Oh Christmas Tree oh Christmas tree

How many strands of 12ft lights would take to cover you if your circumference was ........

Yep you guessed it we are still deep into school, with a holiday flare at least! Our second quarter has gone a bit smoother than the first, thanks to the teacher finally figuring out how helpful it is to have a daily schedule, and lesson plans to go with it!
We are reading Charles Dickens Christmas Carol as a group, which has been really eye opening as my 3rd grader is understanding much more of it than I anticipated!  I think it helps that it is a widely played Christmas movie.
We also started doing Vocabulary, and Spelling on a daily basis which has been another smooth transition, they kids find vocab to be challenging but I tell them words are like roads, without many choices your destination is limited! Willow has now begin blending sounds....which is REALLY REALLY REALLY close to reading!! SO excited for her to be able to read, as we are reading family and she is so excited to join the fun! Briar got his Whittling Chip for Cub scouts which allows him to carry a pocket knife. The really cool thing about this was that he worked towards this goal completely independent, as he found it in his book, and shared his desire with his Dad, and went toward his goal! Hannahlee is enjoying the break from track, but is working hard on her school work as my girl loves a challenge! Megan has her Band and Choir concert tonight, I am so thankful to be able to offer that to her through the public school, although it is no fun getting up and driving her to 7am band practice! Lastly, we just celebrated Thatcher's first birthday! Can't believe how fast the time has flown by. I am so blessed with him, he is a wonderful baby and a great source of joy in the Esterline's life!
Stay tuned for some more...gonna try and be more intentionally with sharing on here!

And then...

And then...I got super busy and kept thinking I would love to write for a few mins, and then life happened. School has been good, but with all this wonderful weather I have been horrible about staying on track, it is crazy how much of a balancing act that this thing called homeschooling is, it seems if we lean towards the "it's ok we homeschool, that is one of the perks of homeschooling, we'll catch up tomorrow" we go get soooo relaxed that we are almost unschooling, but when we try and over correct we end up on the "school will start at 0800, we have got to catch up because we are two weeks behind, it's 4pm and Iguess we can stop for the day" which goes over like a lead balloon with the kids. We went on a field trip to Williamsburg/Jamestown and had a terrific time, and we can't wait for our next fieldtrip.

Float like a Butterfly....

The other change around here is that I have began a “Run amile in 4 weeks” program, and have been running with Curtis and the kids 3 nights a week, and on top of that began the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I am on day two of the shred and for someone completely out of shape and with NO history of being athletic or working out The Shred has definitely made itself known today, but it is a good sore means that under this I have muscles that know how to work! I'm on week 2 of the running, but am sticking with the week 1 requirements, but have a goal  to go to week 2  on Friday. I am excited to see how the shred affects my run…my goal is to Float like a Butterfly, but I'd settle with simply Airborne! I’ll keep you posted on how it is all progressing, school, body, and work!

 

Changing "Gears" with Homeschooling...

 

One thing that I am loving about homeschooling is how if something just doesn't work well you can change "Gears" and find something that does. Although I am sure we will have days when I may want to Change "MY GEARS" I am not talking about getting rid of my kids aka Gears but changing up how we are doing things in ECoE

.We have made some big curriculum changes , not being very excited about Tapestry of Grace and how it works the kids wanted to focus on American History, and since doing our Apologia Science we all agreed we like having the "Mom read and we all discuss” process , so we decided to go with All American History Vol. 1, even though Hannah has covered some of the information in past years, we all agreed that it works so well when we can all work together and it gives us an opportunity to have some peer tutoring with Hannah helping out the younger kids. We also started Vocabu-Lit which I also love so far, it has excerpts of classic literature and then focuses on 10-15 words form the story to build on their vocabulary. Vocabulary is so important; I want my children to be able express themselves with great detail.  The only thing I found troubling is that it is difficult to find the Vocabu-lit for the younger grades; only place I have found them is the publisher.  I have been busy putting together objectives for each kid and goals for them to reach, as well as weekly lesson plans and subject planners. I am more than happy to share my process with anyone who wants to know. I was lucky to win a year subscription to My Well Planned Day and am trying to figure out how to us it. I think once I master it, it will be a wonderful asset to have.

Labor Day weekend provided us with a perfect opportunity to do our first science project with Daddy as well. I love that we are able to include him in the things that we are learning, really creates a whole family learning environment

"Which is heavier cold water or Warm water?"

Hammin it up

THAT'S AMAZING!!!!!

