New Year Start-Up

The New Year has started, but I haven't. Lack of motivation, laziness, frustration, or the good ol' just don't want to's!  I'm not sure which of those it is, or if it's even any of those reasons, but this year is starting off slow for us. Maybe that's good thing, maybe that means the whole year will be slow and laid back. :)

We have all had the head cold junk, which makes you feel terrible, so we haven't even started school back yet! We WILL start Monday...we HAVE to start Monday! In an attempt to get myself more organized with our school stuff, I have gotten one thing accomplished...I moved our school stuff out of a cabinet taking up room in the house, to a more organized area. This is the ONE "closet" area that is all mine in our house, and what does it hold?? Bills, computer, school books, bills, markers, paper, bills, shredder, and did I mention bills!?! :) 

Notice how everything is labeled and in a particular place?  Now if I will just keep it this way! :)

Place for bills & paper. Grading scale & calendar

Messages, to-do lists, etc.

So, I guess I have gotten a little accomplished. Now to move on to another area in the house!

It's funny to me how there's always something to clean, organize, or throw out!



Christmas Fun!



Yes, there can be fun this time of year despite all the hustle and bustle! We finished up with our school last Wed., then ended the week with time with our great co-op Group 4:9! Our group Christmas party was Friday night with a homemade ornament exchange between the kids, so we had to work on our creations. I love decorating with snowmen, so I gave the boys that idea and they made their own versions of a snowman.

L to R:  Caleb's Nighttime Snowman, Jacob's tile job (didn't he do good!?!) :), Noah's "Grinch Man"



I also had a little time with just Jacob this past Sunday morning. The boys were riding the van with Eric to pick up some kids for church, so we were on our own. Since he is still small I can dress him all cute, and he can't refuse, yet! After wetting down and fixing his hair, he went to the mirror and said, "I handsome!"  He is such a mess!



Don't you love the sweater vest and the cheesy grin!?! 

We have also made some flour/salt ornaments. We ended up not using any of them, but they were fun to make!

Shopping is tomorrow...I'll let you know how it goes! LOL

Thankful to Homeschool

One of biggest questions people have when they find out that we homeschool is:  What about your kids making friends and being in activities?  

Well, that question has really weighed heavy on my heart and mind. They have had a few friends along the way, at church, on a ball team, but most of those relationships have been temporary. We have been fairly active in our local homeschool association for a couple of years now, and for one main reason was for my kids to meet other kids. Through that group we have met some great people, but there again we would see these people on occasion. My friend, Crystal (who also homeschools her girls) and I have wanted to form a small co-op group of our own for a while now, but things just never seemed to work out. For about 2 years now we have been praying about a group.

To make a long story short, we have now formed a group with a total of 6 moms and 14 kids!  We are SO EXCITED about this group of people. We have started doing activities and classes together just within the last month.  I just LOVE IT when the Lord works things out like this! We all just seem to really click with each other. No one person is carrying the load by themselves...we all work together great! Our husbands have even been able to meet, and it just seems like we've all known each other forever. We chose to name our co-op, Group 4:9, from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he does not have another to help him."  I pray that's what we do, lift each other up!

This week we were studying the real meaning of Thanksgiving, and we really learned A LOT! Each family made their own replicas of the Mayflower that we shared with each other during class. The boys decided they wanted theirs made from cake, so we did the Mayflower out of rice crispies and set it on a cake body of water. They really did do a lot of it on their own, and I helped some. I mostly did the baking and shaping..they did the icing, sails, and design. Here they are icing up the ship. :)

They enjoyed getting chocolate icing all over their hands!

Here is our completed Mayflower!



After our great lessons about the 1st Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful feast!
Check out our Group 4:9 blog:  www.2rbetterthan1.blogspot.com  (also linked on this blog) for more great pictures and info.
I am thankful for this group and how the Lord has given my boys and myself new friends, and YES now they get to socialize!!  HA! :) I wouldn't trade this time with my boys for anything! 
Do we have bad days?--You bet so!
Are there days I wish they were in public school?--Definitely YES!
Would it be nice to get paid for a job that I have to put so much time into?--That would be a great plus!
Would I like missing learning with them and spending these years with them?--DEFINITELY NOT!!

I am thankful, most of all, that the Lord has always provided a way for me to stay at home with our boys. It's not for everyone, and I realize that most families need two incomes (which we could use right now!) but I always go back to the calling I've felt on my life. I

know that God has called me to be a wife and mother, which includes homeschooling our kids. This was decided before we had children...actually, I believe before we were even married. SO, on our hardest days I have to remind myself of these things. And, on the great days, like when we're with our Group 4:9, or going on a great field trip, or just sitting on the couch reading together, that's when I say, "thank you Lord for this time!"

I AM thankful to be homeschooling our boys!

Who wouldn't want to spend time with these 3!?!

Pisgah Edu. Center--Field Trip

WOW!!  What a great time we had with other homeschool families and just being outside in the beautiful weather and surroundings!  The drive to Pisgah Forest was absolutely breathtaking! I love that area anyway, but seeing the colors of the changing leaves, and them falling in front of us almost like it was snowing leaves...just beautiful!

The boys had a great time in the FREE classes offered by the Pisgah Educational Center...did I mention they are FREE! :) Lots of great info. and hands-on activities. For Noah's age group they first did a BB Gun class--safety and shooting. Then they did Archery, which was so much fun and I even got to participate! :)

Caleb's age first did a Wild Woodlands class, where we explored and hiked in the woods looking for different animals and habitats. Very fun and beautiful scenery! Then they learned about the fish hatchery--how they raise the fish and what they feed them, etc. Here's some fun pictures from our day of learning, exploring, and just enjoying God's beautiful creations!

Noah--3rd Grade                                      Caleb--1st Grade

Caleb looking at a salamander we found on our hunt!

Caleb touching a skull from a gray fox.

Noah perfecting his archery skills.

I hit the bulls eye first time! :)

Noah "killed" a bear with his bow!

Our Homeschool Group 
(Look at the colors of the leaves behind them...beautiful!)

This is why we homeschool! We can take an entire day and spend it with friends and still learn. What an awesome privilege to have this time with my children! Our "classroom" is wherever we want it to be, and we get to experience all of it together. I thank the Lord for the freedom to homeschool, and I also praise Him for providing for us to have this incredible opportunity and time with the boys.