Big Week Around Here

 

It was a big week around here. Late last week Joshua went to California with his cousin and his cousin's youth group to go to the beach and Magic Mtn. Joshua  was home for a few days and then went on a camping weekend with his youth group. This wasn't just a lets pull into a campsite and set up a tent camping. Oh no it was lets park, hike two miles on a side of a mountain to our camp spot. We will carry everything in, code for pack lite, tents optional. Let's just say I prayed a lot over the weekend! Definitely not my way to camp can we say motor home please. He came home safe, sound and stinky! He had a great time and the boys "bonded". I will stick with coffee and shopping!

 

Then over the weekend Savannah had try-outs for EVAC Volleyball and we have another EAGLE IN THE HOUSE!!!  Congrats to Savannah following in her big sis's steps. Junior High  volleyball here we come. I am back to driving to practices and hanging out. :)

And to top it off this great couple came and hung out with us for the weekend. It is so much fun when they come and stay. We play games, try new foods and have a great time just hanging out and relaxing!

Thank you Lord for keeping my family safe and giving us a great weekend to all come back together and celebrate!

Birthday

The middle of our 2nd week and it was time to take a day off!  :)  Birthdays are always a big deal around here!  My Lexilulu turned 11 today!

Here is our first picture of the day taken at 7:26 am (on 7/26). Out of the 6 she is the only kid I remember the exact time, I would have to look the others up. Scheduled c-section started at 7 she was out at 7:26 and it was July 26. Can't forget that one!  

This year I treated each girl to a pedi and of course a Starbucks. It was a win for me too!  This was Alexa's first one ever. So much fun being spoiled.

Then she wanted to go to the mall with Jay and I and out to lunch at the Perch. While at the mall she finally got her ear's pierced. The older 2 girls got their's done when they were 5 but Alexa has no pain tolerance. I think it was good for her to wait and she was very surprised and said it didn't hurt. She picked some pretty cross earrings and it very excited!

Next up was lunch at the Perch. What a neat little restaurant! We definitely need to go back when the weather is cooler. They are a restaurant and they rescue birds. Right up Alexa's alley!

Even though they have long passed the ages 3,2,1 and now even 10,9,8; for the next two months they are once again my rocket ship....13, 12,11.

Alexa doesn't really like our traditional giant cookie or cake and because the weather is so hot we opted for fruit and stuck candles in a watermelon. She loved it!!  Then it was time for youth group. Tonight was the first night back, after a 5 week summer break, and Alexa is now officially part of it.

 My Christ loving, crazy, wonderful, full of energy, great sense of humor, loving, hugging, tell you how it is, sweet Alexa......Happy Birthday!!!

Second Week

         Getting ready to start our 2nd week and already a BIG change of plans. We are adding 2 more students to our Planted Oaks Academy!! My sis-in-law is moving to Arizona with my niece and nephew and are goin to live with us for  a little while. She asked if I would help her homeschool them.  So crazy weekend of scheduling and trying to get it to all work out. My schedule looks like one big jigsaw puzzle but I think it will work.  They have always attended school but are looking forward to homeschooling.

  

 

Our First Week Back

        One of the benefits of starting school back in July is it gives us a few solid weeks before all of our other extra curricular activities start up. So it was a pretty quiet week at home and we were able to follow our schedule and make tweaks as necessary. Not too many pictures just busy teaching and learning. Joshua is doing really well with his new classes and block schedule. He really seems to like foundations and it is teaching him about his learning styles..
       The younger ones are enjoying science and history. Lots of fun experiments and hands on activities. Jadon and Natasha were pretty excited their math books didn't come in until Friday. They just did timed tests all week.  I have started a book club for Savannah and Alexa this year. So for reading we are reading the first book in it From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I think the nicest thing has been finishing everyday by 2 or 2:30. I am really glad about that because as soon as sports start up we will probably be leaving by 3:00.  Over all I think it was a good first week back with minor distractions. This next week we are working on them taking turns prepping snacks and lunch. :)
          I only have a few pictures. Friday we did several science experiments learning about matter and density.

Personal Bible study

For my own personal Bible study I am using an app on my phone called First 5. I am really enjoying it mainly because I have been able to stick with it! You can set alarms from the app. Mine is set at 7am. If I am up before it goes off I can make some coffee and sit at the table by myself and read it. Otherwise I just lay in bed and read it that works too! It is a simple for meaningful plan to follow and it get me in the Word first thing each morning which has not always been the case.

I am sharing this because I was reminded once again how God is in the details! This current study is in Ruth, Esther and Song of Songs. Monday was our first day of school and Monday's Bible study was in Esther. It was 9:20-32. After the scripture reading there is always a short devotional. Reading through the devotional one of the other verses they tied in was Isaiah 61:1-3.  Look at the top of my blog!!  That verse is our school verse! Of all the verses to be used in connection with the study today. I just felt peace and comfort of God talking to me about our first day back to school.  How cool is that!!  You should go check out this devotional and join in if you don't have one you are currently using.

First day of school

 We have O'fish'ally started back to school today!  :)   The kids were actually pretty excited to start back today (we shall see how long it lasts). 

 The kids were looking forward to breakfast and to see how I decorated the table.  I wanted to make it special for our first day. I looked up some table settings on pinterest and then on Saturday I happened to go by Target and struck gold. In the dollar section there were so many cute back to school decorations. There were even $3.00 fidget spinners!

 The Smartie container says: "Have a great first day Smartie Pants" and the gold fish says: "You are O'fish'ally back in school".

 They each had some new notebooks, a fidget spinner and a pack of gum in their seats.

We had oatmeal bake for breakfast and then we were ready to get started!

 Joshua is on a block schedule. We started it at the end of last year and it works really well for him. He stays on track and more focused.

 

Curriculum for the othe 4

 

The other 4 kids pretty much all use the same curriculum just at different levels. So here is what we are doing this year.


   I LOVE this curriculum!! At the homeschool convention last year I bought the cd of both the Old and New Testament. I print off as needed. Last year we completed about 9 books of the Bible. So I have 9 more planned for this year. We spend the first 30 minutes of each day working on our coloring pages, I even do one myself. It keeps all the kids engaged and we are learning a lot.

 This year I have switched everyone over to Math U See. I was using Horizon but was having to switch at Pre- Algebra anyways so everyone switched this year. We are using Beta, Gama, Delta and Epsilon. I love the video lessons and how quickly the kids can move through it.

   For Science we are going to attempt to do two this year. Savannah really wanted to do the Chemistry and Physics before going into Physical Science next year and we are do Ocean creatures in a co-op. That co-op won't start till October so we are trying to get through a lot of the Chemistry book before then. I am excited to do both they both seem to have a lot of fun experiments and hands on activities.



For History this year we are starting with Arizona State History and actually doing this with Joshua as well (just upping the assignments for him). I found these little booklets at Lakeshore learning and I really like it. Then we will either continue with Mystery of History or do a geography unit on the world and cultures. I haven't decided yet.



  For Reading and Language we are continuing to use Easy Peasy. I really like it for it's simplicity but thoroughness and how it teaches the writing process.  Each kid is at their own level.  We are also using EP for Art and Thinking games this year. I think the kids will really like it.






For Spelling we are continuing with All About Spelling. With having some struggling spellers and readers I really like this program. It is sequential and logical and teaches the rules not just a spelling list to memorize.


Now the kids will also have co-op and book club to round out our year. So here we go with a 2nd, 4th, 6th and a 7th grader!!