What can I say?

...Life keeps me very busy!!!!

It has been months since I have blogged, but we are still here. Life gets interesting with a teenager and a little one!! I can't believe it is August already.

DD 16 attended the NC State University Summer Engineering Camp and had a great time. It was a week long program where she stayed on campus and focused on civil and constructional engineering. She also attended a 3 week day engineering program at a local university.

DD6 has been continuing her gymnastics, swimming lessons, reading and having fun.

We are gearing up for a new school year. This fall will make our 10th year of homeschooling!!! I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? DD16 will be taking the majority of her classes outside of the home. She is excited about attending our local CC for a few classes, along with a co-op that she has been attending for 3yrs. This will be a big relief for me, and her (tee hee). She will have a great opportunity to spread her wings a little.. I am confident that she will succeed.

I am planning to spend the majority of my time with DD6 who will be entering first grade. She is readinge WELL!!!! Yes, I am excited. She has the book bug! She read the Treasury of Illustrated Classics White Fang, and has been devouring simple chapter books. I will continue to teach her phonics (i think) and focus on routine and habits this year with her.

Travel Basketball kept us on the road this summer..VA, Penn State, Washington D.C., and NJ... the season is over, so we get to slow down and have a few lazy days to just "be". :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, it has been months since I have blogged. What can I say? It's been busy around here!

All is well and we are moving forward with the new year. Lots of activity is going on around here. Basketball, swim team, gymnastics, and I have signed myself up for a 10K race in March. (I'm excited!)

I know that it is only January, but I am ready for spring. The girls are doing well with there studies. Reading is going very with the little one. Abeka has been working great. I have mainly been using Abeka's Reading Handbook, and giving her a lot of opportunities to read regular

books aloud, and playing fun games with letters and words.She is becoming a lot more confident.

I'd like to add either an explode the code book or an Abeka phonics workbook. I am leaning more towards ETC4 and the Teacher's books for additional activities. I will decide and order this week.

GiGi has also finally learned to tie her shoes. This is one of those things that can often be overlooked in these days of crocs and velcro closings.

Have a great day!

A Special Day

Gigi(5dd) and I had the opportunity to spend a beautiful autumn afternoon at a local park on yesterday. The weather was georgeous and we just soaked up every piece of beauty that this park has to offer. 5 is such a great age. Children of this age are so curious and open to what you impart unto them. I had an opportunity to just enjoy the moments with my little one. The time goes by quickly, and I am enjoying this season of my life with her. I know about time because it just seems like yesterday that I had these same park visits with my now 15dd. Before you know it she will be driving..but that's another story. :-)

Weekly Report

Well, we finished our first official week of school. Things went well as we began quite a few new curriculums.

High School: We began using BJU US History this week. DD really likes the text and the constant review of the main points along with the student activities book and assignments. We have also started reading The Scarlet Letter for some American Literature to go along with history.So far so good. Our other new curriculum is in Religious Studies where we are using The Inner Man http://www.positiveaction.org/ byPositive Action for Christ. The discussion/teaching portion of this curriuculum has been very interesting and has sparked a lot of discussion. DD is continuting to plug through Piano,Saxon, Henle. This week two co-op classes British Lit and Physics will begin.

As for Kindergarten, my little K'er is excited and full of interest. We began our focus on Bible Study/Scripture Memorization and the basic 3 R"s with Abeka Phonics, Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numers, Saxon 1 math, and Singapore Earlybird math 2B. In addition, we gave her and introduction to the globe, maps, directional compass, and community maps to prepare for our study of Countries and Cultures. Of course we never leave out Art because my little dd just loves it. Here is her first day of school artwork:

On to plan this upcoming week.....

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ...

Back to School

The Summer just darted by.....We had a fabulous time though...Beaches...Camps..mini trips..museums..amusement parks...fun, family & friends. Now it's back to life....

We officially started school on yesterday. I always give 1st day of school "goodies", and all went over well for both the girls. I usually start a week ahead of my oldest dd's co-op, so that we can get used to our basic schedule before we are "on the road" twice a week.

I will complete a week in review at the end of the week..

Weekly Scriptures:

"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" Genesis 50:20

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Jessy

After all of those tadpoles, finally a frog!!!! He is a tiny little thing. There is still one tadpole growing. The rest of the tadpoles have all died and been eaten by these two. (Very interesting..)