Readin' & Writin' and 'Rithmatic

Okay, so yes, we are homeschooling next year, and we all know that the most important thing is decorating the homeschooling area, um, I mean curriculum. Tee hee...
Anyway, so curriculum is a go, but I have been trying to figure out how to turn our home into a classroom without it looking like a classroom since schooling is going to take place smack dab in the middle of the dining/living room...and yes, I said smack dab. I am from the south...y'all...
So, I have been doing a few projects. I made a sketch that I won't reveal because I have the artistic talent of a 3 year old. So I will just show you my projects as I go.
I scored 3 of these little desks for $4 a piece. I am going to line them up along the left side of my fireplace (this will become our classroom). I sanded down the edges of the desktops and stained them a darker (less school-ish) color and plan to decoupage 2 of them ((E's with a map and C's with some pretty pink paisley (say that 3 times) wrapping paper)) and paint W's with chalkboard paint. Actually, I have 2 of them done, but in the interest of posting more than once a month, I'm going to make you wait...all 2 of you who read my blog ;)
Also in the mix are 3 book shelves, 3 whiteboards, 3 vintage alphabet flashcards (framed and matted), some cute little lights so my little chirrens can see their work, and a partridge in a pear tree. Just kidding, they don't need light. ;)

Jenn

lots of changes

Let me start this post by saying that my crapola camera is half dead, and I can't afford a new one, which will definitely cost more than a couple of hundred dollars since I am now completely spoiled to the pictures that everyone else posts on their blogs that are totally in focus, crisp as a freshly ironed cotton shirt, and have incredible color...whew, breathe. Yes, I have my eyes on a few different ones, all of which are around a grand, give or take a couple hundred. Yeah, we'll see how long it takes. Soo, in the meantime, I will have posts with either no pictures, pictures straight from the world wide web (Ha! I'm 85...) or pictures from my phone (which aren't all that bad).
So, lots has happened in our world. The short version is that I have lost about 30 pounds, and have decided to homeschool. No, they are not related. The weight loss is something that I have needed to do for a long time, I just decided that enough was enough. That is for another day though. The homeschooling is something that I have wanted to do since I homeschooled my 8-year-old way back in kindergarten. I only did it for a few months back then and decided to put him back in public school for two reasons...kid #2 and kid #3. They were 2 and 1-year-old at the time. Do I even need to 'splain Lucy? I felt as though I was ignoring the babies to help my eldest, or I wasn't giving him the attention that he needed for his schoolwork because I was tending to the younger two. I was so torn and felt totally defeated as I hung my head and walked him into kinder. Don't worry, I've stopped beating myself up about it.
So, upon a very clear leading from the Lord, and a real work in my husband's heart (which could only have been accomplished through God Himself), we have decided to take the gigantic leap again. I am so excited! So, aside from researching curriculums and trying to figure out how to manage a school in our home (along with my husband's business), I have been a busy mama.
Now, on a design note, I do have a rockin' idea for our homeschool "area". I'll give you a little sneaky peek on Monday!

Black bean brownies...yes, you read that right

Sorry Rocco... I was so flippin' excited about my new cookbook that I whipped out the brownies from page 235. I was pretty skeptical about the ingredients which included black beans (pureed), Splenda, sour cream and Walden Farms chocolate sauce (although I use this frequently on fresh strawberries...yummy!), among some other normal ingredients.
Well, I have to say, my chocolate loving family threw them in the trash...sorry Rocco...onto the next page. I am determined to shock and awe my family with healthy comfort food!!!