Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

I now have five computers in the house!  My two older boys do their schooling on laptops but my other two only do half of their schooling online, the other half is book work.  Sharing two computers with one of them always going bad was just really difficult.  I had really long days and sometimes I couldn't fit everyone in.  Well, it's no longer a problem.  However, I tend to have to sit with my older kids during their work because it's getting so much more complicated.  The best part of helping them is with the math.  Math has always been my favorite subject.  Isn't it weird how much we forget from when we were in school?  I remember only the basics.  I've heard of that show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader and I can see why it's a challenge.  When you try to go back and remember all that stuff, it's not so easy.  My son is in fifth now and I'm really enjoying learning right along with him.  He thinks it's weird that I get so excited about it.  I'll read something and then want to expound on it or research it more online.  Ashley will be joining us next school season so it'll be great to get just one more laptop.  Five kids schooling at home and two babies.  Whooooaa.... I better step up my game.

Right now Chaz and Ryan are learning about fractions and this is how I was feeling for awhile.

The kids praising Jesus during bible study time

My days have never, ever been busier than they are now.  Often I'll go an entire day with only a lunch break and finally getting some cleaning in towards the afternoon.  I rarely ever answer my phone during this time because I can't take distractions.  My children's education comes absolutely first.  Sometimes people get really offended because they think since I'm home all day I have plenty of time to talk.  I even get upset messages and I really don't know how to deal with that.  I'll keep thinking, "I will call them as soon as I'm done homeschooling...well, maybe once I wash these dishes, oh, maybe once dinner is done, or maybe once I lay the kids down, but ohhhh, it's way too late to call."  Sigh.  I hate those guilty feelings and don't want to seem like an insensitive friend or relative.  I wish more people understood the life of a large homeschooling family.