miscellany monday

one. i have a house full of children sleeping right now and i love it. my niece and nephew have joined us for overnight. it is 7:43 and four of the five are still asleep.

two. my 5:15 am workout today was the best one i've done because i came home to shower and then went back to bed!

three. i am actively hunting new crock-pot recipes. i think i am very close to falling in love with my crock-pot for our busy soccer nights.

four. it is our third week of school and we are already taking *another* day off. (i'm not going to tell you how many we've taken off already!)

five. i think four-year-old soccer is the cutest thing ever--pictures to follow.

The Official Workbox Post

Ok, Ok, here it is. I kept promising and guilting myself, until finally I could get organized enough to write about our workboxes. This is our second year of using workboxes and I love them. Let me say that again--I love them! If you are not familiar with workboxes, I will give you a quick tutorial, but what you really need to do is check out Sue Patrick's workbox information here.

We more or less use a modified version with Bug and Firefly (what else is new, right?) Here's how it goes:

First of all, our workboxes are Rubbermaid containers and lids that sit on a little wire shelf, all picked up at Target. (Yay! Another reason to go to Target!) Each child has eleven boxes, but very rarely are more than nine filled in a day. They have number tags that were specifically made by yours truly to fit each child. (That's why they are so fancy, lol!) Bug chose Batman as his theme, and Firefly picked kittens. Each tag has Velcro on it to attach it to the box.


Each afternoon, during quiet time, I fill boxes for Firefly and Bug. I work off of a schedule that was written out over the summer--you can find something like it here. So, for Firefly, here is an example of what is in her boxes:

This is her workbook to help explain / deal with Sensory Processing Disorder. Really fun activities and some good information.

This is her "Daddy Box". Daddy always seems to come up with ideas for extra soccer practice during the school day.

Handwriting copywork based on the poem we are studying.

Self-explanatory. ; )

This is her independent reading book for history. She will complete a chapter or two, and then we work in her Drawn Into the Heart of Reading book on some days.

We will complete a lesson in here together.

Another Work With Mom special--to keep the math-based tears away.

This is a little Bible Study that we are working on together. On this day, we are working on decorating a special box for treasures.

We will read from this and complete a notebook page together.

On this particular day, we are trying to cram a lot of subjects in because we have co-op tomorrow. Usually, I put things like snacks or computer time in some of her independent boxes, too.
Bug's boxes are currently filled with things like: puzzles, stringing beads, iPad time, popcorn kernels and measuring cups, and one or two boxes to do with me, like Five in a Row or ABC activities. (Mostly things to keep him occupied while the rest of us are working).

I fill each box and put a number on it, and if it is not something that they can do independently, I add a "work with Mom" tag as well.

In the morning, when it is time for them to work independently (mostly), they can pick a box to work on. I used to try to put the boxes in the order I wanted them to work on them, but I always got it wrong and all three kiddos would need me at the same time. Now I just let them pick.

When they complete the box, they take off the number and put it into their chart. This year they have pocket charts that I also found at Target. (Again, yay!) When their charts are fully matched up, they are done for the day. (As of today, it has not happened. Usually I am just moving the unfinished boxes to the following day.)

If you've been to Sue Patrick's website, you may have seen some other scheduling tools and ideas that we do not use. I don't use a schedule strip, for example. Mostly because we have several other scheduling tools that we use specifically for Firefly, to keep her on task, and I didn't feel we needed another.

What I Love About Workboxes:

Can I mention yet again to you all what a Type A personality I am? I love the organization. I can fill a box with everything we need for a lesson, and know that it will all be there when I am needing it the next day.

We all know exactly how much school still needs to be done in a day. I can just look over to the workbox area and groan--I mean--get a feel for how our day is flowing and how much I need to nag--I mean--encourage the kids to work possibly more quickly. I can also see what else I am needed for, by looking at the Work With Mom tags left on the boxes.

We are getting to hit more subjects more often. I can make one box French / Grammar, for example, where I fill it with French lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Grammar lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and not feel like I am neglecting either subject.

We have time / options to use all the cute "fun stuff" that I am forever picking up for school and then dumping into the never-never-land of my office closet. Each week I pull a few things out of there (quickly, before it all collapses on top of me, ha!) and add them to the workboxes for educational breaks.

