We surprised the kids with a trip to Brick Universe in August. They never have super awesome reactions to surprises even though they enjoy them. So, I never get a good video of our surprise reveals. We saw some amazing Lego Creations by real artists! And the kids go to make some creations of their own.
We started off our eleventh year of homeschooling at the very end of July into August. It was early but we knew we would have several breaks throughout the year. So, here goes ya’ll! I have kids starting in Pre-k all the way to a sophomore in high school. Prayers are always appreciated!
Group subjects this year include:
Emmie is “officially” starting school. My goal is to have her recognize her letters and numbers along with shapes and colors before the end of the year. It’s going to be slow going because NF brings a lot of challenges and most kids with it have some learning disabilities but we’re working at her pace which is the joy of homeschooling! We’re using All About Reading Pre-Level and working on thinking skills using Building Thinking Skills-Beginning and Primary Levels. She’ll probably also be working through Developing the Early Learner in January.
Malachi is in first grade. He’s the eager beaver learner right now. He taught himself to read last year. So, this year, he is doing the following:
Bryant is heading into third grade. He’s worked hard on reading and has grown so much in it! Bryant’s working on:
Silas is working in various levels. He worked hard last year on a program outside of school to increase his processing speeds. It’s helped and we’re hoping it continues to help. This year, he is working on:
Ceili Rain continues to enjoy all things school. She’s still totally in love with math and is thrilled we are doing Anatomy for Science. This year she is working on:
Josiah’s in sixth grade! I can’t believe how fast he is growing up. He’s still a carbon copy of his daddy and growing taller by leaps and bounds. This year he is working:
Liam’s starting to get into more independent work. To help him with that this year, we swapped over from book work to online school. So, this year, Liam is in Alpha Omega’s Monarch program for Language Arts, Math, Science and History. So far, he is doing well with it and communicating more with us about his work. He’s also going to be doing an online coding class but we haven’t narrowed down which one yet.
With Ace starting his 9th grade year, I’m now officially “teaching” two high schoolers! Aggghhh! He is expressing more of an interest in graphic design and we’re helping provide opportunities for him to explore it more. He’s working on the following:
Zoe was at Grandparent Camp when we hit ten days. So, Papa and Grandmere did me a huge favor by getting a pic! She still says that ASL is her favorite language and the Deaf community is continuing to be a big learning area for her. This year she is working on:
I added links here just to make it easy for curious minds to check it out. However, most of our curriculum is used (through Homeschool Classifieds) or downloadable (in the case of most of our Master books). We aren’t endorsing any one company and all of these products were paid for by us…with our blood, sweat, and tears.
Mark and I have been blessed to have a date night just about every week this past year. On one of our date nights this past summer, Mark asked what would help me get things done both on the computer and at home. We brainstormed and both decided that a few hours outside of the house to re-charge and work on stuff on the computer (blogging, ministry things, schoolwork/planning) would really help. We started in July. Ya’ll, it has been a definite attitude changer for me To have a weekly time to get away and focus on God first and then the other things I need to do has been nothing short of a blessing.
Mark had two Sundays he had to work this past summer. He has worked at the same place for over 16 years and this is one of a few times he has had to work weekends. His job is good but his co-workers are awesome. Anyway, so those two Sundays I loaded up our tribe by myself and headed to church. While in worship, I started taking notes on how our younger kiddos were “listening” and decided to help this listen better. We drove to church for several weeks after that going over the things we should do and the way we should act in church and then I made up these sermon notebooks. The little kids have a place to draw a picture about the sermon but can also check off key words our pastor may say. The bigger kids also have a space to draw or doodle (which is how I learn…visual learner trick that works for me) but they also have more space to take notes. Our pastor tries to print out an outline and there is plenty of space in their notebook to copy it out. I think I did it so that one notebook is for a full year…we’ll see (I really can’t remember). Anyway, I made a pdf of the notebook and sent it to Office Depot to print (because I have a good teacher discount deal. Thanks HSLDA membership!). I have them put the clear cover on the front and spiral bind it. So far it is working and eliminating a lot of distractions that they were having with each or others around them. If anyone would like a copy of what we use, I can send it to you! Just leave a comment or shoot me a message with your email.
