I thought I’d share a few changes I’ve had to make to our schedule.

One:  We will only be studying history three days a week instead of five – M, W, F. (Due to a change in curriculum choices – I’m using Mystery of History along with my original choice which was Genesis through Deuteronomy and Ancient Egypt by Simply Charlotte Mason. Genesis through Deuteronomy is now my primary bible curriculum.)

Two:  I’ve also decided to read Proverbs M, W, F instead of reading every day (since Proverbs has 31 chapters it works well to read one chapter a day but I’m finding that this is too time consuming at the moment so we will read every other day and eventually will read every chapter by the end of the year - I hope.)

Three:  This is the biggest change to the schedule - I had Aaron scheduled to work with me last but this wasn’t working well for either of us so after much trial and error over the last few weeks and much switching of times I’ve finally (still somewhat tentatively) got our new schedule looking something like this:

8-9 Family Work (Bible)                                       

9-10 Family Work (History – M,W,F or Science – T,TH.)

10-11 Work with Aaron (and work with Caleb as I work with Aaron – Caleb can do his work without a lot of help from me.)

11-11:30 Nurse Ben/Family Work – Read Aloud

11:30-12:30 Work with Bethany (and Caleb if necessary)

12:30-1 Lunch

1-2 Naps/Rest – Work with Aaron (Elocution, Writing, Grammar) and Caleb (Reading), Bethany has quiet reading.

The rest of the afternoon is pretty much the same. You might have noticed that I no longer have a separate time to work with Caleb…this might change if he starts to need more individual time with me. If he does need more one on one time, then I will probably take 30 minutes away from Bethany’s time or move lunch to 1:00 p.m. instead of 12:30 p.m. or both. I might also work with him during Bess’ nap for about 30 min. Or I might just wing it and work with him as I have time. He is easy because he loves to work (with me) and he just "gets" it. If ya know what I mean.  

So far I haven’t had to drop any subjects, but I am finding that I’m having a hard time getting to logic and Latin as they fall low on the (importance) totem of subjects to cover. To remedy this I’ve moved these two subjects to just two days a week – Tuesday and Thursday.

One other tidbit…Spanish and Typing have been put on hold due to technical difficulties. Our desktop computer (which is the children’s computer) has crashed so we have been unable to start these two subjects. It is my hope to have a new computer within the next two weeks.

Finally Wednesday – we have Piano lessons from 10:05-11:00 a.m. which means we are gone most of the morning and once we get home I can’t seem to get us organized to do much schoolwork. My goal is to follow this schedule:

7-8 Dress, breakfast, etc.

8-9 Bible and history

9-9:30 Work with Aaron (and have Beth and Caleb do seatwork - or maybe just chores/play with Bess)

9:30 Leave for lessons

10-11 Lessons

11-1 (approx.) Lunch, Errands, Read aloud (as time permits)

1-2 Naps/Quiet reading or elocution/read aloud, etc. as assigned based on the above schedule.

(Is this just wishful thinking?!?) It will take some serious self-discipline for me to accomplish this (Wed.) schedule as time usually eats itself up on mornings like this, but I really want us to at least have bible before we leave for piano as I feel it is just too important to skip and somehow if I wait until the afternoon it never gets done. My other option (which is what I did today) is to make Wednesday my "out of the house day" i.e. - the day we go to the library, grocery, etc. But, it makes for a very long day for the little ones so I'm undecided.

Okay, I guess that wasn’t finally after all…I have one last thing…I haven’t been able to find time to read to Bess and Ben in the afternoon and I want this so much. Bess needs one on one time with me…and although I originally scheduled this at 3:30 p.m., it hasn’t happened. I’m going to have to really discipline myself to carve out 15-30 min. to spend with her/them.

I have a few more things I want to share, but I’m out of time so I’ll have to share the rest later (hopefully). Just to whet your appetite, I have a book review of a wonderful book coming up – book one of The Farm Mystery Series. (Yes, Donna, we’ve finally gotten around to reading them and we LOVE them! We are on book two and all I hear at night is "One more chapter please!" But, more on that next time.) I’m also going to share an easy way to do breakfast in the morning for young children.

Here is my daily schedule by half hour (actually this is my Monday schedule - there are a few variations day to day due to piano lessons, errands, homeschool functions and certain subjects - see previous schedule - that are only taught once or twice a week and are or are not mother guided).

When I create my schedule I start with Ben’s schedule and then plug in everything else I need to do around the times he eats, sleeps and naps.

Fall 2008 (or until Ben’s schedule changes)**

Morning

5-5:30 a.m. Nurse Ben (Other kids sleep; Ben goes right back to bed after nursing)

6:00  Quiet Time

7:00   Kids* up – they have their personal devotions and eat breakfast. Nurse Ben/Ben up

7:30-8:30 Dress/Chores/Kids start chores

8:30-9:30 Start Family Work:  Bible, Devotion, History, Scripture Memory, Catechism, Proverbs, Hymn Study (Tues. /Thurs. – Science; Tues. – review the Lord’s Prayer; Thurs. – Music); Ben goes down for a nap at 8:30            

9:30  Break

9:45-10:30  Math, Language Arts w/Caleb; Other kids work independently; Ben naps; Bess joins Caleb and or plays alone.

