School Has Started

This past weekend Lonnie and I attended a homeschooling conference and it was great!  There was plenty of information and curriculum galore.  Our official school year started yesterday and we are doing school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  We have chosen to do a workbox system and each child has 10 boxes to complete each day.  It is taking about 3-4 hours, which is not bad at all.  I took some pictures today (just for you Michelle) and thought that I would share just exactly what we are doing.

First up, here is the main curriculum we are using.  As you can see it's a mix.  I've had the A to Z book for several years and there is some amazing stuff in there!  Each letter has a unit on math, science, social studies, fine motor, music and arts.  We are using Saxon Math, BOB books to read along with sight words and phonics.  For handwriting we are using Explode the Code, Handwriting without Tears, and journals.  

These are their credit cards that they get to earn money on to choose a reward with a certain game.  When we play it I will share it too.

These are prompts that go in their workboxes, which I will share soon.

Here is all of the work, aside from class work and reading, that Michelle did today.

Here is an example of a journal.  I loved this idea that a great friend shared with me and this has been the children's favorite so far.  They have to draw a story on top and then tell me about it.  For now I am having them trace the story.  Next they will copy what I have written and finally they will write it on their own.  This is such a perfect example of Mason's work.  You never know what you are going to get.  He was upset because I wouldn't let him turn the page of his journal and when I asked him what he drew a picture of this is what I got so he wrote it!
Here's Mason's journal from yesterday!  Much better work!
Here is Michelle's journal!

This is what I am using do display their artwork.  It is so simple...a 12x12 scrapbook paper with a clothespin.  

Here are the workboxes.  Each child has their own row.  The numbers start out on the left and when they have competed a workbox they move the letter to the right.  

Here is Mason working on his Handwriting without Tears workbook.

Another simple idea...alphabet mat and children have to match up magnetic letters. 

Gage usually plays with toys while we are doing school, but hey they are numbers at least!

Michelle could look a little bit happier.  She is very focused and is doing so well!

Here is Saige working hard to put her basket back the right way!

Alphabet mat in action with Mason.

Numbers mat in action with Gage (he even got it right!). 

Michelle working on cutting out her kitten for her patterns worksheet.

And the best part of today..... shaving cream!  They loved it and we are discussing our 5 senses this month for our theme.  After going on a "field trip" around the house and backyard touching different things we came back in the classroom and got busy. 











So far our school year is off to a great start.  I've already had to do some rearranging of some things in the classroom but no big deal.  I love watching them learn and there is no feeling like when they get it!  Thanks for looking!  

PS - We are still working on coming up with our official name!

Quick Post

I have not been good at posting lately at all.  I'm trying to finish up Lonnie's cousins' wedding pictures from months ago.  After a little bit of editing tonight I truly do miss photography.  It is so fun to create and capture moments and beautiful people such as this handsome guy!  Trust me we have been so busy doing lots of good stuff.  The school room is pretty much ready to go and our conference is this upcoming weekend.  I'm looking forward to it.  Also, on Tuesday we are going to take the older two children to the water park and have an amazing sitter for the younger two.  We are also planning a short (just the way I like them) camping trip with Lonnie's brother and his wife before school starts too.  Lots of fun things planned and good quality time being spent together!  Oh, and I should mention that the Lord does answer prayers.  Case in point church starts at 8:00 for us this year.  However, we start at 9:00 now starting tomorrow!  Oh Happy Day! :)

It's a Party

Interested in Mary Kay products? Check out the link on the side of the page to "A Pink Party"! Some of the products that I have used and HIGHLY recommend are the 3 n 1 cleanser, moisturizer, eye cream, lip balm, microdermabrasion kit, oil free eye makeup remover, day and night solution, mineral powder foundation and the mascara. I have also heard that the eye shadows, the lip glosses, and the body cream is wonderful too! I truly have been impressed with how well these products work. If you have used any of them in the past or are currently using them I would love to hear what some of your favorite products are!

Unpacking vs. Packing

Well, I must say that it has been my experience that unpacking is so much more fun and goes way faster than packing does! Confused...don't be. We never heard back from Bank of America and they tried to auction the house for $406,000 (which is the amount the previous owner owed). Of course, no one bought it so it went to foreclosure. It should be listed anywhere between 2-6 weeks. Lonnie and I found another home that we put an offer in on too and we didn't get that one either. So, Lonnie and I have decided that we are just going to stay where we are. We have a beautiful home and will just do some adjusting to make it work. We will be adding garage cabinets, more shelves in the storage room upstairs, cabinets on the other side of the laundry room, cabinets in the bathrooms and whatever else we deem necessary! :) It kind of stinks not getting what truly was the house of my dreams but we have been so blessed and both of us really feel good about this decision. The unfortunate part is that now I get to unpack EVERYTHING that I packed up...like 30+ boxes of food! Oh, well at least all of the cabinets are all nice and cleaned out! :) Another great thing is once I clear out all of the boxes in what used to be the playroom I can set up the "real" schoolroom! I guess that I better go get unpacking!

We are all still alive!

Wow! It's been over a month since I have posted anything! Things have been busy around the Durham home lately. As we are all aware school is out and summer is in full force! The children's behavior has really been so much better since they have been home, which is definitely welcomed! :) Little Mr. Gage has really enjoyed having his siblings home too. He's so cute. So what's on the agenda for this summer? I'm glad you asked...first off we are still waiting to hear back from good old Bank of America on the home we put an offer in. Supposedly they have everything they need and we are just waiting for them to close. We definitely have been learning patience through this process. Second off we have implemented our homeschool trial period for the summer. We do school everyday, except for Sunday, for about 3 hours. So far so good. I was shocked at how much they didn't know. For example, Michelle does not know her numbers, and both Mason and Michelle have trouble identifying lowercase letters. So we have been doing a lot of review of numbers and letters. After three years of preschool I find this kind of crazy, but I have to remind myself that it is not her fault and we just need to make progress. We have started working on reading the BOB books. Michelle can read the first two of them all by herself and Mason has no interest in learning to read. I think because it takes so much focus that this is going to be a challenge for him. He is, however, really good at putting the letters in order and saying their sounds. Saige and Gage also sit in with us while we do counting, reading, and phonics. Last week I introduced the "+" and "=" sign along with addition. When reviewing them yesterday I was happily surprised at how much they remembered and they even did an addition worksheet! It is so rewarding to see them learn and the pride that they have as well! We have really been praying hard and contemplating on what is the best thing to do for each one of the children. I have felt so at peace with our decision to homeschool them. I know that we have and will continue to receive criticism from others but quite frankly this is not their choice to make. We are entitled to revelation for our family and trust me we have received it! It still kind of freaks me out that we are doing this, but I have learned on numerous occasions to trust in my Heavenly Father and whatever His plan is. I am so grateful and humbled at the opportunity that I have to be the mother to these four amazing children. I love them so much and still cannot believe that I have been entrusted with them. Talk about an overwhelming responsibility! Yikes!!! Anyhow, I am rambling on now but just wanted to document what we've been up to and how things are going!

Is your joy full?

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things....Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell. Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work. Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel....My joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name." {Alma 26}