Its that time...

The school bell is almost ringing around here! Oh, wait, that was the coffee pot;)

If you have read this blog for any amount of time at all (all five of you;) you know that I am ready for a *normal* year! Well, I have MUCH to communicate, but first, step into this ADD mind of mine and see how our schedule came together.

First, it started with fear and trepidation at homeschooling a middle schooler, a 3rd grader and a 1st grader who thinks she is a middle schooler...

Then, I needed to figure out HOW in the world I was going to do it. I use the BEST curriculum guide in the world, with the BEST philosophy (IMHO of course;). But there is that applying thing that gets the best of us stuck at times! Plus, three kids, with three different book lists, one three year old, four days a week equals crying out to God (and of course a glass of wine...).

Here is what I did:

wrote everyone's initial and subject needed to be covered in the next 12 weeks on a piece of paper and threw it on the floor:

this is just a portion

I am not good at processing AND making a chart on the computer at the same time, and I needed to see the whole week at once.

Then I put the lessons times along one side of the room and started to fill in the gaps.

On Monday mornings, I decided to do everything we can together, which isn't too much, but every little minute I can squeeze out of the week helps. Together we are going to do our quartly Composer Study, Artist Study, Shakespeare, Hymn Study, Folksongs, scripture reading, and handwriting.

I worked on one day at a time, and I think I have it all figured out. At least it looks really good on paper!

Here is what my paper squares week looks like after rearranging a couple times. We only school 4 days a week and each column under each day is one of the kids schedules. Nik was a little overwhelmed at the amount of his squares.

The final schedules are here...they even each got their own font;) So, it fits on paper (even with some of the books they didn't finish up last year), we will see if it works in real life!! I will keep you posted!

Still not home yet...

I am still not calling this home yet, so if you have found yourself here...and wondering why its so empty;) I am still at Dolce Domum over at homeschoolblogger for a bit longer. I am a slow HTML learner...and a perfectionist;)

May. 16, 2008
Happy Birthday, (Steve A. Steitz) Babe!
Things that I LOVE about my man!
1. He is teachable.
2. He loves his Creator.
3. He loves his family.
4. He takes his job as a provider seriously.
5. He is punctual.
6. He is a handyman.
7. He is clean (but still a messy...ahem...sorry).
8. He is thoughtful.
9. He likes to wrestle with his kids.
10. He does my errands for me.
11. He picks up the household slack without being asked to.
12. He is courageous.
13. He takes Sunday mornings very seriously.
14. He has GREAT boundaries.
15. He looks good in a suit.
16. Ok, he kinda looks good bald .
17. He is taking up breadmaking.
18. Better yet, he is taking up YOGA!
19. He is a good researcher.
20. He has an awesome work ethic.
21. He cannot be manipulated (I like this now...).
22. He has TONS of common sense.
23. He is a beer snob.
24. He has a soft heart.
25. He supports me and my endeavors.
26. He values character.
27. He is pretty funny.
28. He SEEKS God.
29. He automatically sees us as a team.
30. He is God's gift to ME.
31. God is starting to renew his missions desire, and Steve is letting him!!
32. He is loyal.
33. He is interested in the character of his children.
34. He is good at doing favors.
35. He loves to serve his church.
36. He is not intimidated easily.
37. He knows when to draw the line in the sand.
38. He doesn't let me mow the lawn .
39. He started cleaning bathrooms when I was pregnant and hasn't stopped!
40. He is good at making our huge bed.
41. He is good at pushing people to do better.
42. He tricked me into thinking he was layed back before we were married (only knew him for six months...)
43. He respects my need to sometimes be alone.
44. He's got good (ahem...expensive) taste in clothing.
45. He brushes his teeth for the FULL two recommended minutes at least three times a day.
46. He is a rule keeper.
47. He is a good neighbor.
48. He is really good at poneytails.
49. He was good at taking care of his Grandma.
50. His gift is serving.
51. He washed my kitchen and dining room floors the day before his birthday.
52. He is open to adoption.
53. He likes to laugh.
54. He loves to worship.
55. He likes politics.
56. He wants the best for our family.
57. He loves to do what is RIGHT.
58. He is so much like my mom personality wise, that sometimes we joke that I married my mother;)
59. He is *man* enough to let me decorate our room as flowery as I would like it.
60. He is starting to eat vegetables!
61. Did I mention that he bakes bread for our family?!?
62. He has prayed about our relationship from the VERY beginning.
63. He secretly wants to be Amish.
64. He took a huge risk in starting his own business.
65. He is black and white.
66. He bought a wheatgrass puree-er and knows (because he researched it) the benefits of it.
67. All kids love him as their soccer coach.
68. He loves ME!

Test

Testing

Week in Review

From Palm Sunday to Easter was one packed week for us! My little brother was here visiting, and he kept getting extended (which was of course fine with us!!)because of flying standby and Spring Break. I love sharing our life here with our family back home. Monday was St. Patricks day and my daddy's birthday! I also got to experience my first Maundy Thursday service as an Anglican. SO powerful!! We did our Spring Celebration this week also, to free up Resurrection Sunday for the resurrection! The Easter Bunny came Friday morning, so that morning we decorated eggs, found baskets, ate chocolate, etc. Then by noonish on Good Friday we were trying to bring it in a little for some contemplation on the cross. Full gamut of emotions on Friday;) It just all happened in the same week, so I don't know how separated it seemed to the kiddos. Good Friday ended up so good. We took our time throughout the day to do the Stations of the Cross, have some quiet time, make our playdough tombs, and barely make it to our Service that night because of a snow storm. But even that service was worth the struggle to get there. God met me in ways I haven't experienced in a LONG time!
The next couple weeks are going to seem anti-climatic in comparison. Of course Easter Sunday was wonderful. We made Resurrection Cookies on Saturday night, pulled out our Alleluia banner on Sunday after church. We worshipped the resurrected Christ on Sunday.
After listing it all, it sounds like a crazy busy week, but it really didn't feel like it. God's grace I think;) I took my time with the kids at the end of the week to get across what I thought was worth their attention.
Here are our pictures, what would be a post from me without them?
The kids watching Father Jack anoint the Palms with Holy Water.
Our awesome Pastor's wife Amy doing the children's sermon~the kids love this time!
Green Pancakes for St. Paddy's Day that Allie wanted to make for Bekop's birthday!
My little helper!
Our green pancakes with bacon...not so good;)
Uncle Mike and Shaye enjoying the green;)
Stinkin' cute Shaye
Made Corned Beef and Cabbage with Guiness for the first time without my mom;)
Me and my baby brother Mikey;)
The stripped altar on Maundy Thursday!
Celebrating
Spring!
Niky's egg creatures;)
Watching daddy be creative;)
Making our clay tombs.
Rolling our saved change to give to Rwandan Blessing.
Making our resurrection cookies.
Sealing the tomb!
Christ has Risen! He has risen indeed!
Happy Resurrection Day!