Monday we went to a friend's house and helped clean in preparation for their move. Caley and Amelia helped by wiping down the walls with sponges! A large part of my philosophy in homeschooling is teaching character and service, both by helping friends and people we don't know.
Tuesday we went to a friend's 5th birthday party and the girls dressed up like princesses, their costumes were my dance costumes from kindergarten. They looked so cute! It was especially fun to see Amelia play with some older girls and she picked up on a few of the games and had fun sitting at a big table eating snacks.
Wednesday we went to storytime where the topic was fish. Caley had a fun time decorating a fish craft, she used many colors and called it "fireworks." Wednesday night she and Daddy went on a date to the toy store. They also tried bowling but it was too busy. Amelia and I went to church and I helped in her class where they did some art and played "night-night." It was fun to have some one-on-one time with her.
Thursday we had our first playgroup of the year, our new official name is Proverbs 22. It was at our house and I was the leader. We read the book "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear" and did some listening exercises and made a book and read it at the end of group. Caley also learned about listening to God through the story of Samuel. She did a good job of listening and playing well with her friends, she and Lenora played hide and seek. There are a few new members to playgroup this year, some new boys, which changes the dynamic of the group. It went very well! Also many of the kids are ready for more challenging activities so we are trying to make the activities suitable for the different ages of kids, with harder tasks for the older kids and easier ones for the younger kids. Yesterday the kids got to practice writing their names and the older ones took home "homework" which was just a workbook page about preschool math.
Today, Friday, we had a regular school day and Daddy got to stay home, which was a nice treat. We did some patterning and matching with cards, the phonics book, Bible stories and the memory verse Proverbs 23:19, "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." We also had fun reading about chickens and eggs, kites, fish, and we made a kite and a paper airplane. It was a fun, organic lesson day. We also played outside a bit and I discovered that Caley is really good at kicking a ball! This is very exciting, since it may mean she will be a soccer player like her mama.
I am looking forward to the Mars Hill Homeschooling Parents Meet and Greet tomorrow to connect with other homeschooling families, network, and ask questions. I'm hoping to glean some wisdom from families who actually know what they're doing, since I more often than not, don't. I'm especially insterested in how other families have handled balancing all the usual responsibilities while homeschooling. I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of doing school next year with 3 kids while balancing other commitments like leading bible study, writing, service, and staying on top of housework, meals, etc. My outside commitments this year are things I really hope to continue, but if push comes to shove, may need to be cut out (or at least scaled back) if I can't effectively serve my family. This homeschooling adventure is as much mine as it is the girls!
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