I have observed that Michael is the most focused in the mornings, so thats when I try to do book work. This morning he read 3 pages of Cowboy Sam. He wasn't really into it today but he did a pretty good job anyway. I was glad they were short pages.

After that we worked on Counting. He counted to 100 (with me reminding him of 30, 40, 50, and so on). After that I had him trace and copy the numbers to 20 on a piece of paper. He only got to 9 and wanted to stop. I wanted him to keep going but he simply would not and I finally gave up the battle after he at least traced them all.

When Archie got home from work we took a trip up to the mountain to see the snow, I am sorry to say I have never taken my boys to see the snow before today. They loved it! Gideon seemed especially thrilled. They threw a few snowballs, built a snow man, ate a little snow, and ran around with the other kids that were there.

Gideon is starting to surprise me, first by counting to 10 (almost by himself), and pretending to write. I want to see about teaching him to write his name, he may not be quite ready yet but I want to test it out and see. I can't remember how old Michael was when he started writing but he was pretty young.

Jason tried to take a step towards me the other day! He had pulled himself up on a chair and I was taking pictures, then he let go of the chair and tried to come to me! He fell on his head of course but I cannot believe he actually tried! I was so surprised, he's only 6 1/2 months old.

When people say to my mom "Oh, I  could never homeschool, I don't have the patience". She says "You don't homeschool because you have patience, you learn to be patient by homeschooling".  I think she's right, I think you learn more patience through homeschooling than you do sending your kids off to school. I am learning but I'm not there yet.

One day I was in line at a grocery store and the lady in front of me turned around and said "Wow, you are really patient". It had been a longer than usual wait. I replied "On the outside anyway!".

So often that's  how it is out in public. I act patient for other people. At home it is another story, I often show my impatience. I think in order to teach my children patience I need to model it for them, in and outside of the home. Lord, please help me!

Another thing my mother taught me that I think will really come in handy for homeschooling is that if I can learn, I can teach. If there is something that my kids need to learn that I don't know, then I can learn it first in order to teach them! If it is something I just can't wrap my brain around then I can find some way to teach them, either through video, CD, book, or another person.

When I wanted to learn Sign Language my mother found sign books for me. When I needed help with Math my dad helped me because it wasn't Momma's best subject.

I think the most important lesson she taught me about homeschooling was that the most important thing I can teach my kids is to learn for themselves. If I can teach them that then they will be learning for the rest of their life. I can teach them how to read and them teach them how to find a book on whatever subject they are interested in. I can teach them how to talk and how to ask the right questions. I can help them learn to look at things from every angle. I can show them how to properly use the internet for research. I can teach them how to take  notes to help them remember the important things.

Maybe my mom wasn't the perfect homeschooling mom but I did learn a lot from her. I hope that my kids will learn a lot from me.

I have a million reasons for wanting to homeschool but honestly? I am homeschooling because it seemed the most natural thing in the world to do. You see, I was homeschooled myself. I never attended public or private school at all. I grew up at home with my parents and 4 siblings. I learned at home, in the back yard, on the road traveling between California and Texas to visit family, at church, in my neighborhood, at the beach. And I learned at my own pace.

I am the oldest of 5 kids. My parents first heard about homeschooling when I was about 18 months old and knew that's what they wanted to do. There weren't many other people homeschooling at that time, at least not that they knew. We moved to California from Texas when I was 6 and there were a few more people in CA who homeschooled. It's amazing how many people homeschool these days! I feel so blessed to have so much support.

When I was 25 years old I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). I had always known something was "wrong" but never knew what. I sought an evaluation after reading about adults with ADD and thinking "Wow, that's me!" The Psychologist I saw said I was very "lucky" to have been homeschooled because I probably would have failed in public school. I think she is right. Although my mother did not know what was "wrong" with me she knew that I did not learn the way others did. I did not read until I was 11 years old but she was so patient with me. A year after I started reading I was 2 grade levels above where I was supposed to be!

Homeschooling just seems like they way it's done to me. It would seem weird to send my kids off to school everyday and hassel with homework every night. Teaching my children at home, at church, on the road, outside, that seems normal to me.

I can teach my children the way that works best for them, even if each of them learn best in a different way. I can watch them grow and be the biggest influence in their lives. They won't have the pressure of getting homework done before class or pressure to fit in with other kids at school. They will have many opportunities to learn many different things. If they are interested in a subject, then they can study it because their "school" offers all subjects. They will learn to get along with people of all ages because they have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and people at church around them all the time.

I have many reasons to homeschool, but mostly, it just seems normal.

Michael did really well reading his book today. He almost didn't want to put it down! I think one thing that helped is that we started before 10 AM. He always seems to do better when we start early.

He read 4 pages of Cowboy Sam. And he read them well! He only needed help with a couple of the words. Gideon repeated every word that Michael read for about 2 sentences but Michael didn't like that much so I made him stop. After Michael was done reading I read to them.

I am going to try and remember to get my mom's Ray's Arithmetic books next time we go see her. I meant to last time but forgot. While I'm at it I'm going to take another look at her McGuffey Readers too.

So, I went to Grocery outlet today with Michael and Gideon and could not resist the stuffed animal back packs for $8 each. Do they need them? No, not really. But I bought them anyway. I bought them a kite each but they were only .50 cents a piece so I don't feel too bad about that. My husband is never angry with me for spending money but I still feel like I shouldn't have done it. Oh well, Archie thinks they are as cute as I do.

Yesterday Michael and I practiced some manners. I would walk out of the room and every time I returned he would stand up until I sat down. Then he would stand again until I was out of the room. He thought it was a lot of fun. Maybe if we keep practicing he will eventually do it automatically. We also practiced hand shakes. Holding a lady's hand rather than firmly shaking it like you would a man. He always kisses ladies hands, you should hear some of them gush over what a gentleman he is. I think to myself "well, we're working on it".

Today while Jason, Gideon, and I took a nap Michael decided to do an art project.

When I woke up Michael says "See how I decorated the house!" Obviously very proud of himself.

He used up a whole roll of tape and taped peanutbutter baking chips to several pieces of paper and one trash bag! Then he taped them up all over the kitchen and hallway!

We had a brief talk about how we need to use tape wisely and not waste it and then I took pictures of his masterpieces. LOL. If I ever figure out how to upload pictures I'll post one of his creations.

Now he has divided his dice into two different "armies" and they are waring against each other. Jason is watching with much interest.

 Jason is worse this morning. He won't nurse, won't even suck on his thumb (and he loves his thumb!). Archie is taking him to the Dr this morning. I am staying home with the other two. I sent a bottle of milk with him just in case but I doubt he will want it. I just hope he will get well soon. I am praying so hard for him.

I hate it when my kids are sick.

On a positive note, Michael brought me the cowboy sam book last night and read two more pages!

Update:

Archie and Jason got home. They diagnosed him with a sinus infection. They gave him a breathing treatment there because his oxygen was low. The Dr perscribed a steroid and an antibiotic. She also said his ear was a little pink so I am going to keep up the garlic oil and homeopathic meds.

I'm gonna keep praying too.

Archie was only home for about an hour today. He was asked by the pastor to join a special men's leadership discipleship group that starts tonight. I am so excited and proud of him for being part of this! But did I show it? No. I just pouted about being home all day and night by myself with two wild boys and one sick one.

Jason is doing better, he's actually nursed about 3 times today and is smiling again! He is obviously not completely better because everytime I put him down he starts crying within minutes but at least his fever is gone and he is nursing.

Ok, I think I need to write a letter to Archie. I don't know when he's coming home so I'll probably leave it for him by the front door.