Back to School - There's no place like home

School started for the Woodard Academy this past Monday. We were all ready for the routine and structure it provides. With as hot hot hot as it's been we really should have started weeks ago and taken a nice long fall break once the cool air moves in.

We are once again schooling around the table in the dining room. Although I think we will eventually desire a school room in he future, I am very content and happy with our school set up.

We all gather here for Bible first thing. Then we do our history timeline - I let them stand on their chairs...

Then everyone tends to spread out. This year I am teaching 7 kids at the 8th grade, 5th grade, 4th grade, 2nd grade, and preschool level!! You will find kids doing their work all over.

The night before our big first day we had our annual Kick Off with our co-op. It is always so fun and our dear Caldwells always serve as amazingly gracious hosts. Our CK theme this year (we were Continental Kids when we studied geography and Created Kids when we did anatomy) is etCetera Kids. We are not sticking o one big theme but are instead doing a variety of things. Etcetera means "and all these things" so it will be a fun year.

Our very first year we took a pic of all the kids on the swing set. It has become tradition. But it is so hard to believe that Ally was the twins age when we first started together. What a blessing this community of friends has been to us.

 The girls..

 The boys...

 The kiddos having fun...

 get it? etc... dot dot dot...

 Madison and Abigail got a little stick fighting lesson from Jason...

And so we start another year. This is my 9th year of homeschooling. It has been a journey that has far surpassed anything I had ever anticipated and hoped - in both the joys and challenges. I am so very thankful for all the time I get with my children. I love teaching them and being with them and trying to know their hearts. And it reveals to me my own heart to me over and over. I am so blessed.