Catch Up

It has been almost two months since I have posted anything. I am coming clean..... I am a SLACKER! I don't know what it is, but I have definitely been in a blog slump lately. This is the place where I record all those funny little things my kids say and memories we make, so I need to get back at it or I will forget everything. So here we go........

HOMESCHOOL:


We started school this year in August with a new curriculum and new attitudes. Last year was a tough school year, so we needed to tweak a few things. So far, it has gone GREAT! We are using My Father's World, Explode the Code, Singapore Math, Handwriting without Tears(Julia), and various other things. The science in MFW is kind of puny so we look to add possibly an Apologia book next semester.

Isaac is working on First/Second grade material. His reading skills have vastly improved in the last 6 months or so. He has always been a good reader, but would only read for "school", not on his own for enjoyment. Lately he has been reading everything. My goal with him this year is to get him to read his first chapter book. He is about halfway through one right now. For math, we switched from Math U See to Singapore. After a year of struggles and battles over math, Isaac has finally regained his confidence in math and actually enjoys it (most of the time!) Overall, Isaac is rocking along this year and I am so proud of him.


Julia is working on Kindergarten grade material. She is the the type of student who asks, or rather begs for more school work to do. Her first pick is always math. She is doing the Singapore Kinder math book and loves it. She is also a wonderful reader and is over half way through the "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" book. She picks up new concepts fairly easily and seems to be enjoying her school year so far.


Our biggest challenge with home school right now is what to do with our lil' monkey. Caleb is a very curious little boy and is into everything. Soon he will drop his morning nap, which is when we do school. That will add a lot of "life" to our school day. Thankfully, Isaac and Julia do well with the interruptions.

RANDOM PICS FROM AUGUST:

Bonding with Papa

Caleb has been saying my name for months. In fact, it was his first official word!!! But I can not take all the glory for that. He also calls Gabe "Mama". It is so funny! He absolutely refuses to say Papa. He even learned to say our dog's name. He says "Oyider" or "Oyyie" pronouncing the "L" as "Y". He can say his own versions of all done, hi there, hello, and night night. He will even say puppy, but he absolutely will not say Papa. Silly little boy!

Climbing the Crepe Myrtles

Miss Photogenic

My Boys

This is what Caleb does.... he climbs! He will climb the bunk bed ladder, the play house ladder. He has recently learned to move chairs and stools to use to help him climb on top of something or get something he shouldn't. It is not odd to walk into a room and see him standing on top of a table.

RANDOM PICS FROM SEPTEMBER:

Isaac is such a GREAT kid! He is imaginative, silly, and tons of energetic fun. I do believe he will be an engineer or CEO someday. He loves to figure out how things are put together and taken apart. We have had several electronic devices that have bit the dust due to his curiosity! He also loves to be in charge, which can be a challenge right now as we parent him but one day it will come in handy! By the way, he already has a business idea. He wants to start a company called Only Organic selling, you guessed it, only organic items. In today's world, I think he would make a buck or two!

Here he is adding his touch to the bathroom sink

Here is Caleb cuddling and brushing at the same time. He would do everything with his blanket if I would let him. He LOVES his blankie. He breaks out in giggles when he sees it. Thanks Grammy!!!

Caleb's first 4-wheeler ride

RANDOM PICS FROM OCTOBER:

Rockin' the Froggie PJs
Caleb literally walks around the house giggling all day long. He is such a happy boy!

Julia is proud to be a Cubbie

Isaac was in NO MOOD to take this picture

Trying to escape his PJs

I love this kid!

Such a Big Boy

Strike a Pose! She still loves to play dress up, especially if she can find a skirt that will twirl.

He takes such pride in the fact that he is strong enough to pick Julia up and carry her

After you get past the cuteness of Caleb's shirt stuck on his head, check out that belly!

Julia is one beautiful, sweet, tender hearted little girl. She absolutely melts my heart with her sweet smile. Julia is all about girlie things, which can be a challenge sometimes with two brothers running around. Julia loves to draw, always has. She enjoys playing with her stuffed animals, especially Baby. What makes my heart so happy is that she loves to just be with me. It doesn't matter what I am doing, she just wants to be with me doing it. I love this little girl more than words can say.

Phew, if you made it through that post and all those pictures you are a Pro Blog Reader. Congratulations! I will be back another day with posts about pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Gabe's belated birthday, my Half-Marathon, and much more. See you soon!