Homeschool Mother's Journal: Week 6 (with a Little Bit of the Skipped Weeks 4 and 5)

In my life this week… 

drama, of both the good and the bad kind, but mostly the good, and sometimes the literal. 

The kiddoes enacting naughty, mean garden gnomes before heading off to a Parent Presentation that Luke and Nina were prepared for at Drama Kids last week.

In fact, this week's laughter, sharing and warmth hit an apex last night, when I was blessed to spend three hours enjoying Drama Mama (and Papa) night with my Drama Kids families.  

Drama Mama (and Papa) night is always one of my favorite nights of the year.  Not just of my Drama Kids teaching year, but of my whole year, period.

There is just something about seeing the parents of my drama Kids join their children on stage that is fun, freeing and, in particular this year, heart-warming.

This year, a number of my students brought BOTH of their parents and some brought siblings.  How awesome was it to see these families (as well as parent-child duo's) working together: laughing, problem solving, enjoying?  I cannot express it.  But, I can say it got me thinking this morning...

If only more people knew what a FANTASTIC and FREEING family experience something like Drama Kids can be, Drama Kids could start a regular Family Day class or workshop... Imagine the impact and fun nationwide -- worldwide -- if families got away from life for an hour or so once in a while to connect and process this way.  

I know, I am on a Drama Mama (and Papa) high this morning.  I am silly.  Our culture.  People's time constraints.  The economy.  None of it makes my morning brainstorm a truly viable one.  It's just that when I experience what I did last night, I get so excited. 

No modern electronics.  No props (besides a shoe, a First Aid kit, a chair and an music stand in our case last night).  Nothing but a big space, bigger imaginations and lots of energy being shared by kids and parents talking and creating together.  Everyone laughing and encouraging.  GREAT STUFF!  

I sit this morning with a sense of gratitude and hope.  Family.  Fun.  Community.  They are all very much alive.

In our homeschool for the past few weeks… 

(Because, yes, it has been a few weeks since I have posted a Homeschool Mother's Journal update, so I cannot say "this week")

...has been a tapestry of focused learning times, spontaneous lessons, cuddly read alouds, reflection on goals, alignment of standards... balance.

Yes, balance.  Balance between what I want and what is.  Between free, unstructured times and focused "schooling" times.  Between time spent at home and time spent learning and sharing with others out in the community.  Between wondering what on earth we have embarked upon and why we continue the sometimes discouraging journey of a homeschool lifestyle and praising God for directing us to this lifestyle that is more often rich in moments of sheer warmth and energizing "ah ha!"s.

And with that balance has come freedom.  Freedom to live each day as it comes (or as happenstance, kiddo wills or Mommy's distractions demand at times.)  Freedom to follow interests, immerse ourselves in long spells of play, work and study.  Freedom to concentrate on an academic point one minute (hour, day, week) and on life skills another.  Freedom and responsibility.

The kids (and Mom!) are growing with both.  Freedom and responsibility.  And balance.  Oh, I might have just found the three words that will be my guiding ones in January, much like rejoice, rest and nourish were in January.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share… 

Take advantage of local support groups if you have one. 

This is the first year that I have been able to make the time to join in the monthly support nights that our local Catholic homeschooling group offers to moms (or Dads, if they ever wanted to come.)  Doing so, has required me to rearrange work appointments and family commitments more than once, and, consequently, I have wondered at times if the "work" and "stress" of getting our family calender to a point that will allow me to attend the meetings is worth it.  

The wondering never lasts long though.

I end up at the meetings one way or another -- usually in the car of a homeschool friend who is not only gracious enough to offer carpooling each month, but also kind enough to wait a few extra moments for me to get to her house so we can go onto the home of whoever is hosting the meeting.  

It rarely fails that I have a commitment I cannot completely reschedule right before we are to leave for the support group meetings.  So, I often find myself calling my friend to say, "I AM coming.  I am just a minute or two behind, because..." She, in turn, reassures me, "It's okay.  I am here."

And she is.  She is there, as are the other women in the support group.  There to talk.  There to understand.  There to laugh.  There to brainstorm.  There to eat yummy baked goods with.  There to stay up far too late one night a month recharging ourselves with even as we,  make ourselves a bit overtired for the next day, too.

Before I started making time for these meetings, I did not realize how much I would enjoy them -- even need them.  Now, I cannot imagine homeshcooling at this stage in my life without them.   

