August has just flown by so many things happening....
August 6th...Happy Birthday Mom! Mom and Dad treated us to a trip to Idlewild for mom's birthday. Lots of fun!
August 11th...Welcome to the world, my precious little niece. We love you sooo much.
6 lbs. 3 oz., Bryan and Megan welcome to parenthood, these are the best times of your life!
August 17th...Happy Birthday Babe! Greg had his 34th birthday, we had a fun day baking a cake and shopping for and making a special homemade dinner.
Augugst 17th...Our first day of homeschool! Welcome to K4 Miss Alaynna and to K5 Mr. Zachary. We are still waiting on our PA Cyber Curriculum but I have been making our own so far and we have all enjoyed it.
August 24th...Daddy went back to work...yeah!..now I can slow down my work schedule and be at home more.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Happy Birthday Alaynna Brooklynne
Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are now 4!...
"That means I can be 5 next!".....
NOT SO FAST LITTLE ONE!
Laynna woke a little groggy, took her a little bit to remember it was her BIRTHDAY! But trust me she came around.
"Is it time for my party yet? What numbers have to be on the clock." " Mama is my new clothes done yet?" (I made her a new outfit to wear for her little party) "How many is coming?" "Will they think I'm beautiful and lovely in my new clothes?".....4 going on 14! How many times did I put the butterfly in her short choppy hair? I have know clue!
Honestly Zach was just as bad, with "What numbers have be on the clock for people to come?"
We had a great day, she got lots of clothes(a lovely outfit that matched from head to toe from Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mark), a few purses, a blanket from Aunt Megan and Uncle Bud(Aunt Megan made it), and a BARBIE JEEP from Mama and Papa!
Okay...the Jeep...She loves it...she is a wild woman...it has to be in HIGH gear at all times...and she slams it into reverse...while traveling at a HIGH rate of speed....giving Bean whiplash. Too Funny! Okay maybe 4 going on 16?!
Happy Birthday Boo! We love you so much!
Thank you Lord for our precious angel #2! Help us keep her growing strong and healthy!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Why are we homeschooling?
Here are two reasons of many….but the ones I feel stronly about...
1. Because homeschooling strengthens and nurtures our family.
As it is perfectly put in The Homeschooling Option…
“In a fast –paced culture that often pulls family members in different directions, homeschooler have more time to live as a family rather than as roommates, chauffeurs, and passengers. Strong family relationships require, above all else, time – and time is the one thing over which families today feel they have little control.”…… “Not just our schools and our children, but our entire culture is caffeinated, running at full speed so as not to miss anything or fall behind. It’s as though we are on a merry-go-round, going faster and faster, and we are hanging on for dear life as life blurs around us.” …. “Families on this merry-go-round often feel trapped, with no way to get off without sacrificing income, being unfair to one or more children by not offering each of them the same opportunities as their siblings, or feeling guilty for not helping their children live up to their potential. There is little time to catch one’s breath, much less see things clearly enough to know if anything should be changed. Something is wrong with the pace of our daily lives when we need magazine articles and news reports to show us how to make time to be with our own children, how to eat together, how to schedule family time.”… “Homeschooling offers a way off the merry-go-round. We simply step off. In time the world stops spinning and we can see life, education, and our children more clearly. …Homeschooling is about families being happier and less stressed, about getting to know each other and learning to live together….children can still be well educated and successful; they’ll just have more fun and be healthier doing so.”
I couldn’t have said that any better myself.
2.Because all of our children’s needs are worthy of special attention. My child does not become a number, a paycheck to a teacher or administrator. Yes, there are many caring teachers out there that love their job and their students (some are very close family members of ours), but….do they love and care for my child, their wellbeing and education as much as I do? No, how could they, that is not even possible. Only I and my husband can care that much for our children and their education, and futures. Do I want my child to struggle along just getting by academically, hiding it from me out of shame. Struggling until a “C” or “D” comes home on a report card, still having not been notified by his teacher that there is a problem, because his problem is just one of 25 or 30 others. This is me speaking in experience, not with my children but of myself in junior and senior high…both in the private and public school systems. Sliding by through one semester to another, promising to do better next time, when what was need was some special attention on a subject, some individual help, and not being allowed to slip through the cracks of a organized, socialized education system.
We do not feel strongly that all families should homeschool, just ours. Because it is our decision to make, this is what we feel is best for our family at this time. Our children and our family are the only ones that we are free to make that decision for, as we are the only one free to make the decision for our family.
Yes, many wonderful, caring, intelligent and educated persons have come out of both public and private school systems. But, then again many wonderful, caring, intelligent and educated people are the result of homeschooling….just look at me.
