handsful

This weekend, we all piled in the van and pointed it toward the NC Homeschool conference in Winston-Salem. With the exception of our years in FL (where we attended the FL conference), we’ve been to this one every year since our homeschooling years began back in 2001.

I remember that first conference well. Walking into the HUGE book fair with miles and miles (well, maybe I’m exaggerating) of tables full of colorful books, curriculum, and manipulatives, etc. I stared at my veteran-homeschooling sister-in-law and begged her to just tell us what to buy for our rising kindergartner! Seems like eons ago…

Most of the time, we only stay one night. This year, because the big kids were volunteering in the Children’s Conference going on during our conference, we stayed both Thursday and Friday nights (they had to report for duty EARLY both mornings…). And, because Lainey and Dylan were participants in the children’s conference, Randy and I were able to spend tons of time in wonderful workshops, hearing great speakers enlighten and encourage us in this homeschooling journey. Not to mention, the book fair…where everything looks great and the temptation to buy it all can be overwhelming!

One part of the conference we really enjoy is catching up with old friends. Friends like Val, Shelley, Julie, Rebecca, Terri…ladies that I’ve known since before I even had kids. Then, when we began starting our families, we began homeschooling them together. Our first co-op was known as “His Kids” and we met at Shelley’s house with all of our preschool aged kids and babies. The picture above is our kids posing with some of their “old” friends – since baby-hood. We watching parenting videos while Abbey and the boy beside her played on the carpet :)

This year was very different for the big kids…they had jobs to do. Report for duty before 8am each day, and work a VBS-type program with the younger kids…they worked hard, were wiped out by the end of it, but loved (most) every minute of it. The program director (above in the white shirt) is already campaigning for them to help out with a conference in SC. They made a great impression and that makes us very proud.

A fellow volunteer that Abbey became friends with…they’re both loud and crazy, so they got along swimmingly. And, are now FB friends, of course.

Once we arrived home on Saturday, we all sat in the living room and went through everything that we purchased. We’re excited about a worldview curriculum from Summit Ministries (www.summit.org), a DVD program on God’s view of economics, and a DVD series called “Do the Right Thing” by Chuck Colson. We also bought reading and math work for the littles, devotionals for the guys and girls, a cookbook and book on homesteading (gotta learn how to can veggies!), SAT vocabulary and math prep books, books for pleasure reading, pattern blocks and cards for the littles, etc etc! Some things we’ll begin using a little this summer, most is for the fall.

Homeschooling year 11 is almost under our belts. When we began, we had no plans to continue through high school…not that we weren’t open to it, it’s just that we were taking it one year at a time. Here we are now, with a rising 11th and rising 9th graders (not to mention rising 1st and K). It’s not always been easy, and we’ve had trying years, especially those when we’ve moved. But, it’s still the best decision for our family. So far so good :)

Pics from last Saturday’s homeschool dance…

We only did a little bit of posing before we left. And, it had to be inside (which explains the terrible lighting), because it was FRIGID outside and the wind was blowing at near hurricane speed. Well, it felt like it.

The trips with their friends, Ethan (yes, another Ethan…) and Kylie

Getting the giggles…

Then, we brought them all together (Abbey had gotten dressed at her friend’s house) for a shot. We took about a dozen, this was the best of the bunch.

Some of their friends were running late, so we missed getting their picture. I’ve emailed the gals in charge of the dance, to see if they’ll share the pictures they got during the dance. Can’t wait to see those! Maybe I’ll share a few…

One last one..

Happy Valentine’s Day :)

Homeschooling has a lot of pros and one of them came in handy today.

Flexibility.

Marley and I…along with my friend Kelley, her daughter Kylie, and two of the girls friends Brielle and Kayla…snuck away for a day.

Never heard of it? Half lodge, half crazy water park. We purchased discounted day tickets for homeschoolers and spent the day doing what we both love.

Marley kept herself busy with water slides, swimming, and more water slides.

I sat in a chair and read a book. For longer than 12 minutes uninterrupted. And, had a conversation with another adult. For longer than 12 minutes uninterrupted. We also walked around and took pictures and browsed the gift shop. It was a slice of heaven. Oh, and I never even got wet….Marley thinks I wasted the entire day!

Sorry, no pictures of us boring adults. If you saw my FB status, you know that I wasn’t very picture worthy today.

Silly girls.

Really silly.

I finally dragged her away, only barely convincing her that 7 hours at the water park was plenty. She responded by falling asleep on the chair soon after we arrived home.

It was a great day.

Our new homeschool co-op is giving the kids a true taste of “real school”. The trips middle school American History class is WONDERFUL – and I’m fortunate enough to be an assistant in it. The teacher, my friend Holly, absolutely makes history fun and interesting. So much more than just facts and dates.