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… 

I know there have been both the usual and the more out of the ordinary excursions and visits over the past few weeks, but right now I cannot recall details.

Why?

Because the storm everyone has been talking about coming to our area is just beginning and the kids are shouting, "The snow.  It is here.  It is here."  Their excitement at seeing the snow beginning to fall NOW has pushed aside thoughts of much where we have gone and what we seen over the past few weeks.

Oh, the enthusiasm of children as they anticipate a big snow!

My favorite thing this week was… 

this moment.

It may seem an odd thing to be a favorite, but there was something about witnessing the steps of my three curly head kids bent in happy concentration as they peeled boiled eggs that took my breath away this week.

My three blessings, together.  Close.  Loving.  Intent.  Demonstrating growth of skills and independence.  Helping me prepare lunch.  

I cannot put into words exactly what about the moment struck me.  The blossoming layers of meaning that bloomed in my heart as I paused to take note of the children at work is something that was more feeling than thought.  A feeling that spoke of calling -- and how listening to a call can be so regarding.  Even as I write about it, happy tears come to my eyes.  I am so grateful for oddly simple, yet "deep" moments like these that confirm my call and encourage me to live it with even greater focus and authenticity.

My kiddos favorite thing this week was… 

"These things," said Nina, as she pointed to the pieces of nectarine that Luke was slicing for the kids to snack on.  "And snow!"

"Playing outside, " said Jack  His blonde curls peaking out from the rim of one of Daddy's shrunken Army hats.  His feet in boots tugged on over jammies.  Yep.  the boy decided to play outside in the snow before he was even out of jammies this morning.

"Snow!" Luke agreed.  "This (the nectarine he is cutting) and making Valentines."  Nina and Luke have spent unstructured lesson times this week directing their own Valentine-making project.  They even put pennies in some Valentine's and declared to me that these were for the teens in our neighborhood, because "these are for teenagers that rob.  We don;t want them to rob anymore, so we give them money."

Yes!  They came up with that themselves.  

Last Good Friday, we woke to fund that our cars had been entered in front of our home and rifled through.  All our the money and change that had been in the cars had been taken.  We had supposed it was teenagers.  The kids, for some reason, had recalled this and come up with their own solution.  Love. My.  Kids!

Things I’m working on… 

Lenten homeschool and life plans.  As much as I LOVE the unexpected evidence of learning and thought that comes from unstructured time, I also feel that I am being pushed by the Spirit to have greater discipline with standards-based structured school time (which, for the record, DOES happen in our home regularly.  I just have an inkling that NOW is a time to make it happen even more for some reason.)

So, I want to obey the urge I have noted.  Get a faith-based plan for more structured planning going.  Live it.  Then, pause after Easter to better understand why I felt called to go in this direction.

 I’m cooking… 

I am cooking...

... but, more importantly, I am doing "food studies" with the kids again.  And, they are working!!!!

My picky, produce-averse Luke CHOSE a nectarine this morning.  He went to the fridge.  got it out.  Sliced it. Then, shared it with his sibs.  

Nina and him are awaiting Daddy's return through the afternoon snowstorm so they can "study" a plum.

All three kids enjoyed some bizarre tropical fruit we studied earlier this week.

Oh, may the trend continue.  I will have plant strong kiddoes yet!!!!

I’m grateful for…

  

Mike.  My husband.  A few weeks ago, we had a "bad day" -- a day that made me less than secure about our communication and about the strength and growth of our marriage.

Since then, we have shared so many reaffirming moments.  The specific issue that set the "bad day" off stills needs to be discussed.  However, so much more has proven that our marriage is as strong and as good as it has ever been.

The fruit is LOVE.  Love between us.  Love between the kids.  Love between us and the kids. 

So many mornings lately, the kids have bubbled with "Wanna see what dad showed me?"  "Daddy said..."  "Will Daddy be home THE WHOLE DAY tomorrow?"  They LOVE their Daddy so much and their Daddy shares so much love with all of us.

So many nights, I have gone to bed grateful that Mike is the man who is my life partner.  Even if we could both name a thing (or ten!) about each other that could be "growth points", when it all comes down to it, there is more that makes us :right" as individuals and "right" for each other.  We have been richly blessed by our union and our commitment to it remains strong.

 I’m praying for… 

...the ability to remember everything I just typed the next time Mike and I inevitably face a stress-point!

