Special Delivery

Without a refrigerator, we have to make sure that any leftovers are quickly passed on to someone else. There are always hungry people around who can help us eat the food before it goes bad. Isabelle is about to deliver this food to the guards.

School work

Hard at work!

Coyote likes to join school. He especially likes to lay on top of books and papers.

Animal Experts

What do kids do when they're not in school? Look at animal encyclopedias and compare facts! What do you do for fun?

Bow and Arrow

One of Ian's birthday presents was a bow and arrow. He's has surprised us with his good aim. :)

New Outfits

I had new outfits made for the boys, and I made a matching dress for Isabelle. They weren't very excited about them, but I thought that they all looked nice in their matching outfits.

Preparing Presents

We prepared presents for the ladies who cook, clean and do laundry for our family and guest housing. The kids helped put a dishcloth, coffee, milk, and sugar into each bowl. It gave us a chance to talk about loving and serving others at Christmas time.

The Lookout Tower

Time for another activity from The Ancient Chinese Treasure Chest.
We worked on putting together a watch tower from the Great Wall of China. It looked fairly simple, but turned out to be a bit complicated. Isabelle and Caleb helped up to a certain point (pictured above) but the lost interest.
I persevered, and twenty minutes later, with Coyote to keep me company managed to complete the tower.

Meanwhile, the kids took the figures of soldiers included and made a tower out of blocks.

Like all the great historians, they melded facts with their interpretation and imagination as evidenced by the large hammer and the giants (paper dolls) that were involved in the battles.

After School

Isabelle helped me put up a few Thanksgiving decorations that Caleb and I printed off of the internet.
Below is Isabelle reading one of our science books after school was finished. Often we do school out on the screened in porch.

Chinese Chess

Another activity from the Ancient Chinese Treasure Chest was Chinese Chess. The boys both know the fundamentals of chess and were really excited to try the Chinese version.

Calligrapy

We have been studying the Eastern Hemisphere in history. One of the books we are using is the Ancient Chinese Treasure Chest. It comes with activities that the kids have been really excited to try. The first one we did was calligraphy with a brush, ink stone and ink stick.

Gratitude Party

Instead of a Halloween Party we had a Gratitude Party. We started by reading some of Celebrations That Touch the Heart.
Did you know that during the Pilgrims first winter they were rationed just 5 kernels of corn each year?
We passed around a bowl and each child took 5 kernels of popcorn. Then we went around the table and they each said 5 things for which they are thankful. I was impressed by their maturity. They have all had a chance to see many children (and adults) less fortunate than themselves, and they are grateful for the things and the opportunities that they have been given.
We also made a gratitude journals (based on these) together, and, of course, had a snack. :)

Starting School

No, we're not just now starting school! But school and a trip to Brazzaville in October have left me with little computer time. Now that we are winding down for Christmas break, I am *hoping* to get caught up with some posts over the holidays.

Before we started school this year, I planned an open house. I sat down with each child and gave them a small present. Then we went over the books they would be using this year and what our schedule would be like. It made the beginning seem more official, plus they knew what to expect the first day.

We were able to have a Sunday lunch on our screened-in porch. We had 12 people total, but managed to fit around 2 tables, which just squeezed onto the porch.

It's not all fun and games

Isabelle and Caleb are helping Grandpa Wegner with the frame for the screened in porch.

Isabelle isn't working, but she's modeling surgery gear.

Caleb helped me varnish some wooden squares with numbers to use at the hospital.

The kids helped find some new plants to put in the pots in the chapel.

Isabelle Turns 8

Isabelle was very happy to have her grandparents here for her birthday. She received lots of presents, and we had a game night for her birthday party.

Caleb

Caleb is quite proud of the fact that he finished both of his Kindergarten Math books this year. He's officially in Kindergarten next year, but he wanted math to do along with Ian and Isabelle.

Caleb did lots of other activities throughout the year, too. In this picture, he is holding a calendar with velcro on the back of each number and month.

Our Classroom

We've been enjoying our extended back porch for school. It is hard to concentrate sometimes, though!

Easter Baskets