Nancy's Homeschooling Adventure

2012-02-01T21:55:00.000-08:00

OK. It's done. The twins are officially done with public school. The pressure is finally off. Where do I go from here? I'm nervous. Even though I've been preparing for months. It's not the curriculum. That's the easy part. Did I make the right decision? That's the question. I've done this before w/ all kids, a few years ago. It was short term because I panicked. I've been thinking about homeschooling ever since. And now I'm starting again. But I'm taking a much slower approach. I'm starting with the youngest. And I'll go from there. I'm taking it one step at a time. I'm excited. I feel really good about it. But I'm still nervous. So far, the twins are on cloud 9. They love it!

2010-10-29T12:43:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to start homeschooling Peter. We start on Monday. I took him out of kindergarten last year and started homeschooling then. But then this year I put him back in for 1st grade. I was so worried thinking he might be behind in reading because I wasn't the most consistent sit down everyday and do 4 or more hours of study kind of homeschooling mom. It wasn't until I put him back in elem. school that I realized that I don't have to be an expert to do home school. To my astonishment Peter was well above his grade level in reading, writing, and math. WOW! Really? Pinch me please. I CAN do it! All that time I spent on self doubt and thinking I wasn't doing it good enough... it was all wasted time. I don't have to have a perfect schedule and perfect organizational skills. And I don't have be perfectly consistent. My kids can learn in home with piles of laundry around them. And they can learn when I interupt their studies to ask for help in doing some dishes. And I can just drop everything we're doing to spontaneously go to take a drive to the mountains. And If I'm having a really bad super grumpy day.... my kids can still learn. They can learn that life sometimes sux, and things aren't hunky dory, but that we can start a brand new day tomorrow and things will surely get better. Things don't have to be perfect. And kids can still learn. And excel at their studies while wrapped in their mother's love.

Fall Fun

2010-10-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

After days of endless laundry, cleaning, and organizing the house, I thought a fun get away would be fun. So I packed the twins in the car and we headed to the Black Island Farms Harvest Festival. It was so much fun! The twins loved getting away for a little fun with mommy!

They got to meet real live DONKEYS! Wow! They were amazed that they got to meet an animal that carried Mary and Baby Jesus. They also saw some baby calves, some huge turkeys, and some llama's too. I love watching little kids around animals. It puts such a bright sparkle in their eyes.

We also got to walk through a corn maze. I made the twins be the leaders and they had to help mommy find the way out. A couple times they got a little confused, but we finally made our way through.

What a fun field trip *with a happy meal on the way home and everything! The twins were very happy and told me that this was the best day EVER. I love hearing my kids tell me this.

2010-10-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are having lots of fun while the good weather is still here.

We made a really cute Fall scarecrow to sit by our front door. Zach loves to kiss him good morning everyday as he's walking out the door to get on his bus.

The twins and I are taking lots of trips to the park while the weather is still nice. There aren't too many more warm sunny days ahead. Where soaking it up while we can.

We all love Yoshi so much. He has really become a member of our family. Zach loves to hold him close and kiss him against his will. Yoshi sits and takes it like a man. Good boy - Yoshi.

Doug and I are celebrating finally getting our basement finished. It was a long drawn out project. And we're so glad it's done. Now we're having fun decorating it and moving all the kids around into their new bedrooms.

The field is white, all ready to harvest.... I've loved all the fields of wheat and corn and pumkins and onions around where we live. I just love having farm land all around us! And most of it is church farms... that makes it even better!

Most of all I love my kids. And they love me. We are one big happy family...

2010-10-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

Summer 2010 has come and gone. It was fun. And long. And hot. We finished the basement. And now there's more room. Cousins came to play. That was the best.

And school began. It was a fun beginning. I put everyone back in school. Except for the twins. I don't want to pay double the money for two preschoolers. So I'm their Preschool teacher, Miss Fancy Nancy. During our preschool time together I make them call me Miss Fancy Nancy - they laugh every time they say it.

Now it's Fall. I love Fall. And I've been contemplating since school began weather or not to sign Peter and Elisabeth out of school and enroll them back into home school. What to do..... what to do!

I'm still thinking. Thinking hard. I love home school. I can't stand some of the infirmities of public school. Hmmm.

I'm still thinking. The benefit of home school outweighs public school in so many ways, but I have to be sure of my decision. I don't want to be a flimsy like last year.

2010-04-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is me. Never caught up. Someone's always crying. House is a mess no matter how much I try and clean, time is running out - always, kid stuff everywhere....

And at the same time I'm.... I'm..... happy.

Early Geometry

2010-04-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

I got these great things called Geoboards. They're these little peg boards you use to stretch rubber bands on to make shapes. It's a great dip into geometry skills. You can also use it to practice multiplication drills and measuring. Peter had fun making a super cool design with his.

The twins loved it and worked on it for a good 30 minutes. For two 4 years olds I think that's great concentration use! It's awesome! I love great hands on math!

