Musical Gal

Little Lady had a musical in February right before we headed to the states.  It was fun.  It was about the life of Joseph.  We are already excited about the musical she and Little Man will be in next year. 

We attended a home school conference a couple weeks back.  It was a lot of fun hanging out with other kids and moms (and a few dads).  The kids entered the showcase contest and won certificates and medals.  They were so excited. 

Little Lady created a display on India and entered a story she wrote.

Little man entered a piece of poetry for his contest.

Here they are getting their medals!

We are already looking forward to next years conference!

Bird Hunt

We are learning about all the animals created on the fifth day in our science this year.  This particular afternoon I had sent the kids out on a bird hunt to identify birds in the neighborhood.  To make it more fun I let them take the camera.  Little man captured this picture of Little lady a few blocks from our home. 

Great Home School Sites

We have been using a couple of websites this year and we are loving them. 

We were so blessed to be able to buy a subscription to Raz-Kids through the International school here. It was super cheap.  Otherwise I don't think I would have spent the money to get my own subscription.    The kids listen to the books and then take a quiz on the book.  We are learning so many new things through these books!

Last year when Little Lady was in 3rd grade and learning her multiplication tables we started using Math Trainer.  I love that it times them and when they miss a problem it gives them the answer.  Then it keeps asking them the ones they miss until they get it.  At the end I can look at the grid and see exactly which problems they are having trouble with.  Little Man has started memorizing his multiplication fact.  He is only in 2nd grade but the program he is in has him learning them and although I was skeptical...he is doing it! 

The Lord has been showing me show much about myself and sin in my heart when it come to home school.  I hope to soon share what he is showing me!  I love that about our Father, he never leaves us to simmer in our sin but through prayer and his Word brings it to light!

Photos for Fun

Our Advent

For Advent this year we read through A Holy Experience's advent.  The writer there so graciously shared this with her readers.  It took us from the beginning of God's story to the birth of his son.  It was a neat way to go though the Bible leading up to the birth of Jesus. We found a small tree and used it as our advent tree.  The tree skirt is a colorful wrap sent all the way from Ecuador!

One other thing we enjoyed doing each night was to read through Bartholomew's Passage.  Last year we read through Jothem's Journey.  These books are so good.  It is really hard to stop with just one chapter!  I encourage all families to read these aloud together for advent!

Our Nativity

Right after Thanksgiving we started on this nativity project.  Little Lady jumped right on it and Little Man, well, he doesn't really like to color.  It slows him down too much.  But with some effort and time we completed these cute toilet paper roll nativity scenes.  You can find the printable over at Catholic Icing.  I actually found these right after Christmas of 2009 and bookmarked them for this Christmas.  They were a fun part of our Christmas display.

School on a Ladder

Home School is so much more fun on a ladder!

GIve Away over at Stay at Home Missionary Blog

Joy over at Stay At Home Missionary is hosting a give away from New Leaf Publishing.  Click on over there to get a chance to win these two books...

 Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Why Home School is so Wonderful

 

Back to School

After spending a week in our new home we hit the school books again!  The kids enjoyed being free from school, but I told them if they ever wanted to go to 5th and 3rd grade they had to get busy.  Here are just a few snaps from the last few days of school...

 

 These are our new school desks we had made.  I am waiting for furniture to arrive from India so that I can fix this room up for school.  Notice the sleepy mascot in the corner?

 

 We studied cuneiform and hieroglyphics so the kids made their own.

 

Intentional Break

As many of you know we are knee deep into messes all over our home.  This is an intentional mess called shifting as they say here.  We are shifting countries in just a couple of weeks.  Needless to say, but I will say it anyways, I won't have much time for this blog.  I am hoping to take a long break from blogging and Facebook.  I need to focus my energy and time on my precious ones.  Once we are on the other side of the ocean, I will dive knee deep into language AGAIN!  Only this time I will HAVE to learn it as most of the people don't speak much English.  Here I really only have to use English to survive doing the daily basic...not so in our new place.  Plus it is an amazing thing to be able to speak the heart language of those around you.  Walls and barriers fall down when they hear you attempting learn THEIR language.  I will also continue to home school along with our language learning... and learn to cook, learn to shop and learn to  keep a home in a new culture.  Wheww, I am tired just typing that! Seems like there will be lots of learning.  Not sure how I will do it physically, but it will get done! The Father has spoken some wonderful words to me through His Word over the past couple of weeks and He alone will help with all that I need to do.  We appreciate your prayers and words of encouragement! I would love to hear from you through email anytime!

So...until my life is less busy...hogibartinni! (That is Kannada for I will go and come again. It is traditionally what you say when leaving someone.)