Our lives have certainly been full with soccer and baseball, but they've been a beautiful sort of full. I find a bit of a thrill from watching my kiddos "sportsing," especially when they enjoy it so much, and baseball is certainly no exception. There have been nights with late games when I could have sent Mike to watch Xavier, and kept the rest of the kids home and in bed at a "decent" time, but we tend to be a package deal and all delight in cheering for one of our people.
Anyways, baseball season is more than half over. In fact we are seeing the end of our schedule already, and it's been a fantastic season. We've never seen a year with so many explosions of growth from so many of the players, our son included.
Xavier's having a phenomenal year and getting to try a lot of positions. He's pitched, played catcher, done some at 1st and 3rd bases, and played short stop. He's also having a good year at the plate.
We have terrific coaches - really first rate. They expect improvement but stay positive. They talk the boys through things but don't expect perfection. There is no muttering, no foul language, no yelling sessions after games. We are thankful for good coaches and fun teammates.
I've been trying to combine the videos and phone pics I take each night into one movie per night and keep them short. If you're patient enough to watch through them, you'll see some pretty cool kid baseball. But even if you skip through them, scroll down, and don't miss May 26th. I do recommend you turn your volume down. Turns out I'm his loudest fan.
May 4th & 6th:
May 10th:
May 14th:
He got a triple! Really wanted a home run this season!
May 20th:
Coach getting his pitcher and catcher on the same page.
Fan club!
Did someone say snacks?
May 25th:
Scrimmage against his cousin Jace's team...
May 26th:
Slide to home
And finally, that home run.
Evie loves her Zabier.
May 28th:
Xavier got to throw the strike that finished the game. Isn't that a fun feeling? Here for the shnacks.
Xavier, always remember, we're not proud of you because you hit a home run or catch a pop fly. Those are awesome baseball skills, but what makes us most proud is that you live for Jesus and that that light shines through your actions. We're proud when you cheer for your team, when you stop to check on the kid that a wayward pitch hit, and when your kindness and humbleness lead, because Jesus is in your heart. Always remember that - bring Him glory in all you do.
I think we'll call today the official last day of school at B.L.I.S.S. Academy. This year's wind down feels a little different than years past, but we have wrapped up the *bulk* of our learning, so we shall consider that a win!
In all honesty, Xavier is finishing up his reading curriculum, Natalee is going to do a page a day of cursive handwriting, and Mia and I need to continue phonics instruction through the summer. But, while those things will be worked on, they will take a back seat to playing in the sunshine, park days with friends, lazy days spent playing games, and enjoying a break when we need it.
Natalee, Xavier, and I dove into the Eastern Hemisphere in our History curriculum this year (Sonlight Core F). (Sonlight is also our Bible curriculum.) This was not our favorite history set ever, but we did have a lot of fun with several of the countries and read alouds and we learned a lot. The Journey to the Eastern Hemisphere book that made up the spine of the set was a wealth of knowledge and a lot of fun to read through.
These two did a TON of independent reading this year, also, with so much of life shut down, and have had many adventures.
Congratulations, Natalee, on your completion of 6th grade. In addition to Sonlight Core F, Natalee did Teaching Textbooks math 5 and half of math 6 (we'll finish 6 next school year and start 7). She completed Rod & Staff reading and spelling level 6 and we worked through WriteShop book D. We did a simple machines and bird science unit, and will do another science study this summer, after a break. Natalee also worked on her Anne of Green Gables cursive handwriting this year.
Natalee also made huge growth physically, managing the symptoms of her cerebral palsy, with weekly hippotherapy and physical therapy and every other week occupational therapy. Natalee took several sessions of private swim instruction and is working on passing her swim test at the Y. She takes piano lessons each week and is working so hard at getting her brain and her fingers to respond to each other, and is making great progress.
Congratulations, Xavier, on your completion of fifth grade. In addition to Sonlight Core F, Xavier did Teaching Textbooks math 5 and half of math 6 (we'll finish 6 next school year and start 7). He worked really hard in his reading curriculum and completed Rod & Staff reading and spelling level 3 and will finish level 4 this summer. We worked through WriteShop book D, and did a simple machines and bird science unit, and will do another science study this summer, after a break. Xavier also worked on his cursive handwriting this year.
Xavier was ecstatic when things began opening up, and played basketball at the Y this winter and baseball this spring. He very much enjoys the challenge and camaradarie of sports. Xavier is also taking piano lessons and is excelling.
