Back from the Beach

We are back from another successful week at the beach. This year we tried Oak Island, and it was a delightful and very quiet location. We basically had the beach to ourselves, it was about as private as one can get. No second row houses behind us, and empty houses to the left and right of us! Since the cousins didn't make this trip, we brought along Chasity and Chase. Perfect weather, and lots of hours on the sand. 

I'll eventually have time to post photos, but here is the group shot of our kid crew.



Our schedule is INSANE the next couple of months. I spent 2 hours filling in the calendar for the rest of the year, and I'm still not done. Lots of extra curricular activities, lots of new homeschool activities, lots of sports (Isaac and LL are doing year round swim team, Daniel and Isaac will both play soccer, horseback riding for the girls), three camping trips, a mini getaway for Noah and I as we photograph a beach wedding, another fall wedding to shoot, and the list goes on and on. 

Ready or not... the school year starts NOW.

School

I'm sitting here a bit shocked, a bit sick with apprehension, but also feeling confident that God just did a major work to bring us to the conclusion: Isaac and Lauralyn will be homeschooled this year.

I can't believe it. Just days ago, I would have sworn up and down I would NEVER homeschool them again.

Last week, I noticed a change on the school's website where the kids were enrolled. The tuition was raised substantially, and nobody had communicated this to us. Come to find out 3 days later that it wouldn't affect our cost, but what it did affect was our confidence in the school's stability and communication. To have red flags pop up regarding something that is going to cost us a substantial portion of our income... well, it makes a person very uneasy.

So, I rushed to investigate some other private school options, both of which I had ruled out previously for various reasons. And Sunday morning, I was 100% confident we would be sending our kids to one of these schools... and then I talked to my friend Shelly. And the Lord used her words to flip a switch in my heart and mind.

Then I researched, and researched some more. A homeschool co-op seemed like the perfect solution to my problem... so, we will begin school next week while at the beach. Our Mondays and Fridays will have classes with other homeschoolers, and a set amount of work to accomplish over the week before the following Monday. There is accountability to someone other than me! Hopefully, that will hold a lot more weight with both Isaac and Lauralyn. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be spent at CBS in Winston, complete with homeschool classes.

Isaac and Kristin will still receive services through the school system to help with learning differences (speech for Kristin). If there is enough time in the week, Isaac may get additional tutoring in reading and writing if the school is not providing enough.

As the curriculum starts arriving, I am feeling a bit nervous. Teaching 5th, 3rd and 1st grade! This is going to be quite a bit to take on... but I think it will be good. I am setting it up so that we aren't on top of each other all week. That will certainly help. And Mr. Daniel will still attend kindergarten. Goodness knows that will help my sanity level! :-)

Deep breath. I can do this... I can do this... I can do this...