dragging, but happy

okay, so the first week of school is totally kicking my butt! I have never been a morning person, 7am is normally when I am finally getting some really good sleep! So needless to say, getting up at 7am every morning has not been easy for me....but I am getting there. I am still trying to get a good schedule down with the kids, but for the most part it is going smoothly. And...I think they are really enjoying themselves this year :) during their 1hr lunch break both Liz and Grace rushed through lunch and then asked permission to go back to their schoolwork, and then Taylor chose to do another 90mins of aleks.com (math) after she was done with all her work for the day.  I do need to find away to work in some more outside time for the youngest 3, I took them grocery shopping after school today and they were bouncing off the walls.

Here they are, happily at work

Praying that it continues to go smoothly, and that thinks really click for the youngest 4 this year...especially Liz. CJ is just whizzing through his math, and keeps asking for more :) and Benny is such a happy worker. I am so blessed!

1st Day Pics

I should be sleeping! But I have to get these picture up :)
Today was the first official day of school and it went great! All of the kids were well behaved and stayed on task...I have to admit, it was a shock! The best part of the day was listening to Grace work on her new curriculum. With her groovy headphones, giant smile and giggles.....I think she love it♥

Okay, so on with the photos :) I know I know....crazy mama with a camera, I just can't help myself!
{you can click on any of the pics to make them bigger}

couldn't decide how I liked this one better..so I did both

I got some great candid shots of them working also...those are going in the scrapbooks :)

Praying that tomorrow goes smoothly as well, the kids are being great. I am truly looking forward to this school year, its going to be quite an adventure. 

family day

Just a few more days till school starts....this calls for a family day! We spent the afternoon out with some friends (19 kids between just the 4 families :) ) Had a picnic, played kickball (called for rain delay..) and then took the kids to the movies. It was a great "end of summer" day, complete with rain and fall weather ♥

A few of my favorite pics of the kids today, we were early and got in a quick photo shoot.

This summer was insanely busy, so unfortunately  we didn't have enough days like this, But we will cherish the ones that we have had :) 

New Beginnings

Okay, so I decided to start a new blog. My other one is totally about scrapping and being crafty and I need a place to blog about LIFE.....mostly homeschooling, cooking, being a mom and well... living in a fishbowl.
School starts next week. This year is going to be a challenge, lots of new curriculum and learning styles, and learning to teach kids with audio processing disorders and dyslexia.
We will over come these entirely by Gods grace.
I hope to take some pics of the kids on their "first day" next week, but for now here some pics they took about a week ago.

Not my favorite "professional" pics ever, but pretty good for a last minute photo session for grandma :)

I love this bunch of monkeys, and I am so blessed to be able to stay home with them and school them.