New Morning Routine......

Reading a chapter book together.  Usually, I read to the two girls, but this morning, I was finishing my breakfast.

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"So Teach us to Number Our Days...."

Here is one thing I love about homeschooling.....the girls are both working on the same project-inspite of their big age gap. 

Ruthie (in true little sister style) is coloring each person the exact same color as Ana.  & Ana, bless her heart is helping Ruth pick just the right colors.

Nat is shooting "bad guys" w/ his Nerf gun in the other corner of the room.

Ah, the joys of homeschooling!

Psalm 90:12
"So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom."


We're in the swing of things!!! School's off & running!

More tomorrow-check back for pics!

Yes, this "Homeschooling Family" just dropped one of their kids off at public school.....

I guess that means we really do subscribe to the idea that each child needs to be evaluated each year to decide what's best for them......& this year, Ruthie is going to kindergarten.

I was pretty proud of myself-NO TEARS for me!  I am just glad she was excited to go-& wanted several hugs & besos (kisses) before I said goodbye!

(It bothers me more the past few days that ANA is growing up so fast.....but maybe that's a story for later this week).

Considering Homeschooling?

Just thought it might be helpful to see what our day looks like. I know I wish someone had sat down w/ me & showed me THEIR schedule. So, pretend we're sitting down for a up of tea or coffee (my beverage of choice) & looking at this:


8:00 Handwriting-ABEKA

8:30 Science or History-(both ABEKA-we alternate days)

9:00 Math (Math-U-See) 9:30 Typing (games online)

10:00 1/2 hour of “schooling” her younger sister. I did this because they both wanted to do it so bad. We just use cheap Pre-School workbooks they work through.

10:30 Spelling-ABEKA

11:00 Piano practice for 1/2 hr

All this stuff in the AM, she can pretty much do independently. I am usually doing household stuff, or helping the “littles” w/ something. They both play in their rooms for an hour every morning-so I can get a shower etc.

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1:00-2:30 Sonlight (History, Culture & Geography, taught through great literature!) I do this w/ her.

2:00-something fun. paint, advanced coloring books or some other fun workbook. We did a map unit, & also a listening comprehension unit at this time, too. I always have these types of books on hand from the local school supply store.

2:30-1/2 hour of free reading.

Hopefully, this helps a few of you see a "real" school day! Of course, one of the beauties of homeschooling is that we have the option of throwing out the whole day & doing something different if it ends up being a beautiful day & we want to go to the zoo.....or we have an emergency-like a last minute showing on our house, which is on the market! I'll leave you to guess which is the most frequent occurance lately! (wink)

School Days.....w/ Ana

Now, I know that Ruthie (at age 4 ½) is technically still too young for school, but she was begging to start.

I wasn’t really excited about starting in on her already-just want to give her (& I) a bit more time to get used to the idea!

But, what’s a mom to do when the child continues to plead day in & day out to “do school like Ana?”

So a few months ago, I had the brilliant idea (if I do say so myself-& I can-it’s my blog!!) of letting Ana take over & teach her little sister.

I wondered if it would work, quite honestly. Ruthie is so fiercely independent that I wasn’t sure Ana COULD teach her.

But it has worked amazingly well. Both the girls look forward to it every day.

& who wouldn’t……when Ana lines up such creative activities?




What fun ideas do you have for letting your “olders” teach your “littles?” (Even if you don’t homeschool, I know a lot of you have great ideas!!)

If At First You Don't Succeed.....

Try, try again...

We have tried soooo many different approaches to organizing out school day.

This is the latest attempt. The whole week is now on a chart Ana can check off as she does it. Her mornings she can pretty much run by herself. In the afternoon, we work together.


If you homeschool, how do you organize your days/your child(ren's) days?

Now, Why Didn't I Think Of That 2-3 YEARS Ago?!?

I have always struggled to know how to keep Ruthie & Nat occupied during school hours.

BUT……the past few weeks it has come to a breaking point.

Ana would need to be reading something aloud while I listened & cleaned bathrooms/switched out laundry/got supper going or any number of other necessary tasks.

What were the “littles” up to? Usually nothing productive……& in all honestly-most likely DESTRUCTIVE.

