Feathers in Our Nest

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Our Homeschool Morning Playlist

March 23, 2020 by Aliesha

Before we began our current homeschool year, I decided we needed a special homeschool morning playlist to help set the tone for our day! The kids just say, “Alexa… play Homeschool Morning” while they are eating breakfast. The music plays throughout our morning routine to help guide our hearts and uplift our spirits at the start of each new day.

It’s amazing how these truth-filled songs have impacted the spirit of our home in the mornings! And the kids have memorized most of these, which brings me so much joy as I hear them singing along while we all go about our morning chores!

I wish I were fancy enough to share a Spotify or Apple Music playlist, but I don’t use those platforms so I don’t know how to do that, haha!

Homeschool Morning Playlist | Feathers in Our Nest

Here’s our playlist we listen to each morning:

Lord, I Need You | Matt Maher
May the Mind of Christ | Shari McRae
Right Where I Belong | Todd Smith
We’ve Got This Hope | Ellie Holcomb
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery | Matt Papa
From the Depths of Woe | Indelible Grace Music
All I Have is Christ | Sovereign Grace Music
His Mercy is More | Matt Papa
10,000 Reasons | Matt Redman
All Creatures of Our God and King | Sovereign Grace Music
Flourishing | Sandra McCracken
There’s a Light | Todd Smith
Sing | Ellie Holcomb

If you click here you can see our homeschool morning playlist on Amazon music (there’s a 30-day free trial for unlimited streaming of songs on your devices, if you aren’t a subscriber)!

What songs help get your day started off right at your house? Whether you homeschool or not, I’d love to hear what songs make up the soundtrack to your home!

Homeschool Morning Playlist | Feathers in Our Nest

ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

Filed Under: everyday, homeschooling Tagged With: homeschooling

A Day in Our Life

March 12, 2020 by Aliesha

6:10 I wake up before my alarm today because I crashed early last night. I spend a few minutes waking up. I check a few messages and respond.

6:30 I read my Bible. Today I’m reading in Galatians and 2 Peter.

6:50 Tad comes in with a cup of hot tea for me, and we read together (separate books) until he has to leave for work. I finished reading this one this morning.

7:30 Tad just left for work, and I pull out my laptop to do some work. The kids are away and are making breakfast, getting dressed, and doing their morning routine.

8:14 The kids have finished eating and cleaning up from breakfast. They’re all dressed except Felicity. They’re getting started on some of their independent school work.

8:30 I’m dressed and in the dining room, with a bit of makeup on. We do our morning devotions (currently this one), poetry (this book), and then the kids continue working on their various subjects.

8:46 Felicity is dressed. I turn on the diffuser with my favorite EO. Felicity helps me put in a load of laundry, and I take out the kitchen trash. I do a quick walk through of the house, straightening anything out of place.

9:05 I make another cup of tea for myself (blueberry herbal) and sit down to check everyone’s math. I give them back their work to correct and talk through it with them.

9:17 Cordelia and I spend some time working together. She does a reading assessment and recites several poems to me.

9:30 I take a break from homeschooling to address heart issues going on with one child. Then I help my potty-training child change into a new pair of undies and pants.

9:36 Vera and I work together, finishing up her math. She does some poetry recitation as well, and during this time I fold a basket of towels and rags.

9:55 The kids are reading in different parts of the house. I stir together a double batch of dough that I’ll use to make pizza tomorrow night.

10:17 We listen to history (this is our curriculum) all together.

10:30 Snack time for the kids! Apples and peanut butter today. Vera works on computer coding (using this book), and Tad will check over her work later tonight. I post on Instagram.

10:49 The kids head to the back yard to play and continue learning outdoors. I cook a batch of quinoa and a few lentils. I do a little more straightening, watch and respond to a Marco Polo from a friend, and post on my other IG account.

11:20 I fold a load of laundry (Felicity helps) and I start listening to a podcast while I do that.

11:29 I sweep the kitchen and do more house straightening. (Y’all are dying of boredom right now. I’m so sorry.)

11:49 Because I have a few minutes, I do a little prep work for dinner tonight. I’m trying a new recipe and I used these few minutes to start working on it.

12:06 Tad calls on his lunch break and we chat for a few minutes. The kids come back inside.

12:21 The kids are making their lunch and I’m making mine. We clean up the kitchen and I put away the food.

12:48 I sit down to eat lunch and while I’m eating (lentils + quinoa + broccoli + onions + roasted red pepper hummus) I finish up a blog post and hit publish.

