Today
We are so happy today. After many cloudy days the sun has come out! It's still a cold January day, but we got out of the house for a long walk. When we got back the kids painted the rocks they found, we made grilled cheese sandwiches, and then Silas went down for his nap. The girls and I got out their flower fairy paperdolls to play with. They are dressing them for a flower fairy ball now. Tonight they start 12 sessions of swimming and tomorrow they start choir and bells! Lots of new beginnings in 2015. You may want to scroll and skip to pics now!!! What's below is a special yearly post and it's super LONG. :)
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I've decided to do a "Plan For The Year" post this year. This is really a place for me to easily come back to anytime to check in on how my "plans" are going, to find tidbits of information I may have included here, and a place to come back to at the end of 2015 and see how things stacked up for our family. What changed, how I changed, and just a place of focus for me. So it's long and personal - not a normal blog post. Scroll past the pics if you're interested.
I plan to blog more this year about the kids, what they are doing in our homeschool, and our activities. My goal is to share with the few family members who may be interested and more so than that to use this blog as sort of a record of what we're doing. I'm trying to move away from so much facebook and blog more (2015 goal)! Ultimately I'd love to turn our blog into a book for the kids to have later in life.
We are so happy today. After many cloudy days the sun has come out! It's still a cold January day, but we got out of the house for a long walk. When we got back the kids painted the rocks they found, we made grilled cheese sandwiches, and then Silas went down for his nap. The girls and I got out their flower fairy paperdolls to play with. They are dressing them for a flower fairy ball now. Tonight they start 12 sessions of swimming and tomorrow they start choir and bells! Lots of new beginnings in 2015. You may want to scroll and skip to pics now!!! What's below is a special yearly post and it's super LONG. :)
________________________________________________________________________________
I've decided to do a "Plan For The Year" post this year. This is really a place for me to easily come back to anytime to check in on how my "plans" are going, to find tidbits of information I may have included here, and a place to come back to at the end of 2015 and see how things stacked up for our family. What changed, how I changed, and just a place of focus for me. So it's long and personal - not a normal blog post. Scroll past the pics if you're interested.
I plan to blog more this year about the kids, what they are doing in our homeschool, and our activities. My goal is to share with the few family members who may be interested and more so than that to use this blog as sort of a record of what we're doing. I'm trying to move away from so much facebook and blog more (2015 goal)! Ultimately I'd love to turn our blog into a book for the kids to have later in life.
I've been working on this post for over a week now. I'm taking my sweet time with it. (Taking my time in everything I do is another goal for 2015.) I've been stuck in this mentality of a go-go-go lifestyle. There are reasons why I think this happened, but I won't go into that here. I'm just trying to slow down now. Live in the moment, focus on what we're doing and WHY we are doing what we're doing. :) I want the kids to learn to take their time in life, not rush around. I need to be the example. I've noticed by slowing down things are just overall more authentic and memorable. This is isn't rocket science... I should know this, but "education is a life" and I'm surely learning everyday.
I've had this quote on my fridge now for months. Literally months of looking at it everyday. I'm going to write it here now, and erase it today. It's time to use that dry erase board for other things.
"Prepare, plan. Resist rushing about the day: hurry has ill-effects. I desire to be peacefully going about doing the next thing."
Another quote I just fell in love with, thanks Ruth!
"Life is not an emergency. The dirty underwear, the bowls with dried oatmeal hardening by the minute, the dusty lightbulbs… it will all remain for any old time. The daffodils and forsythia blooming right now, along with my children… the chance to hunt for birds’ nests being built, or watch the peas pop up from the dirt… that stuff will be gone tomorrow." ~Ruth
It reminds me of this quote
2015 Generalized As Much As I Possibly Can:
Brian continues to work at LGM. I will be homeschooling Eden & Pryscilla using a combination of Ambleside Online Year 0 and Mater Amabilis. The girls officially start Kindergarten in the Fall of 2015, which for us just means continuing AO Year 0/MA Prep Level, which we are currently doing. We also plan to join the Holy Trinity Co-op in the Fall, which meets every Thursday for classes. We are blessed because the co-op in influenced by MA, a catholic Charlotte Mason curriculum. So even our co-op will match up to what we are doing.