...safety and encouraging evidence of love for everyone throughout the storms of life -- both the literal storms like New England is supposed to be hit with today, and the more figurative ones, which I know some folks going through.  You are in my prayers.

...authenticity in my call and a continued winnowing in my soul -- one that aligns me to His will and makes His plan mine.  (Oh, so hard to get out of the way for that!)

...LOVE!  May we all go into the Lenten season knowing it is there.  It is for us.  It is in us.  It is ready to be given through us.  

Something I am ogling or have my eye on… 

A Vitamix!  Or a Blendtec?  Or,  okay, people with fancy blender units.  Give me all your tried-and-true feedback.  

For our family, the "want" for one of these contraptions is beginning to border on "need" and I am 

A photo or two to share… 

When Saturdays are not booked solid, Mike takes charge of the kids, so I can focus on work paperwork, bills and home decluttering.  This past weekend, I unburied some games from my childhood in the basement.  They were in rather ill repair, and I was going to get rid of them to help create space, but they have yet to make it out the front door.  The kids have been having too much fun with them, and Luke has made the argument, "Mommy, these thing shave memories for you and now for us..."  I guess the space hog, duct taped games will stay at least until the cold weather passes.  They make for great too-cold-to-go-out fun.  (and trust me, there have been a number of days that fit that category lately!)

This post is being shared at The Homeschool Mother's Journal.

 

Homeschool Mother's Journal: Week 3, 2013

In my life this (past) week…

I experienced a repeat realization this last week.  Something that I have recognized before, but, then, neglected to adhere to:  My children do best when I take no more than 5-10 minutes on the computer at a time once all three of them are awake.  For even when the kids don’t “need” my direct interaction, their behavior and displayed emotions indicate that they do best when I am more fully present with them than I am when I am working on documents or online. 

So, it is that I have started disciplining myself (again!) not to be on the computer for long periods during the day when all three of my child are awake – a boon for parenting, homeschooling and the happy-peaceful atmosphere I seek for our home, but, perhaps, a hindrance to the pace at which I’ll be blogging.  (If this post is anything to go by, it will be, at least.  For, I started this post before the kids woke up Friday morning and am just NOW posting it!)

In our homeschool this (past) week…

Nina thoroughly enjoyed our penny experiments.

We experienced the benefits of “strewing”, of direct focused lessons and of freedom to enjoy experiences that we might not if the children drove away on the big yellow bus each day.

Strewing is an unschooling term that refers to the art of allowing your children to discover things that you casually leave out, almost like seeds, which help a child’s  curiosity, joy and enthusiasm germinate and grow.  Although we don’t unschool here on a regular basis, we have been through some “unschoolish” periods and continue to value the learning that happens spontaneously in the rich soil of unscheduled, yet well-seeded time.

Beautiful moments that have sprouted due to strewing last week included:

-          Luke pouring over Story of the Orchestra book during every free moment he had one morning and singing “Tchaikovsky wrote a great ballet...” to himself and us as he went about his play (a tune he learned from The Story of Swan Lake).

-          Luke beginning to learn about playing the piano again and spending a lot of time one day playing Jack’s little electric keyboard.  Nina asking Daddy to re-string her kids’ guitar and, then, all the children and Daddy dreaming up a future family band. 

-          the children “reading” to each other in precious moment after precious moment about ancient Egypt, their imagined space wars, changes in time throughout history.  The book A Street Through Time particularly fascinated Luke and ignited all of the children’s imaginations.

Focused lesson fun and success has included:

-          games!  Learning games focused on specific standards-based goals.  A large chalkboard has become the  game board for Nina’s phonics and early reading lessons, Luke’s “flip the sound” strategy practice, reading numerals up to 100 and counting by 5’s...  A calendar became a game board to bring Nina one step closer to mastering counting and reading numbers through 31 – a goal she is almost at.  Cut up papers have become handwriting practice and, then, cards for Slap!, Go Fish and Concentration while studying both phonics and sight words.  Focused lessons has been fun around here this week!

-          math challenges!  There is just something about calling addition work, number work and other skills-based math exercises “challenges” that makes doing otherwise rote tasks so much more appealing to our children.

-          post-dinner science experiments.  Exploring acidity and experimenting with how common kitchen products make old pennies shiny again was a huge hit for all three children.

-          Daily Five time – formal and child-driven.  Afternoons, when we are home, the kids are getting into a  routine of The Daily Five time.  First thing in the mornings and late in the afternoons, they often choose to engage in informal sessions of it, too.  I just LOVE hearing them “read” to one another or seeing them hanging out in comfortable places reading to themselves.

