Back to School

Today was our first day back to school.  Although our pleasant weather has persisted longer than I could have hoped, the dog days are very near and that means it's time to put our noses to the proverbial grindstone.

C&A with their neatly organized school books.

Their books are basically math, reading, phonics and a cursive tablet.  We are also doing a supplemental study using Little House on the Prairie for the next 4 weeks.  So we also have the footprint of a covered wagon on our floor in masking tape.

Annalise has been very excited to get started learning cursive!

Today's recess - run barefoot in the field.

The kids also built another bird trap - not an assignment.  P.S.  the stripes were not planned.

Also they made magic mud - also not an assignment - more of please Mommy, please please please.

Natalie getting in on the action.  She was feeling left out!

I am very pleased with how the first day went.  Both C & A finished their independent work in record time and got all of their math facts right :)

And I want to show off my new toy:

Last year pencil sharpening was my personal bane.  I was determined to buy a pencil sharpener that: A.  The kids could use and B.  worked.  I read a bunch of online reviews and decided to invest in the Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener.  It came Friday and is everything I dreamed.  The kids sharpened every pencil they could find.  I love this thing.  They are $25, but I got this one for $20 because it is cornflower blue...which just happens to be my favorite color!