Silas will keep on learning and playing right along with us. In addition to dance 2x a week with me, the girls have started 12 swimming sessions with Brady and PGM Bells and Choir! I'm so excited about both of these new activities for them.
I'll continue my work at Preemie Prints and graphic design work for Texas Fit Chicks. I'll continue teaching my dance classes two times a week until May. I also have a looming map project for Oakhorn ranch to finish (I want this done by end of February). I was well into it and had to start over during the hectic pace of December due to a change in maps. I'm very behind and want this map to be done exceptionally well, since it will hang in a very prominent place at our ranch. I think I'm a little intimidated by the project, but am challenged and inspired. I know it's going to turn out to be really great! Although, it's taking lots of time it will eventually be done and hang on our wall for years to come.
A Few Specifics for the months ahead:
February - complete map, Ash Wednesday is on the 18th which will begin Lent. I'll be preparing activities for the girls for this liturgical time of year.
March - Silas and Grey's 2nd birthday - we plan to have a party in Kingwood. Complete our St. Lucy wooden peg dolls for the Saint doll swap we're apart of.
April - is a big month. Easter. Brian and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary and my sister and her hubby will celebrate 5. We want to do something special to celebrate. Not sure what. Party? Getaway? Not sure... have to think on this. This month is also the Holy Trinity information meeting. Very important for me to attend.
May - we will have a small dance recital and I'll need to prepare for this show, Volbeat on May 28th.
June - family vacation
July - LER trip? Oh how I would love to go!! Most likely not this year but you never know!
August - school, dance?
September
October - LM5K and Halloween at our house
November - Thanksgiving, Brian's birthday, and the twins 6th birthday at the ranch this year. Also would like to get more shopping done this year in November.
December - Celebrate Advent and Christmas, anniversaries, and more birthdays!
This year we are having a New Years Eve party at the ranch, since it falls on a weekend!! YAY!
General Family Goals - Pray more, read more, cook more, eat healthier, exercise more, be more organized (already ahead on this. I've organized almost all of the places that needed it. Still have a little more to do though).
Have more ME time! This year in between all of the things listed above and below I want to take more time for myself. I've already gotten two massages this year, been out with a good friend for drinks and dinner, and have made time for personal reading. So I think I'm on a good track!
Homeschooling Research - Now & In the future
I've started reading Charlotte Mason's volume 1 "A Home Education" and I'm really enjoying it. Ive already read a few books on her methods written by other moms, including: Charlotte Mason Companion, For The Children's Sake, and Consider This. All three of which I would highway recommend. I'm so glad to have read those first before tackling CM's writings. I feel I have a really good base in understanding her philosophy already, so its making the reading easier and more enjoyable than maybe it otherwise would have been. After I finish volume 1, I'm going to take a break from CM's writings and move to reading The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason and When Children Love To Learn. After I finish those, I'll delve back into Mason's writings. I have lots of other non-CM related books on my education-research list as well. I personally feel they all are still in some way linked to the CM Philosophy, but not directly. This year I just hope to finish volume 1 and Keeping Notebooks along with 1 or 2 from my list. I'm not sure it will happen this July, but attending an LER retreat is on my to-do list as well.
I've started reading Charlotte Mason's volume 1 "A Home Education" and I'm really enjoying it. Ive already read a few books on her methods written by other moms, including: Charlotte Mason Companion, For The Children's Sake, and Consider This. All three of which I would highway recommend. I'm so glad to have read those first before tackling CM's writings. I feel I have a really good base in understanding her philosophy already, so its making the reading easier and more enjoyable than maybe it otherwise would have been. After I finish volume 1, I'm going to take a break from CM's writings and move to reading The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason and When Children Love To Learn. After I finish those, I'll delve back into Mason's writings. I have lots of other non-CM related books on my education-research list as well. I personally feel they all are still in some way linked to the CM Philosophy, but not directly. This year I just hope to finish volume 1 and Keeping Notebooks along with 1 or 2 from my list. I'm not sure it will happen this July, but attending an LER retreat is on my to-do list as well.
