Dear Journal

I feel like I should write, "Dear Journal, I'm sorry I haven't written for so long." LOL! Did you ever do that? My journal says that every three pages or so.

School life is different than homeschool life. It's not "easier" per say but it's different. I still volunteer at the school constantly and the driving takes up time. Then, when the kids get home we still have homework but I don't mind it because it's great homework, not busywork. I thought I would be able to get more things done at home than I am able to do.

What I have been able to do is have more time with Ana. That has been a wonderful thing. I've been able to focus in and instead of always having the kids take care of a diaper or read her a book, I have had that opportunity. I'm back to my days of little ones and me. I get to watch Barney, sing head, shoulders, knees, and toes, and color with an 8 pack of huge crayons. I get to snuggle with a wakey-up baby and read while eating breakfast. It's been a joy. Life gets busy again at 3:00 when we have homework, Weber State Strings, Young Women's, Scouts, Family home evening, and all that jazz. Even with all that stress though I feel like I can focus in on the different times and different items.

Andrew is really enjoying his bass. He gets into it as he plays the music. He's learning do wah ditty right now. Adam is still on violin and has the best teacher EVER! Alyssa just started with a cello teacher and has only had one lesson. She seems nice so far.

Adam and Andrew enjoy school. When they pray in the morning they say, "thank you for letting us go to Oquirrh Mountain. Please bless our teachers." It made me wonder, what if all kids prayed for their school and their teachers. Would it make a difference? Do teachers need a prayer during the day? We always prayed for our learning at home, why not pray for our learning at school just the same? What if all 22 kids in the class prayed for their teacher?

Alyssa just enrolled at Oquirrh also. It's a challenge for her to learn the ropes and she feels like she doesn't have any friends yet but I know she'll get there. This is a big learning year for her. Not just new curriculum but, how to function with different teachers and how to turn in assignments on time. We're calling it "college prep".

I love all of the curriculum. All grades use Saxon math, K-3 uses Writing Road to Reading, the older grades use Institute for Excellence in Writing as well as Wordly Wise and Latin roots. For the rest of the learning it's based on the Core Knowledge Series from Hirst and has an American History emphasis.

Since Alyssa also got some electives she chose choir and journalism. Choir is amazing, they are singing a lot of traditional American songs and spirituals. She loves it and sings all day at home now. Journalism will be great once they're done with sports stories, LOL. That was interesting to pop into. Thanks to sister Jex she did know who the sun devils were.

She also gets to leave early on Wed and Thurs for ballroom and Advanced Acting with her homeschooling friends.

Well, time to get Ana up, snuggle for a while, and read "my daddy loves me" in Spanish. And, since we're going with the journal theme...see ya soon.