We got started on school again last week and I am very pleased at how well it is going.  We started early because we got so little done last year, basically just keeping up with math and reading.  I had not fully realized how hard last year was until it suddenly got so much better.  Looking back, I can see that it is only the grace of God that has brought us through the last two years.  It is like coming out of the darkness into a bright new day.  Rebekah is SO MUCH EASIER now.  She still has her moments when she just screeches and wants to be held, but most of the time she is HAPPY.  She scoots around all over the house, exploring every thing she can.  She plays, she sleeps, she eats.  She is just a joy.  Ryan and Rachel are excited and eager to learn.

The positive side of barely getting anything done last year is that we are able to recycle last year's curriculum.  We are picking up where we left off (right around week 11) in Adventures in My Father's World with Ryan and officially beginning My Father's World Kindergarten with Rachel.  She really was not ready for it when we tried it last year, but she is flying through it now and loving it.  She is also doing much of Ryan's activities with him (and he with her!).  I can see already that I will probably not do all of the activities in either curriculum and just choose the ones that I think they will both enjoy and get the most out of.  It is fun to see them learning together and to see their different styles. 

Aside from Rebekah sleeping well now, I think the biggest difference in this year and last is that John and I sat down and created a good schedule for all of us.  We read Managers of Their Homes and created a schedule similar to the style they recommend.  It has blessed our whole family tremendously.  Ryan and Rachel are doing much less complaining now that they can see when an activity begins, when it ends and what is coming next.  They are doing chores without (much) complaining even.  My expectations of them in regards to chores has increased greatly and they are stepping up and really helping out.  Our house is much cleaner.  I still have two years worth of very minimal housekeeping to recover from, but I am tackling it slowly and the difference makes me feel so much better.  Not only am I striving to bless my family with a much more pleasant environment to live in, I am striving to be a better steward of the blessings God has given us.  It is amazing how much better I feel after a day of taking care of my responsibilities, rather than just spending the day laying around, just doing the minimum because I am exhausted.  I have discovered that laying around, especially on the computer or just watching TV, makes me feel even more tired.  Taking care of the house and the kids in the way I need to leaves me tired at the end of the day, but it also feels good.  I feel like I am accomplishing the task God has assigned to me and it feels incredible. 

I'll stop rambling for now and go play with the kiddos.  I took some pictures of their first few days of school and will post them soon - hopefully this evening.

God Bless!

We took our first field trip today to an Apple Orchard.  There aren't many apple orchards in Texas!  Today we learned why.  It is apparently hard to grow apples in Texas because we don't get cool nights at harvest time and bitter rot (?) is a problem, among other reasons.  Regardless, the apples were yummy!  The kids had a great time.  We went with two other families and there were several homeschool groups represented today.  We listened to a presentation about growing apples, the parts of an apple, what part bees play in apple growing, what part (good & bad) other creatures play, how to properly pick an apple and lots of other fun stuff.  Then we took a tour with Johnny Appleseed and saw a bee hive, watched the mechanical apple washer (like a car wash!), and got to see many other animals and plants on the farm.  The highlight of the trip for the kids was picking their own apple and eating it.  Yummy fuji's!   

 I wanted to post a picture but don't have enough available space in my album on HSB.  Anyone know another way to post pictures?  Do I just have to delete the pictures from old posts?

We officially started school this past week.  We are using My Father's World Kindergarten for Rachel and Adventures in My Fathers World for Ryan.  Rachel is also going to preschool two days per week at a local church, so my plan is to spread MFW K out over 1.5 - 2yrs. We are in no rush to get her through K.

We started on Tuesday and made it through just Monday & Tuesday's scheduled work in Adventures and Day One of K with Rachel.  We had so many interruptions - 2 therapy sessions and a Dr.s appt for Rebekah, and Dr's appt for me and car trouble on Friday.  I was pretty discouraged and talked to dh about just making next week our first official week.  He reminded me that this was a pretty typical week for us and we will have almost as many interruptions next week.  He very wisely suggested that we not try to stick to the MFW schedule and just move through each day as we can.  We will always have multiple therapy sessions, dr appts, etc.  We will just go until we finish the material, whether or not that is on a traditional schedule.  That is the beauty of homeschooling.  Sometimes I just need someone to remind me of the obvious!

