Our Schedule (again)

The girls at their homeschool gymnastics class! So I am totally aware that I only seem to post when we have a schedule change. It seems like we always have a schedule change. My hubby is finally on a regular job (for the first time since we have been married) and a routine seems to be falling onto place! It is so nice to feel some sort of normalcy. Our current "schedule" is: Clean up and love on babies in the morning until around 10:30 - 11:00 Start pre-school with the girls around 11:00-12:00, while the we do that T does all of his handwriting, spelling and math. If he needs help he is welcome to ask anytime. After that is lunch then naps for the little 2 or 3 At night we do all the rest of our work, usually Language Arts, Reading, and Science. T still struggles very much with focus during the day but he is getting so much better at writing assignments and math that I never even have to tell him it's time to get them out. When I say it's time for pre-school he gets his books out and heads to the desk. He almost always can get through his work with no help if I have explained it well before I begin reading. The biggest problem has always been reading, in fact I almost hired a tutor because I thought he just wasn't getting something (that I was also missing) but one night over the summer while we were laying in my bed with a school book he read the whole thing. I realized that the problem might have been timing and focus more than ability. Now that we save that for night time, when we are alone he does great. No focus problem at all at night time!!!!!! He sounds out the words he doesn't know and zips through a story in no time! It is so rewarding to see your child reading and know that it is because you sat by his side patiently (for the most part) until he was able to comprehend. Looking back I think a lot of our issues stem from the fact that he is a boy and his brain is wired in a way that makes slowing down difficult. Homeschooling is a journey that for us has been wonderful. I can't imagine ever sending our kids to school, it is so much fun to watch them learn! I am so thankful that God has led us down this path!!!

Covenant

Tristin, tonight you and I were talking at bed time. I said that I was thankful that you came before any of the girls or Grey and you smiled big. I told you how badly I wanted a boy when God gave you to us. I told you of your umbilical cord being knotted and how you could not get food or oxygen if God had not sustained you! You were shocked, I explained that our doctor (the same man who delivered me) came to me and shared that he wasn't a believer but he knew our God had performed a miracle because you shouldn't be alive. I told you that was part of your testimony. That even as a newborn God used you to show his power. You thought a moment and asked if I wanted more kids after you. I reminded you that God gave us four more. You repeated your question, implying that I had not disclosed everything in my answer. So I told you how badly I wanted more kids because I did not want you to be alone and Kait was only here part of the time. You smiled and said that's how we got Bella, I shook my head and you stared back at me puzzled. I gently told you the beautiful story of three babies who never took one breath of air on this earth but their lives birthed four more. You wondered aloud why they weren't able to join our family on earth and if we would know them in heaven. I tried to explain God's providence to you the best way I could in six year old terms, that those babies may have been very sick and would have had to endure much pain, but because God loved them (and us) so much he did not allow them to suffer even one moment. I assured you we would know them in heaven and Granny is able to be with them now. Then you asked a question far beyond your years, "why did God even allow you to get pregnant with them then?" A question I myself have pondered so many times before, yet the answer is more clear to me than most things will ever be. To increase mine and Daddies faith, I told you that faith is believing in God even though we can't see him. You said you wanted to be a christian when you grow up, I told you you don't have to wait until you grow up, you said "I don't?, then I will be one when I am a teenager!" I told you that you could be one now, that because you are young God has been with you and in your heart but to be a christian is to ask Him in because you want to live a life that pleases Him and brings Him glory. You said you wanted to ask Him in right now, so I lead you in ( a not so eloquent) prayer, stopping in the middle to define every word I said so we could both be sure the words you were offering up to your Savior were fully understood. After we prayed you said you didn't think you were going to get the job, I was a bit confused but then you elaborated. You thought it was doing something for God, I explained it was being someone for God. That you are a christian while you are sleeping, playing, drawing, swimming, in the shower, everywhere and all the time you seek to bring glory to God by the fruits of the Spirit of God in your life. I tucked you in and left the room, a few minutes later you came to find me. You said an angle came to visit you and told you that God has something for you to do for him, and thank you for taking God into your heart. We chatted about that for a few minutes then I took you back to bed. You said you wanted to call everyone to tell them that you are a christian now, you wanted me to drive you to peoples houses to tell them about God, you wanted to wake up Bell to see if she wanted to be a christian too. I told you it's not time for her yet, that I want to wait until she is old enough to ask have the understanding for herself. You told me you though God wants to be a missionary, and asked me to help you pray that you would know what God wants you to do for Him. We prayed then you asked me if you could have your own Bible, because Kait has her own but you don't. I told you that Daddy and I will take you to get one very soon! You wanted to go right then, I informed you it was after 11:00 and the Bible bookstore isn't open! You asked me if I could write on your head that you had asked God into your heart so that you didn't forget, I told you that I didn't think that would work (since you can't read quite yet) and so you asked if Daddy could cut your hair tomorrow and we could spray paint it on your head. That question might have made me laugh under normal circumstances but I knew that the Holy Spirit working through you. Deuteronomy 6:4-12 are verses that I hold very close to my heart, they are my parenting life verses but I have never made mention of verse 8 aloud to or in front of you. "Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. It was not a random six year old thought process that brought that to your mind. I shouldn't have been surprised but I stood amazed in the presence of God in my bedroom you my son. Whenever you feel that know that you are in the presence of a Holy God.