For Me Personally
I've joined a book club with some local friends which is just for fun! Friends, books, wine, and cheese. Some things I want to do this year... for me ... go to see Volbeat in Houston. I love concerts and haven't been to one in forever. I can't even remember really. That's too long to forego something you love so much. Plant a garden. A real garden. Last year I started with a few potted plants but now I want a real in the ground garden. I have a good friend ready and willing to help me get this going - just need to prepare. I have the planter built. Need dirt and a compost pile. Having a garden will also be a wonderful learning experience for the girls, science at it's best! I also want to celebrate my 10 year anniversary by going to stay at a neat place in Texas that's on my bucketlist. (Texas travel bucketlist post to come). Will link here. :)
Home
I am almost done redecorating my room. Lamps, rug, decorations, all done! I need the painting to go above our bed - Driftwood by Winslow Homer and a chair. Also two cut glass pieces for our night stands. Get organized. I'm already on a good track! We've organized multiple closets and made lots of progress in the garage. I don't know if we'll get to it this year or next but a deck to extend our back patio is on the horizon and a screen door (maybe the door will happen this year!).
I've joined a book club with some local friends which is just for fun! Friends, books, wine, and cheese. Some things I want to do this year... for me ... go to see Volbeat in Houston. I love concerts and haven't been to one in forever. I can't even remember really. That's too long to forego something you love so much. Plant a garden. A real garden. Last year I started with a few potted plants but now I want a real in the ground garden. I have a good friend ready and willing to help me get this going - just need to prepare. I have the planter built. Need dirt and a compost pile. Having a garden will also be a wonderful learning experience for the girls, science at it's best! I also want to celebrate my 10 year anniversary by going to stay at a neat place in Texas that's on my bucketlist. (Texas travel bucketlist post to come). Will link here. :)
Home
I am almost done redecorating my room. Lamps, rug, decorations, all done! I need the painting to go above our bed - Driftwood by Winslow Homer and a chair. Also two cut glass pieces for our night stands. Get organized. I'm already on a good track! We've organized multiple closets and made lots of progress in the garage. I don't know if we'll get to it this year or next but a deck to extend our back patio is on the horizon and a screen door (maybe the door will happen this year!).
Family and Homeschooling
After the holidays we all seem to be getting back into our schedule and its comforting! We are all eating better, exercising, and school is back in session. Well a little school anyway, really we mostly just play. But we are starting a few new things when it comes to our little homeschool. You can learn more here (coming soon) about what we will be doing from now until August of 2016. (Aug of 2016 we will be officially start AO Y1/MA 1B - which is 1st grade and our 1st official school year) Until then we're focusing on routines, habits, spending lots of time outdoors, reading the bible, reading great stories, and a little structured learning each day. We're using alpha phonics (we're finished with lesson 1 and 2), we've started the Winnie the pooh book series, we'll continue to do some fun nature studies, a little handwriting, lots of fun painting, and some counting, pattern, and number activities. We've also squeezed in a science and history lesson in the past week. We've cooked together, had dance classes, visited the library, and have spent much time outside - as much as possible in the cold anyway!
After the holidays we all seem to be getting back into our schedule and its comforting! We are all eating better, exercising, and school is back in session. Well a little school anyway, really we mostly just play. But we are starting a few new things when it comes to our little homeschool. You can learn more here (coming soon) about what we will be doing from now until August of 2016. (Aug of 2016 we will be officially start AO Y1/MA 1B - which is 1st grade and our 1st official school year) Until then we're focusing on routines, habits, spending lots of time outdoors, reading the bible, reading great stories, and a little structured learning each day. We're using alpha phonics (we're finished with lesson 1 and 2), we've started the Winnie the pooh book series, we'll continue to do some fun nature studies, a little handwriting, lots of fun painting, and some counting, pattern, and number activities. We've also squeezed in a science and history lesson in the past week. We've cooked together, had dance classes, visited the library, and have spent much time outside - as much as possible in the cold anyway!
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