2011–Looking Back by Month

Last year I did a final post sharing highlights from each month of the year and I’m going to do it again.  Mostly this is for me but I hope you enjoy checking out some of the links too!

January

We began 2011 with a 1 month old baby, 1 year old, 3 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, and 9 year old.  I shared my thoughts on If It’s Broke Don’t Copy It, explaining why homeschool is different than public school.  We mummified an apple in science.  I shared my tips for reading aloud. 

February

Amidst lots of reviews I blogged about real life things.  I shared my heart on why it’s important to go to church even when it’s a struggle with little ones.  I blogged a regular old day in a large family.  I answered a reader’s question on raising men and women, including gender roles and goals.  I also explained year-round homeschooling at our house.

March

I wrote a series of posts on preparing to attend a homeschool convention.  Here is part 1, 2, 3, and 4.  I shared my family’s secret to getting a houseful of children to church on time each Sunday.  I told my Kindle Fairytale.  I wrote a post for Latter-Day Homeschooling on Arming our Children for Battle.  I also did a visual post on creating a homeschool portfolio.

April

Posts included the Top 10 Ways I Use my Library and seeing a local theater production of Willy Wonka.  I shared blessings I received while attending a homeschool convention, including meeting Michelle Duggar, Day One and Day Two.  I shared my purchases at convention.  I wrote up my notes from the Midwest Homeschool Convention in a series of posts: One, Two, Three, and Four.

May

I blogged the first day of the new school year (yep, we started in May!), we celebrated Star Wars Day for fun, and the review of that first week back to school including my 9 year old’s theatrics over math.  This was also the month I went around laughing like a crazy woman at the thought that we were pregnant again.

June

I celebrated 11 wonderful years of marriage by posting a pictures from my wedding day.  I shared my thoughts on public school and child labor laws.  This poem reminded me to watch my own actions because my children certainly are.

July

I shared summer happiness, we did our first ever standardized test – because we wanted the experience.  Caleb joined the ranks of early walkers in my house.  We played in the rain and met a furry friend.

August

I shared our curriculum in a nutshell, had nature adventures, took school pictures,  and celebrated our traditional Not Back to School Day.

September

We learned that our yet-to-be-born son has spina bifida and other related issues.  I started a separate blog just to journal about that.  Routines and habits kept our life going on an even keel.  I fought the mommy-guilt monster again.  Joseph had his yearly allergist appointment and I listed what he’s allergic to.

October

I shared my family’s General Conference experience in bits here, here, here, and here.  We flew across the country to visit my sister’s family and only ended up with one broken femur along the way.  I posted vacation highlights with pictures.  I talked about staying focused on what matters most.  I shared the beginning of our journey to better sleep with Oliver and Caleb.

November

A picture post of table time at our house appeared, Oliver started potty training, we made our Memory Work Binder, and we had a day of Greek Mythology fun. 

December

Gratitude for the everyday, a post about why Monday nights are special, and seeing the blessings of children featured in posts this month.  We’ve prepped schoolwork for when Mason is born, and there has been more sickness than we know what to do with.  Baby Mason arrives in less than a week and a half.  The first major event of the new year that is on the calendar.

What was your year like?