Dragon Ship Series Book #1 Stranded

We are SO excited! :) Shawn has published his first book! He started telling the kids this story when they were little bitty and they loved it! Each time he would build on it and pretty soon it was begging to be a book. :)

This is a great story...the first book of five that will take kids on an amazing and fun adventure...one that any child may have in their own backyard (and imagination)! We love it because it documents a lot of true (and most times funny!) events from Shawn's childhood. And because it is good, clean fun! Plus, didn't you always want to know the "truth" about Bigfoot?

This is a new adventure for our family, too. We have had the most interesting experience of learning all the steps of publishing, now we get to find out a LOT of information about marketing! The kids are very much a part of this every step of the way, of course. After all, the story was for them! That's what makes it the most fun for me!

It will be available in bookstores on Dec. 16th, but is currently available for presale. Here is more info and where you can purchase a copy!
http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60604-515-2
Our family would be SO thankful if you spread the word! Hope you enjoy the book!

A Day in the Life of Our Home School

So many people have asked me how home schooling is going! I always tell everyone how much I love it and how well the kids have adjusted, etc. But I always wish that I could actually SHOW people how it is going. I know that *I* would be very curious if I had brand new home school friends... I would have given up a small amount of money (at least) just to have seen a day in the life of a home school family before we decided to make this journey. Hmmm...now that I think of it, maybe I could charge a fee and let everyone in! :) Just kidding...let me first say that I have had a few friends ask if they could come see what it is like one day...and I want to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to do that! I told my kids that may happen and they loved the idea! So, come on over (or down) anytime!

But, I at least thought I would try to give you some idea of what it is like in words...so here goes! Now keep in mind that we have only had school for 31 days now and we are no experts! First, some notes:

*We change things constantly. Our family thrives on change. :) (In case you haven't noticed!) I can change my mind about something at the last minute and it is almost always seen as a good thing! The kids can suggest something or show interest in something and I may let them take the lead with that idea. They never know exactly what to expect in any subject each day when they wake up. And they love it. I do, too!

*Yet we stay the same. I have always been fairly strict on routines with the kids, so this hasn't been a stretch for us. We all do extremely well with sticking to a schedule. An overall schedule that is...we wake up and get ready (make beds, eat, brush teeth, dress) and we get started with school at 8:40 each day. (I don't like doing things on the half hour, what can I say? I like my extra 10 minutes of sleep each morning!) We take a half of an hour for lunch...but quite often we pop in an educational video while we eat. We talk to each other plenty throughout the day, eat dinner together at least 5 nights of the week without tv, and we don't hardly ever watch TV! (We don't even have cable/ satellite and we LIKE that! Although the kids won't admit it until they are grown up, so don't bother asking them!) We end at 2:30, but you'll see below that their last hour of time is extremely enjoyable...so I really feel like they end "school" at 1:30!

*My plans are not written ahead of time. (I have goals and objectives for subjects in general, but I do not have specific plans for each subject each day...like "read pgs. 23-35") I don't write lesson plans. Never would have thought that...I pictured that being a super big challenge each and every day. In fact, I did it for the first TWO nights only. Now, I just spend time learning how to learn with them. I am thrilled at all of the HUGE amount of info that is on the internet on home schooling...I can't get enough of the ideas and support that is shared!

*I do not stand up in front of them and teach. I sit next to them. On our couch upstairs. Or on our big comfy sectional downstairs. Or outside on a blanket. Or around our patio table. Or up in the treehouse (yes, you bet we have done that!). McKenzi often still sits on my lap while we are reading out loud or discussing things...she's getting bigger and I'll appreciate each time that happens because it may be the last! :) We don't sit at the dinner table. I don't know why...it just bugged me to picture that. Our time around the table is holy ground to me. We share our hearts and dinner there each night. I just can't stand the thought of it being cluttered with papers, etc.

*When they work independently, they get to choose where to do that! There are plenty of options...the desks in their rooms, on their beds, a cozy couch, the stool at the counter, outside at the bistro table or patio table, or at the desk downstairs or upstairs in the living areas. They change often (no surprise!).

*We don't do "worksheets". Well, we do a few here and there...and they pretty much always have one for math each day. But, we don't do a bunch of fill in the blank, multiple choice, true/false kind of worksheets. They don't have the typical tests, written quizzes, etc. Freaking out on me yet? This is one of the neatest finds I have made since I started researching home school as an option and trying to wrap my brain around it all! I think I'll have to share more about this and a specific example of our day in another post! This one is going to be too long already! Stay tuned.... :)

What Blake has learned so far at guitar lessons

Kaylee's First Sewing Project

Hi! It's Kaylee! I Just finished a sewing project. It was my very first one. I made a pillow that is pink and brown. My Grandma told me how to use the sewing machine. At first I was a little scared of the needle, but soon I knew how to do it carefully so that I would not poke myself.

Chase's Rock Collection

Hi, it's me, Chase! This is my rock collection. My favorite rock in my collection is my dad's blue quartz arrowhead. He wanted it to be on display, so I put it with my rock collection.

One of my favorite types of rocks is amethyst. I have been reading about rock and learned that: *people used rocks as tools a long time ago
*diamonds are 10 times harder than any other rock
*sedimentary rocks have layers that have been formed by pressure over time

I'm still learning and always collecting! Pretty much everywhere I go I find a new rock!

Blake's New Guitar

Blake worked so hard mowing grass to earn the money he needed to save for his new guitar! He finally got it! Way to go, Blake!!