11 Is A Good Number

On October 17th my husband and I celebrated out 11th wedding anniversary!

My mom and dad took our 3 girls for the whole night and we just hung out!

First we went shopping for Christmas Jammies for the little ladies,

Then we went to Champps for some college football,

Third we went to Toys R Us to look around

(#3 is going to turn 2 verrrry soon)

Followed by dinner out and a movie at home!

I love my husband and am so blessed to be his wife!

---------------

In other news: Homeschool is still such a good thing!

I don't have any current pictures, but I just wanted to share something...

Today #1 was a helper in #2's kindergarten class!!!

She got on the bus with #2 this am and came home again...

She is enjoying so many opportunities to serve and learn.

She keeps up with her schoolwork and seems to love our morning time together.

Math continues to be a favorite, cursive isn't as fun as she thought it would be...

I love her and am so proud of her - she is flourishing!

I'll be back,

Aubrey

Not 75% Nervous Anymore!!!

I'm on my husband's computer so I don't have any pictures today, but I wanted to drop a quick line and tell everyone that we are doing GREAT! I believe in what we're doing and #1 is responding so well and appreciates the attention she is getting. Fortunately because she is older I really only need to start her on something and then just be available for questions etc. She had academy yesterday - she made butter, made a scrapbook and just had fun with a bunch of girls her age! One day of the week for 8 weeks she is doing a program called Swim & Gym at our local community center. LOVE IT! Both her and #2 participate and are receiving Red Cross swim lessons for an hour and focused fitness gym time for the other hour!

So this is a quick update, no pics, but now that my computer is working I should be able to post some up soon!

Love and Blessings,
Aubrey

T minus 3 days and counting....

This one is still waiting for school to start....

This one isn't waiting any longer...

And this one will be waiting a loooong time....

We're super excited to get started around here - and I'm only nervous like, 75% of the time!!!

Even though cold feet may threaten to strike.....well....we'll see what happens - won't we.

Peace,

Aubrey

Big Bowl

No pictures, but let me say...the Chicken Pad Thai takes the cake every time!

(Not to mention Chicken Pot Stickers)

(Oh Yeah - and the Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice)

(Oops - don't forget the leftover white rice from #2's bowl....I don't think I need to eat for a few weeks.....)

(And I better not forget to tell you about the Strawberry Ice Cream Pie my very talented sister-in-law served up after dinner...yeah, I had a piece...)

John's parents just celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary yesterday! So they took us out! Hey, I'm game...

They are special people and it's always wonderful to spend time sharing our little family with them...our girls are sooooo blessed to have such wonderful Grandparents!

In other news, #3 really likes her doggie cousins (sorry, again, no pictures) but not as much when they're at eye level. She'd rather be eye level with a camera....

Good Night and Good 'Luck'

Aubrey

Rain and Messy Basements

Today it rained....all day long.

Today my 3 girls and I cleaned the play area of the basement.

Today I couldn't stop thinking about homeschooling and the small details left to tie into a pretty bow.

See?? Teething, rubbing, pressing on her gums...whimpering, "Hodejoo." (Hold You)

Some days it just has to rain and kids just need to be held.

Love,

Aubrey

Brett Favre????

That's right folks...nothing to do with homeschooling (again)...but seriously.

This can only end one of two ways - let's just leave it at that.

In other news, I have become organized!
Here is 'My Binder' (sung to the tune of 'My Buddy')
It is pretty and happy and holds 13 wks worth of scheduling.
I've decided that 13 weeks is about all I can handle in one place.

Ta-Da!

'My Planner' (second verse same as the first)

August has been much busier than this, but 'my planner' isn't really for those things, right?

September is starting to get a little bulky...

Woah! Aaaand BEGIN!

Even the dividers are pretty! And in numeric order too!

(Proof that the buck stops at 13)

One last thing:

This stack of books is my praise report for today!

Because of the Christian Homeschooling Support Group my family and I have become members of and their wonderful (free) library, and because of a special woman's time and effort, my 'readers needed' list went from this:

To This:

All in just 15 minutes!

Hallelujah I'm almost there!

PS #3 is teething and has been teething her eye teeth for, oh, about 3 years (even though she's just 21.5 months old - small detail.) Someone help her!

The End

By Request: My Garden

Ahhh Gerbera daisies...

Take your pick!

I can't remember the name of this one:

morning glory:

And again...

A pot full of chamomile and a basket of morning glory!

It's about to get really green around here.....

Tabouleh anyone?
I'll bring the parsley!

When you let cilantro go to seed, you get coriander!




I must confess that I'm getting impatient for a whole bushel of these puppies:

(come on you guys - soak up the sun!)

The Roma Tomatoes could use a little red as well...




I never knew that basil blooms:





One green bean...


Some green beans:





Last but NEVER least....the Pink Brandywine Heirloom tomatoes......

oooo yeah

I know that none of this really has much to do with homeschooling, but we will be planting more seeds in the early spring (radishes, corn, beans) so we'll consider this a very successful dry run!

See you round,

Aubrey

In Which I Convince Myself I Can Do It

(It = Homeschooling)

"It's O.K. to Be Smart!" (Does anyone else think that that statement is as funny as I do?)

I happen to think #1 is bright...and bold...and beautiful - as any parent should, right?
(Has anyone ever seen Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken? Right????)


This used to be my coat closet.....(I'm sorry, truly I am... Books are probably the least exciting thing to look at when you happen upon a blog... but this is the ugly truth...)




This pile of books rest on top of our family roll-top desk. One is a catelog. One is a binder for MACHE - Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators. (They keep on top of the MN Homeschool laws and information and then make it available to us in laymans terms. I've been to one of their conferences and the amount of info and support is beyond incredible. I'm excited to do the full conference this year with John!) The colorful binder is #1's 'back to school' gear that she helped pick out. (It helped her to feel more in control of her future. No, Really - it did)Spelling Power is a spelling curriculum from 8yrs to adult. The list goes on...and on...

I am excited! I have peace in my heart and am resolved in my mind. I'm nervous and thrilled and putting together a schedule that seems packed yet possible. But until September 14th, I'm going to do as much of this as I can:

#3

#2 - with 'muscles'

#1, #3, #2

Blessings,

Aubrey

I'm still here!

Now that August is here, preparations are in full swing for a homeschool adventure!

I'll put up a picture simply because posts are semi-boring without one....

I love change!

So I changed the web address and name of this blog because it's mine and I can!

As you see it is now thetamingofahomeschoolmom.blogspot.com

See you round!

'Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This'

'there'd be days like this my mama said (mama said mama said)'

Maybe I go a little too far, but after having a difficult day, I often look through pictures from days I know I was a good mom to happy children....

My lovely little lady with lyric lines

Um...who ever knows where she is going?

We are in trouble with this one!

She moves so beautifully...

Depth....pure depth....

I wonder what she's pretending about?

This is them! To a Freaking T!

Amen