Random September Pictures

Daddy, the Storyteller and other goings on last weekend

"FIrst" day at Classical Conversations

 Classical Conversations started on August 12 for this school year.  With all the preparations and getting everyone ready and out the door early, I forgot to snap pictures.  So these are really from the second day, but who's counting?

 Emma Grace  looking snazzy in all purple

 She even has a butterfly backpack.

 Benjamin is in my class again this year.  I am noticing a marked improvement in his retention and in his ability to focus. That's great news!!

 Samuel is in an "older" group this year and he loves it.  He memorizes all the memory work effortlessly.

 I promise you, they were all excited even though they don't look like it.

 I tried and tried to get them to at least all look in the same direction, but no luck there.

No luck with smiles either.  Oh well.

We love Classical Conversations!

September

There is something comforting about September.  The going back to school, the end of summer, of swimming and sunning and days without schedules.  There's something settling about a routine, about knowing what each day will hold and about returning to that each Fall.

We haven't started school at home in earnest yet.  We started CC 4 weeks ago but I just wasn't ready to start at home with our daily routine.  I wanted to soak up the last days of summer and spend time just playing and swimming with my children.  We didn't get to do as much of that as I had hoped, but we did more than if I wouldn't have tried at all.

We will start school in earnest on Wednesday.  This is a monumental school year for us.  It will be Ben's first as he is in Kindergarten, and Anna's last, as she is a Senior.  Then in between those two will be Ellie, who is in her first year of high school and Sam, who is in 3rd grade.

It's been 3 years since I've had 4 in school.  The last time that happened, Zack was a senior and Sam was in Kindergarten.  Funny how that is repeated this year.

And of course we have Miss Emma who will be flittering in and out of Ben's schooling, I'm sure.  I'm planning on letting her listen in and participate in anything Ben does and see what she can pick up.  She's just 3, so I'm not expecting much, but I have a feeling I'll be surprised at how much she soaks up.

This is our 16th year of homeschooling.  On one hand, that is incredible that it has been that long.  On the other hand, it seems like I've been homeschooling for 26 years!  Honestly, it is such a way of life now that it is just routine for us.  Most days.  Maybe. ;)

So here's to a good year.  A year where my children learn and blossom and enjoy their educational pursuits.  A year where I enjoy teaching them and enjoy seeing them learning and loving to learn.  A year where we all learn together and enjoy God and His creation.

(Or more realistically, a year where we actually can find pencils and the sharpener.  A year where no one loses text books or notebooks.  A year where we start school before 10Am.  A year where the teacher gets dressed before school starts.  A year where we remember we are all friends.  haha)

Here's to a great year!

Random July Pictures

 We celebrated Father's Day very late since I was in Kansas on Father's Day.  I made Paul a giant flan since I knew he loved flan.  He ate as much as he could before he left for Brazil and then the rest got thrown out since none of the rest of us care for flan.  (I was suprised at how easy it was to make!)

 Emma's birthday cupcake on her actual birthday.

 Of course, she got some help blowing it out!

 Rose and Rory.  Ellie's new kittens.

 Sam at Junior Camp.  He was so excited.

 Sam and Dalton.

 Emma actually fell asleep in the tub while taking a bath.  She let all the water out and fell asleep.

 I laughed so hard when I found her like this.

 My room after our new flooring was installed.

 Since then, Paul's closet doors have been put on and the room looks finished and great.

Our newly finished bathroom.  We love it!