Start of another busy year

Here it is already the middle of October and I am just now getting this post for the 2009-2010 year started! .. that shows how things are going with us so far! lol

This is Patrick's senior year. He has been doing a college course online this year with the school. It's been really eye opening to him. He has to figure out how to prioritize his time and still have time for other things in life. I think this past week he is finally catching on to that fact. He is doing a film analysis class through Kirkwood college. It's been good practice for him. He has had to write three 4-5 page papers so far with no end in site. ;) He is also doing Mathematics the Human Endeavour by Herold Jacobs , American Government from Abeka and an ACT prep guide from Barron's. Most of his other credits have already been met... hard to believe he will be off to college by this time next year!

Kelsey has been working on American History by Abeka, Geometry by Herold Jacobs, Biology through Abeka, Critical Thinking, tons and tons of reading and Applications of Grammar at home. She is also taking band, choir, Spanish 2 and music theory at the school. I have never seen her get so much out of history as she has this year! She is actually talking to me about what she is learning as she is learning it. Finally the spark I was waiting on. Her Geometry is going pretty well. When I can't help her, Patrick or Darrel step in and explain things to her. I am glad I have them... I didn't do so well with Geometry. Biology is not her favorite subject, that's for sure. But she does the work well.. it's just not a big interest of hers. Kelsey has also been writing some poetry. I have never seen such expression in her writing! I am quite impressed. Unfortunately, heartache can bring about beautiful poetry...This is one of her new poems.

You Forgot About the Ever

I thought we'd be together forever,
forever to call you mine,
But I guess you forgot the ever,
and you thought it was time,
I loved you then,
I love you still,
I love you when,
we were well,
I want you and you alone,
for you are the one I love,
I want you to call me on the phone,
and say I look as pretty as a dove,
You broke my heart into pieces,
is it bad that I don't care?
You said there were lots of reasons,
but I don't see them there,
I cry every night in my room,
missing the way things used to be,
Things were as easy as 'click click boom',
when it was you and me,
I feel like I need to talk to you about everything,
because you know me so well,
And then my heart starts bleeding,
because the broken pieces fell,
You sit back and don't care,
I just don't understand,
Life just doesn't seem fair,
I just want to hold your hand,
Why did things go so bad?
what did I do wrong?
Did I really make you that mad,
when I didn't like a song,
People tell me to just move on,
but it's hard to let you go,
We were together for so long,
I just keep saying no,
Life seems easier with you by my side,
I don't want to give in,
They all tell me how much you lied,
should I believe them?
If it's true,
why didn't I see?
What would I do?
I don't feel like me,
I want to just lie down and clothes my eyes,
but life says no,
I wish I could rewind time,
but this is not a show,
This is my life,
as much as I wish it wouldn't be,
I will put away the image as a wife,
and just let God lead me,
We had great times when we were together,
in my heart they will always be,
But you forgot about the ever,
and also about me.


Now for my Ryan! :) When you look over at your son and see him reading the Bible-- on his own, for free reading, THAT makes everything worth it! He is doing the Beyond the Codes this year. He is doing really well with it. We are over half way through the first book which now includes stories he has to read as well as comprehension questions in each lesson. I think he is going to be ready to skip on up to a higher level than what I am giving him at this point, but he needs to build up his confidence first. So after we get done with this book, we will evaluate and go on from there. He is doing Modern Curriculum Press math, the 5th grade level book. He is right on track, as he usually is with his math... that is always his strong point. We had one day that we weren't sure if any of us would get the problem though... it was tough!... I need to invest in the answer key. lol We have been doing a bible study book that uses science as a basis for each devotional. He has really picked up a lot on things such as atom, particles, light, even discussed rainbows and how they are scientifically and divinely created. He is also working on health and some spelling. That needs to be my area of concentration this year... SPELLING! He is gaining knowledge every day. But that's the goal, right?

Our family experience has been different this year. Darrel was switched to the afternoon shift. That makes for challenges as we try to figure out how to get Ryan to do his school instead of hang out with daddy. But as the weather gets cooler, I see changes already. Darrel has been able to read his devotion every day with him and get him started on his math. That sure makes the day go better for Ryan. I look forward to the changes that happen each year and watching my children grow and mature, gain knowledge and get closer to God. I am so thankful to be able to have my kids home. I am thankful to have the freedom and even the responsibilities that come with homeschooling... well, most of them anyway. :D

School... how are we doing? well, Patrick is officially done with his Econ, all but 2 lessons in his Critical thinking... that's an accomplishment! Now... we get to concentrate on the rest of his Geometry and american lit.

Kelsey is close to done with her Algebra and Health! Progress again!

