Summer fun!

Ok, as I was downloading pics from my camera for the "first day of school" post I realized I never posted anything about our little vacation.  The kids and I a couple weeks ago spent about 5 days "camping" on my families property.  I say "camping" because my cousin graciously offered us the use of  her camper.  It was an awesome way to say good bye to the summer.  We had a blast just relaxing, swimming, and talking.  Here are a couple pics. 

First day of school!!!

It is the official first day of school.  It's 8 am and the kids are dressed in new outfits, new back packs and lunch bags in hand waiting for the big yellow bus to wisk them off to a land where adventures in learning await.  I sit here with tears in my eyes as my babies are about to leave for the day to grow up without me. . . . . . .ROFL!!!!  Well, ok most of that was a lie.  Public school hasn't started yet, but today is our first official day of school.  We started some stuff last week, today is more a change of mindset for myself.  In reality the kids are wearing regular old play clothes, even if they did "go" to school we would walk since the school is like 3 blocks away, and right now Patchy is riding his bike and Emmers is walking the dog.  It's supposed to be 90 today so I thought it would be a good idea to get their outdoor time now before it gets too hot and school work can be done later when we want to be in the nice air conditioned house. 

What we are going to be doing this year:  We are continuing FIAR, and Emmers will be taking on Beyond FIAR as well.  We are still signed up for T4L, but I'm not sure we will keep it.  I'm looking into other options for math (both)  and phonics for Patchy.  Patchy's first book will be Lentil, and Emmers is starting with The Boxcar Children.  (Which she has finished reading behind my back, lol.)   I haven't really worked out the schedule for doing both yet as I'm sure it will change as we do it.  They both are taking the homeschool class at the Toledo Zoo.  Emmers wants to sign up for ice skating class and Patchy wants to take karate.

Patchy on first day of K-1st grade. 

Emmers on first day of 3rd grade.

Failure

That is the only way to describe my attempts at writing a blog about homeschooling.  So maybe I should just give up. . .maybe I should broaden my scope. . .maybe I should get a more exciting life.  hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. 

Well, it's summer and we just got a pool, thanks to some close friends.  (Thank you, thank you!!!)  We went up to my family's a couple weeks ago and they offered to let us use their trailer on the lake.  The kids and I are going to go up for a week.  I'm so excited!!!  It's beautiful and quiet and I so need to get away.   Tomorrow we are going to the library to get books for the trip. 

When we get back I'm going to buckle back down with hs-ing. . .we've had a pretty unschooley summer.  I'm going to continue using with FIAR with Patch, and Emmers starts Beyond FIAR.  I'm sure she will still be participating in the activities we do for FIAR.   Back to what we've been doing. . .We've always been more on the unschool side of things and I'm still surprised at how much the kids learn without "formal" lessons.  Emmers still seems to be into math, and has for the most part caught up to where she should be (in school) on her own terms.  The kids did a lot of reading this summer.  Patch, is slowly progressing in that area.  He has hit the point where reading is no longer new and exciting so he just wants to be read to.  I'm trying to encourage him and keep him reading on a regular basis without aggravating him into not wanting to read.