Homeschool Days and Hotel Living

Arriving to Hawaii was like taking a load off in some ways. We very much enjoyed our time in Michigan with family, but there is something about moving around and sleeping in different beds so many nights that eventually wears on a person. So, while we are still living out of suitcases here, we have been able to unpack a little bit. The lodging here is quite spacious, especially compared to where we stayed in the Azores. The only thing missing is an oven, but I can deal with that. We'll just order pizza instead of buying a frozen one!

We had thought that we could be in lodging for as much as 30-90 days, so I packed some of the things we would need to get us started with school: workbooks, reading books, devotional books. I have discovered that I did not bring enough white paper and no scissors; easily remedied though, with a trip to the exchange (the base "Target"). I wish I had more of our crafty stuff available, but we are making due. The boys seem to be enjoying these simple mornings. They wake up and have a little TV time while I get myself mentally prepared for the day and wash my face. In my dream world, I would wake before them and have some quiet time. I think that might be possible once we get into a house, but... if I look back on other times I have tried to wake early, I remember it happens sometimes, but not always. As a mom, I have learned, you gotta roll with the punches.

Then, we dive right in. We are working with an old Awana Cubbies Character Builders book as a devotional/morning Bible lesson and Scripture verse. It is a simple book, but they like the activities and I like that the ideas for craftiness are right there. We do different things every day, but always have reading time, where I read to them from a chapter book. We recently started one of "The Magic School Bus" chapter books and both Jackson and Max LOVE it. I like it too, as it is providing some exposure to different science ideas. The current book is "The Search for the Missing Bones" and we are learning about a few of the bigger bones in our bodies, what attaches them, what they look like from the inside. And written for kids!! No effort on my part to try and make it simple for them.