This is to update and share our lives as a homeschooling family to our family and friends http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Tue, 2 Oct 2007 12:29:00 -0500 Tue, 2 Oct 2007 12:29:00 -0500 Where to begin!!!  We had a crazy busy summer!  I never want to be that busy again in my life!  We geared up around August 15 to start schooling again.  I had my curriculum set and my schedule planned.  BUT I was thrown for a loop about 3 weeks into schooling.  This year was a complete change from years past in schooling b/c I was schooling 2 not just 1.  It was a lot more difficult that I thought.  Ethan was not happy with our choice of curriculum.  I had chosen MFW this year because I love their mission minded philosophy and multi-aged approach to teaching.  I thought how perfect would it be to have the boys on the same page although they are 2 years apart in school.  I think that was my first mistake;  thinking that I had it all planned out (I even had a plan with this curriculum through high school).  I jumped in feeling like this was going to be the best year ever and quickly realized that my boys were not happy.  There were lots of tears, complaining, whining.  I felt like I was being pulled in so many different directions.  I have always wanted to be a mom and nurture and care for my kids  but I never wanted to be a teacher!!  I was having such a hard time balancing the two.  I felt such a struggle with schooling them and correcting them during "school time" that my energies were spent when it came to the nurturing and caring part.  I had not up until this point had a hard time with this.  I have really enjoyed schooling my kiddos.  Something in my heart and my attitude had changed!!  I didn't tell my husband this for a while and it began eating away at me!  He started noticing that I was upset a lot and that my patience level was very low.  I told him how I was feeling and we began to pray about it.   We gave it a week and then he said that if I really felt so overwhelmed and stressed, that  I should go visit some local private schools.  I called and visited about 3 but only one in town seemed like a fit for our family.  We talked to the administrator for a couple of hours on 2 separate occasions, toured the school and observed the classroom before we talked to Ethan about this option.  I had specifically prayed that if this was what God wanted for us and that I was not just being selfish about this, that Ethan would be open to going to school (he has always said that he never wanted to go).  Well, we told him we were going to take a look and maybe be tested and he shouted "Yippee!"   He was very enthusiastic and excited about the idea.  Well to wrap up this portion of the story, he was tested and enrolled last week.  This is only his 4th day but he LOVES it!!  He did complain that there were a lot of rules and that his days were long but overall he is very happy there.  God has taken care of us greatly through this.  SO,  I am still homeschooling Isaac Kindergarten now.  I have really enjoyed the one on one time with him.  I have never been able to spend time like this with him.  He is really taking off with reading!! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/401400/ Tue, 2 Oct 2007 12:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/401400/ We have had another busy week!  The boys have been in art camp in the afternoons and attending VBS with friends in the evenings.  The house is a wreck with all of the home improvements we have started and yet to complete.  The rain is really hindering the retaining wall in the back yard but it is 3/4ths of the way finished and will look great when it is completed!  We have one side of the kitchen cabinets refinished and hope to have the  other side done this weekend!  Some of you know that I have been watching a baby this summer, Conlan, and this may be his last week with us.  Since the boys and I are going out of town for a week, he will be staying with a new babysitter then.  If all works out with her, then he will stay there.   We have had a lot of fun with him.  He has been with us for almost 4 months and has really grown.  The boys love him and it has been fun to watch them with a baby.  The both have said now that they want us to adopt a little boy.  Steve and I have always talked about it and maybe this experience has been a good segway into that.  We will leave that up to God though. I have spent a good part of this week looking over our new school stuff.  I am really getting excited about this year.  I really feel like our curriculum is a good fit for the first time.  Our homeschool co-op is offering classes in ELO(extended learning opportunities)that go along perfectly with what Ethan is doing this year.  History and Science are actually the same.  I really feel like God has lead me to this curriculum and feel at peace about homeschooling for the first time ever.  That does not mean I am dilusional about this year, just more prepared! I know I said this was a blog for Ethan but he has been so busy with summer activities, he has not had time to post.  I am going to make this part of schooling each week.  I want him to journal his weekly activities and post them so everyone will stay updated! I guess that is enough rambling this morning!  I have laundry calling me! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/363610/ Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/363610/ Hello all! I am really going to try and be diligent about keeping you all updated!  I have not been real good about it in the past but now that Ethan and Isaac are both officially homeschooling, I know you guys want to know. Going in to our 3rd year of homeschooling, it is hard for me to believe that, I have searched and prayed about what to do with the kids as far as curriculum goes.  Our first year we used Alpha Omega Lifepacs because I was so overwhelmed with choices, the all-in-one box set seemed convienient.   