-         Jack joining in at the beginning of our Drama Kids lesson this week (since Daddy was a few minutes late).  It was so precious to see him jumping right in with all the “big kids”.  Then, after he left the class, Luke finally figured out the difference between projection and shouting and Nina delighted in delivering a line of our scene in an expressive, loud voice front and center stage.

Freedom borne from homeschooling has afforded us opportunities to:

-          make snowmen, snowwomen and snowdogs while the snow was perfect for it.  As I shoveled the driveway so we could get out to a medical appointment for Jack, all three kids played and sculpted in the snow.  Later in the day – and week – they repeated their snow breaks often.

-          enjoy mid-day skating.  A local homeschooling group has organized the best deal with a local skating rink, so every few weeks, we get to go skating around lunchtime ultra-affordable.  Jack tried skating the first week, but now prefers to watch and then take his nap in my arms.  Nina and Luke, though, wow!  With persistence and joy they are teaching themselves to skate.  Nina made such great strides – or rather slides – this week with thanks to another homeschool mom, Kristen’s, help.  Seeing Nina smile as she skated across the rink and back was awesome.

-         spend an entire day between two libraries and a playground, enjoying a fabulous music and movement class that a friend led, meeting a craft challenge in preparation for a feast day next week, playing educational computer games, playing board games, zooming wooden trains, swinging, enjoying dramatic play and slipping in some more academic, formal lessons.

-         visit a homeschool friend’s house so Mommy could plan for our spring co-op while my children were fully and graciously entertained by their friends.  I just love witnessing the multi-age interaction that homeschooling affords and how development is evidenced and encouraged as older children excitedly engage younger children and vice versa.

Yep.  It’s been a good week!

Helpful homeschooling tips to share…

The kids were so happy to finally use the snowman kit that Auntie got Jack for Christmas.  I was equally delighted to recall that enjoying the snow in the morning when it is expected to melt by afternoon is a benefit of our chosen lifestyle.

Comparison, doubt, worry, have to’s, should do’s and all the rest of the things that snuff the joy right out of homeschooling creep up so surreptitiously.  Then, darkness falls. 

Pause, prayer, love, acceptance, hope, perspective...  All of these things spark smiles once more.  After being beleaguered by dark and doubt at times two weeks ago, I am glad last week found us on fire again here and am hoping to keep feeding the flame even as darkness keeps creeping back into my brain.  To this end, I am recording a little tip for myself to look back on and remember for when things inevitably sputter:

Do it their way, your way and His way.  When I refocus on following my children’s lead, accepting embracing my style and making a greater effort to see, feel and live with the Spirit working in our home and homeschool, things get so much better.  Attitude, authenticity and a strong portion of grace can be the difference between a “good” homeschool experience and a “bad” one.  I just wish I could remember that 24-7, because lately I have forgotten it for at least a few hours a day.

 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Besides the things I already wrote about as part of our homeschool review, and a family nature walk we enjoyed on the Sabbath, the biggest highlight of the week – which was a rather quiet and reflective one – was that both Mike and I got to be present at Adoration this week.

I encouraged Mike to go Adoration two weeks ago and was surprised when he took me up on a suggestion that I could get the kids to bed after I came home from work if he would like to pop on over to  nearby Adoration chapel for some quiet time.  I was even more amazed when Mike asked if he might go back to the chapel the following night. 

Unfortunately, prior plans did not allow for Mike to make it to Adoration on two nights in a row, but we were able to rearrange it so Mike could go to Adoration again that week, and, now, we think we have our schedules figured out in a way that will allow him to enjoy at least one weekly Adoration hour.

And, bonus, we might be able to work in time for me to go as well.  In fact, this past week, I was able to spend some quiet time with Jesus at the chapel after work one night,  I didn’t know how much I needed that!

I hope this trend continues.

My favorite things this (past) week were…

-          hearing my kids develop their “peacekeepers” and “attackers” story.  They have been making up a saga inspired by Star Wars for months now, and, this week, they have sat with books a number of times, using the illustrations to inspire new chapters of their collective imaginary adventure.

-          daily evidence of the will to serve others in each of my children.  Nina takes the lead in displaying generosity and kindness.  Jack models after it well.  Luke even bandwagons at times.  Well, that is when he isn’t saying, “If Nina’s too generous, she’ll give herself out of house and home one day.”  The boy cracks me up.

