A Year Full of Homeschool Firsts

This year has been a year of my firsts with our homeschooling adventures.

I now have two that I am homeschooling completely.  I gave my youngest a few things last year as a Kindergartener, but this year she is in first grade so she now has all subjects to learn.  Some are definitely on the smaller scale than my fifth grader but they are still on the weekly agenda.  This new task of planning has left me a little scatter-brained.  What do I have one kid working on while I work with the other?   What if a question arises and I can't stop what I'm doing to help?  I could go on but you get my point.

Our family also joined a local Christian homeschool co-op.  The girls take classes every Monday afternoon.   I love co-op for the girls.  Here's how it works for our group.  There are three sessions in each school year.  They take three classes each session plus physical education. They also schedule field trips and service projects.

Classes this session include:  Drawing/Painting, Apologetics, and Math/Logic.

The girls are loving it all.  But do you know what their favorite class is . . .

Math/Logic.

I think that is crazy.  Assigning math at home is a chore but they LOVE math/logic at co-op.

I'm totally bewildered by it but I'm am happy that they love it rather than dread it.

Plus, because homeschoolers are never socialized . . . . . .      ;P (Insert eye roll)   They get weekly socialization at co-op.

We also ventured in the world of some new curriculum choices this year.

So we are abundant in firsts for the 2011-2012 school year.

I must admit however that I have been so overwhelmed this year.    I currently wear the hats of wife, mother, homemaker, homeschooling mom, part-time church secretary, church WMU director, childrens' teacher on Wednesdays at church, plus I volunteer with other ministries at church, help take care of my mom, and try to find time to blog.

But it's the wonderful life that God has blessed me with and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

So, what hats do you wear?  Do you get overwhelmed by it all?



Homeschooling at the speed of life,

Kristie

The Homeschool Mother's Journal Week #1

 

This morning I sat and decided to join The Homeschool Chick for The Mother's Journal. 

I have seen this around blogs I visit and finally decided to join.


In my life this week…

I have been so completely frazzled.  I have been sleepy, cranky and unproductive.  I most definitely have not been the homemaker that I long to be.

In our homeschool this week…

I have been working on re-organizing our homeschool materials and preparing lessons.  However, with my life feeling so frazzled, it has been a hard journey this week.

I am inspired by…

Delightful Order.  Considering I am trying my hardest to get motivated and get my life in order for a new homeschool year, I have found so much inspiration in this blog.  I haven't necessarily implemented her idea but I have found refreshment in her posts.

Questions/thoughts I have…

What do other homeschooling moms do when they feel so frazzled?

Things I’m working on…

I am trying my harded to re-organized and simplify our life, home and homeschool.  I desire to place a better emphasis on God and "stuff" keeps getting in the way. 

I’m cooking…

more healthy dinners.  With my husband and myself attempting to get weight off and with a daughter on a low sodium diet, I have sought to prepare meals that are better for everyone.

I’m grateful for…

the opportunity to be at home with my children.  Despite the fact that some days I don't have the most patience, I am so grateful that I am the one teaching them and loving them throughout the day.  I am grateful that they are each others classmate. 


A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This is our paper stash in our school supply cabinet.  I am so glad that I decided to tackle this.  Now we are ready for finding everything for our school year.

I am so lazy!

I have been so underproductive today.  My poor sweet husband mowed out entire yard with a push mower.  Typically it is not such a hard task but with the speed of our life lately, he has not mowed in several weeks. Thus, the grass was waist high. 

Anyway, I have been L - A - Z - Y.  For some reason or another, I have not wanted to do a thing.

The only productivity today has been feeding the kiddos.

Trust me I so did not need to be lazy.  I have a mountain of laundry, clutter scattered around, not to mention homeschool planning to get done.

So, do you have days that you don't feel like doing anything?  What do you do to get motivated?

Serving Him at the speed of life,

Kristie

Changes Around Here!

I've been praying lately for direction. Alot of direction.

Everything in my life has been so chaotic that I have trouble with keeping track of everything.

You know the drill . . . appointments, errands, housework, family, kids, etc. The list goes on and on.

So I have been taking a sabbatical of sorts to calm myself down.  A timeout of sorts.

Our family will start a new school year on August 22nd, and as of now, I am so NOT prepared.  Call it ADD, OCD or any other combination of letters that seem to describe me lately, but I AM NOT on track!

This train has derailed so to speak.  Choo choo.......................



So, why am I rambling?  Well, I love blogs.  I love to read what other moms are doing that works in their homes, what doesn't work (so I feel a little more normal), and everything in between that moms want to share.

When  I first decided to blog, I wanted to focus on living frugally, but I find myself wanting to do add stuff besides just frugal tips.  So without further ado, I unveil a different perspective and name to my blog  . . . Quickly a Homemaker.

Now this has not been an easy thought process.  I decided to use a bit of a play on our family name (our last name is Quick), the decision for me to stay home (decided one night, resigned from my job the next day), and how life appears for my family (time flies). 

I plan on continuing to focus as much frugal "stuff" as I can; however, I am going to add homemaking "stuff", mom "stuff", homeschool "stuff" and quite honestly, anything else that I find helpful.

So, if you see awkward ramblings on this blog  please ignore or either use it if there is anything of value.

I am not deleting anything nor am I not going to post because "it doesn't fit" my main "topic". 

I am going to try to maintain some sort of composure to my posts, but at the same time, I  need to allow myself some more freedom.

The only thing that is not going to change around here is my focus on doing it all for Christ.

Serving Him at the speed of life,

Kristie Quick