What are we doing today?-A Homeschooling Reflection Part 2

Every time I talk to someone who doesn't homeschool about homeschooling, I get the same response:  "There is no way I could do that.  I'm just not the teaching type."  Or, "Me and my kid would butt heads.  No way would homeschooling work for our family."  I get what they are saying.  I felt the same way.  But I'll tell you what I've found out...the more we are all together, the LESS we butt heads.

This was our schedule before we homeschooled:  6:30 am-Wake up, get kids dressed, fix lunch, eat breakfast, make sure all books were together (have an argument about why the backpack is not ready to go out the door), load everyone in the car, pick up carpool, or get picked up by carpool.  7:30am-3:00pm-All away from each other.  4:00pm:  Get home from pick up/dropping off carpool, have a snack, get started on homework (argue about homework).  5-7:30pm-Dinner, running around town to sports practices/games.  8-9:30pm-prayers and bed.

This schedule left us with about 2-3 hours a day when we were together.  What happened was we got used to being apart and then when we were together, we argued.  Little kids wanted to play with Alex, he was exhausted from school, they got upset, fought with each other, then I got grumpy and started yelling, etc, etc.  You get the picture.

Now we are literally together all day.  The kids actually have learned to deal with each other and are closer than ever.  When it's time to go to a sports practice or ballet class, we are ready to get out of the house, and we all go together.  It's been such a drastic change in the dynamic of our family.

Another thing that I have loved, is that we have so many adventures.  Every day when the kids wake up, they say, "What are we doing today?"  They know that each day will be different with homeschooling.  It may be a day when we stay at home all day, or we may meet friends at the park for a picnic, go for a nature walk, science center, children's theater, etc, etc.

I love running my household on my terms and not someone else's schedule.  I know that each homeschooling family is different, and that is what I love.  Some love to get up early and get work done so they have the afternoon to play.  Some like to play in the morning and schedule things with friends in the afternoon.  Some like to just go with the flow and not have a schedule.  Some school year round.  Some school three days a week from Sept-May.  Each family can tailor their school experience to fit what works for them.

I love that we can travel and bring school with us.  Several times, I would travel to TN or Mobile to stay with my parents for a week at a time in the middle of the school year.  We would get school work done there and not get behind.  This year (and last) we will take our beach vacation in September.  Everyone else is back in school, the beach isn't crowded, it's not as hot, and the prices are much better!

Most of all, I love knowing what is happening in my kids' lives every, single day.  I know who they are spending their time with and who and what are influencing them.  This is important at every aspect of my kids' lives, but VERY important to me with my middle-schooler.  I remember how hard middle school was for me in my little, private, Christian school.  I have so enjoyed having my big, growing boy at home with me.  We are so close, and he comes to me and the hubby about everything.  I know it may not always be this way, but I'm grateful for that right now.

Again, I don't know what next year will hold.  I don't know where God will lead our family.  Right now, I feel perfectly comfortable with schooling two children in our home (yikes...did I just say that?).  And so we are off!  Another year of adventure with our family all together.  A year of 7th grade and Kindergarten.  Pray for me please!  

Friends, Chipmunks, McWane, oh my!

We are finally here, back home in Tennessee, and while Alabama is a sweet home, it feels sweeter in Tennessee.  I'm so happy here.  On the way up here, we had some reflection time with the kids and asked them what they loved most about Birmingham and our year there.  There were many answers (lots of friends' names were listed):  homeschooling, our neighborhood park and basketball courts, neighbors, etc.  We all had the same top three answers.  1)  Friends.  All of us agreed that we were greatly blessed during our short time in AL with wonderful friends.  Not just temporary people who we will lose touch with, but true life long friends (see a few examples below).

2)  Chipmunks.  We don't have chipmunks in Franklin...at least not that I've ever seen.  And we didn't have them in Mobile either.  Every time we saw a chipmunk in B'ham, we all got excited...the excitement never faded.  They are so cute.  If we would have been able to catch one, we would've kept it.

3)  McWane.  We love the McWane Science center.  It never got old.  Best.  Science Center.  Ever.

It's a pool

Last night, I took the kids for a night swim at our neighborhood pool.  A man came up to me and pointing to Eli who was sitting on the steps of the pool, said "Is that your son?"  I said, "Yes, and oh my gosh, what has he done, or what did he say?"  He said he went up to Eli and said, "Hey buddy, how's the water feel?"  Eli replied, "Dis is not a water feel, it's a pool."

Lady A Concert...Good times!

