Tuesday Snow

How best to start a snowy morning when most local schools have canceled?



Breakfast with Principal.



And fulfilling the dreams of a girl and her desire for her doll:
The Making of Rebecca's church dress.



And sending Mascot into space, even though the clouds created a difficult launch...



And because God has given the opportunity to NOT have school when the day arises with other duties and blessings, the choice was to continue our learning on this, a snow day.

Even though others wanted to sew straight through the day, we tried to remind ourselves to do everything without complaining, but sometimes faces showed it...



Sit-ups and stretches in P.E. have become a group activity, as Mascot tries his hand at them.



And also taking a hand from Student and Warrior, he accomplishes 5 sit-ups!



The Homeschool was determined to find something to use as a weight for our marching through the orchard game, but resolved not to use Mascot's recommendation of an apple sauce jar.



Contiuing Cursive visual recognition and Writing for Warrior, the 26 letter-long journey is only 6 letters along.



Taking time also for snowday gaming, Warrior continues his latest love of crazy eight cards.



God is good, so good to us. May He grant that these children would learn responsibility, for each should carry his own load. Galatians 6:5 Teacher soooo could have stayed ikn bed, but may He bless our work, all the work of our hands, indeed. Amen.

Friday Construction

Voting to have sewing FIRST on our list of lessons today, Student and Teacher got to work while Mascot & Warrior directed the trains on the track in their room.

Repurposing an old jean skirt of Student's, Teacher has used it to patch many a pair of jean. But, there was more than enough, as Student reported, to make a dress for Rebecca! Again, that resourceful girl just amazes Teacher at her likeness of her Creator.



Cutting, stitching, toothbrushin...and Student's handwork on the buttons that were already prepped with holes from the jean skirt closure at the waist...and Rebecca had her FARM DRESS, as Student named it!

Then, after Teacher realized just HOW MUCH time had passed, she lead Activity for P.E. and Mascot followed directions quite well!



Student and Warrior decided to argue over who used which blue mat today...



And so, that left little time for seatwork, so Student took over.



Stepping right in and helping those around her. Using her Spiritual gift of Teaching, and womanly virtue of bossing, she was the key to completing our learning day!

After Student gave a summary of their learning, she and Warrior joined Teacher in the kitchen for cookie dough!



The cookies must be around here somewhere...

Tuesday Sewing

Teacher woke up bitten by the sewing bug.
Not being the only one on campus to have been bitten,
the day began with fun before facts!



Even Principal helped Student & Warrior get started with their morning sewing gig.



Student begin reading the directions of her Christmas kit from American Girl Crafts.
Having began the small owl for her Rebecca doll, she completed it and decided to wait to begin the larger owl for herself.

Warrior got out the Student's old machine, that was handed down to him...pink and all. But, give a boy a motor and he will run with it. And what better skill to win him the affection of the super-wife Teacher has been praying for, than a sewing man!



Yes, Mascot will be next-in-line for the needle-guarded machine! For now, Warrior practices with paper and announced that today's sewing session yielded a
RHINO BLOWING SNOT!

And lastly, of the created sewing projects today, Teacher
Used scraps and designed a much-needed coin purse for her use.



It's after this morning of sewing that all thanked God for time, food, and finished with seatwork. Because it is His establishing of our hands that is desired, may the Homeschool strive to complete this god work He has begun, in just His way and His timing. AMen.

Play For All Thursday

Because there is a time for everything, according to The Word...

Today was a play for all day!

Having an opportunity to rule the roost and
swap babies on her hip,
Student rather enjoyed the extra company.



Kids allover the campus and sewing in the dining.


Knowing that 9 children don't play peacefully just EVERY day,
we thank God for blessing our day of play!

After rowdiness exited...



there were naps and then seatwork with the old gang: Warrior & Woody.



Student snacking while seatworking...because multi-tasking is naturally put into many females by the Creator, she smoothly works along.

Another Schoolday

Yes, onward with the eyes on the prize!

Of course, Teacher isn't insisting on a one-track-mind...
afterall, she's been pulling double-duty during Student's
Spelling lessons.



Homeschool Rule #336
Handwork should always be available for just such opportunities!

Mascot's handwork is of a different sorts, but just as busy!



And the most popular between-time-filler for Warrior and Student has been group time on the computer. Warrior has been LOVING his new phonics game online! His favorite is the shoot out, with Student's help only on the HARD level!



And though his Reading is progressing well, Teacher has to take the time to convince him that books are exciting...think this is convincing.



Lord,
teach us as parents to pray for Your children the way You would have us. Amen.

