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Becky of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Joshua, dad, music teacher
- Lincoln, 6
- Jovi, 4
Nichole of Colorado
We are a family of 5. Three girls. Yes, all girls, so we got my husband a male dog who is a momma's boy! Both my husband and I work for different automotive dealerships. Mine allows me to work from home so that’s how we get the privilege of homeschooling.
Angela in Colorado
- Dad (Army)
- Mom (home wizard)
- Bubba (missionary)
- Guts (likes fencing)
- Gretsky (loves Kempo karate)
- the Doge (still cutting teeth)
- plus Trousers (the dog)
Brittany in Colorado
Stay-at-home mom with a preschooler and toddler.
How do you Timberdoodle?
Becky: We are currently using All About Reading and we love it!
Nichole: I heard about Timberdoodle when I was being homeschooled and was always excited when we got our new catalogs. The tradition has continued with my girls. ;-)
Angela: Found you online after hearing about you from a homeschooling friend about 8 years ago. We love the logic games and puzzles, science kits, putty, and Usborne flap books!
Brittany: My sister-in-law introduced me to you; we collaborate on all things homeschool! We love the focus on quality products and high standards (but fun!) in educating our kids.
Tell us about a typical school day at your house.
Becky: We try to start at 8:00 a.m. We try to cover all subjects for a short period each day.
Nichole: My day starts an hour before my family so I can get my head on straight. A little time in The Word and then just some general quiet day planning. Our school day starts a little later because I start working at 8:00. We do our core individual subjects in the morning and cover science and history over the dinner table as a family at night.
Angela: Start school after breakfast and chores, usually about 9:00 a.m. We do all subjects, four days a week, though we have done five days a week in the past. We do math, language arts, handwriting, history, science and Spanish, with a break for lunch and more as demanded by the Doge (age 20 months).
Brittany: We usually homeschool about 1.5 hours/day. We try to get most things done in the morning, but we’re only in preschool, so we’re still working on establishing our routines.
If we peeked inside your home on a random Wednesday afternoon, what would we see?
Becky: My kindergartener attends a homeschool academy on Wednesdays, so you'd see me working with my four-year-old.
Nichole: Kids playing and me working. :-)
Angela: Lego Duplo everywhere. Books all over the table, seedlings in every window sill, and a rock collection that is showcasing all over the house.
Brittany: Probably my two-year-old napping while my preschooler and I read books on the couch.
If you could take your family anywhere you wanted for vacation where would you go?
Becky: On a scenic route road trip.
Nichole: We would love to go back to see the ocean and maybe some sunshine too. We’re buried in snow currently. ❄️
Angela: Germany.
Brittany: Thailand.
What books have you read over and over?
Becky: Chronicles of Narnia
Nichole: Boy, that’s a tough one. I have read Emma and Little Women several times, but I go back to a lot of parenting references lots of times over.
Angela: Magic Tree House and Harry Potter
Brittany: Chronicles of Narnia
What dietary challenges does your family face?
Nichole: We have a sugar intolerance, so we use a lot of sweetener alternatives. Our toughest challenge, though, is an egg allergy. We have to be very careful about making sure everything from noodles to breakfasts to baked goods are egg free. I have to say I’m pretty thankful for Pinterest.
Angela: Lactose sensitivity, and trying to eat more plant based. Meal planning is a lifesaver.
What tips do you have for surviving a hard day?
Becky: Take time for yourself!
Nichole: Stop, take a break, get fresh air if possible, and the best solution I have found is I go jump on the tramp with my kids. That is such a good reset for all of us.
Angela: Prayer/meditation, outside breaks for fresh air and sun!
Brittany: Coffee. Definitely coffee. And I have to remind myself that my girls are just little.
What’s something your child has done that thrilled your soul?
Becky: Being kind to others.
Nichole: Found that reading is FUN!
Angela: Hid love notes under my pillow.
Brittany: She chooses to do her Bible study first almost every day.
How does your family celebrate birthdays?
Becky: We have a little party with friends, but celebrate together at home (or somewhere fun) on the actually day.
Nichole: On the morning of their birthday they wake up to a room full of balloons. We usually plan a small gathering with a cake made to what I am capable of copying from Pinterest. Ha ha ha ha.
