First week of homeschool in the books...

And we made it!  Friday, first week (4 days) of homeschool in the books!

Some quotes from this week...

Yes most came from Peyton because lately he is just not at a loss for words.  Guess his sister is rubbing off on him...

**Wednesday morning (I had been up until about 1:00am - too much buzzing in my mind) so I was a little slow dragging out of bed.  P comes in and says "are you gonna get up?" only about 10 times.  He finally says "can I turn on the TV?" and  I thought "well sure, then I can have just few more minutes to close my eyes" When what felt like 2 minutes later, I hear (yelling) from the living room "IT'S TIME TO START, 8:00!"  I sat straight up in bed! 
So he woke Jaedyn up and she drug herself out of bed, got her clothes on, brushed her teeth, and meandered her way to the table to work. Peyton already had all of her things as well as his out on the table with school supplies, etc. ready to go! :)  I got them started and proceeded to take a shower and *try* to get ready.  Peyton came in while I was putting on my makeup in the bathroom and said "Are you even gonna BE the teacher today?"  So funny.  I love that he has been a go-getter all week.  But I do feel a little like the sheep being herded by a very small shepherd.  :) 
While I did my hair as quickly as possible, I told him to get a book and read it and we would discuss it after I was done.  He picked "This Little Prayer of Mine". I was so pleased.  He brought it to me and said "hey mom, this is a Christian book!"  It was talking about Jesus and he realized that it was a "Christian" book.  Love it! 

He has had to look up 3-4 verses per day as his curriculum uses scripture to teach reading, grammar, writing skills, etc.  So he announces every time "gotta get my Bible, time to look up scripture". 

Jaedyn's curriculum is pretty hard but she is enjoying it.  She is doing a book study on a chapter book, learning about earthquakes and volcanos (and looking forward to making a volcano with Daddy this next week), reviewing some math concepts from last year, and beginning her art program.  She has had a few moments where she feels "weird" she says.  She has gone to some sort of school since she was 2 years old (from Kings Kids, to PreK, to Elementary school) so she feels like she should be somewhere.  She has always had every moment of her day planned.  She is getting used to it but I keep it more structured for her and she wants that challenge.  She is helping to plan her own lessons which I love.  We will be doing a unit this week on September 11 attacks and Patriot Day.  So excited! 

**Jaedyn said this week "Can we make cinnamon rolls for breakfast?  I would never get to have breakfast at 9:00 or eat cinnamon rolls while I am working at public school". Guess it is the little things. 
Me - "Jaedyn what do you like about homeschool?" J - "I like that we get done earlier and I like that we learn the truth based on the Bible.  I can connect so much of this to what we are learning in church".

**Peyton has also been heard this week saying...
 "I like homeschool because you can get out of your chair and you can go to the bathroom whenever you want".
"I like being done with all my work by lunchtime"
"This stuff is too easy" (I took it easy on them both this week to get their feet wet in this new experience.) So each morning as he wakes me up he says "Mom is today the day I get the hard stuff?" Love it!
"Mom, can I do some more work in this book during my free time?" Hello, what? Um, did I hear you right?
"Mom, I can say all the New Testament Books of the Bible in order".  After doing bible drill one day Peyton sat quietly on the couch and said them over and over.  Just decided he wanted to do it.  Within a few minutes he said them several times in a row, to Lyndsy when we met her for "recess", and again to Daddy last night.  Love that he is challenging himself.

Today was Homeschool Skate Day in Waco.  We wanted to go to have the kids meet some new friends and become part of the Waco Christian Homeschool group. 
The kids enjoyed it.  Made a few new friends, Peyton's first time to skate, and found out about a field trip to KWTX news station next week where we get a behind-the- scenes tour and watch how they produce the news at the station.  Too cool! 

We have set up a schedule to have recess  with Gage twice a week.  That was a hit! 

I know this seems like a rambling post but really since I am using this blog as a sort of journal of our lives (when I keep it up) I wanted all the things I remember about this week in hard copy so I don't forget these feelings and experiences. 

Things that pleased my heart this week...
*I LOVED being with my kids every single minute this week.  We bonded even more, we kept our attitudes in check, we worked together to learn, and there was less arguing amongst Jaedyn and Peyton.  Since we are together so much, you might as well just get along!

*I am their primary teacher.  I can teach them morals, Christian beliefs, manners, discipline, integrity, honesty, academics as a part of our Christian heritage, and really tap into their interests and teach based on those.  I know I can teach all those things in the evenings as their parent as God would have me do when they come home from public school.  But I get to do that all day and there is more teaching than correcting.  Sure they misbehave but I feel like what I do now as a parent is more in line with what God wants from me and our family. I am on the proactive side instead of the reactive side to their learning, attitudes, and actions.  I feel at peace being mother, teacher, wife, and Christian.  I have been so swamped this week but I also have had a peace that I know only God can give me!

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support! (and thanks if you made it this far in this post.  It was mainly for me!:)