A Brand New year! Week 1: 2022/2023 School Year

 What a summer we have had!! We got to travel quite a bit, to Glacier National Park to camp with my husbands side of the family, then to Wallowa Lake State Park to camp with my side of the family! We also made many excursions to the beach, lakes, and parks with our homeschool co-op. Then, some big changes for all our close friends, and finally the summer has ended with our co-op shifting into two separate groups and changing quite a bit. Mixed all in with my veggie farm business and my personal farm business...we have delivered over 400 orders of veggies, gathered over 700 eggs, raised 4 cows, 4 turkeys, and currently have 38 baby chicks. The boys have helped here and there with what they enjoy, currently they are taking care of the 130 some laying hens and help in the garden here and there. 

I don't know about you, but I am sure ready for some cold, drizzly fall days to keep me on the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket! This year we plan to focus on read aloud books, and fictional books the older two will read, to follow along with our history. We are starting the Story of the World series over, starting with ancient history again. The plan is to read some novels the next two months as well as do IEW's Ancient Writing program. We are almost done with the Harry Potter Series, and then I will start Percy Jackson as our read aloud, doing projects from the Waldock Way Ancient Greek Myths curriculum guide. We have switched to Saxon Math for all three boys. Oh my! I wish I had tried this curriculum out before now! It is incredibly easy to follow and the boys are enjoying the simple lessons. Avery is extremely excited to use all the fun items in the math tools kit. 

This week we have just started a few of our curriculums slowly. We read the first two chapters of Story of the World, started the first writing in IEW but realized quickly we need student guides and have ordered those, and did our first math lessons. 

Emmet and Avery also have started soccer! They both really love it, this morning is their first game and Emmet woke early and came upstairs totally dressed for soccer. He is very excited. Michael reads or works on his Dungeon and Dragon campaigns while we watch practice.

The boys have asked to learn about mechanics of engines as their science this year. I have referred to my husband for this, as he is a hobby mechanic and mechanical engineer. They are all excited to work together to rebuild an engine, and after the older two take their welding class perhaps build a go-kart frame from scratch. We are also enjoying Kiwi crates again this year, the boys absolutely love them.

We have already gotten quite a few books on engine mechanics to ponder over!

We are all excited to settle into our school for the year, it will take a few more weeks as the garden demands slow down and we all work back into a school year schedule. 

Happy first day/week/month of school!

The Dillman's