curriculum

This is what the kids will be studying this year. (This is mostly for my own records, so feel free to skip this post if you want =)

Conner -- 9th grade

• Algebra (Saxon; class at FACE)
• Physical Science (Apologia; class at FACE)
• Drive Thru History -- America
• Literature Guides from Progeny Press
• 50 States Under God
• Spanish (class at FACE)
• Writing Strands
• Spelling Power
• Typing

Chase--6th grade

• Math-U-See
• Apologia Science -- Astronomy
• Bible Geography(class at FACE)
• My Father's World history -- Rome to the Reformation
• Literature Guides from Progeny Press
• A Reason for Handwriting
• Spelling Power
• Spanish (class at FACE)
• Chess (class at FACE)
• Typing

Brenna --4th grade

• Math-U-See
• Apologia Science -- Astronomy
• My Father's World history -- Rome to the Reformation
• Primary Language Lessons
• A Reason for Handwriting
• Reading program (Options class)
• Spanish (Rosetta Stone--Options class)
• Sign Language (Options class)
• Art (Options class)
• Piano (Options class)

Aiden -- Kindergarten

• Sing, Spell Read and Write
• A Reason for Handwriting
• class at Options

As a family, we'll work on Our 24 Family Ways as a devotion.

new season

It officially feels like the end of summer to me now. Scott and all the kids spent the weekend in the mountains at my parents' house. Know what that means? I had the house to myself. All weekend. Just me, myself and I. Oh, and the cats.

I had planned to just rest all weekend and do some planning for school which starts next week. But I started thinking of ways our various bookshelves and storage areas could be better arranged. So Saturday I did way too much cleaning and moving of things. And I felt it afterward. I was so sore all night.

But I was much smarter today. I did the weekly grocery shopping and spent the rest of the day planning. This evening and tomorrow morning I'm actually going to rest like I'd originally planned.

This school year promises to be challenging. Last spring when I realized how hard it would be to homeschool a high schooler while juggling a newborn (not to mention the 4 kiddoes inbetween), I panicked a bit.

Scott and I prayed about it and I started looking at different options. We are still going to homeschool, we both felt strongly that it is still God's will for our lives. But I decided on a little help. Last year the kids took a couple classes at FACE, a private school that offers classes for homeschoolers, but they were mostly for fun. This year Conner will be taking some high school courses that will take a bit of the burden of me. He and I will still work at home during the week but he'll also have outside assistance to help keep him on track. Chase also opted to stick with FACE.

For Brenna and Aiden, I found a program funded by the public schools. This took a lot of thinking and prayer, but I feel good about our decision. They will attend on Mondays. Brenna has 6 different classes and Aiden will stay with one teacher and do a Kindergarten program. Again, we'll still school at home the rest of the days.

I'm hopeful that between these programs and our curriculum for home, everyone will get what they need this year. And I'm looking into some ideas to make up activity boxes for Zane to keep him busy and involved each day.

This is our tentative schedule for the year:

Monday -- Brenna and Aiden to Options 8:30-3:30 ; work at home with Conner and Chase
Tuesday-- School at home
Wednesday-- School at home
Thursday-- Reserved for field trips, bowling league
Friday-- Conner and Chase to FACE 8:30-2:30; work at home with Brenna and Aiden

For extra-curriculars this year, we have girl scouts, boy scouts, church choir, AWANA, bowling league, gymnastics and swimming.

We begin our new school year on Tuesday. I can't wait!

children's museum

I met a friend at the Children's Museum a couple days ago, with the 3 youngest kiddoes. Alas, the older 2 have long outgrown it.

I love this picture of Zane holding hands with his buddy, Jayden.

Brenna was a great help with the younger boys.

Acting like monkeys

The little store has always been a hit with my kids. Zane loved pushing the cart around, gathering "groceries". He even had the concept of scanning them down. Too funny!

Peekaboo!

MMM...strawberries

We went on a homeschool field trip this week to pick berries. They didn't have a great harvest this year, but there was still plenty to pick and eat while picking. We hope to go back within the next couple weeks once the raspberries are ready.

They also had a new little pig on the farm. The kids just loved her. She was so calm and sweet. I want to trade my dogs in for pigs!

Ladies day out

Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with a few of my favorite people. We met for lunch at Pei Wei and then toured the Parade of Homes.

It was fun to look at these houses that are so far out of the realm of practical that it's ridiculous.

Why does one need five T.V.s on one wall?

This is a shower. One shower. That fit all these ladies.

And no pictures, but all the houses had refrigerators with four drawers of freezers underneath. Most had at least one other fridge or freezer in a pantry area. Almost all the homes had large wine cellers, one had its own small brewery. Who needs these things, I ask?

Okay...it would be nice to have a deep tub like this.

Or the double set of washers and dryers one house had. Or the large mud/craft room. Or... LOL

I really wouldn't want all the upkeep a house this large would need, but it was a lot of fun to walk through getting small decorating ideas and talking with my girls.