heartofdakota.com

A whole 10 days ago, my mail man's red truck came honking into our driveway. (That's what happens out here in the sticks when you have something too big to fit in your mailbox. ) I came inside with 3 wonderful, enticing boxes from Heart of Dakota! Unfortunately, I was just minutes away from heading out the door with Grant to play his violin for a fiddle program...followed by 5 VERY busy days at the county fair...followed by getting ready for VBS.

But, it was worth the wait. We peeked just a little. And, this is what I got to pour through and enjoy today!


I'll be starting Preparing with Grant...

He'll also be using DITHOR again. I ordered the 4/5 boy book pack to use along with the 2/3 student book for this year.

I'll be starting LHFHG at half-speed with Allison and Garret...

Allison will also be using The Reading Lesson. (Garret won't do phonics, math, or handwriting this year yet. )

When I excitedly told Grant that our school books for next year were here, he said, "Noo-oo!" (Which sounded like, "No-ah".) My husband instantly said, "Did you get a book about Noah?" "Yep! We did!" We joked with him about trying to guess what was in the box.

When I got everything out today, I pulled the things that were for Alli and Garret off to the side, and told him that we'd box the others back up since he wasn't really wanting to use them for school. Let me tell you, he can't wait to begin!! He quickly modified his statements about not wanting to start school again...so that all he really doesn't want to do is English. Because he REALLY likes history (it's so interesting), and he loves the fun projects, science (definitely his favorite), experiments, the read alouds, DITHOR, math (although he wishes he could still use snacks to do the lessons ), he even likes writing in cursive! So, all he really doesn't want to do is English. (Which he knows will still be included in our schedule. )

Carrie, your book choices are definitely a hit! Even a boy who loves summer time and outside freedom is being lured in by them!

I'm looking forward to an absolutely wonderful year!
Kathleen

Congrats on Box Day! Looks like you guys are going to have a FUN year of learning!!!

Yay for box day!!!! You are going to love LHFHG, Kathleen! It was a hit at our house!!!

LeAnna

Hi Kathleen! I am anxiously awaiting my box of Preparing to arrive (maybe today!) I have begun the planning process and just need that manual to tweak our schedule so that I am sure of what all needs to be included and how to fit in other fun things. I'm SO excited!! I had to economize and have been taking the last year to collect many of the books from pbswap or Goodwill, etc, and will do the same this year in prep for CTC. I'll be taking my Preparing manual and maybe our Singapore workbooks over to Kinko's to have the binding stripped and have the PHFHG manual 3 hole punched and the Singapore workbooks spiral bound. It worked great for us last year.

When are you starting? I was so happy to see it's 34 weeks so when I mapped it all out it looks like we can start the 1st week of Sept, take Thanksgiving week off, 2 weeks off at Christmas, and a week for Spring break, and still be done by the 3rd week in May. Just right!!! I am not sure if we will try to take a vacation next year (we are tentatively planning a road trip to the Creation Museum) so we might need a couple of weeks off in May and might need to extend into June a tad.

It'll be neat to be on this journey with you this year! Preparing looks SO COOL!!! And I get to do LHTH with my precious little guy too. I can't wait!

dale1088 wrote:
When are you starting? I was so happy to see it's 34 weeks so when I mapped it all out it looks like we can start the 1st week of Sept, take Thanksgiving week off, 2 weeks off at Christmas, and a week for Spring break, and still be done by the 3rd week in May. Just right!!! I am not sure if we will try to take a vacation next year (we are tentatively planning a road trip to the Creation Museum) so we might need a couple of weeks off in May and might need to extend into June a tad.

It'll be neat to be on this journey with you this year! Preparing looks SO COOL!!! And I get to do LHTH with my precious little guy too. I can't wait!

Hi Amy,
Preparing is 35 units. I thought I would let you know so you can plan out your schedule. Yes, Preparing is VERY COOL!! We have been enjoying it a lot but we are on vacation this week so we have to wait till next week to get back to it.

Leah

BTW I was just thinking...you could do Preparing 5 days a week for 4 of the weeks and that would put you at 34 weeks still.

Leah

Happy BOX DAY, Kathleen!!! I love the pics, that just looks soo fun and exciting!
Leah

Kathleen,

I don't know how I missed your BOX DAY, but I have to pop-in and share my excitement with you. I'm thrilled that Grant will get to do Preparing Hearts this year and that Ali and Garrett will get started on LHFHG. We pray that you and your kiddos will have a blessed year!

Blessings,
Carrie

Happy Box [es] Day.

I love your pictures, Kathleen! All of those great books are very enticing - I can see how even your outdoors loving Grant has been pulled in and wants to start. I had the same thing last year with Wyatt, who as I type this is leaping through our pool with his bow and arrow to shoot at a target. Ali and Garrett are set to have some fun with LHFHG too - you have some pretty neat memories to make ahead of you. Thanks for sharing your BOX DAY!!!

In Christ,
Julie

my3sons wrote:I had the same thing last year with Wyatt, who as I type this is leaping through our pool with his bow and arrow to shoot at a target.

Yikes, Julie!! I think if I were you, I'd stay inside for a while. (I am definitely NOT giving Grant that idea! Although the ones he comes up with aren't really all that much safer. ) My kids were Indians all morning while I mowed the lawn. They had on "survivor shirts" - shirts Grant cut a little extra off of to look like he'd been shipwrecked or something. Ahh, summertime is fun!

But, we are eagerly looking forward to school again! It is truly a blessing to know that we can so look forward to school, not dread it! I have my rough draft schedule done now, and it looks like everything will come together nicely. Thanks ladies for sharing in my fun box day!!

Kathleen

The arrows had dull tips - just to put your mother's heart at ease. I bet the kids look fierce in their survivor outfits - too fun. We're loving summer here too, but are also getting excited to start our school year. You even have your schedule done - HOORAY - that's still on my "to do" list, but I like making schedules, so I'll enjoy it when I get to it. I hope you have a great start to your year, Kathleen!

In Christ,
Julie