A New School Year!

The new school year has begun for the Woodard Academy!

I've given up my classroom so that we can move some boy bodies in there. Currently all four boys share a room and that is getting a little hectic (and stinky if you get my drift - and hopefully not theirs!). I am sad about losing that beautiful classroom but am also excited about moving back to the kitchen table. Just like there are seasons in life there are seasons in homeschooling (a shout out to RC here!). I used to prefer the kitchen table to a classroom, then I NEEDED a classroom and now I am actually needing to be back at the table. It will help me be able to continue school moving along even if I am needing to make dinner or clean a little or help princess pip.

We used Skittles as incentive to stay on schedule. Every time we started a new subject on schedule everyone got a skittle. I don't have everythign out of the classroom and into the kitchen yet. It's a work in progress.

Had to move all the curriculum and art supplies out to the kitchen - I love my super organized cabinets...

We started the morning rocking it out. My kids love to dance. Two of their new favorite are "Oh Happy Day" by Tim Hughes and "ny2la" by Press Play. Both can be found on YouTube.

During Science (which is Anatomy and Physiology this year) we made a "personal person" in our notebooks. With each new system we will add a layer (skeletal, muscular etc...). They are going to be very cool...

I chose not to put the twins in drama this year. So, on Mondays when the 4 oldest go to drama and Pip naps I get a little extra mommy/twins teaching time. Today after their school time Tyson said "Thank you for doing this with us, Mommy!" Precious. I love it. They also get a snack which is a big treat (I know, I'm a mean mom who doesn't give her kids afternoon snack)

SO, we are in full swing. We stayed perfectly on schedule today. But it's easy to stay on schedule on day one. It's day 64 I'm worried about (or day 2!). I am praying for the discipline and diligence to provide a good and productive year for my kids. It really is my joy to do this. I know it is the right decision for us. Prayers going out to all of you as your start your school years wherever, however, and whenever that might be. May our highest goal be to teach our little ones that there is a faithful loving God who demands their obedience and that in obeying they will find their greatest joy!

Not wasting her young life...

I'm so proud of my precious, Madison. I am blessed beyond words to have her as a daughter. Check out her blog as she is tryiong to raise money for her first mission's trip... (scroll over the space below)

http://madisononamission.blogspot.com/

Cutie Cole turns 8

As I'm getting pummeled with birthdays (Jason was 2 days before Cole's - no blog post for that birthday boy- sorry honey) I am also getting pummeled with all the emotions that come with realizing your babies are growing up. Some say they wish they could stop their kids from getting older and I don't - I am eager to enjoy them at all stages of their lives. But I still can't quite grasp how quickly it seems to go by.

Cole turned 8 on Tuesday. For his birthday dinner he requested hot dogs, mac-n-cheese, and curly fries (which is what Carson requested too sans the fries - I know - lucky me.). He loves the curly fries bc he loves spelling his name with them.

I made cupcakes since his real cake was coming the next day at his party. Cole asked if everyone could have a candle in their cupcake. Isn't that precious. So, we  gave everyone a candle and 3 for Cole. Yes, they are pink but the boy wanted cherry icing (again, I know, lucky me - the preservatives and artificial flavor were so delightful).

The next day we had a pool party. Yes, a pool party. How fun! We have a neighborhood pool that allows us to reserve it for private parties. We invited our bestest co-op buddies. They had lots of fun. Cole got out the pool almost 45 minutes before everyone else. I thought he might be upset but he was just so anxious to get home for cake and presents. I love that about him.

After swimming we headed to out house for pizza and cake. Cole wanted Larry Boy. I couldn't figure out how to make it well so we did the whole editable image thing.

He got great gifts and I got great gift ideas - want one? A two liter, a pack of Mentos and a gadget to help you drop the Mentos in and create an exploding fountain. How fun is that?!

I know God has great things for Cole. He has an amazing sensitivity and is artistically gifted. He is enjoying being a part of the Playroom Theater Company and is crazy in love with his baby sister. He's the one who wakes me up every morning asking if he can eat and asks 10 times more than everyone else if he can play Wii or a computer game. I see him growing up and maturing before my eyes.

