Our third year of homeschooling

I can't believe this is our third year of homeschooling! While it wasn't something I planned to do, it just seemed like the right thing for our family. We also love the freedom and not having to stress about finding a good school each time we move. Heck everything is about to change less then a year! Getting out of the military, jobs, moving to who knows where yet and more likely  college.
Now back to the topic of homeschooling, I am changing things, as I learn last year we did way too many boring dry workbook pages. This year we doing more, oh lots more hands on. Notebooking, lapbooks, more art projects and way more nature studies. I also asked each child what they would like to learn/create this year. Sophia said she wants to make a big poster size coral reef (our aquarium/zoo membership is handy!) C.J. said he wants to make his own map of our local area. Don't worry we do have a set curriculum for the "main subjects" We are using:

Horizon's phonics in 1st and 2nd grade
Horizon's math in 1st and 2nd grade
History: Story of the World Vol. 1 Ancient times along with the activity book for both kids.
Science: Apologia's Astronomy along with the Jr. notebook (worth buying), we are trying the immersion approach, so that means we are studying Astronomy for the whole school year.

Filling out here first day of school interview, she wants to be an artist when she grows up.

This year C.J. is all about playing with his friends, still sporting his mohawk and look forward to traveling/moving. This kid loves road trips so he is look to be a driver. When he grows up.

I would say the kids had a great first day, we started with our core subjects, then mommy  left to her dentist appointment, don't worry I didn't leave them home alone, daddy was able to babysit. After lunch we did our first science project of the year, making a solar system out of balloons. The kids did a great job blowing them up and painting. I am also trying to step back a little more this year, I believe the whole of a teacher is to guide them not do it for them.

Painting the balloons for the solar system.

The solar system, the kids and I went over how Pluto is no longer a planet. Our book said it is for us to decide, so it was a yes we will at least learn about the former planet.