"Insta"-replay #106, Spring has sprung

March really does seem to come in like a lion, out like a lamb.

March started out cold and wet.

Kids had to bundle up to go outside.

I started the month with the flu.  I'm a miserable sick person.  But Jon suffered through it and did what he could to keep me away from everyone else so they didn't get sick too.

Thanks to YouTube and "standupmaths" I learned a spinning egg trick.  Girls where also impressed.

Our piano is finally being used as an instrument not a shelf!  Thanks to Aunt Abbie graciously offering to teach the girls.  They are enjoying the lessons and even practicing, some.

The middle of March is a fun time for not quite holidays.  Pi day, 3/14, we went out for pie with my mom.

The ides of March, the kids learned about Caesar.  I got out my old high school English project, animal themed sock puppets.  It was fun to share and the girls are asked my if this will be something we do every "ides of March"?

Spring break was a lot of cousin time.  It was wet outside so we had to spend most of the time indoors.  Luckily the local craft store had kids crafts every morning so we were able to get out of the house each day.  An added bonus was I didn't have to clean up afterwards.

The month finished with Easter.  The girls came up with a great clay egg and beads craft.  They shaped the eggs from modeling clay and used beads to decorate.  So simple yet so creative.

Another month done.

"Insta"-replay #105, even with the extra day February seemed short

I've been neglecting my blog, sorry. I can't believe how quickly last month went!

We worked on school.

Celebrated Chinese New Year with the help of monkeys from Grandma Jackie.

Merry had a wonderful birthday! She even got the horse she had been eyeing every time we went to Target.

My inlaws totally out did themselves with a fabulous shopkins themed birthday party for her.

Girl Scouts cookies season came.  Girls write out thank you notes to their customers.

Charry worked hard designing a light saber card for "Grand Prix". She won first place in design so her hard work payed off!

We finally made it up to see my grandma!

And spring might be just around the corner, I love the bright daffodils popping up around here! They are like little rays of sunshine.

"Whatchadoin?" Mid year restructuring

My oldest daughter has been going to youth group (that makes me feel old) at my sisters church.  It gives her a chance to meet new friends and be away from parents, but since her aunt is the small group leader I don't worry about her.  Long story short, last month my sister informed me, "Charry has been telling the other girls that she's failing classes."

I was a bit surprised.  First of all, she's not failing any classes.  I'm a pretty harsh grader but she is still a solid B student.  Secondly, why on earth did she think she was failing!

So we sat down for a Parent/Teacher conference and went over grades together.  After reassuring my child that she was doing fine, we talked about what she needed to feel successful.  

In the end we decided to change how we did a few classes.  We divided her classes into ones she was comfortable doing on her own with mom just grading at the end of each unit and those mom needed to be more actively involved in.

Now she has "student led" and "teacher led" classes.  This gives me a bit more work during the day to day schooling.

But seeing her happily mastering new ideas and concepts makes it worth it, after all this is why we homeschool.

"Insta"-replay #104, new year, new schedule

The first month of the year flew by!  I can't believe how quickly it was over.  

We started the year with a dolly New Years party.  We made game boards for the dolls and stayed up late.  Like 10 o'clock late not midnight late.

We had fun at the library, even Jon came to watch puppets.

After the show the girls were able to meet the puppeteers and get a closer look at the different types of puppets they used.

We had some surprise snow! And I found out my tween is fabulous at taking selfies, I think it's because she's a lefty.

Then it was back to school and the humdrum of life.

We are making an effort to keep our schedule free for family time, it is so easy to over book.

Looking back at the month I must say how nice it is to be close to family, not just physically close (although sometimes I wish all my family was closer) but relationship close.  I'm glad my daughters are growing up with positive role models all around them!

The girls look forward to when the boys have a day off school so they can play.  I was feeling under the weather and may have forgotten they were coming but it was a pleasant surprise.

It was such a fun, busy month, and I'm looking forward to this next one too!

Whatchadoin? Homeschooling while in school.

I love learning.  While I never really liked "school" I enjoyed almost all of my classes, even ones I didn't do well in.  So I was giddy with excitement when I returned to college last fall.

Now that my first semester is over and grades are posted, am I still excited?  Yes!  Going to school has meant rearranging our lives a bit.  Even though my classes are online they still have deadlines to meet and tasks to accomplish.  Finding time to study as well as do assignments was a bigger struggle than I expected.

 One decision I made when I signed up for college was to home-school only four days a week.  This meant longer days, covering all subjects every day. It also meant I had a free day for my school.  This has been a huge help but trying to cram a weeks work into one day was a bigger feat than I expected.  I kept my free day but also added in a few evening each week to help stay on top of things.  

I am very grateful for a husband who is supportive of both my school and the girls home-school. He has had to play taxi driver for the girls while I work on school.  And has taken a more active role around the house, getting dinners made and picking up groceries on his way home from work.

 School is not exactly what I expected, and it is definitely not easy, but I'm enjoying learning still. One of the main things I am learning is how to be a student. 

"Insta"-replay #103, happy new year

So I think this will be my last weekly replay, I'm planning on continuing monthy instead.  I love keeping family updated and looking back at what we do but the weekly format is taking too much of my time.  

Last week was the last week of 2015!  The year went out with more of a fizzle than a bang.

The boys were over, enjoying winter break.  There were many board games and imaginative play all week long!

New Years itself was a quiet affair.  Our plans didn't work out so instead we had a doll party.  The girls were good sports with the last minute change and the night in wasn't so bad after all.

I plan to replay all of January on February 1st but here is a preview picture, getting ready for 12th night!  Another dolly celebration.

"Insta"-replay 102, and to all a good night!

Last replay of 2015! Well, next week's will also be about 2015 but it will be in 2016.

This Christmas we decided to visit Idaho.  It meant giving up a few traditions and gaining a week of memories that we will look back on with smiles and laughter.

The trip was supposed to take about nine hours.  After sitting for a few hours the girls were excited to get out and stretch.  Their excitement grew when they saw the snow!  Little did we know just how much snow we would be seeing.

The trip got a bit longer when the freeway was closed down.  We found out there had been an accident in time to turn around but not in time to find a reasonable alternative route.  Still staying the night at a hotel beat sleeping in the van!

Next day, bright and early we were on our way, again.

Then, at last we were there!  Cousins galore and much silliness.

The rest of the week was spent playing in the snow while parents sat inside where it was warm.

When they weren't outside the kids were still rarely seen.  Legos and Barbies were constantly being played with!

We made a few trip out and about to see the local sights, like Chick-fil-A.

Seeing a snow covered zoo was fun.  The animals that were out were all very active.

After a few hours outside we were happy to spend a few hour inside learning at the discovery center.

After that crazy, fun filled week I think I am ready to sleep for at least a week!  Hope your Christmas was filled with memories and that you have s chance to rest up from the excitement.