Recap of our first day

Or rather: Recap of our first week.

{an especially squinty Audra}

It's actually been a great week. I am really glad to be so organized this year, because that has made things go more smoothly. I'm satisfied with how much we're getting accomplished each day, and am relieved that I didn't overshoot it. (I didn't plan too much.)

 

Things went pretty much according to my plan here, except that so far the girls have played (fairly) quietly during our reading time for History and so they've stayed with us and I've postponed their video time a bit later during our table time.

The only thing I may be unprepared for is how fast they're going through the books to read on their Assigned reading shelves.  (I selected several books for both Isaac and Ella over the summer that I wanted them to read throughout this school year, and I think they've read three books each.  This week.  Nice.)  I mean, I'm really thankful they're such avid readers, but I was sort of hoping those books would last them a little longer!

The dishes sit while we do school and the house is more cluttered.  The little girls have been in pajamas all day long this entire week, and I am exhausted by the end of the day.  But we're good.  We're reading and learning and relating and praying and singing and in each others way and by the grace of God, I'm handling those (many) interruptions well and we're all loving it.  Truly.  Is there anything better than being with these dear children every day?  I love them so much.  I feel so incredibly blessed.

 "Snapshots" from the week that stand out in my mind:

*Isaac snuggled up to Adelia on the couch with a stack of picture books- reading aloud to her during their buddy time.

*Ella's first dication lesson: complete with tears at the start, but by the end of it? "I really love this, mommy!  This is fun!  Can we do this every day?"

*Pointing to a blank US map and quizzing them on states and capitals.  They SO know more than I do.

*Isaac announcing how much he loves math and he wants to order the next book.

*Daily readings from this book:

(You know how sometimes you just find the perfect book for your kids' ages and imaginations at that particular time? This is it. They are so captivated by this story, all of them- and it's been really fun to read aloud.)

*Audra's new term: "Pocka does" (otherwise known as "polka dots"), and how many times a day she says it.  Apparently she loves pocka does right now.  And I love her.

*Adelia's desire to be apart of every.single.thing.we.do- including asking all sorts of seemingly studious questions about our picture study piece.  Love that lively girl. 

*Lessons on my bed with Ella, then Isaac~ for one-on-one English time, and Ella's cheery, "I'll bet most girls don't get to snuggle up all cozy on their mommy's bed to do English!" 

*Reading lessons at the table with Isaias, and how delighted he was when he read a whole sentence!

I am blessed.  So blessed.