Twas the Night Before {Home} School...

...and all through the house....

are EXCITED KIDS!!

Oh my goodness, how we've all been waiting for this day! Carlie has been talking about September 1st for months, and she could hardly lay her head on the pillow tonight. As I was leaving her room for the third time, she said "Mommy, I don't even think I can say how excited I am. You are the best mommy in the world for teaching us." That was payment enough for all the hours I will spend doing just that.

Actually, I don't even feel like I'm going to need "payment". I have already found so much joy in preparing for this year, and in starting new traditions for our family. Of course, I also have plenty of hesitations and anxious moments too. But, one day at a time, we'll figure it out. :)

Today was our first "Back to {Home} School" Day, and we did our own version of Student Orientation.

We woke up and did our chores. {They LOVE their new chore charts....let's just see how long that lasts! I hope a while! I got them from this website (or click here for older versions of the chart), Homeschool Creations, and loved this mom's concept. There are morning chores and afternoon chores, and those are done just because you are a part of the family and you have responsibilities. Then, there are three "paid" chores each day that can only be paid AFTER the first chores are completed. I think this is a good balance between paying for chores and not. We have never given allowance but are looking forward to some money management lessons around here! I definitely think it's time...}

To start the year right, I decided to teach them how to do each chore on the list, so we had alot of fun learning to wash laundry, fold sheets, dust, swiffer sweep, vacuum, and clean toilets. :) At one point, Carlie said "Mom, these are going to be so fun. It's like we're your maids and you tell us what we're supposed to clean." I was cracking up because she was EXCITED about that and thought that sounded fun. I clarified that we were ALL cleaning together. But, it was still funny.

Abby Kate's favorite two things were the box of clorox wipes she carried around...and her new pen she has to mark off her completed chores. Look at this concentration!

She asked me if I would take her picture with her new chore chart. Hilarious.

After "chore orientation", we headed to meet Abby Kate's "new" preschool teacher. To our great surprise, her "new" teacher, is actually her "old" teacher and her personal hero, Ms. Amy. This is a really big deal for our Katers. Look at her disbelief. :)

Abby Kate was so excited (although she never knows quite how to show her excitement appropriately!) and talked about "her Amy" all night. She is now very excited to go to school next week!

When we left her school, I surprised the girls and headed to Target. We parked and I read them this poem:

School begins very soon,

It's been so hard to wait!

Mom's working hard to finish up,

Wednesday is the date!

But before you start the year with me,

There's one more job for you!

You will need supplies to use,

And new backpacks too!

So, hurry, run, be on your way!

Target or Wal-Mart will do.

Fill up your cart with all of it,

By following all of the clues!

Immediately, they went crazy with excitement, and started asking for their first clue. Kendyll said "Mom, did you actually have the Target workers hide clues around the store for us??" Um, no....I did not. :)

We headed to the {very clearance priced} school supply section. I would read a clue and they would figure out what school supply it was, search for it, and add it to their basket.

Some of those clues were real stumpers! (Just kidding, they weren't. They are acting "stumped" in this picture. )

Oh, the joy of the search.

After filling our baskets with pencils and such, we headed to the mall to look for backpacks.

Now, really, they don't need a backpack. I know that. But, there are some things that just make school fun. And, we will definitely be going on field trips and road trips where they will use them. So, we decided to let them pick out a new one.

I scored again on the clearance prices!! They both decided to get a tote bag instead of a backpack and we got out of Claire's for $20 total!! That'll do!

We are already using our new tote bags tomorrow for our first afternoon adventure of homeschool. After doing our "school time" in the morning, we're heading to the art museum to pick out the artists we want to study this year. They will draw one of their paintings, write their names, and find one fact about them. Again, they found out tonight and were so giddy.

And, watching them giddy, makes me giddy. :)

After we got home from ballet, we started loading our supply boxes with the brand new school supplies. This is Carlie's specialty.

Sharpening brand new pencils is always the best, isn't it?

And, I am not sure what to think about this girl. Does this scare you like it does me?

The whole time as we unwrapped markers and glue sticks, the girls were just chatting amongst themselves about this year. It was so sweet to listen to their conversations. I am really glad we're doing this. I also hope it's all they dream it is going to be. :)

We then started phase two of "orientation", where I walked them through our daily schedule, and what will happen when. I showed them everything there is to know about the school shelves {in a desperate attempt to keep the shelves clean in future months!} and we went through our notebooks and folders.

Here is a peek at our school room. It is our loft area, turned into school.

I have baskets of fun learning for Katers, which I will switch out each week.

Of course, last night she was asking for her own history binder and spelling words. So, I don't know HOW this will go with her, exactly. She thinks she is in third grade too!

Here is the big girls' shelf where their daily books and binders are....with buckets for "book basket" {library books on topics we are covering this month in history, science, etc.} and readers...

and my curriculum shelves, which hold all the rest!

The calendar, and the clean desk. Ahhhh, I love an organized desk.

Meanwhile, even as the shelves get put in order, my plans are beginning to shape up too. For the most part. But, there is still work to do. There will probably always be work to do.

I am really trying to not be myself with this schooling thing. I'm trying not to plan down to the smallest detail, spend hours on "the small things", and get anxious about fitting it all in. I am trying to just focus on the big purposes in what we are doing. And, I am trying to pray for this year more than I plan for this year.

But, it's hard. I'm thinking God has even more to teach me this year than He has planned for my girls to learn. TOTAL reliance on Him is going to be a must, I can already tell. :)

The verse I am praying this year for my sweet students is this:

"That you, Kendyll, Carlie, and Abby Kate, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend...the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19.

To understand God's love and what pleases Him is more important this year than spelling or science. I need Him to constantly remind me of that too!

For the girls, their theme verse is posted on the wall.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

We are going to concentrate on pleasing God with our minds and our learning. Everything we do is for Him....not for a grade, or to please a teacher or parent. Don't we all need that reminder? I know I do.

We talked about this the other day, as they were cleaning their rooms.

And, of course, 5 minutes after our discussion, Kendyll had written a song about it. :) They sing it every day now and I can't tell you how much it makes me smile. It says "Work for the Lord, and not for man, work for the Lord, and not for man, work for the Lord, and not for man, 'cause that's what the Bible says to do!"

Even Abby Kate sings this the whole time she makes her bed or cleans up her toys. And, I love that Kendyll thought of it and not me!!

I really pray that I learn the same lesson. All of this is for Him, not for others or what they expect, and not even for my kids or myself. Lord, help me remember that!!

In a few hours, I will have these three little faces looking at me for instruction and that scares me a bit, to be honest. But, God has also reminded me of this: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." 2. Cor. 12:9 Thank goodness I don't have to be strong enough or smart enough for this.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year with my girls, run not by my weak abilities, but full of His grace and strength. Happy school year, girlies. I can't wait to spend it with you!!