Here We Go!

Our new school year has begun!!

When the kids were in public school back in NC,

we opted for the year round schedule.

At first, I was honestly worried about

having them home
ALL SUMMER!!

What in the world would I do with them?

How would I keep them entertained?

Would they lose everything they had learned in school?

Then couple that with the potential of 

taking vacations "off season" 

when rates were cheaper and beaches were emptier...
They would only be home for 3 weeks
at a time...

We figured we would give the
year round thing a try.

The idea for the year round school is typically

9 weeks on

3 week off

They don't line up that neatly, but that is the basis.

When we decided to homeschool, 

we decided we liked the freedom of the year round schedule...

After muddling through our first few
months of homeschooling,
we are finally ready to
jump in!

The boys finished the math books and language books

we were using as our schooling to complete
Kindergarten and 2nd grade.

After hunting and searching, I finally decided to 

continue down the modified
MODG path we were on.

I am using the same materials for both boys
but on their grade level.

Abeka: 

Math, Language, Spelling, History, Science

Rod & Staff - Pathways:

Reading & Comp

Religion:

Seton

Geography:

Road Trip USA


I have been feverishly trying to figure out the best
way to handle their assignments
and trying to figure out some sort of schedule
just to make things go more smoothly in this house.

With the help of some new homeschooling friends,
over a couple week span,
I put all of the boys daily assignments in excel.
First, by subject,
then there is a "master schedule" that is
arranged by week and day.

Week 1 for R, looks like this:

(click on it to make it larger)


We have opted for a 4 day school week.
Basically - it is 5 days of worked put shoved into
 4 days...BUT - there is room for "catch up".

R gets these assignments on Monday morning.
It is HIS responsibility to get them done!
After breakfast, I park at the kitchen table.
The littles come and go as they please,
and the big boys get busy.

There is still a LOT to figure out,
but this week was a GREAT start!!

We managed to get all of the assignments
on R's list done.
Except for all of the history.
We are going to work on that though.

Our first "break" is scheduled for the
first week of July when Grammy comes
to visit.
We will use that week to "catch up"
and visit with Grammy!

Until then...
Here We Go!

Accountability Check Up

Time for an accountability check up...

What have we been up to and how are my

"projects" going?

Well the budget is going...

QUICKLY!
Between purchasing next year's school books
(more on that later)
Paying Taxes (yes, paying - FIRST time ever - don't ask!)
Easter
An out of town family reunion
(also more on that later)

April's budget was blown before the month even started.

I am keeping up with my workouts

and enjoy them most days...

I manage to do it about 4-5 days a week

for 30 minutes each time
yet I am still

chasing those first 5 pounds!!!

Meanwhile, 

my darling husband is 

QUICKLY 

approaching 30 pounds
LOST!!

I don't get it!!

I am trying to stay motivated

and it definitely helps 

that I am not breathing as hard
during my workouts

and I feel better, 

but 

the weight is just NOT

melting off of me

like it is 

my sweet hubby!

UGH!!

We have all adjusted to the 

nap time/rest time each day.

If you remember, 

the boys have enjoyed sleeping in the

box that the elliptical came in...

I separate the kids at rest time

and one "gets" to sleep in the box.

I feel SO bad saying that...

but they literally 

take turns

"getting" 

to sleep in the box!

It is quite funny.

And they insist on the top being closed 

so its dark.

Whatever works

and

makes them happy

and

gives me a few minutes of
peace
and quiet.

But I promise...
I DO NOT
MAKE THEM
SLEEP IN A BOX!

This week we finally made some decisions
on school books for next year.
I am basically following this
curriculum 
with a few adjustments
that more suit me.

We might be joining a small
co-op for the fall
where each parent leads a different class.
Art, history, science, memory work.
But it is still getting organized.

I have mentioned before that J is
done with his math book.
R got so excited after looking through
the 3rd grade math book,
he came home that afternoon
and did 11 pages out of his math book.
And is so ready for 3rd grade!
Fine by me...
I will NOT squash his drive and desire!

I am thinking about testing him in a few weeks...
gonna look into it.

So besides blowing our budget,
buying school books for next year,
getting my car registration transferred down here,
(after waiting in line with 4 kids for an HOUR)
practices,
scouts
and every day life...

We managed to fit in a couple of fun things.

The Easter Bunny was able to fit some interesting things
into the kids baskets.

The older boys each got a
"paint your own ball"
kit.
J - soccer
R - football

First you have to pump them up,
then paint them,
then let it dry,
then paint again,
then dry,
then paint,
you get the picture.
They might be finished in another month,
when I finally feel like letting them leave them out
to dry between coats.



The littlest two got
some sand for the sandbox
I insisted we ship all the way from NC.
But I wasn't allowed to bring the sand with us!
So it sat empty on the back patio
til now.

