May Snippets:

 Mother's Day--two babies sleeping...

 Vinny's Winnie-the-Pooh 6th Birthday

Team George has jumped ship and participated in the inaugural ATLANTA CHD Walk! 

It was awesome and received several thumbs up from our family!

We ran into George's Cardiologist as we were lining up to walk!

Bath time!

Sleepy-time...

School-time...

Field trip to the Zoo...

 "Little Birds in their nests agree..."

This way to Guangzhou!

"Sometimes school just tires me out..."

Yet another benefit to HS: we get free snuggles any time!!

Someone turned three months old...

Mimi, Natan, and Vinny participated in their Gymnastics Olympic Day!

 Their coaches are amazing! 

Vinny and his BFF, Angelina

Par-tay!!

Zoo #2! Yes, we are members!

 Lovie takes after me...melts in the heat!!

Best addition to the Zoo: the fountains!

Any time is sleepy time!

Channeling Papa Reg!

Attack of the Head!!

Body Art by Vinny is a real thing!!

Two baby Cardinals living in our Azalea bush...kids got to see them learn to fly!

Until next time...

Things To Do with 4 older kids, one wheelchair-bound toddler, and an almost four-month old:

 That's right, people!! Kitchen DIY remodel has begun! 

All able-bodied children are pitching in! Lovie and Violet provide the entertainment! After our upcoming Canadian Trek, we will tackle/attack the bathroom. Since our budget is a whopping $0.00, we are aiming for "funky-tional." 

We'll keep you posted...

Jeez...been so busy raising my kids that I haven't had time to vent in awhile!! People often ask "why' we home school.
I home-school because...

a) I am opposed to an "education" system that teaches to a state-directed, standardized test.
b) I am well-educated and more than well equipped to teach my kids. And that is not even a requirement for homeschooling.
c) I am not religious. AT ALL. And I know that many teachers sneak their religious beliefs into their classrooms. And I would not take kindly to that. Oh yeah...and I believe in Evolution!!
d) I have a child with major developmental delays whom I have taught to read. Read well, I might add. Enough said.
e) I love my kids more than anything in the entire world. Who better to teach them than me??So...in reading up on home-school laws, (and deciding which ones to protest!), I found this as part of an FAQ on the Common Core "standards" in this state:

The Common Core standards require students to master a checklist of skills every year. Teachers all across the country must teach from the same prescribed list and at the same prescribed pace. This one-size-fits-all approach will supposedly makes children “college- and career-ready,” but will it produce young men and women capable of careers that call for independent analysis and creative problem solving?

Why on earth would I subject our children to this thinking? Yes, I have a checklist of things I would like us to accomplish each year. No, we do not always check every item. We usually add some because we end up covering things that the KIDS are interested in and choose to study. How many 5 year olds do YOU know that can explain the Boston Tea Party or Intolerable Acts?? The kids all wanted to learn about the events leading up to the American Revolution based on me reading a section of the SUPER boring Georgia Social Studies textbook (we use it merely as a guide). They were fascinated so we kept going! And since my Dad's family were Loyalists, it has been extra fun explaining, yet again, why Canada is superior! This is why when Jason sings, "My Country 'Tis of Thee", the kids sing "God Save the Queen!" (I know, I know--it says the word God but damn it's a good song, especially when paired with Rule Britannia!). Thank you Britain for a rich choral tradition! I digress...

My point is that I currently teach four kids, ages five through nine. We do math, reading, and some kind of writing every day. We also cover science, social studies, art, music, and have even tackled yoga and line dancing! Mimi LOVES school as much as George hates it. Natan is mastering skills I never thought possible, and Vinny is working at a third grade level because it is what he is exposed to and interested in. These are the things I consider when planning our day...month...year. NOT some state-mandated checklist that does not consider AT ALL my children's individual learning styles and interests.

And now I am off to my co-sleeping bed. Yes, another blog post in the making!!

I will leave you on what I think is a positive note:

 Violet's 2 month picture...

A little jazz to soothe the soul.

Late night funeral for "Picky and Mrs. Picky"--Vinny's pet beetles. 

Have I mentioned how much a despise arts and crafts?? 

The kids know this and enjoy torturing me...why I feel I 

need to capture this on camera is beyond me.

We had fun even with a disastrous result!

 Violet has decided that smiling is a good thing...

especially when the baby in the mirror smiles back at her!

Her first selfie:

 All of the above are things I am grateful for. 

Good night.