It helps all members of our family to feel like they have some control. Because, of course, I can't be such a Type A personality and not be raising mini-control freaks as well, right? I can control what gets put in the boxes, so I know what needs to be covered. They can control which subject to do when. Theoretically, at least, it's a win-win.

What I Don't Love About Workboxes:

It takes time. A lot of time, in the beginning. When we first started, and both girls were using workboxes, I was taking at least an hour to fill the boxes each night. At. least. an. hour. More, probably, like two hours. That's gotten better, though. I did a lot of planning over the summer and can fill them now in about 15-30 minutes.

It's a little frustrating, sometimes, to have laid out so plainly in front of me what we clearly didn't get done in a day. That's why I re-fill the boxes early in the day. I just keep the number on the one(s) that didn't get done and voila! It looks like it was meant to be added to the next day!

Overall, I have to say again that I love our workboxes. They work great for our family, although Turtle, all grown up in sixth grade now, has decided she isn't using them this year. I'll post more about how we are organizing with her later.

There are some great websites full of wonderful ladies who use workboxes. Here are some links to them:

www.squidoo.com/workboxes

Homeschool Share

Homeschool Creations

Heart of Wisdom

Sunflower Schoolhouse

There is also a wonderful yahoo group devoted to workboxes!

Thanks for visiting and checking out our boxes! Happy workboxing!

A Day in the Life . . .

For this week's (and the final) entry into the Virtual Curriculum Fair, I have re-visited an old post from this past fall.  I wrote this originally several months ago after planning, and writing, and erasing, and praying, and erasing again, and on and on and on.  It looks like a pretty workable schedule.

Right.

I'm laughing (a lot)!

This schedule is no longer working for us.

So I was going to re-write the post, make it look all pretty and neat, and re-post it under "What a Day in Our Homeschool Life Really Looks Like", but, you know what?  Our days are never all pretty and neat, and I'm betting (or, rather, really, really hoping) that yours aren't usually either.

So instead I'm just going to *update* this old post with what is working *today*.  I'm guessing that a month from now I could update it again, but hey.  In the homeschool fantasy life that I live in, we call it Flexibility.

Yeah, there we go.

Without further ado, I present:  Different Days in Our Life!

I'm so excited to have completed all four weeks of this fantastic blog hop! And I'm really looking forward to this week--my inner "nosy girl" is just thrilled to peek into everyone else's days, to get some ideas for implementing in our homeschool, and also just to make sure that we are not the only ones who have well-thought-out, well-laid plans that completely fall apart by 10 am (or maybe we are. Hmmm. . .)

So anyway, here we are with "A Day in the Life". I gotta tell you, though, I'm struggling with telling you how our day is planned to go vs. how it actually goes. I guess we'll go with somewhere in the middle!

I get up around 6 or 6:15 to try to take advantage of the few minutes of the day that Bug isn't up to try to get in a quick workout and shower. Now, this week, some crazy friend of mine has talked me into a cross-fit workout that sounds like a lot of fun. But get this--it starts at 5:15. AM. Should be an interesting week, ladies and gentlemen. Especially since I just downed a Diet Coke and a DQ Blizzard and it's 9:35 pm.

**Well, I still tend to get up really early.  And, believe it or not, I'm still going to Cross Fit a few days a week.  But I'm not still dumb enough to drink a Diet Coke or eat a Blizzard and THEN try to go.**

Anyway, between 7 and 9, we work on our morning lists. What that entails for the kiddos is: breakfast, getting dressed, room checks, chores, quiet time with God, and associated whining, bickering, and talking to Mom through the bathroom door. What it entails for Mom is: breakfast, my chores, staying on top of the kids to get them to do their chores, a last minute rush to get school activities ready, and hiding periodically in the bathroom. (See--a blend between how it should be and how it really is. All honesty here at this blog. Hee hee.)