10:30-11:00 Math w/Beth; Aaron - typing or independent work; Bess and Caleb play.

11:00  Nurse Ben; Family Work – literature, Shakespeare (read)

11:30-12:00  Language Arts w/ Bethany; Aaron - free or finishes other work; Caleb – computer; Bess – Free

Afternoon

12:00-12:30 Logic, Language Arts, Math w/Aaron; Beth – independent work; Caleb reads to Ben and Bess

12:30-1:00  Lunch/ Afternoon chores

1:00   Afternoon Chores/free; Bess and Ben nap; others rest or independent work

1:30  Elocution, Latin w/Aaron; Bethany – keyboard; others nap/rest

2:00  Free or w/Beth if necessary; Aaron keyboard; others free or sleep

2:30  Afternoon Chores/Free; Kids free

Late Afternoon

3:00  Nurse Ben; Other kids have a snack/free

3:30  Preschool w/Bess; kids free

4:00  Bathe Ben; kids do afternoon chores

4:30  Start Dinner; Put Ben down for a short nap; Kids free

Evening

5:00  Prepare Dinner; Get Ben up; Kids take turns being Dinner Helpers

5:30  Bathe Bess; Kids free

6:00 Baths; Eat Dinner

6:30  Family Worship

7:00  Nurse Ben and put down for the night; Kids with Dad

7:30  Baths (if not taken earlier); Dinner clean-up; Free

Night

8:00  Kids Bedtime – brush teeth, bible readings, etc. ; Mark works

8:30  Mark works; I prep for next day/clean; children sleep

9:00  Evening chores or free; children sleep

9:30  W/Mark; Kids sleep

10:00  Watch news/Bedtime; Nurse Ben if necessary (no wake-time); kids sleep

10:30 Sleep

* *This schedule is a tool. It has been made to guide me through my day not dictate my day.

* Kids refers to older children excluding Ben

Here it is - our Fall 2008-2009 Weekly Schedule by subject:

Fall 2008 Weekly Schedule

		Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Family Work (All years)	Bible Devotion History Scripture Memory Catechism Literature Hymn Study Proverbs		Bible Devotion History Scripture Memory Catechism Literature Science Review the Lord’s Prayer Proverbs	Bible Devotion History Scripture Memory Catechism Literature Proverbs Picture Study Music-car	Bible Devotion History History Pockets Scripture Memory Catechism Poetry Shakespeare Science Music Proverbs	Bible Devotions History Scripture Memory Catechism Literature Music - read History Read-aloud Walk Proverbs (notebook)
Independent or Mother Guided-Work
Preschool Elisabeth		Literature Coloring Lacing Workbook	Literature Play-dough Workbook	Literature Blocks Workbook	Literature Gluing Workbook
Year K/1 Caleb		Devotion Chores/Habit Training Math Grammar Phonics Reading Spelling Writing/Copywork	Devotion Chores Math Grammar Phonics Reading Writing	Devotion Chores/Habit Training Math Grammar Phonics Reading Spelling Copywork	Devotion Chores Math Grammar Phonics Reading Writing	Devotion Chores Reading Copywork/Writing Drawing Personal Development *
Year 3  Bethany		Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Horizons Reading Writing Copywork Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Horizons Elocution Writing Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Horizons Reading Writing Copywork Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Horizons Elocution Writing Keyboard	Devotion Chores Fun Math Grammar Reading Personal Development * Keyboard
Year 5 Aaron		Devotion/journal Chores Logic Math Spelling Grammar Writing Elocution Typing Latin Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Reading Writing Dictation Typing Spanish Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Writing Logic Elocution Typing Latin Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Reading Writing Dictation Typing Spanish Keyboard	Devotion Chores Math Spelling Grammar Logic Letters to Family/friends Elocution Personal Development* Keyboard

 *Music – done in the car on Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays when necessary

*Thursday – run errands/ministry

*Bethany and Aaron - Piano Lessons – Wednesday and possibly Friday

 *Personal Development/Good Citizenship

Yesterday we visited a local vegetable farm and picked strawberries. It was such fun. Here are a few pictures. We ended up with four buckets just like the one above.

The "big" picture. (Actually, this is only half of the "big" picture. There were several fields. You can see a little more in the next picture.

Here we are. Yes,  believe it or not that is me. A rare find. Better bookmark it. (Ha, ha) From left to right...Bess, me, Ben (in the sling), Aaron, Bethany, and Caleb.

I wish I had this tree in my backyard.

Or Mark learns to relax.

Today we Mark painted the baby’s room. (He wouldn’t let me help.) I’m so proud of him because he did let the children help and he didn’t get stressed at all.

