School begins!!!

We started school this last week, official start date: September 13th.

My main plan starting out this year was to be organized. Last year I felt like I just tried to stay afloat while figuring out how to successfully juggle all of life. I never felt as organized as I would have liked to have been and the days seemed to quickly get away from me. I can already tell that this is going to be my biggest struggle. Organization can be my best friend or my worst enemy for having a successful day.

So I spent a few weeks in August trying to make the playroom into more of a school room. I now have a bookshelf big enough to hold all of our curriculum and books, it is nice to have them all in one place.
Although it is getting better, I still feel frustrated about how disorganized the room feels, so it is a work in progress.

CJ and Adrian still have desks, I am hoping to one day purchase a kidney table so we can all sit together and spread out a little.

I can tell this year that Megan is very ready to learn and to be a part of what we are doing. She is trying to sit on the floor or in my lap and Rowan is wanting to color all the time, trying to be like the big kids.
So, last week I ordered a small round table on Amazon, it should be perfect for Rowan and Megan and a good 'in between' table until we get a bigger one in a couple of years.

This year, I have started a daily and weekly schedule for the kids, so they know what it expected each day and what our plans are each day. As well as daily chores so that they can help me out learn some responsibility in the process. They are excited about it right now, we will see how long that lasts. They each have their everyday chores like: brush teeth, clean up room, etc. Then they have potential 'paid' chores, like: set table, feed animals, clean playroom, pick up entryway, etc. CJ gets 20 cents per paid chore, up to three per day and Adrian gets 15 cents a paid chore, up to three per day. They will get paid on Saturday and Sunday is a rest day. So, they have the potential to earn a bit of money if they choose to:) We have yet to do a full week yet so we'll see how this goes.

At this point, with the curriculum we are using, there are not a lot of self- directed assignments for the kids, so I am still sitting down with them for each subject. Once we get into the swing of things, I am hoping they will be able to do some things on their own, to free me up a bit and also to build their confidence and responsibility.

We are using Saxon math and trying a new curriculum for writing and reading called Institute for Excellence in Writing. I still haven't nailed down what we are doing for Science and History.

This year, CJ is attending Farm School every Thursday from 9:30am-2:30pm. It is focused on science and the outdoors, he had his first class last week and loved it! Their main focus this year will be raising Salmon from egg to fish. It will be good for him to have some time away from home and some interaction with his peers.

After only a few days of school, I am encouraged that both CJ and Adrian have really taken it in stride. Although they love their play time, they know what is expected of them because we did this last year. So, no complaining on the first week, a bit on the second, but I'll take it.

So much more I could say, but I'll save it for more posts.

Two things I want to accomplish this fall: have a good and purposeful devotion time every day with the kids, remain calm and not get overwhelmed, take care of myself.

I just got a book from the library today called "Steady Days", the first bit of advice they gave was to start with just one thing you would like to change and make better and start there.
My 'thing' is going to be getting up earlier by myself to spend time with the Lord and get ready for the day before the kids get up. Okay, so, for me it's going to be two 'things':) The other is making breakfast ahead of time so that it is ready in the morning and doesn't take up a lot of time.

Here's to a more organized life and a happier me!


Rowan looks like he's in pain, but that is what he does when he gets his picture taken.

These pictures are on our second day of school. We read the creation story on the first day and then the kids drew what happened on each day of creation:


I love these kids!