week 5 - burnout

This week didn't start out so great.  I was in a funk.  I was burnt out.  I told the kids Monday morning that we weren't having kidschool because I couldn't feel the Spirit.  "Why? Nothing is wrong!" said Troy.  Good boy.  We prayed, we put the flag up.  I slowly inched my way back up.

 I played lacrosse with Troy (sadly the ball shattered the front window while I was inside)

 We all played baseball.

 Cash keeps a close eye on the tomatoes these days

 They built condo.'s

 I guess Paul got the end unit...

 They have thoroughly enjoyed digging in dirt this week.  A lot.

Cooking is better with EVERYONE!

I love that when we go to the Treehouse Museum we can spend the whole two hours in one corner of it playing with blocks (because we have a membership i don't feel like we have to hurry and see everything).  I love that there is one of me and only four of them (unlike the school groups going through).  I love that the "one of me" IS their Mom.  I love being with them during their magical discoveries.

 Studied some weird plants, which turned out to be mushrooms.

 Created a cleaning plan

 with signs

 Studied with Cheerios and Goldfish

 He has been doing some serious weight-lifting

 with lots of moral support

 We built a homemade swing between the bunk beds.

 The kids acted out their first play.  It basically consisted of six Acts of Sir Troy slaying the dragon...

But the lost cow was adorable, and was returned to the beautiful princess by the tough cowboy.

 Pumpkin picking

 Pumpkin decorating

 Pumpkin hauling

 Cut little pumpkin

 Pumpkin arranging

 Pumpkin hugging

 PUMPKIN PORCH!

We FINALLY finished reading Farmer Boy.  We unfortunately had to skip a few chapters near the end, but the last one was worth it.  I look forward to reading it again when they are older. 

"I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." -Philippians 4:13

Fall Learning week 4 - The Holy Spirit

This week our scripture was:
"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." -1 Nephi 4:6
This is very much how our education is going.  And that is awesome.  I'm so grateful that it is SO dependent on the Spirit of God.  I do pray A LOT and plan what I can and "treasure up in <my> mind continually the words of life", but then I have to leave lots of room for listening to the Spirit, adjusting and learning in "the Flow".  This week was even less 'planned' than usual, so I guess our theme, so to speak, ended up being:THE SPIRIT
 One fabulous change in routine was COUSINS!! I am grateful that my kids didn't have to miss a second with them because they had to "go" to school. So grateful to meet this new little Angel - Jade loved holding her! Brothers! All the grand-kids on the Beesley side:) Playing games with cousins Adorable! We spent a morning at the Treehouse museum with some very engaged learning Individualizing and self-educating - with some mentoring from meBuildingBuildingBuildingBuildingGreat week.  One of my favorite parts was reading  books out on the lawn while dad was at Bishopric meeting, albeit resulted in losing some library pieces to a game...

Another reason I homeschool

Lists - I love lists.  Lists are not always good.  Life is often too complicated to contain on a list.  But lists can be very efficient.  Here are two contrasting lists.  

The first is what is often taught on "the conveyor belt" of public education:

• Do the bare minimum
• Learning means pleasing the authority figure.
• Learning, schooling and studying are no fun.
• Playing is when you don't have to learn
• To be a good student I have to study somebody else's interests.
• My own interestes must be pursued on my own time, and they aren't as valuable as the "accepted' topics of study.
• If nobody is making me study, I'd rather be entertained than learn.

Here is the second list.  This is how I feel about learning and how I am attempting to inspire my children to feel about it, too.

• There is SO MUCH to learn and it is SO EXCITING!!!
• Learning is more fun than almost anything
• I can learn on my own, in a group, or with help from a teacher or parent
• All I need is a book and I can learn
• In fact, I can learn even without a book
• I love learning!
• I am passionately interested in (fill in the blank - ie: homebirth, child development, volleyball, nature, the scriptures)
• If I do more than is assigned, I'll learn more and have more fun.  The assignments are just minimums
• My thoughts and ideas are as valuable as anybody else's.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE learning - this is the greatest lifestyle ever :)

Week 3 - Music

This week the Lord inspired me to focus on

MUSIC

 Troy learned to play "War Wagon" on the guitar

 Jade drew guitars

 We went to the Freedom's Light Festival

 It was awesome!

 We learned particularly about the Constitution with some awesome games to teach about it's six goals in the preamble.

 We went on an awesome bike ride to the skate park

 We studied some physics with slides and Hot Wheels cars

 For our Field-trip-Friday we went on an awesome hike

 This boy has some serious attention to detail

 Put a pen in her hand and she is happy

 Singing "Cheer up my Broder!"

 We harvested grapes and made grape juice with Dad

 Yay for a baby GIRL cousin :)
(While the boys are off at a Tractor Pull!)

 Fort building class