**We have changed things up a bit here.  I, mean Mommy extraordinaire, have now asked for all kiddos to do their math as soon as their breakfast has been eaten and cleared from the table.  We do our Bible lesson for the day and morning prayers as soon as everyone is actually AT the breakfast table, and do math as they finish eating.  I've found that this way, (1)  the math tears are out of the way early in the day, and (2) the two most important subjects (or one most important and one least liked) have been taken care of.  If we get off-track and do nothing else all day, those have been finished.  After math, we rush into the mad dash of morning tasks.  And yes, I still hide in the bathroom.**

Assuming we have not yet left the house for therapy or doctor appointments, we jump into some kind of PE from 9-9:30. Last week I let the kids pick a video from some cute exercise ones I had found at the library. Today I of course could not find any at the library. I think we are going for some outside time or dance parties here this week. This PE is actually a ploy to get Firefly some intense stimulation before I can expect her to focus on any kind of work.

**Yep, well this was a great idea.  But we don't really do it anymore.  I don't know why we dropped it, because it's way important for her.  I think once we move (which should happen soon, theoretically) we will incorporate this again.**

At 9:30 we usually start our group work: history, geography, poetry, Bible, art. Then at 10, we theoretically start some independent work. Both Firefly and Bug have workboxes (which I have promised to blog about before and will continue to promise it until I finally actually do it, I promise ; ) Bug's boxes at this point are some really neat ways for him to entertain himself while the rest of us are (supposed to be) working. Turtle gets a list of all assignments due for the week by Sunday evening, and she likes to split them up into days herself. Our independent work time should look like: each child works quietly and efficiently through their boxes until their time to work with Mom.

**We aren't doing group first thing anymore.  When each kiddo is ready, we just go ahead and begin the independent box work.  I take turns with each when they need me for a "Work With Mom" box.  Turtle is back to me scheduling the work for her.  Seems she was getting pretty overwhelmed trying to do it herself.  My goal for her is back to independently time managing.**

What it actually looks like is somewhat controlled chaos. We use a lot of timers, chocolate chips (for bribery--yes, you heard me right), and slightly raised voices. I just know I'll get a better system than this someday.

**Yep, still controlled chaos.  Usually from about nine or so until about 11 or 11:30.**

Usually, though, we are able to (mostly) finish (most) of our boxes by noon. We do stop for a snack break about 10:30, which we have started this year and which has seemed to help control the chaos somewhat. At noon, Bug is my lunch helper and he and I get lunches ready. Lunch cracks me up at my house, because it has somehow morphed into the four of us and at least twenty books at the kitchen table. It is the only meal we let the kids read through, and they definitely take full advantage of it! It's amazing that any plates fit on the tabletop!

**This still works.  Probably because of our "books at the lunch table" thing.**

After lunch, we have started using "one more thing", which you can find out more about here. Yes, I stole that idea and it works great. I usually use that time to finish our group work, or, more likely, one or two of Firefly's boxes with her.

**Our "One More Thing" time has become our group activity time.  This "thing" is usually history reading, timelines, art learning, or other activities.  I'm still loving One More Thing.**

At 1:30, it is--wait for it--Quiet Time. I've already written about how I've fallen in love with Quiet Time. Yes, the love affair still holds strong! It's still working--beautifully some days and just barely on some others--but still working.

**I will never not love Quiet Time.**

At 3, Firefly is my snack helper. While we eat, I read from our current read-aloud. After snack, they usually get about thirty minutes of TV time, followed by PM Pick Up time, followed, usually, by "hurry-up-and-get-dressed-for-soccer" time. You see, we are that soccer family, and we are at the soccer fields at least three evenings during the week. (Bug even made the statement at one point that the fields were "just like a big yard for us to play with our friends". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry--because he's exactly right!)

**Yep, still that soccer family.  Never seems to end.  The only difference in this part of the routine now is the addition of an Art Class on Wednesday afternoons and CCD on Tuesdays that eat up this time.**

Soccer practice ends and is followed by "you-stink-so-please-go-right-to-the-bathtub" time, dinner, and stories and bedtime, so we can start again the next day.

**This still happens, too.**

Wow--this was a long post! No wonder I'm so tired!

Can't wait to peek into your lives--I mean--see how you all are spending your days! Thanks for visiting our crazy days!

**So it's a period of always-changing, ever-adjusting schedules that we fit our days into.  As soon as we seem to figure something out, something will always change.  Hey, that's the fun of it, right?