Zayden, Ameliya, and I journeyed around the world for social studies this year and had such fun visiting different countries. I actually had three units planned for them for this school year, but such is life, we completed one and completed it well. We did an art/food/activity of some sort with most of the countries we visited and those reminded me to enjoy their childhood dearly.
We read all of the Secret of the Hidden Scrolls books for Bible/History, and began the Little House series at the end of the year. After we finish Little House, we will read the Birchbark House series.
In Science, we learned about Dinosaurs and how they fit into Bible times, using the free lapbook from homeschoolshare.
Congratulations, Ameliya, on your completion of 1st grade!
In addition to the units above, Ameliya completed level 2 of Masterbooks math and has worked through 3/4 of Sing, Spell, Read, & Write Level 1 (we'll finish this summer!). She has enjoyed the Draw Write Now writing/copyright as well as some age appropriate writing prompts in her journal.
Ameliya has also enjoyed lots of art time this year, both the planned activities we've done on fun Fridays, and independently. She loves to create and craft, and has also had a lot of fun playing soccer this spring.
Congratulations, Zayden, on your completion of Kindergarten! Zayden took Kindergarten by storm and rose to every academic challenge thrown his way this year. He loves to learn, and if I tried to pump the brakes on something, he would just teach himself. Zayden completed level K of Sing, Spell, Read, and Write reading and is almost halfway through level 1, right behind his sister. He was through with level 1 of Masterbooks math by April and has been working on math fact fluency and quick response. Midway through the year, we bought Zayden his own writing journal and he, too, enjoyed Draw Write Now and age appropriate writing prompts.
Zayden had an excellent soccer season this year and loves to try anything new. He views the world as his personal parkour course and has a unique brain that I am learning about and how to best reach. I wasn't sure we'd finish kindergarten this year, but he sure showed me and we're very proud of him.
In an effort to keep it real....here's how the school hutch looks at the end of the year. A frazzled mess just like my brain.
It's been a great school year, both with a lot of growth and a lot of personal challenges. Schooling 4 with a toddler in the mix is no joke, but we got it done, and some days even got it done well. I have learned in this year of slowing down, that there is great happiness in just enjoying our days and my children. Snuggling up and reading together, talking, painting, writing stories - these were all memories that I have stored up like treasures in my heart this year.
Where have you been, Jenn? No blog posts for over 3 weeks. Well, we've been living our best life on the soccer and baseball fields and cheering for our kids - loudly. Obnoxiously. Consistently. Sometimes daily.
For real, we have had weeks that we are on the fields every night, sometimes going straight from soccer to baseball. We've had a blast!
Tonight ended Ameliya and Zayden's spring soccer season and they had a wonderful 6 weeks! The team improved and grew so much in those few weeks and we all learned a lot!
The team was truly a joy to watch and work with - all the families so cooperative and positive.
One of our sweet team moms started bringing snacks so we all took turns. My kids don't often get snack cakes....big treats!
Evie was here for it! Actually she didn't eat much of that snack cake -
but she does love the juice pouch.
Grandma and Papa caught a drizzly game last week (& baseball, but he'll get his own post!) and came back after for pizza and a visit!
Grandma and Papa also made it up for our last game in the sprinkles! Not great weather but great fun watching these kids play!
Our team was 6 players, and they played 4 on 4 (so 2 rotated out all the time). When our 2 were on the field together they often were found near one another....feeding off of each other, encouraging, passing, watching. So sweet - my heart.
Look at sis staying near brother....not pushing in but cheering on. I love them.
SCORE!
Zayden was so hard to get a video of scoring, but he had a great season, as did Ameliya!
Three of these purple people are mine! I'm so blessed!
The association didn't do photos this year because of covid - so you know I just got out the big ole camera and handled that myself for our team!
The "memory mates."
And together, because #cutenessoverload.
I had to scoot over the street early from soccer to be with Xavier for his baseball game (so hard to be divided), but Grandma got videos of both kids scoring for me
and of them getting their medals from coach Daddy and their treat bags from helper Natalee.
We introduced Grandma and Papa to SnoBiz and they treated everyone to ice cream. They approve of our summer treat indulgence choice.
Such a great introduction to soccer for the Beeler family. We've enjoyed it so much and are so thankful we had this opportunity!