(Like this picture of Nat-taken after he dumped the ENTIRE shampoo bottle in the tub the other day. Ruth had done it the day before with the bath soap.)

(Look at that smirk...sure, he's a cutie, but don't let that fool you!)

So, I took the liberty of being the HEAD TEACHER/VICE-PRINCIPAL of Mountview Christian School, & made some major changes.

I started Ana on a schedule that allows her to do ALL the school work she can accomplish individually in the morning, when our other two need mommy attention.

Then, in the afternoon, when R. & N. rest, I do all the stuff with Ana she needs me for.

What peace has reined in our home!!! I even had time to teach Nat & Ruth how to play princess/prince together-nicely……& wonder of wonders-was able to cuddle up w/ Ana on the couch in the afternoon to read together!!!

(Ana testing out how a balloon ride would feel-cramped!! Ha!)

So, if you have never just tried something new in your schedule(even if you aren't a homeschooler-I encourage you to try it! (I am usually not one that likes to vary much from my original schedule, but in this case-this is one of the BEST decisions I have made recently!!!)

A New School Year Has Begun.....in earnest!!!

Today begins the weekly trek across town for ballet.

It is a two edged sword for me.

I love the consistency all the activities provide for our family……
But I know in about a month or so…..I will be tired of living in the van-at the close of just about every afternoon of the week.

I also struggle with the age-old question: “Are our kids involved in too many activities?” (This year it is two dance classes for Ana, one for Ruth & one piano lesson for Ana a week)

How do you make these kind of decisions for your family?




(Created this post in 5 minutes)

Ahhh...I feel totally ready to tackle our new school year now....

Just got back from a home school group planning session....

Group Field Trips discussed......

New curriculum ideas gone over......

Possible pitfalls addressed.......

Now, I feel ready.


If you homeschool, do you belong to any groups? I haven't joined one every year-some years, quite honestly, it was just too much. But, this year......I am already thankful I did.


In a few months......I might feeling a bit less like tackling school-matter of fact, I am SURE my motivation will flag sometime soon!
(This post took me about 10 minutes for Steady Mom's 30 minutes or less challenge!)

Wordless Wednesday

Well, We Started School Last Week.....

If anyone's been wondering where I have been......

School has sure changed from this:

Kindergarten......2006.

Before Ruthie

Before Nat

What a cute little peanut she was!!!

Expanding Horizons........

No-that light colored appendage is NOT mine.

I am not very brave.

I don’t like squirmy things.

But my Ana took the “littles” in tow & patiently taught them all about worms this week.
“Nat, hold it gently.”
“Ruth, be careful-the worm might think you are a bird if you are too rough with it & it might be scared of you!”
“Here, let’s take them over to the driveway where we can watch them move.”

& I (bravely-ha) took out my camera & documented it!

(Aren’t you proud of me?)

(yes, I think this counts for some science, don't you?)

(& this kinda even fits with the theme over at Hannah's Blog-"That's What Friends/Big Sisters are For!" YEAH!!!)

School Days.......

How did you picture a School Day in the Dillon household?

We are trying to stay busy:

~Ana is doing extra school-figured this is a good way to get ahead, so we can take time off when Nathaniel comes home.

~Still thinking through the girls' room. We are going to paint COLOR on the walls! If you have texured walls, have you come up w/ ways to paint it besides one color on the wall?

~Also, that room has a SMALL closet. There will be two girls in it. Any ideas on how to organize clothes?

~Trying to find a duvet cover for my bedspread. I am tired of the one I have. I would like dark purple/dark blue. This would require the least amount of room re-decorating, & thus the least amount of money! :-)

World Market, Linens & Things, Target & even, dare I say it?-the bane of my existence-Wal-Mart. Yes, I have darkened the door of each of these stores to look for the perfect duvet cover, to no avail.

Did I mention I really dislike Wal-Mart-especially w/ a tired, cranky 18 month old in tow?

Any other ideas anyone?

I did buy new white sheets-pretty ones. Haven't bought them since we were married 9 1/2 years ago!! High time, don't you think, ha, ha!

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Still no news, as I'm sure you guessed!

Please keep storming heavens gates!