Just some random comments about our first day:

• Go to bed on time. Go to bed on time. Go to bed on time.  I got sidetracked last night because I found out that friends from church are in the Ukraine adopting their 7-year-old little girl.  So, I couldn't resist reading all about their adventures and patient waiting.  At least it is a decent excuse, right?
  
• I highly recommend a slow start to the school year.  We are not adding in all our subjects this week, but by the middle of Sept. or so, we'll have added all we plan, and (hopefully) have gotten used to all the new routines around here as I intentionally start homeschooling Luke and including Levi in more purposeful activity.
  
• I measured the boys' height on the back of the door for posterity.  Please, Lord, let us live in this house long enough to see them grow !!   Here's a picture:
  
• We're back to using Dr. Aardsma's Math Drill.  I need something that is a no brainer for math fact drill, and this is what I have for now.  It is basic, but I think it is effective.  The program factors in accuracy in answering the problems and speed, and gradually increases the number of problems the child must complete daily.  I'm also going to take a look at Big Math Time to see if that will meet our need for math fact drill practice.
  
• Shhh! We never finished the last couple weeks of Noeo Biology I, so I'm making Hugs do the reading by himself and looking up the internet links.  I don't really care if we finish it, honestly, but it is giving him some purposeful activity so that I can be with the other two.
  
• One thing I'm really being purposeful about is placing our priorities first.  I actually got up with enough time to read my Bible devotional, shower, dry my hair (mostly), and eat breakfast.  WooHoo!  Also, the boys and I sat in a circle after breakfast and sang a couple songs for Giggles (fingerplays that he enjoys, and I'm teaching the other two about keeping the beat in music).  I've found most of our Band in a Box instruments, so I'll add those in to our morning as well.
  
• Oops!  I forgot our memory verse for today.  We had to run to the LL Bean store, because apparently the lime green backpack I'd bought for Hugs is too "girly."  Who knew? Anyway, we listened to a couple of podcasts I'd found at itunes, but I forgot about the verse.