And they're off~

So I've been meaning to post about the first week of school for a few days and well, time is just marching by despite my efforts to slow it down. I did manage to get the kids outside for a few beginning of school pictures of course. But to be honest, I asked the girls to do theirs Sunday after church! They thought I was such a dork for this and I guess I can't blame 'em. You know how it is though...you get up at the crack of dawn to get three kiddies up and dressed and fed and groomed and well, pictures just take a backseat on the first day of school. I myself thought it was a stroke of genius doing it a mere 18 hours before. My children, however, did not. What do I care though? I'm the mama, right? Nuff said.

This is shaping up to be a great school year all around. I may have said that the other day but it bears repeating. To recap for those of you who aren't familiar with how school for us works...We go to a local private Christian school on Mondays and Wednesdays. The girls are given instruction by wonderful teachers in all subjects {Grammar, Reading, History, Science, Geography, Math, Art/Music and Spanish}. It's a full day let me tell you. There is no PE or even recess really. They are moving quickly from one subject to another and using every minute of both days wisely. On the other three days of the week, I homeschool them based on assignments that are given by their teachers on M/W. I am responsible for them knowing the material and for grading, test giving, etc. But they do the actual introduction of concepts and instruction of subjects learned. They choose curriculum {via a really great and dedicated committee of uber smart people} and they set the school calendar. But as far as the state is concerned, our children are homeschooled. We send in reports monthly to our county and our children are required to undergo standardized testing just like government school and traditional private school students do. Our school has nearly 1000 students in total {M/W + T/F} and boasts of every club and extracurricular activity known to man. It's really something. So that's it in a nutshell.

And can I tell you something? I LOVE it. I really, really love it. It's the best of both worlds as far as we are concerned. Our children are receiving top notch teaching, excellent Biblically based curriculum, and small class sizes {Kennedy's class has 16 students this year, Syd's has 17}. Couple that with the flexibility of the homeschool aspect and you've got yourself a hum dinger of a winning strategy for educating your children. All at a fraction of the cost of traditional private school. Can you tell we are really happy to be here? Yep, Hannah Montana wasn't lying. We've got the best of both worlds.

Kennedy had a fantastic first week in 5th grade. She's so darn big. I'm not sure if I like this. But honestly, it's so fun to watch her come into her own. And Sydney, she's totally digging 2nd grade. Man, she loves it. They both adore their teachers {so do I} and I'm stoked about all they are going to learn this year. I look at each of the syllabi and I'm blown away. In history, Sydney is already learning about Creation. She's learned about each specific day already and will continue on through Genesis and pick up for an entire unit on Egyptian history. So cool. And totally neat because we've been talking some about Creation in our family worship times at home and Jason has began to teach through Genesis with our students at church too. Funny how all of that comes together...must be the Lord. :) Kennedy's teacher has a devotion with them each morning before they begin their day with material she calls, "24 Family Ways". It's 24 aspects of what a family really is...how they deal with each other, how they treat one another and how to above all things, honor God. There is a concept they learn each week as well as a memory verse to go along with it. On M/W, her class is a family. And they are learning concepts that will not only guide them as a class but also as individuals that are straight from Scripture. I just love it.

Joel is attending preschool with us all day on Mondays. He also is attending preschool from 9-12 on Tues/Weds/Thurs at our church...just like both girls did. Oh how I love our church preschool. It sounds like a lot, right? I mean, I worried that it's too much. But you know what? He is having a blast! He leaves with Jase those three days about 8:50 and comes home with him a little after noon for lunch. It's so great for him...and for the girls and I since we are home schooling on Tues/Thurs while he is there. Again, a win win for all involved and we are all so excited about our little schedule this year.

So here are my fake 1st day pictures...I will just call them Beginning of School Twenty Ten pictures. lol!