If someone would have asked me 8 years ago if I was planning on homschooling my children. I would have told them they were out of their minds.
While I was pregnant with Avery I would joke about homeschooling my child. For the simple fact I couldn't even bear the idea of one day my sweet baby who I hadn't even met yet would be leaving me.
That was 8 years ago...
Today and 3 kids later things have changed.
I started toying with the idea shortly after Chloe was released from the Hospital after her first almost 2 week long stay for RSV.
Both Avery and Bella were in preschool and were always sick and now my baby who is already fighting for her life. Didn't need to worry about getting the germs the big kids were bringing home.
When Chloe was 3 weeks old. We were informed that even a simple cold could cause serious complications.
At that time our biggest fear was open heart surgery on a newborn. I had no idea that our stuffy noses could cause heart failure. In turn if meds couldn't help counter act her heart failing that would lead to a heart transplant.
After a very sickly first year, along with weekly weigh ins and monthly meetings with Chloe's AMAZING Heart Doctor... Dr. Stamm.
Our minds were made up...
We were told that if we could make it to year 2 without any major heart problems Chloe's VSD ( Ventricular Septal Defect )would require repair at age 2.
Avery would be mid way through his school year. With that in the back of our minds we didn't want to worry about who would be around and able to take him to school if I was at home caring for a baby who just had open heart surgery.
Knowing that if I were home with Chloe caring for her there was no reason why I wouldn't be able to teach my son.
Then started the quest for the perfect homeshool curriculum. Sonlight was one of the first I found and after looking at what seems like thousands, but more like a hundred different ones. We went with Sonlight!
We are almost 2 full years into Homeschool and I couldn't be any more happy with the choice that our family has made. I get to spend my days with my children watching and helping them learn and grow.
After 2 very long years of prayer Miss Chloe walked into Dr. Stamm's office and was given a clean bill of health. While her heart defects remain they have gotten smaller. She doesn't have to go back to see him until she is 4. While the worry is gone for the most part, the memory still remains of what could have happened.
With all that being said I want to THANK YOU all for everything! The prayers over the years and the positive encouragement during our journey of life and parenthood and everything in between. We couldn't have done it without you!
Hugs and Loves,
Taylor
Showing posts with label Homeschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeschool. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Busy as a Bee
Gosh I cant believe that it's been 8 long days since I posted last.
I remember a time when blogging was like coffee I had to have every morning. Truth be told I have not lost my urge to blog, but teaching my sweet babies has been at the top of the list this week.
We are swimming in a sea of Wonderful Sonlight books and are knee deep into the first part of The Boxcar Children.
Yesterday I had every intention of blogging after reading Chapter 2 of the book thinking that the big kids would need a break before starting on the next part of our lesson. More than 2 hours later we were just starting on Handwriting. We finished Chapter 2 and I started to close the book to start asking them some questions. I never got a chance to open my mouth...
"What are you doing! Can we read a little bit more? Please, Please, Please"
And that is just what we did we are now almost half way through the book. More than two weeks ahead and my children are remembering EVERYTHING we have read.
Yesterday was a great day in Homeschooling! My children spent all day in their School Informs and couldn't help, but want more. This is when I knew our family had made the right choice to teach our children at home. I couldn't imagine not being around to witness their excitement when they love something they are learning!
I promise tomorrow I'll post for Foto Finish Friday (amy) just for you.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
PS. For those who are wondering what our Schools uniform is PJ's all day!!!!
I remember a time when blogging was like coffee I had to have every morning. Truth be told I have not lost my urge to blog, but teaching my sweet babies has been at the top of the list this week.
We are swimming in a sea of Wonderful Sonlight books and are knee deep into the first part of The Boxcar Children.
Yesterday I had every intention of blogging after reading Chapter 2 of the book thinking that the big kids would need a break before starting on the next part of our lesson. More than 2 hours later we were just starting on Handwriting. We finished Chapter 2 and I started to close the book to start asking them some questions. I never got a chance to open my mouth...
"What are you doing! Can we read a little bit more? Please, Please, Please"
And that is just what we did we are now almost half way through the book. More than two weeks ahead and my children are remembering EVERYTHING we have read.
Yesterday was a great day in Homeschooling! My children spent all day in their School Informs and couldn't help, but want more. This is when I knew our family had made the right choice to teach our children at home. I couldn't imagine not being around to witness their excitement when they love something they are learning!
