I never thought I would be this excited

Boo is really picking up the pace with learning to read. He is often readin over my shoulder as I sit at the computer and read or type. He's reading everything around him and every lesson is going faster and faster. There were days I would DREAD doing reading lessons due to the snail-like pace.

But that's not what I am excited about. I am excited about the fact that I actually like to teach math. I've never been a good math student, and I have never liked the subject, but I like teaching it. Apparently, Boo and Meenie both enjoy learning math, evidenced by the fact that Meenie can count and understand the concept of numbers and Boo is doing addition now at age 5.

I guess that is what is so great about homeschooling. At five, I was in half-day kindergarten, where I was with all the other children who had not learned their ABC's yet. I do not remember any type of math, but I do remember that there were addition facts involved in Kindergarten.

Some people would say, that you have to let kids play and be little kids, and so on. My kids have more playtime than children who go to school. I've estimated that the average school child has between 2-3 hours at most, of play per day (not counting recesses at school). Many children have homework, dinner and baths to take care of in the evening after school. How much time does that really leave for playing and being a kid?

So even though I try to push my children to reach their full potential, there are over 8 free hours per day, in which they have to be a kid.

Wordless Wednesday 10/8/08

"Ham" has been Baptised

Not with a name like Ham, but with a real Christian name.

Our son's soul being cleansed of Original Sin.
Here I am, newly born into God's family.
Ham wears the family Baptismal gown.
All of us, with Grampy.
Just too cute!

An Announcement

With joy and gratefulness, we announce the birth of our second son "Ham":

Boo and Ham
Ham hours after birth
Daddy and Ham
Ham in the Car after 2 diaper changes in a row!

The Week of June 8th-14th

Today we're having just reading lessons and just finishing up Bob Books Set 1 (The large combined edition in the blue box)

M, T, W,F, S- Reading, Math, Science

Monday we're going swimming hopefully, it will be over 90 degrees here and spending time with a friend.

Tuesday, hopefully it will be cooler, we're meeting some other homeschoolers

Wednesday, nothing special, we're getting a few errands done with Daddy

Thursday, no school as usual but I have an appointment

Friday, I am thinking will be an art day but we also could end up going swimming

Saturday is Boo's Baptismal day. We're going to have a small present and a special desert and talk about the Sacrament of Baptism.

School Resumes

Alright, school has resumed. However, it's hot and I am uncomfortable for very justifiable reasons... so we're taking it slow. This week we just did reading. Next week I am adding math and science back into the mix. The following week handwriting and history return. Not to mention we're going to do the summer reading program at the local library. After that week copywork, memory work, geography and the arts will resume.

On Thursday we took a field trip to a botanical garden as part of our study on plants. Plants from now until August. Human Body will begin in October through November. Finally, we will study our huge Animal unit from December until the school year ends in April or May, we will culminate that with a trip to the zoo.

Well, that is a brief rundown of our plans for science. Now for some pictures of our trip:

Meenie poses in front of one of the many bird houses on display by local artists.

Both Boo and Meenie enjoy the children's garden.

Here we are with Mama's favorite flowers--Children and Irises.

I'm still here!

We're taking a break, vacation and a move wore us out! We'll be back in June with our Summer Adventures!