I called in sick!!

Whenever I get sick, I mean I get sick! I run high fevers and am bed-ridden!
Recently I had no choice, but to call in and Maximus had to be my fill-in. I was so proud of him as he proved to be such an amazing kid. It felt good to know that he could step up to the plate when he had to. He really helped take care of me, by helping take care of River. He made breakfast and lunch for them and went above and beyond. They took a bath, got dressed and did... SCHOOL WORK! Yep, you read that right! Maximus did his own workbook page and practiced his reading by reading to River. I could hear them, but was too sick to lift my head, but not too sick to smile. It was the sweetest thing I have ever encountered!

Here is a sweet little note left beside my bed,
In case you can't decipher 6 year old spelling... "I hope you get better. I hate it when you get sick and I love you". This was my strength to get better!

What do you get when you add...

pudding and a... 2 year old??

Some would say "a mess"!

And homeschool mama's would say "Art" :)!!

Happy Homeschooling!!

A Fieldtrip...sort of!

We decided to take a break from the books and enjoy a different scene of nature, so we went to a little park in the next town. It was a beautiful day! I wish we could go here every week!

Which trail should we take??

The boys listening to nature sounds.

What in the world is this? Maximus said it looked like chocolate chip pancakes growing from the tree.

Look at these berries!

The creek had rushing rapids!

The water was soo cold!

River is in heaven

"Look at me, mama"

At the end of the trail, before heading home, we thought it'd be cool to pick a favorite fall leave and trace the veins!

Our Family Tree

Maximus is very interested in his family, his generation and his ancestors so I decided it was time to do make his family tree, using a lapbook, of course!
But before we branched out, I wanted him to study a little about himself, so we made a book about him and one of my favorite parts of his book was a page that he dictated about his bedroom. He said 'I love my bedroom because I share it with my brother and we have a boat full of stories' (which he is referring to a bookshelf made to look like a boat). He's already learning "creative writing"!!
Briefing on adjectives, I asked him to name some "feeling words" about his home... and he said safe, creative, love and cozy... sweeeet!!

Inside the door was a picture of all the members who live in his home...

and inside the window is a picture of what you would see if you looked in and he drew a picture of me and him with a big heart... I melted!

We also learned some facts about his home state, Georgia... geography being one of his favorite subjects.

Then the family tree! It was really cool for Maximus to see how generations work and who's who! It always amazes him when he finds out my grandmother is actually my father's mother, etc.

Maximus said he wants to keep going and find out who is ancestors are!!

Butts Mill Farm

Our homeschool group, Eagle's Nest, had its first annual Family Fun Day at ButtsMill Farm in Pine Mountain, GA. I had never been to ButtsMill, but had heard lots about it. It was a really neat place, a great place to spend family time especially if you have all boys, like me. They had tons of slides and tunnels, go- carts, a train, horseback riding, petting farm, putt-putt, lots of picnic tables and the best part was the creek. The creek had slides on the side, and tubes, but the best-best part was the swings under the bridge for the mama's and daddy's to relax while their kids play.
Well, other than me having a sore throat and spiking a small temperature, River busting his chin open (thank goodnesss one of the daddy's was a paramedic), and both Maximus and River's clothes getting soaked, on purpose, of course... we had a great family day and plan to do it again, a little better prepared however.

The first steps in the cold creek

River lovin' his bluerasberry snowcone!

On Noah's Ark!

The kids loved the barn with the real loft and slide-down pole... that I did not let them do!!

The Accidental Homeschooler

What is that??

I had always assumed that my children would go to school, although I most often visioned paying for private school. I never envisioned that I would ever homeschool, but fortunately certain events unfolded and there didn't seem to be any other choice. Ok, so I'd say I fall into the category as an Accidental Homeschooler.

So we embarked on our homeschooling journey. I call it a journey because of all the challenges, just in my 3 (including prek) years that I have faced, such as connecting with other homeschoolers, selecting curriculum, learning, learning style and combining it with my teaching style. The first curriculum I purchased was Abeka. A workbook style program that I knew right away (and should have returned) would never work for Maximus as soon as I unpacked the boxES.
Since then, I have spent numerous upon numerous hours on the Internet and talking with other homeschoolers about which curriculum to choose. I have had a lot of help and advise, but I also know what works for one, might not work for another. My desired curricula is Sonlight, a literature-based unit study. I am drawn to this because of my love of reading and writing, but I started to think, just because I like to read and write doesn't mean Maximus will, so this year I have chose the unit study approach, but with tinier steps and smaller purchases, focusing on Maximus's needs instead of mine.

Then last year, something funny happened to me, I began to notice that there was nothing accidental and the ship didn't just accidentally sail to my front door. In fact, I have become so pro-homeschool, that I eat, can't sleep and breath it. Or maybe it was an accident and it became a commitment; The Accidental Homeschooler became The Committed Homeschooler...hmm, I kinda like it :).

