First Grade

So we're back to homeschooling this Fall (summer). Celia had a great experience at Lansdowne for her couple of months stay, but we ultimately after tremendous consideration brought her back home this year.

I still don't always answer well when asked "how is your week been? are you so glad that school has started?" I feel sometimes like I need to apologize for our decision...that I might offend a parent of a Lansdowne Lion but recently I've felt grace in how to answer...thankful for that.

I absolutely love the planning of a curriculum. Its so exciting (for me!) to research all the possibilities of what we might study! The possibilities seem endless so its tricky to narrow it down. We definitely are ecclectic in our homeschooling choices but I'd say we sit closer to a Classical/Charlotte Mason combo than anything.....what does that even mean? Pioneer Woman had a great article on homeschooling 101 if you're interested.....

What does our year look like this time? I've layered in our subjects rather than having one difficult slap in the face of a start day- so this is what we have ahead of us.....(this is long but I wanted it all down for our sake at least and for the 2 of you who actually might be interested!)

Read-aloud books- Sonlight Core K
This is our History (World Cultures), and just great literature.
I'm doing these with Bennett and Celia. Originally I was thinking I could spread them over 2 years but they are so good and the girls love them. So we'll see if I can stretch them that long! So far we've read the Boxcar Children and My Father's Dragon. Next up is 100 Dresses.

Readers- again they are in from Sonlight but the Readers 1 group. Celia isn't the best reader but we're getting there.

Math- Singapore Math. We are doing primary 1. We have NOT started this yet. probably will once the littles go preschool after labor day.

Phonics/Reading- Sing Spell Read and Write. We basically finished all of this last year but there is still some more we can cover. I'd purchased the K/1 combo kit. We made it through half of first grade last year. My focus to help her read well this year- we're not doing a ton of grammar just yet.....

Language Lessons for the Very Young- this will be our language curriculum once I finish SSRW. I love this. I'm very excited about it, but not doing it just yet- once we finish the first.

Bible/Handwriting- Seeds Woship CDs have great, NOT ANNOYING christian scripture memory songs. I've made these verses into copywork sheets for her. She does one verse a week. They are great.

Lastly the BIGGEST COMMITMENT we've added this year is joining Classical Conversations. This is a once a week program. Thursdays we (Celia and I) attend this program from 9-12. It is mostly memory work at Celia's age. It covers memory work in these areas: History, Grammer, Latin, Math facts, Scripture memory, Geography, Fine Arts. Also the kids memorize all of the Veritas Press History Timeline Cards. This program is 12 weeks in the fall (with a fall break week) and 12 weeks in the winter/spring with another break in there. It finishes April 7th.

Writing it all down it seems like a ton but its a good flow for us. It probably takes maybe 2 hours a day. We probably get in 4 days a week or so. But I love the flexibility. I love being back in this. It fits our family well and we'll keep at it until we feel led elsewhere!

andrew peterson and a pink guitar

One thing I've noticed lately is that Celia wholeheartedly emulates us. Dave in many ways, me in more obvious ways (she recently saved her own money to purchase glasses from Claire's!). Often times it comes out musically.

A few weeks ago we watched a livestream concert by Andrew Peterson- now anyone who knows me is aware that I'm not the biggest Christian-music lover. In fact I have found very little Christian music out there that I actually enjoy outside of Indellible Grace, Red Mountain Music and the like....things are changing, slowly, but anyway.....




During the "concert", Celia decided she wanted to set up like Andrew- she grabbed the pink guitar, a toy mic, my guitar stand, and some tape- She Macgyver'd her own set up and with the help of Dave fashioned an old rope into a guitar strap and she just rocked out.

One thing I love about this is that she has a heart for worship- (and hip-hop, but more on that another time). She loves to sing and play. She often "writes" songs- I do hope to encourage her in this- I think she's getting a real guitar for Christmas and that will come but in the mean time I'm so content to watch her play. Its precious.

Milla's heart

It seems that Camilla only has room for one person at a time in her little heart. Often times it depends on who wakes her each morning- its that person who receives most of her affection for the remaining hours of her day.

One morning a few weeks ago it happened to be me. But sadly for Camilla I was headed out to the farmers market with Bennett. This left her devastated! Celia took it upon herself to cheer up Camilla. She drew an elaborate Mommy picture that Camilla toted around that day....

Birthday Girls

This year I've thought about friendships that I've lost in the last year. Within 2 weeks Brandy moved to India, Aimee went to be with the Lord, and Melissa moved to Prague. These were girls who the Lord blessed me with. Brandy has been my best friend since our freshman year in college- the Lord has sustained our friendships across the world once before, I know he'll do it again. Aimee played an integral part of our family and I miss her dearly. Melissa was my deepest rooted friend in Charlotte. Really my first friend I met here in Charlotte. We prayed together weekly for 4 years. We walked together through infertility and births, seminary and support raising- what a gift she is to me! Often times I just focus on what I miss and not how the Lord has blessed me this year with newer friendships.....

Sage, Mary, and Ashley at our birthday dinner

This year was a precious one to me as Wes and Sage Andrews moved to Charlotte. I knew Sage (and Wes though not well) in Clemson. We reconnected when we were both pregnant with Bennett and Wyatt. Labor Day of '08 Sage and Wes visited us in Charlotte with this crazy idea to come to RTS and pursue ministry in the PCA. We dreamed that day of maybe working on staff together. The Lord has done this (Wes was hired as our part-time youth minister) and so much more! Bennett and Wyatt were in the same preschool class. Camilla and Walker will be together this year. The Andrews joined our lifegroup and have blessed our lives so much by their presence. We're so thankful the Lord has brought them here! Sage has been so tender and prayerful in the midst of all of this. She points me to Christ and lets me cry when I need to, not rushing me past the pain.

Ashley Icard is a sweet friend who joined our lifegroup this winter. She showed up to the group the week before Aimee left us. Ashley has been such a gift to me! Without even knowing she's played a huge part in my grief process. Every Friday (and lots of Wednesdays) we meet at the Harris YMCA and dance. Yes, I said dance. Cardio Funk to be exact! This has been something that I've looked to each week. She's been with me while I've been able to let go of pain and just have fun, laughing all the way! She just brings joy and laughter wherever she goes! I'm thankful for how she reminds me of the blessings the Lord has given me.

All 3 of us share August birthdays. We enjoyed a birthday dinner at PF Changs earlier this month! And there's one more birthday girl who was hiding in the picture, Lalla Andrews (born just 10 days later!)