Angela: Cake, song and family.
Brittany: At minimum, a cake! We’ve been trying to go somewhere as a family for birthdays more often. Even if it’s a quick day trip to the mountains.
What have you done recently for the first time?
Becky: Started homeschooling this year.
Nichole: Tried making a sugarless, eggless cake. It didn’t turn out well. Came out hard as a rock. Ha ha ha.
Angela: Invested money in my own education! Mama needs to keep learning, too!
Brittany: Went to a speakeasy on a date with my husband.
What’s your favorite school day lunch?
Becky: PB&J.
Nichole: Veggie and cream cheese roll ups.
Angela: Tacos!
Brittany: Peanut butter and jelly and apples.
How would you manage if you had to homeschool without the internet?
Becky: I would have to use workbooks alone.
Nichole: We have satellite internet so we do! Ha ha ha.
Angela: We would do just fine!
Brittany: During the day, just fine. Preparing? Not so much...
What tips do you have for other families?
Becky: Try different things and use what works for your family.
Nichole: When the going gets tough don’t leave your desire to homeschool on the chopping block. It’s a tough season here and there but it too will pass. Refocus on your why. Take a day off or a week off from book work and get dirty with your kids. Garden, paint, jump on the tramp. But don’t give up.
Angela: Find joy in the journey. The kids grow up too fast.
Brittany: Hug the thing you’re mad at. And also, when you’re struggling, tell your kids to tell you, “I’m just little.”
What is something you appreciate about each of your kids?
Becky: My son is kind and sweet and draws me lots of pictures! My daughter is full of energy and always makes me laugh.
Nichole: How different they all are from one another.
Brittany: My older one is so kind and thoughtful, even at four. My younger one has the best little girl giggle that makes me laugh every time.
What song is currently in your head?
Becky: A song from Daniel Tiger.
Nichole: Jingle Jangle by the Merrymacs
Angela: A Million Dreams
Brittany: Edelweiss
Tell us about your family’s favorite games.
Becky: We like playing Memory, Guess Who, ABC Mouse.
Nichole: Shut the Box.
Angela: Uno, hide and seek, and chess.
Brittany: My husband and I are enjoying our Escape Room style subscription box from Cratejoy. Perfect date night in!!
What is your exercise routine and how often do you do it?
Becky: Try to ride the stationary bike each morning.
Angela: Try to lift weights 4 times a week following an online program.
Brittany: Running up and down the stairs all day?
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in your homeschool that you called a “science experiment”?
Angela: Tested a lemon powered clock set on everything we could in the kitchen...bread, salt, flour, water, etc.
What hard thing are you planning to do this year?
Becky: Learning to play the piano.
Angela: Get a job writing.
Brittany: Fix my marriage.
What did you do just for fun with your kids recently?
Becky: Family game night!
Angela: Swimming at the Y. They had a wave pool.
Brittany: Sang Frozen 2 songs at the top of our lungs in the car together.
What would you name your boat if you had one?
Becky: LJ74.
Angela: The Jack LaLane.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
Becky: Sign Language.
Angela: Welding.
Brittany: Calligraphy.
What’s the last recipe you looked up?
Becky: Breakfast Casserole.
Nichole: I looked up egg free chocolate cupcakes.
Brittany: Bacon cheeseburger dip.
What apps do you use the most?
Becky: Facebook, Bible, maps.
Nichole: Pinterest.
Brittany: Google drive, Amazon, the library app.
If you could sum up your homeschool style or philosophy in one phrase what would it be?
Becky: Controlled chaos.
Nichole: Cover the important stuff but make sure my kids are exposed to as much history (in my book, it's the second-most important subject) and music as possible.
Brittany: Emphasis on knowing stuff and reading tons of books.
What do your kids want to be when they grow up?
Becky: Singer man, and a dancer.
Brittany: Everything!
What extracurricular activities is your family involved in?
Becky: My son attends a conservatory once a week.
Brittany: Ballet, swimming, church, Bible Study, gymnastics, sports
If you have a moment to yourself what do you like to do?
Becky: Relax, read, watch a documentary.
Nichole: I sneak a sweet treat. Ha ha ha. (I enjoy playing music when it’s quiet.)