I am so proud of the person you are growing into, you let me peek into your spirit so often and I am amazed at how much love, gentleness and tenderness you possess. Tonight I will crawl into bed with dishes in my sink, clutter on the floor and wet paintings on every counter and desk surface available and know that I spent time with you today in the Word and was blessed enough to be the one who was able to lead you to the feet of Jesus.

Hudsy Girl!

Hudsyn; my dear, precious, sweet and loving girl: YOU ARE CRAZY!!! I have heard of terrible two's but those stories don't even scratch the surface of the tings you think up. I need to clone myself at least twice just to keep up with you. In the past year you have created quite a name for yourself, everyone that knows you has come to expect great shenanigans from you. Sometimes they are funny, more often scary. As a matter of fact, just this very second I asked your brother to locate you and he found you on the counter, clipping your teeth with toe nail clippers. I can't quite wrap my mind around what goes on in yours.

Most recently you have painted your entire body (meaning to paint your toe nails), I thought you were sleeping. You inadvertently painted your carpet as well, it now needs to be replaced. Then another time you painted my carpet. I am not at all sure of the details of that.

A couple of weeks ago you climbed up onto the counter and got into the medicine cabinet in the kitchen, you proceeded to take a men's multivitamin, a children's tums and a metformin. That is how I came to know that you could open the kitchen gates (which, by the way most adults can not open). We just got back from vacation a few days ago, you guys were watching a movie in the camper and we were in the barn. Aunt Cora popped her head in and let us know you were (again) eating medicine. Uncle Brandon was already checking on you and you told him you ate one, as you spit them out in his hand he counted six.

A couple of nights before left for vacation Kait was sweeping the kitchen floor so she put the bench by the counter. I went to get Bell some jammies out and you came to me with you hands behind your back. When you pulled them out to show them to me they were blood red, I was panicked, until you said "I probably, um, I probably painted myself". I ran in the kitchen to see what happened and you poured out liquid food coloring on the counter. It got onto the floor, the walls and the fridge as well. It took me over two hours to clean.

When you were a little baby you would scream every time we were in the car, not cry scream but super loud, super high scream. Nothing was wrong, you just wanted to hear the power of your voice. I pray my sweet Hudsyn that you never forget that power, each time you pray you say God is whispering a secret in your ear, you say that he has a present for you. I think that present is gift. A spiritual gift that God has gave you at the time of conception. Your name means charismatic adventurer. That has proven to be so true already. Your personality is different than any child I have ever met. It is a bit overwhelming as a parent but I know that plays into the gifting that will be used for God's glory.

You are charismatic and an adventurer and I couldn't imagine you any other way! I love you!!!

In The Last Three Weeks

Had School - on the porch, lots of shade a nice breeze and plenty of nature to enjoy

Willow Metro Park - had a picnic, played on the playground and the kids went on a row boat with Daddy

Turtle Cove Waterpark - there was a storm, waterpark shut down, we came home ate luch and went back

Heritage Park - picnic and we walked while the older two rode bikes

Great Lakes Crossing - shopping and lunch (weather not so nice, so we ended up here)

Erie Metro Park - grilled kabobs, played on the playground, kicked around the soccer ball and enjoyed watching the boats on the water

Toledo Zoo - Bell's birthday choice we didn't see many animals but we did play in the stream, climb a rockwall, watch ants work in tunnels and see how bee's work in their hives. We went on the safari train to make ourselves feel better about being at the zoo and seeing almost no animals!