My kiddos favorite thing this (past) week was…

"Ryan and Katelyn!"  Nina danced about saying as she related that our weekly homeschool playdate was among her favorite things this week.  “And computer time past when you’re supposed to be to bed,” she continued.  I guess I know what the kids and Daddy did while I was at work and Adoration.

"Video golfing last night on your computer," Luke chimed in.  Yep, it is confirmed.  Daddy treated the kids last night.

"Seeing Tucker," Jack recalled.  “I build tree with Tucker.”  Actually, I helped Jack build a tree as a part of our craft challenge at a playdate this week, but our friend Tucker was there, too, and, boy, don’t our kids love Tucker and his family.

Things I’m working on…

If I can find balance and joy in life like Nina finally did on the ice this past week, I will be golden.

...some of the same things as last week:  circle time plans, blog drafts, home organization, healthy eating, balanced living, daily five reading time, Morning Basket retreat time, etc.  More than that, though, I am working on mindset -- keeping priorities in focus, trusting baby steps and focusing on nourishment, rest and rejoicing are vital for me right now.  As I already mentioned, I keep slipping into dark moods these days.  I am not sure why.  But, I keep getting discouraged, doubtful, down right grumpy.  Hopefully, I can continue offset these times with greater periods of pleasantness.  Life is  good.  My attitude just isn’t sometimes.  (Prayers and grace, do your thing!)

I’m cooking…

...with groceries that are killing our budget.  I really must find a balance between how we eat and how much we spend on it

I’m grateful for…

...opportunities to work to help supplement our family’s income.  I have a lot of independent contracts scheduled from now through May and am going to be leaning hard on the Holy Spirit to let the work work for us and not offset the balance of life too much. 

I struggle with our daily rhythm a lot anyway and now, adding more to it, I am a tad concerned about total disharmony.

I’m praying for…

...the openness and discipline to better listen to the Spirit, among other things, and the strength of character to live as salt and light even when life starts seeming tasteless and dark.

A photo to share... 

After one of those frightening moments when you thank your child's guardian angel for breaking a fall that no one saw coming, Jack wanted only a hug from his brother and his sister, who were delighted to comply.  I;d gladly do without a repeat of the scare, but will always smile when my three kiddoes seek comfort and love within one another's arms.

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This post is will be shared at the next  Homeschool Mother's Journal. since I missed last week’s.

Homeschool Mother's Journal: Week 2, 2013

In my life this week…

I have been focusing on three words that I wrote on the bottom of my January calendar page after much thought and prayer:  Nourish.  Rest.  Rejoice.

When I remember to make these my guide for decision-making, life seems to go so much better.  Nourishing my own body and soul, as well as my children's and my husband's.  Resting my body and my brain (something that does not come naturally to me!)  Consciously finding reasons -- and even creating reasons -- to rejoice!  Yes, life runs more smoothly when I focus on these things and there is far more peace and happiness in my home as a result.

Wednesday and Thursday were perfect examples of this.  Wednesday, I woke with with headache, neck ache and other sundry "yuck" symptoms.  Instead of taking these as a sign to focus on nourishment and rest, I pushed through the morning.  It started okay, but quickly disintegrated into "one of those mornings", filled with frustrations and hurdles.  Phones rang at the same time, a guy from the town water department came knocking at the door about a random thing he needed to do in my disastrous basement, the kids began fighting and crying, I realized I'd double-booked some commitments, the toilet stopped working correctly, homeschooling proved more a chore than a joy...  Our home was anything but a place of rejoicing.

Enter Thursday.  I woke without the head and neck ache, but was tired from staying out late at a homeschool support night.  Instead of pushing through, I decided to let the kids and I rest in how the day unfolded and to focus on love and rejoicing while it did.  The day turned out beautifully!  

"I like that!" Nina said when she saw the camera monitor after Jack took a photo of me in our lean-to.  She wanted me to include it here.

The kids and I had fun with some homeschool games and activities I conjured up.  We took a long midday break for a picnic in the woods in a lean-to we had built on another day and then walked over to a playground.  I stole a few winks at nap time with Jack.  We ate healthy foods...

Nourish.  Rest.  Rejoice.  By letting these words that came to me through thought and prayer guide me through the day, I allowed the day to be what it could be:  beautiful!  By the time I got home from work, snuggled in to get the kids to sleep and sent Mike off to Adoration, I had so many things in my mind to offer thanksgiving and praise for.  I am still riding the high of it this morning.

