LIFE

OK, busier life than last post because now I'm homeschooling 4 kids during the day. HECTIC? YEAH...OH YEAH... Just trying to get them to do any kind of work at all seems like pulling teeth, but I;m trying to get it through their heads that learning can be fun, and a lifelong endeavor. I'm trying to teach them that they have the power to choose their life and their desires and their dreams but they just need to find out what they like. In order to do that, we are starting out the day with scripture study and prayer and some sort of devotional and discussion. Then we get into studies which are supplied by k12 which is an awesome program because they sent us all of these books and workbooks and we have a site online that we take assessments and log attendance and its so easy. So if anyone has questions about it, let me know and we'll talk. Ok now on to life.

Chris will be moving on in work and finally get transferred from Fisk Electric which he's hated all year. YEAH!!!!!!!! He finally has a good teacher at school in the apprenticeship program so he's not hating school. We should find out in a week where he will be sent, so its kind of scary and exciting all at once.

Ginger is the crazy homeschooler lady now and not doing the coupon thing as much as I'd like to, but when you have limited money to buy groceries in the first place, it's kind of hard to find a deal you want to spend money on because you need to buy milk. I'm pretty much just trying to figure out now how to seperate school time from home time and let the kids have a break from it, but it is only the second month in school, and we haven't gotten used to it yet, because it is really different. Hopefully it will come together soon.

Bradley is 13, and will turn 14 on November 27th. He is the Deacon Quorum president of a deacon class of 1. We have 3 that come to church that aren't actual deacons yet so we're hoping that he continues to learn and grow. The coolest part about homeschooling him is that I can focus more on English and writing studies for him to get him caught up in his studies and slack off on other things which is awesome.

Xarrissa will be 12 on the 10th of October and cant wait til she can go to Mutual with Brad. She's trying to grow up too fast I think, and is actually going to complete her 6th grade studies before school is actually over. Then they will just send us the next years books so she can get started right away on it. I believe she will have completed High school at least a year early, and with this school they actually get a diploma. Risa is very much like me in the stubborn department and we clash alot, but hopefully she knows I love her and want the best for her.

Echo is 10, and as cute as ever. Her birthday is on January 28th, and she wants her ears pierced for a present. She enjoys playing games with Ben and with friends, but since 2 families have moved out of this area and those two families were the girls best friends, its not the same anymore. We need girls more here or we need to move to a different neighborhood and start over. She is enjoying school since it gives them lots more free time. Echo is closer to Brads way of thinking about school though. They dont care. In regular school they were able to just drift along with the kids and not have to try too hard. In this school they have to master every technique before they can move on. I like it because they wont be getting their diploma like me and feel like they still dont know anything.

Ben is the charmer of the family. He makes everyone smile. We all enjoy snuggling up with him for a hug or a cuddle. He just turned 5 on September 11th and we told him that he now has responsibilities because he's a big boy so I hope that doesn't change his sweet nature. He enjoys running around the house and pestering the other kids into a game or fight to get them out of their homework. He loves to get onto PBS.ORG and gets upset if he cant and cries "But I'm so Bored" so I'm trying to let him know that there are other things to do like read or look at a book.

We go to the library alot, and make a day of it sometimes and spend a few hours there looking for books, buying books from the bookstore, getting on the computers, having reading time. Its cool. I feel it is the right thing to keep them out of public school because they are still so impressionable I dont want them to be followers and in Junior High that is the time they become so. Unless they are very strong willed and know where they are going and who they are, I dont think they can survive Jr. High. I know thats when I got lost. Now I cant think of anything else to write, so I'll say goodbye for now and wish all of you the best of luck. We love you all, and cant wait till the reunion next year. See you then.