Looking forward to hopping around to see your days!**

Weekly
Homeschooling Schedule by Julie @ HighHill Homeschool

Virtual
Curriculum Fair: Week 5: The Nuts & Bolts: Pulling it all
Together by Leah @ The Courtney Six Homeschool

Our
Schedule's Working! by Eunora @ All Things NoriLynn

Homeschooling:
How do I do it all? by Debbie @ Debbie's Digest

Virtual
Curriculum Fair--- Wrap-up Angie @ Petra School

Virtual
Curriculum Fair: 5 Ways to Use an iPad in Your Homeschool by Pam @
Everyday Snapshots

A
Peek Into Our School Day by Melissa @ Grace Christian Homeschool

A
Day in the Life... by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

Homeschool
and Life: How we get it done by Jen @ Forever, For Always, No
Matter What

Homeschooling
at My House by Jessica @ Modest Mama

Getting
a Grip on Things by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Making
Home School a part of LIFE by Cindy @ For One Another

Now
Where's That Pencil Again? by Beth @ Ozark Ramblings

Something
About Homeschooling I Really Didn't See Coming by Letha @
justpitchingmytent

Curriculum,
Kids, and a Frazzled Homeschool Mama leads to Controlled Chaos! by
Laura O from AK @ Day by Day in Our World

The
Virtual Curriculum Fair – Nuts and Bolts by Kristen @ Sunrise to
Sunset

Staying
on Top of Everything by Brenda Emmett @ Garden of Learning

Firefly Friday. Fifteen Minutes.

Let me start this off by saying, we have been working really, really hard this summer. We, as in Firefly, myself, her therapists, psychologists, doctors, you-name-its. We actually ended off last school year relatively unsuccessfully--that is, if you define success as "Boy, I can't wait to do this again next year", instead of, "What I wouldn't pay for that big yellow school bus to come and take her away every day".

We were really, really, really ready for summer (which is why it came to our house in early May).

So, yes, we have been working really hard this summer. Her Occupational Therapist found several visual processing issues that have been addressed. Her psychologist and psychiatrist have OK'd her medication levels. We have started all kinds of alternative medical practices.
I have prayed. I have tried my best to get my mind right. She is excited about school. Our principal is fully behind us.

And last week, at her OT re-eval, her OT was glowing. Positively thrilled. All kinds of excited about the documented progress they had made. "She's doing great!" actually even came out of her mouth.

**Side note here. I used to be that therapist. I spent years working in Early Intervention. I know how they / we think. I recognize the excitement over baby steps. For Pete's sake, I can clearly remember having tears in my eyes when one of my little ones pointed to her nose upon request for the first time. She was two. Now she's nine. I remember.**

So I should have recognized it when I saw it from the other side. The parent side. Instead, I got all caught up in it. Yay! That's wonderful! She's doing great! (Be careful, here. This is the path that leads to the expectation of "fixing" her.)

And then I started asking the questions.
Really, I should have quit while I was ahead.

"So, let me get this straight. When we are trying to cut, she should be able to do it?"
"Yep. That's right."
"When we are working on copywork, she should have no trouble?"
"Yep. That's right."
"Her hands are not getting tired from holding the pencil?"
"Yep. That's right."
Again, I should have quit while I was ahead. But I didn't. (Do I ever?)

"So, realistically, while I am working to plan out our school day, what is a realistic amount of time to expect her to sit and focus on, or complete, a task?"
"About fifteen minutes."

Next time, I promise, I will quit while I am ahead.

Fifteen minutes?!
Are you kidding me?!
What on earth would we be dealing with if this kid was in school--for six and a half HOURS?

Fifteen minutes.
Baby steps.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and all that jazz.

In fifteen minutes, we have just managed to open our books to the right page.
We have just managed to finally find a pencil that works.
We have just managed to get ourselves under control and NOT throw a tantrum about doing the work (and that includes a five-minute stint in our bedrooms--well, Firefly's bedroom. I usually don't have to send myself, although that has been known to happen.)

Fifteen minutes.
I don't really know what to do with that. Really throws a monkey wrench into planning a school day, though.

I know. Baby steps.
We'll take what we can get.
Actually, I'm glad I asked, although I was less-than-thrilled with the answer. Nothing like setting us both up with incredibly high, impossibly high, expectations.

