As some may know Matt and I decided to homeschool Kalani this past year…and we/I survived!  It wasn’t that bad or that big of a transition.  Well, I guess the biggest transition was throwing a baby (Mason) in the picture.

I joined a local homeschool group (Cypress Homeschool Association) and LOVED meeting new people through that.  These ladies are on top of things.  We participated in a Halloween Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving Friendship dinner, Christmas party and a Co-op every Monday.  There were other activities, but we didn’t or couldn’t attend.  I also had Kalani involved in a homeschool singing choir (Super Singers) where she got to perform for friends and families and also sing to the elderly in assisted living locations.  And she also was in an Art Club and Book Club.   Let me tell you that this homeschool child is NOT socially awkward!

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

Santa visited the kids at the Christmas Party

Kalani's mask from Art Club

Book Club Activity

Super Singer Homeschool Choir

I think that Kalani enjoys staying home with me…I know she likes to sleep until 8-9am.  Then we are done with school before noon.  If she went to the local elementary school she would board a bus around 8am and wouldn’t get home until after 4pm.  I just think that is too long of a day for a child.  Besides, she gets all (or at least most) of my attention during our “school hours, ” and we can take field trips all the time.  We have also met some fabulous friends through CHA and church members who homeschool.  If you want to homeschool, Texas is the place and I found the perfect niche.

A few homeschool families wanted to go camping for 3 days/2 nights.  I don’t remember saying that I would go, but some how my name ended up on the list saying that I was attending.  So I thought, “Why not, Kalani will have fun and we will make some memories.”   When I told people I was going camping at Lake Livingston I would  say, “I know I am crazy, you don’t need to tell me.”  Yes, I took an almost 11 month old and a 6 year old camping BY MYSELF…Matt had to work.

Kalani LOVED camping.  She talked about it for 2-3 weeks straight.  And whenever she saw the other moms that would be also going to camp she would show/tell them of her excitement.  We took a walk to the lake to figure out where to go fishing.

Kalani tried out fishing…but she pulled out the hook after 2-3 minutes and would try to cast the line again, but it would just get tangled.  Fishing just isn’t her “sport.”

Mason also enjoyed camping.  He LOVED his sister’s camp chair, which didn’t make Kalani very happy.  He LOVED being with the kids and seeing the dogs the other families brought.  He also went on a swing and LOVED that…pure joy!

The best part of camping…sitting around the camp fire and singing, playing games and telling stories.  Almost all of the kids that went camping are also in a homeschool choir.  Here the girls are singing and doing the motions for “Chapel of Love.”

This life is all about making memories good or bad, so I will probably do this again…camping with the kids while Matt is at work.  You don’t need to tell me that I am crazy…I already know that!  But next time I will be sure to bring an air mattress and hopefully Mason will be walking!