However, even though I have become committed, I still question myself wondering if I am making the right choice, more so wondering if I choose to homeschool for ME or for my children. So, I've, several times, got the urge to check out our local public school and each time I am spun around like a gush of wind that hit a revolving door. The grade-curriculum has been a repeat of what Maximus did in his prior year at home. Example, in K5, they were learning A is for Apple, while Maximus was onto ca+t= cat. And they were counting pennies, whereas Maximus was counting quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies. Then I realized the books that we (yes...we) were reading, his favorite, Magic Tree House chapter books were 2nd/3rd grade level, so I knew school would be a problem for him, not because he's so much smarter, but because of his [wild] personality, and what I mean by that is Maximus would most definitely be voted class clown, because he loves to make people laugh, loves to have a good time, and doesn't do well with staying focused.

So where was I, oh yes... the accidental homeschooler. When I hear of a topic like this, I just laugh. I mean you never hear of the accidental private schooler or accidental public schooler or accidental anything, but of course the accidental homeschooler.

Anyway, if you are accidental, committed or whatever your first title may be before homeschooler... Happy Homeschooling!

Kids and Television

This is a subject brought up often by homeschool families. There are so many families that I have met who do not even own a TV, much less monitor it.
Although, we do not fall into this same category, we/I still have a funky taste for the tube.
I was raised on the tube, it was on day and night and I lived in a house of silence, so when Jason and I got married one of my only requests is that we wouldn't turn it on until after dinner, giving us plenty of time for conversation, since the lack of is the #1 cause for divorce.
Well, I think I contradict myself on this subject. I love TV, and love to watch a good murder case, cooking show or just some plain family comedy; King of Queens and Fresh Prince of Belaire are my favorites or who doesn't still enjoy some oldies like The Golden Girls, or Mama on Mama's Family and Fred on Sanford and Son, but I think too much is a humongous waste of time, although since having kids we don't have much time for it any way...
But besides it being a waste of time, I have noticed that when my 6 yo isn't sitting in front of the tube, he is very creative and his imagination sparks. So I must recognize that its not about unplugging or monitoring, its about self-control; too much of [almost] anything is not a good thing. One episode of SpongeBob cannot be nowhere near as dangerous as not even knowing who he is or hours upon hours of PBS kids.
So my opinion is, just be real!

On a different note, I often wonder what will my boys be like when they have their own families. Looking back at generations, my dad nor my mom grew up with endless hours of tube (not much choice with only 3 channels, rabbit ears and having to get up to change the channel), both Jason and I were raised with it never turning off (staticky or not), and as parents, with endless clear channels and a remote control, we "monitor" time instead of material...hmmm.

Welcome Back!!

With all of the choices in homeschool curriculum today, it is so easy to get bogged down in deciding what method to use. We began our homeschool using textbooks for one reason, because that's all I knew. And very quickly, we became bored and many times found ourselves venturing off, taking more time in learning things in a more enjoyable/hands-on way. So this year, I have decided to baby-step with Unit Studies. Maximus (and his teacher!) are very visual, and unit studies allow for lots of activities, and arts of all kinds.
Most of us have grown up with textbooks and workbooks, memorization and techniques encouraging us to test well. Not that these things don't work, but they don't accommodate all learning styles. The idea of workbooks in our home works, because when a page/lesson is complete, we see progress and seem to have a feeling of accomplishment, but I think such structure is not good for the "real world".

So what exactly is a Unit Study, you ask...
A Unit Study is one topic that covers History, Science and Art, and can include Language Arts and Math. Unit studies encourages lots of activity and my favorite, the love of learning.
We are still using textbooks/workbooks for both Language Arts and Math. However, in our unit studies, I plan to incorporate these two subjects so that I can teach why you need to know math and why you need to know language arts and how to apply it to real-life experiences.

After choosing to do unit studies, my next choice was which ones, when, what, where and how??!!?? After long hours of research, I decided to go with Five In A Row by Jane Claire Lambert. I have been taught that if you want to be a millionaire, you have to do what millionaires do, so I asked a very seasoned homeschool mom, whose son graduated last year with honors and has a full ride scholarship in college, and she recommended FIAR.
Five in a Row provides a unit study approach based on children's literature.

I am very excited about our busy school year! Stay tuned to see some of the things we do!

I Pledge Allegiance

to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic
for which it stands,
One Nation under God,
Indivisible,
With Liberty
and Justice
For All. Pardon our school's uniform :)!

Everyday before our school begins, we say the Pledge of Allegiance, and Maximus and River take turns holding the flag (we are still working on the correct hand).
This is one of the most precious parts of my day as I know I am not only leading them in their education, but leading them to love our country and to stand up for it.