The kids really enjoyed the work.  Ryan loves maps and we talked about the US map this week.  He also spent an hour looking through a $1 book from Target that showed each state with a lift-a-flap with capital, state bird and state flower.  He and Rachel both loved the letters dh & I wrote to them telling why we chose their names.  Thankfully, I thought ahead for once and made copies of all of Ryan's workbook sheets for Rachel.  She asked to do everyone that he did.  Ryan is anxious to start math and science, which we will do this week.  One of the things I liked about MFW was the light start to the year.  It is so incredible watching my children learn.  I love being there when they grasp a new concept.  I love it even more when they are just playing and don't even realize they are learning a new concept.  I feel very blessed to be able to homeschool my kids. 

I just signed up to be on the My Fathers World Blogroll created by Tamara at http://www.traininghearts.com/blog/ .  I guess it is time to start blogging about My Fathers World! 

We discovered My Fathers World at the local homeschool bookfair in May and dh immediately said "That's for us!". We tried peicing together our own curriculum last year and it was very difficult for two highly unorganized people.  I had very good intentions and planned to make a weekly schedule but that just didn't happen often enough.  The result was that we wasted lots of time wondering what we should do next.  I "lost" the kids during transtions to the next task because I took so long trying to decide what the next task was.  We need a little more structure.   

Even more important than structure, we need a curriculum that helps us naturally integrate Godly instruction into our daily lives.  Spiritual discussions were just not a natural part of my family life when I was growing up and, sadly, I find that I need direction in this area.  My primary goal when we decided to homeschool was to give my children a Christ centered education and I did not fulfill that goal well this past year.  I admit that a big part of the problem was that my relationship with Christ falls far short of my goal.  I got overwhelmed and my quiet time and personal Bible study were (are!) sorely lacking.  I am working on my own personal commitments and I believe My Fathers World will help as I strive to give my children a firm foundation.

The other thing that appealed to me with MFW is that, aside from K & 1st I can teach my children from the same curriculum.  I love that!  We are so excited to get started.  We will be using Adventures and Kindergarten.  I have been reading my (very well written) TM and am starting to slowly gather supplies and get things ready.  Wahoo!  I look forward to blogging more about our experiences as we get started. 

I was doing a lesson on explorers (we are starting Galloping the Globe) and we we talked about Lewis & Clark and decided to go on our own expedition to discover the northwest passage.  Our friend Katherine decided to be Lewis, Ryan was Clark, Rachel was Sacagewea (complete with baby) and Victoria was supposed to be the guide but insisted "No!  I Peter Pan!"  So we had Lewis & Clark, Sacagewea & Peter Pan. 

I am having the hardest time finding a schedule/routine that works for our family. 

This is what my ideal schedule looks like:

Wake at 6:30 - shower then quiet time for me

7:30 - R1 & R2 wake and play/have free time while I make breakfast

8:30 - clean up kitchen - R1/R2 make beds, get dressed

9:00 - start lessons - Bible (20 min), writing (5-10min), Math (20min)

10:00 - put R3 down for nap (usually takes about 10min) spend next hour reading to R1/R2, coloring, art project or science project

11:00 R3 is back up - feed her while older kids have free time

11:30 make lunch while older kids entertain R3

12:00 - lunch

12:30 - Reading lesson (20min), First Language Lessons (5-15min), history or geography (20min)

1:30 - play outside if it is warm or play a game inside if it is cold

2:00 - feed R3 & put down for nap, rest time for myself, R1 & R2

3:00 - chores, errands, etc

5:00 - begin to get dinner ready while kids play

6:00 - dinner

7:00 - playtime, baths, etc

8:00 - bedtime for kids

after that I would clean, prepare for next day, etc.

