We all know there is such a thing as "Good Busy" and "Bad Busy" and I must say that recently we have been a very good busy! It certainly shows in my lapse from blogging. I miss being on here more regularly, but life just keeps on moving along far too quickly. So much to do, and time keeps moving too fast.

For those who keep up, I did begin teaching in our 3s Sunday School class a month ago, I can hardly believe it has already been a month!! They are a fun little group and it helps me come up with new activities for my little guys at home as well, which is an added blessing. The little boys are doing well, staying busy with the usual toddler and preschooler activities that seem to spur them on to growing up far too quickly. Hearing them laughing together is such a joy, once I get past the "uh oh, what are they up to?" feeling! Oh, the things these two can giggle about, and yes, they are definitely boys. I even caught them one day spitting, yes spitting, lovely thing to have a 1 year old and 3 year old boy doing, part of the joy of having them in the same room together! Anyway, that was just one of their gross moments, usually I find them bouncing balls all over the place, rolling matchbox cars off of tables, or sitting beneath the piano lightly banging their heads in unison to hear the echo. If you haven't seen two little guys sitting side by side under a piano, it truly is something to see. I'll do my best to get 2G17 to click a picture for me to put on here, they are adorable.

School is going full force and quite well, we are enjoying the year and can hardly believe the holidays are creeping closer. We were in Lowe's the other day and they already had Christmas trees up!!! YES, Christmas trees, at the end of September! Commercialism, such a sad side of the holidays. BUT, on a good note, I made it into a Marketing course with The Old Schoolhouse, and am so excited about it. Perhaps I'll learn more so that I can understand the up-side of commercialism. This should help me write better press releases for our daughter. And I hope to learn about the marketing side of the business world, what works and what doesn't. 1G21 is done with the first round of editing for Book 2, so the coming months will bring much more editing and proofreading work as we near the publishing of her second book in the series. You can still check it out at www.jessicalynncampos.com. Perhaps you'll see some website improvements soon as I learn more about marketing!

If you are one of my marketing members, please drop a comment. I will be doing my best to add you all as friends if I know you have a homeschoolblogger account. I love to learn, it is one of my greatest joys in homeschooling. I've learned so much more while teaching my children than I ever did in public schools. Learning is definitely a lifetime joy, enjoy it!!

So what is your October bringing for your family? Will you Trick or Treat traditionally? Or attend a Fall Festival of some sort? Or do you choose to skip it altogether and focus on the wonderful season of Fall? Share, we'd love to hear it!

I can hardly believe I have allowed an entire month to pass without blogging! But here I am, knee deep in the new school work for the year and staying incredibly busy, as I know many of my blogging buddies are as well. 2G16 is almost seventeen and we have switched gears this year by focusing primarily on one book or subject area per day, this seems to be working beautifully so far. Of course, we work the other areas daily, with her various accompanying assignments, and the fact that every subject involves every other subject anyway keeps us well rounded. We set aside two to three hours to really delve into an area deeply for each day. As a junior in high school now, we really need this time to deal with culturally relevant issues while keeping her focused on a biblical worldview. We both are enjoying it and it is going quite well. It has made planning for homework assignments so much easier for both of us.

Our family time is spent together with science, reading through various science topics and completing different lab activities. Many of the materials from Answers In Genesis are so awesome for homeschooling, and I highly recommend Demolishing Strongholds as a bible study for any family ready to challenge the ideas of evolution head on. We worked through it with a small group from 2G16's youth group, many fell away with busy schedules and such, but it is an excellent study. Studying American government this year with the 5,000 Year Leap book and curriculum is going well, the book is a bit difficult for 2G16, but she needed a challenge in this area. For those who have not checked out ALEKS yet through one of their one month trials with TOS or independently, we are loving it! It is an excellent internet based math program that has been welcomed by 2G16, and she's a tough one to sell on math. One of my reviews this last year was for Implications of American Literature, completing that along with the American Government study is ideal. My daughter was thrilled at the thought of a real textbook, with a nice and crisp, clean name plate at the front. She was public schooled through 6th grade, it's been a while since she has handled one of those heavy textbooks we remember from growing up in schools, with ten other names sprawled across the inside, we SO appreciate our own books!! We've stretched Mystery of History Volume two into this year from last, because we took time to study the United Kingdom and Missionaries before her mission trip this summer. This is allowing us to take more time with the various extension activities offered in MOH and combine them with the missionary geography information included in the Rooted & Grounded books. I still need to get a great wall world map to mount in the hallway, I want to mark all of the areas we read about throughout the year. Balancing the Sword is holding true as well, and we are choosing various books of the Bible to work through, currently 1st Corinthians.

