Some pictures of what we learned today:

Adakai is learning to tell time.

Making our own Title of Liberty flags. 

(Information on the Title of Liberty can be found in the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 46.)

Shopping!

Ok, it's decided. I'm going to do full-out home school next year. K12 was our foot in the door, but it's not what my kids need. Their schedules are way too demanding and don't work well with our large family. So, I've been shopping for curriculum. I found a lot of stuff I like on Confessions of a Homeschooler. The mailman just brought me my first bit of history. Yay!



And, we'll be going with Apologia's Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day for science.

Garden Update

After clearing out the garden plot, moving sprinkler lines, leveling the ground, tarping it off, and laying cinder blocks. Looks pretty good. We're in the process of bringing in the soil now. I'm super excited!

Green Thumbs?

So, I've never had a garden. I've always wanted one, but for some reason or another, it's never happened. This year, however, my girls and I are planning one. I've researched quite a bit of information and share with them. Some of the plants we want to grow need to be started inside, so last Saturday we tested out our green thumbs. We planted onions, scallions, and hot peppers in petepots and we'll transfer them when it's warmer outside. The girls loved it. I keep forgetting to take pictures while we're doing our activities. I'll get better with that.

It's been a while since my last post. You could say I've been a bit busy, but that would be an understatement... I am loving that school is working around our schedule though. Between my school, dance on two different days at two different times, girl scout meetings, and my girls scout leader meetings, I was really worried how we would get everything done. I have learned to plan ahead and design lessons for on the go.
Here are some of the things we've been doing:

Kari's math pizzas and Lexi's outline of Balto

Kari's hundred's chart

Art Portfolios

One thing that I am learning that was very unexpected is that I love having my girls home so I can be with them. Before it was home from school, homework, dinner, bedtime. I am actually able to spend time with them. I feel like I'm actually fulfilling my role as mother. 

Lexi's manicure

Kari and Lexi learning to cross stitch to take up time while I'm helping the other girl and she is waiting for me.. just one more thing they can do to keep them off of the TV. 

We did it! We survived our first week of school at home. I had a major break through with Lexi on Thursday. While doing her math lesson I could tell she was getting tired of it and starting to not pay attention, so I said, "How 'bout we put this away and get out some art instead." Her eyes got really big and she smiled like she was getting a big present. She was so shocked that I was okay with her switching right in the middle of a subject. They don't let kids do that at her other school. I think this could be part of the reason why her math and reading levels were falling. She wasn't getting the attention she needed, and she was having to wait for the slow kid in class so she was getting bored. Plus she has a hard time sitting through something if it's too long.
Kari is doing really well also. She is so proud to announce to anyone who will listen that she is in second grade history, art, and science. We're still in the process of skipping through the lessons she already knows, but I'm confident that we'll find the right spot pretty soon. Her favorite subject by far is art. She's always been my kid with the crayons and paper in hand wherever she goes.

Cozy History

History lesson while wrapped up in a cozy blanket.. now that's my kind of lesson!