Happy birthday Bubba. I love you like crazy cakes and am so happy you are my son. Forever I'll be your honey if you'll be my pumpkin.

Where's Pip?

Yesterday the kids were playing in the sprinklers in the back yard. After they had been in for a while I realized I didn't know where the Pipster was. I looked inside and out and couldn't find her. Until finally I saw this...

That little pipsnicker is such a hoot. I love her like crazy cakes.

Carson Granger turns 11

Carson kicks off the birthday boy month around here. 2 weeks after his birthday is Jason's. 2 days after that is Cole's and less than 2 weeks after his is the twins'.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Carson opted to have a fun family day instead of a party. We incorporated his best buddy, Mitchell, of course. They had such a fun day!

We started the day with pancakes (Carson's request). My dad makes the very best pancakes. Once you get used to that nothing else compares. I just used a Krustys mix and let's just say they weren't Papa's pancakes.

In order to try and beat the 100 plus degree heat we started our next activity right away. Andrea (Mitchell's mom) and I took the boys geocaching. I have lots of friends who have been doing this and though I haven't been terribly interested it seemed like it would be fun for the boys. And actually, it was really fun. We will do it again once its at least 30 degrees cooler.

The day before I picked the different locations we would track down and I hid a geocache especially for the boys. That way we knew there would be something there because most of the places didn't have a cache there anymore. The boys both got to hold iPhone and had to navigate and tell me where to drive. They did great and had to learn real fast how to always identify "north" so they could use the map correctly.

I left things like gum, silly string, Pez dispensers and these masks...

Our last stop was near Pops (a cool little joint on route 66 with over 100 different kinds of pop) so we had lunch there and Andrea treated the boys to pop afterwards.

I should mention that Madison and Maddy (Mitchell's big sister) were at home watching all the little guys so we could do this. What great girls!

After geocaching we all went to the pool - Carson's request.

After the pool we played for a while and then had birthday dinner. Caron's request? Hot dogs and Macaroni and Cheese.  He didn't want a themed birthday and only wanted my Chocolate Sheet cake (and by "my" I mean Pioneer Woman's but don't tell Carson that - he just thinks I'm amazing!).

Then Daddy took the big boys to see a movie. What a great day for a great boy. It kills me to think this boy is going into 6th grade! I have 2 middle schoolers all of a sudden. Good thing they are such fantastic kids.

 Carson is an amazing boy. He is extremely talented as an artist and sings beautifully too. He is gentle and loving towards his baby sister. He loves his dog. He is very smart. He is a great helper in the 2 year old class at church.  He still loves video games and is becoming more and more self controlled when he plays them. :) He is convicted of his sin and sensitive when corrected. He is very funny and an awesome big brother. I might be a little sad that he is getting old so fast but I am so excited to see the young man he grows in to.

Nana and Papa visit

Oh the fun that is to be had when Nana and Papa are here! My mom had just gotten back from her trip to Paris and she brought the kids gifts. Before giving each gift (which she spread out over 2 days) she would give them a little history lesson pertaining to what she saw and their gift. She gave the twins swords and taught them about Mont St. Michel..

For Pip's gift she gave everyone a lesson on the Eiffel Tower

  

                                        

and then gave her a beautiful little dress with Eiffel Towers on it...

OK.. It will take me far to long to blog everyone's gift and lesson but it was fabulous - from Normandy Beach to the Louvre to the Palace of Versailles and beyond - she had a wonderful trip and we loved hearing about it.

On to the rest of their visit...

                                   

We did so much while they were here - kinda like a vacation but without leaving home. One of the days we went to the Science Museum...

We went to a movie...

We went downtown and enjoyed Bricktown. Pip wore her new dress...

We had dinner, listened to live music, rode the water taxi twice and got ice cream sundaes. Such fun. I really wished they lived closer but am so glad they visit whenever they can.

Why I don't do playdoh...

Thomas Edison said "To invent you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." That makes me think there should be a lot more inventing going on in my kids rooms. I blog this picture to remind me to stick to my guns on the playdoh ban. Man, you should see the floor!