Tell me it isn't so...tell me I don't have a child old enough to start school! How can this be? Where has the time gone?
We officially have completed our first day of school here on Hubler Planet. That's correct...right here...on Hubler Planet. Jason and I have prayed long and hard about this decision and we have decided to dive head first into the adventure that is homeschooling. Ella and Ben couldn't be happier about this idea and are so excited about it that I'm wondering how I will ever keep up with their curiousity and thirst for knowledge right now.
Our day started early. Very. Early.
Lily decided it wasn't a proper start if it wasn't at 5:40am. Yep. Early.
I tried to wipe the sand from my eyes and get them to stay open without the aid of toothpicks while I waited for the other two rabble-rousers to get up.
Ben sauntered downstairs around 7:15am and immediately asked "when do we start school, Mama?" It wasn't easy for this boy to wait for another hour and a half for his big sister to wake up.
In the meantime, Lily decided it was a perfect morning to get in a little whistling action. I love that
Thank you sweet baby. Mama loves you.
Aahhh, finally Ella came down and much to Ben's delight, the day could begin. Of course everyone knows the best way to start off a good day is by having a good breakfast.
I'm such a super mom that I let them pick out whatever cold cereal they wanted. Just like Every. Other. Day. here on Hubler Planet.
I know, I should have made bacon and pancakes, waffles and sausage, something special, something memorable. But need I remind you that I was up at 5:40am?
I don't want anyone to forget that.
Not even a bowl of mini wheats could damper this boy's spirit.
Once everyone's tummies were nice and full, it was time to get out our school crates. The kids got to go shopping for pencils, markers, glue, etc a few weeks back and haven't been allowed to mess with it until the official start of school. Needless to say, Ben and Ella were riffling through their shiny new things with gusto.
Who knew a $3.99 crate could bring so much joy.
Ella wasn't quite sure why we were working on writing...she assured me she already knew all of her letters.
But when I told her we were going to learn how to write them "pretty"...well, she was inspired to get busy.
That and being able to use a new pencil.
I couldn't have asked for more concentration! Ben gave me 100% all day long. Seriously...who knew this boy could buckle down and work so diligently?
It surprised the socks off of me.
He was just as proud of himself.
He rocked it when it came to reading. I wasn't even planning on starting Ben this year in school...afterall, he's only 4 years old.
But this boy...this smarty-pants boy...has been paying a lot of attention when Ella was playing school with him. He knows all his letters and their sounds.
I wish I could take credit for this.
He begged me to teach him how to read. How could a mama say no to that sweet face?
PS. Ella has been hired as the new photographer in the house.
Although Ben is a rock star at reading...he's not so much in the photography department.
Try Again, Honey.
Third times a charm, trust me.
At'a boy.
We learned about alligators during science. You know...alligators...the ones that can grow to be up to 16 feet long, live to be 56 years old, eat bottles, rocks, pigs, turtles, and wood (amongst other things), have babies that are 8" long even though their eggs are only a mere 3" in height, and whose new teeth grow back in once the old ones fall out. Yeah. Those beasts.
In honor of such fine animals, we decided we should make some alligator bread.
I know, he's too cute for words.
How 'bout a close-up?
Gotta love those eyes. He was mightly tasty.
And for a little artwork to keep things fancy...we made some puppies.
Heeheee, they make me laugh just looking at them.
And lots of books from the library about pets. Even Lily loved getting in on the reading action. She took her seat on my lap and snuggled in for the stories.
That girl loves books. I'm afraid it won't be long until she'll be wanting me to teach her how to read.
Seriously, earlier this week she sat in my lap for 45 minutes while I read to her. "Ree...Ree" (Translation, in case you didn't get that: Read...Read) And we stopped because I was really tired of reading...she outlasted me. True story.
And how did our first day of school end, you ask?
With one very sad boy. He was not happy what-so-ever that school was done for the day.
I think that means it was a success overall. Don't ya think?
