While looking for the photos of My Homeschool Binder, I found some cute pictures to share.
Here is Malachi patiently waiting for us to start our Read Aloud.
Here is Zion looking really sleepy.
Here is Hosanna posing for the camera and chewing a Fisher Price knight.
Sleepless in our house!
We haven't been getting much sleep at our house since the twins were born. In the beginning it was the whole breastfeed, supplement, pump, and begin again ordeal (and you had to do that double time). We would just get them both settled and make a quick potty trip, grab something to eat or drink, and then it was time to begin the whole show over again.
I turned 36 somewhere during the first 2 weeks of the twins' life and I vaguely remember it - okay, maybe not. Sleep was non-existent or fleeting at best. I can survive on little sleep (about 4-6 hours, even broken up), and I am still functional with a wee bit of coffee to jump start me in the morning. My husband on the other hand, needs his sleep and falls asleep without warning during the day if he is not getting enough at night.
Last night we didn't even get to sleep in our bed. We were just getting ready to go to bed and both babies woke up and nursed for what seemed like forever. Then they were a bit crabby when we put them back to bed. We decided to not even try to sleep in the bedroom - I went to the office and hubby went to the couch.
I was wide awake, my mind full of ideas. I played with one idea in my head and was up way to late pondering it.
What if.... we rearranged the bedrooms?
This would be a major undertaking and it would take a large amount of planning and time. Let me just state upfront that we would have loved to put the babies straight into the office (after moving everything out of course), but the door does not close properly and it is right at the top of the stairs. Since we have a little climber, we would like them to sleep with their door closed so at least they cannot invade the house while everyone sleeps (I can't even imagine the things they could get into working together). So, the office option (which would have been the simplest) was out.
Then I thought we could just move Elisha into the office and put the babes in his room (the next smallest - and - the door closes). I didn't like the idea of the babies being at the other end of the house - or beside the 2 boys who like to make lots of noise when they play (while babies are napping of course). So, that would mean switching Elisha and the office (but the office would turn into the nursery) and switching the boys' room with our room (which would absorb the office now that the cribs are gone).
I mentioned all of this to my husband this morning after not much sleep was had yet again last night. We casually discussed the idea. I mentioned that it could take a month or so to make the switch and he looked at me kind of funny (with the wheels turning in his head).
Before I knew it, the boys were moving into our room and we were moving into their room and the babies moved into Elisha's room.
And Elisha... is in transition.
He spent the night in the boys' room on a mattress, but he should have a fully functioning room by the end of tomorrow.
My husband is amazing. He single handedly, with scattered help from boys, and with babes under foot, put the wheels of change in motion.
The bedrooms have not changed much over the last couple of years, so it feels odd to sit and type on the other side of the house in our bedroom/office.
It is kind of strange having the babes in another room (we share a wall), but it is also nice knowing that sleep might actually happen tonight (if I wrap this up and go to bed).
Now the house is almost rearranged, it is time to start thinking about decorating. The little boys (Moses 8 and Malachi 6) have opted for a dinosaur theme. The last time that I talked with Elisha (9) we agreed on an astronomy or geography theme. The babies will actually have a nursery and I have no ideas for their room yet. I would love to hear your ideas for any of these themes or the nursery.
Do you remember recently when I mentioned our shoe box?
It could also be known as the office.
Well, we did a bit of rearranging. We moved all of the miscellaneous books from the hall into the office and moved all the kids books into the hall. The books in the hall were more appropriate for mommies and daddies. I don't think my boys really need to have access to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding or my DK Pregnancy and Childbirth textbook. I also don't think they have much use for His Needs, Her Needs or How to Win Friends and Influence People. I am pretty sure the boys weren't reading those books, but I feel better know they are tucked away in the office (and there when I might need them).
The shoe box has a hodge podge of stuff from every corner of the house. It was the room where you opened the door, crammed stuff in, and ran. Okay, that is pretty big exaggeration. If you find the other post (the one about my notebook) you will be amazed to see how much stuff we actually fit in there. We are loading the bookshelves with books and tidying up.
