Life on our corner

 Yep, enrichment classes started over a month ago and I am just now posting the "First Day of Class" photos.  This year we cut back to just one day.  It is lovely.  Jonah and Audrey are both taking art and science.  Jonah is also taking drama.  I am really curious to see how he does with that because he has been really excited about it.  The back packs are completely unnecessary, but a must for the back to class picture!     Getting Ready to head out!   Miss Poser as she gets ready to go inside!    Way too cool for this   Me too Mom!  

We have been working on a few projects, and Jonah asked me to put them on the Internet. (Crazy 21st century kids anyway!) We took a couple weeks off from his regular curriculum to do a unit based around the book Mr. Popper's Penguins. Jonah put together a lapbook of all his work.  Here he is with one of his favorite pages.  The one with the flap that asks "Would you like to be fed like a penguin chick?"  (You can ask him to explain why he said "No!") Jonah in penguin toboggan pose. Silly boy! I thought this was creative, on the back of his book he made the penguins look like they were walking away! We finally finished up his body.  This was a lot of fun because Audrey did it with us.  (Reuben thought that he did as well!)  I think that he really learned a lot about his body.  When I asked what he favorite parts were they included everything about waste elimination.

I love homeschooling.  Thus far I have no regrets about our decision to start our family on this path.  Last year I ended the year feeling very encouraged that we had done a good thing for Jonah, because by homeschooling we were able to teach him in a way that he learned best.  However all of this does not mean that I homeschool with the utmost confidence.  The act of taking full responsibility for my children's education right now weighs on me, and I give way to worry.  God is teaching me to trust Him. When we started this year I knew that Jonah was still behind, but he continued work hard and progress so I had no concerns.  I had a meeting with his supervising teacher in November who tried to say that she was also not concerned, but wanted me to know that if we were enroll him now he would qualify for remedial help with reading.  Instead of being thankful that we were able to spare him from going to the classroom and being labeled "Slow," I was...

 Seriously painting This is his rocket and launcher made from K'Nex.  (I thought it was cool!)  Our 4th annual gingerbread house.  I buy a kit because I am not that ambitious.  Measuring out his duct tape to make a wallet.  So proud of his finished project.  And so sad that he has nothing to put in it!

We found a caterpillar and got to watch him turn into a butterfly.  So Cool!  I had never seen this before and I think I was more excited than the kids! Our homemade worm farm when we were studying "The Underground." Jonah trying his hand at being a blacksmith at Living History Farms. LHF-The broommaker's. And a little magic wand art project!

Last week Friday we had an ice cream party around here to celebrate a big accomplishment...we finished Jonah's kindergarten curriculum!  We started in July because I didn't know how much time we would take off after Elise was born, but as it turned out we didn't take off much time at all and now we are done!  So far homeschooling has been a good experience for us.  Sure there were many times that Jonah lacked concentration or a good attitude so I would send him outside to run a few laps and then come back in and get back to it.  (Um, truth be told there were a few days in there were I lacked concentration or a good attitude too!)  We started doing school in the morning, but then when Reuben dropped his morning nap we switched to the afternoon.  I never liked the math with our program so we did our own.  We have learned a few tricks as we have gone along.  My goals for the year were simple: teach Jonah his letter sounds, numbers and not co...

Summertime is such a good busy.  We have had another great week.  Our first week of school went well.  I was a little too excited about completing it.  I think it is because I feel rarely complete anything at my stage of life, and so it was good to know we can do something for five whole days in a row.  Plus the kids have something to show daddy every night when he comes home to prove we did something productive with our day.  Double bonus! This last week we had the privilege of hosting Jordan's Grandma for a few days. It was great!  The kids absolutely loved having her, well the older two at least.  Reuben wasn't so sure.  I should have kept track of the time that she spent pushing them in the swing and playing hide-n-go seek.  I am afraid we wore her out!  I fed her food she had never had in her 84 years, but she graciously ate it anyway!  She got to "do school" with us which I think (I hope anyway!)  she enjoyed!...