Well, it's that time of year again.  Reams of fresh paper, newly sharpened pencils like bouquets of flowers (seen You've Got Mail...) notebooks clicking, books going up on shelves.  Our big box of ordered schoolbooks arrived the other day.  I didn't stir the pot, the excitement bubbled out all on its own.  The dog barked and wagged, children giggled.  Suza climbed on top while biggest brother scrambled to retrieve his pocket knife for the grand opening of THE BOX.  You would have thought we were prying open a chest of gold.  Paper was thrown aside, and the new books spilled out in all their gleaming freshness.  This year's theme is Eastern Hemishpere Exploration.  I'd heard of children who petitioned for school to start "NOW" but mine never had until this day.  The cries went up, "When are we starting school?  Can we do it today?" 

   "Sorry, kiddos, I'm not ready!" 

    "Well how about tomorrow?  Then Monday?" 

   Oh, I'm not naive.  I know the novelty will wear off and there will be sighs at some points.  But I savored that moment.  Boy, did I ever!  I've had to shoo DS1 away from the bookshelf.  Honestly, I need to hide the new books!  He sneaks off and reads ahead.  He's already finished his first two weeks worth of reading assignments and we're only on day 1! 

     I think my biggest challenge is how to meet everyone's needs.  Challenging and engaging everyone at their own place and spending that time with each in addition to taking care of the preschoolers needs and having learning experiences for them too.  I've been perusing ideas at P & P.  If you've never checked out Preschoolers and Peace, it's a wealth of sage advice and tips for accommodating the littles while homeschooling.  Not merely accommodating them, I should add, but really engaging and incorporating them.  I highly recommend this website to my pals just starting out in homeschooling as well. 

Not too excited are they?

Jamie heads off to the couch with his pick.

Just a sample of our new treasures...

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Posted by chickadee

great picture! they are so excited.

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Posted by shallbe

Look at those ham bones!!! Too cute! I'll check out that preschool site tomorrow! Thank God....for you!

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Posted by Anonymous

I thank the Lord for you too! I can't wait until our families are reconnected again! Sending a big hug from your Sistah living on a little island in the middle of a big ocean.

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Posted by amada

You're kids are so beautiful and totally happy! Yay. How are you doing? I haven't been able to keep up on blogs, mine or anyone elses either :( Just wondering...

Amy
:)

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Posted by

Cute kids! I hope their excitement lasts a long time! It was tough for me when my youngest was a toddler but she learned a lot just sitting at the table with us, doing her version of "school". She's 5 now and just starting to learn to read. Now if I could just give them each individual attention at the same time (and I only have 3!) That's a tough one. One way to teach patience, I suppose. Have a great first week!

Kate

Edited by callmekate on Aug. 15, 2006 at 11:30 PM

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Posted by EEEEMommy

I hope my kids respond with this same enthusiasm when the movers deliver our boxes Friday. It would be great to start the fall with eager learners, especially since we stopped early and abruptly in the spring and are going to have some finishing up to do in the "old books" before we can begin new ones. Maybe they won't seem "old" after 4 months in a box!
Continuing to pray that your house sells. Have fun on that cross-country trip too!
Blessings, Angel

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Posted by javamamma

I hope the excitement continues for a LONG time and you guys have an awesome year! It's good to have such eager learners and that preschoolers site seems to have some good ideas too. Your kids are incredibly cute!

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Posted by momofseven

Mine always enjoy opening "The Box," too. And I like new, sharp pencils with the whole eraser there. :-) Have a great year!

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Posted by Tiany

I love all your pictures, you have such a lovely family and the children are all precious!!!

I will be back to visit often and check out your Homeschooling!!

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Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

They look so excited. Cherish that NOW, because come winter.. LOL.. just kidding. The books look like such fun. Homeschooling a middle schooler and a high schooler - we don't see cute books like that much anymore.

Have a great week.

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Posted by sonshine4u

The kids have been campaigning (sp?) for us to start school...but I just need a few more days to get my house undercontrol! I am so glad you guys got your box! MOST EXCITING! Looking forward to diving into all our books too! My oldest woke up this morning and got dressed in a cute little outfit and said, "Does this look like I am going to school?" and I of course said...which school? ours? and she said, "yep!" with a big smile! I guess she's finally ready now too! Maybe we will start before labor day...hmmmmm!

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Posted by JenIG

what a fun post. your crew is soooooooooo cute!

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Posted by kindredspiritMom

How wonderful that the kids are excited about school. I hope it rubs off on me!!! I have thought about that line from "You've got Mail" about the pencils and I know that I need to go get a bunch of new ones (even though we don't need them) just for the experience of freshly sharpened pencils. Besides, everything is on sale now too!!
BTW, I loved your garden dinner. What a great accomplishment to grow food you can actually eat!!!!
Much love,
Michele

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Posted by grace4gayle

We love Sonlight. When that box comes it's like Christmas. We have been doing Core 3 with the older 2 and Core K with my younger 2.

You're harvest dinner looks yummy too!

Gayle

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Posted by shallbe

Would you hurry home!! I am DYING to hear about your camping trip!

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Posted by DandelionSeeds

LOVE the pics!!!

I was just stopping by to ask if you could please pass the word about the "Labor in Love" 30-Day Encouragement Challenge (from Revive Our Hearts) that we're doing beginning Sept. 4th? It would be great to have as many women as possible doing this (and I'm sure the husbands wouldn't mind either!)

In Him,
Amy

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Posted by blessedmom3

Those are wonderful pictures! Yep, the good old Sonlight Box brings back memories. We did get one this year for my 9th grader and she is enjoying Core 200 so far..... Happy schooling!
Cheryl

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Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

As if we don't have enough to do with homeschooling and such.. LOL..

Take a trip over to my blog. Copy the Homeschool MEME tag that I was tagged with and paste it into a new entry for you.. place your answers in and your all set..

Enjoy!

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Posted by Lindsey G.

You're awful quiet! Mops starts in another week!

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