Well, it has definitely been forever since I've updated this blog and that's something that I want to remedy. Sometimes though I find it so hard to keep up with not only homeschool this clan of mine, but to keep up with blogging about it. It just feels as though there isnt enough hours in the day, but I've decided while trying become organized for the upcoming school year, I will also become organized enough to keep up with blogging here.

We're going to be starting our school year a bit earlier this coming school year since we need to finish up a few things from last year. Taking about a month break really did wonders for both myself and the children on the homeschooling front. We were just becoming too "burnt out" so a small break was definitely needed.

The glories of homeschooling I've found is working at the childs own pace and that's something that I've needed reminding of from time to time. I suppose spending all those years in public schools myself still finds it's scheduled and structured timeline lurking around my brain. So sometimes I would find myself pushing myself and the children to stay onboard with that type of thinking. I'm praying hard for that mentality to leave so we can hopefully be more relaxed in our schooling and schedules, because life does tend to "happen" and get in the way of what I and feel we should be doing at any particular moment and time.

So for the next couple of weeks I will be working hard to get more organized and ready to finish up the things needing finishing and then hopefully we can slide into the next levels work in a smooth fashion.

Hoping everyone is having a great summer break and happy homeschooling everyone!

Today was a busy yet fun day. We had a "Park Day" with our homeschool group this morning. Of course trying to get 5 kids, 2 of which are 3 yr old twin boys together to leave the house is not an easy task some days! So, we were late leaving home heading to the park, but finally got there and of course the kids jumped out of the car, ran full speed ahead to play on the playground with the other kiddies :)  It was nice to be able to sit outside in the beautiful weather talking to other homeschooling Mom's within the group, although I find sometimes I dont have alot in common with them other than homeschooling our children.

Unfortunately we didnt get to stay too long because I had another engagement to attend later on this afternoon with my husband. There was no putting that off, so I had to literally pull the kids away from the playground and their friends kicking a screaming (the boys had a total meltdown) because Mommy had to go home and start getting ready for the next thing on her agenda *sigh*

The upside to the whole thing was the boys actually took their naps with little to no resistance today, they normally give me a run for my money when it comes to napping, which makes it hard some days. The downside to this is we got very little schooling in today as I wanted due to my busy schedule once again! UGH...I just cant wait until my husband moves on to his next unit as that will leave me completely out of any volunteer obligations I hold here at our current unit. While I've already given up the majority of my volunteer work (that started when my husband deployed in 05') I still feel if someone asks for my help or opinion I give it our of "good manners" which usually leads or ropes me into more than what I bargained for LOL :)

Anyway, so that was our day...cooked steaks on the grill for supper tonight, yummy with french fries...the kids always love that dinner and it's quick and easy for me, which is always a good thing! This weekend will be full of preperation for the upcoming school week as our new schedule kicks in on Monday morning...I really cant wait for that as I'm so ready to buckle down and get this school year over with...I'm really looking for a long summer vacation this year LOL :)

Blessings to all those who read my blog here and from our family to yours, we keep you all in our thoughts and prayers! Have a great weekend and....

Happy Homeschooling Everyone!!!

Gosh, it just seems we're in this rut and cant seem to get out of it. I'm finding it harder and harder to become motivated to do school. Maybe I just have too much on my plate. I've recently unloaded some responsiblities I've had outside of the home and am hoping now that those are gone I will have more time to become more motivated on the homeschooling front.

Anyway, guess maybe I just needed to get this off my chest. I'm redoing our schedules so we can get more schooling in during the mornings so the afternoon's will be free for play and outings and such. More concentration is definitely needed on all levels, so scheduling and major rule changes are in need. Hoping to really get it together so we can finish out the year on a good note.

We are heading on a homeschooling field trip/family vacation next month. Heading up to DC to see all the monuments, museums etc... a walk through history. Much like we did last year at Colonial Williamsburg, that was so much fun and the kids learned tons. Now it's on to our Nations Capital to walk through history on the political front which is fitting considering our Presidential Election is this year as well. We are all really looking forward to it and are hoping to learn tons and tons about our countrys beginnings, our past and present President amoung other historical events! I'll definitely be adding a new entry with pictures after our trip!

Well, suppose it's time for me to close as dinner is ready to be cooked and the family needs to settle down for the evening. Here's wishing from our family to yours many blessings and a wonderful evening tonight!

Happy Homeschooling everyone!

Lastnight we stayed up late, snuggled up in our backyard with pillows and blankets and stared into the sky watching the Lunar Eclipse...it was a great night of learning and observing God's great wonders and how awesome our world truly is!