 

We did have our first field trip of sorts over the Lake Murray Dam, after learning about Dams in Science. We got to walk across it, about 1/2 way of the 1.7 miles and then turned back. It was fun to do something both educational and fun that Daddy got to go with us was just a huge added HURRAY!!              


Lake Murray Dam

 

 

And then...

            Well looks as if time has flew by again! Wanted to check in and give an update of our last few weeks.  In the past month we have had orders to PCS to Hawaii, resigned from PWOC president in order to prepare for our move, lost orders to go to Hawaii (boo), had to put our sweet kitty of 13 years to sleep, received word that we are here in South Carolina till 2014, work on adjusting to not being president of PWOC and what God has in store for me and my family, and got a new car. Seems that we are now in the habit of  the "and then...".  I know that God has a plan for us, for me, for our time here in Fort Jackson, SC. and although I don't know what it is I will have faith that 

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6

 Lots of ups and downs, but seems that for now things are righting themselves and my head is back in the game of Homeschooling at ECoE!

McArthur "Mac"  1999-2012

 

First week; First Impressions

Our first week is complete, and it has left an impression. Here are some of my discoveries:

• I love that I am doing this for my children and my family!
• Homeschooling multiple grades is challenging, but not impossible.
• Don't ignore Baby Thatcher's schedule, it makes for a crazy school day.
• If something doesn't stimulate your kids, don't be afraid to change it up!
• I have 'talked' to my children more in 4 days about school stuff than I think I did in the first 9 weeks of school.
• I am amazed at how VERY smart my kids are!!
• They are funny!
• Cheese Nip bingo is the Bomb!
• There is nothing better than learning 'WITH' your children
• Smooth sailing Homeschool days are better than Chocolate!
• The family time that this afford us is priceless.

Appealing to the schedule of Baby T allows for nap time to work wonderfully with our schedule, and is SOOOO much better than Chocolate ( but not much better than a chocolate Lab)!!

Realizing that you can do your "reading"homework in the back room was yet another perk that Hannah stumbled upon!!

Matching "baby" letters with their "Momma" is a fun review

Cheese Nip prepositional Bingo is a Good Time for All!!

Our first day of school at ECoE

Esterline Center of Excellence (ECoE) opened its doors for the first time August 13th, 2012. Our first day of school was amazing, the air was thick with excitement while the potential of what this year would become circled at our feet. We started out strong with a Morning Schedule for the kids to help them get into the swing of school...........

                                         Good Morning!

                                    ~You are HIS sunshine~

·       Make your bed and pick up your room!

·       Brush your teeth & hair, put on clean clothes.

·       Good morning job:

o   Hannah / shuffle laundry,

o   Megan / put dishes away.

o   Briar / pick up downstairs.

o   Willow / Truman.

·       Breakfast

·       Free time until mom starts the day!

This schedule seems not only to start our morning off right, it helps to keep the house in check as well. I found this idea on Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling. I actually have a found a ton of great sites with an abundant amount of information and I have pinned it to my Pinterest account under Homeschool or click here.

First day of school 2012



After taking our annual "First Day of School" photo, at 8:30 we were seated at the desk and ready for our first day!





Morning Writing

Even Truman was ready to learn!!

It was a beautiful first day, and I am so thankful for the support and encouragement of so many that helped me to believe that this was not only possible, but worthwhile

Wishing for a \"wind-up toy\" day

As I sit here at the dentist I think about how fast my days go by and how much I have missed out on by having too many moving parts to keep track of. Day after day something has been on the books to drag me out of the house, so many things take turns running laps in my head. Why do I have such trouble just being still and letting life swirl around me like a tide pool instead of it crashing into me like a wave. My verse for today is Exodus 33:14 "My presence will go with you and I give you rest".

1/2 through Summer

So here we are 1/2 way through our summer and time just keeps flying by! Last week we did VBS at the Fort Jackson Main Post Chapel, and had a blast. I always enjoy volunteering for VBS, it always proves to be a good time. I served as the Celebration Leader (aka the praise and worship leader)which was COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone, but once I got into the groove it was alot of fun. In the evening we all headed out to try our hand at fishing and to no avail not one single bite all week.....

However the turtles were out and LOVE Chex Mix.

I never get tired of watching my family!

But I did enjoy a little time to jump into learning more about my newfound Hobby.

It was nice to get out in the evenings and sit with Thatcher, and read , but I found myself falling into the simplicity of quietness........

while My Heart waited for a bite on his line.

