Meet 4 Families from Missouri

Lindy H. of Aurora, Missouri

We are a family of 6. My husband (Bobby) and I have 3 boys and 1 little girl. Charlie 9, Josiah 7, Daniel 5, and Ellie almost 3. And Bingo, our dog

Courtney of Marble Hill, Missouri

My name is Courtney and my husband's name is Ethan. We have a 5-year-old named Alaina, a 3-year-old named Sadie, and a 1-year-old named Leo. Ethan works at a rock quarry where he runs an excavator. I am a stay-at-home homeschool mom. We love to spend time together as a family in the outdoors. We have a German Shepherd named Samson who is the sweetest fluff ball ever.

Carly of Missouri

Carly and Brandon (mom and dad), Layla (5), Autumn (3), Fallon (1), and new baby coming soon.

Letitia H. of Joplin, Missouri

Dad is a general contractor of his own business; mom is a seamstress and stay-at-home mom; Fritz is 6 and loves building things and playing with friends; Raylan is 18 months and loves dinosaurs and following Brother around!

 

How do you Timberdoodle?

Lindy: I'm new to Timberdoodle so I haven't had a chance to really look over your products, but what I have seen is awesome.

Courtney: I first heard about Timberdoodle 2 years ago when I was doing a search on Google for homeschool curriculum. I have yet to purchase curriculum from Timberdoodle but I love how fun and hands-on it looks.

Carly: We currently love the Visible Human Body floor puzzle and Ready Set Bodies by Alex toys. We have been learning about the human body and they add fun to our science part of the day.

Leticia: Was introduced to Timberdoodle by a friend who also has a hyper and active boy. We love all the interactive learning!

 

Tell us about a typical school day at your house.

Lindy: Family Bible at 8:00 followed by science and history, and then signing time. Then it's math, reading, language arts, spelling and writing.

Courtney: We wake up around 8 o’clock and eat breakfast. Then we do a quick workout and start school when Leo takes his first nap. My 5-year-old does reading, math, writing, and thinking skills. My 3-year-old is working on shapes, ABCs, and counting. Then we will paint or do a craft together. When Leo wakes up then we will have lunch. The rest of the day we play, do puzzles, and read until Ethan gets home for dinner. Then we cuddle up and watch a movie until bedtime.

Carly: We are doing preschool and kindergarten, so we only do half days right now. We usually start around 1:00 p.m., when Baby Sister goes down for a nap. We do reading/spelling and math daily, and alternate between science and social studies each day. 

Leticia: We usually start school after breakfast and try to do 4 or so subjects a day.

 

If we peeked inside your home on a random Wednesday afternoon, what would we see?

Lindy: Quiet time/naps, cleaning/chores, finishing up school, prepping dinner.

Courtney: Toys everywhere because that’s play time.

Carly: My older girls would be practicing their reading and letters. My 5-year-old enjoys helping her younger sister learn and match upper and lower case letters, and loves reading to her.

Leticia: Afternoons are play time and cleaning time.

 

If you could take your family anywhere you wanted for vacation where would you go?

Lindy: A road trip in any direction.

Courtney: I like going to the beach in Destin, Florida.

Carly: On an Alaskan cruise!

Leticia: To the beach in Melbourne, Florida.

 

What books have you read over and over?

Lindy: Children's books.

Courtney: The Bible, That’s Not My Cat, and Chicken Little.

Leticia: The Cat in the Hat.

 

What dietary challenges does your family face?

Lindy: We try and eat as healthy as we can. We don't eat much carbs and sugar but I have come to make some yummy, healthy treats for us.

Courtney: We like soda, but that’s something we’re trying to cut back on. It’s hard when my husband has it in the house.

Carly: We don't have any, which has been a blessing.

Leticia: Very picky eater.

 

What tips do you have for surviving a hard day?

Lindy: Step back and take a break. Go for a walk, play some games with your kiddos, have a family rest time.

Courtney: Drink lots of water, exercise, and breath.

Leticia: Essential oils and yoga.

 

What’s something your child has done that thrilled your soul?

Lindy: Wakes up happy and ready to take on the day.

Courtney: She learned her praise and worship songs.

Carly: She enthusiastically keeps a kindness journal and loves giving me entries for it of ways she's shown kindness.

Leticia: He always hugs me and wants to show me his discoveries.

 

How does your family celebrate birthdays?

Lindy: We do a small family party. Special dinner and dessert.

Carly: We have the kids make something for the birthday child as a gift, and we give a few presents too. We also have grandparents close by who come for a small party.

Leticia: Family parties and friends.

 

What have you done recently for the first time?

Lindy: Sewn a dress for my little girl without a pattern.

Courtney: Sang at church.

Leticia: Took a family day trip, visited a cave.

 

What’s your favorite school day lunch?

Lindy: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with fresh fruit.

Courtney: Tacos.

Carly: Turkey sandwiches.

 

How would you manage if you had to homeschool without the internet?

Lindy: Other than my phone we don't have the internet. So I guess we are doing just fine without it.

Courtney: I don’t use the internet to school now. We use workbooks.

Carly: We would spend even more time at the public library!

 

What tips do you have for other families?

Lindy: Don't stress... it will all work out. Take one day at a time and don't focus on everything else... just what's right in front of you.

Courtney: Make a schedule and if you don’t stick with it every day it’s fine. That’s the flexibility of homeschool.

 

What is something you appreciate about each of your kids?

Lindy: 

• goofiness
• imagination
• creativity.

