Our First Day of School 2008

Here we are--aren't we sweet?

No, wait a minute...here's what we REALLY look like...

Ok, what's up with my kids?? I actually have to take the "silly one" first in order to get the "nice one." Otherwise, it's just a lesson in frustration for all of us. Although the silly ones are fun to look at...

Today was our first official day of school--Hooray! The boys are in 3rd and 5th grade this year -- yikes! We are entering our 7th year of homeschooling (PreK-5th) and ready to go. I like to ease into the year with a few fun activities. We will add our more structured activities over the next week or two.

We spent the day making cookies, reading the Ballad of Mulan (and other Chinese tales) and learning a bit about China. We have all had a great time watching the Olympics, inspiring us to learn more about China. Tomorrow, we plan on watching Disney's Mulan (to compare with the story), practice a few Chinese characters, work on our math and reading programs and take a trip to the dentist (sorry kids, it's was the only day I could get an appt). We always try to take a field trip the first week (one of the many benefits of homeschooling) but with the budget being a bit tight, we're going to have to do a more local trip to PetSmart. N. is dying for a hamster--he just loves animals and does so well with our cat. He is currently working on his "30 day chart" to earn a hamster by cleaning his room with out complaining every day AND cleaning out the cat box. Tomorrow, we are going to check out the hamsters and possibly hold a few of them. If I were especially diligent, I would add a writing assignment to the field trip (Why hamsters make great pets?) but we'll see :-)

More later....

Out of the box...

We made our semi-annual trek to Legoland in CA this week. The kids were in absolute heaven. My boys just dread the usual textbook-workbook-must-write-in-my-journal school day. They absolutely shine on field trip days! Here are they are in a Robosports class, goofing around and learning at the same time. In a perfect world, we would be unschoolers, traveling the land, caring for our animals (although we have none), harvesting the "back 40," and learning as we go. But alas, my children have parents that are both Educators. We Educators have a hard time getting out of the "box." The "box" gives us tangible growth (gotta love those worksheets and textbooks!) and good test scores but the "box" gets stuffy and tight and is just plain boring most days. We don't always fit well in the box--we need to stretch and move a bit, grow bigger than the box will allow. But there is value in learning the skills required of being in the box, skills we believe are important to know in this world....what a strange paradox I am stuck in! (What a rambling mess this blog has turned into!)

I must admit that I am comfortable in the box--it shows me where to go, what to do, how to assess. My boys are having trouble writing--the "box" helps me teach this difficult subject. But how I love the freedom of leaving the box for short periods of time--we love lazy reading days, cooking together, visiting new places, exploring our interests on the Internet....ahh, freedom! But then I find myself looking back at the box, missing the structure, wondering if we still fit, husband begins asking how we are doing in the box....so back in the box we go!

One of my goals for this next year is to live in the box of state standards while making each moment there as exciting and enjoyable as possible. My goal also is to really, truly take advantage of those out of the box days when they come. To enjoy the structure of the box and the freedom of being out in the world. I'll let you know how I do!

Welcome to my blog!

Who would have ever thought I would become a "blogger"? I would not say my writing skills dazzle and I certainly lead a pretty normal life but I would love a place to write and chat about the awesome things God is doing in my life (and to be honest in my struggles as a wife, mother, homeschooling mom and servant of Christ). I can't promise I will be witty or clever but hey, I can be honest and real.

So, where to begin? Hmm....lots of empty space to fill on these blogs! Let's start with the obvious I guess. My name is Laurie and I live on the West Coast with my husband of 14 years, K. We have been homeschooling for several years and I work part time for a homeschooling charter school (a discussion topic for another day) My husband works for a local public school. I guess we are not your typical homeschool family since we are tied to public schools professionally but we have gone where God has called us (both career wise and in the schooling of our own children.) A topic to explore another day.....

In my spare time (ha, ha), I love creating digital scrapbooks, reading and sitting on the beach, doing nothing except watching my children play in the waves. I would love to be able to say I like to exercise and stay fit but really, who am I kidding? I would love to be fit but the actual exercise part? Not my favorite. I use to love to exercise and stay fit in college but it took all my concentration for some reason. :-) It seems I am better at this when I am not homeschooling 3 children, cleaning house, cooking dinner, working on the computer, serving at church....

We have 3 children--K. Jr. is 9 yrs old and in 4th grade. He is a Lego loving boy that enjoys homescholing except when he has to actually complete his work (hmmm....) He is calm, sweet and a pretty quiet kid. Although he does have the most amazing and infectious laugh--a great belly laugh that makes you smile when you hear it.

His latest passion is Lego Star Wars--he spends hours building "guys" and places for them to visit in his room. I can hear him through his bedroom door--he often talks through his day with his guys, acting out events in our day. Fun to listen to and very insightful! He loves to eat and is growing tall like K and I (6'3" and 5'9"). He's only 2 inches shy of 5 ft tall and is not quite 9 1/2 yet. Yikes!

Our next son is N. and he is 7. He is my affectionate, passionate, intense and silly seeking son. He has kept me humble and on my knees before the Lord! He is helping me to become more patient, more consistent, more loving....the Lord is using him to transform me. Pretty cool! I just love his passion for Legos, K'Nex, jumping bikes over ramps, catching frogs...really anything that feeds his need for adrenaline. He can be a challenge but also complete joy also.

Our littlest one is E. She is our chatty, smiley girl from Russia. She joined our family when she was 11 mos old and it has been such a blast to have a girl in the family. Boy, I had heard that little girls could talk but who knew? My ears actually hurt at the end of the day! She is a joy though--she has such a happy and joy filled heart. It's hard not to laugh when you're with E. She loves attention and is a complete extrovert. She is my child that greets everyone in a grocery store and they strike up a conversation as I hide my head and curse myself for rushing out of the house in my sweats and no makeup (again!).

Well, that's a not a bad start for my first post. I think I will sign off now and work more tomorrow.

Blessings,

Laurie