It seems we have a lull in the craziness around here, for the most part. Like everyone else, we were busy with Christmas preparations, and we were sick (not all at once, thank the Lord) and then it was Christmas, and we had guests, AND my baby girl just turned 4 (Happy Birthday Noelle!), and NOW hopefully, finally, we can squeeze in a few weeks worth of learnin' before our baby makes it much anticipated arrival. (I really am getting excited about having a newborn around again. I think Katie's pictures are to blame).  

In all the craziness, we haven't been doing too much in the way of lessons - just Bible, some phonics, and a smattering of math, but I have been doing a lot of thinking and reevalutiong goals, and, most importantly, some serious training in my kiddos (and myself!). I have really been trying to be right there with them all day, too praise all their good efforts, as well as nip the bad habits in the bud, or fend them off when I see them coming. I have also been trying to use creative, or at least meaningful/ logical punishments, instead of just the same old same old. When a certain daughter colored all the pictures in her coloring book AND her sister's without her permission, she was sentenced to 5 days of no coloring at all. Considering the prodigious amount of coloring and drawing that occurs around here daily, it was a punishment sorely felt.

I've also tried to spend this time observing my Noelle and thinking about her learning style and the best way to approach lessons with her, because in addition to being a backwards dressing lefty, she is also about as completely different in personality and learning style as you can get from her older sister, which means, of course, that I am learning how to teach all over again. But she has picked up language astonishingly fast this past year, for someone who pretty much used the "point and grunt" method for the first three years of her life, so I am excited to started on some phonics with her while she is fresh.

And what is Ezekiel working on, you may ask?  Obedience. Enough said. But more specifically, playing quietly near  Mama (or Papa) without needing our undivided attention.  

Re-reading this, I realize it's kind of boring. But it helped me to write it all out, and hey it's my blog and I'll be boring if I want to :) YOU don't have to read it. But really, I don't feel like rehashing all that we've been doing since the last time I wrote. Like I read in a friend's blog, "I've been too busy enjoying life to blog about it!" But really, it's time to focus now, start off a new year right. And you never know, perhaps this fabulous new desk chair will encourage more exciting blog posts!

Isn't it purty? Thanks, Mommy! (I was sitting on an uncomfortable ottoman before). And even if I don't write, at least you can know that I am much more comfortable reading YOUR blogs now, which, I will admit, I enjoy much more than writing mine :)

Posted by EEEEMommy

I wanted to encourage you in the wise usage of your time! The things that you're doing certainly don't sound boring to me! You are paving a good foundation for the education that will come in the future! Sadly, few parents take the time to study and observe their own children, and they suffer the consequences for it! Focusing on discipline and character development now will reap huge dividends in the future! Be encouraged, and keep up the good work. It is time well spent!