First day of school!

School has started!  We are homeschooling Eliana this year, so no bus pictures or anything like that.  Eliana did enjoy holding up her "official" sign, though...

Part of Ellie's school work is actually done at night, since she is often up after her little sister and brother go to bed.  She is a bit resistant on one or two subjects, but having undivided attention (as well as the knowledge "you can always go to bed!") seems to help her be very motivated.  So, each evening Emily spends 15 or 20 minutes doing schoolwork with Eliana.  Here, they are playing a math version of Go Fish!, and Eliana is using her "abacus" to remember the addition facts she needs.

Eliana is actually pretty competitive, and she takes these games VERY seriously, in that, she MUST win.  Here she is counting her scooping up another pair (that adds up to 10).

Most of our school time is in the morning, preferably when Gabriel is napping.  So far, it is going pretty well!

Karina always wants to "do school" as well, and has actually had a significant leap in her fine motor skills lately.  So, she does mazes, and cut and paste puzzles, and the like.

Here Eliana is busily working on her handwriting...she also does math, science, geography/map skills, critical thinking, and we do lots of read alouds for history, social studies, and literature.

Another VERY important first day of school -- Karina gets to go to preschool this year!  She has been waiting and waiting for this day, and it is finally here!  Here she is, ready to go!

And, here all three kids are, since we all actually have to go to drop off Karina at school!

The "official" first day of school picture on the bench.  The 3 year old class.

And, all three of them again...

Eliana has gone to school here for the past two years, and thus is quite the expert on the school routine. She really enjoyed showing Karina the ropes.  Karina has the same backpack/coat hook as Eliana did (they are alphabetically assigned by last name...good chance Gabriel will be #12 as well!).

Then into the classroom to put a sticker on the daily folder.  After a few minutes of Gabriel admiring the fish and frogs in the aquarium, we were off, and Karina was very happy to stay at school.  Finally, it is her turn!

And here is a blast from the past.  Almost exactly 2 years ago, Eliana had her first day of pre-school.  She wore the same exact outfit that Karina did two years later.  They are even wearing the same pair of shoes and the same backpack.

Here is Eliana plus Karina next to her.  Karina was only 13 months back then.

And here is Eliana sitting in front of the sign for the preschool.  It's true when they say that time flies!