Homeschool - Week 1

We have finished our first 2 weeks of homeschooling and everyone is still alive! Here are some of the activities we did the first week:

The girls both have morning notebooks they work from that just help keep up some basic skills:

Reading and Math

Millie is working a lot on colors, shapes, letters and numbers

Avi and I worked on a letter fishing game

Magnetic Pattern Blocks

Trying to make sight words fun :)

Tracing sandpaper numbers:

This game is so fun! It's called Tell Tale Fairy Tales. The kids pick some picture cards and then have to make up a story using the cards. Millie was really into telling Avi her story.

Then Avi told us hers

Roll-a-butterfly game:

Millie worked on patterns while Avi worked on writing. I think Avi was a little jealous of the pre-school work :)

More sight word fun

Colors and shapes:

Telling the story of Creation with the flannel board

Let's hope the whole year is this fun!

Princess Amelia

Miss Amelia Mae is all girl, except for her clothes. She loves lipstick and nail polish and jewelry but always wants to wear black pants (her favorite color) and a solid t-shirt or tank top. One thing I loved about Avi at this age is she was always coming out in crazy outfits. It's one of my favorite things about toddlers! But Millie has never been interested in cute or crazy clothes. I was so surprised when she wanted to wear Avi's Rapunzel dress one day! We got her all dolled up complete with bright lipstick she bought herself! I love her hands in the bottom picture. She did that all on her own. I guess that's how princesses pose :) She would know, I'm sure.

First Day of Homeschool!

About 2 years ago, I began to feel God tugging at my heart to homeschool. My first reaction was "NO! Please God, NO!" I did not see myself as a homeschooling mom and certainly did not think I had what it would take. Slowly over a period of about a year, He began to change my heart. I started talking with friends and family who homeschool and I told Brian what was on my heart. He was very supportive and agreed with all my reasons for homeschooling and we made the decision to do it! Avi spent her first year of Kindergarten at school and we decided to homeschool for her first grade year and Millie's pre-preschool year. We have chose to homeschool for 3 reasons. We want flexibility in our schedule, we want to create fun and diverse learning opportunities that will hopefully produce life-long learners and most importantly, we want our girls to be involved in the day-to-day mission we have from God as Christians to serve others. We want them exposed to real life and things that can't be taught in schools. I want them to know the good and bad of this life and the world we live in and figure out how they fit in to make a difference. 

So last week, we began our adventure!

 We start our day with some chores and getting ready for the day

We have adopted the work-box system. The girls go to each drawer and pull out their work for that day for that subject. Sometimes it's a game or craft or worksheet. It allows them to be a little more independent and gives them a visual of how much more they have to do.

Avi was pretty excited to start!

Amelia Mae - 3 years old - Preschool

Avitol Mercy - 6 years old - First grade

(That's her kindergarten picture she's holding)

We did fun and easy tasks the first day

This is our general information board and a map of course!

They both got to open a special gift for the first day. A tea time cookbook and a tea set!

One of the things I knew I wanted to implement before we even started homeschooling was daily tea time. So far it's been really fun!

A yummy first day lunch!

One thing is for sure, this adventure will only bring me closer to God. I am realizing even more my great need everyday. I am so blessed to have this opportunity with my girls!

Bakers

These two decided to get on their baking outfits the other day and do a little pretend baking. Miss Millie was not super excited about the baking I guess :)

Movies at Home

These two really wanted to go to the movies but we didn't want to go out so we brought the movies home!

The Little Things...

It is Sunday morning at 7:45 am. My house is quiet because everyone is still asleep (say what?!?). It rained last night and all the windows in the house are opening and a light, rain soaked breeze is blowing in the windows. Today is the Sabbath. We worked hard around the house yesterday so we could enjoy today and relax and not worry about any chores or obligations. I put a pot of coffee on and am heading in the kitchen to make some coffee cake for breakfast. When everyone gets up we will eat and head to church. After church we will enjoy each other as a family, relax and share a meal. This is what I think Sundays are supposed to be. Time together with family, worshipping God and thanking Him for all the blessings He has given us, and taking time to rest. I wish I was this purposeful every week. I'm really going to make an effort to be because I want this special day for my family and I want my girls to make this a priority in their own homes one day. I don't know why God has seen fit to bless us so richly but I will spend my days praising Him for it and sharing the gifts He has given us with others. Happy Sabbath!