California McMillans

Pic #1...Homeschool highlights.  Science is always a favorite in our home!  Kira organized this one.  One of the great things about homeschool is that the kids get to find lessons they like, organize it and implement it. So much more than "learning".  #2...We had an Explorer's (online homeschool group park day).  It was a lot of fun with tons of kids.  They moved chess club to park day and kids came and went to play chess.  Blake and Kira love chess club and the kids involved.  #3....Scott had his first creative dramatics concert.  The school district was having a fundraiser at Adams so the kids went to sing.  It was really crowded and I brought the little kids with me and they hung in there. It was during nap time, Blake and Kira were at Karate and Tyler was doing workday for ASB so it was just Parker and Hanna with me.  Life is busy with all good things.  Proud of Scott for singing.  The songs were really high so you couldn't really hear the boys very much.  Scott

Homeschool is still going great.  Blake is a different kid compared to last year.  He was so unhappy and down on himself last year and this year is relatively happy.  He still has his moments but for the most part gets up and is ready to do school, doesn't get stressed when he doesn't know everything and is enjoying time with Kira and his friends.  It is so nice that Kira and Blake are homeschooling together.  It makes it easier to get work done when you are doing it with someone.  So much to be grateful for.  I really think it was the quality time we had this past year, influence of Come Follow Me and just being a little more mature. We met with their advisor on Monday which was positive.  Jen took Blake and Kira to the pool because I was meeting with someone about running a swim clinic.  They had fun, then Kira had her crafting group which she enjoys.  On Tuesday we got to go to Water World again before it closes for the season which is always fun.  Grateful for friends who

Scott is doing volleyball for the first time ever.  Last year he broke his arm in October and as soon as it was healed was diagnosed with Severs Disease.  Last year was the year that he wanted to do nothing.  It was frustrating because I felt like he was missing out on all these amazing opportunities to learn and grow but chalked it up to the life of a pre-teen and realized to let him relax a bit which never happens in our home.  It is hard being injured when you are so used to being active. We did a lot of talking about talents and utilizing your time to grow and improve and become the best person you can become.  He is in creative dramatics and was disappointed when he found out the teacher wanted him to play the piano AND sing.  He wanted to just sit there and not sing.  After a couple of weeks, it is no longer his least favorite class and while he isn't thrilled about singing, he is getting warmed up to the idea. He decided to go out for the volleyball team.  He volunteered

School from 8-11 and then party with friends.  That is our daily schedule.  Playing in the court with neighbors sometimes postpones our lunch playdates til 12.  It is a great incentive to get the kids work done.  Loving our curriculum.  Feeling very blessed for great learning, great friends and amazing places to visit. This week highlights... Monday Water World, Friday Contra Loma, Temple Art from the Friend, Visit from Andrew in the Ambulance, slime, parachute making in leonardo science

Regional Parks are celebrated 50 or something years and we are enjoying the free fridays.  This week we went to Contra Loma which is only 10 minutes away.  We decided to wait for our schools to be back in school to enjoy an uncrowded park. School in the morning and then playing at lunchtime for a few hours.  Love our school schedule.  Parker loves selfies.  

This year we had about 30 people qualify for meet of champions and 26 attend!  Was so proud of the improvement and hard work of all these kids.  Nothing beats coaching Discovery Bay.  The parents, the kids and the view!!  So proud of the AMAZING progress of the team.  The best was to see the kids excited for swimming and confident in their abilities.  It was really neat to be a part of it.  This board has worked soo hard to start this team over the past 5 years and continues to amaze me.  So grateful for all of them.  The highlights were winning the Tracy Invite, so many kids getting gold caps, seeing kids learn how to swim correctly and encouragement and smiles from all! Super pumped for East County Swimming.  I really think this is the start of something magical out here. 

We started homeschooling the first day of public school.  A lot of people wait longer, but it was a natural start with my other kids. I also want to do a lot of exploring and field trips so like doing less crammed in learning and spreading it out.  I think learning is great and spreading out learning is great. I am REALLY excited for the year!  I started two weeks into school last year with Blake so it was so nice to think about curriculum, what I wanted to accomplish with homeschooling and why I am homeschooling.  Blake was in CRISIS last year.  It was really hard!  I wasn't able to do much expect for help Blake.  That also meant staying home with him a lot to make his world smaller.  This year I feel like we can go and do so much more.  I will do anything for my kids, but I need to be out and about and love doing things with groups so super excited to implement more of that.  It is a balance of what works for your kids as well as you as a teacher to make it full of passion fo