In our homeschool this week…

There was both doubt and delight.

On Tuesday afternoon, I let doubt about my homeschool  creep in. "I'm not doing enough."  "The kids aren't meeting standards well enough."  "I need a better physical homeschool set up."  "Why haven't I finished creating Assessment binders and systems?"  "I would like to be more like (insert homeschool friends names here.)"...  Yep, I was in a mental tailspin about the way we homeschool and found myself inundating my husband's work email with self-accusations, ideas for improvement and things to be put on our "when we have time to discuss" list. 

Thankfully, the doubt fest lasted less than 24 hours, and the rest of the homeschool week was positive:

Monday, we broke from our regular homeschool rhythms in order to prepare our home for guests.  The kids were so excited at the prospect of hosting two homeschool friend-families the following day that they were willing to put in extra tidy times to prepare for their playdate.  I, of course, capitalized on their willingness, and so, in an effort to make out home presentable, while still enjoying part of the day and getting in lessons, we rotated between 15 minute intervals of Family Work/Practical Life Skills time, academic lesson time with delight-directed free time between "pegs" of meal times, snack times, read aloud time and cuddle time.  It worked well.

Tuesday morning, we did a quick morning circle, enjoyed a some quick Math and Language lessons, made a GFCF Chocolate cake to share and anxiously awaited our friends' arrival.  The kids were so excited to have seven homeschool buddies come to the house and the playdate went well, minus a few minor social skills issues on Luke's part.  Yep, at times, Luke was less than gracious to some friends while hyper-focusing on playing with others and when many of our friends converged on Luke and Jack's room at one time, I had to go in to help Luke get over "everyone touching my stuff" at the same time.  Those moments aside, the playdate was great, and we'll  definitely be looking to host more gatherings at our home.

Wednesday was a wash in many ways, although we did get in Core Four studies and some classical music studies.  Plus, when the kids were not fighting during free time, they enjoyed both educational and "just fun" games and activities during "delight-directed" free times.

A bright moment on an otherwise dark Wednesday morning was when Nina elected to practice her "retell the story" skills by "reading" I'd Be Your Princess to Jack.

Thursday found us practicing tally marks with Tumble, reviewing alphabet sounds and getting exercise with ABC cards, playing card games while studying sight words, reading lots and enjoying warm winter weather, among other things.  It seems the children also did science experiments with Daddy while I was at work.  I noticed the remains of their experiment with soap pieces and water to "make it like milk" on the counter this morning.

Today, so far, we've had a morning of Practical Life, informal lessons and play.  We will be hitting focused Core Four time soon.

Indeed, we all continue to learn and grow, through brief periods of doubt and greater times of delight.  Homeschool life is good.

Helpful homeschooling tips to share…

• Learn from traditional classroom teachers.  I have been so enjoying revisiting The Daily Five and The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literary Assessment and Instruction as I revamp our rest-and-reading time.  Although these two books have been written by classroom educators for classroom educators, both have a host a transferable ideas that my family is beginning to benefit from.

• Start with what interests the kids and use what you already have.  The kids became super-interested in boxed games again during our annual New Year's Eve festivities with families.  So, this week, I capitalized on their game-interest by using Tumble, Snakes And Ladders, Topple and other games in new ways to practice addition, subtraction, tally marks, counting and other math skills while also getting some fine motor and auditory input in.

• Enrich with classical music.  One of my favorite mental pictures of the week is one of Jack dancing as we began reading and listening to Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music! and The Story of Swan Lake. Adding classical music studies to homeschool can be so easy and fun with such resources. 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

Outside of the people and things I've already mentioned, we took advantage of the warmer winter weather as a part of our continued commitment to keeping the Sabbath by heading to a place called Powder Point Bridge to walk by the ocean.  There, God's handiwork was oh so apparent in the colors of the sea and sky as the day came to a close.  Just gorgeous!

Just imagine pinks and purples over Mike and Jack's head.  Our camera washed the beautiful colors that were in the sky out.

My favorite thing this week was…

our midday break yesterday.  As I wrote on my personal FB page, "LOVING today's warm, sunny skies. After lessons this morning and before reading and rest time, we had a winter picnic in a lean-to the kids built in the woods and then a shirt playtime at the playground through the woods. Being outside is such a salve -- restorative and joy-filled."