So we're working through it. Trying to manuever through the school day with fifteen minute bursts. I'm working on my patience.
And we're going to work really hard.

Maybe, by December, we'll be up to seventeen minutes.
(Hey, a girl has to dream, right? ; )

Wordless Wednesday. Or Why You Shouldn't Let Your Four Year Old Play on Your Cell Phone to Make Him Be Quiet at Doctor's Appointments.

(i wouldn't recommend giving it to him at the soccer field, either. *wink* )

"Not Back to School" School Pictures!

This will be my third entry into Heart of the Matter's "Not Back to School"Hop.
And thank goodness that I had looked ahead to see what was coming and remembered to take pictures! This week we get to showcase "School Pictures". Seems kind of a broad topic.

But I'll play along and show off our "First Day of School" pics. All three kiddos are pictured with their brand-new "Study Buddies". This is part of our first day of homeschool ritual, which I keep meaning to blog about . . .*sigh*. Anyway, each child gets to pick out a new stuffed animal before we start school, which they then name and snuggle with as their Study Buddy for the year. Both girls this year have actually kept their Study Buddies handy in the schoolroom, and even made seats for them.

Bug--well, you'll see. He's not quite got the hang of the Study Buddy idea, yet. ; )

So, without further ado, here are our school pics with our newest family members:Here is Turtle, entering sixth grade, with "Kermit" the Frog Pillow Pet. (Yep, she named him all by herself.) Firefly, entering third grade, with Wendell, the Teacup Piggie (Don't ask. I think I've told you all more than once before that I don't know how this kid's mind works.)

Here is Bug, 4 years old, and yes, he picked out a whole Green Lantern flannel blanket for his Study Buddy. Oh, well, I guess it doubles as a great "Sleepy Buddy" as well!

I hope you all are enjoying your start of not-back-to-school.

Firefly Friday. The Great Summer Camp Experiment.

We've gone back into a school routine, now, but a few weeks ago we were looking for something to break up the big expanses of the summer days. Crazy, I know.

We had done (more than) our share of soccer camps, short half-day camps held at our familiar soccer fields and filled with lots and lots of running, kicking, physical activity.

Then I discovered this great summer camp opportunity. It was a full day based out at a Girl Scout campground. It offered lots of swimming, hiking, canoeing, arts and crafts, archery, etc. All the different "real camp" things that I remembered doing when I was a kid.

Wow! What better way than that for Firefly to spend her day? She would get to be outside, get to be running, physical, climbing, discovering! Sounded just right up her alley, right? A perfect fit and a magical way to spend eight hours.

So I signed both girls up. And I even looked for some fun things for Bug and I to do together in our "found" time. We talked up camp. The girls looked it up online and were super-excited. I packed lunches, bathing suits, goggles, bug spray, and lots and lots of sunscreen.
And off they went on Day One.

And Firefly hated it.

The kids were mean.
It was too long.
She was really hungry.
She had to wear socks and sneakers.
They didn't get to __________ (each day a new complaint here).
And worst of all, there was thunder.

Look. I know that I am a control freak. (And, yes, I know my friends are rolling on the floor laughing here at the understatement that I just made). That is probably the biggest reason that I struggle so hard with Firefly, truthfully. But I am at a loss here. I can control how much and what kinds of food I pack her. I can control which clothes she has to wear. I can control earplugs when sounds are too loud, sunglasses when the sun is too bright, a relaxing bath when the world is just too tough.

But I can't control thunder.

And just so you know, we live in Florida. Thunderstorms are an everyday occurence during the summer months. Everyday. Firefly has had plenty of experience with thunder. But when she heard it at camp, she lost it. Truly lost it. Sobbing, out-of-control, lost it. Refused to budge, do anything at all, lost it.

Alienated herself from possible friends, embarrassed her older sister, annoyed counselors kind of lost it.

*sigh*

Some days, I'm at a loss myself, ladies and gentlemen.
And it strikes me yet again that I have a special needs kiddo.
And one that I truly do not understand.

This wonderful, magical, nature-y (yes, I know that's not a word), picture-perfect childhood memory camp experience that I thought I had organized for my girls turned into a torture session.

