First Day of School

I know what you are thinking...

Wait a minute, isn't it Halloween? Didn't you start school waaay back in August? Where's Kolbe?

Well, yes, tomorrow is Halloween and yes, we did start school in August. And, finally, Kolbe is peacefully sleeping in Daddy's arms so I can blog. You see, I like to procrastinate in order. Out of order drives me nuts so Kolbe's birth photos will have to wait just a moment while I move at a posting snail's pace. Not everyone can live harmoniously with this level of crazy. :-)

So, without further ado, here are our first day of school photos.

We are studying American history this year, from the civil war through modern times. These are Collette, Grace, and Quinton's books for the year. They love to read. Each one is an avid bookworm, so this will just barely be enough to keep them occupied.

As always, we started off the day with self-portraits. I keep the style a surprise until the big morning. This year we copied the color-popping technique of American artist, James Rizzi. It took a couple of days to finish all of the layers, but everyone was absolutely thrilled with the results. 

Yes, we really do home school on the counter top - a lot! There seems to always be someone needing a snack while another needs an explanation for math while another just needs to be kept from wrecking havoc. The kitchen counter top is most conducive to all three.

Another year to grow in love.

We really are blessed.

Daybook: First Day of School

Outside my window...

It's dark and hot. Bleh

I'm listening to...
Quinton telling jokes while the big ones wash dinner dishes, thumping and bumping from the little ones rough housing with Daddy before bed, and Marie Claire cooing. It's a bedtime cacophony!

First Day of School 2012
Our Lady of the Mountain Homeschool

I am thinking...
About our first day of school. It was not the most peaceful like this one nor was I bracing for a sleep deprived year like the last one. It was just rushed and unsettled. Usually the rituals of planning, cleaning, and organizing set a tone of expectation and industry. This year the deep cleaning with my mom never happened, the intense planning was cut short by events and illness, and the calm readiness never materialized. I felt like unprepared runner in a marathon, cranky and beset by pain. But then, then I remembered to do one small thing to find order and peace. So, I cleaned out a drawer in my bathroom, said a prayer, and turned it over to God. I must have opened that clean organized little drawer a half dozen times (my mom understands that craziness) and the calm peace of letting go to the One who loves me most finally descended. In the end, we had a truly lovely day.

Olivia, 9th Grade
almost 14

Quinton, 7th Grade
12 years

Grace, 2nd Grade
7 years

I am thankful for...
Peace from prayer, my husband who loves me unconditionally, and indoor plumbing. About the plumbing, you see, we have a toilet that works imperfectly. Really, it drives me nuts. But every time I want to dismantle it, I say a little prayer of thanksgiving for indoor plumbing instead. I'm trying to remember the gifts, trying.

Collette, 4th Grade
9 years

Dominic, PreK
4 years

Xavier, Preschooler in Training
3 years

In the kitchen...
Ah well, it's looking like Marie Claire has a gluten allergy. We've kept all things gluten away from her and me until her skin cleared up. She actually had soft baby skin without copious amounts of lotion. Then I let her have some baby snacks. Within 24 hours, her skin had broken out in rough, red, scaly rashes. I suppose I ought to make a doctor's appointment to have official testing done, but until then I'll be cooking gluten free for both of us. It's really not too bad and dovetails nicely with all of the paleo menu planning I had been doing anyway.  Olivia is not pleased.

I am wearing...
Black pants and a loose grey top. I don't think it's stylish in anyway. One of these days I'll get myself some new clothes.

Photo by Dominic

I am creating...
More order and plans for the school year. Stephen has promised to take all the children off for fun while I cram one more day of organizing and cleaning in. After that, the year will move relentlessly forward, hopefully in a pleasant and productive manner rather than a painful steamroller one.

I am reading...
Nothing much right now. Once the planning is done, I'll try to read the children's school books so we can have a discussion or two. I'd really like to read 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. My children would be thrilled, I'm sure.

Marie Claire, Mascot
1 year

Around the house...
I'm trying to create a calm and organized home so that the chaos of seven children doesn't become overwhelming. We're still working on the big bedroom switch. I have a feeling that the boys will be sleeping in a lemon/lime room all year.

Living the liturgy...
We haven't done much this summer. Usually, the start of school kicks off our feasting but I am not sure what to do about the gluten free/ paleo diet. How does one feast without treats? That just doesn't seem right!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Catching up, yes just catching up
A beach day for Olivia's birthday
Planning for our camping trip to the beach
Finding tasty gluten free recipes
Decluttering Flylady style- 15 minutes at a time. I can do that, right?