Snap Happy

Hannah's Incredibly cool bead collection

my personal favorite...words.

Levity burns Hannah with glue gun...oh, no; that was later.  (grin)

Julian

The Queen of Cool

 

 

Music's creation

'fridge in style

Bella worked with narration this week, retelling a favorite event.  She chose the day Levity performed in her Drama Kids production/The Day Julian was born.  Needless to say, she attended with Grammy.

Chocolate chip muffins...my own childhood recipe.  I used to bake them every single Saturday morning as a child, to my adoring public...the family.

 

 

Satisfaction guaranteed.

Recording in the Kitchen

This is the very first song I've
written and recorded.  I felt the sink
crammed with dirty dishes (just out of eye shot)
added a special ambient quality.
Only kidding.

Let them eat crepes!

For dinner we experimented with vanilla greek yogurt, plain whipped cream, fresh berries and crepes.

Monsters etc.

I can't count the amount of times veteran homeschoolers tell me, "Just don't feel like you have to do everything...so take breaks...don't be a perfectionist...you don't have to follow every detail of the teacher's guide...make it your own...don't try to do it all, you'll burn out."  To which I silently reply: "Yes, yes, but I need to do it all, and it must be perfect, or I haven't done it right."

Well, this project on the Sonoran Desert is just that: It was listed as optional for today, and I forced it out of a compulsive need to check off every box.  The project turned out lovely but...I feel like I'm still obsessing over the need to follow the guide verbatim.  At least I have the satisfaction of knowing, after two solid hours of coloring and cutting, Levity will never, ever, ever forget the home of the gila monster, jackrabbit or kangaroo rat.  (rolling eyes)

our 3-D Sonoran Desert of North America
I sketch, they color & cut, I detail.
Group effort!  We love making art together.

jackrabit

cangaroo rat

gila monster

Levity did 3/4 of the set up, including supports with straws and tape

Language and Thinking

Most agree that reading is key to unlocking education.  Early reading is the focus of childrens softward, learning programs, and educational games made for kids starting at infancy.  I am convinced that writing effective prose is nearly as vital, since it is difficult to make use of knowledge or wisdom if one cannot communicate it.  It's one of my secret plans to launch our children into the work force poised for success and influence, wherever they go. 

Today we worked on Prepositional Phrases to add vivid detail to descriptions (Levity), and Narration (Bella), to gain familiarity with plot pacing, storyline, and resolve.  Bella had to narrate a familiar tale from memory.  We all worked on illustrating our work, each of us contributing to each piece.

 

fall finery

Levity's Idea of The Day: a home made leaf garland of paper leaves, beads and string to celebrate fall.  Bella created her own jack-o-lantern ornament for the front lantern.

Little Italy

Today, after workshops at the conference, we zipped over to Little Italy for a lavish lunch with fellow pastors and leaders and friends.  Calamari, antipasto, veal parmigiana and a rich, warm red.  I love cities for people watching, and nyc never disappoints.  Here are a few shots of friends fashions.

little italy

jason and jeff

birthday dinner with peter bonano

nyc gelato didn't stack up to the vanilla bean in nashua...blasphemy!

crocodile shoes on a friendly guy at a crosswalk

Me and Marc the fair trade coffee guy

cute couple with great style-who let me snap their photo

plaque inside the church where George Washington attended church, before they moved the state capitol to Philly.

Magnets

Today we learned how to create magnets out of metal, and then proceeded to sail ducks via attracting and repulsing poles of their home made magnets (magnetized sewing needles).  Did I mention I love Sonlight curriculum?  So easy and fun to learn with.  I fully intend to raise women who are Scientists and Mathematicians as well as Artists and Musicians.  Home Educating is an incredible privilege.  I'm very grateful. 

This week we crushed 5 days into 3.  Almost, at least.  Jason and I are attending the North East Fall Foursquare Leaders Conference in Jersey City this weekend, leaving in the morning.  Kids are going to Super Grammy's.  She usually picks pumpkins with them, then teaches them to make pie from scratch, or creates some other magnificently organic learning experience.  My mother is amazing.