I totally hijacked these pics from Donna's blog.  I took pics too, but life is too loco to get them off my camera right now.  Donna so kindly invited Kayce and I to the Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker and Thompson Square concert!  It was so much fun.  We met up with Shana and Matt and Donna's mama (a.k.a. Miz Becky!) for dinner before the concert.  

Can we discuss how red and sweaty I get?  It's gross.  I remember being a cheerleader in high school and all the other girls looked cute with perfect makeup and hair, and I was a sweaty hot mess.  This pic...just sitting there in the Alabama heat.  Kayce, perfect hair and make-up...me, Hot sweaty mess.

Drinking heavily (Diet Coke that is)!  No red and sweaty faces.

Darius Rucker singing.  He sang some Hootie songs too.  I'm so glad he did.  Takes me back to high school.  Good stuff.

Lady A!!!  Last time I saw them, they opened up for Tim McGraw.  They were so much better this time with their own stage.  They are big time now!

Lady A brought Darius and Thompson Square back out and they all sand "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers.  I am going to have to say this was my favorite part of the concert.  It was awesome, and the crowd was really into it too.  

 

I run to you, baby!

Donna's hubby Marc was supposed to go with us, but last minute gave his ticket to Miz Becky.  She was so much fun and I'm so glad she was with us.  There were lots of ladies there that were NOT acting there age, but BB, she's a class act.  At one point she looked over, just as straight-faced as you could be and said to me and Kayce, "Do either of you girls have a pair of scissors?"  We were baffled and I said, "What do you want scissors for?"  She said that she felt like she needed to cut her pants off and have some super short cut off shorts like the other ladies.  We died out laughing.  She is a mess, and we can always count on her for comic relief.  Thanks ladies for a super fun night!   Next country night out is going to be in Nashville, and I'm gonna show these girls a good time with plenty of Diet Coke and lots of dancing!  

I'm Not Reading "50 Shades of Grey"

Not judging if you did, but I'm not reading it.  Here is a beautifully written blog post that explains why we should think twice before reading this series, it it in a way I never could.  

Jewelry Project

All the girls in Birmingham (and Mobile) are wearing these cute bracelets made out of a hammered metal cross and ribbon.  I wish I had a picture of what the real ones look like (anyone who has one, take a pic for me and send it my way).  ***I found a pic of the ones you can buy.  This one is at Brown Eyed Girl in Mobile/Daphne if you want to just go buy one!  They are $35.***

I was at my mom's and found ONE old Ultralite earring (if you are a child of the 90s, you know what these are.  The bigger the better.  I couldn't even find a picture of them online to show you what they are) in the bathroom drawer.  My mind started racing.  I came to my mother-in-law's house and told my sis and law my idea.  She took the earring and ran out to the tool box.  She finished the project...I only told her what I wanted and she did it!  Here are the pics.  And description of how we did it.

 Take the earring post and loop off, leaving one hole in one side of the cross.  Using a hammer and nail, make a hole in other side of the cross.  We also hammered the cross a little so it wasn't so shiny.  Then pick your favorite ribbon (I used about 2 ft of ribbon, but use as much as you want) and run it through each hole with ribbon on the back.  

Wrap the ribbon around your wrist over and over again until you have the two ends together to tie in a little knot.  Voila!  You can swap out different ribbons for different looks and outfits.  Anybody got their old Ultralight earrings lying around?  Turn them into some cool new jewelry!

Fashionista's Finds

While visiting my mom and dad, I got inspired to clean out the closet of my old bedroom.  My and my sister, Lindsey shared this room, so the closet was equally balanced in our "junk."  I organized it ceiling to floor.  Boxed up pictures and keepsakes from high school and college for both of us.  And once all that was organized, vacuumed and dusted, I got to the fun part.  The clothes!  Not that I had all my old clothes still, but definitely some keepers.  Check out what I found (pardon the poor picture quality from my "crackberry.")!

 Bridesmaid dress from friend, Jenn's wedding...11 years ago!  And it's too big on me (raise the roof ya'll).

 My wedding dress!  Mom's having it cleanded and put away as a reward for cleaning out the closet!

Ellen's bridesmaids dress.  I added the belt and am totally having it cut off for a summer wedding dress!  Score!  For real, a bridesmaid dress you can wear again!

 Mine and my mom's First Holy Communion dress.  It will be Hadley's in a few years  I love this dress!  The picture doesn't do it justice, but it has the sweetest lace and tiny buttons up the front.

 My cheerleading uniform from Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, circa 1997.  Doesn't still fit.

And last but not least my cheerleading uniform (which I'm pretty sure had been in use since the 70s before the retired it after my senior year), and my cheerleading jacket.

I'm exhausted, but fulfilled.  It was a fun day of reminising!