Our Family Circus

We have had a tree in our yard that has been dead since we moved her almost 7 years ago. It seemed tricky, at least for me, to take down because it is on a property line and could easily fall and damage a fence, a house, a play set , an outbuilding.... you name it- risky. I used to fear any strong wind, that it would blow the tree over our neighbor's fence damaging their property. I have lost sleep over that silly tree! Well, the weather has been quite interesting around her the past few weeks. Last Friday night, we woke the children at 2 a.m. to move to our "mostly" unfinished basement due to a tornado or 2 in our area. The storms have been so often that Miss B. is not quite as rattled by the thunder. When she does get upset, she just runs to our bedroom and assumes the position-you know the one right between mommy and daddy! Apparently, last night was just as eventful but I too have learned to sleep through the excitement. When I went toward the restroom this morning, ...

As soon as the children get their chores and school work finished, I can answer "yes" to most anything they ask. This keeps them pretty motivated. So motivated in fact that this is what I found after a little "break" in our day. You might be a homeschooler if...............

Before I homeschooled , I wondered how it worked-what does it look like? Now, I wonder from year to year, what it will look like with Miss B. in tow! So here is a shot from the first day! She wanted to be like the big kids. So she has her own journal, stickers, markers and a shelf of activities that are just for her. Yesterday she learned that, she has to put one thing away before she can get another out. (I hope that information transfers to her room and the rest of our home.) As I looked her journal, she also taught herself same and different. She placed colored smiley face stickers in her journal-yellow with yellow, blue with blue and red with red. I am glad I stepped out of her way so she could show me what she is learning. Today when Dolly finished part of her work, she helped B. with this activity to add to what she did yesterday. It was so easy and kept this little one busy. Both big kids wanted to work with her as well. Dolly chose a sticker for B. B. took the stick...

The core Math, Language, Phonics, and Writing are finished for the year leaving fun stuff! We read everyday, work on handwriting and can truly enjoy more Science, Social Studies, and one another. Monday we biked to piano/ music lessons. B. was asleep before I loaded her to come home. Yes, a child can sleep through the helmet and all the straps snapping her into and then out of the seat as well as the the bumps inbetween. Here are a few other perks from our week.... Animal Classification project-we have talked about the names and characteristics and have even sorted plastic animals but now we are creating our own classifications with old magazine pictures! B. loves the glue and worked on cutting. Thankful for warm, rainy days with a toddler who dresses herself and her siblings who are not afraid to get a little dirty. In fact, Dolly and a friend washed the plastic pool out today. It was loaded with bubbles and so were they! Catching tadpoles at a local oasis! The family uses their p...

Second Grade Oh, what a gift you have brought! We did survive Kindergarten, who would have thought! Those days were so long, as I danced to entertain Only to hear the letter sounds correctly proclaimed. We shot water guns at vowels and made graphs about bears Oh, that he would just give a care! No desire to learn, "I can't!" He'd proclaim. When all I wanted was to just stay sane! Oh but Second Grade, you were worth the wait! When the boy showed up ready to participate. The work before him, easy as pie! For he had earned the admiration of someone more significant than I. Math, "this is easy" and reading, "I enjoy," for finally the boy learned that he drives the learning convoy. He knows he can do it, he has succeeded! So proud of his accomplishments- Second Grade, I needed! You see, sister's in Kindergarten, Here we go again! But at least this time, I have a friend. Cheering to the finish, lending a hand, Oh thank you God for my second grade m...

Harry Wong wrote the book, The First Day of School. It was a required reading for one school district I worked which means, they bought each of us a copy of the book. We are beginning our 3rd year homeschooling but this year, we add a new student! Our middle button starts Kindergarten! When Clay started school, I had plans written out just like in the good ole days of teaching public school. It was as close to Harry Wong as I could get with mom as teacher, one student, and his little sister in the classroom. Our school books arrived yesterday and Miss Lydia was super excited! Today we started Kindergarten! With big brother, daddy built a room in the basement to call our classroom. It was Harry Wong! Miss Lydia started her school career on my unmade bed! Not exactly Harry Wong. Lydia has been sitting in that classroom right along side of her brother, she knows how this works. Baby girl wanted a piece of the action too and set up shop at the end of the bed with a marker and notepad for (...