Chapter One.

I LOVED the idea of a special dinner & theme when I saw it on THIS BLOG and really thought it was such a grand way to kick off the school year. So, we had ourselves a fun evening of a nice dinner, making crowns, announcing this years theme, a prayer of dedication and special gifts for everyone. It was loads of fun and got everyone excited for the new beginnings.

Our theme this year is: "BE PREPARED."

I was really struggling with coming up with a theme. I almost stole Nie's theme, but thought that a bit unorthodox! So, the Sunday before we were starting school, John's dad preached a message at church on Rehoboam and how he prepared not his heart for God. It was just what I needed! The whole story of King Rehoboam was such a great picture to me as to how I am each and every day cultivating the hearts and lives of my children. Even though this was a negative example, I thought we could take the positive spin for our theme. Preparing our hearts before God so that we are ready to be used of Him.

Gift Time!

Drew, our 1st grader, received a snake safari hat & matching watch (not shown).

Jack is showing off his new Playmobil knights that he will add to his quiet play time container.

Caiden's first pieces to his own Playmobil collection. The 1-2-3 toys are perfect and safe for little hands (and tasty curiosities!).

Caiden adorned his crown for about 20 seconds. No hats for this boy!

The growing learners . . .


who are always on the verge of imagining!

Ready or not . . . here we come!!!

New Beginnings

::WELCOME TO MOSS HILL ACADEMY::

I contemplated whether or not to start a whole new blog for our adventures in homeschooling, and although I really do not need one more thing to add to my mental to-do list, well, here we are! Why not, right!? I really hope it will help me keep things organized and give me a place to put the pictures, ideas & activities as we go along. Even though homeschooling is really so much a part of our lives, I am going to keep our other blog The Finer Neiners geared toward family happenings and Moss Hill toward school. As far as picking the name, I wanted something *untraditional,* so that nixed "Neiner Christian Homeschool."---not that there's anything wrong with that! I just really wanted it to creativity reflect our family's personality. I was so very close to naming our school Partridge ---something--- because we live on partridge road, and I do love a good bird motif. However, I couldn't get "The Partridge Family" out of my head. So, one day, John and I were hashing through ideas, and out popped Moss Hill. I loved it! Especially because throughout the summer the boys would collect little pieces of moss from our back woods, their grandparents house, or around town and bring it to our backyard and replant it in this little designated section. There became this lump of various types of moss, each one differing from the other in texture and color. And it just seemed to fit at once as I see daily that each child learns so differently and has his own wonderful unique gifts and personality, and how each day can look quite differently, but over time, it all weaves and fits together. So, welcome to our little place to keep the happenings in our little corner in one spot, to record my experiences as a teacher/mother at the same time, and all the fun ways we explore the world around us as we increase in wisdom, knowledge, creativity and expression.

:: erin ::