Homeschooling

This is our 3rd year to homeschool.  I decided to post since Kelly at Kelly's Korner is hosting a Show Us Your Life - Homeschool Ideas.  She is wanting us to be able to share ideas of how we do it or curriculum we use.  I decided to do question and answer post.  These are usually the questions I get asked when others are thinking about Homeschooling.
1.  What does your 4 year old do while you teach the boys?  She is right there with us in the school room.  She colors, writes, draw or paints.  The boys include her in their school work.  One may take a break to play with Ella while I help the other one.  It just works.

2.  What curriculum do you use?  Sonlight mostly for reading.  We use Singapor Math, IEW for writing.  I have introduced Total Language Plus for my older one for reading.  We use Apologia Science.  We do a co-op with the owner's of Apologia Science.  Incredible family

3.  How do you help everyone?  I write out their assignments for the week on an assignment sheet.  When they need me, they ask.  If I know we need to discuss something first, I will put SEE ME on their sheet.

4.  Do you attend a co-op?  Yes.  For the past two years we have done co-op.  We come together for Walk Thru the Bible, Science, Social Studies, and Worldview.

5.  How do I start?  Go to the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Instruction website,  Ask alot of questions to people who are already doing this,  search the web

6.  Do you use one curriculum?  No,  I use Rainbow Resources to order many of our material

7. Do you plan to do this through high school?  yes.  I have always been told - take one year at a time.

8.  The term Homeschooling means?  This term means different things to different families.  Each family does what works for them.  That is the beauty in this.  We do what works for our chidlren.  Our children are not looked at as 1 of 23 children in the class.  Many families decided to homeschool not for academic reasons.  There is more to this than "academics".  We strive for high standards in the academic area but our children are asked to do many other things. 

Homeschooling our children is such a blessing everyday.  We enjoy spending time together.  The thing I noticed as soon as we pulled our children out of school was time.  I was amazed at how much school dicitated our time.  We are free and able to make up our own schedule now.  Love it. 

Homeschool was a calling from God for me to step out of my comfort zone.  Well blessing have come our way over the pass 3 years.  We are 2 weeks away from accomplishing the 2010-2011 year.  Plans are already being made for the next school year

Garrett will be in 7th,  Seth in 4th and Ella will be a big Kindergartener.  Let the fun begin.

Disney Dream 2011

We had a wonderful vacation.  We sailed the Disney Dream May 8-12.  The new boat was very cool.  The technology that is included on this boat is over the top.  The Oceaneer Lab is very interactive.  Jeff was very excited that he was able to go with us this trip.




The Aqua Duck ride was neat how you could see out over the pool deck.  We enjoyed plenty of ice cream cones, unlimited soda and watermelon. 

Thanks for a wonderful vacation Meme.  The children were already trying to schedule the next trip.  Disney Dream I am sure we will return.

Cinco de Mayo

Of course, the mom had something up her sleeve.  Crafts - two were so excited, one just participated to make his mom happy.  We made shakers (Maracas) and hats (Sombrero) for our table decorations.

Ella was thrilled.  This girl loves to paint.

Seth enjoys working and crafting.  (The hat never leaves his head these days)

Okay, whatever you say mom!  Garrett doesn't grump or complain because he knows just do it.  It is easier to do what mom asks.  He claims to be a good sport.

Happy Cinco de Mayo - Yummo!

We had Chicken Taquitos - new recipe

black beans

salsa/chips (we went by the mexican place and bought their yummy chips)

cheese dip

Fancy glasses with non-alchoholic Margaritas

festive napkins

Seth's place

We tried new things.  Enjoyed time together.  I think this is the longest supper we have had in a while.  It seems that we sat at the table for 45 minutes or so.

Garrett had football practice so we didn't eat supper until 8:15.  I think everyone was very hungry.  Memories in the making.

So now our thoughts shift to

This amazing vacation:  ahhhh Disney Dream we are coming for ya!

Next week we sail on this new Disney Dream

Who will be the first to try out the slide?  It goes out over the ocean -

The Disney Dream hit the water in January for its 1st trip.  We take the same route we took last year but we can't wait to see the new boat.  Thanks meme for making this happen for us.  Clothes appear in every corner of my house.  Pile here and pile there.  Suitcases come out today. 

Sunshine here we come:  5 glorious days

We really are celebrating big birthdays this year.

Mom - 60

Amy 40

Garrett - 13

Seth - 10 (double digits)

Ella - 5

Happy Early Birthdays to Everyone

I'll Do It

Ella is sleeping on the other end of the couch.  I guess Gabby decided she needed to be the guard dog. ha!  At ballet, Ella has been dancing to the theme song for Clifford.  The beginning of the song goes, "A girl and her dog. . ."  Well that is what I thought when I saw this picture.

Okay here is the new all by myself attitude this girl has.

pouring her own juice

working at the lid

So proud

Yummo!

Ahh!  my heart just swells when I think of this precious little lady.  She was so proud of herself. 

Just Because . . .

I had to include this picture.  I am getting so sad but happy at the same time.  She is getting very close to being 5 years old.  How did that happen?  I like this picture.  Her hair is down with no hair bow.  She looks so big with her hair.  This is how she like to wear it now.  She tucks it behind her ear and off she goes.

Lately, she wants to take a bath by herself, dress herself, pick out her own clothes and do things for herself. 

We think this is the same bird from our bird adventure earlier in the week.  He doesn't fly yet.  He has been hopping around in the pineneedles.  He is sitting on the wood.  He is hard to see.

On of Jeff's buddies from work came over to get the garden ready to go.  Guess who was fascinated?  Ella.  She went right outside to watch Freddy (in her pj's).  She asked if she could drive the tractor.  Freddy was so nice to her.  He truly let her drive the entire way.  After she finished, she gave him hugs, said "thanks 100 times, and then came inside and drew him a card.

Okay we have 2 boys at our house as well but the little girl was the one outside with the tractor.