January 2014 Review - Mom's a Proud Mom!

Ok - I admit it - Today's post is about things I'm proud of my children about - plain and simple...

Back Row -  Delta, Foxtrot, Echo.  Front Row - Golf  - See our new eReader!

As you know if you read my blog, our family is very active in Scouting.  A part of that involves doing fundraising.  This Fall we participated in selling Scout Popcorn - which we did as a family.  We were fortunate to have sold enough popcorn, not only to help fund our scouting program, but to be entered into some draws for awards.  Christmas Eve I received a phone call that Foxtrot had won a Kobo eReader - which is working out nicely for our little homeschool.  I was proud of all the hard work they had done, and happy that they got a little 'extra' out of it.

Then in January Echo was baptized.  It is so hard to think that another child is already 8!  I was quite proud that she had decided she wanted to be baptized.

Echo's Baptism Day

I had another proud moment one day when we were doing math.  Echo is working on Fractions, and as such is using the Fraction chart/puzzle.  Well, Golf was right there like white on rice....  and boy, she is good at puzzles... she was finding the right fractions and putting them in the right spots for Echo.  I suspect Golf will enjoy math... every school day she asks to do a "practice sheet" (for her, just drawing on the white board) - and to sing "Yellow is the sun"....    I was also proud with the patience Echo was showing on letting Golf do the puzzle with her.

Echo and Golf

And then this month with just a little 'poking' Delta finished up the requirements for a few more Awards in Cubs.  There are 10 Awards (when you include the World Conservation Award and Religion in Life Award) - and now Delta has earned all 10.  He earned his 6 star award last year (which has a plaque to recognize this accomplishment) - but each of the Cub Awards require a star, generally a few badges from that activity area, and a few more requirements.   There are a few more badges that Delta will probably earn (there are a couple he doesn't have planned for the pack to earn together yet) - but he is now eyeing the scout program.  He will officially move up to scouts in a couple of months - probably April - and can attend some of their meetings now as well.  

Delta in his Cub Uniform - all Awards

 This last month has been very busy - and a few things have been difficult - but it has been a month with my kids doing things that would make any mother proud!

Month in Review

Golf, Foxtrot, Echo - and I believe Delta is behind Foxtrot in such a way you can't see him...

Ok - I have to say - September has been a hard month.  Because I was sick in August and the beginning of September, we started later than I planned.  We did a few days - and I sank into a depression so we stopped for another week.  (I'm out of the depression...)

The kids are doing pretty well at doing their schoolwork - but we aren't doing a day's work in a day.  Of course, with AO being so rich, it isn't necessarily a big problem, and we are plugging along - but I'm getting discouraged.  We aren't doing the AO Bible readings - but we haven't started the "Discovering the Scriptures" either.  Only Foxtrot is doing any copywork (she is learning letters.)  We haven't started poetry - nor have we started the science course by Dr. Wile.    Violin practice?  stopped again when I got sick, and hasn't restarted.

On the other hand, we are getting great things done.  The AO readings are going well - and are being enjoyed. Spelling is coming along.  Math and reading practice is going well.

I just hate feeling like we are doing so much - and missing out on extra time for projects etc.  Each of the kids still need a lot of my help (even with audio books).

I have been considering changing - to Easy Peasy Homeschool.  It is setup to be pretty independent once the child is reading fairly well.  It seems to take a bit less time - and people are reporting good results.  Mike said go ahead and try it.....

BUT - it is a total change in style.  It does use some really good books - but it also is a lot more "edutainment" - learning with games, cute videos, etc.  Also - I still want to do history chronologically, and need to replace US history with the Canadian.   Plus - I still like RightStart Math, All About Spelling, and Dr. Wile's science books.   And if the kids are liking most of their school books anyway - well I haven't tried changing.

I just need to figure out how to make this work this year.