Not the best picture, but it was the best moment of the week in my book!

My kiddos favorite thing this week was…

"Seeing Tucker!"  Luke said when I asked him.  Tucker is Luke's favorite homeschool buddy right now and was one of the kids that came to our house the other day.  Luke talks about Tucker every day and has even begun practicing his handwriting sometimes by exchanging posted letters with this friend.

One of Luke's letters to Tucker, after he saw Tucker in "The Nutcracker."

"Seeing Cami," Nina chimed in, of course, when Luke said, "seeing Tucker," because Cami is one of Tucker's sister.  She also said, "going into the woods and having a picnic."  Ah, like mother, like daughter.

"Seeing Stuey," said Jack, for obvious reasons.  The littlest one in our family adores one of the youngest ones in our homeschool-friends family.  Jack also liked "payin pay-dough."  Yes, he is still enjoying playing with the yellow glitter playdough we made for Epiphany. 

Things I’m working on…

...some of the same things as last week:  circle time plans, blog drafts, home organization, healthy eating, balanced living, daily five reading time, Morning Basket retreat time, etc.  More than that, though, I am working on mindset -- keeping priorities in focus, trusting baby steps and focusing on nourishment, rest and rejoicing.

Sometimes it is the simple, spontaneous moments that make life so easy to appreciate.  I had to snap this picture as a reminder of that.  While I did some chores, Nina pulled out a puzzle and, then, Luke, came over to help her with it.  How delighted was I to find them working so cooperatively!  Then, they invited Jack and I to join and, thus, began a fun, informal lesson in careers, letter sounds, matching and imagination.

I’m cooking…

...less as we eat more raw foods, but still more than the average American mom does, I think.  In order to maintain our food goals, which includes keeping the kids' GFCF, so-much-else-free diets, making meal and snack components from scratch is a necessity.   

I’m grateful for…

...small successes and increments of progress.  When I let the Power of Pause to do its thing, life stops being something to push through and becomes something to truly relish.

On Monday, Grampy popped by unexpectedly, which afforded Luke a chance to play a quick game of checkers with him.  I love when impromptu pauses like this enrich our days.

I’m praying for…

• healing for injured children.  I heard about Prayers for Fulton while carpooloing to a homeschool support group and have been holding Fulton and other injured children in my heart.

• the growing ministry of my friend Allison, who is also an author of a book you should check out.

• my grandnephew, a premie, who is going home for the first time soon.

and a host of other intentions.  Please join me in praise and petition.

A photo to share... 

Nina was upset that we took down the Christmas tree this week, but brightened up when I made her a tinsel garland ball to play with.

Please note: Links to Amazon within this post and others are affiliate ones. Should you choose to click through one to make an Amazon purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. This does not cost you anything, but is a choice we thank you for making. Anything we  make here goes straight back into training up our children and to much of what we share with you here. Thank you!

This post is being shared at Homeschool Mother's Journal.

Homeschool Mother's Journal, First Week in 2013

In my life this week…

I am all about blessings and baby steps. 

Refocusing on the blessings of great moments, recognizing blessings in challenging moments and sharing blessings at all moment. 

That and making baby steps towards living my ideal vision for life more authentically.  In other words, I have been stopping countless times a day to ask myself, "What could I do or say right now to live my call and bring the ideal closer to becoming the real?"  Then, I act on the answer.

So far, so good.  The approach allows me to get distracted, make mistakes and be the very human human I am, while still allowing me ample opportunities to simply pause, reset and move on to better choices and thoughts.  It's a forgiving, relaxed and encouraging approach that I hope to continue abiding by.

Believe it or not, writing this post is actually abiding by it.  I have long wanted to be better about recording the simple ins and outs of our weeks, thus, keeping better records for homeschooling as well as for personal reflection.  Since the kiddoes are content right now, I have seized the opportunity to take a baby step toward weekly written records.  Hoorah!

In our homeschool this week…

We revamped our morning circle time, got back into doing our weather tree, began a more formal "Daily Five" reading time, enjoyed many read alouds, practiced hospitality by welcoming friends to the house, made and played with yellow glitter playdough as a part of Epiphany studies, raced down hills with sleds for P.E., did some informal assessments for Math and Language Arts, joined other homeschoolers for an enjoyable First Friday celebration of Mass, fellowship and fun... In other words, we lived, loved and learned together in balance with the rest of life.

