Real Life Homeschool: What does ours look like?

Our real life homeschool is very laid back during this part of our year. We love being outside and enjoying time with friends. Warmer months it's always easier to have play dates and enjoy the pool in the hot afternoon. We are starting to get a little more structure into our days though.

Our typical monring looks like this:

• Boys wake up naturally. Normally between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning. 
• Boys read or play quietly while Hubby gets out the door and Mommy gets breakfast. With a baby on the way I have to eat as quickly as I can in the morning. 
• Boys eat breakfast. They normally make themselves cereal as they are tired of the eggs and bacon that I normally make them and they enjoy the independence. 
• Everyone gets dressed and brushes teeth for the day.
• Morning chores come next. Goose normally picks up the living room, bathroom and our room. There's always something on the floor that needs to be put back where it belongs. He also helps me getting laundry started. Monkey has to clean his room and vacuum, vacuum our room, clean the bathroom (normally a 2 day job), help with laundry, sweep and mop the living room. These are the chores he has to complete throughout the week. They earn an allowance based off of completing the job and having a good attitude.
• Then we start school. We have worksheets to help practice writing and math skills, we read lots of books, and watch documentaries. All depending on our mood for the day.
• Then it's free time to play until lunch time. 

The boys normally get work completed quickly and enjoy lots of play time. We are slowly adding a little more work every week or so. Our mornings run fairly smooth with this general routine in place. Tuesday's we spend the morning at the library for story time which includes a craft and then reading to Maggie the therapy dog. Monkey really enjoys this special reading time with someone other than mom and dad. He gets candy at the end as well. Goose gets to go and listen to a story from Maggie's owner and enjoy a special candy treat as well. We also enjoy youth group on Wednesday nights and other homeschool group field trips when they are available and of course play dates with other homeschool families near by. 

Our afternoons almost always go like this:

• Take a nap or a rest while listening to a book on CD. I take naps as well listening to scripture from the bible app. Monkey rests for about 1.5 hours. Goose naps for about 2 to 2.5 hours. I get anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on what my body needs. If I'm sleeping Monkey will read books or play quietly until I wake up. I love that he's responsible to do this because it lets me get the much needed rest this pregnant mommy needs. 
• Cousins get home from school and I don't see the boys again until dinner time. They play outside mostly, sometimes inside if it's a really hot day. 
• Eat dinner.
• Watch superheroes with Daddy.
• Read Daddy a story.
• Get ready for bed between 8:00 and 9:00. If the boys are still wide awake they go to their room and read books with the lamp on or listen to their book on CD. 

I love our days. They are full of fun family time that also include learning. Boys have so much energy that they have to spend so much time moving around and I'm grateful that our life can provide that for them.