Hoping you all had the same opportunity as we did to see this great thing...here are some pictures we took of the eclipse...not as clear and nice as I'd have liked, but still beautiful all the same!

Blessings to you all and once again....HAPPY HOMESCHOOLING!!!!

I know it's been a while since I've posted on my blog...homeschooling is doing great so far this year, but that's not why I write this posting tonight.....

Well, I write this with sadness in my heart tonight as I've been given some bad news. My Aunt (my Mom's sister) was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She's 75 yrs old and my favorite Aunt, the one I have always been closest to. I lost my Mother last year in August to a brain anurisim and now I face the possibility of loosing my Aunt to breast cancer.

Seems the type of cancer she has is fast growing and in order to get it all they will have to remove her entire breast, and even after that they will still do chemo incase they cant get it all with the surgery. This is all happening so very fast, as her surgery will be on Tuesday.

Anyway, I will be making an emergency trip to be family support for my aunt and her family going thru this tough time...I'm praying that all turns out well, that the cancer will be taken out completely with none left behind. That she makes it thru the surgery with flying colors and will recover wonderfully. That hopefully chemo will not be horrible on her!

So while I'm standing in this prayer for my Aunt, I ask all of you out there that read my blogs and pray to please remember and place my Aunt Maxine on your prayer list as she/we need all the prayers we can get.

Prayer works and our God is a Mighty God, who is the true physician and a healing is well within his ability and hopefully will be the blessing he bestows upon my aunt!

Thanks for all those who read this and stand together with me and my family in our prayers for her! Blessings to you all and your families  

Well it's almost been a full 2 weeks since we've started schooling and boy are we learning tons. I've kinda become overwhelmed a few times, but quickly bounced back with ideas on how to put things needing to be done in perspective.

Tiffiany is learning about climate, latitude, longitude etc... in history now...she's having a ball learning how to read a map, finding places and then finding their longitude and describing the climate there. It's fun to see her so excited about learning, and I'm amazed sometimes at how quickly she catches on!

Tara is doing wonderfully too as we're currently learning about libraries and how they work, who invented the first library and how many books they had in the beginning. Hard to imagine there were only 35 books in the first library in which Benjamin Franklin started. We talked about how only rich people had books because it was so expensive to print and bind books back then, and that usually a family only had 1 book and what was that....the bible, our Lords Word!!! What a glorious book to have too!

The older children are having a good time learning, although Charity I believe really longs for Physics to disappear  but she's going along, maybe at a snails pace, but that's okay as long as she retains the information she's learning!

We have lots to get this weekend, we have science projects to do, to include a solar system model to build with Tiffy & Tara for their science class. I'm looking forward to it all as I'm having so much fun with my children learning at home, it's got to be the most wonderful and satisfying thing in the world...God is so good to us isnt he!!!

Blessings to you all and your families and I hope the Lord continues to bless you all with wonderful happenings in your homeschools, lives, and in everything you all do! Remember most of all...HAPPY HOMESCHOOLING!!! It truly is a blessing from the Lord to live this life!

Well we got through our first official day of school this year and it was great fun! The older ones werent all that happy about getting up early, but quickly got in the groove of things. We did Bible study, Science (Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science & Astrology) today, along with reading, handwriting, spanish & french...of course those are all the subject done today by everyone, nobody has all those subjects this year LOL :) It was a good day!!! Here's some pictures of our first day of school...

We even had our first science experiment of the year with our daughter Lindsay...had to fill a glass 3/4 with tap water, add 1 tsp of baking soda stiring well...then attach wires to a 9 volt battery, then put other exposed ends into the water solution...the experiment was to stay active for 10 minutes...we watched the water bubble from the wire (indicating electric current)  and also watched as time passed the water turn blue, along with the wire end that was connected to the postive terminal...it was a neat experiment and one we enjoyed very much....Lindsay got a kick out of it for sure...here's some pictures of our fun science experiment today...

Well that about does it for what happened here in our homeschool day! Hope everyone's day was a great and productive as our was and remember....HAPPY HOMESCHOOLING and God bless each and every one of you and your families :)

Well here we are, the last weekend of summer...labor day around the corner and Tuesday starts a new school year for us. We are all excited about the upcoming year and cant wait to learn new things together! Our school room (of sorts) is ready with our timelines and other learning aids up on the walls and just waiting for us to put them to use! I find it funny sometimes that a Mom can be as excited about schooling her children as I and other homeschool Mom's do get this time of year. I also find myself thanking the Lord for all his blessings, for leading us down the homeschooling path and for giving us his guidance and strength to acheive this task he's laid before us.

