Preparing for School, Part 1.

There are few things more important to us right now than Homeschooling our children. We consider it a direct calling in our path. We have looked inside ourselves and found that there is no other way, period. Everyone has non-negotiables, I'm so glad to be on the same belief as my husband with this.

But with me working on-call as a Doula, I really feel strongly that I needed to provide an organized system that would allow for continuity between myself or Damon in guiding and mentoring our childrens educational path. I do not know if this system will always be one we use, but I do feel its the correct path for right now.

We have decided to use the Work Box System. It really looks like it will be a great fit for this year! Heres our current set up:

Heres a close up of the boxes, 5 for each girl this year.

Right now Daunikas boxes will rotate. She'll have Math, Reading, Art, Science, Community and Values
Auroras boxes are fixed. Numbers, Letters, Colors, Community and Values. An example of Math would be some of the many math manipulative's and workbooks that we have this year. We are also using Saxon math. We'll see how that goes. An example of our community boxes include learning about places we frequent - the post office, library, grocery stores, etc. We'll explore map making, reading maps, and how we fit into our community. Values is probably the most important thing we'll study all year, every year. There is nothing more important than passing on our values to our children. This month we've been working on 'Kindness'. Its working REALLY well!!!

This system works like this: The girls will use the below chart to figure out what they 'need to do today'. Each girl has 5 clothes pins with numbers laminated and hotglued to them. They will direct their own learning by picking what order they wish to do their boxes in and when they complete a box they will move the number pin to the 'All Done' side of the chart. They are super excited to get to use their chart already!

Heres an example of the notes they'll find on the curriculum...

More updates coming...................... SO much to do to start in a week *falls over*

Our moose man has BANANAS!

Tonight we tried something new - Declan had FOOD! He has been grabbing at our plates for nearly a month now and I finally have been giving in the last week. Sips of water aren't doing it though! Tonight, he had a tiny bit of banana. 

His faces were fantastic! He was so excited to get the spoon in his mouth, but each time the food actually assaulted his taste buds, he looked appalled. It was so much fun! Poor kid. 

Everyone needs cookies once in awhile !

Life has been extremely busy these past couple weeks. I feel like I've been chasing around life and I haven't caught up for a moment. Yesterday, I caught up. Sure, there are dishes still to be done, laundry to be folded. My back yard needs mowed and my kids school work boxes are not completed. But I caught up with my kids. I got to do nothing but be mom! No work, no clients. Nothing but happiness. Damon was home all day too! It was FABULOUS.

Dishwasher was going, breadmaker was finishing off a loaf of whole wheat.... and we decided it was time to make COOKIES! Now cookies are not cookies unless two little girls 'help' by measuring, spilling, re-measuring,  stirring, spilling some more, licking fingers, spilling, taste testing more and maybe cooking them. LOL It's a blast actually. I hope I captured it well.

And since I'm feeling all generous with my recipes lately......... Enjoy!!

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter, crunchy
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup oatmeal
• handful of chocolate chips if you like :)
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In a large bowl, cream together shortening, margarine, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the oats until just combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until just light brown. Don't over-bake. Cool and store in an airtight container.

I am the mother of girls...

.... and that means I have to deal with hair! Up, down, braided, brushing out knots, you name it... Well Daunika is sporting a new look today and she loves it! Bangs really suit her

And in our home you cannot take a picture of one girl without the other one demanding pictures........

These two are peas in a pod :) I love it!

Happiness is not a matter of events; it depends upon the tides of the mind.

Alice Meynell

Its FAIR time!

What comes to mind when you think of a Fair? Well, being from non-agricultural areas, both Damon and I naturally found our minds thinking about greasy over priced food, darts thrown at balloons for prizes, long lines for rides and of course the 2 minutes of thrill on that ride!

Well, not this year. I cannot express how much I love living in Idaho! I cannot imagine living anywhere else. There is so much this place gives to my soul that I will stay for. Travel? Yes, I long to do that, but move? Nope! The Fair was a great example of why!

Sunday morning was like any other, get up, eat, get ready for church. Church, then home for lunch. Yum. But on our way home, we passed the fairgrounds. Daunika instantly noticed it was full of rides and asked to go there 'right now'.

We went home and ate yummy lunches then packed up and headed to the fair! We were parked by 1:45 and we didn't make it back home until nearly 10:30! During that time we did not ride a single ride, we did not eat any overpriced junk at the fair, we did not spend crazy amounts of money... but we laughed deeply and watched wonder and joy in our childrens eyes. It was AMAZING!

What in the heck would a fair in Idaho be without TRACTORS!!!!!! 

Classic John Deere colors! 

Next to the small tractor display was one of my favorite parts... The old engine expo. It really was fascinating to watch all of these antique work so well. Damon and the girls really enjoyed it too! Late 1800's and early 1900's machinery. It really makes your realize how far we've come and how COOL things are!

Hand crank corn cob remover. Very cool. 

Moose enjoyed his ride in the Ergo for awhile. What a gorgeous husband I have wearing his boy as they check out the antique tools on display!

Not only did we enjoy the small tractors earlier... but there was really nifty big tractors. So big that the girls settled for a small one again. 

 We got a really great laugh when we spent over 30 minutes with the antique tractors and THEN really got excited when we saw the Ag expo tent. (Idaho Agricultural Expo Tent). I mean, we both genuinely enjoyed learning all sorts of different facts. We strong feel called to an agricultural lifestyle and are working hard at achieving those goals.

Outside of the Ag tent were these really cute cut outs!

Next on the list.... ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!! 

Despite my home being 'over run with animals' already, we love them! Daunika will just miss the cut off next year for 4-H, but we plan on enrolling her in 4-H the following year at age 6. The animals at the Fair are fantastic. Here is our findings at the small pet expo - Chickens, Roosters, Rabbits, Cats and Genuine Pigs!

This is the incubator. Tiny eggs, with what will someday be laying hens. These are beautiful and Aurora was very interested in watching them. Its beautiful to watch the pecking happen from the inside and suddenly -crack! a little beak begins to appear. Just stunning to watch. 

Then the chicks are moved into this warm area. Say HELLO!

They grow into beautiful animals! 

And they got to meet many many 4-H children that took care of their beautiful pets. 

Watching horses being warmed up or cooled down was so fun. The girls got to see so many horses and this wonderful 10 year old let them pet her horse. 

We moved onto diary cows after horses... they were so gentle and kind. The kids loved it! Even Damon learned that cattle could be gentle and personable!!

And what would a day be if Declan didn't see animals too?

Although I'm not certain he was anything but 50% thrilled 50% terrified. No tears though!

Theres so much we enjoyed that I can't sum up for the blog... but I hope you enjoyed the pictures and captured a bit of the beautiful time we had. 

Blessings!