Field Trip

Today we went to view Go Dog Go at the Texas Academy of Performing Arts (TAPA) with a group of homeschoolers. I liked the show. We have been reading the book since the kids were tiny (we read my old book from when I was a kid!) The kids really enjoyed it as well. Mandie told me she wished she was in it. I see acting classes in her future! Just before the show started, Matthew decided to watch from my lap so his seat was open. We were on the front row and several of the 'dogs' ended up sitting in his seat during various acts of the show. That was pretty cool. Over all it was a good little field trip!

How It's Going

Wow. So tomorrow marks 3 weeks. The days are flying! It's hard to recap the time in words because at this point there is not a lot of consistency to the way things are going. We are still sort of finding our way. A few days in particular have been pretty rough. However, several have been ideal . . . those are obviously my favorite days. Every day is at least productive. The inconsistency comes from our weekly schedule. At first I tried to do school every day, on top of whatever else we had planned. I have now learned that some days have to have less formal school time because of the activities on our weekly schedule. This is necessary for our sanity! Even though the week is full, I do not want to change cut anything out because it's very important to me that my kids like there life. I want them to have lots of opportunity to play and make friends.

Mondays are exclusively school days. I try to get a lot of really good work in on these days. Usually we work for about 2 hours in the morning.

Tuesdays are also heavy school days. Very similar to Mondays, except on Tuesdays we go to a homeschool playdate in Canyon at 1. That's one of the highlights of the week!

On Wednesday mornings we go to Bible study from 10-12. The kids study their Bible lesson, do a craft, and have time to play with the other kids at the study. Many of the children at this study are homeschooled kids. Mandie and I complete the rest of her school day in the afternoon when the boys go down for their nap.

Every Thursday from 12:40-4 we participate in our homeschool Co-op, called "Seekers". We do not do any additional schooling on Thursdays, but I do like to get some housework done on Thursday mornings. After Seekers we head to Paramount Church for ballet, then we go home to eat leftovers, because Thursdays make me way to tired to cook!!

Friday is another solid school day. I try to get to anything that may have gotten pushed aside during the week for whatever reason, When we finish school on Friday everything gets packed up and put in the school room, not to be thought about again until Monday morning! M and M have gymnastics on Friday mornings around 11.

School time at home is very productive. It's really amazing how much learning can be accomplished in such a small moment of time. I try to require absolute attention, and an optomistic attitude when I sit with Mandie for a lesson. If I don't have one or the other, the lesson ends and we start again when both of those objectives have been met.

Hoping and praying for more good days!!!