Jacob and Mary turning 4

2010-04-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my babeis are 4. It seem like yesterday and they were my little babies!

They're so grown up now! And still the best of buds!

Check out Mary's new ride! It even has a barbie bike for Mary's barbie's on the handle. I'm so jealous! I wish I had a bike just like this... except I would ride my kids on my handle. LOL

This is Jacob's new Spiderman - Skateboard - Scooter! He's the coolest kid on the block now!

The b-day party was so fun ! Pam braught Sara and so they were there!

Make a wish and blow out the candles!

Mary changed her mind about wanting a Barbie-Ariel-Tinker Bell birthday cake when she saw this baby!

And Jacob didn't care about getting a Buzz Lightyear cake when he layed his eyes on this!

There's nothing better than a CANDY cake!

Fancy Nancy Shmancy Candy Land Birthday creation!

I almost ate it all by myself!

Happy Birthday, Twins!

Picnic at the Park

2010-03-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today we had a picnic at the park. It was so much fun... a little breezy, but no one seemd to care.

We walked all around the park and had lots of fun by the baseball and tennis sections.

Wooooh - Nelly! Now that's climbing high!
Be carefull, kids, before you give me a heart attack! Relaaaaaaaaay!
Racing in the tennis court area was a blast!
P.E. was time well spent today!
I can't believe the twins are turning 4 in two days!

2010-03-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

The kids and I got together and brain stormed together as to what to make for dinner on St. Patrick's Day. This is what we came up with. Green beans, green rice, green slushy dink, greet jell-o w/ green peeps on top (the green whip cream was Peter's idea), and green cookies. Oh yeah - and green mustard to go w/ our corn dogs. It was super yummy. Zach didn't like all the green stuff - but other than him everyone loved our St. Patty's meal!

Daddy's out of town and so we're dinning ... gourmet style. Bagel Pizza's with everything from sausage and pizza sauce to eggs, cheese and hot dogs on top. The kids loved it. Oh yeah, I'm Fancy Nancy - the gourmet super chef!

2010-03-18T19:27:00.001-07:00

2010-02-12T09:18:00.001-08:00

Well - Daddy's out of town. He went to Houston, Texas... Big Sigh! I wish I was there! My home town.... no fair! Well - the kids and I decided that a big fun Valentines Welcome home surprise would be fun. It was. The kids had a blast putting their hand prints all over... topped with glitter baby! Even Yoshi got in on the fun!
We set it up outside by the front door so that Daddy would be super surprised right before entering the house. It was a surprise. He LOVED it! We called the big gorilla balloon the Hillbilly Beast.

Well the weather's been great. The kids were starting to go out and play. It's still been cold - around 40 degrees, but still - no snow or rain! And then...

We had a HUGE snow storm. And that means everyone is bound the house. Time for a craft to keep the kids busy and mom sane! I thought tooth pics and marshmallows would be fun to try.

It was a hit! Peter did AWESOME. I had no idea he was so creative! He constructed a big long bridge.

I helped Jacob make a cube, but he was more interested in the tasting....

Needless to say - he was the first to finish all his marshmallows. Still - it kept him busy for a while.

Mary had a good time tasting a few too. But she spent a good time building a big long marshmallow snake. It was super cute. Hey Mary, tell you mom that your hair needs done!

Church Time

Well - Mary got her Spring dress early because I died when I saw the dresses Costco got. I had to grab one before they all got snatched. And when Mary saw it - there was no stopping her. She HAD to wear it on the very next Church day...... She felt so pretty. And Jacob was so handsome too. He wanted to wear a yellow shirt to match her twin sister! CUTE! CUTE! It's times like these that having twins makes all the challenging times worth it!

Augh! What a cute little site! Zach and Elisabeth! They are so sweet to each other. Zach loves going to church to pass the sacrament. And Elisabeth is always so sweet and loving to her big brother, Zach. It's fast Sunday - and I know that Elisabeth will be sharing her testimony. She loves to bear her testimony and share her sweet feelings with the ward. I LOVE it.

Where's Jessica and Peter, you ask? They went to church early to save the family a bench. I'm so grateful for them to be willing to do this for the family. Otherwise we'd never make it in time to get a whole bench for our family....

Well - it's been a busy week. A fun week. I've enjoyed it! I look forward to the weeks ahead. Spring time is right around the corner. And I can't wait. Lots of field trips are in store. And blooming trees and flowers are coming. And the sun is about to start shinning more often. So much to look forward to!

2010-01-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well I pulled Peter out of Kindergarten and starting on Monday he'll be homeschooling too. He's so excited. Since I started homeschooling at the beginning of the school year every single day Peter would beg me to take him out too. I didn't because amongst all my other kids I really didn't feel confident enough to teach a 5 year old to read...... But when all is said and done - it will still be higher learning with all the one on one w/ me verses what he gets at school.

