last week we moved city.

this week we started school, just a little each day.

In my life this week…

this week we finished the unpacking after the move last week. there are more boxes, but at this point i’m not missing anything so i’ll let those boxes be for now. the bedrooms are cozy, the kitchen, living room, school area and office feel just right for now so, we’re home. i’ve been up early this week to have a quiet time and coffee. i’ve felt ready when the kids are up and ready to start their day. hubs went back to work this week full on. i cried sunday night and toughed it out all week. the last few days we’ve had hard nights with some kind of cold moving from kid to kid so i’ve let the kids rest and we’ve had loads of extra cuddles. all in all i feel as though it’s been a successful week for our first full week in town. did i mention i’d started working a bit from home as well? just checking emails and phone calls but still..

In our homeschool this week…

the kids start with dressing, making beds, breaky and teeth brushing. we have been having bible time first. so far i love the bible / devo i chose. the kids are saying prayers and asking questions. the life applications are smart too. we did some concentration work. pattern work. colors for Sun and read lots. had a library day (walk) and several nature hunts. we’ve had so much playtime (naturally) and, i confess, some cartoon time. still we had a pretty good HS week. our first in ages it seems as we took a long break for the holidays and the move.

I am inspired by…

my friends who have been homeschooling with multiple children for years, moving cities and countries and house while you kept your eye and heart on Father, husbands and kiddos. you rock Tammy and Heather!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

we tried a church this week. we’ll visit a few more times and have a list of places to visit. we met Polly who we’ll meet up with for playdates i think.

we also went to the towns food co-op for the first time. it was great.

we also walked to the public library. it was such a nice day and very good for all of us to get out of the house.

My favorite thing this week was…

i think my favorite thing this week is just feeling a little normal again. having the move over and starting to make this home feels good. getting back on schedule and getting a bit of work done helps too.

Questions/thoughts I have…

we’ve never lived anywhere that we don’t know anyone. so i’ve been thinking about making friends here. i’ve been in touch with other HS mom’s in town. it seems two HS groups are not active now and i’m still waiting to hear back from another. i’ve also been in touch with the Montessori school in town and super excited for the contact. im hopeful about new friendships for all of us.

I’m reading…

curriculum mostly, although there is a stack of books that i’d like to get to…

I’m cooking…

this week i made chicken curry with blue potatoes. everyone liked it which was awesome. i’ll make a little yogurt today i think. homemade popcorn has been our favorite snack this week..

I’m grateful for…

my awesome husband. he really is my best friend and has been a rock when i’ve struggled over this week and the weeks before our move.

I’m praying for…

hubs in the new job. the kids in this transition time, our health and safety. wisdom. open ears.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

photos are my favorite thing to share

happy weekend to you!

there is an empty little house
just hours from here
and inside her walls is the plant that we could not fit into our car
in need of a little light and barely a drop of water
we will rescue her soon, yes we will

i am thinking she is much like me now
recently cut back to the last bits of green
the bits that have stayed the winter
she is smaller, less pretty, odd-looking really
but hardy for sure

this is her before her terrible pruning
her tops stretched out so dry and brittle
fragile and dead
in need of a good trim and perhaps a larger pot
filled with new earth to nourish her 

Monday: spaghetti and meatballs with salad
Tuesday: chicken on rice and veggies
Wednesday: stir fry
Thursday: grill cheese and noodle soup
Friday: quinoa with cheese and loads of veggies
Saturday: take out
Sunday: garlic chicken and rice in slow cooker

That’s it then and as i can hardly keep these eyes open and there is really nothing more to be said um, laters!
Nite nite

yesterday we made it to the park just in time to see some city workers shaking the trees. Hundred of pecans covered the ground where we met for a little family get-together.

They are the round sort. Good for baking my auntie says. Sitting on the ground gathering pecans yesterday had me thinking of another aunt.

She taught me how to crack pecans by hiding two in the palm of my hand and squeezing my fist tight with both hands, one hand over the other.

Works better with the long oval sort of pecans that covered the ground at our great grands house. Feeling a bit sad today…
and grateful for so much of the little funny things that we take away from time spent with family. Happy Sunday folks. Peace.

I heard that saying on a Selling New York episode and liked it. One thing that I’m excited about, with this move coming, is starting fresh…again. Last night I came up with a tentative homeschool schedule for our days, depending on dads work schedule and life happening of course…

Note about the length of school time: it might seem like a lot for an almost three-year old and a 4-year-old but it’s Montessori work so its practical life, sensory and lessons that all feel like play for my kids. Plus I will watch and make adjustments as needed, no worries.

So, without further ado: the schedule

Mom up at 4:30
coffee, Quiet time
Yoga
Blog / work / write

Kids up at 7
Potty
Get dressed. I make breaky
Breakfast
Wash up / brush teeth
8:30 bible time
9 School time
10 snack time (theme with lesson)
10:30 play outside or free play
11 wash up and School time
12:30 Lunch
1 nap
If up before 3-> cuddles read alouds and free play after
3 pm snack time
3:30 school time
4:30 t.v I make dinner
5 dinner
6 family time and free play clean up
7 wash, jammers, brush teeth, story time, prayers, bed time
Mom and dad time
9 mama preps for next day
9:30 or 10 pm shower and sleep for mama!!!???

3 days on 3 days off (dad)
Four days of schedule above- 4th day 1/2 day ( dad sleeps in) 1 day off (morning with dad- mom sleeps in)1 day a family day fun

4 days on 4 days off (dad)
5 days schedule above- 5th day 1/2 day, 1 day family day, 1 day off with dad, 1 day school flexible – library day or field trips

Other random changes I’d like to make:

Less coffee / more tea
More walks
Eating out less
Volunteering somewhere
Proper composting in that weird shed thing in the back yard
Clothes line more than dryer
Much less tv time
Read read read
to be bare foot more

so here’s to new starts, again.

Monday thru Tuesday: 9 days

Day 1. Chicken and salad with French bread toast
Day 2. Fried noodles with chicken and vegetables.
Day 3. beans and rice and homemade tortillas
Day 4: tuna casserole
Day 5: waffles and eggs / breakfast for dinner
Day 6: take out
Day 7: leftovers
Day 8: quesadillas and beans and rice
Day 9: takeout for last nite in house

Happy week all!

as you may know, if you visit us, i’ve been a bit stressed about homeschooling as of late. however, after a good talk with my lovely friend heather (an awesome HS mama) and hearing from you wise HS gals here, lots of time praying, thinking and talking with hubs i’m all better; reassured and good.

decisions:

the next steps for our little school was deciding whether or not to go full on with my father’s world curriculum and make the big buy plunge, so to speak, purchase something new or hodgepodge the next season of our homeschool. so after reading endless amounts of reviews and websites i decided not to keep going with MFW but to continue with Montessori methods full on. fortunately every bit of the MFW manipulatives and books I’d purchased work for Montessori inspired activities, extension work and productive play just fine. woohoo!

looking back:

the change is not so big. but the decision definitely was a big one for me. you can see our curriculum in the late summer/ fall in 2011 here.

i will finish this book and keep it for a resource. it is lovely.

and i have enjoyed the free printables and tot packs that i found here and here. the only change being made concerning these being the order in which the letters and letter activities are introduced to the kids, easy. no biggie.

having fully committed to preschool and kindergarten the Montessori way i did make this purchase for the new season.