While my two youngest daughters cant wait to start schooling, my oldest 3 (2 daughters and 1 son) arent as excited or "on pins and needles" to get going with our new year. They are teenagers of course and are sad to see summer coming to an end once again. That's not saying they dont enjoy homeschooling because they do and are thankful daily they are learning at home. They just tend to get a slow start in the beginning of the year as they long for summer to still be a vibrant reality

So we'll be here enjoying our last summer weekend, relaxing and mentally preparing for the new school years arrival in just 3 days! Happy homeschooling to you all out there and may the Lord rain down his many blessings upon you and your families!!!

Ever feel as though your swimming in a sea of lists of things you need to get? That's pretty much the way I feel right now. Seems I'm constantly adding to the supply list of things we need before we "officially" start school in about 2 weeks. My mind keeps coming up with things we're going to need, wanting to make sure we have enough of everything to make the first few weeks of school run smoothly.

 Sometimes I feel as though things running "smoothly" is a pipe dream, although I have found the Lord leads me through the process I find as a mountain I have to climb, and he turns it into the easiest downhill slope ever.  I think it's just the anxiety of a new school year with all the children schooling at home, it is our first year with everyone at home. I know the Lord wants this for our family, and there for will guide us through it, down the path he wants us to follow. So trusting in the Lord is the greatest thing we can ever decide to do, and that is exactly what I'm doing...trusting in my Lord and Savior because he will never lead me astray.

So, while I make my lists and eventually go out and buy my tons upon tons of supplies for this new school year, I will be praying the Lord helps me to remember all that will be needed to have a GREAT school year in his glory!!!

Blessings to everyone out there and may the Lord send down his blessings on you and your family!!! Happy Homeschooling everyone!

Well we're finally finishing up our Biology course. My son has enjoyed this course and is now doing the disections needed to complete his labs. We saved this for the end of the course and learning a lot through the process. I didnt realize how much I'd have forgotten from my Biology class in 10th grade, but then again that was a LONG time ago LOL

Next year (which starts in about 3 weeks for us) we will be doing Chemistry, we're both looking forward to that as we both have big hopes of what we will have fun learning!

Here's some pictures of my son Tyler disecting his earthworm with the help and direction of his older sister Charity who's already done this course! I love it when they help each other, what a glorious joy to see them interact together in a loving and helpful manner...one of God's many blessings for sure!

Well, looks like we'll be hunting down a new curriculum for our oldest Math requirement...we were planning on using Teaching Textbooks pre-calculus program, but sadly they will not have it completed in time for the new school year starting this fall. I'm extremely sad about this as that program is awesome and was the perfect program for our non-math friendly daughter

So, now here we are looking for a new curriculum and I'm at a loss. I'm not strong in math either and now I've got to find something that's going to be easy to teach etc...hopefully with some searching we will find something that we both (daughter & I) can get through without too much pain and frustration. My husband is the usual Math teacher, so maybe with his help we can find another "perfect" curriculum to use for her.

The joys of homeschooling...there is always an issue or subject that is in need of finding a creative way in teaching your children. One of the things I love about homeschooling our children for sure, it's also one of the things that can be annoying when your pressed for time in a situation

Here we are gearing up for our new school year. Organizing and making lesson plans for 5 children isnt exactly the easiest thing in the world, but is part of preparing for the next school year. This is only our 2nd year of homeschooling and we are looking forward to it being a great one Schooling 5 out of our 7 children will be exciting and challenging especially since we have such a wide array of grade levels to cover (12, 10, 8, 4 & 2nd grades) wow, looking at those number is overwhelming to me at times. I know though through the Lords grace and guidance our school year will be packed full of learning, fun and blessings.

I decided this year that I needed to be more organized so I bought the "Homeschool Tracker Plus" software to make lesson plans, track assignments, grades, etc... and am finding as I'm working through it to get things on track before starting school it's a great program, one I believe I'll get many years of use from in keeping myself and my children organized in their daily lists of what needs to be done. I so wish I had known about this program last year as I do believe we would've been much more organized than we were through out the year. Live and learn right

So as I prepare for the school year and the children become more excited about starting we find our house buzzing as everyone tries to wait patiently to begin again in learning and fun! The beginning of September marks the start of the new year for us so it wont be much longer before we're schooling in full swing again!

Blessings to everyone out there and most of all HAPPY HOMESCHOOLING your families