Although it was that, Ethan was bored stiff ( I was too but didn't tell him that).  So for 2nd grade I looked all around and decided to pick and choose several different curriculums and be totally eclectic.   Needless to say, that didn't work either.  I was doing a lot of preparing and Ethan was doing a lot of complaining.  Not wanting this to be our homeschool experience, I starting searching again over the Christmas break.  I stumbled upon Charlotte Mason by accident and starting reading posts about her learning philosphy and really felt like it could fit for us.  It is much more relaxed that what we had been doing and was a complete departure from "school".  We finished up year 1 with him this summer and although Ethan and Isaac really enjoyed the books we were reading, I still felt like there was something missing.  I really felt lead to homeschool not only for education but for character.  One of the main principles I wanted to teach my boys was to teach themselves.  Love to learn and seek knowledge on their own as well as guided.  The CM approach, to me, was a lot of mom guided work.  Although the books we were reading were amazing stories I had to read and explain ALL of it to them.  I really did not feel like it was in line with my original vision. Long story short, I felt like I was at a dead end.  Some friends and I attended the Homeschool Convention in Arlington, TX and I sat in on David Hazell's seminar.  He and his wife wrote the curriculum "My Father's World".  I had heard of it and even had a few of the books on their list.  I was truly inspired by what he said.  Their vision and goal for the homeschool was right in line with what I had been seeking for my boys.  They are very mission minded and want to bring that into their curriculum.  I was hooked.  Since returning from the convention I have been doing some more research  and really feel like this is the curriculum and style of schooling I had in mind for my family.   We are going to start schooling(3rd grade and K) after our vacation to Colorado July30-August .  I need all of your prayers and especially any support.  I am committed to this and want to so that to my kids this year.  We will keep you updated and sent new pics soon! Love to all http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/362439/ Wed, 25 Jul 2007 07:50:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/362439/ It has been one crazy summer so far!  The entire month of June was booked with summer camps, swim lessons, visiting family, and other activities.  Althougth july has slowed down considerably, we have still been busy and with all of the rain, a little stir crazy.   The boys tried to spend some time in the back yard a few days ago and when they weren't stuck  in the mud, they were getting eaten alive by mosquitos. The boys and I do have trip planned to CO the end of July and we are looking forward to that! Ethan wants to update his life's happenings, so I better close! Love all, Laura http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/354545/ Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:56:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/354545/ I LOVED going to the lakeToday (I did) 'cause I learned how to ride my bike Without Training Wheels!! I got this cool book that is teaching me Physics, Chemistry & Biology!! I learned Kg- m/s^2=F!  I loved the lake today!  It was so fun!  Love, Ethan http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/337266/ Sat, 2 Jun 2007 20:08:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/337266/ Hi,what are you doing? My friend, Mack came over and we are making volcanos. Me and Mack made a formula that  can make dogs and plants obey us! Have you had an amazing time like we had? If you had a time that was fun like we had , send it to me. Bye! Ethan http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/336161/ Thu, 31 May 2007 09:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/336161/ Hey all! This is going to be our new blog site for homeschooling.   Ethan and I are going to journal our days activities and thoughts about home and school.  Needless to say, he is very excited and would love as many people to reply to his entries as possible.  We thought this would be a safe alternative to an email address.  He has been asking for one for a while. Our summer has begun in full swing!!  We aren't quite finished with school yet but we are helping out some friends and watching their 4 kids plus the 6 month old I already watch, for the entire week.  We are in our 4th day and the kids are having a lot of fun.   I am very busy but having a good week too.  It has been a long time since I have stayed home the entire week and suprisingly, I have gotten a lot done. We are going to have some camps for the first weeks of June, but after that we are going to start schooling again.  It is so hot in July and August here anyway, so we might as well make the best our time and learn something.  Our summer activities include: Isaac; soccer camp, summer camp at 1st Christian Church, swim lessons and VBS;  Ethan will be going to summer camp at 1st baptist, swim lessons, golf lessons and VBS.  That will all take place in the first 3 weeks of June! WOW!!!  Then Oma and Uncle Jeff come down and stay a few days.  We have a packed June but I think it will be fun! In September we are looking at taking a trip to Kentucky to visit the new Creation Evidence Museum in Petersburg.  I would say the kids are excited but it is Steve that is almost giddy!  We have been anticipating this opening for a while and are ver y excited and optismistic that this could be a powerful witness to Creation!!  That's our life in a nutshell for now!! Ethan will post his first entry soon! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/336101/ Thu, 31 May 2007 08:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thehillsoftexas/336101/