Happy New Year! Looking ahead

With the Christmas break behind me, I am now getting back to some semblance of a routine. We started back to school this week. We took a good 2 1/2 weeks off from our lessons and it was a great vacation. We spent Christmas this year with my husband's parents in Orlando. It was the first Christmas we have spent with them in the 12 years we have been together (dating and being married).

Even  JoeJohn the Elf flew down to Orlando for Christmas. He is a good little elf

Opening presents on Christmas morning

On Christmas morning, James was happily surprised to see that Santa had brought him a Wii and the Skylanders Giants game and the Monster Jam monster truck game. Chris and I have debated the idea of getting James a gaming console for a couple of years now. At the last minute, on Christmas Eve, we decided that it would be OK for James to have a Wii. Santa brought a refurbished Wii. We decided that since James likes to play video games so much that we could better monitor what he is playing, limit his time better and use it as leverage for good behavior etc. I have to confess that when Chris hooked it up and James got to play on Christmas day, I got worried. He didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to eat, take a break...nothing but play Skylanders. However, once we got home, he settled down a bit and I began to establish the rules for playing on the Wii. We do lessons Monday through Friday and they must be completed first before being able to play. He can also lose the privilege if he is not listening or if he hasn't done his chores (cleaning his room and putting clothes where they belong). I have been pleasantly surprised that he is doing great. He still likes to be with me doing things during the day and he has been spending a lot of time just playing with his action figures and cars like little boys do. I love to see and hear him play like that. Sometimes when he catches me watching him he says, "Don't laugh ok?". And I tell him, "I promise.". And I never do.

Soon, we will be starting our 8-week semester with the homeschool co-op. I am teaching a reading class again. This semester I am working with a new co-teacher and we are reading from Five in a Row Volume 3 reading list. You gotta love Amazon! We will have 14 students (so far) and I am looking forward to it. James will be in my class this semester (last year he chose a different class!). He will be taking my reading class and a class on Outer Space! He is going to have a great time.

We are also gearing up for soccer to begin again soon and we are still active with the Park Play days. All the moms with boys show up! It cracks me up. The boys REALLY need the outdoor play so much. They all bring their scooters to the various parks and whiz around together. It's really awesome. Another activity that James and I did together over the holiday was a 5K! Yep, we walked/ran a 5K in downtown Raleigh. We were very festive and had a great time together.

The Jingle Bells 5K

I have signed up for my first 5K of 2013 and it will be a family affair....James and Chris are doing it too! A boy who is a homeschooler and a cub scout is putting on a 5K to raise awareness -and food- for the local food pantry. The entry fee is 20 cans of food for the pantry. :) I plan to train for a 10K this Spring so I will signing up for one soon.

As for the academics and the crux of homeschooling, James is doing great! I find that the challenges of homeschooling is not the academics...but everything else. I am still working (and working more than last year. Thanks Obama) but we are  making our crazy life work. James can now write all his capital letters, count by 2's, 5's and 10's. He can add single, double and triple digits. He can sing the ABC song and say the Pledge of Allegiance. The Skylanders game is actually helping him develop critical thinking skills, strategy and sequencing.  All in all, Chris and I are very pleased with our progress this year. 

Ok, gotta run. Lunch time!