Update #1

I swear I have updated this page since November.  How has so much time passed? 

On Halloween my identity was stolen and we had just put in an offer on a new (and hopefully FOREVER) home.  It seemed that between my classes, the three kids getting sick on and off, and the identity theft; I had zero free time.  Our offer was accepted and we had a few issues before we closed, but it was happening!  We closed on our house on December 17th, 2015.  Nico had been having some pain and we thought it was a UTI or kidney stones.  On the 18th, we took possession and started painting in the girls' room in an effort to move in by Christmas.  Nico was in the hospital that night.  He was later moved to KU Med and had an abdominal aneurism and infection.  He had a AAA Open Repair on Christmas Eve.  He spent 10 days in the hospital and came home way to early.  He had 45 (or more, we've lost count) staples and now has a HUGE scar from sternum to groin. 

Science at home...

So, the toilet needed new guts.  Papa took care of it, and the big kids watched the whole process.  It's important that they learn how things work.  Kinda like science.  And so begins our explorations into homeschooling after school.  

 Then I devised an experiment that was age appropriate (and FUN!) for a 4.5 year old and a 7 year old.  Here's our Sink or Float chart.  Each child made a hypothesis and then we tested that hypothesis.  Once the sink was full of water, they tested other items as well.  It was fun!

 I am referencing quite a few items for our homeschool adventures.  One is Oak Meadow 1st Grade.  In that curriculum they introduce the moon and phases of the moon.  We can do that!  So here are some things I found to use...

You will notice that this is most definitely NOT Steiner approved or Waldorf related.  That's because R is already in public school and they use a LOT of worksheets in public school.  I am modifying my approach to include traditional methods (like rote learning and worksheets) as well as the creative-artistic approach of Waldorf pedagogy, and I'm throwing in some fun Montessori things as well.  Stay tuned!

Here's how the worksheets turned out:

Some thoughts on public school...

So, at R's first parent-teacher conference they were showing us his grades for reading and math.  He was improving in reading and doing fine in math.  His scores were up on the tests, yada yada.  So after a while she asks us if we have any questions.  I did.  I asked how he was doing in the other subjects like science, social studies, history, etc.  But mostly I was curious how he was doing in science since he loves it.

She got quiet for a moment and said, "We are not allowed to schedule time to teach those subjects."

What the...?  What?

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I try to incorporate some of those principles in, but I have to do it in the context of reading or math."  She's obviously embarrassed at this point.

So, just so I'm clear here... "So he's not getting any science?"

"Not specifically, no. But next semester we'll do science experiments on Fridays.  I'll do that instead of Centers." She says.  Since they only get one recess and it's in the morning, Centers is their afternoon break time and it's indoors.  I'm disappointed that he'll miss out on the indoor free play, but experiments sound fun too.

But NO time for SCIENCE... I was horrified.  So I asked, "When are the teachers allowed to schedule science?"

"They are allotted time for science starting in the fourth grade."

So, my kid gets next to no science until the fourth grade.  I'm pretty much speechless at this point.  And a million thoughts popped into my head.

But most especially I thought, well, if I don't want to squash his inquisitive nature I'd better start teaching him at home.

Autumn

Having three children, four pets, and two working (me part-time) parents makes for quite the chaos.  I am mostly failing at housework, laundry, therapeutic crafting, and self-care.  But my kids all seem happy and we've got an A+ in family love!

I did receive these lovely handmade place-mats from Grammy Cathy.  Don't they make our breakfast nook feel festive and fresh?  That little squash is from our CSA.  

And what would Autumn be without getting ready for the Birthdays and Halloween?  R made this at school and it just cracked me up!  It's every scary thing he could think of crammed into one picture.  My favorite is the zombie.  How about you?  

Summer's gone...

And it seems like no time at all another summer is gone!

This year we have TWO children in school.  R is in the first grade at our local public school and S is in preschool at the University.

And just as soon as we sent them off to school, V turned one.

Long time, no see!

Hi there!

It's been a while.  Let's see... I had a baby.  Then I took on a new (more demanding) job.  R went off to school and had a wonderful experience in Kindergarten.  Papa had his first year as a full-time college instructor, and he also had a wonderful experience.  And S, well, she went to preschool.  She ADORES it!

See?  We have been busy!

What's that you say?  You want to see a picture of the baby?  Oh, I suppose so...

This is "V".  She was born last September and she was 9 lbs 10 oz!!!  By far my WORST pregnancy.  I hated being big and pregnant in the summer.  I was sooooo swollen and I gained a lot of weight.  But you know what?  She was by far my EASIEST birth!  No drugs and no tearing.  I was up and about within minutes of her birth.  I did over-do it those first few weeks because I felt TOO good.  But all is well.