As for my 3B9? The autistic tendencies and his learning delays have continued to challenge us. He is at the age now of understanding a bit more about why he has delays, and we are stressing God's wonderful creation of him. I have no idea why God chose to design him the way He did, but we trust that He has a plan for his life, and he seems to be accepting that all of us are different in different ways. We have resorted to various studies in reading, bombardment at this point is all I can say to explain this decision. Or perhaps, obsession, would be a better word. For those working with autistics, you know they often obsess about things, our latest obsession in this house has been Webkinz. We have him earning any time on Webkinz by completing other school work, which works for him. He actually bounces between a program called My Reading Coach, various computer phonics and reading games, Starfall, Go Phonics games, and the Scaredy Cat Reading system. Each has offered a bit of success for him, but having him move from activity to activity and program to program, he has been much more apt to discuss what he is learning, ask questions, and take some initiative and responsiblity for his gaining of knowledge and understanding. Daily he is coming to me with additional words, spelling things independently, and is fascinated with math in the real world. It warms my heart when he is in the middle of a store and shares with me some pricing information and totals for items or something, and then spouts out: "I just did Math, didn't I, Mom?" Things continue to come together for him! Every day is a struggle, and there are days where it seems he knows nothing at all and struggles to recall much of anything. Other days, learning comes easily and his recollection is quite strong and organized. He always has a grand memory ability and is still memorizing whole books with ease, but it is incredibly interesting to teach a child who can "read" an entire book by memory after hearing it twice, yet be unable to read phonetically more than a handfull of words from the same book. He is finding his way, though, a little more every day.

My littles, 4B3 and 5B16M, are learning by leaps and bounds. 4B3 still struggles with his speech, but he is definitely talking more often. We are using So smart! DVDs designed for infants and toddlers with everyone, watching together and dramatically emphasizing the changes made during the program as different preschool concepts are presented. These things are awesome if you don't mind getting a little creative, we've made pictures with boats and pigs and the different things the program puts together to emphasize shapes, by cutting apart the various shapes before hand and having 4B3 and 3B9 put them together. It's adorable, and makes for some great family time. And they love showing off their pictures as they watch the show with Daddy, demonstrating how they were able to match the things on the show. For more fun, we are making the faces that are shown on the program, complete with moving eyelids, just like the program! I haven't minded a bit the time taken in the evening to think a bit and cut out the necessary items to be put together whenever we watch the show again. I have hopes to just set up a bunch of different activities into various baggies, so that I can just leave it all alone and when the boys request to watch that DVD I can miraculously whip out another activity to put together when done. It's amazing how much more conversing can get done during a program with no talking, the calming classical music allowed us to talk up a storm on our own, which 4B3 did! Puzzles are going over quite well for both little boys, as are Wedgits--I am so glad I bought those Wee Wedgits for 5B16M a while back! All the usual preschool stuff is much more available with the redesign of their bedroom, oh yeah, I really need to put on pictures of their room!! I'll try to remember to get that done soon.

And of course, 1G21 is off to college again, she hit the college newspaper this week, that was pretty cool. The story of her writing a book made the front page as a mini feature, then took the full second page for the actual story! Book sales are going along well enough, we really need to finish our activities to be put on the website so that homeschoolers can use her book with a few educational activities tied in. She is fairly far along with Book Two, the editing and proofreading process will continue for the coming months, and we have fans anxiously awaiting the publishing of it, so we are busy working as fast as we can. Actually, SHE is busy working, along with school, of course. We miss her terribly now that she has moved back to campus, but we enjoy her breaks, like this long weekend when she will be home. We appreciate prayers for her safety and circle of influence, that God would use her in positive ways in the lives of others as she ventures more and more out into the world.

