Year Four in Review- Part II: The Fall Semester

The beginning of year four was a mixed bag of emotions.

For the first time, I finally felt like I was starting to find my 'groove'- that I was getting a handle on this whole home schooling thing.

But as excited as I was for all the new curriculum that I had for the coming year, as fall approached my dread about the new year increased.

I literally did NOT want to start the year. I was starting to freak out about how much work I was going to have to get through and figured that there was NO way I was ever going to manage it.

Somehow, though, I managed to finally convince myself to start opening books and get a handle on what I was supposed to be doing with the kids and how it was going to happen.

And you know what, for a few weeks, it did happen. Then things started to wane (see my earlier post about that here).

Anyway, our school year consisted of a virtual trip around the world- and it was great. The kids really enjoyed our 'together time' as we read all of the different things included in our packaged curriculum.

First we began with a general overview of the world. So, of course, we needed to bake a cake. Great idea, not so great on the execution. It looked so much better in my head- but the kids loved it! After all, what's not to love about cake and icing?

Our 'world' cake

We also managed to still be swimming in my parents' pool until October, yet also went skating the day before!

Rebekah's first time skating & Noah finally started
getting the whole balance thing. Much better than
the last time we went- no weeping & wailing! Yeah!

All the boys were supposed to jump at once- that
OBVIOUSLY did NOT happen

 We also took the older boys to an outdoors 'toy' show where they got to ride quads for the first time. We didn't stay long enough for them to be able to ride the motorbikes- maybe next year.

Always in competition with each other

Of course there was the corn maze- thankfully we had some friends to go with, which made it a LOT more fun. Definitely need to remember to do that more often.

The older boys raced through as fast as they could,
so this was the younger part of our gang

Just so you don't think that all we did was have fun, here's a picture of a science experiment that we did. One of the stalks has the 'ribs' removed- we waited a week to see what would happen (one wilted, the other didn't- just in case you were wondering).

I coloured the water to help show
how the 'ribs' drew up the water

For Noah, who really got the short end of the stick- I tried to do fun things with his learning (also based on his curriculum package- which I totally baled on half way through the year).

While learning about the letter 'A', we went to a local apple farm to pick apples. Unfortunately, since I was behind in the lessons the school tours/displays were already gone, but we still had fun anyway.

I think for the future, I should try to make up a schedule of when things are open so that if I get a sudden urge to do something there is a better chance of getting there while it's actually operational!

Hamming it up while picking apples

Mommys little helpers, mixing the dough for
our pie crust

Posing with his pie before it goes
into the oven. One of my first, completely
from scratch pies- turned out pretty well

Then one day, I did something so completely out of character for me- I took the kids to the park, with the intent of going puddle jumping. They were seriously shocked that I wasn't freaking out about it. Needless to say I have at least one kid that did NOT like the outcome of that field trip.

Can you guess where this is headed?

Well, our fall semester was not all fun and games. Sometimes there were frustrating lessons to be learned- like doing things over and over again until the quality of their work matched what I knew they were capable of doing.

Proof of what Samuel was able to do,
for future reference, of course

 Or learning that when we disobey, there are sometimes really, really painful consequences...

Noah getting 3 stitches after falling against
the piano bench- thank God for Dr's who
have cartoons on their smart phones!

And wouldn't you know it, he did that the week of school pictures. So typical, eh?!

To round out the first semester, we had our first set of birthdays (not including my turning 40, which I just kind of ignored). Noah and Rebekah have their birthdays 5 days apart. It was kind of fun to finally be able to do a Barbie cake (just in case you're wondering- boys don't usually ask for Barbie cakes).

Noah wanted the Minecraft 'cake'- so 300+ squares later
we had one. Turned out pretty good.

My Princess with her 'Princess' cake

All in all, the fall semester went quite well once we started. We were doing the daily Bible lessons and getting almost everything done each day because we were getting up early and staying on task.

It felt really good.

However, it didn't last. 

And that frustration sort of carried on to the rest of the year- mostly at myself but sometimes at the kids.

I'm not sure what happen, when, why or how either. All I know is that somehow I HAVE to figure out how to self-motivate myself to do things that I don't always want to do- like getting up in the morning (although having gotten this dog might be part of that answer- and going to bed before 2 or 3 in the morning could help with that as well...).

Somewhere, somehow I need to get an answer for this because I'm getting a bit tired of starting things well only to fizzle out part way through.

That's NOT something I want to teach my kids. And by default, the things that I do day in and day out DO teach them things whether I like it or not.

I want my kids to follow my GODLY example- which means that I need to live that. And God has promised that I ALREADY have everything I need to live a godly life- I just need to apprehend it (2 Pet. 1:3).

So I guess that's the answer, I will be able to do it by coming to KNOW HIM in a deeper, more intimate way.

It's not about figuring out the formula/method or by getting the right curriculum. It's about seeking HIM and HIS face- simply for relationship with Him. 

Then the rest will be added (Matt. 6:33).

Until next time...

Keeping it real, by the grace of God...

Tammy