It's quiet time here.  It's imperative that we have quiet time here in this family...or else things happen.  Like little cute two-year-olds start taking the keys off of laptops... It's not pretty when quiet time doesn't go well!

Things are settling down a good bit since our traveling has ended for a little while, and I thought I'd share what's working for us when it comes to homeschooling.  I hesitated to share this at first but decided that everything that I've pulled from to create our own system was something someone shared.  I've never been one to enjoy a schedule that's attached to the clock.  Routines...not schedules...have always worked for me. 

However, things change.  A new season has come, and my crew has had almost a month of successful schooling with this new schedule in place.  It is attached to a clock.  Something that I've certainly had to get used to.  Ethan has a hard time with independent work during quiet time, but it's improving, slowly but surely. 

We started our year with a far different schedule that was NOT working.  We were...ummm...not happy at the end of the day.  I stopped everything and worked and changed and tweaked something that would work better for us.  And it has.  I know this is small, but my Excel trial edition expired, and I haven't converted to the full version yet. 

I've continued to adapt this but I haven't changed anything except the following:

Breakfast takes much longer than 15 minutes.  Chores and day of the week chores take much longer, too. We don't start any school until 9:00 or 9:30.  Other than that, it's pretty much on the money.  That and the fact that I feel like I'm running in circles when it comes to clutter and toys with the girls.  They are right there for most of everything!  (I've decided to invest in cabinet locks after picking up the contents of our plastics cabinet for the fourth time yesterday.  Deron concurs.  I used to always like using that cabinet to train.  Well, it ain't workin'.)  Oh-- and personal projects usually turn into chores that didn't get done that morning.  Traveling hasn't helped.  I get so far behind every time we go out of town.  I anticipate some fun/necessary projects coming up this fall!

The enthusiasm between the boys is hilarious.  They're polar opposites when it comes to schooling.  Daniel came to me in tears last year because he wanted to learn how to read, and Ethan is still on a quest to find a job  that doesn't require much reading.  For the most part, things are going well, and I'm very thankful for that.

Sausage and bean soup is on the stove and cornbread is ready for the oven.  It's feelin' like fall around here!

Yesterday was Ethan's first day of kindergarten, and it was Daniel's first day of preschool.  I'd say that, overall, things went very well.  The boys have extremely different perspectives on school, however.  When they each woke up, I asked them, "Are you excited about starting school?"

Ethan responded with a very sleepy and sluggish, "Noooo..." 

Daniel hopped out of bed, ran to put his "waking up clothes" on, and asked Deron, "Daddy, did you know it's my first day of preschool?"  And he stayed that excited all.day.long!

Ethan remembered a lot of the things we did last year, so it made our day much smoother.  Daniel was thrilled that he had his own book, and to be honest, he did learn how to hold a pencil and trace the letter "A." 

It was a good day. 

It took all of two days for me to realize I needed to reevaluate and "revamp" our homeschool schedule/ routine!  We were all  (myself, included) sort of "melting down" at nap/quiet time.  I had to figure out a different Plan A because I could tell that my whole family would be miserable with our previous routine.  Our new schedule has made such a difference.  Today has been so much more pleasant!  Although I know some days are going to be more difficult than others, I can already see that this is a far better way for our family. 

In other news, I walked into Hannah's room the other night, and she was standing in her crib!  Luckily, she wasn't standing on the lowered side which I, immediately, lifted and locked into place, lest she tumble out!  She's only 7 months old today!  Is it right that she's pulling up onto furniture and trying to furniture walk?  Is it normal?  It ain't right, I tell ya!  Wasn't she just born?  Didn't we just get home from the hospital with her, like, yesterday?!!  This is nuts! She's growing up faster than my boys ever did! Or have I just forgotten how fast they've grown? Hmmm...

Ethan, "reading," during his quiet time.

Again, red eye problems?  What am I doing wrong?  I did whatever I did right on the pic below.

No pics of Daniel-boy since he's sleeeeeeeeeping!

Have a great day!

I thought this was very encouraging.  I found it at Less of Me~More of Him .  This is dedicated to all you homeschool moms that I admire and am able to learn from.  Thank you for all that you do for us newbies!

  Ode to a Homeschool Mom

As a wife, mother, and home educator
You are the embodiment of life, love, and laughter.
Even at times when you do not feel respected,
You are adored by the children you’ve directed.

Your chosen career means there is much to do,
For you are your children’s best teacher, too–
Training them to walk, to talk and say “please,”
Reading, writing, math, and social studies.

You can give a lesson and bake a cake
While tying a shoe and mending a break.
You take kids on field trips and nature hikes,
While setting up play days and movie nights.

Gathering books from the library, you strive
To read aloud and bring history alive.
Rather than measuring by height, grade or year,
You track their growth by the character they wear.

You are a modern “Renaissance woman”
Instructing every one of your children
In all of the fine arts and sciences
While you also pursue your own interests.

You are a housekeeper, nurse, cook, janitor,
Counselor, cheerleader, and a whole lot more.
You teach your children for most of the day,
And you listen to what they have to say.

You always put your family first
And do your best to fix every hurt.
Your heart is full of compassion showing
You are quite wise and always knowing.

Your life is not as glorious as some,
With many days taken up by tedium.
You rarely get what you truly deserve,
As anyone else would surely observe.

But even amid the worst of all days,
Happiness is found in a special way.
God is your strength and Jesus is your mentor;
As you honor Him, He blesses your endeavor.

by Teri Ann Berg Olsen