Vtecs and Tobogganning

Well, it’s been too long since I updated. I have an ongoing battle with computers (and procrastination!)- I really dislike them. So, here is all that I can remember by now. Sorry, it’s gonna be long.

The kids and I made/wrote overdue Thank You and Get Well Soon cards last week.
Music continues to flow from Micah’s room on a continual basis. I bet if I bring the keyboard back into the living room the others will get into it again.

We are almost done with On the Banks of Plum Creek. It has provoked a lot of discussion. We made the vanity cakes, which were a big hit! We also checked out from the library The Little House Cookbook- I think we will make a dessert today.

I got a little antsy and made them all do some math recently- albeit was with manipulatives, not workbooks- still, I don’t want them forgetting what they already know. I was relieved to see that they hadn’t and that they were already at the next level of development in understanding concepts. Hannah has been adding and subtracting simple fractions with ease when we are cooking. She helped me make a big meal of chicken strips, mashed potatoes, gravy, buttermilk (kefir, actually) biscuits, corn on the cob, green beans, and iced tea. She is looking forward to being my Thanksgiving Dinner cook’s helper this year and keeps bugging me to make a menu. I showed her place values and she could see and understand thousands and adding in 100s with the abacus.

Nathan surprised me with being able to add and subtract with the dominoes. He then did a project of making his own paper dominoes. He is also showing interest in telling time. I don’t think he is ready to count in fives, but he could probably memorize the position’s names.

We got the kids laptop v- techs, which has produced mass amounts of time working with spelling and math. Jacob has a cool spy one (Micah even plays it) that even teaches French, German and Spanish, over a hundred activities, games, in every subject- they are truly amazing. Jacob has gone to the next level of division on it. Sometimes I have to take them away, so they’ll do other things. Hannah’s reading level has jumped probably a whole grade since we got these, and so has her confidence- she is reading most anything she looks at now- and initiating to even read in her green reader( these are good wholesome Amish readers.) Nathan’s has about 8 games in 5 areas including music which is Eden’s favorite (she thinks it is hers) Nathan is generous and shares it a lot. He is wanting to learn lowercase letters (he hasn’t quite got 100 % of uppercase yet, but I see no reason not to go ahead and teach him)
He has on a couple of occasions lately, gotten his preschool workbook out and done several sheets in them as well (he still loves his workbooks!-makes him feel so grown-up!) Yesterday when we were at the park he started drawing in the sand all the letters he knew. I was surprised that he knew some that I didn’t think he knew (like Q) I think I will give him more structure since he seems to want and thrive in that. He has enjoyed many animal books from the library such as, sea lions, pandas, marsupials and insects. It seems I read endlessly to them. He is always very interested in our Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day book and always has lots of questions.

Micah and Jacob read a couple of chapters in Samuel Morris (a missionary book) every night. We took a break from Amy Carmichael –they were getting a little burned out on it and it was very slow and uninteresting for the first half.

We have started a structured Bible regimen that I feel God is leading us to do. We started in Matthew and are reading a chapter a day and then reread it in the comic book bible. We occasionally do a different devotion if the Lord leads or we have a time issue. They seem to enjoy it. I no longer let Eden or Nathan roam or play on their own during this time. They are getting better, although I have to stop very often and ask Nathan questions to make sure he is listening-this is frustrating for the older ones, but great for building patience in them. (Double whammy!)

Each of the children has adopted/sponsored a child from Gospel for Asia ($30/month). They picked children that share the same birthday, gender, and close age. They have also vowed to give up junk food/eating out and do extra chores to earn the money. (I gave up disposable diapers-which has motivated me to finish her potty training-another double whammy!) Hannah put in her $5 euros for the ice-cream outing that she earned for finishing her reader. We have an old antique, rusty “seeds” tin that we are keeping the money in. We plan to put their children’s pictures on it. They occasional add it up and see how much they need to earn. WE also put out an ad on the homeschool website for additional odd jobs. I would love to see how long they stay motivated- hoping for perseverance.

WE all enjoyed a field trip; I guess you could call it, last Saturday. WE went on a downhill toboggan run for a friend’s birthday party. Two people per car could fit and they had total control of the speed and brakes, which made it fun for everyone. It was on a gravity track that wound down the mountainside- very beautiful!
The boys have spent many an hour in the woodshop (the floor is covered in shavings most times!) They have made swords, boats, and daggers. Jacob came up once with his hands covered in dark brown stain and couldn’t get it off!

Their skateboard phase is dwindling a bit. However they just built a whole skateboard park for their fingerboards and gave it to their friend for his birthday. These were elaborately and painstakingly made with rulers, cardboard, wire, and hot glue, and then decorated. Micah gave Jacob his PRO-BOARD! He felt led by the Lord to do so. I couldn’t help but be pleased; he really hears and responds obediently to God often. This, above all else, is our goal as parents/teachers. The generosity they often show each other also pleases our hearts.
Well, as you can see, we are all continuing to learn many things and grow together every day. They are truly a joy to be with, and I think I am the luckiest/blessed mom alive!