Ryan is working on his explode the code and math, trying to get done before the others are done with theirs... I don't mind, just as long as he is learning and wanting to. His handwritting is so pretty. :) Lots of fun things. :)

Overall, the last 2 month have been slow... but there is progress that I didn't even realize! yay!

I am so glad it is January!

December was a terrible month for us...

Darrel's dad very unexpectedly passed away... It was hard on all of us. We learned a lot about family and how precious they are.. we learned a lot on how to handle tough situations and still be happy, and we learned how to lean on God when things just don't seem to make sense... I think those lessons are the toughest and carry the most weight.

We began school again in January and things have been going extremely well. Despite the fact that we are behind where I wanted to be at this time, everyone is back on track with their school and we have had some pretty big break throughs!

Ryan has been reading better and better every day. He has been reading in an old reading book from the public school. I am so glad I found this book. It helps to build his confidence and it's so cool to let him look back at where he started and see how much progress he has made. He is reading bigger and bigger words and the best part of it all is his comprehension! He always remembers what he read about. Even if it takes him 20 minutes to read a 4 page story, he is getting what it means and that is the biggest hurdle in reading in my eyes. What good does it do to be able to read fast if what you are reading doesn't stick?
His math has had to be reviewed because of our long break in December. I have made some multiplication flash cards for him and am having him do an extra multiplication fact sheet every day as well as his math lesson. He is beginning to get better and better with it though, so I guess it's working!
I started his language book finally last week. He hadn't been doing it yet because I needed him to get more confident in his reading skills first. It worked! He is going through it quite easily. His explode the code is getting easy enough for him to sit and do it on his own now, which is a blessing to me.
We also started working in a health book. He has put on the 10 year old chunk that Patch had... and I want him to be aware of how to be healthy. So far he has been learning about how important posture is. Every now and again you can see him remember what we said as he sits up a little straighter. :D

Kelsey is doing well with her math finally. Algebra has finally began to make sense to her. yay!
Her English has been a blessing. We are working with Easy Grammar Plus like I did with Patrick a few years ago. I am so thankful for this book. It is something that really reviews well and makes sense to my kids without overwhelming them with writing.
She is doing a writing course as well, so that part has been covered with something a little more fun. She had thought she wasn't going to be able to come up with a story with a hero and a villain, but she surprised herself when she began typing! It just came to her. She has worked on it several times and is now ready to start the unit on family. I think this one is going to be so fun for her!
Her science is going pretty well, but I have noticed she is copying things out of the book instead of writing them in her own words for a summary. I am going to work with her on that one... we don't need a plagiarizer!
She got a bit confused on her geography, which I expected. But she is beginning to get her maps book caught up so she can do both books in the order I laid out in the beginning on the year. Her health is pretty easy for her so that doesn't give me much concern.
Kelsey is doing Spanish at the school this year and it is going quite well. She was able to opt out of the semester test this last semester because her grade was an A! I look forward to her continuing with Spanish through her entire high school career. She has a natural gift when other languages are introduced. I would like to get her involved in some other languages as well.. but I will see what she wants for her life.

Patrick is getting so responsible this year. He is working on his school on his own and is starting to make goals for himself since he is going to be graduating next year. He is looking at possible colleges for music!(yay!) He just started a music theory class at the school second semester and it has been really good for him so far. He is working on writing music for his band he is trying to get started. We have a bass, electric and a drum set.. why not?! (but I must admit, it's a bit tough some days when they practice the same song for 2 hours very loudly in our basement directly under our living room... but it's how they will get better! If it's not here, where will they learn?)
His chemistry with Mr. Oliver is going about how I expected. He has been keeping a pretty steady B or B- which is fine with me. He needed that class to experience the school and to build his confidence in his abilities.
He is doing geometry this year and has way bypassed by knowledge of the subject. I didn't really apply myself when I was a young in.. lol Thank God for answer keys and husbands who did apply themselves!
His econ is moving kinda slow.. I expected he would be done with the book by now, but even if it takes him the whole year, it's no big deal.. he is taking it as a junior instead of a senior, so next year we can just focus completely on government!
He is doing pretty amazing with the critical thinking. It is usually the first thing he goes for and he always does his assignments in it. He is over half way through the book. Joselynn did the same book as a senior and loved every bit of it. She suggested that all the kids take it, so I started with Patrick. I am glad I did.
We haven't made any progress on the Latin.. I am not sure what to do with it... so I may just have to take Nicole up on her offer to help me find a good book for him to start in.
His lit is going well and he still talks of stories every now and again. Good signs!

Well, that is an overview of our school season so far..Not only was December hard with Darrel's dad, but we had Kelsey's birthday 3 days after the funeral, then right after Christmas, all 5 of us ended up sick with the flu! It was a rough bug.. Kelsey was sick for 4 days, I had it for over a week and a half! Not cool. So, thus explains why I am so thankful it is January!

Blessings!
Jody