This Fall

This fall the girls will be attending Enrichment Classes on Fridays as part of the local homeschool group we recently joined.  They will be taking 2 classes: Beginner Spanish and Around the World, where they will learn about other countries, geography, make flags, etc.  It doesn't start until mid-September so I haven't told them yet but I'm very excited about it!  There are 44 families in the group and they get together regularly for park days, field trips, etc. 

We also have a group of friends that we see regularly at the library story hour and sometimes we get together afterwards to play at the Burger King playzone, or have a picnic at the park.  If they were to go to public school, they wouldn't start Kindergarten for another year and 3 months so this upcoming year would be their preschool year.  I think we'll have fun!  =)

Here is our beloved Miss Shawn, who leads the story hour, reading to the girls afterwards:

Library friends:

I went to the statewide homeschool convention a few weeks ago and was amazed at how many people, and how many different types of people, homeschool.  The amount of curriculum choices are overwhelming.  I walked around for 7 hours, visiting most of the booths, picking up free catalogs, and just being amazed.  Jody watched the girls all day so I could go by myself (thank you!) and I really enjoyed it.

Current statistics say there are more than 2 million students who are homeschooled, which is a 75% increase since 1999.  Homeschooling is definitely not what it used to be.  There is SO much available.  Unfortunately...none of it is free!  I did win a free bag of books though!

So, our biggest reason for wanting to homeschool is just that...we want to.  It sounds very appealing to us, we've already been doing it somewhat for the last year and I enjoy teaching them, I like the flexibility and increased family time...it just seems like it would be a nice fit for us.

I'm not against public school.  I don't think everybody should homeschool.  Our choice to homeschool does not mean that we think everyone who makes a different choice is wrong...every family is different and this is just what we truly want to do!  I don't think it's for everybody but it seems like it would work great for us. 

=)

Conversation with Ava

Last night at supper Ava asked, "Mom, when I'm a grown-up like you, and I have children who are this many (holding up 4 fingers)...will I be able to drive?"

Me:  "Yes, you will."

Ava:  "What kind of van will I have for my family?"

Me:  "Well, whatever kind you like.  You could have a silver one like ours or a different color."

Ava:  "Maybe my children could sit in the middle and I could sit in the back, and you could drive...if you want to."

Me:  "Sure, I'd be happy to drive."

Ava:  "I could sit behind my children and fix their hair."

Gracie:  "Yeah!  We could both sit in the back and fix our children's hair!"

Then they decided that they would each have their own van.

Ava mentioned again that I could drive...if I wanted to.

  

Talking to Grandma

Mother's Day 2012