Reality looks more like this:

6:30 - I attempt to get out of bed but R3 wakes and wants to nurse (she sleeps with us most of the night).  I fall back asleep nursing her

7:30 - R1/R2 wake and quietly shut our bedroom door so that we don't wake up and they spend the next hour playing video games or watching TV

8:30 - R3 wakes and I realize that it is now 8:30 and the kids haven't had breakfast.  I throw together breakfast for them and they eat while R3 plays and I get ready for the day (no time for a shower now, I rush to wash my face, change clothes & brush teeth)

9:00 - R1/R2 are back in front of the TV and I spend the next 30 minutes trying to get them to get dressed for the day

9:30 (or later) - I get everyone together and we finally do Bible lesson (this is the only part of "school" that I require R2, my 4yo to participate in, so I need everyone together.)  then we do either math or R1 writes in his draft book (kind of like a journal).

10:00 - I get R3 to sleep while R1/R2 play in their room.  Since R1 & R2 are playing quietly (i.e. - not fighting), I steal away for a few minutes on the computer.

10:45 - Reading lesson, followed by me reading out loud while they color or play with legos or playdough

11ish - R3 wakes, I feed her then let the bigger kids entertain her while I search for something for lunch

Sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 - the kids eat lunch, usually while watching Between the Lions on PBS.  I clean a little on the kitchen or do some laundry.  I forget to turn the TV off and R1/R2 watch TV for the next 30 minutes or so.  While they are occupied I again sneak away for some computer time. 

Between 1:30 - 2:00 the kids want some attention so we play for a bit then I get R3 down for her second nap

2:15 - we might finish up whatever school we have left or we will all have rest time

3:00 - R1/R2 play while I feed R3 then talk on the phone to a friend or waste more time on the computer

4:00 - the kids want attention so I play with them for and hour or so.  I might attempt to do some laundry or other cleaning, but R3 is usually fuss around this time of day and just wants to be held.  Sometimes she will happily ride in the sling while I get some work done.

5:00 - I realized that I have no idea what to fix for dinner.  I wander aimlessly around the kitchen searching for ideas, surf the internet for recipes then realize it is too late to cook anything major so I throw together something at around 6:30pm.  Meanwhile the kids are fussing and clamoring that they are hungry.  The baby is fussing and doesn't want to be put down and everyone wants me *now*.

7:00 - we finally finish dinner (which the kids eat very little of because I let them snack while I was searching for dinner ideas) I attempt to get the kids to clean their room, which is trashed from playtime earlier.

8:00 -  give up on getting the room clean, instruct R1/R2 to get ready for bed while I get R3 to sleep. 

9:00 - everyone is finally in bed.  I know I should clean house and plan tomorrow's lesson, but I collapse in exhaustion, finally eat my own dinner, which I missed at dinner time because I was feeding R3 then I sit down in front of the computer, promising myself that I will only spend a few minutes answering email.  Next thing I know it is 11:00 and R3 is waking so I take her to bed with me.

In case you are wondering where dh is in all this, he works 10:30am - 7:30pm most days.  I usually try to let him sleep in because he suffers from insomnia and doesn't usually get to sleep untl 1am or later.  He usually helps get the kids to bed at night then he does the dishes and we collapse on the couch together for awhile.  He also does school on the one day a week I work outside the home.  He is better than I am at keeping the kids on track and getting "school" accomplished.

I know that I need to spend less time on the computer, get up earlier, even if it means R3 waking and clean before I collapse after the kids are in bed.  It's just tough to get in a groove when it seems I am constantly dealing with a high-needs baby or a 4yo who needs attention and a 7yo who needs structure.

How do you all do it???

p.s.  R1 = Ryan, my 7yo, R2= Rachel, my 4yo and R3= Rebekah, my 10mo old.  I am too tired to type out the names repeatedly.  R1, R2 and R3 is the designation Ryan gave them all. 

We completed our first full week of homeschool last week and it was great!  I had planned to wait until after Labor Day, but Ryan was driving me crazy begging to start so I gave in.    I don't have all of my curriculum in yet so we are doing Bible Study, reading time, math review in a work book and he is writing/drawing in a "draft book". 

It was an exciting (and scary) day when public school started and Ryan didn't go.  We went for a walk instead. 

