A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler...

It is so hard to believe that we are beginning our fourth year of homeschooling.  It really doesn't seem possible.  This is our first year of officially doing two grades (3rd & Kindergarten) and I'm excited to be able to watch Naomi grow in her knowledge of phonics and reading as we learn together over the next several months.  This is our homeschool room (pictured above and below).  We had hoped to have finished our unfinished downstairs, but God's timing is perfect and it's not finished yet.  So, since we knew we had another year of school upstairs, we decided to make it as functional as possible.  Marty built my new IKEA shelves a few weeks ago and I've pulled out many of our boxes of books and school supplies to make our room feel as welcoming and learner friendly as possible.  

Instead of backpacks this year, I made the girls their own canvas bags using the simple tools of a ruler and sharpies (Thanks to Pinterest!)  They were a lot of fun to make and the girls were excited to have new bags with their names on them.  

 

French Toast for breakfast!

Excited to start school ... seriously!!

Some new school goodies (mostly freebies or super cheap items from Staples & Target).  I have recently discovered Mike's Used Books, which has been great for purging through our old books and finding some new ones.  All of the girls received "new" books in their bags (American Girl doll book, The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola, and If Jesus lived in my Heart - board book)

Sophie got in the spirit and got all these puzzles out herself before we even began our school work.

I am blessed with three precious students!

The principal and his girls!

Our precarious, I mean... precious preschooler

Our kangaroo of a kindergartner (always jumping) 

Our thriving third grader (constantly learning and reading)

Sophie's attempt at the Pledge of Allegiance

Proud to hold the Bible

Watching Super Why on the Ipad 

A little mammal classification with the help of Pinterest

Science Experimenting

One morning we went to the park first thing to avoid the heat of the day.  Our Sophie can certainly be full of "joy" on mornings like this.

My little explorers at the park

Once again, avoiding the heat by staying inside with my artists.

Overall, the week was a success.  Did I accomplish everything?  No way!  Was coffee an extreme necessity every single morning?  For sure.  Did Sophie cover herself with chapstick during naptime one day?  Oh, yeah!  Did I get stressed that my schedule wasn't going as planned?  You betcha!  But at the end of the week, do I still want to do this homeschool thing?  Only by God's grace, YES!  

Some of the best memories 

are made in flip flops - Kellie Elmore

As school started today, I see our summer coming to a close.  What a full summer it's been!  Here is just a glimpse of my girls enjoying their time off from school, playing with cousins, tea parties, pool time, and even a day trip to the beach.  

A few things that I'm grateful for...

• I am so thankful to be settled in our home after going through a difficult move last summer.
• I am thankful for my parents being back in the States, especially when Marty was gone for much of July.  
• I am thankful for our air conditioning as the heat this year has often seemed unbearable.  
• I am thankful for our neighborhood pool in which flip-flops are the regular foot attire and the walk is just down the street.
• I am thankful for the opportunity to be home with my girls.  Let me not take it for granted.

In case you are wondering, we did not get everything done on our list.  Most of it... but not everything (notice there is not a check mark beside potty training).  We still hope to do our outdoor movie night this month and go bowling one Friday before the schedule gets too busy.  But I'm ok with not completing "the list".  It was fun putting it together and I hope it will be a jump start for next summer when the girls will all be a little older and nap times won't be such a necessity.

(School pictures to come soon...)

While a parent is away...

As some of you may know, our summer has been busy... BUSY!!  But whose isn't?  Anyone who has been in youth ministry can understand that summers aren't really vacation times, but often the most hectic time of the year.  This is not a bad thing, but since having children of our own, it's definitely different.  

My husband just returned from a ten trip to Ukraine, which I think is the longest he's been away yet.  But thanks to my parents, the girls and I spent half that time with them and time went by faster. Another thing that helped to pass the time for my girls was all of the surprises left by Daddy.

My husband has always been good about leaving notes when he goes on trips, but he really outdid himself this time.  I've been happy with a few post-it's or a card just reminding us how much he misses us.  But this past week, he did so much more.  Everyday the girls had a gift to open (sometimes individually, other times for them to share).  These ranged from glow-sticks to a new Adventures in Odyssey cd to even their own frog kit.  Some of these they had even picked out themselves, but didn't know what day they were getting them.  He also prerecorded devotions on his I-pad for the ten days he was gone.  This was priceless to me!!  It wasn't anything elaborate, but simply Daddy reading to his girls from Naomi's Jesus Storybook Bible.  He encouraged them to follow along and left them with sweet words (like "Be good for Mommy" ha! ha!) at the end of each devotion.  

I have to brag on him even more by mentioning that he not only left our girls sweet gifts and messages, but he also did the same for me.  I had cards and gifts hidden around the house with instructions to find them on certain days to help the time go by and ease some stress (aka Starbucks gift card, dark chocolate raisins, Subway gift card for a meal out).  He also left me his I-pod with sweet messages for me, encouraging me each day to hang in there, and reminding me that I was not alone.

