our homeschooling year...

This past homeschooling year has definitely been the best yet for us! We have used My Fathers World curriculum for our Bible, History, Geography, Art & Music. The kids & I have enjoyed it, the kids said they loved learning about the different countries & cultures. For elementary grades I do a simple report card for each child just to have on file, Destineys grade average was 93 & Johnnys was 92. For K & 1st grade I give satisfactory/unsatisfactory. But as most homeschoolers know we don't really need report cards because we each know how our children are doing since we are the ones teaching them, or should I say watching them learn. Gianna has done well this year, last year was rough so we just went over 1st grade again. I can definitely see a difference since we started last year. She enjoys being read to & has started reading more on her own. She doesn't really like math much, but we are just going at her pace. Ethan is a fast learner, he finished his math curriculum before expected. Some days he would just sit & "do math" for fun. He also likes to be read to but most of the time he wants to read to you. Im very proud of all my children, I love to see them helping one another without being asked, & loving on each other. Im so blessed to have a family that is so close & loves one another so much!

The fun of moving!

Gianna & Evangelene

Mommy & Saraphena

We just recently moved, the house is less then a mile from our previous but moving is one of the hardest jobs especially with 7 kiddos & being pregnant! I'm thankful that we are mostly unpacked and settled! I'm so glad God worked everything out His way in His timing!! I see & hear alot of people complaining about their troubles so much, I'm also guilty of that sometimes. But I try really hard to see the blessings I have rather then the hardships. Its not so easy. If we can take our focus off of ourselves & look at what others are going through we will then see how blessed & fortunate we really are! About 6 more weeks & I will be having my 8th baby! Now that is truly a blessing :) Even though I feel tired & sore I know it will soon be over & I will hold my newest little guy. :))

Loving to Learn

Today has been what I would call as good & productive. Just the fact that I'm on here writing means things are going good. ;) The kids had fun making Kai-awase shells (a matching game that originated from Japan). Then my 3 oldest & I talked about Haiku poetry and each of them wrote there own. I love learning & doing activities with my children! Yes, there are always messes to clean up after, sticky glues, paper all over the place etc. but its all so worth it! As I "teach" the children I'm really not teaching but learning myself! Homeschooling has defiantly made me smarter, I learn so much! Of course there is so much more learning to come. :)  I thought I would share the kids Haiku poetry (3 lines, 5 syllables on 1st & 3rd line 7 syllables on middle line)

                                        
                                              
                                                 Destiney, Gianna & Johnny with their Haiku poetry

Snake by Johnny, They do bite a lot
                            Some of them are poisonous
                            They have a long tongue
Green Snake by Gianna, Long tongue and no legs
                                      It will bite with its big mouth
                                      Green and little eyes
Sky by Destiney, Wide and wonderful
                            Light blue color with white clouds
                            Overhead all day




                

kids grow up fast!

Often I wonder how time seems to go by sooo quickly! It seems like yesterday, as many say, that I was a child myself. Time definitely seems to go by quicker & quicker as you get older! In this season of my life things are busy, busy, busy!! That's part of the reason time seems to go so quick.  Many times I catch myself stopping & trying to live for the moment. I love the cuddling times with my kids or funny things that seem to happen (usually around the dinner table) that sometimes drives me crazy, but of course we are making memories right?  My job or role is to be the best mom & wife I can be for my family, so that has been my goal. Sometimes I see how I'm improving on that & other times I seem to take two steps back. I'm not perfect of course & never will be but trying to do the best I can is a good goal. I'm making it an important thing in my life to make sure my kids know that I love them very much & will always be there for them.

As my oldest child Destiney is growing older I'm starting in a new "season" of pre teen hood with her. Yes it kind of scares me sometimes but as long as we keep a good relationship with each other I know it will all be OK. The teen stage  brings new challenges thats for sure!

tired today

I have been so tired today! I get a day or 2 of fatigue then thankfully i get some energy days ;) I definitely struggle more on these fatigue days, everything seems to go slower. But somehow I have to make sure I get everything that needs to be done, done. I cant let anything go in this house like laundry, cleaning, etc because unfortunately it doesn't just disappear but piles up.  For the most part everything gets done but just later in the day then it would if I wasn't so tired.

my wonderful husband

I'm so thankful to have a hardworking, loving husband! Hes a great father that loves to help and play with the kids. I don't know how i would be going on without him! He is such a blessing in my life!  I Love You John!!!

my blessing

I'm so blessed that God has blessed John & I with these 7 children!! God has a plan & purpose for each one & its awesome to see how God uses them now & in the future! They each are so different, its so neat to see the differences in them. Even though they are in the same family & have the same things going on they have different abilities & talents. God has made each one of us very unique!