For Mimi:

This is a new feature of Blogger- the video option. It might take a while to load, so if you aren't interested in getting a glimpse of my home life, you're better off moving on to the next blog...

A New Dynamic

My seven-year-old has flown out of the coop and been gone for a week (which gives me more time to blog), and the dynamic in our house has changed dramatically! Before, there was bickering, boredom, and blues, but with the oldest gone, my two middle children are happy to creatively play with each other for long periods of time.

One of the goals I listed to complete before his return was to get at least four weeks of lesson planning done. I mentioned our new curriculum, and I have been so excited to have daily plans that will keep him busy. Too busy to bother the babies. Too busy to interrupt their special "we're-only-16-months-apart" dynamic. Not doing "busy work," of course, but we are finally stemming away from the three 'R's and getting into more lengthy lessons. Hurray!

Team work! I'm a proud mama.

another fly-by post

I came across a couple of comics from the one-and-only "homeschooling" blog I've been reading lately. Pretty funny:

Tapestry of Grace

EDIT: If you want to browse the TOG store, it'll earn me points. If you plan to buy anything from there, please get to their website through this link!

We are plunging into homeschooling with our pocketbook this month. We are finally ready to purchase the curriculum I've been researching for over a year. I'm thrilled about it, and I will try to give a lengthy response to my sister's question in the next post:
"Why on earth do *you* have to pay to teach your son? Shouldn't the government pay for it?"

Autumn in the Desert

It's really challenging to get into the seasonal spirit here in the desert. The sun shines every day, the sky is usually cloudless and brilliant blue, and the weather, well, it's certainly not fall or winter-ish. Last year as I was lamenting the fact that it was already Thanksgiving and it just didn't feel right, a friend from the homeschool group told me she had realized that you have to decorate your house. Otherwise the days come and go and there is no real change to them. I understood, and this year I have tried to do better. I am not a "seasonal decorator," so putting fake flowers and leaves and things around has been hard. I don't really "get" it. Our house isn't exactly spotless to begin with (we do live here...with three children), so the idea of putting things out...on the counters and whatnot...it doesn't make sense to add more clutter! Here's my briliant idea to infuse a little bit of fall (and creativity via my children) into our house.

My love nailed some hemp from either side of the wall/ceiling that seperates the kithchen from the dining room, and I used regular ol' clothes pins to hang the kids' art. My oldest protested when I hung the littles cats up there saying, "Mama, those aren't fall pictures!" But I like them, and there isn't anywhere else to display their precious art just yet.
I love to see the littles sit in their chairs at the table and stare at all the pictures. I think this brings me one step further to adjusting to the desert. It is, after all, where God brought us. And I want to be where He wants me to be...

Ask The Principal

Here's another blog I find interesting. He was a public school principle who left the system to homeschool his kids. He's just gone back to teaching in the schools, and blogs about his first few weeks. Make sure you read the last half.


Ask The Principal: A teacher's work is never done....