The new year has started, and a joy fills my heart that I have not had in a long time. The joy of homeschooling! This is our 7th year in homeschooling. I can say that it has been a wonderful 7 years. I absolutely LOVE homeschooling. I love the time spent with my kids, I love teaching them, I love seeing them accomplish an educational goal through hard work(not always without whinning), I love watching the relationships grow between siblings whom live and grow together 24/7(this is not easy), and I love how I am learning so much along with them. Through these past 7 years I have had some times of ease, where I was on top of things and still had some free time left over. This was in the beginning :o). As we had more children.....time got tighter and the work load grew(as to be expected). Along with the normal growth, we had a big move, morning sickness, a baby with health issues, and then a renovation that turned our home literally upside down. These things really slowed me down and made schooling exceptionally hard. It was one of the hardest(emotionally and physically) years I have had. We made it through, but it was not always pretty. Well, we are now in a completed home with a much healthier toddler. This week was the first week where I have gotten so excited and joyful about the planning and teaching. Not to say it has been smooth, but even with the bumps in the road I have felt an excitement that I have not felt in a long time. There are less distractions and more time to spend with my kiddos. I actually have time to work on curriculum and plan lessons. I am loving it! We have simplified life and spend a lot of time at home. Our nights our filled with reading and playing games with the kids. It has been a long time since that was even an option. I am welcoming back this lifestyle that I so missed!
My eldest girl's Ginger Bread Mansion from Christmas
After Christmas, we went to a small town in Ga to visit my In-Laws.
Had a lovely time seeing more of the area and meeting their friends.
Their backyard is a pecan orchard
Breakfast time
My Mother-n-Law has a store in the downtown. Kids loved playing and working in it.
another tractor :o)
Would have been a great picture had the boy on the left had been more of a participant. :o)
Front of In-Laws Home
Cute lil' 6 year-old dancing in the yard
