Sledding At Grandma's Cottage

Jesse had to be gone for a long weekend to take some classes.  I am not good being left alone on the weekends so the kids and I packed up and went to Grandma's Cottage.  Our plan was to go sledding, however when we planned we were not expecting below zero temps!!

We waited until 1pm and then we just went for it.  It wasn't going to get any warmer.  I think it was about 4 degrees. 

Grandpa had to catch us at the bottom of the first hill.  Otherwise they would of went all the way down to the river... which is great fun.  But hiking back up is not. 

While Melanie waited for her turn, Grandma tried to give her a ride in the sled with the rope.  By holding on to the rope and then just pulling her back up.  Melanie would not walk back up, someone had to carry her.  That got old real fast.  So we found this sled and pulled her back her up.  Sometimes we gave her short little rides while she waited for the big tube. 

Well she got going a little too fast and when she reached the end of her rope she tipped out.

Goodness.  She was not impressed by that.

Big sister Mallory to the rescue!  She took her on a safe ride.

And got safely pulled back up in the taxi.  We kept telling her to run and catch the taxi.  She would run back jump on the sled and Grandma pulled her up.  Grandma had fun watching and she got a workout! 

You don't come to the cottage without getting a fire.  All the kids had to throw sticks on too.

Then they had to try out the big snow cushion on the swing.  Melanie kept eating the snow!

While the kids were sitting here we watched Grandpa fill the bird feeders.

Right before dark we learned what was eating the bird seed. 

Melanie and Grandpa watching the deer.

Maxwell watching the deer.

Before we left we decided we need to come back for another weekend before the snow melts! 

Homeschool Update

Frey Academy Year 3!!

Year three brings us a 2nd Grader and a Kindergartener!!  Oh and a two year old toddler!!  Not going to lie I was starting to have some freak out moments about being able to teach two kids at the same time two different curriculums.  How is that possible.  When does the mom get a mental rest.  It was starting to look like most of my summer was going to be consumed with research, planning & school prep. 

It took some convincing but Jesse finally was able to talk me into taking a completely different route with school and going with the RVA (rural virtual academy).  The RVA is like a charter school for homeschoolers that runs threw the public schools.  Technically my kids are enrolled in a public school, but I am their teacher and they learn from home. 

I wasn't okay with this at first because I don't want to be a quitter... and it felt like quitting by going to the RVA.  Then I learned that they are using A LOT of the same books I am already using.  It is still a homeschool curriculum - not a public school curriculum.  I chatted with them and I was sold in an instant.  They tested the kids to see where they fell. 

Mallory at the end of her 1st grade year was reading at an 8th grade level!!  I started first grade with her barely reading and I was feeling defeated on the reading front.  To end at an 8th grade level... mind blown!!  So giddy!!  That right there is a homeschool mommas bonus check!!  She tested high in everything else as well except spelling.  She tested at a first grade speller.  I feel this is my fault because I was so focused on reading with her that year - that I completely spaced spelling. 

Maxwell at the end of Preschool was testing high as well!  He averaged a first grader!! 

Even though the kids tested high in everything the teacher and I decided it would still be best to keep them at their current grade... not to bump them ahead.  Build their confidence!

The RVA offers three different curriculum choices and I went with BookShark.  It is a literature based program.  Lots and lots of reading.  We learn over here at Frey Academy from a good book!!

Mallory is doing Level 2 BookShark.
Maxwell is doing Level K BookShark

We started out doing all separate subjects for a few weeks until I couldn't do it anymore.  I need to combine the History & Science.  I took Mallory down to the Level K History & Science and they do those 2 subjects together.

We are a full 15 weeks into the program and I am loving everything about it.  BookShark is so fun.  The books we get to read have been so good.  So much history they are learning and learning it in such a fun way!  A bonus... it is only a 4 day a week curriculum!!  4 days!!  That has been so nice!! 

The RVA has been amazing.  The kids get to do so much.  The field trips... painting clay, snow tubing, swimming and so much more to come!!  They get to participate in online classes put on by the teachers.  Right now they are doing story hour, Lego club & cooking classes!!  It is never a dull moment!!  Lots of opportunities for the kids!

Outside of the RVA the kids did choir again!  They completed the first semester and had their Christmas performance.  Every time they blow me away.  I cried so much during this concert!  The last song of the night was amazing... goose bumps... tears... left me wanting to yell "MORE! MORE!"  Gosh some talented kids are in the group!! 

We are also involved in the local co-op which was broken up into Sports, Drama & Cooking. 

Awana is a Wednesday night favorite too. 

A typical day for us looks like this...  9:00 school starts.  Mallory gets to work on all the things she can do herself {handwriting, phonics, reading, calendar, extra math sheets}.  While Mallory is working is when Max gets his one-on-one time.  I have to do everything with him side by side.  Melanie is either playing playdough or sitting on my lap and listening in or making a gigantic mess.  If Max has completed his tasks and there is time I work with Mallory on her language, creative writing and spelling.  This takes to us about 11:00.  We break and do chores, lunch & free time.  At 1:00 we read Melanie a couple stories and send her to bed.  Then the big kids and I do our read aloud books, history & science.  Mallory then gets her math lesson for the day.  Which takes to us about 3:00.

Some days go really fast!  Some days I am begging for the clock to move!  Some days are super fun!  Some days I want to go back to bed!

One Little Word - 2017

This is my second year of picking a word to focus my year on.  Last year my word was contentment.  It really worked for me.  I prayed all year to be content in being a homeschool family.  It wasn’t until August of this year that I truly became content in it.  However I still ended the year fully content with it! 

This year my word came to me immediately.  Joy.

Now that I am content in this homeschool lifestyle.  I need to have joy while doing it.  I don’t want to do the motions and check off the boxes and get the books done.  I want to have fun while we do it.

I have stepped out of my comfort zone and started co-leading our co-op and teaching drama!  Drama!  Um.  Not me.  I don’t lead.  I don’t do drama.  But I am loving it!!  I get so dang proud of these kids when they do it and do it so well!! 

I am also volunteering again in Awana.  Except I have to come home happy.  So many times last year I went and came home a bear.  I am trading my kids in for other peoples’ kids!  Then I have to drive an hour home with my ramped up kids because they just had so much fun and they need to tell me every single detail about their night.  This isn’t fun!  I am exhausted!  I went to school to be a paralegal not a teacher!  Why can’t I be the mom who gets a few hours to herself on a Wednesday night?  It is the not the option for my life and I accept it now.  Now I need to have joy!

I am still in charge of our church’s nursery.  I have tried a handful of times to get out of this position.  My main excuses were I don’t have time for this and I live too far away.  God won’t let me go of this one either.  Every time some thing came I grumped and complained and want to throw in the towel.  This year… I need joy while I do this.  Joy!

Joy!

My one little word for 2017!

How about more blogging too?  Gah.  How I love looking back and reading all Mally & Max’s goofy stories.  Melanie has soooo many silly stories and I will never remember them unless I start journaling again!  Not to mention all the crazy Mally & Max get into too!!