Helpful homeschooling tip to share…

Someone must have told Santa that I have gotten Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School out from the library at least ten times in the past five years, because he brought me my own copy.  If you've never read this resource, I cannot recommend it enough.  I consult it both for homeschooling and for tutoring.   I truly feel it belongs on every homeschoolers read and research list.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

After being sick for the week before Christmas, I have been reluctant to bring the kids out and about where there recovering immune systems might catch a new bug.  Thus, we've been in more than out for the past couple weeks, but that hardly means we've been homebound.  In fact, as I think about the past week, I am surprised just how often we were out!

Sledding on Sunday.  Partying with family for New Year's Eve on Monday.  Mass with impromptu play outdoors with friends afterward on Tuesday.  Drama Kids on Thursday.  And, First Friday homeschool fun today.  It's no wonder I am feeling a bit tired now...

My favorite thing this week was…

A toss up.  

New Year's Eve was a great night for the kids.  They were all so good at our family party.  They made decent food choices, played games pleasantly with their cousins and rang in the New Year with smiles as they shot off scads of confetti and silly string.  It was so good to drive home without groaning about how the kids had behaved this year.

But, perhaps even better is this moment.  It is nearly four o'clock, yet all three of the children are playing cooperatively together.  In light of the fact that usually by this time of day, they are spent and require much redirection, this moment is a victorious one.  Add in that two days ago at this time of day I may have given my children away to the first person who came to my door, and the simple reality that my children are playing peacefully together is even more miraculous.  You see, for two days after New year's Eve, their behavior was r-o-t-t-e-n.  I knew it was because they were overtired still, but that didn't make it any easier to deal with.  So, I appreciate the kids current demeanor all the more.

If every afternoon could be as peaceful as this one is, I would be a very happy, reflective and,even, productive mama.  (But, I won't count my chickens...) 

My kiddos favorite thing this week was…

"Playing light sabers!"  Nina just said, because she is thrilled that they have finally earned the privilege of using theirs again today after weeks of the lightsabers being hidden in Mike and my closet.

"What we did today, everything except for the Mass," said Luke with his usual candor.  He thoroughly enjoyed games, a video and fellowship for First Friday as well as playing with his siblings at home today.  If only he'd start appreciating Mass.

"Watching movies," said Jack.  We've done a lot of video watching lately.  It's uncharacteristic of us, but before Christmas, when everyone was sick, I savored the quiet ease of video time and we have allowed a little bit of that to continue, much to the kids' pleasure!

Things I’m working on…

Circle time plans.  Epiphany lessons.  Blog drafts.  Home organization.  Healthy eating.  Balanced living.  Daily five reading time.  Morning Basket retreat time...My list could go on and on.  I have baby steps going in many directions, but, most importantly, all forward!

  

I’m cooking…

Whatever I can from the foods we already have on hand in the house as I put off grocery shopping and think about how to best move us to eating more and more raw and living foods. I also am keeping a diary of what we eat this week, beginning to work on a Family Eats binder that includes "accepted" recipes.

I’m grateful for…

New beginnings.  Not just new year beginnings, but new day, new hour, new moment ones.   The more present I am, the more grateful I become. 

 I’m praying for…

Many things, but ask others to join me in prayers for the recovery of a friend who just had a mastectomy, the health of my newborn grandnephew who arrived weeks early and that of a family friend's newborn daughter who did the same and the strength of a family I know whose mother/grandmother became ill on Christmas Day and required an emergency surgery.

I also ask others to join me in thankfulness for every new beginning and for faith to choose Him when making what seem like everyday choices.  

A photo to share... 

... will have to wait for next time, because uploading photos to my computer, resizing them to upload to the blog and then getting them onto the blog is such a tedious and time-consuming process that it deters me from finishing posts.  While I know everyone likes a photo (myself included!), too often, I fail to post something because I have not got the photo(s) that go with it ready to go.

Not today.

I am just going to excuse myself from the photo and hit "publish".

Might I also ask other bloggers to share their favorite equipment, programs, platforms, strategies and tips for easing the process of posting pics?  I'd so appreciate comments about these.  Thanks in advance.

Please note: Links to Amazon within this post and others are affiliate ones. Should you choose to click through one to make an Amazon purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. This does not cost you anything, but is a choice we thank you for making. Anything we  make here goes straight back into training up our children and to much of what we share with you here. Thank you!

This post is being shared at Homeschool Mother's Journal.