heartofdakota.com

Haven't been here since last spring, but thought I'd come back now that we're in HOD full swing.

We're finishing week 3 of Preparing with my 9yo 4th grader. That's going great!

Finishing week 2 of Beyond with my 7yo 2nd grader. That's going well too. Today he'll get his first piano lesson. He's very excited about that. After using Faber with my daughter, I've decided to try John Thompson with him.

Finishing week 1 of Little Hearts with my 5yo kindergartener. It's easiest for me to let him slide when time is short. I want to make sure I do a page from the Reading Lesson with him every day. He needs that consistency.

My 3yo soaks in as much of everything that she can. She's using the preschool Handwriting without Tears book right now. Same for my one and a half year old.

I had a baby girl at the end of May. She's doing great.

Also, we moved at the end of April. So, all in all, it's been a busy time. I am so thankful for the HOD curriculum! Absolutely love the simplicity of it all! Thanks, Carrie.

How exciting. We will be starting Preparing and Beyond this month and we are really looking forward to it. Sounds like you guys have been having a lot of fun and a lot of blessings at your house. Congratulations. So glad you are living it! Good to see you back.

Wow Julie! I give you an A++! I'm feeling a bit of guilt for not getting it all done and I did NOT have baby in May nor have I moved! Maybe in your next post you should share with us how you managed all that in one day: 3 HOD guides, preschooler, toddler and infant! Please tell me that you eat out every night and your house is a mess! My 4 y o and 18 mo old so far this week have colored hot pink marker on my white furniture, smeared toothpaste all over the bathroom, ate some of it and then shampooed each other's hair with it!
We LOVE HOD and I still even like my kiddos AND I am sincerely impressed with what you have accomplished so PLEASE share how you do it so that I can repeat it here in my house!

I'm a "Julie Kay" too.

Here's what today looked like, though no two days are ever quite the same.

Nursed baby at 2:30 and 6:30 a.m.

Showered around 7, then breakfast for me, along with a little computer time.

Fed 3yo and 22mo. Others get their own breakfasts and clean up after themselves.

Oldest is supposed to be done eating and ready to start school at 8, but didn't happen til closer to 9 this morning.

We did the left side of Preparing that required me first thing. Then she finished the left side stuff. Then we did the right hand stuff that required me.

The boys (7yo and 5yo) were outside playing during this time.

9yo had done most of what needed me by 10:30, so then I sat 7yo down. Did his piano lesson first. Not more than ten minutes at this point in time. Then we did the left side of Beyond. Then he did some independent stuff (handwriting) while I checked oldest's work and showed her what she needed to fix. Then we did the right hand side of his plans. I often read his storytime while he's doing something (artistic expression today) else. Most of his work was done by 11:30. At that time I turned to the 5yo and his Little Hearts. We finished up both sides of his plan right around noon. My oldest helped the 7yo with his math a little while I was with the 5yo (and 3yo and 20 month old - they like to listen in).

I just pulled deli meat, cheese, yogurt, peanuts, and I don't remember what else out for lunch.

Baby gets nursed periodically throughout the day. She's my sixth, and a good nurser, so I'm able to multi-task well while feeding her.


After lunch, I started the dishwasher (do that every day, now that we have one at the new house... never used to have one). My oldest did more of her school. Other kids watched some tv. I read part of Deuteronomy (from about 1:15 til 2). Put the 20mo down for her nap around 1:45. Other kids have quiet time from 2 til 3:30, though none of them nap regularly anymore.

From 2 til 2:45 I did a DVD workout.

Somewhere in there I've been doing laundry. The third load is in the washer right now. I ALWAYS fold it as soon as it's dry. I think that helps a lot in not getting backlogged.

After exercising, I finished reading Deuteronomy (I'm trying to read a book in a sitting most days, though some longer books stretch over more than one sitting and/or day).

Oldest did schoolwork during all of quiet time today. I have her do Rod & Staff health, piano, Latin, and keyboarding in addition to the Preparing manual. Piano is every day, others aren't.


I had planned to put together a casserole and get it in the oven at 4, but the 3yo had two diarrhea accidents that interfered. Instead I started more laundry, plunged and cleaned toilets, etc. Oldest mopped the bathroom. The boys picked up and vacuumed elsewhere in the house. We might have Hamburger Helper for supper.

Now the boys are back outside playing. 3yo is watching a home movie from when she was younger. 20mo is wandering around. Oldest is writing for fun. Littlest is napping.

We'll eat supper around 6. Then cleanup. 20 mo goes to bed at 7:30. Four oldest go to their rooms for quiet reading at 8 and lights out at 9. My husband doesn't usually get home til between 9 and 11. I have computer time, reading, tv, or exercise (or some combination of all those while I wait for him). I usually go to bed by 11. Wake baby to nurse her right before I go to bed.

Any questions?

I'm type A and very driven. I don't suggest this schedule for everyone, and it certainly doesn't make me a better or more Godly person just b/c I'm very productive and efficient. I struggle with anger, sarcasm, resentment, impatience and a myriad of other sins... Pride is another biggie.

I hardly ever go anywhere, and my husband is rarely home (even on weekends), so I have pretty much all day, every day, to accomplish all the household chores, homeschooling, etc.

Julie,

I'm so glad to hear that you're settling into your new HOD programs, and to your new home, and to a new family member! With that many changes in your life, it can almost be a relief to get back to the routine of school! I remember that feeling after having a baby at my house! I'm feeling that way now as we're wrapping up our summer, and I can tell it's time for the kiddos to back to more of a routine and get back into the swing of the school year.

Thanks so much for sharing your update. It was wonderful to hear from you. We pray you will enjoy Preparing Hearts and Beyond as much as we have! We'll be doing Beyond and CTC this year, with LHTH for our 3 year old and piloting our new program with my oldest. So, we'll look forward to sharing the homeschooling journey with you.

Blessings,
Carrie