Spring Has Sprung?

Well, it must have sprung elsewhere, because we're expecting yet another big snow storm tonight. Good thing I always have my Easter Egg hunt inside! I realize it's a week until Easter, but I don't want a wet muddy egg hunt!

So in other news, we got a dog.

Meet Scooter:
Scooter is a Miniature Schnauzer. We found him via in an online classified ad. The funny thing is that when we went to meet him (at a home about a half hour from ours), he turned out to belong to our neighbor's twin brother. How bizarre is that? The story is that his wife just needed to not be responsible for a dog (especially since she has five kids to raise and wasn't the one who wanted a dog in the first place - who can blame her?). They are the cutest family, and we were very happy to take Scooter home. He's a great dog - very bright, playful, affectionate. He minds well, and has a couple of minor puppy habits to learn his way out of, but we feel very fortunate to have him. He's not clipped to look like a Schnauzer, and I'm glad. I think he's perfect as is. The top of his head comes to my knee.

In other news, we have (sorry MK) decided to pull Adam out of school and start homeschooling him. He's a whole grade level above his class in Language Arts, and the transition he's dealt with from going from "only kid sort of" to one of three has been tough for him. I never thought I would end up homeschooling any of my kids (ever). Now that I've started planning his curriculum though, I'm so excited! I feel like a kid in a candy store - there's so much I can't wait to teach him about! Ideas keep popping into my head and I find myself just so thrilled at the idea of customizing his lesson plans.

For the remainder of this school year, we have a schedule that includes Math (units of measurement, currency, telling time, early multiplication, and beginning fractions), Language Arts (Second grade comprehension, manuscript handwriting, Spelling, Vocabulary, Types of words - nouns, adverbs, etc., Story writing, and poetry), Creative Arts, Science, and Social Studies (map your community, meet community helpers, and learn about Utah, New York, and Texas).

I'm setting up a home classroom, and we'll meet with other homeschooling families 1-2 days per week for social activities and field trips. He'll still have play dates with the friends he made in kindergarten and first grade, as well as peer interaction at church on Sundays and during other church activities. Also, his best friend's mom is homeschooling her children now, so we'll be able to work together quite a bit.

For second grade, I enrolled him in an online virtual academy (it's free) that will provide all of my second grade curriculum, as well as free access to Rosetta Stone Spanish. The home program includes work books, online programs and learning games, as well as a teacher who I will report to weekly. She'll be available to offer guidance, as well as serve as a sounding board for any ideas and/or bumps that come up.

It's funny how one's perspective can change. I truly never (did I mention ever?) thought I would be one of those homeschooling moms. I thought they were brave (and in some cases possibly foolish) to take on so much time with their kids. I get it now though. I so value my time with my son and these incredible opportunities to nurture him. I can't wait to get started.

Snow, Scooter, School - If only Spring would arrive, my "S" collection would be complete!

Until next time...