Brittany: Read.
What’s your favorite school day breakfast?
Becky: Pancakes.
Nichole: We wing it every day, I do make egg-free pancakes or waffles pretty regularly. My quick easy button is yogurt with fixings.
Brittany: Coffee. That’s all.
What’s the best homeschool field trip you’ve ever been on?
Becky: Not many, nature hike.
Nichole: The horse farm. We got to watch and ask questions of the vet, and got to see how they take care of all their animals
The grocery store cashier asks, “But what about socialization?” What do you say?
Becky: Plenty of socializing through different programs and outings.
Nichole: We have plenty socialization through our church and extracurriculars. We aren’t the least bit worried about socialization.
Brittany: What about it?
What’s the funniest thing one of your kids ever said?
Becky: My son said he wanted to play with grown ups, not shrinking ups. (Wanting to play with me, not his little sister!)
Nichole: When asked whether she wanted a baby brother or sister my oldest replied with “a popsicle.”
What do you do for fun as a family?
Becky: Go to the zoo, the park, and on hikes.
Nichole: We love sledding our back property in the winter and road tripping in the summer.
Brittany: Play hard.
How do you continue to educate yourself?
Becky: Read.
Nichole: I read as many things as I can, and rarely stick to the same subject matter.
Brittany: Online classes- to keep my teaching license up to date. I also read a lot and am always in a Bible study.
What are favorite healthy snacks at your house?
Becky: Apples and bananas.
Nichole: We love freeze dried fruit, homemade fruit snacks and for easy Lara bars.
Brittany: Celery, carrots, apples.
What’s the best museum you’ve ever gone to?
Becky: Denver Children's Museum.
Nichole: We went to a hands-on math and science museum and it was so fun to touch feel and experience math and science. We also went to the Natural History Museum to see the Dead Sea scrolls and that was amazing!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in homeschooling?
Becky: Getting organized.
Nichole: For me, teaching my kids to read has been a toughy, but really letting go of my perfectionism and learning to let things go that in the scheme of things truly don’t matter has been my biggest personal challenge.
Brittany: Starting!
What is your favorite thing about having kids?
Becky: Life is never boring.
Nichole: Watching them grow physically and emotionally is so amazing how fast things happen.
Brittany: Laughing and learning together. And also, their thoughts and questions.
What’s the best vacation you have ever taken as a family?
Becky: Camping and going to The Great Sand Dunes.
Nichole: We got to go to Alabama to watch my brother graduate from Army flight school and then went on down to Florida to go to the beach. Longest, most states crossed, but most fun trip we’ve ever done.
List 3 frivolous things you are enjoying right now.
Becky: Going to Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, small amount of video game time, small amount of tablet time.
Nichole: Sugar free chocolate, Pinterest, and the Internet.
Brittany: Wine. New boots. And my car air freshener. Not all right at this moment though. That wouldn’t be great.
What’s your favorite in-a-pinch dinner option?
Becky: Spaghetti.
Brittany: Spaghetti.
What’s the strangest place you’ve done school?
Becky: Pretty new still, just at home.
Brittany: Dress rehearsal for the Christmas play.
Share a favorite organizational tip.
Becky: Color code cubbies for each subject.
Brittany: I’ve started keeping all my coupons in a three pronged folder full of page protectors.
What special gifts or talents to your kids have?
Becky: My son is great at math and my daughter is great at piano.
Brittany: Martial Arts.
Tell us something unique or unusual about your family.
Becky: My husband works evenings so he is home during the day to help teach.
What’s making you laugh these days?
Becky: My daughter is very silly!
Brittany: My 2 year old learning to express herself
What do you do for P.E. in your homeschool?
Becky: Go to the park.
Brittany: Classes at the rec center.
Share a favorite inspirational quote.
Becky: Small steps in the right direction are better than big ones in the wrong direction.
What’s your best time of day to homeschool?
Becky: The morning.
Brittany: Morning.
Tell us something interesting about your local area.
Becky: We love very close to The Garden of the Gods.
Brittany: An hour drive from the mountains.
What dream for your family has come true?
Becky: My husband was able to quit his other job and focus solely on teaching music and I am still able to stay home with the kids.
Brittany: Owning a home.