This is River's favorite part of the day too, he would not let us forget to say the pledge if we wanted to... and its even better when its his turn to hold the flag!

Back 2 Skool!

Our first week of school was great on Friday!
Monday morning, I woke up pumped, had my schedule ready and was ready for the kids to wake up. So I begin my normal routine of going straight to the coffee maker, to notice that its not working [seriously, my first thought was 'they done cut the power off'-funny, but not a joke]. Well, one day without coffee, no big deal, I was still ready for our first day of school. Then around 10:00AM, for some reason Maximus seemed to have too many questions and for goodness sake River wanted to do school too! Yep, home's"cool" mama, has an addiction. My name is Stephanie and I am addicted to caffeine. So Jason came home ask how the school day went and was lucky to still have a head. He did the ol' Fonz on the coffee maker and it started working!! My Hero!
So Tuesday, I woke up with the same excitement, only to be knocked back down as that dead blame thing only made enough for one small cup of brew...and we made it through the day.
So this all explains the picture of my new Mr. Coffee from my emergency mid-week trip to Wal-Mart!

Isn't this sooo cute? I got the tshirt, the bag and apron to match! I told you I was prepared :)!

My sweet little 1st grader in our new classroom! We LOVE LOVE LOVE our classroom!!

1st Day of School!

WHY we choose homeschool.

In the beginning I would say “we will homeschool for as long as it works and will just take it one year at a time”. But this year we began to explore and learn many new things. God opened doors for us and our hearts to a much broader view. As homeschoolers, you quite often get questioned, stereotyped or ridiculed for your decision, and I didn't feel peace until I could answer the question myself as to WHY we homeschool. We choose to homeschool so that we are fully responsible in raising our children, and their education, so that we can teach them to love God and one day to be good husbands and fathers. The 3 R's (reading, writing and arithmetic) are very important and practiced everyday in our home, in the car or wherever we might be (and yes we use textbooks), but we truly believe what will bring them true success in their future is their faith, compassion for others, and the pure love for learning. It doesn't matter how many degrees you have behind your name if "happy" is not in front, that is not success. My hope is for the future of our children and their children’s children. Our homeschool is a journey; we have a vision and a destiny, and are in the process of navigating. So now when asked, how long do you plan to homeschool, I answer with “I hope we can homeschool to the end”. I know that circumstances change often, and I would not be bold enough to say that we will be homeschooling then, but I can honestly say that it’s something I ask God for everyday. Because of homeschooling, our family has grown so much in so many ways, but "together" is the way it has grown the most

KONICHIWA

The last thing Maximus did this school year was become a detective in Japan with Top Secret Adventures. As he worked through each step in the mystery, using puzzles, mazes, hidden pictures and secret codes he learned about the people, the culture, the history and the geography as well as learning to follow directions and think logically.

While studying the country, Maximus seemed most interested in the children and their schools. We learned how to make paper lanterns, origami, of course and we made a mess trying to eat with chopsticks. My mom has traveled to Japan so we spent a little bit of time talking to her and listening to her thoughts and experiences. Maximus mostly couldn't believe they eat raw fish, and octopus.

TSA is a great way to build world knowledge and we plan to go around the world with them!

My step-mom found this and asked me to put this on my blog.
I really liked it and hope you do too, so here goes...

Home school Kids Don't Have Socialization skills like public schooled children!!!
Yeah Right!
I find it hard to understand what people mean when they say this, or why it’s usually the first thing they think of when the topic of homeschooling comes up. If they mean that sending your child to spend 8 hours a day with a bunch of kids their age in relatively unsupervised conditions is going to help develop their socialization skills, I am baffled.
If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl, ski, play the piano, swim or learn ballet, would you send them to a group of kids their age to learn these skills, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl, ski, played the piano, swam or danced ballet?
The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. Children stand to learn a skill quicker and more complete when mentored by a few that are more mature in that skill. Kids learn how to "survive" in public school more than how to properly socialize. Homeschooled children are more likely to get loving, supportive attention at home than in a public setting. “Anything goes” to get attention in public school and public schooled children quickly learn that manipulation of various forms works to get the attention they seek.
Hum, yeah, twenty years from now, that’s the kind of person I want leading this country; someone that learned socialization from public schools and learned manipulate is the way to get what you want.
If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way, a mature social skill.
Oh gosh, now homeschooled kids won’t learn how to “survive” when they get into the “real world”.
If I expected my children to go to prison, then they definitely would need to know how to “survive”, but I expect my children to go to college, go to church and live in a community where normal socialization skills are abundant and “survivor” skills are frowned upon.
Home school Kids Don't Have the same Socialization skills like public schooled children – for sure!!!

The Case of the Missing Blogs

Awe, its a bittersweet moment... May was a fun month, but I must say... thank God its over!
I can't believe its been a whole month since I have blogged, we've just been sooo busy, so let me tell you about what we've been up to...

