Homeschool Snapshot--Book Club

This year Aliza was invited to join a group of girls who meet monthly for a book club. This year a region is chosen each month and the girls choose any book they want to read for about that region. This month it was polar regions. The leader is a "retired" homeschool mom. She serves tea, the girls take turns bring snacks, they talk about the region and then take turns talking about their books with a series of questions.

It was our turn for snack. Aliza found a penguin made with an Oreo and that what we settled on. I thought it was a turning point that Aliza could assemble the snack all by herself!

Aliza finds it overwhelming to pick out a book and I think it's great fun to look for book options. So I give her a list to choose from. My option list for polar regions was pretty short once I remembered what the Iditerod is. I thought she *had* to read an Iditerod book! She chose Fast Into the Night by Debbie Moderow. It took her a couple weeks to read it. She thought it was pretty boring. When she finished the book, I read it in 4 days and found it completely fascinating. Aliza can tell you every detail of fiction books. I will talk and talk about books about real people.

Homeschool Snapshot--Math 6

In 6th grade, our Math book becomes a textbook and the student has to write out the problems in a notebook. Using graph paper has really helped Josiah keep his numbers lined up for long division and multiplication. Sticking with the same Math curriculum from the beginning has been a huge advantage for my children. Each year in elementary school concepts are repeated and built upon. Each concept starts out so simply that I'm almost tempted to skip a lesson. But when that concept becomes advanced and they have no problem picking it up and putting multiple skills together, I'm thankful that I didn't skip the lesson that I thought was too easy.

Airplanes and Space Shuttles

When Van and Karen invited us to meet them in National Harbor for the weekend, I knew we had to go to the National Air and Space Museum on the grounds of Dulles International Airport. Josiah had recently done a research report on the National Air and Space Museums and he was anxious for an opportunity to visit.

Set up in airplane hangers with multiple levels for viewing the planes. There are SO many planes---very old and new, military and recreational.

At the information booth, the children were offered the opportunity to complete a scavenger hunt of 8 planes that had animal names. For completing the hunt, you would get stamps and a pin. You would have thought Isaiah was being offered a cash reward. He carried his paper around so seriously. It took a bit for his parents to catch on to the hints. *eye roll* We made a couple extra laps around that hangar that about drove Anna to the point of break down! To find this orange plane, called the Kingfisher, we had to be on the middle level bridge.

My humanitarian self was fascinated with the exhibit of food packs that the US dropped to civilians in Afghanistan.

Whenever we found a plane on the scavenger hunt, Isaiah sat, or laid, on the floor and copied the word. He has to work really hard to form letters. I was super impressed that he stuck with it to the end. Some of the words were long!

Seeing the space shuttle Discovery was a highlight for me.

There was a large restoration area. Josiah was super excited to see this plane being restored--Flak-Bait. He had read about it--Flak Bait flew something like 200 missions in WWII and has hundreds of patches from artillery hits on it.

And then we finally got to turn in the scavenger hunt! That is one proud little boy!

Homeschool Snapshot--Art

Art is not my thing. It gets to be January and I think, "I've GOT to get some art in." The perfect solution (that I should do all year) is the Ward Museum's Drop In Art program every 3rd Saturday of the month. A local artist shares their craft with a make and take art project for the whole family. It's even free! This month the art was origami and we made origami window stars.

Homeschool Snapshot--K5 Beginnings Reading

Every 5th day brings a new reading book in kindergarten. Reading is not this guy's favorite thing right now, so to get it done, on Friday I sat down with him. We both had one ear bud. I listened to Mrs. Walker with him and we got through the book.

It's not always easy for me to take the time to do this. But when I do it is well worth every minute. This particular book marked the halfway point through kindergarten!

Kindof A Big Deal for Us

Here we are, 18 and a half years into marriage, and we have never purchased a large piece of furniture. We've worn out the hand me downs and accepted the next available one up to this point. Our couch was showing some serious wear and Jeremy and I had already discussed that we would need to replace it soon.

When we came home from West Virginia after Christmas there was an unpleasant smell in the living room. It was in the couch area, but we couldn't quite pin point it. Jeremy and I were discussing the smell over text the following day. He suggested that it was a dead mouse. And I sent him this picture.

We pulled out the couch, cleaned under it and behind it. We took off the heater covers and cleaned and checked all the nooks. Jeremy even tipped the couches on end. Nothing. He could only conclude that a mouse had gotten into the couch and died inside. All of a sudden buying a couch was top priority!

I had looked at a sofa set around Christmas and took Jeremy in to see it. He approved. We bought it. It wasn't quite expensive enough to qualify for free delivery, so we decided to wait until they had another delivery to our area for have it delivered without change. That took 12 days! lol. The smell had pretty well disappeared in that time. We still caught whiffs of it here and there.

It finally arrived last week and, oh my!, I had four very excited children! It the store it looked gray like this picture:

Set up in our living room, it is brown. We are very much enjoying it. It fits just right in our space. Having an ottoman is new and a nice addition. I really like the solid color (as opposed to our previous plaid).

I feel pretty grown up now having a new sofa! So far, so good on the (now enforced) no eating or drinking on the couch rules.

Homeschool Snapshot--Science 3

Anna is learning about sound and hearing. After the teaching lesson, I helped her with the worktext page and she could not identify--any--parts of the ear. The next lesson was an activity. The teacher demonstrated how to make a diagram of the ear--draw it first and then find materials around the house that can represent the different parts of the ear. Finally, label the parts of the ear.

Anna did this one completely on her own. I wasn't worried about quality, but about her learning the parts of the ear. She did the drawing and made some interesting choices on materials to use. Searching for materials was her favorite part. Eraser, piece of a plastic ruler, glass pebble, pipe cleaners and crayon pieces are what she settled on. Then she added her labels and adhered them with velcro so that she can practice. And quiz the rest of the her family!

