Getting Ready for School

Where did the summer go? I've felt really cheated out of the last half of August with all the heat and then the onslaught of mosquitos that prevent people from being outside. Urgh!! So now my flower beds look droopy and are crying for my attention, but it will have to wait because school is just around the corner! I have my supplies, and have put time into prepping, however there is still some mental juggling issues that I need to tackle. Our 16 year old is now doing PSEO at college, so I'm not doing much with him at this point. So that leaves me with an 8th, 5th, 2nd and part 1 of a 4 year old Kindy. She is more than ready for school and did preschool with us last year, but now she wants to read and so we will start school and go at her pace, but not make it "official" this year.

I suppose I need to take an "official" first day of school picture of the crew, but I never have put this into our tradition, but maybe should start! We are starting the day after Labor Day..thus next Tuesday. I was so hoping to have awesome weather to prep for fall before we started this school year. Oh well....practicing some level of patience here.

We enjoy a "lifestyle of learning" education at our home. We are structured and have a plan, daily lessons and such and work "group style/unit study" on many subjects and then seperate for the individual things like Math, English, Spelling, Handwriting and Music Practice. We will do Science, History, Bible, Journaling, P.E. and Art together. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to hang together all the time and do our schooling together. MMMMmmm we learn so much from each other! The beauty of being a home educating mom is that I learn continually as well!

My birthday

I once again was reminded that yes indeed, we home school and that my enthusiasm for adventure and science has fueled most of our school all these 24 years. So, on my 48th birthday, yesterday, my hubby and 9 kids, ages 27 -4 got together and with their dad leading the project bought me lizards, toads and anoles and new furnishings for my terrarium! As I saw my 27 year old post pix on my facebook in the wee hours of this morning, I thought, yep, we are a home schooling family.

My 84 and 86 year old mom and dad couldn't believe that they were spending money on their 48 year old daughter buying specialized tree frogs and that she was loving it! As passerbyers and dog walkers at the park saw our large gathering (spouses, fiances and grandchildren added to our little mix, I'm sure some were thinking..."who would want 2 aquariums full of plants and "squishy things"!! Oh too fun! I might add my favorite things besides children are moose and frogs....so to have exotic frogs added to my collection, fun anoles and a salmon colored house gecko was an awesome thing for me. I was shocked that my hubby who isn't normally a huge planner had put lots of thought and time into this gift together.

One friend asked, "So what did you get for your birthday?" I said, Lizards and frogs! and she hesitantly said, "Did you actually like that?" Indeed!!!!! I did! Thanks guys!!