Happy New Year everyone!

We are about halfway through our school year.  It has been a challenging year with a baby and my returning to work in the evenings.  We have somehow managed to remain on track though :)

We are still using the same curriculums as last year.  I’ve been really happy with History Odyssey.  Allie and I both enjoy all the read alouds.   We enjoy the Real Science labs too, but I have to add to this program to beef it up.  Secular science programs for homeschoolers are hard to find.

Allie got a new puppy for Christmas!  He’s a golden retriever and was born on October 18th.  She named him Teddy.

We’ve enjoyed Christmas break...time to recuperate...but I am ready to get started again on Monday.  

Andromedus Babatunde Ajayi arrived on his due date of March 23, 2009. He weighed 10 lbs and measured 21 inches. I don't have small babies! Babatunde is Nigerian for "father has come back."

He is now two months old and doing well (other than a case of pink eye. Ugh!) He weighs 14 lbs 6 oz and is 24 ½ inches tall. He smiles, coos and laughs a lot. He cries mostly when he is hungry, but once he's fed, he's usually pretty happy.

Allie has finished her second-grade work and his enjoying her time off. I'm only requiring her to read over the summer. We will begin her third-grade curriculum in August. We will be using all the same programs: Singapore for math, REAL Science for chemistry (released just in time), History Odyssey Early Modern, Voyages in English for grammar and writing, Spelling Connections. We are also adding French and typing. For French, we are using workbooks and audio cds. If she's still interested in learning French by fourth grade, I'll look into more expensive programs. We are using a software program called Type to Learn for her typing.

This week, Allie will be having her ballet recital. There are six girls in her class and they will be dressed in pink and blue and dancing to the lullaby "All the Pretty Ponies." She is looking forward to performing on stage for a second year. Next year, she is thinking about signing up for the beginning Hip Hop class.

I've posted a few pics of Andy. After Allie's recital rehearsal, I'll upload video of her practicing.

Christine