The Story about Ping

This is Peter and Emma showing off their Lapbooks
A lapbook is a summary of all the work they did for the week.

Peter was proud of his writing and wanted me to take his picture!

Ryan with his first fish!

On to Lentil

Well, we finished up our study on the Story of Ping. Ryan's marathon nap today was a huge help. I hope to post pictures of our lapbooks that we created summarizing all we learned.
We began a new book this week, Lentil. This time we travel to Ohio!

I attended a homeschooling workshop yesterday. Although, for the most part it wasn't that helpful, I was encouraged by the purpose at hand. I have the amazing opportunity to minister to my children and family by providing them a loving, stable and secure home to learn in. I am able to teach them with the foundations of Jesus Christ being at our center and our core of all we learn and do. What an amazing opportunity and responsibility. I am truly thankful.

5 yr check

Well, a week has past, and I am certainly not being as up to date as I had hoped...you have to start somewhere, right?
At Peter's appt. Dr. Cates (who knew we were homeschooling) asked Peter what has learned in school this week. He went on to tell her about China. They don't believe in God; Panda bears live there; their government doesn't allow Christians to come and visit. Meanwhile, Emma is trying desperately to get a word in edge wise. Dr. Cates gives her some attention and Emma asks if she has a plane because you have to have a plane in order to visit China because it is so far away!
Later in the evening, I was reading the Roxboro paper and an elementary school principal was quoted reflecting on his first day of school. He said, "they arrived, ate lunch, and went home: everything was great". I felt warm inside knowing that my children were spouting off to their doctor about China after their first day of school!

China

If nothing else, I truly have learned a lot about China. Did ya'll know that they name their ducks Ping in China?

Day Two accomplished

Well, we made it through Day 1 and 2 without any major glitches. I was write to think that I could have chosen a calmer week to begin. Monday morning was quite hectic with all our extra company and an extremely late night at church. However, we had a good time- I think Emma was little more excited about our activities than Peter.
Day 2- proved to be a bit more challenging. I had scheduled a play date with my Co-Coordinator for MOPS. So attempted our morning routine - this time with Ryan awake. That made it an entirely different experience. I will need to keep brainstorming on how to make that work with our "little buddy" around! Peter was still a little less enthused with today's activities but who can compete with playing at a new friends house who truly had a ton of toys.
Day 3- well, I forgot about Peter's 5 yo check up that's scheduled for the morning- so we'll see how that works out.

Things learned: Homeschooling is designed to be flexible---

Duke

I want to make sure that it is abundantly clear that DeAnne is like Superwoman. She is truly spearheading this adventure and I am so proud of her. Like all of you know my time is portioned off between family, Duke and the Church. But, I fully support DeAnne in this rich adventure that she is journeying on. She will do so well--and hopefully I can help her in anyway possible. Maybe I can help with their theological education--even though Peter could probably teach us all a thing or two when it comes to theological insight.

New Beginnings

Well, I thought a blog would be an easy, innovative and informative way to chronicle our journey as we begin Kindergarten with Peter, Preschool with Emma and just live life as a toddler with Ryan. The first day of Homeschool will begin tomorrow, Monday, August 20th. It turns out to probably not be the best day to begin. We have two overnight guests and some middle school girls arriving tomorrow morning! However, I assume homeschooling is similar to the old adage about having children, "if you wait until you're ready; you'll never have kids" - or however it goes!
I hope that this blog will also serve as a journal and in some sense a source of accountability as we embark upon this journey called homeschooling- well- I guess it's not fair to myself to say "emabark" as I have been teaching Peter and Emma all along! There's just something about using the words Kindergarten that make it all the more real and important.