Tons of pictures…little words…and GO!
Attention from the big guys at church…Yes, please.
Outside is his happy place.
My nephew thinks he’s funny…”Hopefully one more!”
Traveling=naptime in funny positions
Ceili Rain’s nose met the side of the neighborhood pool. It was nice and swollen but went down after a few days.
Fireworks, yay!
Tie Dying shirts. And hands. 
Grandparent Camp pics before!
Emmie climbed up there. Three stories. By herself. Yes I cried tears of joy and dread!
Daddy & T at Cow Appreciation Day! Free chicken!
Big brothers melt my heart!
Contemplating life? Nah, contemplating cheerios!
Sometimes it just feels like something is about to devour you!
Oh yeah, I can take you! 
Reading to his sister…how sweet!
Minnie Mouse with cute headbands!
Tobin’s first time playing in the rain.
Standing up in the playpen for the first time!
Making sure the baby in the mirror gets all the love.
Naptime at the pool!
Emmie finally let go of the side and started to “swim.” Inch by inch, little by little.
An extremely large watermelon one of Mark’s coworkers gave us. Ya’ll it took a week but we were able to eat the whole thing!
Kitchen helper in training.
Tobin’s first time being sick. He was absolutely pitiful.
But meds helped a ton.
Water blob!
First planner! We don’t allow our kids to have smart phones. But Zoe had to get something to keep up with her activities and babysitting jobs. Cute planner and accessories for the win!
Ace is 14 years old now! Two teenagers for two full years and Mark and I are still kicking. He’s growing into such a fun and godly young man. This next year means high school and lots of growing up!
His cake choice was an ultimate chocolate chip cookie cake with chocolate icing. I, however, completely forgot about the chocolate icing part and just made buttercream. Because he is such an amazing kid, he forgave me and enjoyed it like it was made.
Ace’s gifts this year included:
Want: City scavenger hunt and Avalon
Need: Bike (a real MAN’S bike)
Do: Nerf gun
Read: Hammer of the Huguenots by Douglas Bond
Ack! How did I get an 8 year old Bryant?! He requested ice cream sandwich cake just like daddy. It’s actually his go to. We love his kindhearted compassionate heart!
Bryant’s gift list included:
Want: Lego Jakku Quad Jumper
Need: Watch
Do: Nerf Gun (notice a theme here?)
Read: The Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers
Zoe decided she needed a shorter hair style to save time and try something different.
A week later, Ceili Rain got a shorter cut. Her goal was shoulder length. But our wonderful hair dresser measured and told her if she went just a tad shorter, she would have enough to donate to Wigs for Kids. She made the decision to chop it all off! I’m proud of her desire to want to help other kids at the expense of losing a little mroe hair than expected!
We enjoyed a trip to the zoo with our church friends. Mr. J, suggested it and we all jumped on board.
Lots of babies have been born this past year at our zoo. and we all enjoyed searching and seeing them. The giraffe baby was so sweet and cute.
Baby Koala…
Silas enjoyed getting in the picture with the wallabys!
Tobin loved watching the bears.
Tobin also loved the merry-go-round and was super sad to have to get off.
Official picture by the lion statues…
And a scalpie for Ge and Granddaddy.
July brought us a too good to pass up purchase of a travel trailer. It’s a hybrid/expandable one with three beds and a table and couch fold out bed. That means all 12 of us fit in it and my dream to take the kids to see the lower 48 states might actually happen. We took Dolly the Camper out on her inaugural trip a few weeks after she came home.
Everyone pitched in learning how to set her up.
Even storms couldn’t dampen our fun spirit.
Tot and Lulu enjoyed making sure the beds were secure.
Ace the shark doo, doo…
We scored a sweet deal on a nice inflatable kayak on our neighborhood trade page and decided to get a decent two person inflatable kayak so people wouldn’t go out solo (or fight over the single kayak).
Those got tested out.
And everyone enjoyed splashing while waiting their turn.
We are looking forward to many more adventures with Dolly and our kayaks!
I would have had more pictures had it not stormed the entire awards day. But Silas won the award for most improved. He was excited.
Liam was glad he survived the season and Ceili Rain was pumped to keep swimming. Proof that I survived the season is above.