1:02 The kids start an episode of Magic School Bus. I’m doing a little work on social media, as well as doing some finishing touches on a book party I have tonight (online but not on social media).

1:24 Felicity and I read together (this one), and then I tuck her in for her nap.

1:35 Cordelia and I have some time together while the others go to rest time. Today Cordelia chose to work on our planners together.

1:50 I do a German lesson on Duolingo, watch a Marco Polo from a friend, and send an email about kids ministry at our church.

2:11 I workout and listen to a podcast while I do!

2:34 Time for a cup of coffee! I dig into a good book (this one).

3:54 I do my nails super quick using my favorite press-on nails.

4:00 The kids are up from rest time and we all hang out for a bit.

4:52 I head to the kitchen to work on dinner. The kids are in and out, some helping here and there with kitchen tasks, and another one setting the table.

5:32 Jude is trying to figure out what kind of pasta we’re having for dinner, using the guide in this book.

5:41 Tad arrives home! The kids bombard him to tell him about their day.

5:58 We sit down to dinner. Tonight I have made Thai Peanut Noodles, with some fresh veggie spring rolls on the side. During dinner, we also do our family devotions, and of course everyone shares about their favorite parts of their days.

6:32 Together we all clear the table, wash the dishes, put away food, and tidy up the kitchen.

6:46 I start getting the younger kids ready for bed. The older ones are pretty independent. Felicity and I read together, and then I tuck her in with some more books (of course). Then it’s Theodore’s turn! He picks out a few stories to read, and then I tuck him in bed too.

7:06 I hop in the shower, and during this time Tad is having time with Vera (they’re coding together), and all the others are reading. They get a little time to read independently before we turn out the lights, and they love ending the day with books!

7:30 It’s almost time for my book party, so I hop on my laptop to finish up some details for it. The party starts, and then I’m hanging out with my hostess and her friends online! We’re chatting about new books (a bunch of new titles just came out this week), watching videos together, and I’m helping connect them with books that will delight their readers!

9:14 The party is over and I’ve finished my work, so I’m signing off for the night. Tad and I connect about our days, and then we grab our books to read ourselves to sleep!

Hope you enjoyed this little peek into an average day at our house!

ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

Filed Under: everyday, family, homeschooling Tagged With: a day in the life

A Day in Our Life

February 17, 2018 by Aliesha

I’ve had so many people asking me lately about my schedule… what our homeschool day looks like, how I homeschool with a baby and a toddler, when I work on my book business, etc. so I thought I’d do a post giving you a glimpse into one of our days. (This might also give you an idea why blogging has taken a back-burner lately!)

This was just an average day in our week. Of course none of my days look exactly the same, as I’m sure yours don’t either! We certainly have a rhythm to our days, particularly our homeschooling days, but each day does hold different plans and activities.

I love reading other people’s Day in the Life posts, and it’s been a LONG time since I did my last one! Hope you enjoy reading it!

A Day in February 2018

5:55AM Tad gives me a kiss before leaving the house (he’s leaving early today to meet with someone before work). I fall back asleep.

6:40AM I wake up and get out of bed. I exercise, drink water, eat breakfast (leftover sweet potato hash & a fried egg), and make a cup of Chai tea.

7:20AM I do some Usborne Books & More work at the dining room table. Around 7:30 the older kids start waking up. At 7:50 the girls begin making breakfast.

8:10AM The kids eat their breakfast and I turn on some Bach to listen to while we start our day. I put my makeup on, take my vitamins, and strip the sheets off the bed. I wash the sheets and towels, then lay out the girls’ seat work (math, handwriting, etc.).

8:30AM Felicity nurses, and I read my Bible. The girls begin their seat work at 8:45.

9:00AM Cordelia comes in and reads to Felicity. She’s just taken off in her reading and she loves to read to her little sister, who is a captive audience!

9:10AM I check Cordelia and Vera’s seat work and I help Vera with a writing assignment. I put the laundry into the dryer and get Felicity dressed. During this time, the boys are playing with Duplos.

9:40AM Vera does her reading aloud to the other children. We sit together and sing a hymn, then do Bible, Scripture memory, poetry, world history, and science. Nothing glamorous… just reading together and learning about our world! (Here’s the curriculum we used last year and this year.)

10:20AM Jude reads with me. Cordelia practices writing her numbers, and Vera writes down some notes from our lessons (this is something she wanted to do, not something I make her do). Theodore colors at the kitchen table. Or colors the kitchen table. You decide.

