The last couple weeks have still felt somewhat like vacation though it's slowly beginning to feel like normal life. I've had a couple days that I didn't get a chance to swim because of the "stuff" of everyday life...laundry, cleaning, errands...sigh. I guess vacation can't really last forever!
I started loosely homeschooling Parker on Monday to try to establish some form of a routine before we really start to hit it hard. If we sat down and did all of the work at one time it should take about 2 hours, but, with 3 other little ones running around we've been splitting it up all throughout the day which has actually been working well. If we do bits at a time Parker can stay focused and go through it pretty quickly. I'm learning though that she really needs silence to focus. Any type of noise or commotion around her is extremely distracting and she can't work. I, on the other hand, studied at my best when there was background noise.
So far, I'm really happy with the curriculum that were using - Sonlight. The entire year of work is layed out into lesson plans with details on how to teach it, I literally just open the teachers guide and follow the instructions. Math is a different story.....it's slightly embarrassing that I actually have to read how to teach 1st grade Math.....
I haven't exactly figured out what to do with Eilash and Elin for preschool. My plan is to get Parker on a routine in the next month or so then try to tailor a plan for the little ones. The problem is finding the time to work with them. They can't do it when Parker is trying to work because they get too excited which translates into them being extremely loud, which escalates into Parker getting upset and yelling at Eilash and Elin which then turns into me yelling at everybody. It's still early though, I have some time to get it figured out.
We still spend the majority of the day in the pool. The temperatures are in the 100's , which I absolutely love! I've figured out that 115 is almost unbearably hot but 100-105 is delightful :) Delightful by the pool that is! It's still to warm for the kids to just play outside or go to the park. We'll have all "winter" for that :) :)
Steve started work this week, but its just been orientation so he's been coming home early everyday. Tomorrow is his first actual day of real work, unfortunately his commute for the next few months is an hour each way, so I expect his days of coming home early are at an end....We still have company until Sunday, then I'll officially be on my own!
Our sweet Elin got to have an Arizona birthday and turned 3 on July 26th!
She had not one...
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| Cake with Grandma and Grandpa Widmer before they left |
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| We went to the Huette's Sunday evening, the day after her birthday, and they had birthday decorations for Elin and had made her a special birthday desert :) I absolutely already love that entire family...more about them later... |
But 3 birthday celebrations!
Including the "Desert Pool Party" she requested :)
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| "Desert Dirt Pudding" |
Two of four girls are now hanging over my shoulders, I'll take that as my cue to be done for tonight :)
