Everyday Life

Everyone in our house was sick last week. I just wasn't feeling good, but the rest had what I'm guessing was the flu. It really seemed like the longest, quietest week. We didn't go anywhere, no homeschool, the boys weren't even up to playing. I thought Jaiden had escaped the sickness until I got a call from school Thursday morning that he was indeed sick.

This week has felt more like recovery mode. We were all still tired, and I had a migraine for a few days. Today, I'm happy to report everyone is what seems back to "normal"!

 I had a nicely clean and quiet home for a few days and I was so happy to take care of everyone. I didn't need to cook much because we weren't eating much. I honestly had nothing much to do but rub backs, do a lot of laundry, and run warm baths for achy bodies. After a day though I missed the loud, playing boys. I missed everyone doing all sorts of things all over the house. I missed cooking for this little family of mine.

It's funny that it can all seem like so much sometimes, and when you get a tiny break from it all you miss it. It really showed me even more than I already knew, that I need to savor these moments. To stop and enjoy these boys of mine. The quiet can get lonely. Fast.

Enjoying January

I am not one that has always loved January. I used to find it long and dull. I mean what can you expect from a month that follows Christmas?! haha

Over the years I've truly learned to enjoy the newness and opportunities for fresh starts that January always brings. I have to admit, I do not enjoy the cold, but the rest? Yes.

January is a still and quiet month. A month to reflect on goals and plans. I also like to work on projects in January. We wanted to get started on our painting this month, and now halfway into the month, we've yet to start. It just makes me laugh at how I used think this month was SO long. I can't even keep up with it these days!

I have been doing our school work like I mentioned a few posts ago. I can see Tristin improving, but most important, I can see that he is starting to like reading. And that my friends, was the whole point of this! He is having fun with it all. I couldn't be happier about that! Can't wait to update more in the next few weeks.

We have also started giving Jaiden a whole lot of one on one time. After he gets home from school, my husband (if he's home) takes Jaiden up to his room, just to play. Whatever Jaiden wants to do. And I, sit with him at the table before dinner and play games or read with him. His attitude have improved. The real test will be in a few weeks when our schedule changes. Please pray with us on this?

God has shown me that he has big plans for these boys, and one of my desires for them all is to learn and to love reading. My prayer is that they learn to love reading God's word. God is showing me that He wants that for them (all of them!) as well. My time with Jaiden is spent working a lot on reading. I have a bunch of ideas, and will share those as soon as I finish writing it all out.

That leaves us with Brighton. This child is one who has a difficult time listening and paying any kind of attention, yet we've begun teaching him to read and he gets it...like it's no problem! Don't you love how different they all are?

I have also been doing my cooking, cleaning, reading and watching Downton Abbey and Parenthood. Those are the only shows that I just love to watch. I look forward to Sunday and Tuesday nights. A bit disappointed that Parenthood's season finale is next week. That makes no sense to me whatsoever. Really and truly bummed about it ha.

I've been listening to podcasts with Andrew Kern that are renewing my love for homeschooling. I have also renewed my love for having them memorize. I know that Classical and Charlotte Mason use memorization as key in their methods, but we fell off our memorizations when we moved (eh...9 months ago) and never got back into it. Articles like Memorization Should Not be a Lost Art, Edie"s list of what her girls are memorizing, Shawni's post about poetry really struck a chord with me. So I ordered this book and will use it as my guide, as well as scripture.

My last goal is to paint one wall in our family room with chalkboard paint. I know that's not an original idea by any means, but the more we are getting into grammar, writing, multiplication etc, the more I find myself longing for one. Hopefully I can get that done this month too!

I sure am enjoying these boys of ours. I hope you all are having a great start to the new year!

Goals

It's no secret that I like setting goals. I love lists, and I really like checking things off those lists.

I have pretty simple goals this year. Things I had already started working on, and some new things.
Over the past few years I have been setting goals and checking most of them off. That's a big deal for me because I seem to enjoy the planning and list making a whole lot more than the doing part (grin).