I promise tomorrow I'll post for Foto Finish Friday (amy) just for you.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
PS. For those who are wondering what our Schools uniform is PJ's all day!!!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Our Rainforest Song
Sing to the tune of "If your Happy and You Know it"
There are layers in the forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
There are Layers in the Forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
Emergent, Canopy, and the Understory
There are layers in the forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
The Emergent is home to birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The Emergent is home to the birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The trees are so high that they almost tough the sky
The Emergent is home to the birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
Monkeys, Sloths, Orangutans, eat all the fruit they can
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
They eat cats and bats and rats
And they like the grants for snacks
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet!
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet
Oh, the ants go marching by, as they watch the birds up high
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet!
I hope you enjoyed our song. Once the kids get it down I will get video of them singing it and post it here for you all to see.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
There are layers in the forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
There are Layers in the Forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
Emergent, Canopy, and the Understory
There are layers in the forest, Yes Indeed
Yes Indeed!
The Emergent is home to birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The Emergent is home to the birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The trees are so high that they almost tough the sky
The Emergent is home to the birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
Monkeys, Sloths, Orangutans, eat all the fruit they can
The Canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
They eat cats and bats and rats
And they like the grants for snacks
The Understory is home to many snakes
Many Snakes!
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet!
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet
Oh, the ants go marching by, as they watch the birds up high
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and Wet!
I hope you enjoyed our song. Once the kids get it down I will get video of them singing it and post it here for you all to see.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Great Amazon Rainforest
We have spent the week learning about tree's. Things they do for us and things we can do for them.
While I was trying to hunt down a book in our home library I came across a book about the Amazon Rain forest. While I glanced over the pages reading bits here and there, and trying to figure out where in the heck this book came from.
When I started reading it to them I figured we could learn about the animals and maybe a tree type or two. I had no idea they were going to find it as cool as they did.
Bella had the great idea of write a song about the "Great Amazon Rain forest" That is still in the works. I plan on getting it on video of them singing it to post here. They also wanted to build a rain forest in our school room and even include the Amazon River. We are going to be constructing it for weeks.
I started writing this blog last week and well I'm just now sitting down again to try and finish it. We continue to learn about the Amazon and they cant seem to get enough of it. Everyday we learn about a different animal and continue to work on our song. Hey even we are learning a thing or two. The Pink River Dolphin I had no clue that there was such a thing. When I told Avery that I had never heard of one. He goes "MOM hello there was one on Dora" I guess I should spend more time watching Dora?
Funny how things turn out. When I started to research Homeschooling and different ways that we could do it. I remember when I first read about Unit Studies.... I wasn't too sure if I would be able to come up with enough to keep them busy learning in every subject centered around one thing. Without even giving it much thought that is what we have been doing the last two weeks.
I still plan on using Sonlight, but I wanted them to get into the swing of school before we set our eyes and minds on Sonlight. So once we are finished learning everything we can about the Great Amazon Rain forest we will start our first year of our Sonlight adventure. I truly cant wait the books are amazing!
Well thats all for now.... Check back I am going to try to start writing again on a regular basis again.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
While I was trying to hunt down a book in our home library I came across a book about the Amazon Rain forest. While I glanced over the pages reading bits here and there, and trying to figure out where in the heck this book came from.
When I started reading it to them I figured we could learn about the animals and maybe a tree type or two. I had no idea they were going to find it as cool as they did.
Bella had the great idea of write a song about the "Great Amazon Rain forest" That is still in the works. I plan on getting it on video of them singing it to post here. They also wanted to build a rain forest in our school room and even include the Amazon River. We are going to be constructing it for weeks.
I started writing this blog last week and well I'm just now sitting down again to try and finish it. We continue to learn about the Amazon and they cant seem to get enough of it. Everyday we learn about a different animal and continue to work on our song. Hey even we are learning a thing or two. The Pink River Dolphin I had no clue that there was such a thing. When I told Avery that I had never heard of one. He goes "MOM hello there was one on Dora" I guess I should spend more time watching Dora?
Funny how things turn out. When I started to research Homeschooling and different ways that we could do it. I remember when I first read about Unit Studies.... I wasn't too sure if I would be able to come up with enough to keep them busy learning in every subject centered around one thing. Without even giving it much thought that is what we have been doing the last two weeks.
I still plan on using Sonlight, but I wanted them to get into the swing of school before we set our eyes and minds on Sonlight. So once we are finished learning everything we can about the Great Amazon Rain forest we will start our first year of our Sonlight adventure. I truly cant wait the books are amazing!
Well thats all for now.... Check back I am going to try to start writing again on a regular basis again.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
Homeschool Video
Someone sent this to me and I thought it was great so I had to share.
value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rIOogqa-5GA&hl=en&fs=1">
value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rIOogqa-5GA&hl=en&fs=1">
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Getting into the Swing of Things
We have spent the last week or so trying to get into the Swing of things.