This is where I keep all of that homeschool material that will one day be used (or not). You know all that amazing curricula that awaits you on the free table at the local homeschool meeting each fall (after you have already purchased everything for the entire year and you don't need anymore)? This room houses it all (there are a few boxes in the basement). Did I mention that there are a few boxes stored in boys' bedroom closets too?
Before you think I have too much stuff (which I already know I do) let me tell you... I acquire things for free and it multiplies. I honestly don't know where it all comes from. I am working my way through and giving stuff away. It is such a good feeling to give things away (especially things of value).
Sorting through all of the homeschool material has been fun, enlightening, interesting, challenging, and well, I can't think of anymore descriptive words. Its late... and I should be in bed (but I wanted to write about our day).
Where was I?
We were going through books today and loading up the hall closet with kids books.
The boys have a hard time putting the books on the shelf the proper way, so I came up with a system. Are you ready for this? It is so crazy and simple. We loaded the hall bookshelf up with kids books (I know, I said that already - a couple of times). They can take the books out one at a time to read. When they are done reading they are to put them into a bucket (its big) on the floor in front of the shelf. Then when we are tidying the hallway we will put the books back up on the shelf (or whenever we see the bucket getting full).
This way the boys will have free reign of those books. Books hopefully won't end up all over their bedroom floor and get trampled on again (although, I know that is bound to happen sooner or later). And the most important thing is that my homeschool books won't go disappearing never to be seen again (or colored in - you know those black line master books!).
The room is shaping up. Things are getting organized. We have a box of books to get rid of. We even recycled damaged beyond repair books. We found some new gems and some old treasures to read again. We even found some fun board books for the babies.
What are you cleaning up in your life these days? I would love to hear about it.
Okay, which one of you was praying? (Thank you!)
I was in our office today....
This room should not even be called an office because it is more like a shoe box, seriously. Right now, this room has 5 bookshelf units with a total of 17 shelves (all full of books), a wooden table (that houses my husband's computer), a chair (to sit at the table), and a single bed (where I now sit to type). It is too small to be a nursery for the twins, but not really big enough to be anything other than a storage room (aka - our office).
I was in our office today... and as I was leaving the room and walking out into the hall... something captured my eye. There was a spiral notebook, opened and folded, kind of inside out. You could see the lined pages and the metal, spiral binding, but NONE of the plaid. I was looking for a PLAID notebook. Out of curiosity, I slid the notebook from its stack of magazines and papers. Can you imagine my excitement when I discovered that it was my notebook?
I need to let you in on a little secret... we have been going through clutter around the house and getting rid of things. We have found many such notebooks (none as special) just loaded with ideas of things to write or create. I am never without ideas (even if I am occasionally without my "idea notebook").
I love it when a day goes well.
I don't know if you remember me blogging about My Homeschool Binder in a previous post?
Yes, I do still plan to add some pictures. I did take the pictures... now I just need to remember to download them from the camera and upload them to the website. Now, where is the camera?
Anyways... my homeschool binder is working well. Okay, we are all loving it and the organization and simplicity that it brings to our homeschooling adventure. We are taking a short break from workboxes and will add them in again soon. For now, school is going well. I feel much more connected to my kids and I am really enjoying the one on one time with them.
I have finally figured some things out. I work with each child individually for about 1 to 2 hours (depending on the day and the work to be done by the children). We do our Math and Language Arts one on one. This is working out very well. I rotate through the kids and we work around meals, the twins naps, housework, and life. We also do our Bible reading at breakfast, our History and Science readings at Lunch, and our Read Alouds at bedtime. This system is working really well for us.
Today was a smooth day. Everyone worked really hard and we got a ton of work done. We have a very busy week this week (with many appointments outside of the home), so we need to be really diligent in getting our work done when we can. I am trying to push the children a bit harder to stretch them and grow them into doing more advanced or in some cases, just more work. I hope every day this week is as productive as today was.
I would love it if you would take a moment to share about something that is going well in your homeschool.