Monday, August 6—What led to your decision to homeschool?
Why do you do what you do? What brought you to homeschooling? What factors played a part in your decision?

At first the biggest thing for us was not being able to find a close private school of the same variety that Alice attended when she went to preschool. She went to a Montessori school that was about a five minute drive for us - the teachers were so great, the other kids were nice and the parents rocked. Here the closest school is at least a half hour or so away, not including the traffic. The cost of that school was also a factor because it was more then double what we were paying in Washington.

I toyed with the idea of homeschooling last summer and Chris and I casually talked about it. As a military family we know we are going to have to move around a lot, which means changing schools, resettling down, making new friends, etc. And considering I grew up in the same town, around my family and the same friends since I was four years old, the idea of my kids having to go through that for the entire amount of their school lives definitely freaked me out. Chris moved quite a bit as a child and teenager and doesn’t have very many good memories about it, nor does he have any lifelong friends. I know it’s not realistic for me to think we can have the same kind of life I had since the military is so different, but I wanted something for the kids to be able to hold on to - and as few ‘bad’ memories as possible.

It has to be said that we are living in the south where education is not that great. We are ranked at the bottom, have a horrible graduation rate and add to the problems in schools in general and it’s not a place I want to send my wonderful kids. After hearing a friend tell about all the problems she has with her five year old, the teacher, the other students, the getting into trouble every single week - I’m very glad we didn’t send Alice to public school last year.

So maybe a part of what influenced the decision is a bit of overprotectedness - and I’m okay with that. We will end up moving again and when the time come, we’ll reevaluate where we are in homeschooling and the schools where we end up and go from there.

See more posts over here at I Have To Say…

My friend Tishia Lee tagged me with one of the latest things going around - this one is 8 interesting things about me. I’m a bit late, but that’s okay.

1. We eloped after being ‘engaged’ for a week - can you really call it engaged if it was just a week? Oh and we got married at 12:30AM.

2. My brothers and I have birthdays in months that follow each other and our days all double - 4/3, 5/6, 6/12. Weird right? The same odd birthday thing happened with my husband, myself and our daughter - 6/12, 8/10, 10/8.

3. I am so scared of having a bad haircut that I would rather go for months without getting one, then risk it.

4. I grew up and lived in the same house/town for 20 years of my life….and then for the last eight years I’ve moved eight times.

5. I want to have an even number of kids - so we are already planning on the fourth!

6. Of all the things hung on the walls in my house, family pictures are only upstairs. Downstairs is art, prints, pottery on shelves, etc.

7. I love to travel but I don’t like to move. When we drove across country we didn’t get to stop and look around, it was just sleep, eat and drive because we had to get here to close on the house. Nevermind the closing date was messed up by the company so the rush wasn’t worth it at all.

8. Of all the jewelry I own, have been given and have made, I only wear my wedding ring.

I’ve seen this all over the place so if you haven’t played along, please do so! Leave me a comment so I can visit.

the title would be WAY too long…

C is for Chris, Christmas, Computer, Cold, Crayons, Color, Caulk, Crochet, Countdown

Chris - working a 12 hour shift work schedule right now (really 14 because you need to add the commute), also taking three classes, being a good friend to a guy having a hard time and still finding time to hang out with the family. I’m glad and hope it lasts!

Christmas - I need to make my list! I usually get started fairly early and am thinking if I want to make something for someone, it needs to start now. Of course my list gets written and rewritten a handful of times so maybe it’s good that I haven’t started yet.

Computer - the laptop rocks, I love it and want to take it everywhere with me. Except Chris needs to use it sometimes. Like all weekend because that is his only time off. He needs his own computer. Darn desktop that crashed.

Cold - I’m sick. I’ve been sick for a few days now. The Target pharmacist told me I could take sudafed since I am in my second trimester and it did make me feel better earlier today. I just need to take it as recommended so I don’t have moments of feeling bad and having to get the meds back into my system. I’m sleeping well at night and hopefully that keeps up.