And guess what?
Mom of the year that I am, I made her go three more times!

Denial is a wonderful thing, sometimes.

We role-played the thunder thing.
We practiced deep breathing.
We gave suggestions for things to tell herself when she *thought there might be thunder coming in the next two hours*.
I equipped Turtle with some "in the moment" suggestions.
I talked to the camp director.
I offered my phone number over and over again.

Every day, guess what?
It thundered.
She flipped out.

Major letdown.
I guess I have learned my lesson about summer camp for next year.
I'm still struggling with why, though. Which part of this was so wrong when it seemed like it would be so right?
Will I one day understand?
Why am I trying so hard to understand when what I need to do is parent?
Is there a difference?

Arrgh. Here we go with all of the questioning again. And, I guess, back to the answer. We are all wonderfully made. God knows what He is doing. I can do all things through He who gives me strength. God knows what He is doing.
If only I did!

But I do know one thing. I'm thankful that during the school year there are no summer camps.

Weekly Wrap-Up. Our First Week!

in my life this week. . .we are getting back into a routine! *whew* I am way too much of a Type A personality to have so much unstructured time! So I was really thankful for getting back to school / routine / even soccer (did I really just say that?!) Structure makes for a happier Mommy, and we all know what a happy Mommy means, hee hee!

in our homeschool this week . . .we started right in on Day One with our core curriculum, Heart of Dakota (you can find out more about it here). We are using Bigger Hearts for His Glory, and have started in our study of American History with lots of reading and activities about Christopher Columbus. We also started learning about biographies, and did an art lesson about perspective when drawing the ocean. In Bible lessons, we are memorizing some verses from Proverbs, and in Science, Firefly and I are learning about the ocean and seashore life. Here's her first notebooking entry: And, of course, for all of my preschool planning / panicking / questioning, I could not resist having something for Bug to do during school time, so yes, here is our Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree: I'm so glad I can't hear you all laughing right now at my obvious lack of artistic ability. (Even Bug resisted when he told me there were no coconuts on it--thanks, kid!) I tried to get Turtle to make it, but she never seemed to get around to it. Hmmm, maybe I should have just blamed this disaster on her anyway.

places we're going and people we're seeing: not nearly as many as we have had invitations for. Seems that although all of our public school friends have been off all summer long, they are only now deciding to get out and about quickly before school starts back up for them next week. So, we have so far not gone: to the pool, to the beach, to mini golf, to the movies. I know, I know, I should have just started school one week later. But did I mention my need for structure? (And, yes, my Type A personality?) However, we did manage to get in a trip to Plaster Palace, a couple of meals out, and we are headed to the pool tomorrow afternoon.

my favorite thing about this week: I'm not going to comment on the routine again. So, I guess my favorite thing can be my re-reading of Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. I'm trying so hard to absorb it all this time around.

questions i have, thoughts i have: Turtle's load is noticeably larger this year. She also is transitioning to being more in charge of it than she has in the past. I'm waiting for the tears and the rebellion. Does anyone have suggestions for helping this transition?

favorite photo, link, or quote for the week: I couldn't resist. This is Bug, who had been hanging just outside his door while waiting for the last five minutes of Quiet Time to end. Seems I didn't make it end quite in time . . .

I'm linked up this week with Kris from weird, unsocialized homeschoolers, and at the Homeschool Mother's Journal. Hope you all are having a tremendous week!

Thankful on Thursday

120. another day

121. kids playing with moon sand in the sunshine on the back porch

122. no one fighting

123. sunshine on the back porch

124. healthy children laughing

125. enough food to eat

126. the scent of dinner cooking

127. phone calls to Granddaddy

128. proud smiles on my daughters

129. little lightning strikes

130. "peas in a pod" friends, for me and for my children

131. peacefully sleeping children

132. food in the freezer

133. healthy children playing

134. staying home with my family

Wordless Wednesday. The Zoo.

Turtle Tuesday. Soccer Nationals.

Hi! Sorry about missing a lot of weeks. I have been very busy!

My 3v3 soccer team went to Nationals at Walt Disney World's Wide World of Sports. We got third place in our bracket!

We got a cool trophy. Here is a picture:

Sorry, again. We just have been very busy with soccer and summer! Bye!