Well, most importantly my baby turned 2 on May 9th, yep- he's not a baby (to the world) anymore.
We celebrated River's birthday at home ~very simple~ just with the grandparents. It was great with my two boys being the only children at the "party" and getting all of the attention – both had such a good time that I’m thinking we've created a new tradition.

River's birthday cake- baked and decorated with love by me :)!!

"Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday Dear River...Happy Birthday to you!"

Ok, he's growing way too big, way too fast. I decided to set up his (handed down from MacMac) toddler train bed. I was actually thinking, this is going to be a fun, but long night. But I was way wrong, he loves his train bed and slept all night long and can I ask, why I am complaining??!! The engine's head light is the coolest! Maximus never would sleep in it, so its just like new!

Good Morning sleepy head, its about time you wake up... its 9:30 AM- you are normally up at 7:00!!!

Homeschool day at SixFlags- soo much fun! Maximus rode all of the big roller coasters that he could and I'm thinking he rode the MindBender at least 10 times!!

And we couldn't forget Elvis who turned 1 (in human years of course) on May 12th, he had to have a party too! This is the only party hat that we could find to fit him. We make a "cake" out of can dogfood, put a candle in it and sang Happy Birthday. Doesn't he look sooo happy??

We have completed our 13 week FPU class, with baby step #1 completed, and working hard on baby step #2 and #3. Jason wanted to take this class, and I really wasn't all that interested. BUT what a wake up call it was- I've always been a saver, but never really looked at the "big picture", especially the picture with a family and future in it!

The financial advise was so valuable to me that I am going to teach the same principals to Maximus beginning next year using Dave Ramsey's Jr. Financial Peace class.

SOCCER!!

Maximus played 8 hard weeks of Upwards Soccer! This is his 2nd season playing Soccer (and 1 season behind his belt in Flag Football). We have watched him grow so much through his participation with Upward. His skills are improving as well as his sportsmanship. Its just a great opportunity and I am so thankful my family found it! We had the best set of coaches, husband and wife team, who devoted lots of time to our team- GO GATORS!!!

After 8 months of Awanas, Maximus was sad for it to be over. He went each week with so much enthusiasm about learning his lessons and bible verses. He eared quite a few Awana bucks to spend at the Awana store for his participation, including wacky hair day and "paying the bowl" (as he called it) each week. Above- he is posing with his 2nd place trophy for racing in the Awana Grand Prix- what an awesome experience!

And here it is... the one and only #48, camouflage truck with fiery hot flames that took 2nd place among many!!!

1st day of "school" (co-op), doesn't River look so happy? For 6 weeks we did a unit study with our homeschool group on the Titanic. Maximus learned a lot about the voyage; making maps, advertisements, dioramas of the ocean, toys played by those children on board and so much more, plus he made many new friends.

What a heart this woman has! Robin is one of the first persons that I met when I began homeschooling and the moment that I met her, I knew I was in the right place at the right time.

Robin and her family were members of Voyagers, the other co-op, for several years. It played such an important role in her and her children's lives that her heart went out for those families not able to participate because of space, so she felt led to begin a new homeschool co-op, Explorers. We were so excited when we got the call to join the pilot program.

Each day at co-op we were start out with assembly; announcements, achievements and a small devotion. I began looking forward to this time each week, as listening to her put such comfort and peace in my heart.

Um, River didn't share the same compassion for assembly as I did... here he is the first 2 minutes there, this was before he was on the floor, under the chairs, across the room- hollering "mama"!! Someone once said "You're gonna miss this"!

River's buddy at co-op

Lovin' the climbing wall on the playground! Halfway through the study, we (me and another girl teaching the 2 year olds) asked the moms to drop their little ones off at the play-ground, hoping to deter them away from the separation anxieties. It worked for the most part!

I didn't realize how much all the little guys (we didn't have any girls) in my class would really mean to me. I was sad to say good-bye!

Here is a handful of us, posing in our Explorer shirts, we love our shirts!!

Co-op field trip to the Aquarium and Titanic Museum. River is watching Depo's 4D movie- he loved the real bubbles!

My dad and Cathi went on the field trip with us- check out my dad with his 3D glass on!

Do I look rough or what?? Hey, we are "survivors" :)!

I loved this fish, he looked so happy to see everyone :)!!

Look at the whale behind Maximus! This was taken in the ballroom. The aquarium's ballroom is BEautiful!!

Look at this fella'- I seriously wish I could pet him!

And one of my favorite pictures- the homeschool fish, can you see him? My step-mom, Cathi, saw him first and I had to get a picture- how appropriate!!

Birthdays... church... sports... co-op... fieldtrips... you can see how busy we have been... and don't even ask when we did school :)!

P.S. That's why its still in session at Brewer Academy!!