For me, reviews are continuing to be incredibly enjoyable, and they keep me busy and moving forward as deadlines continue to cycle on regardless of schedules and appointments. The house continues to get more organized as I tackle little projects when I can. And I am learning daily to enjoy my family, to see past the occasional messes in this house, and take time to focus on these beautiful little people God has placed in my world for a time...I am so very blessed. I would appreciate prayers as I am considering committing to working in the preschool department at our church for Sunday School. God has bestowed a great deal of experience and education through our many years of child care and my CDA (child development associate credential), although I have now let it lapse. The education remains, and the idea of helping more of our little ones understand their heavenly Father as I serve Him, is appealing, although daunting, as the idea of another commitment has me wavering over this decision. As this decision will need to be made soon, I really do appreciate your prayers.

I hope school is well on it's way in your home, as 2009 is quickly approaching. Have you found a favorite curriculum you are using this year? I'd love to hear about it. Hugs!!

Blogging is becoming far too difficult, I keep hoping as the start of another year begins we will get back on track and I will be on here more regularly.

Things around here continue to move along at a feverish pace. 1G21 is preparing to return to her university, as she is busy writing book two in her series, it is now approximately 75,000 words, we will begin major editing over the coming months. Release for book two is scheduled right over the first anniversary of book one, May 2009. For now, she is busy writing, we juggle the usual annual preparation for returning her to school as we sort dorm supplies and gather necessities. I know she will appreciate the solitude of her dorm for writing, while also missing her siblings and the comforts of home. You can find her book here: www.jessicalynncampos.com, I know, it blows all sense of anonymity, but oh well.

2G16 safely returned from the UK mission trip a changed young woman! The experience was awesome and in today's world of technology she has made international friends she emails regularly. Her group was able to share the Word of God with many young people in Wales while expanding their own personalities as they stretched themselves in unfamiliar territory. It is amazing how the hand of God can work, simply because they were "Americans" they were quickly accepted and drew complete strangers to them, enabling them to share. What a blessing! God blessed her with His care, even as He allowed her camera to break--requiring her full attention to the task of missions rather than any photography.

Reading continues for 3B9, and what a challenge it is!! We juggle multiple reading curriculums in an effort to tackle this incredibly difficult skill for him, and it is a daily challenge. If anyone reading this has found a way to teach an autistic spectrum child to read, I would appreciate any help. There are days I am incredibly frustrated as he seems to completely grasp a concept one day and the next, it is gone. Other subject areas are going along well enough, I am thankful that he is incredibly bright and his memory is phenomenal. He is enjoying more science material and is becoming a wonderful help in teaching his younger brothers.

As for younger brothers? Well, 4B3 and 5B1 are becoming quite the clowning duo!! My morning wake-up has become their giggles as they go back and forth in their room entertaining one another, they will do almost anything to get a laugh out of each other. I have found 4B3 standing on his head with legs completely up in the air, as his brother is giggling wildly. And 5B1 misses no opportunity, as he has learned how to "bounce" anywhere possible: the crib, his bouncy chair, shopping carts, high chairs, even while sitting in the middle of the family room floor, he can bounce anywhere. And it is so adorable, a smile naturally comes to anyone who sees him happily bouncing everywhere he goes.

If you are wondering about our school plans, we have continued with various things throughout the summer, but I am in the midst of major planning now. And of course, before any official beginning to the next year's curriculum I want everything in the house in order. So I plan to paint the kitchen in the next couple of weeks. Always something!! I may very well have some family come and visit soon too, so the next month will be incredibly busy as we knock out more of life's tasks as the next year gets into full swing. I am so thankful for health, my hubby's job, my wonderful children, my reviewer job, friends, and family. As much as I complain about this old house of ours, I am thrilled to have a roof over my head and a kitchen that needs painting. And paint. We have been incredibly blessed, and I am so very thankful.

So what are you thankful for these days? Have you been busy with home improvements this summer? What about vacation, did you take one? Are you all set and ready for this school year? Talk to me!! Any encouragement to getting back into regular blog entries will be greatly appreciated. ;-)    HUGS!!!

This summer has certainly held many "firsts" for our family, and over the coming days it holds a tremendous amount of firsts for our 2G16 as she has embarked on her first mission trip!! In a mere twelve hours from when I write this, she will be flying out to the United Kingdom to serve full time missionaries on the field there in whatever capacity is necessary. This will be her FIRST airplane flight, and FIRST international airplane flight, FIRST trip on her own beyond her history of summer camps, FIRST mission trip, and FIRST trip with no other people she knows beforehand!! God has called her into quite a growth experience over these next two weeks. I appreciate your prayers on her behalf.

