The First day of School!

We got up early, really early. The kids were too excited to sleep. At least that way we were ready to go. Got breakfast, got the kids dressed, got lunches ready, got to school and got everyone dropped off on time. Good deal!

I discovered that a white dog and navy blue uniform pants aren't a great combination.

On the way out the door Roger said, "It's the first day of school, so meteor don't hit the earth today!" Apparently, he has been under the impression that we're in imminent danger of a meteor strike at all times. I tried to clear that up.

We'll see if they're all still smiling tomorrow!

One Week!

It is one week to the first day of school. One week to my children's first day of school, ever.

We have the school supplies purchased and sorted out into the children's backpacks, the uniforms purchased and tried on and wash, school shoes purchased. Each child has had a well child check and has had confirmed that their vaccinations are up to date. We are getting official school e-mail and mailing. It looks like we're actually going to do this.

And I'm scared.

I know this is "normal." The vast majority of children go to school, and everything goes just fine for most of them. But it is not our normal. We have always homeschooled. I have dealt with schools as a student, as an education student, as a substitute teacher, but never as a parent of one of the children. This will be a new role for me. I have always had the children with me for most of the day. Having them going for a majority of the waking hours will be very different. And I've always been the one totally in control. I have to let go of that control a little bit, here, and trust that other people can help and it will be fine.

Why School?

Last year was one of our best homeschooling years. I found a curriculum, Catholic Heritage Curricula, that provided a framework that I could work from for our entire schooling experience, and which relieved a lot of stress on my part. We made good progress throughout the year, and actually finished up nearly all of our planned lessons for the year. The kids seemed to like the school work, or at least they didn't hate it and didn't complain too much. So, considering how well things have gone, why are the children enrolled in school for the first time ever for the fall?

A major part of the reason is described in this blog post by Simcha Fischer. I have been trying to fit us into the "outfit" of a "homeschooling family" for several years, simply because I liked the idea, even if it did not necessarily work for us. My husband and I had previously made a commitment to homeschool, even before we had children, and due to this commitment I kept trying to walk in the homeschooling outfit, even when I was inclined to consider school from the time my oldest was first school age. If I found the perfect curriculum fit, then it would work, wouldn't it? I tried a different curriculum, different approach, different organizational method each year, and I managed to muddle through but not to thrive.

I don't know that the "school outfit" will be a better fit for our family, but I'm willing to try it on. I know well where homeschooling doesn't fit us, but I think trying out schooling may relieve pressure on me and help our family thrive, or at the very least it will make me appreciate homeschooling as I become more aware of all the negatives of school!

The End of the Year

The boys finished up their school year at the end of May (yes, this post is late!). This was a momentous occasion, because it is not only the end of this school year, it is also the end of this phase of our schooling adventure. Next year the children will be going to Catholic school.

Some pics of our celebration:

Pauly and his end of year completion certificate.

Roger is a little bit happy about finishing second grade.

The cake!

Fish!

Bob has started fishing again recently, since he has a bit of time before his classes start again, and he's been bringing the kids along, here and there. Pauly was the first to catch a fish, while on our camping trip.

Roger caught the next fish, while he and Bob were fishing one afternoon.

And today Bob took Rosie fishing, since she needs more one on one attention to learn what to do, and she caught THREE fish! They threw one back, but here are two of them.

Done with Kindergarten

Last Friday, Rosie finished up all her Kindergarten level work, and we celebrated with a certificate and cake.

State Cake

Pauly has spent the last 9 weeks more or less studying his home state of Kansas. On Friday, we made a cake in the shape of Kansas to celebrate.

Bob and Pauly making the plan. 

 The cake after being cut and iced.

 Pauly adding the major rivers.

Pauly and the finished cake.