Practice Day

I need to break out of my "must be perfect" mindset. I've really got to before it slaps me in the face with our new homeschool adventure!
I haven't written in weeks because I wanted to only post with pictures... and then I would take too long to send the pictures from my phone (because I'm technologically challenged and can't seem to figure out how to just get it to load on to the computer once I hook it up... help on this matter would be wonderful!) Anyways, so I figured while I have a second I will write and only update with the pictures that I have!

A ton has gone on since my last post. I've received so many books that it's overwhelming and I've got so much curriculum to go through that overwhelming may be an understatement, but I'm so excited to get into it all! I try and find time to get in there and I'm going to have to set a time each night and work but the thing is, I get LOST when I do! It's like a time warp! How in the world can 4 hours go by in 30 minutes?! I love it so much!
We've made a lot of progress in the room, but I don't want to post those pictures until everything is complete. We budgeted for two new desks for the kids since we have saved so much money with our friends helping out with books, supplies and curriculum. I want to wait until they get here and get put together.

Both of the Bigs are now out of school. They both finished the year making A/B Honor Roll. My "must be perfect" mindset was a little upset with this... especially with G. He made an 89 one 9 weeks because he only had 4 graded assignments that whole 9 weeks! I was perturbed because he only had 4 because of the other times he wasn't in the class because of Gifted class... so he didn't have to make them up. I don't like that! He should have been able to get a chance to do the work and bring that grade up - out of 4 grades and he had one bad one and it brought his A down 10 points... oh well, lesson learned. He brought it back up to a 98 for the final grade! (Can you tell I'm still sore on that subject - shh! don't tell him because I haven't shown him that I was upset about it. I don't want him getting my complex!) MG had a very high B as well for her one B and I am so proud of that girl!
They have started their summer day camp at the YMCA. They get to play and swim all day long. They will be going on weekly field trips and have an entire week at VBS with Gram. They are going to have a blast for the summer.

We have gone to the library 3 times in the last week. The kids all love it as much as me. I have gotten all homeschool books right now. "How To's" and devotionals. That's all I spend my time on lately! I think it will be this way for the next 12 years or so and I'm ok with that!! When we leave the library the Bigs are devouring their books. I even drive with the radio off because I love the peace. Sweet sweet peace.

We did our first practice homeschool day yesterday! Well, I guess it should just be considered homeschool hour. I think it lasted about that! I only had a little planned - a small unit study on Memorial Day. I quickly learned to get more stuff out for W! It was all brand new and we were all in the room  that is always forbidden to them so he was really excited! The Bigs were pumped and he feeds off of them.

We had a big breakfast, everyone got dressed and brushed teeth and then we met in the room! The Bigs were giddy excited. We said the Pledge of Allegiance (I've got to get a flag... we pulled up a picture on my phone!) and did a very short devotion and then jumped in to the Memorial Day study. The kids were attentive (well not W... he wanted to run around the room screaming "homeschool room!!!!") We got him to calm down with a whiteboard and markers. He was so proud! He asked for each color by name and was pleasant with just a few interruptions until we were done.

Excuse the mess behind him... I was starting the crate system - more of that in another post!

After I had gone through all of the information and we did a little activity sheet and played a game with nouns and then we got to pick a name for the school! Both of the Bigs wanted our mascot to be the Patriots. So we decided that we are going to be the Bryan Street Academy Patriots
I love it!! It's PERFECT! Seth is going to come up with some good graphics for us.

They liked being able to get on the floor for our noun activity. This was definitely an activity for MG and not for G, but he played along and didn't act too bored.

Bryan St Academy Patriots it is!

The kids didn't want to stop. In fact, I stayed in there the rest of the day finishing up my crate system and a bulletin board for W. MG helped and then completed four, yes four, math worksheets just because she wanted to! I can't wait to do more!