I find it hilarious that everyone seems to think homeschooling moms are some kind of superheroes.  I don't tell them that it is much easier for me to homeschool than it is to get three small children up, dressed, fed and out of the house before 8am!  It is also very nice that I don't have to wake my two younger kids up from their naps to go wait in a long line to pick Ryan up from school.  I know it might not be so easy all of the time, but so far we are loving it!

Reasons to Homeschool:

I have more control over what my children learn

Instruction can be individualized for each child, rather than "one-size-fits-all"

Children are more protected from the influence of ungodly people

Can integrate faith and learning

Less peer pressure

Less need to wear the "right" clothes, listen the the "right" music, hang out with the "right" friends

Takes less time away from the family

Public school gets 15 minutes to eat - Ryan is a *slow* eater

Public schools are not safe - violence and drugs are a problem

There are no "school bullies" at home

The "teacher" knows and loves the child

Flexibility

I would miss them if they were gone for 7 hours 5 days per week.  That is 35 hours per week!

Ryan has suddenly become very tearful about the prospect of kindergarten, even though he has gone to part-time preschool for 2 years

More well-rounded social skills

Can build on existing love for learning, rather than losing it to public school

No "teaching to the test", which is a big problem here in Texas

No public school food - kids can eat healthy without getting made fun of - I don't want them to learn that veggies are "gross"

I don't want to have to un-do publich school teaching on certain moral issues and beliefs

No control over what teacher we get in school

Lots of active homeschool groups in my area

No permission sheets to remember to sign and send back

No homework

No lice! (lol)

Reasons not to Homeschool (aka - What I am afraid of)

I am very unorganized

I am very undisciplined

May lessen our contact with unbelievers

Too sheltered?  Will they learn how to deal with adversity and situations that are not ideal?

Financial cost

Time cost - can I homeschool and run a business from home?  We need the income from my business

I would have more time to develop my business if they were in school all day

Rachel would get more one-on-one time if Ryan was at school

I procrastinate

Will they get a good education from me if I don't have it all together?

Some family is against it

Hmmmm...looks like I have more praying to do.

Hello!  I am new to blogging, new to homeschoolblogger and new to homeschooling.  I am hoping that by writing out some of my thought processes, I can help cement in my mind the direction to go to start this journey.  I am *very* overwhelmed right now.  I never dreamed that there were so many ways to homeschool, so many choices on curriculum, so many choices!  I have learned alot by reading the blogs here and am currently reading several books.  I am reading The Well Trained Mind, The Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson and Homeschooling:  The Early Years by Linda Dobson.  Very interesting reading.  I also started Teach Your Own by Holt but did not finish it.  I may go back and give it another shot later.  For now, I find his portrayal of public school to be too negative and too one-sided.  I am just not at the point where I think public school is all horrible.  I have friends who I love dearly (and who are wonderful, godly, women) who are public school teachers.  However, I believe that God is leading me in a different direction for my family.  He has been leading me off the beaten path for the last several years.  Sometimes I wish I could just go back and do things the "easy" way, like everyone else does.  It is hard to be different all the time.  People treat "different" as a challenge to their way of doing things.  I am tired of being on the defensive.  One of the things keeping me from stepping off whole-heartedly into homeschooling is that I don't want yet another thing to have to explain.  However, I also know that God has not called us to an easy path.  I know in my heart that this is the right direction to go.  Homeschooling will allow me to integrate God's way more fully into our family life.  Although we haven't meant to, we have compartmentalized our life and God is left out far too often.  We are working hard to turn that around while our children our young.  I want faith to be an everyday part of life for my kids, not a Sunday and Wednesday thing like it was for me.  It has taken me way too many years to start down the path toward spiritual maturity and I do not want that for my children.  As most do, I want better for them.  I do not want better in a worldly, material sense, I want better in terms of godly wisdom, discernment, faith, understanding, spritual discipline.  I pray that God will make me ready for this journey and help me to fight against the negative thoughts that tell me that I can't do it, that it doesn't matter what I do, the kids will go their own way someday anyway.  Thank you for allowing me to be part of this community as I work through my own thoughts and fears.