Back in the Groove

Well, we are four weeks back from our extended trip. It has been really nice to be home and back into our routine. The kids have been doing great. This was our second complete week of school at home and it has been pretty good. We are cruising along with our lessons and I have found some neat books for the boys to read and also a new website for the boys to do the accelerated reading program on-line. They have already taken several tests on books they have read this year and passed! They retain information so well; sometimes it amazes me. Jack is doing multiplication with numbers that I have not even showed him yet ... Spencer is reading like crazy and I cannot believe the information he will remember. He almost has a photogenic memory - it is scarey how he remembers things in passages that he reads in extreme detail. Erica is working on pre-algebra and doing well with it. We are also reading a book called, "The Divine Dance" for our bible study and she is enjoying it so much. Talk about a great book for young girls to read ---- they were made to worship their Creator --- not dance for the world. It is so rich; I have gotten a lot out of reading bits and pieces of it. All in all, we are adjusting and I have finally gotten adjusted to them being home with me all the time. I feel the weight of providing their education and doing it well. Sometimes that is scarey. And then other times, I am relieved and relaxed with our new lifestyle at home. I have noticed their stress level has dropped dramatically, especially in Erica. Sure, she still worries about things but they are different now. She isn't worrying about who is going to save her a seat at lunch, will anyone talk to her, who likes her, who doesn't, why are they whispering?, etc. etc. The part where she can just focus on academics and just be home has been incredibly good for her. Even if at times she would like to put Spencer and Jack in a box and ship them to Africa! And they are all in gymnastics and loving it! Erica is going two evenings a week and is thrilled! I'll keep you posted on our progress ..... and report any crimes!!