Whatever

I've been up early but am still in my robe. There is not much happening around here that is of any particular interest. We have started with all the new homeschool curriculum and since so much of it is review we are whizzing through it at a blinding speed. I am trying out a new math curriculum called Math U See, and since it is a different format than grade sequencing I am starting everyone at a lower level so that if they had any holes in their learning, they can catch up. Austin should get through at least 2 of these books this year. He is doing the multiplying book right now and then will move to the division book. Evan is back to addition and subtraction and then will do the multiplying book that Austin is using, and Luke is back to number sequence. The actual writer of this program was at the conference and we talked a lot. He suggested that if their math work was a struggle, taking way too long, and they were frustrated, to just go back and make sure all the basics were nailed down. If you don't have all your multiplication facts down pat, then division is hard.

We are listening to The Story of the World for history and then doing oral exams after each chapter. This is working splendidly. They must all get at least an 85 before they can move on to the next chapter. Our read aloud for history is the YWAM hero stories, Thomas Edison is who we started on.

They are doing Handwriting W/O Tears and this is also going better than our old handwriting program.

We are on to Spanish 2 with La Clase Divertido, and if they don't remember something from level 1 we just review it.

Science is all these really cool motors and circuit boards and mechanical things that Nate bought for them to make robots and electrical things, plus an Earth Science book that we have not started yet.

Reading is going well with the 2 older boys, they now read on their own for the enjoyment of reading. Austin more than Evan, but I found Evan in bed the other afternoon reading. Luke on the other hand is still not reading things on his own. If we sit down to read he can read the basic 1st grade type stuff, but he doesn't read signs in town or labels or anything else that my other kids used to do when they "started getting it".

I bought a computer grammar program but I haven't started it yet either. I am probably going to add that at the end of summer when the new year starts for me.

Creative writing will be implemented after summer also, I want them all to get a little better with their handwriting so that it will be a more positive experience.

In adoption news, I am on the paper chase again with updating my homestudy. This time we all need to have complete physicals since it was 2 years ago that we had them last. Our pets have to be up to date on shots. We have to get local police clearance, new fingerprinting done in Atl, taxes and blah, blah blah. Updating this time is going to be a pain in the rear, and I hardly have the patience to do this for the 3rd time.

I will say that Mother's Day was quite nice, my mom cooked a roast and brought it over. I baked a cheesecake for her since she loves them, and we hung out a bit. Nate and the boys took care of cleanup all day, and they even fixed me a sandwich for dinner. While I so appreciate the fact of being remembered and honored, I am uncomfortable with these types of celebrations. I don't really like Valentines, Mother/Father days, girlfriend, grandparents, secretary, etc... day. The only one that I like is my anniversary, and maybe my birthday. When I say like, I am stating that I can enjoy them, maybe because their is no one pushing us to perform. I don't like the marketing push for all these days. I like to be remembered and maybe do something fun or get away for our anniversary, and I like to eat out on my b-day, but that is all. Presents and cards are nice but not necessary. Since the boys are getting older, if they buy, give, make something on their own accord then I really appreciate it, but the most satisfying expressions of love are the ones that come for no particular reason and without any outside prompting. My parents think that I am weird and I probably am. In any case, I so appreciate being a mother and I am thankful for my own. Nothing has ever stretched and grown me as much as motherhood.