Day in the (Homeschool) Life

We've got 2 full weeks of homeschooling under out belt and it's going pretty well! We are having some issues here and there, but they are more heart issues than academic/curriculum issues. I feel like we've got a pretty good routine going, and next week I actually plan on adding in a little bit more to our day because I feel like we can do that.

I began my Thursday with some God....and jungle animals.

Lucas requested to be woken up at 6am to make muffins. I woke him up at 7.

A really weird selfie.

Andrew is obsessed with this old tricycle, and somehow it always ends up in the kitchen.

While the kids are eating, getting dressed, and running around, I try to get a few minutes of work and emails done.

And I take a quick look at my school planner. I usually fill in a few things in pencil for the day, but then go back and fill it all in at the end of the day. Kind of a reverse planning method.

I try to get the kitchen mess under control before we begin school.

I take Ryan and Lucas into the backyard to read about Paul in our Child's Story Bible. (still love it!) We started the New Testament at the beginning of the year, and we have just 1 story left!(Ryan was sanding a hotwheel car while he listened)

Back inside I got Jenna set up with her Explode the Code and Handwriting books.

And I sat down to do Language Arts with Lucas.

My Dad comes over very morning to do math with the boys. First up was Ryan.

Lucas took a little break to play with the train set.

And then came back down to do a piano lesson. He really seems to be enjoying it!

I got started figuring out science for the day. Our next science lesson looked like a long one and I just wasn't feeling it, so I decided to press pause on our formal lesson and use our Usborne books to learn more about coral reefs.

Lucas finished piano and flopped on my bed to do some independent reading. He is currently enjoying this book.

Jenna began her phonics lesson.

And Andrew glued cotton balls onto paper. For about 5 seconds.

Jenna attempted a piano lesson. (We're using Hoffman Academy)

Ryan finished math and was famished, so he decided macaroni and cheese was the perfect snack at 10:30am. (He never eats breakfast)

While Lucas did math, Ryan and I sat down to do Language Arts....and this was his face. Actually, this  is often his face. I could use some prayer for my oldest.

After we finished, I had Ryan help Jenna with her math lesson.

While he ate, Ryan helped Andrew with an ocean search-and-find.

Lucas finished math.

The kids took a break and started watching Finding Nemo, so I sat down and ordered printer ink. I don't like letting the kids watch any sort of TV during our school day, but I'm finding it hard when we're all ready for a break, and that's the only thing they want to do. I need to get better about enforcing no TV until after school.

I got a fun surprise in the mail from Usborne!

I attempted to put Andrew down for a nap but it was a big fail. So we started on science. We read about Paul Klee and his Golden Fish painting.

We read about what type of fish live near coral reefs, and then got to work drawing and coloring our ocean scenes with crayons, and then painting over them with watercolor paints. (We were replicating Paul Klee's methods of using both oil and watercolor paints)

After art/science, Andrew filled up the wading pool.

And the big kids finished watching Nemo.

This girl and I sat down to do some reading together. She read her very first little book to me yesterday!

Around 2:30 the girl cousins arrived to play in the backyard. Look at Andrew surrounded by girls!

While the kids played, I did exciting things like laundry, dishes, house pick-up, blogging, and breaking up fights. Around 4:30 I started making an early dinner (tacos) for Adam and the kids. At 5:30 I took the girls home and headed to my good friend's house for dinner and a lovely chat by her pool. She served us taco salad, sangria, fruit enchiladas and fried ice cream!

It was just what this Mama needed after 6 months of being at home with very limited friend interaction. Dinner was absolutely delicious, but now I need to get back on track because Adam and I are part of an August weight-loss challenge!