Mason is 2!!

Today our sweet baby boy turned 2 years old!!  

He is such a smart little guy and brings us all so much joy!  Of course, when he's destroying Wyatt's lego creation or sneaking away with Natalie's Littlest Pet Shop toys--they don't describe him as joyous!  

We love you so much Mason!!

 He loves tractors, thanks to cousin Nolan!

 cheese face!

 

Sickies :(

We were hit this past week with another stomach virus!  This is the second time this winter and I think this is enough!  

I still feel so wiped out and we got behind on so many things, especially school....that means we'll be working hard this week to catch up!

We also have 2 big birthdays this week, and we're planning for a big trip! 

Hopefully I can get some pics up soon!

Science Time!

 We did a fun little science experiment yesterday with a balloon, soda bottle, and water.  Our lesson was about air molecules, and what happens when they heat up and cool down.

 We had a pot of hot water and one of cold. The kids took turns moving the bottle back and forth, checking out what would happen.  In the hot water the balloon expands, in the cold it quickly shrinks!

Snow!

We've gotten some snow over the past few days.  Definitely not anywhere close to what we were getting this time last year, but it's definitely enough to make the kids very happy!

 Below is my ash bucket for the wood stove :)

 

How We Do It!

The #1 comment I get as a homeschool mom is "I don't know how you do it!?!".  I always say "oh, it's hard but worth it".

 Last semester we joined a co-op that meets one day a week.  I felt like it would be good for the kids and myself--and it has been!

We don't have to leave the house until 9:15 in the morning and we are on the road home at 1pm.  I spend my time at co-op with the toddlers while Wyatt and Natalie are in their classes (Weather, Art, Creative Writing for Natalie; Weather, Life Skills, Creative Writing for Wyatt).

Can just tell you that this one day Wears. Us. Out!!!!  I have now turned the tables and find myself asking public school parents -- How do you do it???  

I just can't imagine doing that every day and then spending our evening with homework and other activities!   Maybe we're just wimps (or spoiled) but we have to take a day off to recover...mainly because we're all a bit grouchy so schoolwork would be pure torture!

Our days are so laid back.  We wake when we wake, usually stay in our pj's for a while, and take our time getting dressed.  We read, color, and play computer games.  We take time to do book work, usually when the little one is down for a nap, and fortunately that doesn't take more than an hour or so.  

I've often heard that homeschoolers run on their own time....I'm starting to believe it.  I also enjoy it :)

When I turn my back...

this is what happens...

 See the cereal loaded into the back of his pickup?

 He helped himself to a box of cereal from the cabinet and had a good ole time playing with it.  Sad thing is that I was sitting in the same room but was still half asleep and didn't even notice!

$1 Ebooks--lots for educators!

I was excited to come across this on Our Nifty Notebook!

Check them out here.