Well, the good news is that we've started school.  But like my previous post on being "ready", I would argue that the word "start" is open for interepretation as well.  In our house "started school" means that the kids have completed two lessons in their English books (Rod & Staff English 5 for S and Rod & Staff English 3 for J), they have done some reading, and both have completed a few thank you notes from their birthdays (from late July, but better late than never, right??).

So, while other homeschooling families maybe have completed several weeks of their FULL curriculum, or are getting ready to start their full curriculum next week, we believe in easing into things around here. 

Well, truth be told, "easing into things" is just this mama's way of saying "I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO TO GET US READY TO FULLY GET GOING!!!"

That brings me to the bad news.  If you've heard of a homeschooler speak of "box day", they usually have a gleeful tone to their voice and a huge smile on their face; dare I say there is an almost maniacal look to them.  That should've been me because today we experienced box day; my huge order from Rainbow Resource arrived via UPS.

Yes, I did get to experience a short burst of joy as we opened the box and started pulling out our books.  The kids were definitely excited, and J, after Papa got home, had to show him "how much I have to do." 

I think the kids' glee lasted a lot longer than mine, though.  Reality soon set in as I gazed upon the piles of books that needed to be thumbed through by me in an effort to understand how to utilize them in our homeschooling.  And then after that, I must pull it altogether into comprehensive lesson plans.

So the bad news is the mountain of prep work I have to do this weekend.  And I'm mad at myself for being in this state so late in the game.

But remember the good news.............

Gotta see the glass half full, right???