I love my family. My ways of thinking have come a long way since this whole homeschooling adventure. My horizons have widened. My ideas have grown and blossomed into something great. And instead of just trying to get through the day to day stresses of motherhood and a stay at home mom I have found such a better way of life for myself. I never knew it I could feel so fulfilled as a mom and person.

Anyway - Just thought I'd jot down my feelings. I'm so excited to have Peter home with me. A new beginning even more!

Our First Field Trip

2009-10-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

We had our first field trip of the year last week. We went to the LDS History Museum. It was so fun. First we had a picnic on temple grounds. Doug was so sad that he couldn't meet us for lunch - esspecially because he works just across the street from Temple Square.

We let Zach play hookie from school so he could come w/ us. He loved being with us instead of school...

After seeing how the pioneer's lived in their very little log cabins - the kids were very grateful for living in today's time!

Zach gave a very inspirational devotional.

Some of the kids put on a play for me. I loved being the audience.

Jessica was the narater - and Jacob was a little lamb. He really got into his part.

Mary was the angel and Elisabeth was Mary.

There was lots to see, lots to do, and not enough time. We'll definately come back for another trip to this place for some more fun and learning about our church's heritage.

2009-08-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

I love the mothering skills in the Animal Kingdom.

Mothers are always there beside there children.

Always loving. Always protecting. Always teaching. Always nurturing. Always watching.

The mothers are never too far away. They are always aware and are always looking out for the protection and safety of their young.

Knowing that the predators are watching. And waiting. And ready for the moment when their children are alone in the world.

Animal mothers know that they can't send their young out in the world until they are fully prepared and ready to account for thier livelihood.
They won't send them out until they know their young are able defend themselves against the dangers that will be theirs.

Does this mean the animal young are immature and not socialized and weird?

NO! It means that when they do go out to start their lives on their own.... they are fully ready in every way. And they will repeat the same skills to their young someday.... the same way they were taught. Creating a perfect order of things.

They have the confidence to be what they were destined to be.

2009-07-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have a little boy who LOVES pensils. Where once I had about 25 -25 became 2. I don't know where they got to... and I don't know where to look other than the all the places I normally look. Well - personally I loved having an excuse to make more pensils! As long as I don't see the markings on the wall, or the furniture I'm Ok with missing pensils.
Well, so I found yet another cute pot holder I'm using for my new batch of pensils. Pot - filled with rice. And pensils with fall colored flowers! I love it. I love having pensil holder options. And I love ... I love..... I love me! Hut - Susan - that's for you!

2009-07-09T08:59:00.001-07:00

I found the cutest thing ever the other day. I found this adorable plant holder... but I'm using it as a pencil holder. It's our center piece at the kitchen table during school hours. It dec's the table out and makes writing fun! I know it's corny, but cute things like this make things like school so much more exciting for me.

It's been a week now since we've started school. I was gonna start on July 13th, but summer was beginning to be too chaotic for me and all my kids... so I wanted to start school early to get a little structure and order back. It's just part time school - about 3 hours a day. Journal time, Piano practice, Math drills, english and reading, Pre-school when the twins aren't napping, and even a little one-on-one special ed for Zach. The kids love ... LOVE it! They love the order, the activities, the work, the writing....
It's been a very nice way for me to just do a couple hours a day to ease into major all-day schooling when it starts in September.

I think I'm gonna LOVE doing school at home!

2009-05-30T08:13:00.001-07:00

Well... It's done. I did it. It's official now. My girls have one week of school left and then it's summer for 6 weeks. And then our adventure with Home school will begin on July 13th. I've decided to do a year-round schedule because I'm just too excited to start. I don't think I can wait three whole months to begin.
So, I've been busy collecting school material, curriculum, books, etc. It's been so thrilling for me because I get to pic and choose all the material! I've moved a book shelf in our family room to organize all our school stuff. It's just so dang exciting! I'll be spending the next month organizing weekly work packets in each subject... English, Math, History, Science, etc. I want to get all the scheduling organized and planned out for the year. It's a lot of work, but It'll be worth it when it's time to sit down and actually do the teaching and structure when school begins.
Anyway - I never thought I would start home school this early. I always new that I wanted to do the middle-school ages. But since I've come to the decision of starting now I've felt so good and so excited about life. It's given me a spark back in my life that I've been missing. And all I can say is that I'm love'n my life and where it's headed.

2009-05-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the day! I've got the affidavit filled out, signed, and notarized. I'm so excited to go to school and officially and legally sign my kids OUT. I'm a little nervous too. Am I sure I want to do this? Am I ready? Can I really do it? I'm feeling a little hesitant and scared about this HUGE change in my life...

But I am ready. And although nervous to take this next step, I know I can do it. And I'm looking forward to all the work and fun and learning we'll be doing at home school. I'm starting a new life today. A life more fulfilled. And I'm ready.