She challenged the kids to come up with topics for their presentations that went deeper than just what they’re studying (post civil war, westward migration, by the way) and find topics that enhance / tell more about the time period.

Payton chose the World’s Columbian Exposition…better known as the Chicago’s World’s Fair. He decided to incorporate his love of cartooning (along with his signature character “Harry the Stick Dude”) into the presentation. Payton likes being in front of crowds (like his dad), and loved the attention.

Ethan, being the tech-lover guy, immediately wanted to try his first power pt on the computer…he did all the research and notes, and Randy helped him put it all together. He was a little nervous, but did just fine.

Next week, it’s Marley’s turn. She’s like me…would rather have a stick in her eye than stand up and talk in front of others.

Oh, and did I mention? It’s also our turn to lead the morning devotion for the whole group. Praying on that one already.

It’s all good, for all of us. Getting out of our comfort zones can only bring benefit…nothing is wasted with God.

I’m proud of the effort that my kids are putting into co-op…it’s definitely been a challenge to find our rhythm with the schedule and homework, but I think we’re (almost) there. Being up with the birds and in “school” for 5 1/2 hours for ONE day a week further confirms that I’m happy with homeschooling :)

The title? This is the line-up of grades this year at the Generations Christian Academy. What a range! Can I DO algebra one minute and colors the next?! My brain could seriously explode. Or, at least feel a little woozy.

We began our school year last Wednesday, with the first day at our new homeschool co-op, Pathway. If I was on top of things, I would have gotten a picture. But, given I had to get 6 kids out of the house before 8am…I totally forgot about the camera. But, the good news is they had all of their books, lunches, and shoes. Makes me glad our co-op is only ONE day a week.

Co-op is going to be great…all the kids enjoyed their classes (all core classes, writing, history and science) and I loved my work assignments. I help in the nursery first hour, have the next hour free (which I spend some with the trips, helping them memorize books of the bible and timeline cards), assist with the middle school history class 3rd hour, and then do story-time in Lainey and Dylan’s class. Which, incidentally, only has 1 other student besides my two. Our co-op has about 30 families involved, so it’s big enough to have good class sizes (the science class for middle and lower high school grades has about 20 kids in it) but it’s small enough for the kids to build relationships with each other. Love it.

So, because I was a slacker and didn’t get 1st day co-op pics, here are a few from the next couple of days…

In her favorite red chair, reading up on post civil-war history.

Payton’s nemesis…math.

Back to history…

Ethan working on a typing CD

The newest students at our academy…Lainey works on writing and numbers, and Dylan practices his lines.

Here’s to our new year…may God direct our learning as always!

having parents that will take time to watch the littles, so we could take the bigs with us.  their willingness to bring  those littles back to us later, so they could enjoy some of the conference with us.

listening to God-gifted speakers, as they share what’s on their hearts for all us homeschool moms and dads, and teens.  being encouraged to continue doing what we do, always with God’s grace.

having a husband get just as excited as I do, as we plan our next year’s schooling.

finding a way to cart around all those book fair finds.

and, having fun filling it up.

running into lots of old friends, some we’ve not seen in years.

seeing new friends that we’ve made this past year.  last year at conference, we didn’t know a soul.

watching our kids (well, at least some of them) find new books to read this summer.

taking time to find some fun things for them, as well.  (the slingshot, survival knife, and rainbow light are still up in the sleeping kids bedrooms!)

receiving a handful of brochures that Abbey collected at the college fair.  buying SAT practice manual.  three years to go.

realizing I didn’t get to see or buy all the things we need for next year, because we spent too much time talking to friends.  not regretting that in the least.  being thankful for internet shopping.

letting the bigs go out to dinner with their cousins.  all by themselves.  taking the littles to meet Tony and Dee Dee for dinner….enjoying the food, conversation and laughter.  that glass of wine was nice, too.

somehow timing it just right to avoid the huge downpouring of rain as we walked to the restaurant.

sleeping in the van on the way home.

Thursday night, our big kids were part of the year end celebration show for…

This was their first year taking part in the Student Council, where they’re learning how to become leaders and servants that glorify God.  It’s been a fabulous year of service projects, instruction, fellowship, and fun.

The show had a little of everything.

Scripture

Dance

Skits….

very funny skits.

and, some very meaningful skits.

the littles were in childcare, so they missed the show.  But, they sure did enjoy the ice cream social afterwards.

Dylan, who usually refuses ice cream, ate the whole cup.

It was a wonderful night, and the kids are already looking forward to the fall, when Leadership Link begins again.