Back to school in the Gowins house! We just wrapped up our first week back in the school routine. It was a very enjoyable week. I planned out a little block system for what I hope to accomplish each day while still keeping life flexible. This summer I trained the kids on some basic chores so they can easily do them now. Each day begins with some simple self care items, breakfast, and chores before our morning meeting. Morning meeting includes praying with the Voice of the Martyrs prayer calendar, reading a Bible story, and working on Awana memory work. Then we do a little Math three days a week, or go to CC. Twice a week both kids have swimming, and the other days we try to run an errand or have a play date. Then we settle in for lunch, followed by quiet time, followed by some writing/language arts. After that they help me with a little dinner prep and then we cozy up for some read aloud time until Jonathan gets home.

The highlight of the week was on Quinn's first day of kindergarten. During our morning meeting, she had some questions about our Bible story. Through the discussion she realized that she believed all the things we were talking about (and has for a while) but wanted to officially tell God. We prayed, admitting that she knows she sins and thanking God for sending Jesus to take the punishment for her sins, for adopting her into His family and preparing a place for her in heaven forever. Then we talked about the Holy Spirit and how all God's promises in the Bible are true for her and always will be. I did not anticipate that conversation at all. I can't believe what a huge blessing it is to be enjoying Jesus with my daughter as part of her first day of kindergarten. 

We wrapped Summer with a neat little bow after a couple days in Sunriver with my family. There was a ton of bike riding, baseball, eating, and just tromping around. Jonathan and I even got a little date brunch. I'm so thankful to have that getaway each year.

Today marks two months of homeschooling and one month of Quinn being five. Both have exceeded my expectations and been a lot of fun. 

Our homeschool routine is broken into two parts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I initially had an agenda planned out for tidying up, eating breakfast, starting school early, etc. but the reality is that my two cuties wake up wanting to play for an hour before doing anything and they play so very well together first thing in the morning that I feel like it's vital to just give them this time. So, we get our "morning meeting" done before noon, so it's technically still morning. But I've relaxed the schedule. The morning meeting consists of prayer, Bible story, calendar/weather discussion, and Math lesson. Probably the most meaningful part of our day is the prayer time. We are praying with the Voice of the Martyrs prayer calendar with the map right behind us so we talk about the country and what hardships the people there might experience. Quinn also asks what words like discipleship, persecution, and church plant mean from the prayers listed. Pretty deep stuff and so satisfying to my soul to discuss this with her. For the calendar, I whipped up some laminated weather cards, a thermometer card, and a person to draw weather-appropriate clothes for each day and we're working our way through the Saxon Math Kindergarten curriculum. So far, it's honestly a bit too easy, but Archer is enjoying learning the days of the week. He joins us for morning meeting with a little white board and pen and seems to enjoy it. We do a Math lesson from Saxon too that Archer joins. The lessons have also been too easy for Quinn, but luckily I can find ways to extend and deepen the concepts. Quinn is really into graphs and fractions so I usually go that route or make a story problem. I also have Archer do a small letter of the week activity and he's remembering lots of letters.

The second part of the day happens five days a week. During Archer's nap, Quinn and I work on language arts. She just finished "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" on October 18 and her reading is progressing rapidly. When we wrapped up that book, we started "Cursive First" which will lead into "Spell to Write and Read". We spend about 15 minutes on this, then I have her read a book to me, and then 15-30 on a fun read-aloud together all cozied up. We are about to start the last book in the Little House series. 

One day a week, we are at Bible study all morning. The kids really like their classmates and are learning a lot. Another day each week we are part of a homeschool group that has been such a rich time for all of us. Both kids are singing history sentences, Latin, skip counting, and all sorts of surprising facts. 

We also make sure to fit in playdates, ballet and swimming (just graduated up another level last week), art projects, and outdoor time. 

For Quinn's fifth birthday, we had a laid back "drop-off" party. Six little five year old buddies came over to play Lego games, make Lego art, and eat a Lego cake. It was very sweet. We also had a nice family breakfast and special dinner that day. Quinn is such a bright, bubbly, capable, glittery little lady. It's been a joy to watch her discover reading and to see her excitement for learning. She is still on the petite side at 40 inches and 36 pounds and I just love her tiny, delicate hands. She has a heart for truth and goodness and so much love in her heart. We couldn't be prouder of our girlie!