Homeschool meme

I got this meme from http://imperfectgenius.homeschooljournal.net/

1) What country/region/state do you live in?
~~New River Valley Virginia

2) How long have you been homeschooling? Just getting started, old pro or somewhere in between?
~~Just getting started. I did some practice runs will all of the kids over the summer ('06) and started "offically" in September.

3) Write a little something about your family. Ages? Stages?
~~Oldest son DK 10 ~ public schooling in the 5th grade. His "ADD" is the whole reason I started thinking about homeschooling. Youngest son AH 8 ~ public schooling in the 2nd grade. Genetically he is not "mine" but I wouldn't say that to my face. He is ready to homeschool because he is sick of seeing all the "cool" stuff JA gets to do while he is suck in school. Oldest daughter JA 6 ~ homeschooling. She was having a hard time sitting still and filling out her worksheets and not figiting during circle time in kindergarden. I knew the medication talk would be comming up soon. Been there, done that. I learned my lesson the first time through. So we homeschooled. Youngest daughter SA 14 months. Just learned to walk. Thinks big brothers and sisters are the coolest people in the whole wide world.

4) Share some good homeschooling advice you’ve run across.
~~.....RELAX.....

5) Tell us something you’re passionate about (besides your family and homeschooling, those are givens!).
~~This one is kinda hard for me! Right now I am kinda comsumed by homeschooling, not much free time. I have been reading alot of Harry Potter latley..lol. I plan on going more "green" as time goes by and as we can afford it more.

6) If you could take the ultimate field trip, where would you go and why?
~~I can't pick just one place. I would take my family everywhere. Go arround the world...First to Hawaii to show my family where I grew up and study about ancient Hawaiian's with my children. (I loved it as a child). We would have to see the pyramids in Egypt for DK. There is so much that I want to see!

7) What is a resource you can’t do without?
~~Internet

How do you homeschool? Classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Unschooling, Eclectic?
~~ Eclectic... and a bit unschoolish. I think we are going to use some Oak Meadow next year.

9) Share a website or two that you visit often - can be your favorite blogger or a curriculum supplier, just any sites you really like.
~~ I surf constantly....ok,ok I'll admit it. I check out myspace often! Don't hold it against me! http://www.myspace.com/gingerandmatt

10) Tell us about one of your favorite projects/activities/trips you’ve had in the past few months.
~~My husband and I used to go to lots of cancerts and go camping with the family very often. We haven't made the effort or had the money sence SG has been born. I'm hoping that will change for next year. We made our last trip (for a while) to the Outter Banks this past August. I love it there. The perfect place to take your family to the beach. :`( (I already miss it)

11) What is a current/previous homeschooling challenge you’ve faced?
~~Dealing with my daughters attitude toward writing. She just doesn't look foreward to writing. I'm trying very hard to let go of the idea (based on the schools idea) that she should be able to write better than she does. Say this after me. She isn't ready. Rinse and Repeat.

12) Share an accomplishment, something about you or your children. Come on, brag about it! ~~JA is no longer covering her paper when she writes. JA works better or understands better when she can move.....we need more side walk chalk!

13) What are you looking forward to over the coming year?
~~AH is going to be homeschooling! I only need to get DK onto the boat! I'm looking forward to being a family. The "system" not telling us how to live our lives. "Why, yes we CAN take a vacation in March!" "Yes boys, you CAN go and work on a tree house at 1:00 on a Tuesday in April." GO FOR IT! I realy think it will be nice.

14) Name three things you like doing in the summer with your family.
~~Camping, Hiking, ha ha Doing yard work. I love staying outside in my yard all day triming trees and buches, working in the garden and talking to the family. Didn't get to do much last year.

15) Have a favorite homeschooling quote? Share it here.
~~ Here are a couple:
"First, God created idiots. That was just for practice. Then He created school boards."
~Mark Twain
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
~Benjamin Franklin
This is not about homeschooling...but I think it deserves a spot here:
"The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. ~Benjamin Franklin"

Thanks for playing! Please feel free to share this with your friends and fellow bloggers. Memes are meant to travel from one person to another and allow us to get to know a little more about each other.