1. Because homeschooling strengthens and nurtures our family.
As it is perfectly put in The Homeschooling Option…
“In a fast –paced culture that often pulls family members in different directions, homeschooler have more time to live as a family rather than as roommates, chauffeurs, and passengers. Strong family relationships require, above all else, time – and time is the one thing over which families today feel they have little control.”…… “Not just our schools and our children, but our entire culture is caffeinated, running at full speed so as not to miss anything or fall behind. It’s as though we are on a merry-go-round, going faster and faster, and we are hanging on for dear life as life blurs around us.” …. “Families on this merry-go-round often feel trapped, with no way to get off without sacrificing income, being unfair to one or more children by not offering each of them the same opportunities as their siblings, or feeling guilty for not helping their children live up to their potential. There is little time to catch one’s breath, much less see things clearly enough to know if anything should be changed. Something is wrong with the pace of our daily lives when we need magazine articles and news reports to show us how to make time to be with our own children, how to eat together, how to schedule family time.”… “Homeschooling offers a way off the merry-go-round. We simply step off. In time the world stops spinning and we can see life, education, and our children more clearly. …Homeschooling is about families being happier and less stressed, about getting to know each other and learning to live together….children can still be well educated and successful; they’ll just have more fun and be healthier doing so.”
I couldn’t have said that any better myself.
2.Because all of our children’s needs are worthy of special attention. My child does not become a number, a paycheck to a teacher or administrator. Yes, there are many caring teachers out there that love their job and their students (some are very close family members of ours), but….do they love and care for my child, their wellbeing and education as much as I do? No, how could they, that is not even possible. Only I and my husband can care that much for our children and their education, and futures. Do I want my child to struggle along just getting by academically, hiding it from me out of shame. Struggling until a “C” or “D” comes home on a report card, still having not been notified by his teacher that there is a problem, because his problem is just one of 25 or 30 others. This is me speaking in experience, not with my children but of myself in junior and senior high…both in the private and public school systems. Sliding by through one semester to another, promising to do better next time, when what was need was some special attention on a subject, some individual help, and not being allowed to slip through the cracks of a organized, socialized education system.
We do not feel strongly that all families should homeschool, just ours. Because it is our decision to make, this is what we feel is best for our family at this time. Our children and our family are the only ones that we are free to make that decision for, as we are the only one free to make the decision for our family.
Yes, many wonderful, caring, intelligent and educated persons have come out of both public and private school systems. But, then again many wonderful, caring, intelligent and educated people are the result of homeschooling….just look at me.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Christmas In July
Ok, so I'm new to this blogging thing, I'm not the most "techy" person but it seems to be a great way to keep friends and family updated, in this crazy fast paced world.
July 2009! Its here already, I can't believe it! Some days seem to race by and other have just crawled by with too much time to think on things. This month has started out with a bang, literally we had a nice picnic at mom and dad's on Saturday. Dad set off fireworks and we all enjoyed it. Alaynna was in her booster on the way home a in a sleepy little voice we heard, "it was a beautiful day, wasn't it". She was right, thanks Papa it WAS a beautiful day! I did work the whole holiday weekend away, but that was a nice little break in it. We missed you Uncle Mark and Aunt Carrie!
We did get a few things done a round home too. I scrubbed down the siding on the house and Greg worked on trying to get the pool opened. Yes, I know its a crime, its July and the pool isn't ready yet. Oh well hopefully by the middle of the week. Well like I said Can't believe its July already, but I found these pictures and couldn't help but post them, they are sooooo cute! So here is a little Christmas Joy in July!
July 2009! Its here already, I can't believe it! Some days seem to race by and other have just crawled by with too much time to think on things. This month has started out with a bang, literally we had a nice picnic at mom and dad's on Saturday. Dad set off fireworks and we all enjoyed it. Alaynna was in her booster on the way home a in a sleepy little voice we heard, "it was a beautiful day, wasn't it". She was right, thanks Papa it WAS a beautiful day! I did work the whole holiday weekend away, but that was a nice little break in it. We missed you Uncle Mark and Aunt Carrie!
We did get a few things done a round home too. I scrubbed down the siding on the house and Greg worked on trying to get the pool opened. Yes, I know its a crime, its July and the pool isn't ready yet. Oh well hopefully by the middle of the week. Well like I said Can't believe its July already, but I found these pictures and couldn't help but post them, they are sooooo cute! So here is a little Christmas Joy in July!
Hopefully I'll have some fun in the sun & pool pictures to post later this week! When we were kids we would have strung Dad up by his toes if the pool wasn't ready by June 1st!
We, Greg and I have made our decision, we will be homeschooling our little brood. The kids are registered with PA Cyber, Alaynna K4 and Zach K5. We withdrew their registration at Seeds of Faith, for many reasons, not just one. Although not everyone is going to agree with our decision, I have to say I am know "at peace" with the route in which we will provide or kids with an education. I am happy with our choice, though I have nothing against anyone who chooses to have there child educated outside their home, public or private. Each has to decide what works for their family. I am so excited and can't wait to get started. I plan to add to PA Cyber's lessons with some Abeka and other findings, also will use Abeka to teach Bible lessons. Kids are just as excited, Alaynna has been calling us "teacher" instead of mommy and daddy! She is too funny!
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