Crayons - I showed the kids our school supply section in the closet yesterday. They were amazed at how many boxes of crayons we have! In my own defense some are from last year which means I shouldn’t have bought as many this year. But I usually give crayons and a coloring book as birthday gifts to kids so I should just restart that practice again.

Color - We need to pick paint colors soon. Or now. Yesterday would have been better though. I think we are going to start with Alice’s room, then do Jake’s and follow the flow of the house after that. We have to do something at least once a month, or even twice a month, so if we have to move in a few months it’ll be good to go.

Caulk - I just walked by the pantry and forgot I need to caulk the seams in the boards around it. It’s the little things that just add up!

Crochet - I had to take the blanket I started apart today - I miscounted while watching tv and added three stitches a couple of different times. That messed it all up! But I worked on it today and am back up to the six rows that I had. And I’m being diligent about counting!

Countdown - the kids birthdays are soon! One this week, the birthday party over the weekend and then another birthday next week. I found the kind of cake I am going to make for each of them and need to remember to call to schedule a picture taking moment.

Join in the Encyclopedia of Me Meme today!

B is for Babies…I am feeling big now. I’m 18 weeks’ish now and feel like when I walk my belly is leading the way, not true of course, not yet anyway. Chris says you can tell I am pregnant, I’m thinking I’m just looking extra fluffy. Hahaha Via the really cool pregnancy website, 3DPregnancy, we got to see a 3d picture of the baby and found that she is 8 inches long now! That seems big, but not at the same time. My pants aren’t fitting and I am loving stretchy clothes. I’m sure within the next couple of weeks I’ll look more pregnant.

The kids excitement is big and loud enough for everyone. We talk about the baby at least every day, if not more. They did stop asking if I was keeping the baby warm if I covered up, but do ask if it is the baby who wanted orange juice or a chicken strip. Of course I say yes. We go in at the end of the month for an ultrasound and could find out the sex (pending the baby’s cooperation of course!) but I don’t think we are going to. We have a girl and boy now, and though we found out with Jake, we didn’t with Alice but just knew. I feel like I know now, but it feels different once in a while, so who knows what that means!

In other baby new I started crocheting a baby blanket yesterday! It’s just like the blue one I made a few months ago but with softer yarn and bigger. It is so early I’m hoping I can crank out three of them fairly quickly - one for the new baby and one for each of my baby nephews. I’m making all of them yellow and white (just because that’s the yarn I have!) and with different lines of patterns so they won’t completely match.

And Books! I don’t have anything to read since finishing Harry Potter. I’m debating rereading 100 Years of Solitude (one of THE best books ever and definitely high up on my favorite list) but considering it’s the only Gabriel Garcia Marquez I’ve read, I think I need to branch out. I’m going to get Love in the Time of Cholera - John Cusack mentions the book in at least two movies (that I can remember) so why not.

Join in the Encyclopedia of Me Meme today!

It seems I missed the part about the Encyclopedia of Me Meme starting on the first! Ah well, since there are more days this month then alphabet letters, I’m sure I’m fine.

A is for Albus…I just finished reading book 7 of Harry Potter this morning. I was trying so hard to make the book last, to keep reading it for days, that I never even opened it until the day before yesterday. Then I read almost all of it last night, finishing up when I woke up this morning.

What can be said that hasn’t already been said? I liked the epilogue at the end though I wanted more - a chapter or two at least. I’ve read the interviews that J.K. did saying where the characters ended up, but I still wanted more after that. She certainly left the door open for more books - maybe not about Harry, but his kids (and friends kids).

I’m glad that Harry got to see that Snape loved Lily all of his life - and I didn’t get the connection of asking Harry to look at him before he died (since Harry and Lily had the same eyes) until I read it online a little while ago.

I loved this series. Sure it started out as a kids series (is it still considered one?) but J.K. has the great ability to age her characters - Harry’s transition over the seven years was very evident and well done. I never thought I’d get this invested in the books, I remember laughing at everyone making a big deal of it when the first one came out.