Tuesday Treasues

Treasures of the most eternal kind: our children.

Just when the break seemed so chaotic, yet easy,
God brought encouragement of the most genuine kind...thanks for Miss Amy.
Lord, You are our hope and strength. These children are a treasure to you,
may we be found responsible stewards of your treasure. Amen.

Warrior's day began with really sleepy eyes, and a body that he said was "Too tired to get up on his bed, again."

Giving him some encouragement, the crayons and the Star Wars coloring book came out to play.



Mascot got right into his lesson of scattering and resorting the magnet board letters.



And Student took to the table for seatwork. Warrior by her side, he decided he could try some seatwork. Observing and aiding in his Phonics, Teacher sees he exhibits the tongue-tip trait from Teacher's father. Concentration is always more focused when the tongue us exposed.



Erasing and writing, and reading must have brought on Warrior's fever.
As he warmed up, and the ibuprofen kicked in,
Warrior found his energy again and insisted on some Activity.



Stretching and the regular routine to Gnarls Barkley was enough to wear him out. Teacher observed this strange reaction and noted he must truly be sick. And so he retired to bed with water and snoring.

Make way for Student! Practicing her Spelling list with some games of Hang Woman and creating sentences, here are some of her writings.

I told my friend about the parade!
My clothes are dirty.
We both have rules!
My nose is red!
I have my own computer!

I believe every one of those sentences were true, too. Especially the dirty clothes part! She fixed that, though! It's amazing how much Student can fit into her day when Warrior takes an extra nap! She completed her Current Events Reading, FAVORITE STORY HERE, and even timed the naps of both Warrior and Mascot to sprawl out on the floor and sew! That a girl!

Student's Christmas wish was given from Papa. She had been praying as to what she should use her chore savings for and she kept coming back to Rebecca. And this is a story of a girl and her doll and the doll's cold shoulders:

Mom, I wrapped this fabric to make her a recital dress, since I don't know when we'll sew one. But, it's only covering one shoulder so she needs a cloak. There are cloaks in the catalogue, but they are $24.

Well, Miss Heather just gave us some fabric that just might work for such a project.

But when? When can we make it?
Because the boys are sleeping...can we?

Yes!



BEGINNING LIKE A CIRCLE SKIRT, THE DECISION WAS MADE HOW LONG TO HAVE THE CLOAK, WHILE REFERENCING THE A*G FELICITY CLOAK PICTURES. STUDENT PICKED A DOUBLE-KNIT IN BROWN THAT NEEDED NO HEMMING AND CREATED AN EVEN QUICKER FINISHED PRODUCT, THANKS MISS HEATHER.


THEN, A RECTANGLE WAS CUT FOR THE HOOD. SIZING A RECTANGLE IN PROPORTION TO REBECCA'S LOVELY LOCKS, THE AMOUNT OF FABRIC WASN'T QUITE ENOUGH, BUT WE WORKED WITH WHAT WE HAD.



STUDENT USED THE ROLLER CUTTER TO TRIM THE CORNER OF THE INNER SEAM OF THE HOOD, JUST AS A PILLOW CORNER WOULD BE DONE.

THEN THE BIAS TAPE WAS SEWN TO THE FRONT OF THE HOOD AND THE HOOD THEN TO THE CLOAK. USING SCRAP STRINGS FROM THE LEFTOVER BROWN DOUBLE KNIT, THEY WERE HANDSEWN AND COVERED WITH STUDENT'S CHOICE FROM THE BUTTON JAR AND FINISHED OFF WITH A BURGUNDY FLOSS THAT WAS PART OF STUDENT'S CHRISTMAS CRAFT BASKET FROM GRAMMY.

REALLY, READING THE PROCEDURE, TEACHER GUESS THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION IS REQUIRED AND SEES THAT IF SHE WERE TO EVER WRITE PATTERNS, THE INSTRUCTIONS WOULD TAKE TEN TIMES LONGER. SO FOR THOROUGH INSTRUCTIONS, TEACHER WILL HAVE TO TRY AGAIN ANOTHER FREE DAY WITH NOTHING ELSE ON THE PLATE.

After reawakening into the world, Warrior ate a full lunch and listened well to the lesson and instructions from Student on their bean plants.



Afterwards, he decided his school day needed to be a Halfie because he was going to lay down, yet again. Oh, the honesty of a boy when his body hurts. God designed we humans to know when we need rest, it's just that adults often don't listen! Oh the lessons God teaches each day through children in our lives. Thank you, Lord. We are trying to listen. Please open our ears to receive knowledge and wisdom from You each day. Amen.

