When we started homeschooling, I had the routine down! I would start the day out with all three kiddos. The, then, 9mo old would sit and listen to the opening book, watch her brother and sister say the pledge, do the weather, count the days, add to the calendar. All was well. She'd lay down for a good 2 hour nap, and school was quiet and calm... Then she turned ONE! and that morning nap isn't 2 hours anymore. So as hard as I have tried to work around her and continue our schedule, she has proven to me that she'll make it harder on me than I could ever expect... and just when I get the routine down, she'll change it.
Today was the perfect example of how chaotic homeschooling can be, and just how wonderfully pleasing it can be as well.
We start late because the 1 year old has decided to dump all the paints (lids on) and all the pattern blocks. I want the kids to learn in clean areas, its only fair, right! One mess after another. I sit down with Lily and start her writing lessons as Zech does online reading lessons. I walk in to check in on Zech to notice the basket of laundry I had folded was now strewn all about the living room... the CLEAN living room! I gather the clothes, tell her a stern no (as she grins, and struts her 1 year old stuff!) I scoop her up and try for a morning nap.
I return to Lily who has now mastered the writing of the # 2 and is as proud as a 4 year old can be! My 5 year old is standing on a chair waving his arms around as he completes his level of reading with a fabulous score and is ushered into the next level of reading. Oh the joys of seeing them learn... and be happy about it!
We officially begin our day in school with our morning routine (book, calendar, days of the week, weather, pledge, memory verse, prayer...) all while little miss 1 year old screams in her crib. Violet no longer sings the good night songs, Ruby is fully awake. I let her up thinking she can handle just one nap.
This is how it went.
Me: reading with Lily
Lily: Reading (READING! A BOOK... really well!)
Zech: Doing seat work (he LOVES seatwork, and is learning to sit quietly and diligently do his work)
Ruby: DESTROYING!
Me: "hold on Lily, keep your finger at your place, I need to keep Ruby from knocking over the Wii" or "Oop, Lily, hold it there, let me get your sister before she eats the pattern blocks" or "Keep reading, Lily, I can hear you! Let me just grab Ruby before she climbs up the bookshelf!"
But the joy in it all, is how quickly Lily picked up the words she didn't know. How easily she learned to follow the words with her finger as she read. How her confidence rose with each passing page. As she sounded out words right and left creating a complete story all on her own. She can now read to herself all those books she's been stacking since she was 2 years old! What a joy, what an honor, what a blessing to know that I TAUGHT THIS TO HER! I was there the moment she got that "AHA" moment and could figure this reading thing out! I love teaching them!
Then, its Zech's turn. He has a new book to read. We are focusing on reading with ease. If he has to sound things out, that's fine, but then he has to go back and reread it smoothly. And with voice inflection. With emotion.
Me: listening to Zech read
Zech: reading with the cutest little tones
Lily: Seat work (she thinks she's SO big!)
Ruby: eating a crayon!
Me: "UhOh! Keep reading, let me grab that crayon!
Me: "Ruby, come listen to Zech's story"
Ruby: Arching her back, slapping the book, screaming to get down
Zech: Reading louder, neck crooked, arms flailing to block the occasional blows from his sister.
Me: Lets Ruby go... tries to focus on the reading wonder boy! He struggled at first. I was so scared when I began teaching him that I would have no clue how to teach the boy to read. Last year at this time he knew the letter sounds, but not really "how to read". But he caught on quickly, claims he doesn't like it, but loves the way he feels when he closes that book knowing he's read it all by himself. He amazes me when he can read with such fluidity words I never knew he knew. When he sees the words "grandma" or "favorite" for the first time, how does he know that's the word? I close my eyes and praise God for the brains my kids must have gotten from their daddy! Just then, KABOOM! All the toys on the "activity" shelf are down!
Ruby: laughing in wicked delight as she has reached from a "taller than her" shelf all the fun toys she couldn't play with before... hence the reason they were kept high up.
