What I Learned in Year One of Homeschooling

I am extraordinarily thankful for:
My library (and its nifty online catalog & my account feature)
The internet
My supportive family (I mean, really. How many homeschoolers can say that their entire family is behind them?)
My "Hey, why not? I'll try anything!" son
My constantly-hugging-me daughter
The freedom to homeschool
Things that are spiral-bound

I don't really like:
Big binders
Cheap pencils
Neverending supply/book shopping
Constantly buying printer ink!
Things that are comb-bound

I totally forgot to teach:
Test prep

I feel like _____ went really well this year.
Math
Language Arts (with the exception of writing)

I feel like _____ did not go as planned this year.
(Sigh) Writing
Planned group activities

Things I might not have learned if I didn't homeschool this year:
If I'm at home, I cook while I'm waiting for someone to finish a task.
El loves bird-watching.
El loves Latin.
Em loves poetry.
Em hates nonfiction, but is okay with biographies.
El is incredibly easy-going and mature (as long as Em isn't around.)
Em is incredibly thoughtful and patient (as long as El isn't around.)
Increasing a child's capacity for memory work does not increase a child's capacity to remember to do the same thing you have been asking him to do every single day for the past few years.

Next year, I would like to do more:
Notebooking
Games
Nonfiction writing practice

Next year, I would like to do less:
Trying to do it all. (Covering state standards and Classical Education while trying to incorporate the best of Charlotte Mason and reading every book suggested.)

Em learns to sew