Vacation

Home school benefit...a week at the beach in September! We stayed in a beautiful house, played at the beach and enjoyed a really wonderful week with our family. I'm ready to go back, tomorrow!

School

This will be my first year to really give home school a try. Last year I did teach Skyla to read but other wise she had the freedom to play everyday. A combination of believing in not rushing the learning process and having a new baby left our days pretty unstructured and open for whatever the day brought.

This year August and Skyla will take art, music, and drama classes on Mondays through a program for home school students. Also, Skyla will go on Thursdays for academic classes. We are also given assignments from the teachers to complete on the days that she is home. I think this will be a nice mix of school and home for us.

It has been really great to see Skyla approach her time away from home this year with such confidence and enthusiasm. Definitely a big change from last year. It has also been interesting to watch August walk on in her class room. Her art teacher tells me she is very social with the other kids and has become "best friends" with one of the girls in her class.

I am finding that my idea of home school is different from my reality. Right now I have days where I am so frustrated and I question whether or not I am making the right choice. I also have days where I really enjoy that we are home schooling and I feel confident about my decision. So... my plan is to try to hold on to the positive days and let this year take us where it will. I do know without any question that I am so grateful for the days that I have seen my children spend together instead of away from each other. I am grateful for the time I have had to get to know them and work on strengthening our relationship.

I will admit that I am already worrying about what decision to make for their next school year. If they are away from home, I hope this year will help us all feel more prepared and self confident. Also, with this year to make our own rules and spend most of our time how we would like. I like to think that I am extending their childhood a little bit longer giving them more time to rest and play and explore.

Reading To Jude

August does really well finding things to do and playing while Skyla and I are doing school work. Jude however... does not! Lately, August has asked to read to Jude and it seems to be working out for both of them. These pictures are among the many scenes I wish I could store in my memory forever.

Salt Dough Map

Skyla is studying geography this year for part of history. She had to create a salt dough map as a way to learn some geography terms. She really enjoyed the process of mixing the dough and making the 3D formations. I've noticed so far with her poster assignments that no project is complete without a least a little glitter glue somewhere. I think it is a nice touch.

Labor Day

We enjoyed a weekend away for Labor Day with family. This was the first time the girls have been on a boat since they have been old enough to remember it. They loved it! Jude had his first boat ride and slept very peacefully. Les skied but I don't have any pictures to prove it. :) It was a weekend filled with family, food and fun.