A quiet conversation

Spent some time in quiet conversation with my Father

Throwing camping in the ole stew pot.

Serenity



So we finally went camping which we have missed so much since we left Fort Riley Kansas. We ended up going to Lake Wateree and camping there for an overnight with some of our friends. It was a beautiful area, very peaceful and serene which is exactly what I needed to kick off our summer fun!!!   There is a picnic area for day visitors as well as a swimming area plus a bait and tackle shop which was very clean and well stocked with all kinds of gear, as well as some food and suvoniers. The kids really had a fun time once we set up the badmintion net, and we were really luck because there was a huge open field right behind our tent site and the bathroom/showers. We made smores, and the guys went fishing, and once the kids when to bed we got to just sit by the fire and visit. We will definitly have to do this drop in the bucket again!!


Badmintion is ON!!




Briar & Megan





Our Tent, we always forget how big it is until we set it up!

The Gears Summer Bucket List

Summer  Bucket List with a price tag

1. Frankie's Fun Park
2. Brusters shop
3.Go to the movies
4. Go to beach
5. Go to a movie at the zoo
6. Bowling
7. Rollorskateing
8. Go to a drive-in
9. Go to Columbia Marionette Theater
10.Go camping on Myrtle Beach
11. Go to Virginia
12. Go to hall of mirrors (Myrtle Beach)
13. Riley's aquarium
14. Go to Krispy Kreme factory

Priceless Summer Bucket List

1. Go to Richland library
2. Camping
3. WaterPark
4.Edventure
5. State museum
6. Go to zoo at NIGHT
7. Go to city roots
8.Go hiking
9. Congree State Park
10. Tour capital building
11. Summer Reading goals.
           Hannah-10 books no less than 200 pages
           Megan-8 books no less than 100 pages
           Briar- 8 books no less than 100 pages
           Willow- 38 books
12.Go camping on Myrtle Beach
13. Start reading program
14. Visit Beaufort Sc
15. Visit the Farmer's Market
16. Find 10 geocaches

So week one of summer break

Week one of summer break is just about to wrap up and I have almost successfully accomplished all I had hoped. My goal was to get the house cleaned and orgainzed top to bottom, so that we would only have to do a short maintain each morning and night, in order to beable to go and enjoy summer. I have a overactive mind, and wanted to beable to quiet it down a bit with a clean house.  I have cleaned, organized and reduced this house. I have gone through each one of the kids room and removed clothing, shoes, books and toys that didn't fit anymore. We headed to the laundry mat on post or the "laundrette" as the army likes to call them and knocked out all our laundry. Today will be my day to clean our room and the classroom which has been filled "again" with salvaged finds from the kids room, surprisingly they had some real educational treasures hidden away in there. My little worker bees have been awesome helpers and although we had some diffculty driving away from Good will ( Mom included) we all feel 100x's better having a clutter free home!! So bring on the Summer fun!

Last day of school...bittersweet

This is the last day of public school for my children, the end of a chapter, an era. We are going to live summer up, make a summer bucket list and rock it out.

Making the nest

I am very lucky to have a space that we are able to turn into our homeschool room, however it ment having to sacrifice me having and office. I am an avid reader, and lover of books
so switching my office to the homeschool room called for some purging, some MEGA purginging.

But after some great dismay we have begun to make some progress. 

Introducing the Gear Stew Crew...

I'm Christiana the wife of a solider, and a mother to 5 wonderful little gears. Hannahlee (12), Megan (10), Briar (7), Willow (4), and Thatcher (4 months). When we moved to our duty station back in 2010 we knew that homeschooling was going to be in our future for our oldest as the on post schools were only offered to 6th grade, and for 7th grade she was going to have to be bussed off post to a school that had a notable history of having an aggressive undertone with more "adult" themes than we would like for our daughter to be introduced to at 12 years of age. Well God had another plan for us and our family, and throughout 2011 he encouraged me to consider homeschooling all my children. My initial thought on this was NO, with a little "I'm not qualified, that's why I send them to school, I wouldn't know how, I don't want to mess up my kids..." you get the drift. My perspective was that school could do what I couldn't, but through His grace He begin to show me that I WAS capable of teaching my children, and after continually revealing the blessing that could come from homeschooling for my children, my family, my life... I arrived at the decision to do it. So the school year of 2012-2013 we begin the maiden voyage of Esterline Center of Excellence ( Daddy picked the name) where we will be teaching Kindergarten thru 7th grade. So I invite you to join me on this adventure, whether the storm, and revel in the bounty.