Emmett at 1

I have cried 5 times this week. I really don't know why these kids keep growing.

Emmett is a cheerful guy

he loves trucks, cars and trains.

he adores the water.

his eyes are big and blue, hair blonde and messy, smile wide and mischevious

he always wants to play!

can throw like a champ,

can throw a fit like a champ to.

can be emotional.

gets embarrassed easy.

smiles, smiles, smile!

runs all over

has all his teeth including his molars

climbs everything

says momma dadda car etc.

points to whatever he wants then to himself when he wants something

loud loud loud loud loud!

Emmett this past year had been one of my favorites. Watching your develop the full and fun personality has made me excited for the years that come! there will not be many dull moments with you around and this house will be full of your laughter and  love! The twinkle in your eye, the deepness of your laughter and your humor remind me of your dad! I love you!

Your mommy

pulling it together

That is what I feel like I am constantly doing with my childrens education...


Pulling together resources
Pulling together supplies
pulling together our days
Pulling together myself


















Homeschooling is a very hands on process and one that if left to run rampant in a "planners" mind can be all consuming.

This year is sooo much different than last year I understand

my abilities
my teaching style
my limits

their abilities
their learning styles
their limits

Last year

I thought workbooks were the thing for us..... every subject had a workbook. I realized quickly not our thing. All except our math book remain blank uncompleted. The math is only partially completed. It will be used again for the first month 1/2 this year.

My teaching style leans heavily towards unschooling and literature based learning....

What does that mean for us?

A weekly trip to the library allows us to pick out books on the specific subjects planned for that week. Which i read to the whole group. they grasp what they are able.( earth science, early world history, poetry, fairy tales, fables, tall tales. etc)

Netflix supplies corresponding movies/ tv shows.

The car allows us to listen to chapter books. (this year Anne of Green Gables, Little House in the Big Woods, Peter Pan etc..)

Projects and trips are what kept me sane. Games were a large part of our learning.

Art was an exploration of materials. I provided the materials they explored.

Since this is longer than I planned next post will be about next year!!!!

journey!

                                                     Holly and Becky Long Island 2010

Years (yes it has been years) Holly and i started an amazing journey together. We were in search for a happiness that comes from a healthy lifestyle. We were not looking to become skinny but a happy healthy.

Yesterday i reached a level of happiness over our healthy lifestyle I had never imagined.

It all started 6 months ago when i shared the story at church of God repeatedly calling me to become healthy and how good it felt to follow that calling after years of ignoring him. i explained the joys i had received from being obedient. I was not sure anyone was listening or if they cared. Really i was wondering if they even believed that God had called me to make a change. about two weeks later the leader of the bible study came to me SHE had been listening and she wanted to make a change.I invited her to come workout with me. It took a while but yesterday she did!  God used me! me!!! little old me- to make a change- to share my story- to encourage another-all in His name! Here is her blog that had me in tears (I have been where she was yesterday morning and God gave me Holly!)

http://melissahappyplace.blogspot.com/2012/07/change-is-hard-god-is-good.html

We worked out again today!
We will tomorrow too!
What a journey!
With old friends and new friends and friends I have yet to meet!