Well, I'd like to tell you today was one of those perfect homeschool field trip days but alas, I'd be lying.  It was a frustrating day to say the least.  We went to hike but couldn't because of baby girl's stroller.  The trail just wasn't made for strollers.  So, we played in the waterfall instead.  It was amazing how cold the water was on such a hot and muggy day.  It was wonderful.  If only that had satisfied my kids instead of being utterly disappointed that we couldn't hike with the rest of the crowd who accompanied us on the field trip.  But, that's another story.  Here are some pics from today.

Oh, I'm loving homeschooling my two older boys this year already!  It's wonderful to see why God chose for me to keep them at home. 

My wonderful, attractive, helpful studly husband (yes, he reads my blog) took two of the four kids to the Dr's office today and spent most of the morning there.  Baby girl has strep and my oldest boy has something wrong with his eye.  It looks like pink eye but those drops didn't work so now they are thinking of sending him to an opthamologist.  If it's not better by Thursday we'll continue onward to another doctor. 

Homeschooling was interesting today.  It was the first day that we did school seperately with the two boys.  Since my oldest was at the doctor all morning with his dad I got to spend one on one time with my second born. 

Then, this afternoon I got one on one time with my oldest.  My youngest son and I even got some one on one time while my second born was drawing tornados.  He's gotten to be quite the little artist lately.  It's wonderful to seem him running on a football field and then concentrating with a pencil in his hand as he dreams up a new drawing.

I think I have strep too.  My throat's been sore all day and I feel horrible this evening.  I'll probably make it into the dr's office tomorrow for a strep test. 

Until then….
Julie

Well, day 2 of our school year was as wonderful as day one.  We made scrolls to learn about how the bible was originally made.  We used craft paper and unsharpened pencils to make the scroll.  My oldest is journaling in his and my 1st grader is putting his A,B,C's in his. 

My second grader is breezing through his math which is good because he'll be in another book soon and he'll feel as if he's doing something different from his little brother.  I started them both in the same book knowing he'd move through his faster.  We're using Singapore Math. 

My Father's World starts with a review of letter sounds so the my second grader is breezing throught that too.  And God gave me the neat idea to have him journal in his scroll instead of just pasting his letters in there. 

As soon as I get to the store to buy some cornstarch we're going to make jars to put our scrolls in.  That ought to be loads of fun.

So, again God has encouraged me in my journey.  Have you checked out Nancy's blog about her first week?  Wow!!!!
Run on over there and check out her story.

IN HIM,
julie

Today was our first day of school.  God was so gracious to encourage me today and everything went smoothly.  I had us scheduled until 2pm and we were done by 10am.   Wow! 

Now I know everyday won't be that way but I'm so thankful of the days that are.

Our 4 year old (almost 5) is also going to a K4 half day program at a local Christian school.  It gives me time to work one on one with the older boys in the afternoon and my 4 year old feels like such a big boy.

Here are some pictures from today.  Oh, and stay tuned for my updated look from Ronda at Rugby Designs.

Here we are packing up to leave for school……baby girl still in her pj's at noon.  Oh the joys of homeschooling.

Here's one of Luke's teachers MS DONNA.  She's great.  This photo was taken by my oldest son.

Here's the gang after school at 4pm.  Dakota, Kaley and Luke.  The big kids going to school.

Then I asked them to show off their backpacks and this is what I got.  Can you tell Dakota loves horses.  Her satchel looks like a saddle.  Of course my boy's all about trains.

And here's our “america's next top model” child with his best friend Claire.  They are quite a pair.

Okay, me being the ever-productive homeschool mom that I am decided to buy a few educational games at Target the other night.  I've always thought dominos would be so cool to have and would help my kids learn math in a fun way.  One problem.  I never owned dominos as a kid.  In fact, I never played dominos either.  And at the ripe ole age of 41 I still have never played the game.  But, how hard can it be, eh?

HARD!

We bought the cute little Mexican Train set of dominos because of the, well, cute little mexican trains.  My boys all like trains.  Good idea, right?

WRONG!

I can't figure out the game.  My husband can't figure out the game and we'll both settle for learning how to play just plain ole dominos at this point.  Scratch the cute little trains and the nice tin box.  Somebody HELP!!!

We've gotten the school room almost ready.  It looks so good so I hope to post photos soon.  I've still got some things I want on the walls first.  My two oldest sons were going to participate in a cottage school (1 or 2 days per week classes for homeschoolers) at a local church but I got a phone call today saying the 1 day class was cancelled and that's the one we were planning on attending. 

So now we've got to make a decision about spending twice as much money for 2 days and driving a lot more OR just doing all their work at home.  I'm leaning toward's home because two days a week makes life feel too hectic for me.  I'm still praying about it.

WARNING:  Just this morning I opened up my email to find about 40 or so Anonymous blog comments.  I've got my blog settings so that I get an email everytime someone comments.  At first I thought it was a mistake and that maybe someone's child had gotten on their computer but after looking further I realized someone had posted pornographic website links in each & every comment.  I had to hand delete all of them so someone doesn't accidently.  I don't know if someone hacked into HSB or actually put these comments on my blog specifically.  Please be aware of this in the event it happens to you.  Don't people have anything better to do?? 

Several of you have asked how I'm recovering from surgery.  Everything is going great.  I'm starting to feel back to my old self except for some horrible headaches.  If you feel led please pray for God's healing.  They are driving me nuts. 

My two oldest boys are playing football and love it.  I'm posting some pictures of my daughter and youngest son at practice the other night.  Who says girls can't play football??

Well off to bed.  Enjoy the photos.
IN HIM
julie

My oldest son is in the tye dye USA shirt and my middle son is in the one behind my oldest son also in a tye dye shirt.