Classical Conversations

About 2 weeks before I had planned to start "officially" schooling the kids at home, I ran across a flyer about a new  weekly homeschool family meeting called "Classical Conversations."  It really sparked my interest, so I called the number and spoke with Kristea, who was starting the meetings in our area.  She was very informative and inspired me to do some research on what this would look like for our family.
It was a BIG decision, because I had already formulated a plan for what our week would look like.  This would shake things up a bit for what I had assumed our routine would be.  I really felt like the Lord was putting this on my heart though, and while I struggled up until the minute I signed up, I felt like it would be really good for our family.  And it has been!!
Classical Conversations is an avenue to pursue a classical method of educating our children(and I am also being re-schooled!).  I honestly thought implementing the classical style would be WAY too challenging for us the first year, even though I had been reading about it and comtemplating trying some of the methods in our day.  Classical Conversations basically sets up a weekly routine of memory work that the kids and I review each day.  We memorize facts about history, science, math, English, Latin, historical period timeline, and geography.  Each week, there is a new set of facts to learn.  Before we started, I was nervous that this would be too challenging!  I didn't know most of these facts myself, and thought "how will this keep their interest?"  But I have been so surprised at how well they have responded, it's truly amazing.  The history sentence is set to a song and we use hand motions to help them memorize.  There are all sorts of awesome learning tools that help them memorize these facts that probably most of the American culture has no clue about!  I know I am being educated myself and learning facts I have always been curious about. 
We are also memorizing Ephesians 6.  When I say I am not very good at memorizing scripture, it is no lie.  But so far, we, including yours truly, have memorized verses 1-7!  We are also learning a song and hand motions for these verses, and it works to help it stick in the brain! 
Even Ava has been memorizing most of the facts, it is amazing really.  She sings the songs, spouts out the Latin conjugations, and helps the boys out quite often.  She is getting an amazing head start!
We have been doing CC for nine weeks and they still don't complain when we do memory work.  I honestly could not have imagined how much their minds could remember, even though I knew they were like sponges! 
It has helped me to develop some structure in our day, without feeling overwhelmed about teaching all the subjects.  I also am doing a language arts and math curriculum for the boys each day.  I am learning what is working and what is not with those, but one thing I know is working very well, our Classical Conversations memory work.  I have been implementing more additional work into their day based around what they are memorizing that week.  When we go to the library, we find books about what we are memorizing as well. 
We meet every Wednesday with three other CC families for a few hours of instruction for the upcoming week's memory work.  A tutor goes over all the subjects for the week's memory work with the kids, as well as doing a science and art project!  We have also been practicing Music Theory the past three weeks on a tin whistle, and they are loving learning to play an instrument!
I am very thankful to have noticed that flyer, and know the Lord was looking out for me.  It has been a huge blessing to have a program that has done the work that I wouldn't even know where to begin with.  I am learning so much alongside my little bears, and I feel like God has totally honored my obedience in homeschooling His children.  It has been so peaceful around our little home, and I can see that this is definitely the right fit for us.