Homeschooling

My days have changed up since I no longer need to think about work. So now all that brain space I was preoccupying with work schedules and work stuff is now being used on how to improve our homeschooling experience.

First change up is more games. Learning needs to be fun. If it's not fun (at least for the younger ones) they are not going to want to learn. So thanks to some homeschool families recommendations I ordered this game- Scramble States. 

The story is about how states wanted to move to a different part of the US and after giving it a try they wanted to go back where they originally were. So the game ask players to find the states who have wildflowers at their state flowers. Or which states are west of Missouri. Not really based on the story but it's really fun.

They play this game almost once a day. Sometimes more than once. They tell me all the time how fun it is. Me- I love how it's educational. They have been learning geography, state flowers, capitals, state nick names, and team work. 

With weather permitting we've been taking walks or rides to the duck park near us. Some days I've noticed that we just need a change of scenery or everyone gets on eachothers nerves. So first thing in the morning we go for our walk/ride. Days when it's raining or snowing I can tell the difference in peoples attitudes so I try my best to keep things low key that day. 

We've had more time for art. I love art! I love everything about it. So it's my goal to teach my kids to develop their art skills or at least to appreciate the work of other artist. So there's so much more projects and pictures hanging up around our house. Here's Ducati with fairy picture. I admit for some time I thought she traced pictures out of books but then while I was helping a bigger kid on the couch I looked over and seen Ducati drawing the fairy free hand. I was so happy with her and her patience. I had to capture this moment forever so she's showing me her drawing and the fairy she was drawing. 

And our newest game is Hedbanz Act Up!
This is so much fun and no one even suspects me that the reason why I purchased this was for the reading. HAHAHA! Each person has a headband on their head with a card which they can't see. The other players act out what the card says and if the person guesses right they are one step closer to winning. It's been so much fun and I've noticed Lily and Ducati improve their reading.

It's been so much fun seeing the love of learning grow and glow in each one of my kids. Homeschooling them has it's moments of difficulty but it's so worth it.

Daily Life

This afternoon I mentioned to Mike how I haven't blogged in weeks.

He asked why?

I answered, "Because all our family has been doing is working and couponing."

And he said something that made me think the rest of the afternoon

"Really? That's all..."

And it made me think... what have we been doing for the last 2 weeks.

Lily. She was accepted to an on-line charter preschool that is lead by some professors who have made their curriculum more based on science researched facts than core curriculum  So basically she was tested for entry then based on her tests results they will mold her classes around her. And just a fun fact she tested at above average for children her age. So she's really excited to start that this fall. 

Ducati. Her personality is growing so much that it's finally shining through. She loves to dress herself now a days. Her favorite items to wear are her wellies (rain boots), tutu, shirt, crown (headband), and 80% of the time she'll "borrow" some jewelry from me. It's such a joy seeing my little girl grow right before my eyes. 

Hailey. With the nice weather she's been practicing alot more all the things she's been learning at her tumbling class. Yesterday she landed 3 running cartwheels in a row. She was so proud of herself! She's really stepped up her determination in wanting to improve her skills.

Mason. You know when I said Mike and I are aware that he'll have some bumps in the road on his journey to manhood. Well he's come to a point in his journey where he's making more bumps himself than need be. So here he is doing Hailey's chore of cleaning the bathroom. He's not happy with it but then again- what kind of mother would I be if I only did things that he liked. This was a great teaching moment that misbehavior is not going to be tolerated. 

Mike. He's exhausted. He has a new calling (as well as do I) but I'll post about that later on. He's still working the 2 full time jobs. The burden is still there but it's just easier to bear now. Thankfully Mike now has a Bluetooth so this gives us more time to chat. We still read scriptures, do our check-in's, and talk about our family all over the phone now. So that's really been a blessing for us. 

And me. :-) I've been inspired again to pick up my Extreme couponing. So I've been putting more focus on that again. It's hard to be EXTREME all the time  but when I save 70% on our grocery bill I sort of have to keep it up. So this week I picked up some major awesome deals that helped me bring home $350 worth of stuff for around $50. It's funny I "hinted" to Mike that for Mother's Day I want a bigger coupon binder. :-)

So in all fairness. We have been doing alot this past week. So I guess one never really notices what they accomplish until they can take a breathe and look back at their progress. 

Smile

I know it's Heavenly Hands that helped me find this lost photo. And then I seen this saying on FB and it just fit perfectly.

"I like it when you smile, but I love it when I'm the reason!"

(When we were sealed I was getting alittle stressed so to make me smile for our photographer he smelt my nose. Silly but that's one of many of my husband's amazing traits)

Handy Man

My hubby is so talented. Over the years that we've been together his skills have just improved so much that I'm trying to talk him into selling some of his creations on Etsy. But we'll see...

Today he made this from our 3 seated couch. Our house is oddly shaped so this couch was just a tad too big until Mike cut, reupholstered, and bonded together this love seat that fits just right. 

I am so blessed to have such a talented husband that sees the world as nails and boards. 

Daily's

A part of this road that Mike and I are on is that we need to do certain things daily. No exceptions, no excuses- we just have to do them. The Daily things help us stay on track so we can better ourselves which in turn better our relationship. So one of my daily's is write in a journal something that I am thankful for that day. My blessing that Heavenly Father had given me for the day.

Todays' Gratitude:

This blog- to have somewhere to write down my thoughts without losing it. Anyone can ask Mike how many times I lose things in a day and he will just laugh. Not giggle, not smirk, just laugh out loud. I lose things all the time. Keys, papers, shoes, books,.....things that I just put down- I forget 3 seconds later. So to write in a journal is like telling to me find a needle in a haystack. I have lost my journal too many times that I just end up buying a new notebook which I lose a few days later.

So I am grateful to have a journal that I can log into from wherever I am. That I can look back and not only read the memory but see the photo that brings back even more memories. So that's my 2 cents for the day. I will now get off my soap box.