I write all this to encourage parents that our little ones (& big ones!) love simple acts of kindness while a parent is away.  It doesn't have to be much.  Like I said earlier, a few post-it notes can go a long way.  

Oh, how the years go by...

Twelve years ago today, I said "I do" to my very best friend.  It has been an amazing twelve years in which I have never questioned our life together.  Like any roller coaster, there have been ups and downs, but we've ridden it together and that's what matters.  No gifts or big trips this year, but honestly, the best gift my husband could give me, he already has.  He's still here.  He's still right beside me, faithful and true, and that is all I need for a gift.  

A few years ago, I made a list of all of the positive traits that I could think of that described the man I married.  (At the time, I was mad at him for something, so I needed to get over it and tried a little reverse psychology on myself.)  Here was (and still is) my list...

- wonderful husband

- loving father

- faithful

- thoughtful

- giving

- forgiving

- humorous (always makes me laugh)

- romantic

- considerate of others

- beautiful voice

- great legs

- consistent provider

- understanding

- patient

- fun to be with

- humble

- keeps no records of wrongs

The list could go on . . .

The past twelve years have encompassed two trips to Japan, missions trips to St. Lucia & Canada (as well as many others for Marty), renting our first apartment for $210 a month including utilities, teaching positions in two different counties, ministering in three youth groups, moving six times, welcoming three precious girls into our family, and our adventures continue.  But once again, I will emphasize that there is no one in this world that I would rather travel this amazing journey of marriage with than you, Marty Middleton.  I cannot wait to see what the next twelve years hold for us!  Happy Anniversary!

My precious young lady

It's still hard to believe that it's been eight years since I was so pleasantly surprised to find out (after almost 24 hours of labor) that we had a girl!!  We had decided to wait to find out, but everyone (with the exception of my dad) said that we were most definitely having a boy.  But I wouldn't trade this sweet girl for a boy any day.  She has been all smiles since infancy and truly a joy to be around!  

We tried something different for her birthday party this year and tackled our first sleepover!  Three of her friends came over for pool time, pizza, s'mores, a movie, and a little sleep, of course.  Their favorite part of the sleepover was playing in the mud in our backyard though.  Too funny!

Overall, I think Chloe's eighth birthday was a success.  I am still so amazed that God has blessed me with such a sweet and caring daughter, who is helping me teach her younger sisters to do the same.  Her love of books, history, and animals keeps me busy, but I wouldn't want it any other way.  I know that the next few years are vital in her walk with the Lord, but I pray daily that He will lead us to show her by example and through His Word, that living for Him is the only thing worth living for.

Summer Plans...

With two weeks left of school, ten days to be exact... we are really getting in the summer mood.  It's been a good school year, tough at times, but overall, the girls are educationally where I had hoped they would be and already excited about their new school books for next year.  

For the past two years, we have made a summer list of sorts to help curb off the boredom and make our summers more memorable.  Some blogs call them living intentionally, while others simply check off summer bucket lists.  I love all the ideas out there, but I've been working on this list (for longer than I thought it would take me!), gleaning from other brilliant moms and desiring to make this summer one that they'll always remember.  If we don't get them all done, that's ok.  I want to be home a lot, which is why several of these ideas revolve around the kitchen table and backyard.  

Summer Fun…

     1.  Summer reading program @ library (  )

2. Camping in the back yard (  )

3.  Outdoor movie night (  )

4.  Blueberry picking (  )

5.  $1 movies (  )

6.  Breakfast picnic @ the park (  )

7.  Potty training week for Sophie (  )

8.  Swim lessons (  )

9.  Pool time.. weekly (  )

10.  Farmers Market (  )

11.  Puddle jumping & walks in the rain (  )

12.  Car washing (  )

13.  Visit new parks (  )

14.  Ice cream @ Sunni Skies (  )

15.  Visit Grandparents (  )

16.  Melting crayons craft (  )

17.  Hair cuts for my girls (  )

18.  Make peanut butter bird feeders (  )

19.  Grocery Store scavenger hunt (  )

20.  Tea Party on the back deck or backyard (  )

21.  Family Water Fun Day (  )

22.  Visit museums in Raleigh (  )

23.  Write ABC’s with licorice strings (  )

24.  Go Cloud watching (review names of clouds) (  )

Cloud watching idea

25.  Teach moon-phases with Oreo’s (or Joe Joe’s) (  )

Oreo Cookie Phases of the Moon

26.  Fly Kites (  )

27.  Shoot off rockets with Daddy (  )

28.  Afternoon tea parties (  )

29.  Try geocaching as a family (  )

30.  Mini marshmallow construction (  )

31.  Go Dollar Tree shopping for a friend in need (  )

32.  Go bowling with friends (  )

33.  Day trip to the beach (  )

34.  Pick favorite baked good at Stick Boy (  )