Back to Turtle Cove - swimming with Miss Sarah, Garbriella and Angelina

Went to visit Papaw and Mamaw (I think twice)

Bought new bikes for the kids and ourselves and pull behinds for the littles

Went out to dinner - at Old Chicago Grille and at Big Bear Lodge with Popaw for Fathers Day

Re-did Bell's room for her birthday

Went to Kait's fifth grade graduation - my how the time flies

Somewhere in there all of the kids got sick with cold or croup and Chad had the flu. We have been really busy, but having so much fun. We really do love having a big family, it is so cool to see them enjoy each others company.

What a Typical School Day Looks Like!

Baby Grey learing to walk (posted purely for Nana's enjoyment)

Miss Mae laying in momma's lap listening to me read the Bible

Tristin & Bell researching the venus fly trap

Desk T "invented" for doing school at.

T trudging through math on a cold crabby Monday. Hudsyn wanting to make herself a craft

Picture of me T took while Kait was reading to us

Kait reading Dr. Doolittle to T, Bell and a the neighbor kids,

she was guest teacher on take your child to work day

Hudsy making playdough creations School on the back deck Learing to measure

Tristin exploring nature

Bell examining a lilac after reading "How Flowers Grow"

T doing math in the backyard on the playpen mat

We overheard Hudsyn in the car today sharing with no one in particular: I didn't found the guys, I found Jesus. By the guys she means her siblings. It melted my heart coming out of the mouth of my two year old. Thank you Jesus that you give understanding even to little children.

Good Times

Our school days are going well. Our routine right now is all of our reading is done at night after the babies are asleep. This is because Hudsy and Grey are very loud during read aloud time. Breaking up our day works for other reasons as well, the kids are still small and have very short attention spans and Kait get to soak up the rich literature we have the privilege of enjoying every day. We are working toward having family worship time every night after reading. That has been a lot of fun.

The day before yesterday we all sat on the floor in the living room and Tristin sat in the box for our trampoline net (pretending it was a boat) and we did school that there. I started to take pics but my camera battery went dead.

Yesterday we took off official school and did life school. I took all the kids to target and we picked out some decorations for Daddy's birthday. We came home and made cupcakes and decorated. Tristin can break an egg like it nobodies business and is learning how to use measuring cups and turn on the oven. I also let him, for the first time, try to take the cupcakes out of the oven. He did great. We had a ton of fun. The kids were so excited to "surprise" Daddy when he got home from work.

I am finding more and more after our busy weekends (with three hours of theater on Saturdays and church on Sundays) I can't wait until time for school. It is my favorite time during the day. Nothing is more enjoyable than teaching my kids. I never dreamed that we would enjoy homeschooling this much when we began. I am so thankful God has led us down this path.

The Week That Wasn't

This week started off quite well. We did school Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. Tristin counted by 10's on Wednesday and got to count the play money he got for Christmas to do his workbook problems. He really liked that and math seems to come very naturally to him. Chad got to see his skills firsthand as we were at the dining table instead of kitchen table. I thought it was just me who noticed his inclination!!! The kids are enjoying The Family Under the Bridge, they like when the hobo says oh, la la! That was the beginning of our week. Then Wednesday I came home from picking up pizza, began dishing it out and Bell threw up all over the kitchen. Chad and I drug our mattress out to the living room floor and slept by Bell's room. Thursday everyone else seemed okay. We layed on our mattress and watched movies the kids. Thursday night Tristin got sick, then Hudsyn, then Chad, then me and then Kaitlynne. Sweet baby Grey was the only one spared. We all survived and I finally got everything cleaned and sanitized and toady. Tomorrow we will not be doing school because Chad and I have doctors appointments so Tuesday it will be. The kids were asking to do school today so by Tuesday they should be begging for it, or not, we'll see!

School Days!

Clearly I haven't posted weekly or beyond the first post, ever. There were a lot of things going on that took precedence over blogging. Since we have moved and are a more settled I would like to attempt that weekly post. Right now we are completing a little over 1 weeks worth of school in 2 weeks. We are going to do year round school so we have slowed our pace down a little bit. Not sure what school will look like after the next few weeks when Azalea Mae arrives. I don't see it being much more difficult. My lack of sleep will take time to adjust to but that should be it. We are enjoying Sonlight, the stories are great and the layout is so easy. I am thinking about looking into using a unit study curriculum next year. I think that in a few years all the reading with Sonlight may be a bit much. Also Tristin is an active move around type learner and I think that might suit him better. We'll see. That is all that is bouncing around in my head right now. Will (try) to post next week a little more in homeschool detail.