Tweaking AO

Hi friends,

Well, time has flown by and we are finding ourselves at the end of Term 1. We are in our fourth year of using the AO curriculum, and I know how I have raved and raved about this curriculum in the past.

And I still think it's a wonderfully rich curriculum and I really can't say enough good things about it.  But... (you knew that was coming, didn't you?)

This year has been a rough one for me. Major. Understatement. Let me explain...

When we started AO 4 years ago, my youngest was 4, so only the older 4 children were old enough to use AO. And I put my two middle sons, being only 16 months apart in age, in the same year. So basically, we were doing 3 years of AO. Not bad. I could keep up with that.

Then, 2 years ago, Mimi turned 6 and I started her in year 1. A little more to keep up with, but I could still do it.

But this year, Aaron was ready to be bumped up a year, so now I have 5 children in 5 different years of AO (yr10, yr8, yr7, yr6, yr3). Which means ALOT to keep up with...narrations, poetry, composer study, folk songs, hymns, Shakespeare, Spanish, copywork, dictation, Plutarch, Nature journals, current events, century chart entries, commonplace books, etc. Add to all that Math, Science, Grammar, and any other subjects that my fried brain has forgotten.

One CM mom told me, "Five children in 5 different levels of CM? There is no way you can be enjoying that!" And boy, is she right!

I am overwhelmed with all of it, and have even toyed with the idea of going back to textbooks just to get some time to breathe! And I have gone so far as to order a homeschool curriculum catalog just to browse around in (*gasp!*)! Just keeping it real, folks!

Don't get me wrong, my children are still loving AO. They breeze through readings and love to narrate. They love all the books and we have wonderful discussions and learn so much! And I want them to use it and get the full benefit of it.

But I am so stressed out with trying to keep up with everything. And I have some health issues that I am dealing with. (Won't even go there.)

So for now, I am in the praying stage of what the Lord would have me do. I am leaning towards tweaking the AO schedule for our family and dropping some things. But it's hard. I am an "all or nothing" kind of gal, and I can easily feel that if my children aren't getting all of it, they are getting none of it. Crazy, I know.

And then the question becomes "Which things do I drop from the curriculum to cut back on the stress?" Last week I made a list on the marker board of some of the things that we could possible drop from our schedule and I asked the children to circle their favorite things. I decided we would drop what they didn't circle.

Guess what? Every thing I listed was circled! Which is good : they like it all. And it's bad: how do I figure out what to drop?? *sigh*

So, if any AO moms out there have been in the same situation and have any suggestions, I am waiting to hear from you.  :)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not  on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5&6

Just a Reminder..

Hi friends,

Just a reminder to all of us as we begin a new school week...

Happy Monday, friends!  :)

Some Recent Handicrafts

Over the summer, we were busy with handicrafts...mostly wood-working for the boys and sewing for the girls. 

And we have some beautiful results to show for the children's hard work.  :)

First, the boys' project: My mom gave us cedar lumber that was my Dad's. Hubby decided to make a bookcase with it. The lumber  was rough and dirty and desperately needed milling. Once it came back from the mill, it was sooo beautiful, and smelled wonderful! The milling really brought out the lovely grain in the wood..

It was a fast-moving project and they finished in 10 days! We couldn't wait to fill it with books!  :)

Love it!  :)

Now, for the girls..Their summer project was making a wall hanging for their bedroom. They chose the colors, cut the squares, and laid everything out on the floor to create the pattern they wanted. They did most of the sewing themselves, and here it is before adding the border..

Then they added the batting, border, backing, tabs at the top for hanging, and sewed it all together. (Aaron cut and painted to dowel rod for them.) And it was ready to hang..

They did a great job, don't you think?  :)

On a smaller scale, we did other handicrafts/life skills...

Cake baking and grape juice canning...

Natalie has been crocheting scarves and giving them as birthday gifts..

And of course, with 3 dirt bikes in the family, knowing how to change a tire is a much needed skill in these parts.  :)

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. " ~Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

Wednesdays With Words

We are watching the movie, Gods And Generals with the children. And it fits in so nicely with Ian's  study of the Civil War for yr10.

Last night, we watched the battle of Fredricksburg. At the end of the battle, one of the southern soldiers questioned General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson about how he was able to remain so calm in the heat of battle.

Stonewall Jackson's quote is commonplace worthy - and unforgettable...

"“[M]y religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.” 

Oh, how desperately we need Godly men like this to lead our soldiers...and our country!


Sharing with Dawn.

A Reminder to Me

Even after 33 years of marriage, I still need to be reminded to...

Have a great week-end, everyone!  :)

Lilla Rose Sale

Hi friends,

There is a Lilla Rose Sale starting this morning (7:am PT) til Wednesday, September 30th at midnight....

10% off everything!

10% off October FOTM early release..."Hoot".

15% off newly released styles... and check out some of the Limited Editions...

And 20-40% off select styles.

Order here.

Thanks to all my customers!

I Am a Polygamist

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Did the title of this post catch your eye? I thought it would.  :) But it's not what you think. Let me explain...

A few weeks ago, I found this fun graphic somewhere on internet.

I saved it to my laptop and emailed it to my children. They loved it and it was alot of fun hearing them trying to determine what kind of reader they think they are.

Then I wondered..what kind am I?

It wasn't very hard to figure it out.

Other than my daily Bible readings, I am reading Great Expectations..(love, love this book, but I just finished Tale of Two Cities, which I also loved! Charles Dickens makes it so hard to choose a favorite, doesn't he?)

Volume 6 of the Charlotte Mason series..

And for poetry, Emily Dickinson..

So according to the above graphic, looks like I'm a grade A bonafide polygamist.  And loving every minute of it.  :)

Which kind of reader are you? Do tell!