The new school year has begun.

Things are always a little hectic around here, and with the new school year starting, it adds into the daily chaos. We use Spectrum for a lot of our main work books, but have added in a few new things this year. We were recently at a cirriculumn swap, and I found some great things to help boost our learning.

One thing we're trying out is Drive Thru History of America http://www.warnerpress.org/Product/NP00781VA/Drive.20_Thru.20_History.3A_.20_America.20_School.20_Pack.20_-.20_kit.aspx . Another is Collections for Young Scholars volumes 4 and 5 for literature.

Anyways, we've started up lessons again 2 weeks ago, and just this weekend, my big girls have moved up to a level one gymnastics class. Gymnastics is going very well, and all the kids have gained muscle weight and are already learning new skills. If they can keep their grades up, and get their chores done well regularly, they have an oppertunity to clean a barn in exchange for horseback lessons.... it's a matter of them wanting it bad enough to prove they will work hard for it.