And a bubble machine
(that I *just* got around to putting batteries in)

They also each got a chocolate bunny
and I let T eat part of one.
And, for whatever reason,
he doesn't like having his picture taken lately...
so this is what you get...

We were sent another craft from one of their sweet
crafty aunts...

I didn't snap a before picture,
but she sent bunny cutouts
that said
"No bunny loves you like Jesus"
and asked the kids to create a "home"
for the bunny.

So we got out the scissors,
construction paper,
glue,
markers
and
pom-poms

And they created these
masterpieces...

Finally,
we are getting geared up for our first
"official"
visit to daddy's office.
Since he is on base, and a civilian,
he is not authorized to
escort others onto the base.
So...tomorrow is a special event
that families can come to.
In order to get on base,
I had to have an updated registration...
which I didn't...
(blame it on the move)

Hence, the NEED to stand in line for an HOUR
with FOUR kids
to get my car registered here.

While I was swapping license tags...
I *finally*
got around to a few more vehicular updates.

Before
(SOOOOOOO sad to see this go - feel free to send me a new one!)







After
(how stinking cool is this thing??? and oh so true - thank you Mimi!!!)




And I will still be rocking the NC State Wolfpack tag on the front
until I am told otherwise
by those men in blue
that might insist that I put the front tag on my car
that I got when I received the back tag.
(atleast I am assuming that is why I got 2 tags - haha)

And I am sure I will have TONS to share from my first
family reunion with this side of the family.
I am so looking forward to it!!!
(seriously!)

The Latest & Greatest

This has been a busy week 

and I have lots to share - 

so bare with me!!

First,

fresh from my sister's blog...

I am going to be an AUNT!!!!

I am so excited and most of the people who read

this know already.

But I am super excited and 

so happy I can finally share!

School is going well.  

We are starting to research next year's curriculum.

But otherwise, seem to be doing pretty well at this

homeschooling thing.  

The meal planning and shopping two weeks

at a time is going well.

I am still getting used to the sticker shock of

grocery shopping for 6 people

every two weeks.

OUCH!!

But the good news is

I manage to feed each 

person in this house for

about $4/day.

Yes, this is breakfast,lunch & dinner

for everyone - including daddy!

Not bad.

It is really nice to stay 

on top of this meal planning thing.

Feels good!

We also had to implement a new

energy saving plan 

around this house.

The boys were getting

REALLY bad at

leaving lights on or

TVs on and leaving the room.

So they are now charged $0.10

everytime I find a light or TV left on.

We are putting it into a jar and will

figure out what to do with the funds 

once we break the cycle.

But so far...it is adding up QUICK!

On another note - 

We have finally found a church!

We have been hunting and going back and forth

to different churches for the past few months.

Today, we finally decided on one.

I mixed up start times.  

We thought we were doing good, got to mass

and walked in.

Then started to realize that they were 

further along in the service than they should have been.

Come to find out - I was 30 min off with the start time!

So, with this in mind, we figured we needed to 

select one and stick with it.

We are joining the scout group 

at this church.

BOTH boys get to join.

Daddy will be J's den leader

I guess I will be den mom.  :)

I am relieved and happy!

We are already finding ways to get involved.

I know it is going to take some time,

but both of us are ready to get a little settled

and this is a HUGE step toward that direction.

Here is the past 10 days in pictures:

Here is a picture of a frog that A made at Co-op.

It was in honor of Leap Day.

Daddy went on an overnight fishing trip 

(this one didn't end with a bunch of stories about

the one that got away...)

So the kids and I grabbed dinner

and then they climbed in my bed

to watch a movie while I cleaned up a little.

We found some Skylander activities at 

1+1+1=1

J really enjoyed using these 

(once I got them printed and laminated)

A replenished her candy stash with some

Valentine candy we found in her bookbag from Co-op.

A is working HARD on her first big kid puzzle.

S-U-C-C-E-S-S!!

She did it with MINIMAL 

help from mommy!!

T LOVES being outside...

I thought this was a cute picture.

We did an art project. 

T really wanted to help...

and I am very proud of how well the kids

did and how they turned out!

We splurged one night and went out to dinner.

We introduced T to sushi, chopsticks and tofu...

A like the tofu too.

T literally drinking the tofu out of the bowl.

Daddy told J to be quiet...

haha!

We decided to tell them that we were celebrating a birthday.

We figured they would just bring out a little bowl of sherbet

or ice cream and sing a quick song...

oh no.  They brought out a HUGE desert

and charged us $7.00 for it!

But the kids enjoyed it.

T wasn't so sure about the fried plantain

but loved the tofu??

The next day, we cleaned up and reorganized a little

and let A decorate a mirror that one of her aunts

sent her for Christmas.

Then I caught her sharing chocolate chips with her brother.

At least she was sharing...

sneaky girl!!

