Almost an entire month has passed since I've posted anything and I am sorry about that.
I know I've kept my faithful blog readers on pins and needles - all 3 of you.
Well, we've been really busy. We decided to that it was time to start homeschooling.
Everyone has been really happy and on board with this decision! As much as
Viggo's school has to offer, and as much as it has
accommodated him,
Viggo just needs more. More reading, more challenging work, and more freedom - and time - to learn what he wants. As his parents, Nate and I came to the conclusion that we couldn't ask any more of what
Viggo's teachers are already doing for him. His teacher has 25 other students to look after. It is unreasonable for us to think that there can be even more done for
Viggo than what is already happening.
Nate has been busy working on Singapore Math.
All I can say is, thank goodness Nate is doing the math. In fact, when we were still thinking about making this transition from public school to school at home, Viggo was quite verbal in letting all of us know that his mother was not to teach him math.
So he has math with Mr. Weeks instead.
The girls are so happy their big bro is home. No more tears and sadness when
Viggo has to leave early in the morning.
I have to admit . . . I love it that they are so happy the V-man is around.
Pajama Math starts precisely at 6:30 a.m. every weekday morning.
Math is the only subject that I allow Viggo to wear pajamas to.
I have come up with a small
arsenal of crafty things for the girls to do while
Viggo does school. "Busy bags" are for school time only. When school is done, everything is put away until next time. Here,
Elin assembles and decorates felt cupcakes with pretend chocolate chips, marshmallows, and sequin sprinkles.
Even if I can keep the girls occupied for 15 minutes while I help Viggo, I consider that a win.
While the girls stay more or less occupied,
Viggo works on zoology, handwriting, or history. Lots of reading is a happy essential.
This was last week. We have started learning about flying creatures and we learned the basics of flight.
And we also learned about binomial nomenclature.
If you want some quick and fun entertainment, ask
Elin to say "binomial nomenclature."
Minnesota has forgotten it's fall, so we've been taking advantage of the weather after we're done with school.
Viggo made some sandwiches for a picnic.
The sandwiches were delicious. Little sisters were thankful.
More than one time
Viggo has said how much he loves the freedom of homeschooling.
He usually says this when we're at a park or doing something that he considers to be really exciting in the middle of the day.
And he is enjoying experiments!
And spending lots of time with his coin collection.
I'm sure we have some learning curves ahead of us, but so far things are going well. We are blessed to have a Christian homeschooling store only half an hour away, so we were able to purchase most of his curriculum there. Locally, there is a strong support group for homeschooling families. We are keeping
Viggo busy with swimming on Saturday mornings and he is eager to join the
homeschool chess club that meets at the library twice a month. I have started to sign him up for field trips for
homeschoolers as they become available. And while I am at a local church's mom's group that I am involved with,
Viggo is now a helper in
Elin's room for her age group, and he loves that.
I think what is most rewarding is just having Viggo at home. He is able to spend more time reading, more time playing games with me, and more time in the field catching dozens of butterflies and grasshoppers. We went to the zoo yesterday - just because we could. No school schedule to work around.
What really blew me away was when I went to the district office to submit our paperwork to the superintendent, declaring homeschooling. I had pictured this moment as handing off the paper to a faceless secretary and just getting it over with. Instead, I walked into the building with the girls and ran right into the superintendent, whom Nate and I both have a lot of respect for. He asked me how he could help me and I quickly explained our situation and why we were homeschooling Viggo. I said, "I'm so sorry. But we just feel this is the best thing for our son." Nate and I really do like this school district, and I didn't want anyone to take this personally. And the superintendent said, "Please, Mrs. Weeks - I don't want ever want to hear a parent apologize for doing the best thing for their child." He took our paperwork and said he would personally take care of it. (And then he talked with Svea and Elin and confirmed that yes, Elin's dress was extremely pretty.)
Viggo's teacher told me if I ever needed any help or resource advice, to let her know. I was blown away by how kind and gracious these individuals were - and so thankful! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was more than impressed by the kind reaction to our decision.
So we'll keep you posted on how this is going! We are really excited about this new direction our family is taking.
Frost on picnic tables.
Chocolate cake. Made by moi.
Silly Christmas card photo outtakes.
Birthday present opening glee.
Bedtime stories.
Cilantro. I could chew it like gum.
Chai tea . . . and lots of it.
Elin's silverware drawer organizing skills.
Geese in the field.
Nightly routines.
Svea opening up her very own savings account and having to stand on a stool to deposit $5.01.
Viggo's curriculum.
This face.
The worst (and only) mis-spelling of my married name, ever. I love that. 
Warm Chocolately Moments. I love those too.
Bluebirds on our deck.
Scrabble with my guy. And my Scrabble triumph today of spelling the word "quell" and getting 69 points. It was a proud moment.
Recycled cooked lasagna noodle superhero masks.
