Posted in School

Where to begin...we have blitzed through the last 2 1/2 months!  We've done some traveling and field trips - visited my parents in Maryland for a week, took a hike at a nearby state park, visited Fernbank Museum, Weinmann Mineral Museum, and the Etowah Indian Mounds, and made our annual visit to Burt's Pumpkin Farm.  I am loving the weather and have finally decided that fall is my favorite season - I love the smells, the temperature outside, the colors, the activities...definitely the best season!

Both big kids were in swimming lessons (separate classes) in September and my daughter, quite a good swimmer, could not seem to let go of the wall and swim for most of the session.  My son was progressing so well that he was ready to move to the next level for October.  We found a new class that could accomodate both kids at their current levels, and they are both swimming wonderfully now.  My son, who was at a beginner level, can now swim several strokes without assistance, and my daughter has finally let go of the wall for good and is making great progress toward being the Olympic swimmer she dreams of becoming.  I can't wait to see them swim again - the September class worked out so that I could watch them, but in October it's later, and I'm putting the little ones to bed while they swim.

In schooltime my oldest daughter (8 now) is nearing the end of her Shillermath Kit I, and my son (6.75) is 2/3 of the way through it - we've also decided to use our Miquon math for variety a couple times a week.  My daughter is tackling Rod & Staff grammar, while my son is going through the R&S 2nd grade phonics book.  We're using Ambleside Online as a resource for read-alouds and poetry, and we've wrapped up Story of the World, Volume 1, and started in on Volume 2, with some Ambleside history reading alongside it.  For science, we're finishing up our unit on Rocks in considering God's creation and will study weather starting next week.  One of the best finds this year is Rod & Staff's Health & Manners workbook for 2nd grade - I've been covering a lesson a week from it with my toddler along with the older kids, and they all seem to enjoy it and learn a lot from it. 

As we move along, I'm considering whether to add in some music theory using Keyboard Capers, whether to insist on handwriting practice, and where to head for math for my oldest daughter when she finishes the Shillermath kit in 8 more lessons - I am thinking about buying the next kit. 

My younger daughter (2.5) is enjoying doing "school" with me for a short time each day.  Mostly we use the Sonlight PreK read-alouds and work with some math manipulatives (her favorite thing).  I love the way she is absorbing information now - I know what influences her and what she thinks about now because she tells me!  She loves to sing - real or made-up songs - and the songs she sings  are often about Jesus or God or Heaven.  Last week I prayed with her as she asked Jesus into her heart.  At first I wasn't sure she fully understood what she was doing, but hearing her talk and sing for the last week, there's no doubt that God is working in her, and that she understands far more than I imagined.  I'm just not sure whether she's been talking and singing like this before and I missed it, or if she just started last week. 

The babies are now 10 months old.  They are both saying "I love you" ...ok, it really sounds more like "I uh ooo" - but I am sure that's what they mean!  One has been saying Mama since a couple days ago, and I'm sure the other will follow suit soon.  Feeding time is interesting - they don't like to sit still for bottles but can't quite figure out the sippy cups either...high chair time is a messy time with a mix of baby food and table food. 

Our schoolyear church activities have begun again as well.  The kids join me Community Bible Study on Wednesday mornings, and the whole family goes to Awana on Wednesday, where Joe and I continue to help sign in the Cubbies (3-4 year olds) as they arrive.  I'm actually finding the time to get out of the house a couple evenings a month to sing in the church choir - something that's been a real blessing for me and the others involved.  I really didn't know how it would work out and didn't want to leave my husband alone with all 5 kids....but it worked out fine the first time.  For the second rehearsal things were a bit more complicated because it was scheduled at the same time as the older kids' swim lesson, but a friend stepped in to babysit the younger 3 - and despite a car that didn't work a couple days before, God worked it out for her to come and have a good time with my little ones. 

Our lives are busy this fall, but God is doing amazing things and revealing his love, truth, and faithfulness to our family.