And R cooked lunch for us Saturday!

Then J had to vacuum cause he made a mess.  

And apparently he liked it - 

cause I caught him doing it again today!

T was hungry and decided to help himself to the

first part of dinner that was put on the table.

A is "helping".

Got one cooking, one cleaning...

and one babysitting!

Time for another one!

(JUST KIDDING!!!!)

Welcome...

Welcome to our new site design!!!

I love it!

I have been gaining readers

(thank you!!!)

and 

heard that my previously 

chosen font was a little hard to read.

So...

WELCOME

to the
NEW

and

IMPROVED

"Are We Really Doing This???"

Hope you like it - 

I do!!  

As usual, 

we are always busy in this house.

First,

our first bean growing experiment was a

FLOP!

Well, let's just say - 

it STUNK!

Yes, 

pun intended there!

I wanted something without dirt

that would allow the boys 

to watch what was happening.

Being newbies, I decided we would follow

some directions on the web...

even though it was a bit contrary to what I thought...

they had success, 

so I figured we would try it.

Well

it didn't work for us.

I chose NOT to cover

our container to keep the moisture in.

(per directions, but against my better judgement)

So our paper towel would dry out.

Apparently I was making it 

TOO

wet when I re-moistened it.

So this is what we got...

I *wish* I would have thought to have snapped

a picture of the boys faces when I suggested 

they smell them.

HAHAHAH!! 

(Is that mean??)

Then of course we used that as an 

opportunity to briefly discuss

"rot".

So here is round 2.

I started on Saturday.

And as you can see,

this time chose to 

put plastic wrap over the top

to keep the moisture in.

And guess what...

This morning (Monday)

here is what we found!

WHOO HOO!!

S-U-C-C-E-S-S

That's the way we spell success.

(Did you do the cheer in your head with me?)

I have been starting to think about what curriculums to use next.

I like most of what we are using and will keep with it.

But am considering different options for math and language arts.

We will see what we come up with.

J is doing a GREAT job with his reading!  

Makes a momma proud!!

The K Abeka language books we are using is actually 

going too slow for him,

so I looked through it last night and we are going to

speed things up a little

and skip some pages.

We are supplementing with

ReadingEggs.com

and

Starfall.com

(the free trials/versions).

We dropped Time4Learning about a month ago.

Did I already say that? 

It was a great program and I highly recommend it,

BUT

I wanted more hands on stuff with my kids

and 

less computer time

and

it was $35 a month.

I would rather put that into more

books for them

instead of computer stuff.

R is doing great with math and language as well,

but they are still not moving quite quick enough for me

and 

I HATE to waste this stuff,

so poor thing is doing a LOT

of reviewing lately.

But I think we are going to start getting to some interesting

stuff in a few weeks (I hope).

Either that or I am just going to 

break down and let him take a bunch of the tests

and just see where he starts struggling

and start from there.

Cause we have GOT to

get to some challenging stuff

SOON!

I have been struggling to come up with some stuff for A to do.

She is slowly dropping naps.

(NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!)

So today,

we hit Michael's for some 

some ideas.

I bought some pom poms

and we had a pair of tweezers that came with 

a bath toy.

(Don't ask)

Then I had some silicone muffin cups.

And viola...

A worked on sorting

and colors

(with a little tutelage from J)

 today!

This girl sat at the table for

OVER an HOUR

today with us working

with these few items.

She actually pulled it back out while I was cooking dinner too.

I gotta come up with more more of these things!

(That don't require tons of supplies and prep work!)

This weekend was busy too.

I *think* we have found a home church!

It has only taken us 4 months.

I also think we have finally found a section of town we want to be in.

(Sort of)

While at church on Sunday,

the Cub Scouts were 

recruiting.

So we stopped and chatted.

R was in Scouts 

back home

and J always wanted to go.

Well, this new group is letting 

J join early!

So starting next week...

both boys (and daddy)

are headed to scouts!!

I am so excited.

And it seems like such a great group!

Can't wait to start posting pics of my 

scouts!

All 3 of them!!

Because of the delay in getting started back with Scouts

we didn't want R to miss anything

or be behind...

so he and Daddy started going through his

requirements for his

Wolf Cub badge.

He has done most of it, 

but there are a few things left to do.

So, we are going to work on those together.

One requirement left

 is "Health and Nutrition".

One thing you have to do is 

help plan and prepare a meal.

So daddy and R are worked together on 

dinner Sunday night.

He took the 

"Set it & Forget it"

motto literally.

And,

A has a candy stash!

HAHAH!

The kids got some candy in goodie bags

from last weekend's 

birthday party.

The boys put theirs on/in their desks.

A chose to put hers in 

one of her kitchen 

cupboards!

I thought that was 

all too fitting for a female...

already hiding her candy in her kitchen!

Love it!!