Raylen's First Day of Homeschool!

We are off to a late start, but as of today we are officially homeschoolers! Woo Hoo! We got off to a late start because I could not find an acceptable "deal" on the curriculum Jason and I had picked out back in May at the homeschool book fair. After months of searching and MANY Ebay losses, I was referred to a great little shop called The Book Cover which sells used homeschool curriculum. On Saturday, my mom, Raylen and I stopped at the shop as an afterthought on our way home from a day full of garage sale-ing. I didn't plan on finding much and was dissappointed to learn that they didn't have the books I was looking for. But, the ladies were so friendly and pointed me in another direction that enabled me to get virtually the same thing I was going to get in a little different format for 1/5 of what I was going to spend! I LOVE a bargain! I stayed up until midnight last night doing my lesson plans for the fall and woke up bright and early (4:45 am!) to get our supplies together. We had a great day of learning: Math-counting to twelve and learning about a dozen; Virtues-Sharing while making blown bubble paint art; Seasons-Celebrating Fall and Families with a handprint family tree and singing songs and doing finger plays about starting school. It was such a fun day!

A couple of neat things to share: At the store the other day, I told the ladies there that my mom had homeschooled us. They immediately wanted to know the years that we were in school. I found out that day that homeschooling had been illegal in Texas until 1982 and had cases still pending in Arlington during the years we started, 1989. It was such a fun memory to have my mom and teacher there with me to get my curriculum to start teaching my young daughter. Back in those days of homeschooling, it wasn't always pretty, but I am grateful for mom/teacher heros like mine who plowed through anyway, making the way easier for me and Raylen.

Also, I want to publically praise God for the miraculous ways He has worked in our home preparing our lives and hearts to homeschool Raylen. He has taught me invaluable lessons on praying and waiting on Him while speaking directly to Jason instructing him to lead us in this direction. I marvel at the transitions our family has gone through in the last couple of years and the truly miraculous growth in the last year. I can say with confidence that God never leaves us or forgets the tiniest of our heart's desires.

Enjoy photos from today!

Snack Time! Apple Slices....yum!

Counting to twelve and learning about a dozen-This was a BIG hit!

Learning to share-Raylen takes a turn blowing the bubble paint while Ella holds the paper to catch the bubbles.

Raylen colors her handprints on her Fall Family Tree