Homeschooling 2016-2017

I realized last night that I never did a first day of school picture of Bailee so we decided today could be our first "official" day :)

We started doing school the second week of August right after moving into our house and this first month has mostly been review of math, learning to read, write, and a little taste of science. We are getting into more of a groove but I wouldn't call it a schedule or routine because we stay pretty flexible with when and how we do school. Yesterday Dave did school with Bailee and she loved it! For whatever reason, daddy has a gift of motivation to get her going and they sat down and worked through all of her assignments for one day in a much shorter time than it takes us :) It is such a rewarding experience watching her little brain make sense of things and seeing her excitement when concepts click. I thought teaching kindergarten would be a breeze but I have found the hardest part is keeping my excitement and figuring out creative ways to present material to her. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   We have also been gardening the past month because our sweet friends the Gittins gave the girls some cucumber and flower seeds and gardening gear before we left so the girls were anxious to plant something. I knew we wouldn't be able to wait until spring so Dave and I are hoping to produce even just one cucumber for planting so late in the season. The plants are looking hopeful already! When we first talked with Bailee about homeschooling, her main excitement was to learn how to garden, cook and bake at "our school" :)

our plants as of today

Elise is in a stage of striking poses