UpWords tiles to clean, paints, paintbrushes, flashcards, counting chips, dominoes... now all over the floor.
Zech finishes up his book. The packers won the big game, Zech now has a new favorite book that he tucks away in his bedroom to read later. (oh how this brings me joy!)
The older two get some free time, Ruby and I clean up.
Then I take time for her. I get out a puzzle and we look at all the pictures.
Chicken goes "bahk bahk bahk"... She says "babababa" This makes me happy!
Sheep goes "baaa baaa baaa"... She says "Baaa hahahaha" This makes me laugh!
Duck goes "Quack Quack" She says "ack ack ack"... this makes me so proud I text Dave with her accomplishments!
Here we are, all in one room... a VERY messy room, as happy as could be!
If this day (this little 3 hour homeschool day) isn't the perfect example of the life of a homeschooler, I don't know what is. The stress of doing it right, the chaos of having 3 kids at very different levels of learning, catering to them all in one group, but also separately on their own level added with the pure joy of seeing them learn. Seeing each one grasp what they've been struggling to accomplish, then beam with pride. This is what homeschooling is... the ups and downs, the constant moving to keep up... the moment they learn something, whether its to read with fluidity and comprehension, or the sound a cow makes... they are all so very joyous!
I am SO happy I made this decision...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Ruby's a year old!
I have been working very hard every day to get 1 year portraits done of this ever-growing- ever-moving energetic one year old... but so far, no luck... so when I do, her post will go here. Poor girl has worn the same outfit for at least 30min of every day! She has proven to be the hardest of all three to get pics of! I will leave you of a pic of her 1 year ago...
Monday, January 3, 2011
TEN YEARS AGO...
In the past 10 years the news has stayed in business with stories after stories...
Attacks on 9/11, War in Iraq... and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, Asian Tsunami, International spies captured, Wikileaks, Beiber fever... but the story that has the biggest impact on my life was the story I was creating with my best friend, my partner in life, my God-given husband.
As we dined by candlelight (with interruptions from the 3 GORGEOUS kids we've welcomed into this world in the past 10 years), we discussed how fast those 10 years went by.
Our first year we both worked, had the freedom to get to know one another, be in ministry together, it was a GREAT first year. The 2nd year we packed up and moved a few states away and entered into full time ministry. Finally understanding how strong we had to be in order to be an effective ministry TEAM! Our 3rd year was calm. And our 4th year was exciting. We were pregnant, we were having changes in ministry. Things were VERY rough at the church, but very exciting at home as we watched a baby boy grow and move inside my belly. By the 5th year, we were looking for a new ministry position, welcomed our first baby into the world, and by the end of that year we packed up and moved from MO to CA. A total leap of faith, an adventure we will always remember. 6 days in the car with an 8mo old was something no one will forget! our 6th year, we struggled in ministry. We found that our relationship was strong, was what kept us focused, and happy in the midst of what could be a very depressing time. We clung to one another as we were so far away from any other family. We learned that the family God was creating in us (as we were then pregnant with our 2nd child) was the family that would always be there (in proximity). And we made some tough decisions that year. By year 7, we were back in the Midwest at a new ministry, struggling to find the right balance. Dave working 2 jobs, me being at home with 2 little ones. It may have been our hardest year, and I say that knowing it wasn't all that hard. We struggled with the dynamics of having two kids under the age of 3, one going through the terrible 2s, then 3s, the other just being a needy baby. By year 8 we had this parenting thing down! We were recovering from the stress of the year before. At the beginning of year 9 we got pregnant a third time, then lost that baby. We, for the first time, were grieving together. Learning how each would handle the situation, we comforted each other, prayed for one another, and got pregnant again. The rest of that year is a blurr to me! Year 10 is comparable to our first year... so easy, so fun, so established. We were now professional parents as we welcomed our 3rd baby, happy, comfortable, and growing closer than we had in years past. So now, as we start another 10 years, I am blessed to be doing life with this man! We are so good together. It has been such an easy road for us. I know this is not the case for so many married couples, so I count this as a blessing. We discussed what makes it so easy for us, why do we have such an amazing marriage? And if you know us you'd know, we LOVE to talk! We cuddle...and talk. We eat dinner together... and talk! Even when he's at work, I call daily... to talk! We fight... we talk it out. We parent by talking about the situation, the consequences, the joys, the milestones. We talk! and we talk a lot! (I am so blessed to have married a talker, huh!?) We were made for one another, we are the perfect combination! And as much as I look forward to all God's going to do in the next 10 years, I have to say it'd be fine with me if those next 10 years could go a bit slower!
