I remember when...

Little guy wasn't as tall as the light switch....

Candy!

Words cannot descibe his feelings!

Little Guy is reading!

Little Guy and I were cuddled up on the couch last Tuesday night reading his phonics book. (Phonics Pathways) He had been reading three letter words for a few days. He kept asking for more words. So, I thought, why not try a BOB book. The heartwarming thing was that he wanted to cuddle with Tiger and read! Watching him sound out words with his brother there to guide him was amazing. They both looked so proud and happy. It was neat to watch them share this moment together. I just can't believe I didn't grab my camera!

Here are some pictures from the following week:

Little Guy reading a BOB book.

All the kids were so proud of him.

Little Guy loved all the attention from the older kids.

Hopscotch Grammar

Need help remembering the 4 types of sentences? Try playing Hopscotch Grammar! Hubby drew this for me the night before our class! Love hubby! Each square has the abbreviation for a type of sentence. The kids drew a card (with an abbreviation) and had to tell the name of the sentence. ex. D = declarative. Then they defined a declarative sentence and told me declarative sentence. If they got it right...they were able to begin. They enjoyed it much more than I thought they would! Happy Hopscotching!

Here the kids are giving Little Guy a "little" help. Oh, he had gotten a bloody nose during the game...thus, the tissue in his nose!

No pics of Tiger because he was bike riding with hubby all day!

Starbucks + Math = Home School Fun

Since I made hot chocolate last Monday, the kids thought Mondays were going to be hot chocolate days! I had no idea how much they enjoyed drinking hot chocolate while studying the bible. So, today we packed up and went to Starbucks for the first hour of school! The kids memorized the next few catechisms and then studied their math facts! I am thinking Starbucks might get use to seeing us once a week!

Nothing like being silly after working hard!
Isn't Little Guy getting good with the camera!?

Tiger and Cutie did very well on their timed math test today!

The whole gang.

I knew that I would love home schooling. I just had no idea how rewarding it would be. I had taught in a private school the last four years and found it very rewarding. However, there is something more rewarding about home schooling. I love being with all my kids. It is so nice to have them all together. Watching the older ones teach the younger ones is truly amazing. I love how much more my children help one another...look out for another...encourage one another. Last night at the dinner table they couldn't say enough about our day. Hubby told me later in the evening how nice it is to hear their happiness! They were happy before, but there is a different feel in our home now. I am sure that I will have days when I want to pull out my hair (at least that is what I am told), but for now I am just so thankful to have this time with my kids. They are truly a blessing to me.

Who needs chalk???

The kids wanted to draw a four square in the street last night. They went looking for chalk...but none was to be found. We decide to use flour instead! It worked wonderfully! The kids were so excited that a lot of the flour ended up on their cute little faces! What a fun evening!

Our First Day of Home School

Here we are on our first day! The kids all did a wonderful job. We started our morning with hot chocolate and Bible time in the kitchen. I am amazed at how much the kids wanted to learn! I knew they were excited...but not that excited! We all can't wait to start again tomorrow!

Here is Little Guy working hard on some coloring. He finished his work early, but he didn't want to leave the school room!

Little Guy and Tiger had such determination today!

Tiger working hard on his work.

I still can't believe Cutie is in the fourth grade! She did a fabulous job today!

Everyone working hard to finish! We were done and noon! How nice to finish early and then go to the pool! What a great day!

Am I ready? Really?

Maybe it is because I am a teacher...or maybe because I feel so organized...but I really feel ready for Tuesday...our first day of "home school." The curriculum has all finally arrived. My yearly plans are complete. All weekly lessons plans are done. The room is ready...the kids are excited. My desk is finally complete! I don't think I have forgotten anything. WAIT! I don't know who is going to clean my house next week! Ha!

Too Hot To Go Outside

What do you do when it it too hot to go outside? My kids and their friends like to slide down the stairs in a sleeping bag! I was thinking my poor kids have been a little neglected while I was getting things ready for school! NOT! They have been enjoying trying to figure out how to entertain themselves!

Tiger at the Skate Park

Tiger can usually be found at the beach skim boarding or playing football at the park with Hubby. This week he has found a new hobby...skateboarding. We have gone to the skate park almost every morning. He is getting pretty good! As his Aunt Tami says, "he was born to have a board under those feet!"

I just love watching him!

He's contemplating the "Volcano"

Our Home School

We have been very busy ever since we found out our beloved school SACA had to close. (sorry for the lack of posts...it has been a little crazy around here.) Hubby and I tossed around the idea of putting our children into another private school, but none in the area can compare to the education our children received at SACA! (Not to mention how much I loved teaching at the school my children were attending!) We also wanted our children to continue being classically trained. So, we decided the best thing to do was home school our children.
Thankfully, we have some friends who also wanted to have their children home schooled...and asked if I would teach their children right along with my own. My kids are thrilled to have one student each in their "class." (except Little Guy...he is our only Kindergartner!)

After, we made our decision, we needed to figure out where we would teach the children. Tiger and Little Guy have missed being roommates. So, Hubby asked them if they would want to share a room again. Thankfully, they were thrilled to bunk back up together and I was thrilled to have a room dedicated for school!We start next week! I will be sure and keep you all posted on how we are doing!

Dinner on the beach

There is nothing more "summer" than dinner on the beach! We love going and watching the sunset. The kids played in the ocean, ate dinner, and then went to the shake shack with the dads! It was a perfect evening!

Our three beautiful beach bums!

The sunset over our dinner table

Julie and I

The boys hanging in the water.

Perfect sandcastle!

No Cable = More Smiles

Hubby and I decided to get rid of cable. It has been one of the best things we ever did. We have been talking about it for moths, but neither one of us took the initiative to do it. So, while hubby was in Nevada, I took back our cable boxes. (I called him to get his approval).
Wow, how much more family time we have had now! The kids and I have made more trips to the library, pool and beach. We are reading together more, playing more board games, and hanging outside meeting our neighbors! It has been fabulous! Here are some pictures of the kids playing monkey in the middle with hubby. I am sure we would have been in front of the TV this night if it would have been available...how wonderful to have made this memory instead!

Little Guy was full of laughter!

Hey Tiger, get ready! Hurry Little Guy, daddy is going to tickle me!

Never mind, I got daddy now!

Helping Daddy

I am always so amazed at my hubby's patience with the boys. They asked him to hang a dry erase board in their room a few weeks ago. He took this time to teach them a little more about a drill and a hammer. Tiger wasn't as into as Little Guy, probably because he already knows how to use all those tools! Little Guy was in heaven. Tiger ended up teaching Little Guy right alongside Hubby.

Tiger, the pro!

Look at the concentration on Little Guy!
Hubby teaching Little Guy about drill bits.
Practicing his hammering skills.

I love how they both put that tongue out while concentrating!

Green Eggs for breakfast

I love reading to my little ones! Little Guy wanted me to read Green Eggs and Ham. I think I enjoy those Dr. Seuss books more than the kids! Anyway, after reading it to him I asked if he would like to try green eggs for breakfast. He said, "YES!" He was so cute! He had eaten green eggs before at school, but he didn't get to "make" them. So, he begged to "make" them with me. I promised he would be able to help prepare them in the am. So here are some pics of our green eggs!

Little Guy adding the food coloring

Helping me scramble those green eggs.

Little Guy would eat green eggs here OR there! He'd eat them anywhere!

Little Guy even talked the girls into it! He could not get Tiger to try them!