The transition BACK to our school routine has been sooo much easier than I had thought.... yay!! Sure there were a few tears the second day as they saw the pile of books;) But they have been sooo ready to start school and then read library books (extra motivation with our library starting a winter reading program.... kudos to them)!!
And when the kids are "onboard" with school and activities, everything seems to flow soo much better:)
I have been trying to have their work ready for them in their "work files", especially Anna and they have chores before school... so maybe they'd rather do school than more chores;)
AS I snapped pics this week, homeschooling looked soo fun and easy:) I thought I'd share that while we do have occasional tears, attitudes and frustrations... homeschooling can be soo much fun.. and this week from the pics it looks a little TOO fun:)
Yes, one of Anna's math lessons was to read a recipe, measure ingredients and follow the directions to bake.... great excuse to make COOKIES:) And to try a new cookie recipe from a cookbook by this allergy Momma:)
And the middle two entertained Nate in the highchair with homemade sock puppets (no eyes, mouths, anything... he liked it)!! Reading time with Anna... and they ALL gathered around:) So sweet.... Origami to enhance our study of Korea and Japan this week... it said it takes practice and patience... phew... does it ever? And throw in two or three kids eager to play with the final product and need help with almost every fold.... got plenty of exercise in patience this week:) Yes, we made paper airplanes for schoolwork!!! LOL!! Actually they are "jets":)
Leftover lunches are always fun and easy:) The kids put what they wanted from the fridge in their bowls and decided to practice with chopsticks, since we were studying Chinese influenced cultures:) Had to include this.... the end is the best:)
We finished this week with reading Japanese books as they painted their own kimonos:) And Anna wrote her first Haiku:)
What a fun week:) I know it's because we made the time to add in extra little projects and crafts!! I was very pleased that the basics were done daily with each kiddo, too!!!
Finally it has slowed down enough to get the before and after pictures of our painting project!!! We are soo pleased with the changes... but let me again warn you... I am a very SIMPLE and SLOW decorator.... it takes me a LONG time to decide what I like and if it really coordinates:) So here it is... the BIG reveal:)
Before
After
Before After Before
After
The three "paintings" were drawn by a friend to match my dishes... LOL! And then the kids and I painted them:) We really didn't have anything else to pull colors from.... so now we have our "color palate"!
There are still some things we'd love to do to the room.... curtains!!! More wall decor!! Maybe down the road (or a good sale) different light fixture!!! Oh, the list goes on and on:)
The biggest change was the wall color... obviously:) But the other BIG change is that all the homeschooling materials have been moved out of the dining room. We thought that it was looking too cluttered and that the kids (and I) would need more space this next school year.....
So that brings me to the next BIG project :) This week we have been moving and sorting Brian's home office... we are turning it into our homeschool room!!!! It will be a long project as we figure how best to organize and store everything for daily use!!
I started working on my "palm Trees" yesterday and will continue today..... It was much easier to cut them out and spray paint their leaves. I am NOT artistic and so I pretty excited my first one turned out at all... :)
And this is what I feel like during pre-VBS and VBS Weeks....
I take on a lot, but it's because this is one of the only purposefully planned outreaches to the children on our community. I get soo excited when I think of getting to meet new children and hopefully getting to know them and their families better:)
"...and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the earth." Acts 1:8b
In materials pack we found a theme-related Bible. It has a 30-day devotion guide and is meant for younger children. Our prayer during the preparations and VBS weeks is that we would be able to give this to a child that accepts the Lord. So Pray with US for that child and the opportunities to share and show kindness and love to these sweet children.
And when the kids are "onboard" with school and activities, everything seems to flow soo much better:)
And the middle two entertained Nate in the highchair with homemade sock puppets (no eyes, mouths, anything... he liked it)!!
Reading time with Anna... and they ALL gathered around:) So sweet....
Origami to enhance our study of Korea and Japan this week... it said it takes practice and patience... phew... does it ever?
And throw in two or three kids eager to play with the final product and need help with almost every fold.... got plenty of exercise in patience this week:)
Yes, we made paper airplanes for schoolwork!!! LOL!! Actually they are "jets":)
Had to include this.... the end is the best:)
