Tree climbing and waiting on fall

This lovely tree is on the lot where we camped. I believe every child, except the littlest, took a turn at climbing it along with lots "take a picture!" and "look at me!" Here is Joseph showing off his skills. Speaking of Joseph.. the great birthday countdown has begun.

We're gearing up towards fall and the return of schooling. As much as I planned to homeschool this summer it just wasn't happening. Too much other stuff took over. We plan to start again on August 20th - the same day softball/baseball seasons begin! In for a penny, in for a pound, right? :)

We did get a few weeks of 2007-2008 under our belt over the summer. A lot of our curriculum is plotted out along with organizing our notebooks. I'm going through http://www.donnayoung.org/ and printing out forms. One that I printed is the attendance chart. Its very simple, basically has 180 squares where you write in the date. I told them when they fill the chart they finish that grade.

A mom on my local list said: Academics is a means to an end, not the end itself. Academics that does not serve a greater good might be just busy work. I have been thinking about that today as I consider our schooling. The issue with homeschooling isn't a lack of curriculums, its the overwhelming flood of options. Our goals with homeschooling are varied. The big one is definitely to produce young adults who "Love what God loves and hates what God hates". People who can be used by God and whose faith will produce good works. This is why I'm so determined to use things from http://www.cornerstonecurriculum.com/ It might be challenging, it might be tedious, but in the end I think it'll benefit them more than other choices out there.

I also desire to let the children own their lives. I remember sitting on the school bus in the AM thinking "I can't escape". I had a long ride to school, a lot of wasted time in school, then back home. If I would have known about homeschooling I would have left high school. I hated being forced through the motions of the school day. So, for my children I want them to be able to plan a day for themselves.. not just rely on the routine. This is why I simplified a lot of our schooling last year. A lot of things are good, but too much and they easily turn bad -- like smores. lol. One smore is yummy, two is okay, you eat ten and you'll be crying in your tent later! So I gave up my lofty goals of adding in logic, or studying great artists, or any of the other numerous add ons. We went back to basics, including language and music as our extras. It gave them almost the whole afternoon free. Since we do not have kid-friendly TV in the evenings, they also have that time to pursue interests.

Due to switching curriculums mid-year, we didn't finish the curriculum at 36 weeks. We had around 18 weeks of the first curriculum and the rest of the time with the other. So, we'll be starting this school year where we left off. It'll give me time to plot out the purchases I know I want to make and time to save up the funds! :) If Jim would take up "bookshelf making" as a hobby we'd be all set.

In other news, the Pastor at the church we're visiting is offering a Greek class. Jim has been interested in learning Greek and this basically fell into his lap. (Definitely a God-thing!). Charlotte will be taking it with him. It should be interesting. Her 6th grade year is shaping up to be full of different subjects. Joseph also wants to learn how to read and I'm looking forward to teaching him! Teaching the children how to read has been one my coolest moments as a Mom. I *love* that.

And.. another vacation picture.. Naomi will travel anywhere as long as she has her thumb! In this picture she's sleeping under a tree stroller's bassinet position.