I have a feeling that when it comes to the test Anna will have no problem labeling the parts of the ear!

Homeschool Snapshot--K5 Beginnings

I'm trying out this idea of doing snapshots of our school work. Some day this snapshots may be moved to a new blog that focuses on school and BJU Press curriculum. Don't start thinking that everything is as pretty as the pictures! I'll try to include some of the bad too.

Isaiah learned his last letter of the alphabet--Q. Here he is practicing the lower case q with painting.

My Adventure to Pennsylvania

Last October, Grandma and I went to Pennsylvania to visit my great aunt and uncle, Dan and Laurie. This trip was especially significant because this was my first adventure without my parents. After the six hour drive, we meet Laurie outside of her work place and went to walk around downtown Williamsport. Williamsport is known for hosting the Little League World Series. After our little tour, we all went home to a very spontaneous supper.

I don't quite remember how it came up, but some how or another, Laurie started pulling out fancy plates and silverware declaring that we had to have an elegant dinner. We all sat down to a table decked out in Great Grandma Rhoda's china, complete with fancy cups and salt spoons. Poor Dan probably didn't know what to think.

After our simply divine evening, Grandma, Laurie, and I came up with an idea to make cookies in a mug. Laurie found a five minute recipe and we topped off our dessert with vanilla ice cream. The cookie was so rich! I couldn't even eat all mine which is a pity, because that cookie tasted so good!

I enjoyed going without my siblings because I could have my own room. Every spare second I could get away, I was reading my Julie Klassen book.

The next day, all of us, except Dan, decided to visit the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. When we got there, the canyon was filled with fog, but that didn't dampen my spirits because was spending time with Grandma and Laurie. We took two trails. One trail was short, the other one was long. The trails had several lookouts. The first lookout we got to was a direct sighting of the valley, which was filled with fog.But, as we looked down into the canyon, I started to see the fog lift into the sky. We could see the canyon clearly now and it looked amazing. After the shorter trail, we went on a longer trail.

We pasted a few small waterfalls. The nature sounds were so peaceful. After a certain point Grandma sat on a bench while me and Laurie completed the trail. We counted one hundred and ninety man made steps on that last leg.

I spent the rest of the afternoon doing the schoolwork I had brought along to do. That evening was game night. We played a few card games including Dutch Blitz, which is a lot more fun when your playing against grown ups. The next day, Grandma and I were ready to go home. I was very excited to see my family.

Joy Dare::December

6706. Starting Advent

6707. Bringing home leftovers

6708. Safe trip in the rain

6709. Answered prayer

6710. Playing Christmas music
6711. Sharing a Disney Plus account
6712. Fancy fingernails
6713. The smell of dryer sheets from someone's early morning laundry while I'm walking
6714. A gift I wasn't sure about turned out well
6715. Happy about books

6716. A couple conversations that made me happy
6717. Silence
6718. Frost sparkling in the morning sun
6719. Boys building a tree fort
6720. Girls singing and dancing
6721. An eagle sitting still and eating
6722. Bluebirds
6723. That Friday feeling
6724. Decorating the Christmas tree
6725. Dad and Mom date with Aliza

6726. Aliza picking out gifts to give
6727. Josiah enjoying the Narnia books
6728. An afternoon with Mom
6729. Music
6730. Bluebirds and goldfinches
6731. Dentist appointments went well
6732. Expanding out circle
6733. The biggest laughter
6734. Isaiah so proud of writing--and spelling--F-B-I
6735. Sitting by the Christmas tree in the morning
6736. Clean water to drink
6737. Writing and letter to Grandma
6738. Seeing a few snowflakes
6739. Home
6740. Advent readings
6741. Holiday baking shows
6742. Isaiah discovered he loves gingersnaps
6743. Aliza playing with Lydia
6744. Christmas shopping with Anna
6745. Wrapping gifts
6746. Boys gaming, Moms talking
6747. Visiting Grandad
6748. Morning rainbow
6749. Soups for supper
6750. Mom friends to keep me on track
6751. Christmas smelling diffuser blends
6752. Isaiah come downstairs this morning, curled up on my lap and went back to sleep
6753. Taking back some parenting concessions
6754. Christmas parties in dance class
6755. Time to bake cookies that I wasn't expecting
6756. Caroling
6757. Winding down school for Christmas break
6758. Isaiah telling me about bees and honey in Minecraft
6759. Exchanging cookies
6760. Everything Josiah has to tell me at bedtime
6761. Serving with my children
6762. "Even when God is quiet, He is still working." (Advent reading)
6763. Cookie sampler

6764. Peppermint tea
6765. Christmas visit
6766. Shopping with Josiah
6767. Lunch with Meghan
6768. Sitting in the whole church service
6769. A double batch of gingersnaps
6770. No school mornings
6771. Bedroom forts
6772. Listening to the children's conversation and laughter
6773. So. Much. Excitement.
6774. Dad and Grandad's stories
6775. Christmas cinnamon squares
6776. Christmas giving
6777. Christmas weather warm enough to be outside
6778. Christmas nap
6779. Being with family
6780. Praying together
6781. The cousins playing soccer together
6782. Josiah reached a goal and was so happy
6783. Skateboards and scooters
6784. An afternoon excursion
6785. Even Isaiah was an outstanding listener
6786. Sisters so genuinely excited for their brother
6787. Jeremy drove
6788. Home again
6789. Reminder: It's not about me!
6790. 60 degree morning
6791. Home days
6792. Friends over
6793. Lego building
6794. One more New Year's Eve batch of Puppy Chow
6795. Happy New Year!