We made it!!! Snow and all!!!

Snow in Vegas...who knew, right? Yea, so our plan to come and have a warmer Christmas out of the snow and ice was changed a bit. Vegas had a huge snow storm yesterday. They received up to 8 inches in some parts of town! The airport basically shut down, so we weren't sure if we were even going to be able to get here today. Luckily, everything calmed down, and visibility got better, and we were able to leave and get here in a reasonable amount of delays. Nothing serious anyway. My mom was stuck in Salt Lake, and so we actually beat her here. The kids thought that was kinda funny.

The flight went really well. Marina, of course, had some "I wanna get off this plane!" moments, but would pass as soon as I could find something else to distract her. She did, however, spill her Dr. Pepper all down in between her legs and on the seat. So, she was deemed "Pepper Pants" for the remaining flight. It totally looked like she peed her pants, even when they dried. Ewwww! The older 4 just played their DSs the whole time. They really are great kids and great travelers. Marina hasn't been on very many trips at all, so she needs some more practice. (Guess that means more travels...if only!)

The kids got to see 2 of their cousins today, one that we just met for the first time. Little Maddie, who is only a few months old, and Kayslee who is almost 2 now. I think all the kids scared the living daylights out of her, but she eventually came around and was playing with them. We can't wait to see the rest of the family as they start to show up.

Thomas had his Spanish final tonight and felt good about it. He has 2 more tomorrow, and then he will join us here in Vegas for the next 2 weeks!! Yippee!! Play time for us!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Harley Dear!

Today is Harley's 7th Birthday!!

I can't believe that it has been 7 years since our little, stubborn runt was born. Harley was breech, and when the doctor turned her (which is WAY more painful than childbirth) she decided to turn right back. She has lived right up to that stubborness every day of her life! She was my 1st C-section baby, and was also our smallest baby...and still is compared to the others.

Harley is a very sweet, very smart girl. She loves making new friends, and loves to learn new things. She is technically in 1st grade, but tested into the 2nd grade Math and Language Arts curriculum at their new school. She loves to read, with her favorite books being Junie B. Jones books. She also loves movies, and anything she can dance and sing to. I love anything that will get that big belly laugh out of her!

Happy Birthday Harley!
We LOVE you dearly!

Great First Day!

The kids came home today EACH talking a mile a minute at the same time! It was pretty clear that they LOVED their first day.

Harley - Starts out with Ryker in his class for 2nd grade Math and Language Arts. I was a bit worried about them being disruptive while sitting right next to each other, but the teacher emailed me today to let me know how much she enjoyed them, and how they fit right in to the class. Harley then moves to her 1st grade class for Art and History. Today, she came home talking all about Vincent Van Gogh. She told me that he painted Starry Night, and that they got to "Dab Paint" just like Van Gogh used to! I was simply amazed.

Ryker - He was a little more quiet than everyone else. (He is my napper still, so it was a long day for him) What he couldn't stop talking about were the "Smart Boards." I guess instead of chalk boards, they have these computerized boards that are touch screens. Apparently it was the coolest thing ever!! He was also excited about getting to paint today.

Sierra - She really likes her teacher...Mr. McFadden, but I guess everyone calls him Mr. McFaddy! She has dove right into a history paper that is due in January, and I LOVE the process that is being taught. She has a file folder with 6 small envelopes glued on the inside. (3 on each inside side) She is to then to come up with 6 subjects, which must include a Beginning life, and ending life, and then she can choose the other 4. Her paper is on Ronald Reagan, so she has a Movie Career and Presidency envelope. Then in each envelope she must put 4 index cards. Each card must have one thought or event. So, when she goes to write her paper, she will have 6 paragraphs with at least 4 sentences/thoughts in each paragraph. She is really enjoying that!

Aspen - She was super excited about one of her teachers today that made her laugh till it hurt. I guess this lady is super dooper funny!! Aspen has recently hit a bump in her academics, but I could see today some excitement for her upcoming lessons. I think she, and Sierra, are both enjoying working at their own pace, whether that be quicker or slower. I am really impressed with the Math curriculum. Aspen and Sierra are both in 5th grade math. They are having trouble on Unit 3 with this K12 curriculum. The class is currently on Unit 6. So, we will be doing lots of catch up over the break. They were both shocked to see the kids doing multiplication of fractions. Neither of the girls had really even started doing anything with fractions. So, I know that they will have a great math base as they catch up with the class!

To answer Gwen's questions from my previous post....The classrooms look like traditional classrooms. They are very decorated and colorful. Thomas said that the rooms are a bit narrowing than normal. There isn't a kitchen. The kids need to bring their lunches to the learning center, but if they qualify for free or reduced lunches, they can get a "boxed" lunch. The school is in like an office type building/park. Thomas said it looks like it was built to be a daycare. Everything in the school is brand spanking new. This is their first school year to be open. He said it was really clean and new. Harley told me that she had 25 kids in her class. I'll ask the girls how big their classes were.

In conclusion, I am positive that this will be an awesome experience for them. I just feel like this is a great thing. It is the perfect match for any child that LOVES to learn, and that pretty much sums up my kids!!

