our new fall schedule ....

As you can tell by lack of blog posts, 

it's taking me quite a while to get into our new "school-year" routine. 

Life seems SO BUSY, and I can't get a "moment in edgewise"

to sit down at the computer and journal our life. For all of you who

have missed hearing from me, I apologize. (wink. wink.) 

Our summer weather. It just keeps going and going and going. 

Truly, I'm shocked each morning the pastor pulls up the bedroom

blinds and the skies are blue. I here that a number of summers ago,

this weather went on throughout September .... but it's October now 

(how can it be??) and it continues. SURELY, we've beat some

record, .....or something!! 

I'll take all the sun our good Lord will give us.

 These pics were taken the second week back into school. We had to clear

out of the house for our carpets to be cleaned, so we hit the beach. 

..... and stayed most all day.

Soaking in the sun, the beautiful water,

and all the glorious outdoor sights and sounds. 

I guess I should have carted all our books with us, but alas, I didn't. 

So we just rested and played.  

 Our schedule is SO busy this year, so I'm glad we had this last, care-free day.

Ellie and Toby are both in soccer. Practice 2x a week and games on Saturday,

for both. And Abby has her weekly Irish dancing lesson. 

How frustrating it is to me that all these practices seem to be right during

the dinner hour. As a result, we are eating so late! 

I'm so thankful my dear husband can help me with transportation.

..... or I would be a crazy person!!

 The rhythm of our school week this year, is home Monday - Wednesday,

then more "formal" classroom settings on Thursday and Friday. 

A gal, who has REALLY been an immense blessing to me,

teaches my kids Latin, literature, and grammar on Thursdays. 

I take the younger children to another home in the a.m. and they have

two classes, taught by this lady, with about 8 other kids. 

Then, in the afternoon, we come back here and it's the older kids' turn. 

They have Latin class with two other kids, then 8 more come 

for Literature class. I love that we are making new friendships,

and I love being able to use our home for this!! 

 Fridays, we've joined a homeschooling co-op, which we have now been to twice. 

It's been an adjustment for the little ones to have to actually wake up at a given time,

get dressed, eat breakfast, and LEAVE for school. Welcome to real life kids!
Needless to say, we've had a few tears. 

Over all though, its been wonderful. Ellie is taking creative writing and physical science classes.

Drew, geography and scientific method classes. 

Abby has three: Bible Discovery, geography, and literature pockets.

And Whit and Toby take all of theirs together:

Social Studies, Bible Theatre, and Wiggle time. 

So, there you have it. Our "outside the home" activities for the year!!! 

After the two days of co-op, and then usually busy weekends,

my introverted self is more than happy to stay home Monday - Wednesday. 

I try hard, for my sanity,  to keep those days somewhat calm. 

I can see already how the Lord is going to use our schedule for His glory.

And how the kids are going to benefit and grow from

new relationships, and these more "formal" classroom settings.
It has been such a slow process to build

friendships for them the past two years. I'm hopeful that

these opportunities will open many new doors ....
and I'm loving the outside help I'm receiving, to educate my kids.
The Lord is good.