It's been awhile since I've posted what we're doing in school.
Currently, we're working on a medieval unit. This is a unit that I've looked forward to starting since Aubrey first began school in the more formal sense.
 As a child, I always enjoyed the stories of knights and damsels in distress.
But, of course the children and I are finding out that this time in history was far from romantic. In fact, it was a harsh time and many people suffered from poverty, plague, and ignorance (hence the Dark Ages).
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis are our selected read-alouds while working on this unit.
The third book in the series, "The Horse and His Boy" is the one we're currently reading. Lewis is very clear in explaining that his books are not an allegory of Christ such as John Bunyans' "Pilgrim's Progress."
As for the movies that Disney has made based on "The Chronicles of Narnia", the children haven't watched them as they are too loosely based on the books and a bit too instense for my liking. We have watched the BBC versions which are nearly word for word.
Recently, we attended our 4H Achievement Banquet where Samuel and Lillie received awards for giving both a demonstration speech and a "talks" speech last year. 
Lillie receiving her award while Samuel (blue shirt) is walking up to receive his.
We have a very active Cloverbud group (ages 5-8) and a wonderful group of adult volunteers that make it possible for readying these young kiddos for the responsibilities and work that 4H entails.
Our family is very similar to yours as we are busy about "training our children in the way they should go." Although, it seems that from now until late spring things will pick up a bit more for us. Due to the large amounts of rain we received this past spring and summer, our fall has been remarkably more beautiful than those I can remember in the past. We have seen so much more variations in color and the intensity of the reds, yellows, and oranges has made it so much more alluring.
Quite honestly it's rather difficult to stay inside when so much beauty is waiting for us outside!
Our house is nestled in amongst Post Oaks and Blackjack Oaks. So this means lots or raking and burning leaves in our future, but that's okay because it makes for great exercise!
Before signing off, I just wanted to mention a fellow Homeschoolblogger's blog that I just happened onto a couple of months ago. Mica at The Child's Paper Academy has a gorgeous blog that is both beautiful to the eyes (due to her obvious photography skills) and informative where crafts and recipes are concerned. One of my favorite posts is found here , entitled, A Club Cottage. Her blog is a real treat. Thanks, Mica, for sharing your talents and love for learning!
I hope your week has been going smoothly and productively.
Blessings to you and yours as we seek and strive to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in all that we say and do!
Julie
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Nov. 4, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Thanks for stopping by the other day--I've been busy enough that I couldn't get back over here as quickly as I'd planned, but it is always a treat. Sorry about the spaghetti fixins--I'd probably rack my brain trying to figure out how we could save it. As the daughter of parents who grew up during the Depression, I've never been one to waste food (and I've got the hips to show it!)
I feel you on the age difference. I'm 1 year older than my husband, but as I see more gray creeping into my hair, and he's losing weight on the same meals that keep me, well, you know--I feel as if he found the fountain of youth and forgot to bring me along. Something very strange happens after 40--I'll have to talk to God about it when I see him.
We're covering Medieval history on next year, and I thought about, as you said, one of my favorite stories, The Once and Future King. I think the oldest has on her list Sir Gawain and the Green Knights(?). Anyway, we, too, are wrapping up the Chronicles--the kids chose those instead of the LOTR trilogy. I think they were jaded by the movie previews. Funny, C.S. Lewis alludes to his Horse and His Boy in The Silver Chair as 'a wonderful tale.' Too modest, that fellow, huh? We've started The Last Battle, and my oldest already doesn't like it--the lead character is too manipulative and deceitful, she says. Well, if nothing else, we're in for some improvement in our discernment. God bless you--I've written long enough.