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This is our school room.  Desks and chairs were purchased at a Public School Sale for .50 each piece.  We spray painted the cubby part blue.  What a deal!!  I found paper cut-outs of balloons and school supplies at the dollar store.  Keely likes structure. She likes to know what the plan is.  So I wrote the subject/activity we would be doing that day and taped them up.  I also made a “Welcome to 1st Grade” banner with the balloons.  Still in its early stages, but we like it so far!

Day 1 of officially homeschooling is complete!! It went well. No major bumps. Seems like alot of review for Keely right now. I think once we really get into the groove, we’ll do great! We even met up with a local group of Homeschoolers at a playground for a “Not Back To School Picnic.” We watched the public school kids get on the bus this morning around 8:15am and return home at 4:20pm. What a long, long day!  This very much eased my guilt from last night!!

School starts for the County today. We’ve decided to begin today as well. We have a room dedicated to Homeschooling. I’ve decorated it to look ’school-like’ for Keely and Henry. I even found these great real school desks that I picked up at a Public School Sale for .50 each (chairs and desks). With everyone around me feeling the anxiety of sending their little ones off to school, I have an odd feeling. As in, I feel like I forgot to do something. To my dear friends who are letting their little ones go off to strange new places this morning, I am feeling your anxiety. I even feel a bit of guilt that I am not in your shoes right now.  However, I am so very thankful that I am able to begin this Homeschooling journey.  Let us begin…

I thought I’d share something I really enjoy… cooking!  Eating is my favorite thing to do, but finding new recipes and trying them out on my family is always fun (for me at least, I can’t speak for the rest of the family).  Recently, my husband purchased a Weber charcoal grill.  Which is wonderful for me because he has pretty much taken over the cooking.  I came across a recipe for plank grilled salmon.  This is by far the most delicious discovery yet.  We’ve done salmon on a cedar plank, but last week we tried Rainbow Trout on Alder planks.

It is so easy to do and the fish turns out amazing.  Normally, I don’t prefer fish.  I’m more of a steak and potato girl.  But plank grilled fish knocks my socks off.

Season your fish however you like.  For the trout we placed a mixture of onion, dill, horseradish sauce, and salt and pepper in the cavity.  Placed the fish on the plank.  Put the planks on the grill for about 20 minutes.  Done!  Just slide the fish off the plank onto your plate and dinner is served.

My big box of books has arrived!  I have tried and tried since it arrived yesterday afternoon to sit look through everything.  But, the needs (a.k.a. demands!) of my 6 year old and my 21 month old have taken priority.  I gave up the battle last night and went to bed.  I rested peacefully with the fantasy that I would get up this morning and look through my box of books over a cup of coffee.  BUT… Mommmmmaaaaa!  Yes, you got it, 5:00am, Henry is awake, wide awake.

If this is a sign of things to come, I think it’s going to be a long school year.

Kindergarten has ended and now we are ready to begin our First Grade Homeschooling adventure using Calvert School curriculum.  I’m excited to begin and hope to order the program this week.  My plan is to school for 8-9 weeks and take a 1-2 week break in between.