We started school last week, easing back with just the 3R's in the morning.  This week we started back with the Konos online co-op.  You can only imagine how I felt when I picked up my lesson planning and realized that the character trait we are studying is Trust.  Further, Jessica Hulcy(co-creator of Konos who runs the online co-op) made a point to tell us that "the amazing thing about focusing on Godly character in Konos is that the Lord seems to test everyone in the family for that character trait.  This is a maddening, stretching truth that no one WANTS to go through.  We all hate being refined."  And of course, I have had a few lessons in trust this week as I have to continually learn to trust God, often through trusting that my husband will make wise choices about the future of our family. 

The actual schooling is going well though.  We have been using Family Pilgrim's Progress as a read aloud and the kids have loved listening to BW read it each night, probably because he's much better at making cool voices than I am.  It has started some great discussions in our home too.  Some of our floating experiments haven't turned out the results they were supposed to, but overall anytime kids get to play with water to do floating experiments they have a good time learning.  This week we will be learning about many different types of boats/ships.  And in a couple weeks we will be heading to Channel Islands where some tall ships will be docked for a week as well as visit the Maritime museum. 

I tweaked our schedule a bit this semester.  The biggest change is that I have included a 1/2 hour time slot with my 2yo.  This is my attempt to have some one on one time with him and hopefully keep him from being off on his own destroying things for part of the morning.  We have both really enjoyed his "school time" where he pretty much just selects board books for me to read to him and maybe sing some songs.  I have also decided to alternate my one on one time schedule in the morning.  This way, they all have their day when they go first (we have BSF on Tuesday so that eliminates one day) and they all take turns getting Mommy when she is at her best and at her most tired.  So far, it's working well. 

I have also re-instituted a mandatory quiet time in the afternoon.  I'm using this time to dust off some of those workout videos I've been collecting for years.  This week, Girl8 asked if she could workout with me so I have a partner and motivator.  There was a day when I wasn't planning to do it and she asked "Mom, which workout are we doing today?"  It's been a fun bonding time for us to do together.  She also received Little Women as a gift for Christmas and so we've been reading a chapter before I start with dinner prep in the afternoon.  God's so cool as all of our learning, even the things I didn't plan, just seem to work out together.  I had completely forgotten that Little Women's first chapter is about how they used to play Pilgrim's Progress - the same thing we are reading!

I've started enough schedules to know that a new schedule is only as good as the person who actually makes sure that the schedule isn't just a piece of paper that is posted on the fridge so I'm praying that I can be disciplined enough to keep it up. 

How is school going in your house?

Blessings!

-J