While we wait for our Sonlight Shipment the kids have been working from a few workbooks we picked up. The first few days that we were doing school work here at home were a bit rough. Miss Chloe wanted to be held or she would find anything to stand on to be able to climb onto the table. Where she would sit trying to make herself look cute by saying "Hi" over and over again so she wouldn't get into trouble for being on the table. Yesterday she sat in her high chair pulled up to the table and colored in her new coloring book for over an hour!
Both Avery and Bella cant wait for that Sonlight box to show up. We were talking about the books and what we were going to be learning this year. Lets just say that its going to be like Christmas when it shows up.
I have been cleaning like a crazy person. All I have to say is my meds must be working. If you are reading this most of you know me well enough to know that I hate I mean really HATE cleaning. Even my kids when I start deep cleaning they ask " Who's coming over". If its the last thing I do I'm going to get this house in tip top shape before we really start school for the year. I had the kids helping yesterday. The whole second floor is spotless!
What else is new here since I haven't spent anytime blogging as of late. This past Friday we headed up to Seattle for hair cuts and to pick up Grandma. After we got Grandma we went to toys r us so Avery could get his birthday gift that he had been waiting forever for. We weren't even in the door 2 minutes when Bella walked by a shelf and a Wooden Toy Chest fell on her foot. The screaming, Blood and the way her toe turned black and blue and grew 3 times its normal size. We had to wait with the screaming and bleeding child for almost 45 minutes while good old Toys R Us too their sweet time trying to find the Incident Report paperwork. Don't even get me started on the lady from Personal Injury who we are dealing with. Poor Bella still cant put shoes on. We took her to see Dr. T once I filled out our paperwork. It isn't broken but it is really badly bruised and shes going to end up loosing her big toe nail. There goes her foot modeling career.
Only Kidding!
I should run the kids have made a mess out of my "clean" second floor and Avery let Chloe have his blue mouth wash and she now looks like the girl who turned into the blueberry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The kitten has been named after a few weeks of just calling him "The Kitten" He is now Oscar, but last night Bella had a great idea! She thought we should call him Fruit. I really hope that one doesn't stick.
Until Next Time,
JUST MOM
While we wait for our Sonlight Shipment the kids have been working from a few workbooks we picked up. The first few days that we were doing school work here at home were a bit rough. Miss Chloe wanted to be held or she would find anything to stand on to be able to climb onto the table. Where she would sit trying to make herself look cute by saying "Hi" over and over again so she wouldn't get into trouble for being on the table. Yesterday she sat in her high chair pulled up to the table and colored in her new coloring book for over an hour!
Both Avery and Bella cant wait for that Sonlight box to show up. We were talking about the books and what we were going to be learning this year. Lets just say that its going to be like Christmas when it shows up.
I have been cleaning like a crazy person. All I have to say is my meds must be working. If you are reading this most of you know me well enough to know that I hate I mean really HATE cleaning. Even my kids when I start deep cleaning they ask " Who's coming over". If its the last thing I do I'm going to get this house in tip top shape before we really start school for the year. I had the kids helping yesterday. The whole second floor is spotless!
What else is new here since I haven't spent anytime blogging as of late. This past Friday we headed up to Seattle for hair cuts and to pick up Grandma. After we got Grandma we went to toys r us so Avery could get his birthday gift that he had been waiting forever for. We weren't even in the door 2 minutes when Bella walked by a shelf and a Wooden Toy Chest fell on her foot. The screaming, Blood and the way her toe turned black and blue and grew 3 times its normal size. We had to wait with the screaming and bleeding child for almost 45 minutes while good old Toys R Us too their sweet time trying to find the Incident Report paperwork. Don't even get me started on the lady from Personal Injury who we are dealing with. Poor Bella still cant put shoes on. We took her to see Dr. T once I filled out our paperwork. It isn't broken but it is really badly bruised and shes going to end up loosing her big toe nail. There goes her foot modeling career.
Only Kidding!
I should run the kids have made a mess out of my "clean" second floor and Avery let Chloe have his blue mouth wash and she now looks like the girl who turned into the blueberry in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The kitten has been named after a few weeks of just calling him "The Kitten" He is now Oscar, but last night Bella had a great idea! She thought we should call him Fruit. I really hope that one doesn't stick.
Until Next Time,
JUST MOM
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Update in Photos
We have been crazy busy getting ready for School and trying to enjoy the end of the Summer.
Here are some photos of our School Room, The new kitten who found us, and some of the kids. One of Bella with the new Kitten, One of Chloe with Gloves on her feet, and a picture that Avery took of himself. And one of Chloe after she decided to draw on herself.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