Happy 10th wedding anniversary, Babe! I love you more than I can ever express! Thanks so much for being who God wants you to be in our marriage! Here's to the next 10 (and the next 10, and the next 10...)!
Pics to come soon!
Attacks on 9/11, War in Iraq... and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, Asian Tsunami, International spies captured, Wikileaks, Beiber fever... but the story that has the biggest impact on my life was the story I was creating with my best friend, my partner in life, my God-given husband.
As we dined by candlelight (with interruptions from the 3 GORGEOUS kids we've welcomed into this world in the past 10 years), we discussed how fast those 10 years went by.
Our first year we both worked, had the freedom to get to know one another, be in ministry together, it was a GREAT first year. The 2nd year we packed up and moved a few states away and entered into full time ministry. Finally understanding how strong we had to be in order to be an effective ministry TEAM! Our 3rd year was calm. And our 4th year was exciting. We were pregnant, we were having changes in ministry. Things were VERY rough at the church, but very exciting at home as we watched a baby boy grow and move inside my belly. By the 5th year, we were looking for a new ministry position, welcomed our first baby into the world, and by the end of that year we packed up and moved from MO to CA. A total leap of faith, an adventure we will always remember. 6 days in the car with an 8mo old was something no one will forget! our 6th year, we struggled in ministry. We found that our relationship was strong, was what kept us focused, and happy in the midst of what could be a very depressing time. We clung to one another as we were so far away from any other family. We learned that the family God was creating in us (as we were then pregnant with our 2nd child) was the family that would always be there (in proximity). And we made some tough decisions that year. By year 7, we were back in the Midwest at a new ministry, struggling to find the right balance. Dave working 2 jobs, me being at home with 2 little ones. It may have been our hardest year, and I say that knowing it wasn't all that hard. We struggled with the dynamics of having two kids under the age of 3, one going through the terrible 2s, then 3s, the other just being a needy baby. By year 8 we had this parenting thing down! We were recovering from the stress of the year before. At the beginning of year 9 we got pregnant a third time, then lost that baby. We, for the first time, were grieving together. Learning how each would handle the situation, we comforted each other, prayed for one another, and got pregnant again. The rest of that year is a blurr to me! Year 10 is comparable to our first year... so easy, so fun, so established. We were now professional parents as we welcomed our 3rd baby, happy, comfortable, and growing closer than we had in years past. So now, as we start another 10 years, I am blessed to be doing life with this man! We are so good together. It has been such an easy road for us. I know this is not the case for so many married couples, so I count this as a blessing. We discussed what makes it so easy for us, why do we have such an amazing marriage? And if you know us you'd know, we LOVE to talk! We cuddle...and talk. We eat dinner together... and talk! Even when he's at work, I call daily... to talk! We fight... we talk it out. We parent by talking about the situation, the consequences, the joys, the milestones. We talk! and we talk a lot! (I am so blessed to have married a talker, huh!?) We were made for one another, we are the perfect combination! And as much as I look forward to all God's going to do in the next 10 years, I have to say it'd be fine with me if those next 10 years could go a bit slower!
Happy 10th wedding anniversary, Babe! I love you more than I can ever express! Thanks so much for being who God wants you to be in our marriage! Here's to the next 10 (and the next 10, and the next 10...)!
Pics to come soon!
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