Here is a visual example of the challenges in homeschooling a seven year old boy:

This one's titled "Boy Practices Music While Practicing Gymnastics" and subtitled, "Multi-tasking".

And here is what I've learned: Although he is twirling in circles and crashing a couple of bakugans together and interrupting me several times to ask me questions completely unrelated to what I'm "teaching", when I ask him to repeat back to me what I've said, he most always can. The bottom line: turn and stare at the wall and explain to it about Sargon the Great and the Double Crown King of Egypt and try to ignore the circus taking place behind me, and in the end, the goal of it all is most always accomplished. In traditional school there would be a name for him: After Lunch Ritalin.

And here are The Three on an archaeological dig to see what the items they uncover tell about the people group they are studying. Since it was our stuff, it probably told them that we like junk food, spend too much time wasting time, and have a strange passion for Burt's Bees and Where's Waldo. I often wonder what my neighbors think at all the strange things that take place in our front yard.

There are more pictures to come that have yet to be downloaded from my camera. Holt made the most amazing replication of an Egyptian house from playdough. When he was finished, he said, "Okay, fire up the oven and let's bake it." Seems he'd made some pretty great stuff from clay in art class at school, and thought Mama had just as cool options at home. Poor kid. The decomposition of that Ancient Egypt house back into a soft doughy wad that fit into a can with a sealed lid was downright wrong. Note: add clay to school supply list.

Homeschool checklist: a month and a half down. 100 years of history studied. One entire curriculum scrapped (very painful to the checkbook). Four brick walls climbed over. No tears (yet). One missing teacher's edition (ouch for me) and test booklet (to Juliana's delight). And only a smidgen behind. I'd say pretty successful so far.