Drum Roll, Please . . .Our Schoolroom!!

Ooh, the giddiness is just surrounding us here at home! We have spent all of last week getting the schoolroom ready to go. You know, don't you, that during the summer it is simply a playroom? But, ta da, it is transformed (bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!) Instant schoolroom.So here are some pictures of it before it becomes transformed once again into the "chaos-room"! Pictures are way more exciting than words for this kind of post, anyway! The picture above is our "block corner", where we also have our cool, nifty new world and state maps, our calendar, and Bug's writing board (to discourage writing on the walls in other places. Ha.) (And when did I become such a geek that new maps have about put me over the edge with excitement? I guess that is a topic for another post.)Here is the closest thing that my physical therapist-husband would let us have to a trampoline for Firefly. We actually even call it the trampoline, because we are really good at pretending! It's actually a blow up ball pit, and stores all of our therapy balls in it when it is not storing stuffed animals or Firefly or Bug. This gets plenty of use as a sensory / movement break throughout the day. See that big red ball? That gets even more use, as Firefly bounces / rolls / flings her body across it during read-aloud times. Lots of fun here, ladies and gentlemen. Lots of fun. Ha again.Here is where we keep our library book basket with assorted choices of sitting materials for reading. Please ignore the cat toy.Here are our lovely color-coded cubbies (did I mention my Type A personality traits?) for pencil boxes, markers, glue bottles, OT cards, gum, and anything else that could possibly be fought over. Those shelves are where we are storing Mom's materials, as well as Turtle's. She is not using workboxes this year, so her stuff is all on the shelves with an assignment sheet hung up on the bulletin board just above this that you cannot see.Well, actually, there is part of the bulletin board. Now you just have to ignore the blurry picture. Yuck! Here is our computer for school, and where Turtle and I will spend the majority of our school days.And here is where Bug and Firefly will attempt to sit to do their "work". Those orange pieces of paper are where Firefly made sure to label which seat was hers and which was her brother's. Those things in the back are their workboxes, newly labeled with Kitty tags for Firefly and Batman ones for Bug. I'll do a whole post on workboxes one of these days.

So that's our schoolroom. We are blessed with this extra room that we added to our home with the arrival of Bug a few years ago. It's a cheery, spacious place to spend our days. Now, if only we could label ourselves "cheery" as we spend our days there . . .

Happy schooling, everyone!

Homeschool Mother's Journal

So I'm finally trying to really make some kind of routine out of the postings here. I even had a nice little schedule, all written out, and I was all excited to even *gasp* get a little ahead of the game, and then I decided to crash our whole wireless network! Yay me!

I guess that takes me right into in my life this week . . .Yep. Crashed the network. All of it. No iPads, no iTouches, no computer. Nada. So my hubby and I watched a DVR'd episode of Criminal Minds from (wait for it) February last night. And enjoyed it. And went to bed early. And, as much as I wanted to, I didn't cry! And the wonderful computer man came today and fixed what I broke. He is added to my gratitude list! (I don't think he was too thrilled when I told him that, though!)

In our homeschool this week . . .I'm getting really excited! We have spent this week preparing for our "official" first day of school, which is next Monday. I'll post about our traditions later. Just let it be known that the schoolroom is clean (!), new workbox numbers are cut out and laminated, new schedules are made (and also laminated), new maps are hung, and "study buddies" have been purchased. It's getting closer, and I'm getting giddy. (How embarrassing!)

Places we're going and people we're seeing . . .Last minute haircuts, therapy appointments, and doctor visits, all trying to be crammed in before we start school. Also, the girls had their second American Girl Book Club this morning, which they are really enjoying. And, along the way, we have been making (at least) twice daily trips to our former "big pile of expensive dirt", which, as of this week, is beginning to look quite different!My favorite thing about this week . . .You mean, besides having my computer back? Watching my kiddos get excited about school. I'm sure it will all fade away rather quickly, but for now, they are excited.

Questions or thoughts I have about homeschooling? How long until we lose this wonderful enthusiasm this year? How can I make it last longer?

A photo, link, or quote to share . . ."Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks--take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks--and He miraculously makes it more than enough." Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts.

I hope you all had a wonderful week!