New Adventures....Here We Come!!

I have been struggling with the fact that the kids might have to move a few times before we are finished with Thomas' schooling. They haven't really had a hard time adjusting, it is probably just me wanting the best for them, and not wanting to put them through any more challenges than I have to. We have been trying to decide if I should stop watching kids & move into a cheaper place, so that I won't have to feel like I am completely ignoring them and not involved in their lives anymore. Out here, homeschooling is all the rage! Well, there was just no way I could handle doing something like that. I am in no way qualified to put a curriculum together for 4, and soon 5 different grade levels. BUT, in my searching I found a public school, here in Indiana, called Hoosier Academy (clickable link). It is a charter school run or funded by Ball State University. It is sort of a hybrid home school meets traditional brick and mortar school. And, because it is a public school it is FREE!

At this Hoosier Academy (clickable link), they use the K12 Curriculum, which is a well known homeschooling curriculum. The kids will attend school at the Learning Center in Indianapolis 2 full days a week from 8:30a - 4:30p. Then for the other 3 days, they will complete their lessons online & offline from home. They would just need to log a total of 11 hours for those 3 days. AND they could do this whenever they wanted, any day or time of day, just as long as they got their lessons done before they had to go in to the Learning Center. The school provides a computer, printer and reimbursement for internet access, and all books and supplies. They were tested for placement, and they are allowed to place students 2 grades above or below where they should be according to age. They all did a little above grade level, except Harly, who techically is in 1st grade. She tested well into the 2nd grade curriculum. So that's the curriculum that she will be doing. Aspen was just a tad bit behind in Math, so we decided to put her in the 5th grade math, even though technically she is in 6th grade. That way she can make sure to have a good math foundation before she gets to all the hard stuff. The program is easily adjusted, they can be doing 2 different grade levels in 2 different subjects. It's just so personalized.

I've been able to get a look at their lessons online, and I am so impressed! The things they will be learning in History and Art have got me super excited. I was a little overwhelmed at first, but then I found out that they do ALL of their History and Art at the learning center. So, now I don't have to teach them that at home. WHEW! Plus, all of Aspen's Composition class will be at the learning center also! So, I basically help them with their Math and Language Arts.

The lessons are all easily followed online, and there is a lot to do offline as well. I have a Teacher's Guide to follow, and it basically gives me their lessons word for word. I am also really impressd with the curriculum because they will not be "taught to the test." They do have to go on one extra website for about 30 min. a day, and that is where they will practice the standards for the state testing.

My searching for this started when the kids were out of school with their tonsils. The make-up work sent home for a 2 week period of missed school was completed in 1 maybe 1 1/2 days!! What in the world are they doing all day in school? Certainly NOT a whole lot of class work. Plus, since they ride the bus out here, they are gone from a little before 8am, and don't get home till after 4. That makes for a long day, every day! I have also learned that they were only getting ONE recess, and that recess was given at the END of the day. They didn't even get a break at lunch. They would eat lunch, and then go right back to class! Thomas and I thought that was so cruel!

I am loving this idea! This way, when we have to move to go to Purdue, the kids can still attend this academy, I will just have to drive them in to Indy twice a week. No biggie to me! PLUS, if we do get our DREAM job with the Foreign Service, we can just keep going with the K12 curriculum on a private basis, so that the kids don't ever have to interrupt their learning. I am so excited about this program, and just wanted to share! They said they have these K12 public programs, which basically means "Paid by your tax dollars", all over the country. So, there just may be one in your area!!!

I know they have one in Vegas, but it done ALL at home. There is no Learning Center that they would be able to go to twice a week. I'm pretty sure that this school here is a new concept, that isn't done in other places. I am, so far, impressed with the K12 curriculum.

So, Thomas dropped them off this morning while I was getting some nerve blocks. I'll update when they get home and let everyone know how it went! He said they were all excited when they got there. Ryker and Harley are in the same class, and I guess they walked in and sat right next to each other. So cute!!

Well, check back later!!

More to come.....

The kids start a new school today! I'm super excited about it, and can't wait to share how their 1st day goes. It's a really cool concept, that I think is going to work well with all of them. I'll update after they get home, and if I'm feeling better from my Occipital Nerve Blocks that I get this morning!!

Check in later........

Kool Store...Kool Blog!!

I just found out about a really cool store here in Indy, and I'm pretty sure that they have stores in other cities! It is called Ridemakerz, and basically it is Build a Bear for boys! You go and pick out a car, and then you can totally customize them. Ryker would go nuts in this store! I found out about it from a favorite blog of mine, Angelica Grace Designs. Angie always has the funnest posts, and I visit her blog, at the very least, once a day. You can check her out here...angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/!!

Go check out Ridemakerz at www.ridemakerz.com!!

Funny Ryker....

Poor Ryker....the only boy, surrounded by all these girls!! I think we need to work on his run....
(click on the picture to make it bigger...you'll get what I'm talking about!) I love him to death, but the boy runs like a girl!

I'm in love with this photo!

If anyone knows Marina, they know that she is the biggest Daddy's Girl! This picture totally captures that love and just pure giddiness that she feels whenever he is around!