Courtney: 

• I appreciate Alaina’s heart. She’s so kind to others.
• I appreciate Sadie’s honestly.
• And I appreciate Leo’s mellow personality.

What song is currently in your head?

Lindy: At the moment... nothing. Which is odd. LOL.

Courtney: Be in the Light by DC Talk.

Carly: Baby Shark :(

 

Tell us about your family’s favorite games.

Lindy: Card games, board games, playing outside.

Courtney: We love to play Old Maid. The girls get such joy when we bring it out.

 

What is your exercise routine and how often do you do it?

Lindy: Tag, taking walks, workout DVDs, Nerf wars with Daddy.

Courtney: I do Insanity, which is an at-home DVD workout, and I do it 6 days a week.

Carly: I belong to a gym and try to go 4-5 mornings a week.

 

What hard thing are you planning to do this year?

Lindy: More challenging schoolwork, bigger garden, more animals.

Courtney: We’re going to do a butterfly sanctuary which I think will be a challenge.

Carly: Juggle homeschooling with a newborn.

 

What did you do just for fun with your kids recently?

Lindy: PJs and cartoon day.

Courtney: We went to the movies.

 

What would you name your boat if you had one?

Lindy: Beautiful Chaos.

Courtney: Dixie.

 

If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?

Lindy: Dance, painting, playing the piano.

Courtney: Guitar.

Carly: Coding. My daughter just started a junior coding class, and it seems like a great skill to have.

 

What’s the last recipe you looked up?

Lindy: Creamed peas (for my dad).

Courtney: Pork roast.

Carly: Butter chicken.

 

What apps do you use the most?

Lindy: Gmail, Chrome.

Courtney: Facebook and my bank account.

Carly: Facebook, Pinterest and Fitbit.

 

If you could sum up your homeschool style or philosophy in one phrase what would it be?

Lindy: Simple.

Courtney: We have fun.

 

What do your kids want to be when they grow up?

Lindy: 

• police officer
• firefighter
• construction worker

Courtney: 

• Alaina wants to be a princess.
• Sadie wants to be a superhero.
• Leo can’t talk yet, so I don’t know.

Carly: 

• an engineer
• a balloon maker

What extracurricular activities is your family involved in?

Courtney: Gymnastics. Church youth group.

Carly: Dance.

 

If you have a moment to yourself what do you like to do?

Lindy: Read, write pen-pals, take a nap, take a bath.

Courtney: Watch TV.

Carly: Read.

 

What’s your favorite school day breakfast?

Lindy: Eggs and toast.

Courtney: Breakfast burrito.

Carly: Oatmeal or cereal.

 

The grocery store cashier asks, “But what about socialization?” What do you say?

Lindy: It's overrated! We have church, homeschool library day, kids at the park, family.

Courtney: I would say that we socialize with all kinds of people. Different ages. While at public school you have to be quiet most the day and only socialize with people your own age.

Carly: We socialize with plenty of people each day.

 

What do you do for fun as a family?

Lindy: Go fishing and swimming in the creek.

Courtney: Play outside or go to the movies.

 

How do you continue to educate yourself?

Lindy: I learn something new every day from teaching my kiddos. Things I never learned in school.

Courtney: I read.

Carly: Reading!

 

What are favorite healthy snacks at your house?

Lindy: Apple and peanut butter.

Courtney: Pin wheels and salad.

Carly: Bananas and raw carrots.

 

What’s the best museum you’ve ever gone to?

Lindy: St. Louis Science Museum.

Courtney: Dinosaur Museum

 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in homeschooling?

Lindy: Teaching more than one child at a time.

Courtney: Trying to mentally get away from public school expectations

 

What is your favorite thing about having kids?

Lindy: They are a blessing.... even on the bad days.

Courtney: All the love and kisses.

Carly: Watching their wonder every time they learn something new.

 

What’s the best vacation you have ever taken as a family?

Lindy: Camping.

Courtney: We went to Destin, Florida, and it was so fun.

 

List 3 frivolous things you are enjoying right now.

Lindy: 

• sewing
• reading
• movies.

Carly: 

• TV
• Chinese food
• cheesy but clean romance novels.

 

What’s your favorite in-a-pinch dinner option?

Lindy: Breakfast night.

Courtney: Tacos.

Carly: Pizza.

 

What’s the strangest place you’ve done school?

Lindy: Doctor's office.

Courtney: In the bathroom.

Carly: At a creek.

 

Share a favorite organizational tip.

Lindy: Declutter! Saves so much space.

Courtney: Organize art supplies in Mason jars.

 

What special gifts or talents to your kids have?

Lindy: Singing.

Courtney: Alaina can sing and Sadie can dance.

 

What do you do for P.E. in your homeschool?

Lindy: Tag, basketball, park days, walking, playing outside.

Courtney: We excercise daily and play outside.

Carly: Dance and soccer.

 

Share a favorite inspirational quote.

Lindy: I'm not asking for perfection! I'm asking that you do the very best YOU can do!

Courtney: Be yourself 'cause God made you you for a reason.

 

What’s your best time of day to homeschool?

Lindy: Mornings.

Courtney: Late morning.

Carly: Afternoons when Baby Sister naps

 

Tell us something interesting about your local area.

Lindy: Mostly cornfields.

Courtney: We are a very tiny town and Hank Williams, Jr. used to visit an old friend here.

 

What dream for your family has come true?

Lindy: Living in the country.

Courtney: Being able to homeschool our kids.

Carly: Having a large family. We struggled at first and weren't sure if it was in the cards for us.