uh oh

I had a serious 'oh crap' moment when I was walking out of Life Charter with all of Abby's school records. What have I done?

What have I done to him?
Note that the sippy cup is exactly
where I put my coffee cup.













I know. He's adorable.

Pro-con list

I am a list fanatic. It's another way that I cope with my ADD. So here goes one of my famous pro-con lists. Enjoy!

Teaching at Home

Pros

1. make my own schedule
2. no herding of my children
   
3. choose electives
4. no expensive uniforms
5. no ridiculous rules like what color pens you can use
6. there aren't 30+ children per classroom
7. no materials fees
8. no bad influences
9. I actually know what they are learning
10. no TAKS tests!!
11. no packing lunches
12. less miles on the van
13. more time for fun
14. no packing in and out of the van at terrible times of day
15. no science projects that need to be done just so
16. coop classes!
17. God tells me to
18. no overstressed, overextended and discouraged children
19. no one telling me what to do
20. not tied down to a school district or location when buying a home (big one)
    

I am sure I could come up with many more....
So here is the Con list:

Cons

1. motivation
2. organization
3. making sure her learning is balanced
4. my own inadequacy as having basically an 8th grade education (though I have high grammar/writing/reading skills)
   
5. making a schedule
6. buying books and/or finding them
7. the kids don't go away much (time for me)
8. room for learning in the tiny house
9. The stereotype of home-schoolers (this is big)
   

Okay, really, that's all I can come up with for now. It clearly outweighs the Cons. Success!

So I am not real crafty (couldn't sew my way out of a paper sack) but I have to say that hot glue does wonders. Annabelle is really into Fancy Nancy books. If you haven't read them they are a hoot. So this is my attempt to copy a Fancy Nancy costume for our church's "Trunk-or-Treat" event this year. The little things at the bottom are supposed to be the ribbons to make her ballet shoes she'll be wearing like pointe shoes.

decisions, decisions

So I did my normal SALT coop day today with the little two. I do sitting during the classes which covers the cost of Annabelle's little preschool class each month exactly. I have made quite a few friends there (this is a big deal since none of them go to church there). I am going to have a hard time paying for Abby's classes as the sitting doesn't cover any of those fees and I'll have to buy materials and whatnot, but since we live within ( actually way under) our means, I think we'll be fine. I am in the process of making our weekly schedule. I want to go to Office Depot or somewhere to buy one of those marker boards with the calendar on it so I can map out our weeks chores and school. I am struggling with self control these days so it'll be interesting to see how close I can stick to it. I got Abby's first workbook today from her coop teacher. She is quite a bit behind so she'll have some catch-up to do. Luckily Life Charter has her way ahead of her grade level so it should be okay for now. Also, I am contemplating doing a Fun Food (or craft) Friday each week. I want to find a junior food science book she can cook through that has things mapped out. Any suggestions? Please pass it along. Off to pick her up from school now. I will NOT miss loading up all the kids in the car seats at 3:15 each day!!!

It has begun...

So here it goes. I had 3 children. I have now decided to home school (yeah, it sounds crazy to me, too). Take a journey as I find out if I am smarter than a 5th grader. It all goes down next week. I am sure Abby will be enjoying the last few days at Life Charter school in Red Oak as she is taking benchmark testing ALL week long. I'd sure love to sit in a room for 8 hours for no reason other than to bubble in circles. Awesome! Hence, the withdrawal from school Friday.