I am avoiding focusing on my motherly concerns for her right now, I'm doing my best to focus on God's calling in her life. I am so thrilled that she heard...and obeyed! What a blessing she is to our family. The last year has been filled with many confirmations that this trip is what God wanted to do in her life right now. I pray that she is a blessing to everyone she works with, and that the witness she and the entire group offer to those around them will bring others to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. I pray that she will be blessed by that true blessing: witnessing firsthand someone else finding salvation for the FIRST time!!

Suddenly, the FIRST book written by our daughter, FIRST exposure to publicity for our family in the book effort, and planning this FIRST mission trip pale in comparison to the firsts my 2G16 will experience. We have been very blessed and pray that this summer reveals many blessings for your family.

We have continued learning a bit about the United Kingdom, and are enjoying a clock up right now so we can follow 2G16's time while she is away.  Reading study continues in earnest for 3B9 and is finally coming along fairly well. Study of business practices and all things publicity continues to take some of our time as we push 1G21's first book. And I am busy with continued organization of the house and the last of the odd jobs around the boys' bedroom transfer that began more than a month ago. I don't even want to look back to see when I actually STARTED that job!! Things are moving along well enough overall, though.

Has your family decided on a particular curriculum for next school year? I'd love to hear about it!

He will be dedicated this Sunday, on Father's Day!! Now, how cool is that? He already belongs so much to my Heavenly Father, it is unbelievably appropriate to have him dedicated on that day as well.

I almost didn't include this one, it is already so old. And ewww, I look awful, I suppose I'll always hate pictures. But the boys are adorable! And proud Daddy is priceless, that SMILE!!

3B9 on the other hand didn't quite see what the big deal was. Some day he'll understand.

While I finally have a moment, I thought I should probably put a quick update on this blog. We are still very busy with all of the excitement from the book release, it is hitting the local paper again this week! Several people have congratulated us on a homeschool job well done, so I thought I'd better clarify some information, just in case you wonder, and so that no one gets the wrong idea.

Our oldest, who has just published her first book at the age of 20, wasn't technically homeschooled-we didn't wise up until her junior year in high school- but I can only imagine where she would be if we HAD!!! She is the one who strongly encouraged my now sixteen year old to take us up on the offer of homeschooling. Quick rundown: God led us to homeschool because our then 5 year old was special needs/IEP/school nightmare on the autistic spectrum, we asked the girls (then 6th & 11th) if they wanted to come home as well, our oldest was completing a full load of AP courses and chose to finish out her public school career, but strongly encouraged our 6th grader to come home. So she did.

Soon after that we found God had mandated that we homeschool regardless, so we wouldn't give the same choice today, let's just say we've grown.  God has walked us through quite an education. But I firmly believe, had we homeschooled, she would have completed this book three years ago!  And we did what many people on this blog system and within the homeschool community have done while involved in the public school system: I actually volunteered at her elementary school running a small publishing center helping all of the kids get their ideas into mini-book form, we taught her how to read long before school began-she was reading at the age of four, and she had gained plenty of confidence while being the in-house child-teacher of our family child care home for many, many years. She was always an honor student while within the public school system, but in so many ways they actually held her back. It is only now that she has the freedom to run with her ideas, and we plan to facilitate her and support her in any way we can. As we all do with all of our children.

We hope to have some sort of teaching supplement for use with the book created soon, and will offer it through her website for free. Her book is fantasy, and is being fairly well received, you can check out her website if you have not done so already at www.jessicalynncampos.com. I will update on here as well whenever we finally get a teaching supplement available on her site. It will most likely include some word games, vocabulary work, and possibly some character questions for the reader to fill in. If you have any ideas for something you would like to see, please share because we are truly new at this whole thing! And if you want to be sure to receive whatever we create when we reach that point, drop her a quick note through the site at the "contact Jessica" link so we have a record of you. This will place you on the email list when we get it all set up.

Wishing you every day enjoyment with your children, I hope this finds you peacefully at home with each of yours! HUGS!!