Here are a few pics.

(This room used to be Bethany's room.)

Jesus began to speak against the cities where he had done most of his miracles.  The people there had not turned away from their sins.  So He said, “How terrible it will be for you, Korazin!  How terrible for you, Bethsaida!  Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon.  They would have turned away from their sins long ago.  They would have put on black clothes.  They would have sat down in ashes.  But I tell you this.  On judgment day it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you (Matthew 11:20-22; NIrV)."

Immediately from Caleb:

Caleb:  I’ve turned away from my sins.

Bethany:  Did KK (one of Caleb’s many nicknames) accept Jesus in his heart? (She worries about this a lot.)

Caleb:  I accepted Him when I was born!

Bethany:  Does he even know what that means?!

Hmmmm…

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father.  You are Lord of heaven and earth.  You have hidden these things from the wise and educated.  But you have shown then to little children (Matthew 11:25).

This morning I’m tired. In fact this whole week I’ve felt out of it. I don’t know what it is. Yes, I know I’m pregnant, but still…I wasn’t tired last week. I was at peace last week. This week I’m not.

The children seem to be in the same funk. I think we feel about like the weather outside looks – gloomy.

Ah Lord, lift us out of this weariness. Fill our hearts and our home with Your peace. Motivate me. Energize me. Fill me up. Turn my eyes away from my curriculum and how tired I am of it…forgive me for not being thankful for it. Help me to see it as a blessing. Dircet my steps.

blessings,                                                                                                      

dani

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for God who promised is faithful. –Hebrews 10:23

Yesterday started at 1:00 a.m.

Caleb came rushing into our room. He said that he felt “funny” and that things were “spinning”. I reached out and touched his forehead.  Sure enough he was burning up. I pulled him into bed and sent Mark out to grab the thermometer, some medicine, and a cool cloth for his head. We prayed over him and a short while later he calmed down and we went back to sleep. Mark went out to sleep on the couch. (Sorry.)

Fast forward. Now it is morning.

Caleb woke up feeling better and with little or no fever (Praise God!) Elisabeth woke up grumpy. Still feeling out of sorts. Aaron and Bethany both seemed much improved. I’m thankful.

Elisabeth is making life very difficult. I spend some time sitting with her and then try to put her down for a nap – twice. No go. Now it is about 11:00 a.m.. We attempt to do a little schoolwork, but after awhile I give up and decide that we simply have to get out of the house. Elisabeth likes to “go, go” and the children seem a little better and I have errands I have to run soooo I call Mark and ask if he wants to meet us for lunch. He says yes. I spend a few minutes finishing up what we are working on then attempt to get everyone presentable. They are all already dressed, but there is hair to be smoothed and shoes to put on. This takes an inordinate amount of time but eventually we all get out the door. We are thirty minutes late.  Luckily, Mark is also running late so everything works out. I try to de-stress as I drive along. I’m praying. Suddenly Aaron screams that Elisabeth isn’t buckled in. In fact she is nearly falling head first out of her car seat. I praise God that I didn’t hit the car in front of me when Aaron screamed. Aaron buckles her in. I wonder what the cars around us think.

We finally arrive at the café. It is packed with business folk. No children in sight. I look at Mark and he asks if we should go someplace else. We decide to tough it out and pray that a table big enough to fit us will appear. God is good. By the time we make it through the serving line a large table comes available.

I am very aware of my children and of how old they are. Does anyone else ever feel this way? I wonder what the other folks are thinking. Then I smile and I wish they would ask. I almost feel sorry for them. The kids are great. We finish our lunch, kiss Daddy goodbye and head out. I drag the children to two different stores. (I really had no choice.) After the first store Aaron is lagging and begging to lie down. I tell him we will speed through the second store which we do because I am afraid that Aaron is either going to puke or pass out. Finally, we head home and I put everyone down for a time of rest and naps. Aaahhh…whew! I can’t believe I actually got the things I needed to done. I’m in a better mood.

Fast forward to today. This morning Elisabeth sees the pacifiers I bought for the new baby. (I had to buy a baby shower gift and couldn’t resist buying something for my new little guy as well - little Eli?) She asks about the pacifiers by pointing at them and saying “baby?” I tell her they are for the new baby. She looks the baby doll in her arms and asks again. They are different from her pacifiers, but she wants them anyway.

I say: No, these Nuks (they are actually AVENT brand but all pacifiers in our house are called Nuks) are for this baby. (I point at my tummy.)

Bess: Oh, baby. Yeah. (She nods, looks at my tummy, pokes it, then tries to pull up my shirt and look. She pats it.) Baby.

I suddenly feel extremely blessed. One of the things we say often to the children is “we have a great family don’t we?” They all respond with “yes!”  The neat thing is Aaron started this saying. I’m praying that they always feel the way they do now…because we really do have a great family. Yes, I really am blessed.

blessings,

dani

From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise. –Psalm 8:2