I did cry at the end of the book, well the last few chapters actually, though I don’t feel emotionally drained like I imagined I might. I’m just impressed that J.K. is such a fantastic story teller, that she was able to hold onto secrets of the book. I’ve had other books I’ve loved and reread over and over again and I can’t wait until my kids can read them, really read them and understand the characters and the complexity in the story.

A is also for Ah-choo - I got a cold and don’t feel that great. I plan on laying on the couch only getting up to take care of my kids, who, luckily for me, are quite content to have a day of laying on the couch with me.

Carrie (and Nell!) tagged me for this one and rather then thinking I’ll remember to do it later and then a month goes by - I’m jumping right on it and doing it now!

This is the What’s In A Name? Meme started by Two Moms In A Blog.

My name is: Tsoniki - my Mom named me after a Great (times a few) Grandma, I recently found a cousin with the same name, about 10 years younger then me. We’ve talked a bit and though we don’t know each other that well, it turns out that her Aunt and my Mom were very good friends years ago, attended college together and it was the Aunt who told my Mom about the name. I got a nickname from the moment I was brought home (a tradition in my family) and when I got online and involved in groups, forums, etc., I decided I wanted to be called Tsoniki. Few people in real life use my real name so it’s a nice change.

It means: Stands Strong Before the Enemy or Walks Up To The Enemy

Origin: It is either Cheyenne or Potawatomi, passed down a handful of generations

I am tagging:

Tishia
Chelle
Betty

If you have been tagged, copy and paste all of this - from the image to the end of the instructions - into a blog post. Then, change the information to match your name and tag three other bloggers. If you don’t know what your name means, you can try looking it up on Baby’s Name World.

I filled out our homeschool paperwork today. I just made it on time, today was the deadline to pay a lower price as a returning family! This also gave me a chance to look at the pile of things we have accumulated to see what we have (and what we have too much of!) and what we need. Luckily I buy something probably every month so the cost is spread out and don’t need much of anything now. If we are talking supplies (crayons, paint, etc.) wow you should see the closet. Or not. It’s kind of embarrassing.

Over at I Have To Say… she is going to do a Back to Homeschool Week next week. I’m going to join in the fun even though I’m a bit nervous since we haven’t homeschooled as long as others have.

I’ve been devouring homeschooling books from the library and checking my long list of websites for a few weeks now. I don’t have too many notes from any one book or sites but a lot of ideas now. I don’t have a very structured school day but I’m thinking we’ll need a better plan this year. We also are going to have sports activities and with luck we will be able to spread the practices and classes out so we don’t have a very full day or two followed by nothing. I can only imagine how tired the kids will be!

I am excited about the projects I have planned - I need to write them down in one spot so everything is all together. We’ve put down to start August 20 and I’m hoping we can get away with not taking a long break until the baby gets here. The kids birthdays are before the 20th so they won’t have that distraction and when my Mom comes to visit in September we are going to do touristy things and do a project or such around that. (Note to myself: Alice is only in first grade…)

Here are the questions for each day next week, she’s going to have a linky up on each of the days posts so you can play along and also find everyones writings in one spot.

Monday, August 6—What led to your decision to homeschool?
Why do you do what you do? What brought you to homeschooling? What factors played a part in your decision?

Tuesday, August 7—How do you homeschool?
Scheduling, classical education, unschooling, getting the kids to help with chores, how to be “mom” and “teacher” at the same time, special needs, teaching an advanced child, how to teach the tough subjects, teaching high school, teaching with babies and preschoolers in the house, budgeting for homeschool supplies, notebooking, etc., etc., etc…

Wednesday, August 8—Getting out there…
Extra-curricular activities, community involvement, volunteering, sports teams, music lessons, making sure your kids have opportunities to be social, co-ops, etc., etc., etc…

Thursday, August 9—If I had only known…
What have you learned on your homeschooling journey? What would you/did you change? This is an opportunity to encourage others who are just starting out or who are struggling with issues that seem unsolvable. It is also a perfect opportunity to tell us about one of those days made you want to throw in the towel. A funny story? Perfect!

Friday, August 10—Curriculum
What curriculum do you use? Where do you buy it? Have you found a “gem” that you must share with others? Was something in particular a complete failure for you and your kids?