Friday, July 6, 2012

School year in review

What a busy year this has been!  With three kiddos being homeschooled, and a fourth determined to avoid or disrupt that process at every turn, my hands have been full, full, full!  
Here's a quick run-down of our academic adventures:

In literature, Ammo began to read, and bookworms Julia and Nate spent great quantities of time in the worlds of Henry Huggins, Thornton Burgess' animal friends, Swallows and Amazons, a spider named Charlotte, the Back of the North Wind, Betsy-Tacy, and the four Boxcar Children,
to name just a few.  Their games, of course, tend to be set in these worlds.

In language study, we began Spanish
(with all four chattering together and Daddy feeling decidedly excluded)
and Koine Greek (just the older two). 
They enjoyed making their own word scrambles and other games:

We tried to find ways to spice up math, like Fruit Loop Fractions
and follow-the-yellow-brick-number road. 

Under the general heading of Science:
We finished up our Apologia Astronomy studies,
including the obligatory Mars Volcano experiment.

Then in early Spring we started Apologia Botany, and planted a little garden
(which the kids LOVE to tend--we'll have to go bigger next year!).

In the realm of Nature Study
We received a microscope for Christmas and watched the kids' jaws drop
as they discovered a whole new way to observe God's amazing creation
 (and another reason to catch lots of bugs!),
caught baby bunnies, rescued baby birds, played with baby chicks, and watched an old robin die
(a sad surprise--we just thought he was unusually tame!).



A visit from Bado meant more of the Ga'Hoole series, and even some owl pellets to dissect!
And when a beloved aunt brought the cousins for a visit,
we made our own grape juice!  Yum!

On to the Fine Arts...
the older two are still playing the piano,

Nathan continues to enjoy his woodworking projects,

Julia is hand-sewing her first quilt,

We've been experimenting with various painting techniques,

and, of course, there was lots of "sculpting" going on!

This year we discovered the wisdom of the individual checklist,
memorized lots of poetry,
read together each afternoon until my voice was sore,
and camped out in the Age of Exploration.
All in all, it has been our favorite school year yet! 


Monday, December 12, 2011

It's out!

Tonight at dinner, Amberly suddenly noticed that something was missing...
In fact, that something is still missing.  It should turn up in a day or so.
I nominate Dave to find it.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Halloween 2011

My apologies for the delay in getting this posted. 
H'ween is not a big deal in our house (though Reformation Day IS);
the evening went something like this:
"Hey Kids, if you want to go get some candy, find something from the costume bin, quick!"  
This is what they came up with:
As a bonus, this year they actually got to KEEP some of their haul!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Let us not grow weary in doing good...

For our breakfast Bible time, I read the kids the parable of the pearl of great price.  Preparing myself for some deep discussion (and perhaps an opportunity to impart some of my vast wisdom to these blessed, blessed children), I asked, "Why do you guys think this man sold everything he had to buy the pearl of great price?"
Amberly:  "He wanted to get a girl."

Nathan:  "Do you think I could count to a million?"

Julia:  "Does Jakey have big lips, medium lips, or small lips?"

Jake: "Who can make food?  A robot?"

Amberly (again): "I don't know, but I think God can make me a princess."


Sigh.  We'll try again tomorrow.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Noses to the Grindstone

The annual back-to-homeschool pose
 
"Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them."  Ps. 112:2

Friday, July 1, 2011

Daddy Date

One of Ammo's favorite birthday presents was a Princess fishing pole from her Daddy.  Since then, she has been just waiting for a chance to use it. 

 Finally, this morning they had a little date to the lake.
 She caught several "princess fish" which are, of course, very different from the regular fish one catches with a regular fishing pole.
 You've never seen a little girl more eager to "clean" her newly-caught princess fish!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Amberly's 5th Birthday

For her 5th birthday, Amberly had a dream-come-true Tea Party!
 We decorated hats. 
 We had tea (of course).
We played, and played, and played.
 We sang and ate cupcakes.
We opened gifts.
 It was A Very Good Day.