During the Christmas/New Year holiday Eloise didn't stop working. In between shopping trips and parties, she kept up with all of her schoolwork, except science.

 Her curriculum comes with all of the tools and non-consumable items (i.e. goggles, scales, magnets, etc..), so yesterday I had to go to Wally World and gather a few things for her to catch up.

We will be posting more pics as soon as we complete some of the projects.

P.S. Eloise wanted you all to see her new messenger bag (on right w/ pink glasses). It is a Hara Juku Mini bag that she got for Christmas. She also got a shirt featuring all of the characters and two Hara Juku folders.

Living & Learning,

Miss Riya & Eloise.

Finally...Round Two

We are well into our second year of homeschooling.

 Unfortunately, I have been experiencing some technical difficulties, so I haven't posted on the school blog at all. I also haven't been very diligent about taking pics, but here are a few that I did manage to snap.

The above is our official uniform for the new year.

The pic isn't a close-up,

 so you may not be able to see the hydrangea blossoms cascading from her right shoulder.

Each cluster has a little sequin in the middle. 

It is mainly worn for outings and field trips.

I think choosing her own combination is Eloise's favorite part of homeschooling.

For math, social studies, and science we have purchased the k12 curriculum.

She loves it, therefore I love it.

Last year was difficult for several reasons,

 but I believe the switch to k12 has made a huge improvement.

The assignments are very hands on (as seen in the above photo) 

and they are a good bit more challenging.

Another thing we like is the fact that the assignments are varied. 

She logs in to her subject and reads a few screens

 that usually have illustrations, diagrams, games, and links to other resources.

 She then has to leave the computer and refer to her text books, 

do a project or experiment,

 and then do workbook pages or journal about her experiences.

She also has access to many clubs that are moderated by teachers.

 Right now she is a member of the German club, 

because she is doing Rosetta Stone German.

 Above and below: our newest student.

Miss Bianta (Bianca)

Is a part time preschool student/

full time sweetheart. 

Eloise & Bianta feeding the ducks.

Eloise at our local farmer's market.

 Above & Below: Daddy/ Daughter Field trip.

Below: our duds for the harvest party.

Now that I am able to post again, 

I will try to be more punctual.

P.S. By the time you read this I probably will have also updated my other blog.

Cake Decorating 101....

I had a little bit of icing left over from the wedding cake I recently made(see main blog), so we decided to have a family cake decorating class.

Above: Eloise is icing one of my small cake pans.

Somebody give that man a cookie! He is a genius. By placing the bag in a cup(tip down) and then pulling the bag down around the glass he created a free standing, mess free way to fill the pastry bags. Some people just pull the bag down over their hands, but these were small bags and he has big hands.

Not too shabby for his first attempt.

School Is Really Exciting....

...If you are fortunate enough to be a home schooler.

Carpentry:

Cullinary Arts:

Get the scoop on these cuties on our main blog "No Greater Joy"

(button on side bar)

Our Latest Acquisition.....

Now Eloise can put her contact lenses to good use. She loves her new microscope, but I don't think she  realizes how blessed she is. I remember my microscope. It was plastic and only had a cheap mirror as a light source. This one is the real deal. So far she has only viewed the 45 prepared slides that it came with and watched the instructions on, "How to Prepare Slides".  Hopefully next week she will be able to view her own blood cells and  skin cells!

Just A Note About Our Progress:

We have had many challenges this year. I have thought about taking a different course of action, but the benefits of homeschooling have outweighed the cost. I don't know if this will always be the case, but it is for us....for now. Most of my homeschool friends will agree that it isn't right for every family or every situation. At the moment, my daughter is growing closer to her father and I. Also,we feel that she has been afforded many opportunities that she would not have in the public school setting (i.e. swimming with dolphins, real art projects, flexibility of schedule, and hands on science). I will admit that there are days that I feel like pulling my hair out, but when I stop and think about it, I realize that I had plenty of those days during the 6 years that she was enrolled in school. Hmmm...I'd better think of a better way to vent my frustration or I'm gonna be bald before the teen years even hit! LOL.

GOD BLESS.

We can still say that, because this is our school and our blog.

Our latest P.E. project....

Eloise loves this. Unfortunately, she will now have to wait a couple of weeks to resume her studies in archery, due to her recent arm issue. Link to my main blog on the side bar for the scoop.

Field Trip Update...

In case you haven't figured it out.....

we went to a corn maze in Mississippi.

Our children young people were able to get lost, search for arrowheads, play in corn, slide, have water pump races, rope plastic steer, and pet the animals. I think the part they liked best was being able to forget their book work and hang out with their Cool Moms all day.