Well, I'm still having a hard time keeping up with the blog. I also haven't picked up my good camera in weeks. But I'm still getting snapshots on my phone, and we are slowly getting into the groove of our fall schedule. So here are some updates about what's been a-happenin'...
Back to School!
We started back to homeschooling on Monday, August 29th, and the girls started their online classes that week too. So we're on our 4th week and things are starting to normalize a little. We're still enrolled with the Mother of Divine Grace School which offers a consultant, customizable lesson plans, lots of support, and online courses. It's a good fit for us. The kids are in 8th, 6th, 3rd and 1st grades this year. We're mostly following their program by-the-book, except for using All About Reading/Spelling and Math U See in some of the younger grades.
There was a pretty big jump in workload for almost all of them, so it's been a bit of a hard adjustment. Mary Clare has three online courses (Math, Latin, and History) and Ellie has two (Latin and History), and this year we've been able to schedule them only on Tues/Thurs again which is nice. But the middle school courses have been a jump for Ellie, and Tommy is getting used to having a lot more work than in Kindergarten. The History, Science, Grammar, and Saxon 5/4 Math for Steven have all been a big adjustment for him, and for me! But I'm happy and confident with where we're at and our choices for books and curriculum. The kids are staying on track even when we have a day at the science museum or at their Friday homeschool clubs. We're trying to enjoy it all before we have to really scale back from outside activities when Mary Clare starts 9th grade next year.
Here are some photos from the past few weeks...
Last minute HEB run the night before our first day
Instead of a special breakfast at home we opted to go to The Egg and I restaurant at 6am on the first day!
Thomas reading away
Steven hard at work with his new math program
The first week was our First Friday Mass and Park Day for our homeschool group.
We always make a cupcake rosary and pray a decade of the Rosary to celebrate the Blessed Mother's Birthday.
The kids had fun playing soccer at the park day
A slow morning where the little ones were all playing blocks instead of doing schoolwork...Slow mornings turn into late afternoons finishing our work, but some days just go that way.
My youngest student playing dress up with her silver purse and crown and her pacifier that has been getting some more use these days. She's been struggling a bit with all the attention going towards homeschooling.
But on this day I was sitting with a bunch of books and a toddler and no students to be found...
Math is fun!
Daddy's Birthday!
Steven had a big birthday this year. We celebrated with a special dinner (Shepherd's pie), his favorite German chocolate cake, and some black decorations. His family sent a bunch of funny birthday cards. I think he got about 30 in all! We'll be celebrating with a weekend at the beach next month, but I think he had a good day on his actual birthday too :) Next birthday on deck is Thomas turning 6 this week!
All his cards on the fireplace
Watching a fishing contest before dinner
With the kiddos (except one who was at ballet)
Other fun activities
We had our first day of classes at the science museum last week. The kids had a great time. Mom was exhausted, but I survived with a little help from Amazon Video on the iPhone for Katie when I couldn't walk the museum anymore. We saw a Safari IMAX where Katie and I got a little nap before the drive home.
SJ and his buddy watching the pendulum
Lunch picnic outside the museum
We started back to our twice monthly homeschool clubs and had our first 4-H meeting here last week. We have also had some fun times hanging out with friends. We had our 2nd annual chair assembly night (with wine and appetizers for our helpers)! We got some new kitchen chairs from Amazon after 4/6 of the IKEA Ingolf ones had broken in less than a year and had to be returned. We've watched some Aggie games with friends, had a nice pool/lake party with our pastor and local friends, had some girls and cousins over for a Saturday play day and burger lunch, and the girls attended their first middle school social night for rosary and pizza (while the moms hang out). The girls are enjoying ballet, and the boys start their little league baseball this week. Oh, and Sunday School is in full swing at church, so we are back to busy Sunday mornings too.
New chairs
Silly Aggie baby
Friends over to play on a Saturday
BOL Middle School Virtue Club
Sneaking a peek at the end of ballet class one evening. They're working on a lovely dance about Heaven for a performance next month.
Tommy heading to his big boy CCD class. He's moved out of the Montessori Atrium and is going to the First Communion class, even though he probably won't receive until next fall.
BABY
I can't end without a baby update. Our little guy is 28 weeks along now. He's moving a lot and keeping Mommy nice and tired. We have two top names, but haven't made an official decision and likely won't until baby is born. We're known to change our minds at the very end! I'm making visits to the doctor every week now for my progesterone injections, and every other week to see the doctor. This week I'll get to see baby on ultrasound.
Always lots of waiting at this doctor office! I end up sitting in the chair because my back can't handle sitting up there for sometimes an hour while I wait!
I'm starting to get a little nervous about going into labor over Thanksgiving when my doctor is not available. I'm just praying that it all falls into place as it needs to. A dear friend had an emergency delivery of her baby girl today, due just two weeks before our baby, so she's a tiny little preemie born at 30 weeks gestation. Every day with these little lives is a gift, so I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself. I am having some contractions here and there, so I'm trying to lay low and keep from walking or lifting too much. We've all been dealing with an annoying head cold, so I'm just ready to get rid of that! I did order a couple newborn sleepers for our little guy, which always makes things start to seem real. I'm hoping to be holding him in about 8-9 more weeks!
Cute baby clothes!
Well, Daddy and the ballet girls are home so I guess it's time to eat some dinner and settle down for the evening. I will hopefully be back soon with some photos of Thomas' upcoming birthday!
