Our 1st Day of School!

[Kathleen]

TODAY was the day we dove back in to HOD!


Smiles all around! Even if we didn't already LOVE HOD (which we do!! ), I think I would have had kids begging to do school. We went on a super organizing cleaning spree that lasted into the beginning of this week. I usually get gung-ho to clean this time of year, but combine that with the nesting pregnant mom instinct, and you can bet my kids were ready for something more fun.

Grant is beginning CTC. I don't think it will take too long for him to get into a groove with that. No whining about writing!! I'm hoping that he's finally growing into that! Whew! The independence is going well. His absolute favorite part of the 1st day was the What in the World CD in the independent history box! He wanted to listen to the whole year's worth NOW...but restrained himself. He also loved the Philippians CD in his quiet time.

Allison is mid-way through LHFHG and has started the Emerging Readers. We jumped right back in without missing a beat. Right now Peter Rabbit is in quite the perilous situation being caught in a snare in the peach orchard (in Danny Meadow Mouse). When I put her in bed tonight the last thing she said was, "I wonder what's going to happen to Peter Rabbit tomorrow!" She let me know how much she LOVES school several times today!!!

Garret is in Unit 5 of LHTH this week. He loved painting Joseph's coat, and I'm sure we're set to move right along in skills for him this year. He's growing up SO much! His favorite thing today was the new scissors he got. Orange ones. Which he used to give the shaggy rug on the stairs a trim...very quietly while Grant was working and I was doing school with Allison. That rug was pretty shaggy - I have to agree with him. Hopefully my speech about apprpriate use of scissors worked (or they'll have to disappear).

Our next baby is soon-to-arrive! (Tomorrow would be GREAT with me!) I am HUGE!!! And feeling the strains of carrying this little (I mean BIG) guy around on the front of my body. So, we'll take a break when the big day arrives, and then I'm hoping getting a bit of a routine going saves me some mental energy when we jump back in!

Wishing you all happy HOD years when you re-start (or continue)!
Kathleen

[Bramble]

Sounds terrific!
Enjoy your last days of pregnancy! (I can say that because I'm not pregnant right now. LOL)

[Heather4Him]

Sounds wonderful, and makes me even more excited to start HOD soon!! Thanks for sharing!!

[LynnH]

Kathleen,
So glad your first day of school went well. Grant is getting so tall! We will start CTC on the 24th. Hopefully Noah won't complain too much about the writing. I think all the independent reading may be the challenge for him at first. I look forward to reading your week in reviews again this year.

[3sweeties]

YAY! So glad you had a great first day! You look fantastic! Hanging in there with you!

We aren't starting until after Labor Day. We put in some extra days at the end of last year so I wouldn't have to do school in these last few weeks of pregnancy. Soooo glad I did that, although now it's looking like baby boy may be overdue -- not much going on in that department right now! Anyway, hope the next few weeks go well for you, Kathleen!

[spidermansmum]

Great picture Kathleeen.Glad you had a good first day

[creativemommy]

What a great picture! Congratulations on having a great 1st day!

[RachelB]

Oh Kathleen, what a great first day! I always enjoy seeing your posts because my kids are exactly a year behind yours, so it's fun to see and read about what we'll be doing next year! I hope the rest of August goes smoothly for you and that baby boy makes his appearance soon!

[my3sons]

It was so nice to see your smiling face along with your precious kiddos! I'm glad your first day went well, and you look pretty in pink. I believe I may have been twice your size at the end of my pregnancy with Emmett. So Grant liked the What in the World?... CD and the Phil. one too? Wyatt did as well. It was neat to hear him praising the Lord singing along with it, and I learned a good portion of it too just by hearing it. Allison and Garrett are growing up so much! I bet Allison is taking off with her reading, and Garrett loving the hands-on things in LHTH. I'm glad they'll soon be another member in your family - I can't wait to give him a big HOD welcome into the world!!!

Love in Christ,
Julie

[water2wine]

You mean that little tiny blip on your belly is a full grown baby?!?!?! I can't believe it is almost time. That was a great idea to get going on the routine before the new baby comes. Praying for the last bit of time before this little one is born. Congratulations on your first day!

[gotpeace91]

I really enjoyed reading about your first day Kathleen! You and the kids look so great in your picture. It will be fun to do CTC along with you this year! When you mentioned the What in the World CD it reminded me of what my kids said the other day about it. My son good-naturedly said, "It's time to go listen to Miss Cheery, Happy, Goods-a-lot." and my daughter laughed and said, "yep, lets go listen to Miss Perky Pants." Hmm, I am a very practical, matter-of-fact type of person, but I think I need to try to inject a little more cheer and joy into our day because this is culture shock for them.
It's great to hear about how much your kids are enjoying school and I hope the speech about the scissors worked.

[Kathleen]

You mean that little tiny blip on your belly is a full grown baby?!?!?! I can't believe it is almost time. That was a great idea to get going on the routine before the new baby comes. Praying for the last bit of time before this little one is born. Congratulations on your first day!

TINY BLIP?????

I am hiding behind the kids...or believe me you might only be able to see some feet and Grant's head in this picture! I should take a "real" pic of the belly and share it. (Or I could let you think I'm still in the cute stage. Hmmmm... ) My week is not complete without at LEAST one comment like, "Are you SURE there's only ONE?" "You're still pregnant??? I thought you were big in June?" "I guess some people just get really B-I-G!" My kids were even quacking today when I was talking about how I really can't walk anymore - only waddle.

I really do love being pregnant - well, at least up to about 36 weeks when my hips and back say we should really do something about getting this tennant on the OUTSIDE! Thanks for the nice pregnancy comment! They seem to be much more rare with those who see me in real life. Either that or I seem to come in contact with a whole lot of people who are not very tactful. (I don't think I've ever been tempted to tell a pregnant woman how HUGE she is... )

Jessica - you're getting CLOSE!! Yay! I was just telling my husband tonight that I am very much ready to have a baby...but not sure if the baby's ready yet. BUT....I couldn't have told him the day before ANY of the other kids were born that I was going to go into labor before I did. Go for Monday...then his birthday will be easy to remember 8-9-10. (I'd be glad to join you, too! )

Our 2nd day here was great, too. Except for the missing masking tape. (We had to postpone Tape Day for Garret.) Problem solved after a trip to town - for tomorrow.
Kathleen

[Carrie]

Kathleen,

It was great to see your family's smiling faces! You are superwoman for starting early! I'm so glad that you're underway though, a bit before the babe arrives. We pray all will go well for you.

Thanks for sharing! It's hard to believe how grown-up your kiddos look.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Samuel'sMommy]

Sounds like a wonderful first day of school! Praying for you and your family as the baby gets ready to make an appearance. I have a SIL who is due in 3 weeks and she is ready for that baby to come now!