how am i supposed to read like this?

Layla was trying to finish up her homework by reading quietly outside on the back porch.

Daisy is usually her reading buddy, but Lily got jealous.

Good grief Lily was all over Layla.

Layla was giggling like crazy and Daisy was clearly annoyed!

It appears the surprise face cleaning is over and Lily is yawning!  These pups sure keep us laughing.  What would we do without them?!

homework homework and more homework

this is what most afternoons look like when the kids get home from school

we pop popcorn and eat snacks and DO HOMEWORK

Daisy waits for the popcorn to fall onto the floor

it is homework for me as much as it is for them

i keep my laptop handy so i can google stuff

i really have to google stuff

homework is hard for me and for them

we are into fractions and inertia in fourth grade

we are working on math facts and nouns, verbs and adjectives in first grade

thankfully we have come up with a great routine

we found a way to stay organized and that makes a big difference while settling in to do homework after school

not having a pencil or paper or the weekly classroom newsletter makes for a chaotic homework event

no one has time for cranky unorganized homework time

the kids are already tired after a long day at school so being organized pays off for our family

I am thankful I get to be home with the kids while they do homework

it isn't always fun, but we make the best of it!

learning, adjusting and learning some more!

School here in Georgia is very different than in Ohio.

We are all adjusting to not only an earlier school day, but different curriculum.

Hayden has a lot more homework than he did in Ohio.  He HAS to bring his reading book home every single day, but he forgets.  He has spelling tests and vocabulary tests and didn't bring home his spelling list, so that is fun.  Ugh!  It is all stuff he can totally handle, but it is very different and harder for now.  I think now that he understands what is expected of him he is better, but at first it was a challenge and we were all frustrated.

Layla seems to be adjusting just fine, but math is much more intense here.  She has some catching up to do.  For instance, she hasn't even started learning long division, and here in Georgia they are done with it.  She will be just fine, and we'll catch her up, but it's crazy how different states can be when it comes to learning.  

This picture of her is perfect.  She has a mouth full of chocolate.  In a groggy sleepy morning voice, talking with food in her mouth, she is telling me about how disappointed she is in the Advent calendar this year.  Apparently they didn't mix up the chocolate shapes.  There is basically a boot, a house and one other shape for each day.  Well, now I know.  Next year I will have to step it up and get a better calendar. :-)  

can we go back to school? please?

The kids are home again today for another snow day.  

I think they are super bored and I know I am ready for them to get back to learning!!

Today we did chores and homework and they really didn't complain too much.  The windows are clean and the leather couch got scrubbed really well.  Layla wrote her spelling words and Hayden wanted to write his numbers.  He wrote them all the way to 105.  

I'm loving sitting beside them while we watch movies and they play Mindcraft.  I've been wearing out pinterest!  I've discovered many new recipes and crafting ideas.  I also pinned a workout or two and did them.  Having them home isn't so bad, but I just know they need to get their learn on.  School is cool!

yes, I turned homework into sappiness

It seems like every stage of my kids lives gets better.  

When they crawled, walked and ran it was fun.  All those milestones are huge and each one starts a new chapter of life.  Layla is learning to read.  She is doing an amazing job!

When we are running errands or at the grocery store Layla asks so many questions about things she reads.  She reads grocery ads, signs at churches as we pass by.  She reads billboards.  She loves to learn.  I have a girl that loves to learn and it makes me so happy!

She was doing her homework yesterday and I just started taking pictures of her.  I don't want to forget this chapter.  She is learning so much.  She actually loves doing her homework.  I'm quite sure it won't always be this way.  One day she will be begging to talk on the phone or go play with her friends.

She has always loved to doodle, color and draw, but now she writes all the time as well.  She has tons of pads and fun pencils.  She takes them everywhere with her.  When we travel she has to have a book to read, pencils and a journal or notepad.

In these pictures she is reading her baggie book and writing in her readers response journal.

I can see her brain working in each picture I took.

I love those little fingers and hands.  I love how much they have grown.  I remember when she first grabbed blocks and her favorite toy.  Now she is grabbing a pencil and turning pages in a book. 

She is learning about who she is.  To me she is the sweetest most loving daughter and I am so proud of her every single day.  See the book over her face...she was getting annoyed with me.  She was saying, " No more pictures Momma, you are distracting me."  You just gotta love her!