10:30AM Felicity goes down for her morning nap. I make snack for the kids (pink lady apples and baked oatmeal), finally get to the breakfast dishes, and sweep the kitchen. (I try to wash the breakfast dishes right after breakfast, but some mornings that doesn’t happen and I have to do them later.)

11:05AM I do a few quick UBAM work things. I don’t normally work at this time of day, but there was a minor crisis I had to resolve (the auto-scheduler I use for Facebook posts stopped working, so I had to post some things manually). The kids play with each other (lots of pretending… something about a lab and some dinosaurs).

11:40AM We go outside for a bit of sunshine. We play on our new swing set and enjoy the gorgeous weather! Yay for pretty winter days!

12:00PM I make lunch (grilled cheese sandwiches, broccoli, and hummus, with chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies for dessert). I also fold and put away some laundry and check the mail. Our utility bill that arrived was staggering!! The kids pick up the house before they eat lunch.

12:25PM The kids eat lunch and I wake up Felicity and nurse her. I call Tad on his lunch break to hear about his day.

12:55PM We clean up from lunch, the kids clean their rooms, and I eat lunch (lentils, roasted red pepper hummus, broccoli, and feta cheese). I unpack and put away an Amazon order. The kids watch an episode of Daniel Tiger.

1:30PM I nurse Felicity.

2:00PM Everyone is down for rest time (the older kids read or play, and the youngest two nap). I work on my UBAM business while drinking a cup of decaf Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee coffee.

3:15PM I pour another cup of coffee, grab a piece of chocolate, and sit down to read. I’m reading this one right now (along with a few others… I’m rarely only reading one book at a time). I text a few friends to check in.

3:50PM I start prepping a few things for dinner and I set the table.

4:00PM MiMi (my mom) calls to read books to the kids. While she’s reading to them, I make dinner.

4:30PM The soup is finished, and I make the bed with the clean sheets. I read some books to Theodore and wake up Felicity.

4:40PM I nurse Felicity and read a bit of the latest Magnolia Journal. Theodore sits next to me and reads the Food Network Magazine. (He’s such a foodie.)

5:10PM The kids finish their story time with MiMi. Tad is on his way home, and I freshen up (ya know, put on lipstick, and all that jazz).

5:15PM I make biscuits to go with dinner, light candles, and turn on some music (we’re listening to so much more music since we got Alexa).

5:40PM Tad arrives home and I finish up the last few things for dinner.

6:00PM We sit down to eat dinner (tumeric & kale white bean soup and biscuits). We do our family devotions (this book) and our catechism questions (this) with the children.

6:30PM The kids clear the table and I put the food away and wash dishes. Tad vacuums the dining room. I pack Tad’s lunch.

6:50PM I start a small load of laundry (kitchen towels and cloth napkins). The kids are playing.

6:55PM We straighten up the boys’ room as it had gotten quite messy during rest time (#worthit).

7:10PM I nurse Felicity. Tad reads books to the children. We sing a hymn together before bed (see this).

7:30PM We put the boys to bed, I nurse Felicity again (“I’m hungry, mother! I truly am!”), and the girls have “big girl time.” Tad and I talk about our days.

8:00PM I take a shower and Tad holds Felicity. (She doesn’t love being set down at this time of night.) Tad tucks the girls into bed.

8:25PM I fold the final load of laundry, do another quick pick up of the house, and sweep the kitchen.

8:30PM Tad and I hang out. (Felicity is still awake during this time.)

10:00PM Felicity has her final nurse before bed.

10:40PM I put Felicity to bed, wash my face, and brush my teeth.

11:00PM Now normally, I’d be heading to bed, BUT tonight I have a west coast Usborne Books & More party, so I throw that party! (This was my first west coast party… usually my parties are at 8:30 or 9:00PM EST.) So thankful for online book parties where I can party in my PJs! Tad goes to sleep.

11:55PM Book party is over and I’ve finished answering questions and giving book recommendations.

12:00AM Tumble into bed!

So aside from the late night (and the special story time with MiMi), I’d say many things about that day are very typical! My day is spent on lots of the ordinary household and mothering tasks I’m sure your days are filled with as well.

Not pictured: lots of diaper changes, spitting up (the baby, not me), correcting bad attitudes (mine, but also the kids’!), and cleaning up spills/messes (I’ll probably never know who did it… I’ve stopped trying to figure out).

I’m in the trenches, just like you, mama! We’re in this together, and by God’s grace we can be faithful to our calling each day!!

This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: everyday, family, homeschooling

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This blog shares our family's story and our journey from newlyweds to a family of seven. We share milestones, we share struggles, we share sweet memories, and we share about our Savior. Keep reading...

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