Day 5: Music...

Car dancing is always a fun way to help pass the time during a drive, whether around the corner of across town. We were jamming out to some catechism songs. How do you keep your kids happy and busy on the road?

Day 4: Lesson Plans...

Keeping six kids going in the right direction makes for lots of lists. But this is how we have been keeping the family on track this week. The kids LOVE crossing things off as we finish them. Elliott enjoys seeing all the kids have accomplished each day. And I am enjoying making the seemingly mundane a little more fun, plus the kids can read it, so I don't have to repeat myself a thousand times! :)

Day 3: Favorite Subject...

The conversation was between his twin sisters. They were reading their word problems for math aloud, "There are seven monkeys in the tree. Four monkeys jumped to the ground, how many monkeys are still in the tree?" Before his sisters had a chance to answer, Caleb very matter-of-factly said, "3". I wasn't there, but I was quickly greeted by a pair of giggly girls telling of his "lightbulb moment". So, I asked if he wanted to do some math work. In under twenty minutes he had completed two weeks of lessons and was beaming with excitement and pride and joy. These are the moments that remind me why we homeschool. :)

Initially skeptical...

When the duct tape craze started a couple of years ago, I was thankful that we didn't have TV so my children wouldn't find out about it. I had visions of children taping each other up and my tables and chairs never looking the same again. Alas, they have friends, and one day they asked for duct tape...

Besides thinking "why would anyone ever want a duct tape wallet?", I was reluctant to get them started with it because duct tape is, well, not cheap! I always try to use a coupon when a duct tape purchase is required but the cost is still a hard one to swallow. As I buy it, I try not to think of  the numerous almost projects consisting of many "balls" and "bookmarks" and blobs of "it stuck together, I don't know how that happened"!

But, yesterday, while I was organizing and purging in the office turned TV room (I love, love, love not having a TV in the living room), the girls set to working with duct tape. Occasionally, they would call me over to help, providing a pleasant break for me and eventually what we came out with was three bags, and an Etsy-inspired wallet (thanks for the link, Michelle).

These are the purses Grace and Faith made. Faith opted for handles and Grace preferred a strap. 

Hannah made these cute projects. She embroidered the owl on the front of the wallet that makes a pocket. She loves owls. 

The success of the day reminded me of when we started embroidering, and I thought they would never "get it". But, with lots and lots of practice, and lots and lots of "how did you make that knot and not notice?", one day they "got it". I doubt that I will ever personally think of making things out of duct tape, but knowing that the children can now make usable (and quite durable) projects, I don't think I will be cringing as much when we need to refill the duct tape basket. :)

Day 2: Chore...

I laughed when I went to take a picture of Mount Washmore and there wasn't as much as there should be piled precariously on my living room couch. But then, I took the picture after we went swimming, so 8 towels had been grabbed out of the mix, lessening the imposing monument's height and breadth. This chore is a daily one around here Monday through Thursday, and as needed on weekends. What is your laundry habit? And what do you call your laundry pile? 

Day 1: Organize...

This may look like a disaster, and in many ways it kind of feels like one right now... But all this preparation and organizing should benefit us with a smooth, well prepared week. Or at least, that is the idea behind squirreling away on my bed all day with my computer and mounds of resources. 

I am also working on a new schedule and chore charts... How do you organize?

30 days hath September...

September?!?!?!?!?! How did that happen? Every year it seems like two-thirds of the year evaporates and I think, "Where did the time go?" We are back in school, I am planning on the weekends, trudging through during the week (we are fighting some ruts in the area of habits and routine). All in all, so far so good.

Last night, a blog I read mentioned an Instagram photo challenge for the month of September issued by a friend of hers on her blog. Well, I love Instagram, and I love challenges, so I am hopping on board. I hope to post my photos based on each day's theme on here as well (in case you aren't on Instagram). If you want to link up on Instagram, just let me know... I have my account set to private since my hubby is a computer security guy, just being secure! :)

So, here it goes... photos to come...