Thanks, ladies!
Today was our first day, and the schedule worked out great for us!
My oldest took to RTR like a fish takes to water.
I cannot believe how easily he slipped back into doing school today. CTC truly did help him learn to be independent successfully. He liked doing his RTR Bible first thing this morning in the quiet of his room (toddler shares his room but sleeps a bit longer than him).
The rest of the day clicked along beautifully for him. I looked up at one point and saw Wyatt microwaving water for his RTR history project and had the thought I should check if he needed help, but by the time I finished with my other ds and looked up again, there was a Roman arch setting on the kitchen counter drying.
During his science box I thought again I should see if he had questions, but by the time I finished with Riley, his science was completed and hanging on the fridge. Wyatt and I enjoyed the beautiful artwork in RTR, and our discussions together were good. He picked right back up with Singapore and R & S English 4. He also did well with his Medieval history-based writing lessons.
Riley did very well with Bigger Hearts too.
I was so proud of him because he is not a morning person and got up cheerfully on time, completing his chore charts on time, and finishing his breakfast on time.
He loved our reading time on the couch, especially the inspirational story we read in Eggleston today. I love how God's hand is just woven into history in Eggleston's books!
He worked carefully on his poetry copywork, and I cannot tell you how far he has come on that front!
He picked his "Cheerful Cursive" back up well, and he did a good job of narrating on Thomas Jefferson for science (yes, for science - he was quite into life science)
. The only thing I've decided to do differently is slow down Riley's Singapore math pacing. He is in 2A, and he's only 7 yo. I think he needs a double dipping of the HOD hands-on lessons for each of the single Singapore assignments for a bit. My plan is to slow it down for him for awhile, doing each HOD hands-on lesson twice for each 1 page of Singapore math workbook - basically doing half-speed on the workbook but double duty on the hands-on. He just needs that pace right now for his confidence until he matures.
No surprise he loved the wigwam activity, and any time we can snuggle together on the couch to read, Riley's beaming.
Wyatt and Riley had a blast doing the DITHOR kickoff scavenger hunt today. I confess I forgot to choose a kickoff ahead of time, so I just gave them the DITHOR manual that listed out ideas for scavenger hunt items and let the 3 of them (Emmett joined right in) used that list for things to find. I set the timer for 5 minutes and the trio was off and running!
They had such fun, and definitely understood what the genre "adventure" is all about!
Both of them were super excited to read their DITHOR books. Emmet had a mini-meltdown during his blanket of toys time (he wanted Riley to stop DITHOR and play with him), and had to have a 30 second time out, but other than that, he was a pretty happy boy.
Emmett LOVED his LHTH time with me! He said when we got done, "Let's do it ALL again... NOW!"
He remembered his letter sounds and actions from last year too (we'd made it through "I"). We'd practiced the routine of his day (before starting school) for awhile. It all went well except the fairly new thing I'd added, which was the blanket of toys. He'll do fine with it after awhile though (I set the timer and he gets his snack when it rings - he'll make that connection soon enough)
. All and all it was a busy, but very satisfying first day!!!
There is a sense of relief in just starting, I must say, and a feeling of "coming home" as we start up with HOD again for another happy year of homeschooling.
In Christ,
Julie
Seems like a no-brainer now 
. So I applaud your effort of getting up so early to exercise!!! My husband keeps encouraging me to do that (exercise has always been my major way to relieve stress) but I don't