Homeschool Fun

  I have a hard time scheduling in play time or fun, because it seems like there is always more housework that needs to be done. I love how homeschool gets me more involved in play with my children even though my home is definitely messier.  My favorite subjects in homeschool are history and science.

 This week we've been learning about the Ottoman empire so we dressed up and "traveled" by camel (me) to the Grand Baazar to trade our goods and check out some of the mosques in Istanbul that the Muslim Turks took over.

 Josh was not so thrilled about dressing up as Suleyman the Lawgiver.  He'd rather stay in his role as the handsome prince like he did for our Baroque ball last week :)

We learned about physical and chemical changes by making cookies and Emily keeps begging to  repeat that lesson over and over again.

 

I have always been fascinated by the complexity of the human body, so I'm glad Emily enjoys learning about it too.  She loves the Study Jams Math and Science videos.  We made clay skeletons.  Its always a bonus when I can find a learning activity they all can do together.

Emily was so excited to buy a set of colorful marbles and they came in handy for her solar system model.  I think one of the things she likes the most about homeschool is not having to stress about getting all fixed up early in the morning.  We get to keep on the comfy pajamas as long as we want and she actually starts and ends school earlier than if she had to ride the bus :)

Primary Song Music Videos

I was excited to discover this collection of music videos for primary songs that I think will be great for family night, especially for our younger children.  Some are songs that are not in the traditional songbook, but several have simplified sheet music available for download on the "I Can Play It" Friend Magazine site which is an added bonus for the piano teacher in me :)

One of my favorite songs /music videos is "The Family is of God."  I love the focus on different roles of fathers and mothers and children in the family, and although I often feel like I fall short in some areas.  I am excited to start on another homeschool adventure with Emily in a few weeks.  I know that it will be stressful in some aspects, but I also treasure the extra time we'll have together where I can focus on the elements of education that the public schools will never address.  I feel my influence waning as my children get older and involvement in school activities and homework occupies their time for sometimes 10-12 hours a day, so I'm happy when I can structure more one on one time with them through home school before they all leave me.

Thanksgiving

 We enjoyed Thanksgiving at my sister's house this year and I'll have to admit that one of my favorite parts was that I didn't have to pack anything except for food, because she lives close enough we could drive up and back in a day.  The kids had fun playing with their cousins and we even brought one back with us for a few days :)

Feeling Thankful

Pretty Little Mayflower Passengers

I was lucky to have my week for preschool just in time for Thanksgiving. After reading Ten Little Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving Story, we marched to the tambourine (T-Week/Color Brown) down to board the "Mayflower" donning pilgrim hats (2 couches facing each other).
 I love this simple Charlie Brown video based on the historical facts surrounding the pilgrims and Thanksgiving.

 It gives me a greater appreciation for the sacrifices they endured... seasickness, illness, freezing temperatures, cramped smelly conditions, and death for almost half of them, all for the desire to enjoy the privilege of worshiping God in their own way.  When it got to the part where Samoset and Squanto arrive to help, I admit I got a little choked up just thinking of what an answer to prayer he must have been to help relieve some of their suffering as he taught them skills to give them hope for the future.  I believe the Lord had a hand in preparing a suitable place for them to survive and placed a forgiving Indian in their path even though he had been kidnapped by the Englishmen whom he could have held animosity for.  I am impressed that he  still had the compassion to come to their aid.   We watched it for family night, so I just shared a few of the ideas with my preschoolers.  It looks like a few of them were trying to mimic how some of the passengers must have felt :)


After making pattern trains with gumdrops, we assembled our turkey feathers for apple turkeys.  Alyssa was the little turkey who refused to smile and started the silly tongue wagging.

 We also made brown bag tepees, snacked on hot cocoa and crackers, played Don't Eat the Turkey and Thankful Matching Game and did a color by number turkey picture.

 Now that its over, Josh was eager to devour his turkey until he tasted some of the spice gumdrops!  That was all I could find :(

Stealing a Kiss

 A few days ago Alyssa and Josh came out all decked out in their fancy clothes.  They announced that they were celebrating their anniversary.  Emily helped them get dressed up for the big day. They had a restaurant table set up in their room with bread and water to eat, because according to Alyssa what people always do on their anniversary is go out to eat.

  I love this suit on my little guy.

The Future is Here

About twenty years ago my good friend Angela and I were in high school together dreaming of our "Prince Charmings" and future children and having fun times in seminary and orchestra together.  I feel so lucky to have her living close and enjoy the double dates and birthday get togethers now that we are all grown up and living out our dreams.  I found this picture of our daughters at girls camp and now they are in the same Physics class.  Those twenty years have sure flown by!

Little Pioneers

 Halloween Day started out good.  Alyssa and Josh dressed up as pioneers and we had fun singing Pionneer Children, playing outside and going to the store.  I love the little hat that Jared's mom brought from Nauvoo for Joshua.  I dressed up too but decided I'm not a fan of drawing extra attention to myself at public places.  It felt awkward, so next year I think I'll leave the dressing up to the kids.

Gathering Fuel for Fire

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