Old Skool Tuesday

Tuesday being filled to the brim with SUNSHINE,
the longings of Student and Warrior were heard and fulfilled.

To the Park for play...

**PICTURE**

Mascot enjoyed the geese the most. He pointed and exclaimed GGGEE! That guy is growing up, too!

Teacher spent the morning at the quilter's and thus, the only morning seat work completed was Student's Reading. As though her starting and finishing a book last night and this morning contend she needs Reading seatwork. No, it's just that her love is growing with super force!

Getting her to the park was the only way to distract her from the pages!

**PICTURE**

Our Holy Bible Reading came from Isaiah today, and the kiddos drew pictures of the depiction in chapter 66, the first verse.

"The Lord says, the Heaven's are His thrown,
and earth is His footstool."

**PICTURE**

**PICTURE**

Social Studies brought more safety procedures for Warrior's learning. This lesson's focus was on firefighters and fire dangers. Student's lesson, however, focused on freedoms in this country. She also completed an exercise of the pledge to our country worded in children's terms.

After Math seatwork, Spelling brought Student to a new list, and she played WORD SALAD with her new list today. A game of using the letters within a list word to make another from those letters as possible.

**PICTURE**

Having super school during naptime really brought Warrior smiles in the beginning. However, as the lessons moved on, Teacher still stands to confirm that mornings are his key learning time! Better try again, tomorrow!

Oh yeah, the OLD SKOOL part of our learning was because we are OFFICIALLY NON-PHOTOSHOP people until Principal can restore the Applications folder Mascot erased...so we
We'll try to use the iMac for pictures tomorrow. Oh what things an uninformed user can accomplish on a computer that many regular users cannot!

Merry Monday

Beginning the morning with tactile learning, Warrior peddled back and forth along the block as Student dug into her first day of SPELLING POWER!



We were blessed with the Spelling Power curriculum last year, thanks Mrs. Tonya! And now that Student is such a great reader, Teacher couldn't wait to begin the 15 minutes a day to develope the GRRREAT speller in Student! We began with a placement test and her score was 98%. Add a purple colored-pencil to write with, and who WOULDN'T want to have SPELLING lesson!?



Warrior then switched senses and completed
auditory alphabet pracitice by identifying the beginning letters and their sound of this list:
attic
every
bounce
under √
waffle
Indian
hippo
fat √
caterpillar
down
pillow
jump

Finishing up with Handwriting before lunch, tis so sweet to be a pre-k student where halfies = wholies! The day is just long enough to witness his excitment that of course trickles right on over to us all at the Homeschool! Even the contented Mascot in the wagon awaiting his ride...




Student began her day the same way she ended yesterday...with a fever. Downing some liquid hydration and ibuprofen, she cuddled up with a book. However, it wasn't long til the fever began to subside & her bike, too, got a workout!

Skip counting, addition of numbers in the hundreds place, addition problems with multiple addends, Student experienced some Math review. It was all fine and fancy with the particulars she remembered well, it was the loss-of-memory in fractions that turned the fine and fancy into frustrating frenzy! Student quickly recovered, glory to God, becasue the Homeschool has it's share of buttons, and what better mathematical manipulatives to bring a smile! Soothing to see the Holy Spirit in her daily actions. Patience is a fruit that Teacher needs to bare more!



With her iPod and KLOVE close by, Student finished her time in bed with handwork: embroidery of her own design...



Thank you, Lord of Lords, for your care and attention this school year. May we let YOU establish the daily work of our hands. As you have gone before us, we thank you in advance for the continued blessings. Amen.

Art Galore

Waking an hour before her usual eye-opening time,

Student tromped downstairs to begin her sewing project today!

What better motivation than the anticipation of viewing color

and design atop fabric in the morning sunshine?

Ironing, cutting, sewing, and stringing bells... these door hangers crafted with gratitude for gifting to her Sunday school and Violin instructors.

Spurring the mind of a young believer, the court house lawn display of a manger scene, which Student spotted on our light tour last night, prompted her to write a letter to our city! So, for Language, Student wrote and mailed:

"Dear City,

What you did what rite.

Thank you!

I see youer manger.

Sincerely,

First Grade Student"

Toddler, on the other hand, wasn't standing still for anything.

He was plotting spoon wars. Taking turns with each silver metal weapon attacking the other and then transforming them into musical instruments.

And talking to Student about her project...

" Let me hold it or I'll broke it!" he said in his manliest voice.

Principal was on discipline duty for that one!