Reading:

Read the whole Bible.
I have read more of the Bible than ever the past few years, but this year I want to read the whole thing.
I want to turn to His word more than I do others' words and opinions on His word.

I also want to read a lot more books in general. From the library. I want to read hard books, and to learn more.
I want our home to be a reading home.


Health:

Drink more water, eat less sweets, do Pilates 3 times a week, go on a walk when it's warm.
That's it. It's very doable.

Cleaning:

I love a clean house.I think better and feel better in one.
I have made a schedule, I have been working on it a few months with great results, but still need to organize and stay consistent.
I will continue decluttering, and not adding more.
No more excuses or laziness in this area from me!

Family:

Just simply loving them and spending more time with them. Playing games, going on walks, serving them.
And NO griping. Really.


Do you set goals? What are they? Let's chat.

The Living Room

I've never posted a picture of our living room because it has never had anything in it but a few boxes.
I'm slowly getting it together, so let's take a peek shall we?



I'm in love with the pillows and rug I found at TJ Maxx





A view from the other side.



Love these pillows too!



I'm adding an ottoman, paint, curtains, and a lamp soon, so I'll post more updates!

Bella sure enjoys the new space:

School Updates

That sure was a fast semester! We have had a wonderful year so far. We are a little behind in our science, and I started Story of the World around Thanksgiving, so we will be a bit behind in getting that finished before summer, but I think it will be okay.

2nd Grade:

Bible:

Reading through The Family Reading Bible
Started reading the Day by Day Bible for Kids. (to read through the whole year)
Hymns: Farther Along, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, I am Resolved, How Great Thou Art

Math:
We have finished the first half of Singapore math (2A).
I love this curriculum. Tristin has learned his multiplication and division through the 3s.
I'm considering Teaching textbooks as a supplement.

Science:
We are going through Apologia Swimming Creatures. It's been a slow process, but we
are enjoying it. We are on Lesson 4. We should probably be on Lesson 6.

Also reading through The Burgess Animal Book

History:
We started the year with a bunch of books. We read:
The Little Duke
The Kitchen Knight
The Sword in the Tree
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
Our Island Story (not finished)

I added The Story of the World Volume 2 around Thanksgiving.
We are on Lesson 4.

Language Arts:
We are still going right along in English for the Thoughtful Child.
Although we like it, I want to add more grammar in the future.
I'm considering Michael Clay Thompson and IEW
We LOVE All About Spelling. I cannot say enough about this curriculum.
We will finish Level 1 this month, and move right along to Level 2.

We are reading through Little Pilgrim's Progress (Tristin absolutely loves this book)

Fine Arts:
Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare
Maestro Classics Handel
Starting a music class called Noteworthy Music Academy, I believe they are
studying The Carnival of the Animals this semester.


PreSchool

We are going right through My Father's World Kindergarten

Singapore Math KA

Handwriting Without Tears


We have started Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
He is doing really well so far. This did not go well with Tristin when he

was younger.

Brighton is starting to read the Bob Books (Volume 1)
Watching Letter Factory

We have also studied how our bodies work. He LOVED
See Inside Your Body. He asks to read it often.



Plans for January.

I am continuing right along with Brighton's Preschool lessons and books, but am changing things up a bit with Tristin this month.

I feel he needs extra reading practice. He is just not doing as well as I would expect at this point. Although, I believe his reading has improved so much this year, he is just not comfortable with it.

We are taking a big break this month. We will review our math, and do a few lessons in History and Science, but our focus this month is phonics, sight words, and spelling.

I think he needs this little boost and that's what I love about homeschooling. It's catered to their specific needs.

We continue with All About Spelling daily.

We will go over sight words and play games to make sure he is comfortable with them.
These sight word lists are beautiful!
He will read to me more often on a level he is completely comfortable with.
We are putting sentences together and writing them using Silly Starters.
Reviewing Phonograms

I'm hoping this will boost his reading, and help him feel more confident in reading.
I'll update on this soon!