School--My Opinion Thus Far

I've had many families ask me what I've thought about our school experience so far.  Well, the kids have only been in for four days, and so my opinions may change, but here is my take SO FAR.

When homeschooling, I dressed my kids well using thrift store finds (yes, I'm a name brand shopper, but refuse to pay name-brand prices...I see it as my part in keeping clothing from the landfills and also helping out whichever charity is running the thrift store).  For school, I've had to purchase clothes--uniforms.  I actually like the idea of uniforms, and it makes it easy to get out the door in the morning.  Con:  I have to get out the door in the morning, even if my toddler is throwing up when my husband is out of town and I haven't slept, the older kids still have to get to school, and I still have to get up early to make them a lunch. 

When homeschooling, it took us about three hours in the morning to cover math, reading, history & writing.  Then the kids could explore at their leisure.  We had separate science co-ops, art classes, etc which filled in any gaps.  Time-wise, taking them to school isn't saving me any.  When they come home (around 4) it still takes about an hour and a half to get both of them to finish the math, reading and writing they've been assigned.  So, rather than only sitting and listening to me for 1.5 hours (then doing their practice work), they are in a class for 6 hours, then coming home and doing practice work for the same period of time (1.5 hours).  I realize that the school we chose has separate art, science, and music classes, so it's not completely fair to say they are in class for 6 hours, but according to their written schedules, those classes are only around 30-40 min. each, once a week.  So, I suppose I can fairly say that they are in class for about 4.5 hours (they do have recesses and lunch).

I find myself saying things like "Try to think of what the teacher means by this question and answer it so you'll get it right."  Basically, I'm teaching them how to pass a class.  Not a bad skill, but when we homeschooled, we discussed different ways to solve problems, rather than seeking the way our elder wanted it done. 

I find myself finding amazing learning opportunities in different places, and feeling sad that my kids aren't all there to experience it.  And off-season times for museums and such are hard to take advantage of!

There is a pro in that I had some quiet time today while Payge napped.  However, if I ever needed quiet time in the past, Zac and Chayce were very good to give it to me by playing Legos or building a fort--together.  Both have expressed sadness at seeing the other pass in the hall and not being able to really interact until after the final bell has rung.  Zac put it best:  "I saw Chayce going in from recess as I was going out...I tried to say hi, but then had to go find someone else to play with."  He is making friends, but finds the short recesses are not enough to build a friendship on, persay. 

Bathroom passes:  Blech.  Enough said.  I completely understand the WHY behind them (25 kids, 2 teachers...25 kids who don't want to be in class who learn quickly that potty breaks are an awesome way out...).

So, do I like them being in school?  I don't know yet.  Give me a few more weeks, and I'll have more to say--I think.  As for right now, we're going to stick with it because it is working education-wise.    They are learning, and that is my main goal. 

A Payge called panic

I'm working peacefully when suddenly Payge starts screaming as if some parasitic alien wyrm had started boring into her flesh...I ran to her aid and asked what the problem was...she said she needed to go potty...I suggested she do so...she gave me a "hmm...what an interesting solution to my positively unique, never before experienced problem..." look on her face.

She does this several times per day.

Summer in Utah...

Growing...much too fast!

Splashing in Idaho (grandparents!)

Da Zoo. (see birthday post)

This elephant's sneeze scared me every time.  The kids thought it was hilarious that I was so jumpy.

Goats at the fair.

Riding the train at the fair.

Sis-in-law & I enjoying icecream & our pregnant bellies!

My dolly-girl!  Love!

Just mastered the bike without training wheels & got a new one for her birthday. 

He wouldn't look up for the camera!  Eh, he's awesome anyway.

Cuteness, in a three year old package.

I couldn't help but post these...I just love that smile!

Chayce's Birthday

We started her birthday week off with a trip to Babci & Grandpa Browning's.  Pool party! 

This is the cake her Babci got her.  (Cake #1).

Eating said cake.

The day before her birthday, we drove to SLC to go to the Hogle Zoo & meet up with some wonderful friends that came to visit from Indiana.  One of the families has actually moved to SLC!!  YAY!!  Now to convince the other...

On the actual day of her birthday, we went out for dinner.  Turns out it was a perfect time to go to the local Golden Corral (yeah, I know what the name connotates, but we got there right as they switched from the lunch hour to the dinner hour, so the whole family went and got steak and shrimp for less that $30.  Not complaining...)

Zac is not pulling his seafood alfredo through a straw, my photo was just that good... ;)

Cotton candy on the dessert line.

Right after she got her cotton candy, the server brought out her mini-birthday cake. (cake #2).  It was a lady bug. 

Saturday AFTER actual birthday was a party of friends.  We made sandwiches & cut them with butterfly cookie cutters & then made butterfly crafts with glitter, pipe cleaners and styrofoam.

Cake #3!  The one I made her.  Chocolate bundt cake with butterflies that I made from homemade fondant.  Food coloring pens were used for the detail work.  It was fun.

Happy birthday to my 6 year old!! We LOVE YOU!

 

 

Keeping it Even

We're so excited to announce that in December, the new little addition to our family is going to be a boy! 

And there is only one of them (this is a big deal to me, not that I wouldn't take care of twins, but after having had one c-section, I can only continue to have natural childbirth if I have low-risk pregnancies, and twins automatically throw you into the high-risk category).

We've already decided on a name, so we don't have to do the whole name game.  ;)

Quinton Jacob.  Doesn't it sound manly?  Of course, it won't sound manly until our daughter stops referring to him as Baby Quin...which given she's his older sister may never stop.  But at least he won't have to go by "Baby" once he's in college, right?  ;)

Singing at the table

Jillian tells the children that if they sing at the table they'll marry a crazy person. Chayce responded to the most recent telling with "so what songs did you sing at the table when you were little, momma?"

Apparently, Jillian married a crazy person. Now we'll watch to see whether Chayce avoids or replicates the songs her mother sang at the table when she was little to see whether Chayce likes my flavor of crazy or not.

Daddy can't take care of himself

Jillian went to the zoo this week and started following the gps directions to 'home' which is still set to Durham NC. Upon realizing this, she joked with the children they'd have to find a new place to live. Zachary responded "but who will feed dad, and who will clean up all the messes." Jillian had a hard time convincing him that I could feed myself and that the messes did not exist in the BZCP years (before Zachary, Chayce, and Payge).