Continuing with counting by 25s, Student mixed and matched coin piles to count totals. Principal has really been a help in Math as she thinks much like him.

Journal is substituting for the sketchbook

that is bursting at the seams with completed artwork.

History was the nighttime story tonight, as Teacher was working away from the Homeschool and Principal was in charge of finishing the lesson. God is good to bring helpmate.

Thank you, Sallie Mae

Yes, Teacher has a hefty student loan debt, and must try to find reasons to be thankful for such a burden. So, as today, and each day at Homeschool are filled with curriculum and instruction, we see the money was well spent...or is that well borrowed?

Beginning couch Reading session with their current fav picks:

Toddler: Hansel & Gretel

Student: Rhyme Bible

After taking turns in the Rhyme Bible, Student continued on with Benjamin Rabbit. These writings are a fav among all of Homeschool. Mascot just quietly sat and listened to the details about rabbit tobacco, or lavender as we know it! Gotta love the old skool books of Beatrix Potter. Thanks to some Steiny's at the Oregon Homeschool for this reading enjoyment!

Our last trip to the thrift store took Student to the book section and resulted in some good finds. Among the new arrivals to Homeschool, was Mr Magoo's A Christmas Carol, and Christmas Crafts. Both paper backs from the 70s, it was guaranteed good reading! As instructed in the craft book, we ventured into a messy world of art dough today. Again, thanks to college where we acquired quality ceramics tools and paintbrushes we'll put to use tomorrow!

Student and Toddler are looking forward to the next stage of ornament-making, which will bring out the color tomorrow as the paint jumps from the craft cabinet. These will serve as gifts to their extended fam this Christmas.

And who can get enough life-skill training at Homeschool? Toddler was on silverware-sorting duty today. As he instinctively turned each utensil into a drumstick, he fulfilled the task quite well. He insisted on multiples in each hand, and tuned-up his fine motor skills by dropping each without the assistance of his other hand. Loudly, the sorting was completed!

Student played a compound word scramble game today. She came up with the following silly compounds which she wrote in cursive for handwriting practice:

breadmother

planttop

catjump

hoppercat

breadpop

Reviewing the continents in Geography, Student is also learning about life on each continent. She will be interviewing Rosanne, our dear friend from Brazil next weekend. She is preparing her list of 10 questions, and will begin with these 2:

1. I read they grow potatoes in Peru. Do they farm in Brazil? What?

2. I read Venezuela has many tall apartment buildings. Are there more houses or apartments in Brazil?

Student is finished creating for the violin school art & craft sale this Sat night. Locals should come and catch a set of magnets for themselves @ $5 a set!

Another day and still, God is good to the Homeschool!

Final Friday

We are here, we are here, we are here! It is Final Friday and our quilting goes on!

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The local quilt drive for foster children at Christmas. Student was really enjoying the roller-cutting today! She turned these stripes, into checkers!

Final Friday is falling close to Orphan Sunday. Can't wait to see how God works in the hearts of His people for this occasion!

Classifying in Science today, Student grouped leaves by their color. Truly, she is also enjoying toning her photos for posting and playing around with borders and such. She'll be one of the few First Graders in town to be familiar with Photoshop! Principal will be so proud!

And for seatwork...well, it's Final Friday, who needs seatwork? Our focus today was certainly on The Lord, as we are quilting in His name, and enjoying the leaves He created. Thanks, God.

Holiday Expidition

Yes, we are having a holiday! No school, specifically. But my eyes are opened to see all of the learning that naturally takes place at home. Because this isn't one of a few scheduled holidays, we aren't rushing into filling the day with together time. As homeschool provides opportunity to have much together time, we have decided to spend our day of together time just being us!

We began our morning with a 3 mile bike ride. Yes, that arrangement of the donut shop and park in the middle sure make for a great break! No, we didn't choose to go into detail about the dog droppings we found at the base of the slide, or the God-provided Mrs. Tonya to help with our frustrated Toddler, or the construction worker with the miracle wrench to solve the frustrated Toddler...well, he fixed the loosened training wheels, of course! Rather, we are thinking and writing of sewing;;;what else!

Our favorite second-hand shop is also along the path. And Student and I have been eyeing fabric to go together for a local Christmas project for Foster Children in the area. Looking to have 900 quilts donated for Christmas gifts, we are ready with our fabric!

Student is looking to make a small quilt, her first self-lead quilt. And with our other circus fabric and flannel, we plan to include a message of strength and courage as The Lord our God is with us wherever we go...to parallell the images of lion tamers and such from the ol' circus days. So, we'll see if we can turn these fabrics into projects for our next Final Friday!