We started up with full-time school and activities this week. And I have to admit, I've felt myself being a little "edgy" the last couple days....a little overwhelmed I think with so much activity in a four day period (Labor Day being last Monday). But, I'm getting over it with the weekend here and some good rest in store. =]

Tuesday we had an awesome first day of school. It was busy, but very fun. And we actually stayed home all day, which we'll be doing alot more of this year. Believe it or not, the kids asked for a "schedule". So I spent some time over the summer taking an inventory of our subjects and extra actvities and made out a schedule for them to use on most days. To tell you the truth, I know it's not everybody's cup-of-tea, but for us (four kids and myself), it's what works best. I think I'd feel like we never got anything done or finished if we just "winged it" each day.

The school day goes something like this...

7:30            -      Rise and Shine!

7:30-8:00     -      Make Bed / Get Dressed / Eat Breakfast and Clean up / Brush Teeth

8:00-8:15     -      Pray / Pledges / Journal

8:15-9:00     -      Bible (Briar and Clara)

                         Bible and Science (Connor and Grace)

9:00-9:45     -      Language Arts (Briar, Connor and Grace)

                         History/Geography on SOS (Clara)

9:45-10:15   -      Reading / Vocabulary (Clara, Connor and Grace)

                         Typing (Briar)

10:15-10:30 -       Snack

10:30-11:15 -       Math

11:15-Noon -       History/Geography (Briar, Connor and Grace)

                         Language Arts (Clara)

Noon-12:30 -       Lunch

12:30-1:00  -       Latin

1:00-2:00    -       Science (Briar and Clara)

                         Drawing Journal / Computer (Connor and Grace)

2:00-2:30    -       Reading / Vocabulary (Briar)

                         Typing (Clara and Connor)

2:30 on       -       Variety of Outdoor Adventures, Physical Fitness, Games, Art Projects, and Building Sets

We're not playing any organized sports this semester, so the kids are thinking about gymnastics or once-a-week soccer clinics maybe starting up after vacation. Wednesday afternoons in October, we plan on starting an open-gym time at our church gym for exercising and games.

Thursday was our first fieldtrip of the year...an Archaeology Fieldtrip to Riverside Landing. It was so interesting. The kids got to tour the old farmhouse, built in the early 1800's by a Mr. Farnsley and his eight slaves. Apparently, he was building the home for his future wife, whose father had told him he'd have to have a home for his daughter if he was planning on marrying her. Sadly, she got tired of waiting and married someone else by the time he got it done!! After many years, the 400-acre property was bought by another family with 11 children and about a dozen slaves. The Moorman's went on to add over 1,000 more acres to the property and turned it in to a regular rest stop for travelers coming down the river. They developed quite a business of buying and trading, serving food to the visitors, and giving directions to their next destination. 

The kids were also able to take part in the current "dig" they had going. They were amazed to dig up everything from pieces of glass, buttons, metal and brick, to bullet casings, bone, coal, and Native American artifacts. It was SO exciting!! Later on, each child was able to make their own personalized clay brick, similar to the ones used to build the house. (They didn't actually "fire" their's though.)

A big surprise happened at the end of the day when we put two-and-two together and realized that the boy Briar had been hanging out with all day was actually one of our postcard exchange friends! His mom and I started talking and realized that we really knew eachother from sending postcards!!  It was pretty funny.

Well, tomorrow I'll share more on our scouting year ahead.....