a day from our American Girl Kirsten books.

 

Yesterday we started a summer study on the planets.

If you follow me on Pinterest (I have a button to the right >>)

then you probably have seen all the stuff I've pinned for it :)

 

The kids and I have been going to the park at least once a week. We have one right by our house which I thought was really nice and then we found one by UL's campus, Girard Park.

It is by far the most fun park I..I mean the kids, have ever been to! ;)

If you are ever in the area I would have to suggest you go there. At least go look at the ducks!

 

I ran my first 5k at the end of April and since then I haven't really had the motivation to continue working out and running. So...I will be running another 5k this September. I think I need to have a goal ahead to keep me going. I went for my first run in a month last night. And guess who joined me? Some sweet little blond haired girl! :)

 

 

 

We jogged around the whole neighborhood. And the crazy thing is that she really liked it and asked if she could with me the next night.

That is something that I really want to show my kids, how important it is to live a healthy and active lifestyle. I hope that they watch Trey and I make healthy food choices and how I exercise to stay strong and that they will do the same as they get older.

 

Anyway, enough blabbing on. Have a great weekend!

 

Blessings,

Jenny