Weekly Wind Down {Cinnamon Bread, Turkey Art, Operation Christmas Child, Weekend Away} Nov 13-19

Sunday we went to church and then just did some life things before Sunday night small groups.  I did a grocery pick up of items to help fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes, then ran to Dollar Tree.  I had decided to buy the "essentials" for the boxes and let the kids choose the fun things.  

I tried a fun new bread recipe to take to small groups.  My kids love the cinnamon bread at our local Dutch bakery so I tried my hand at replicating it without the iced topping.  

I just made regular homemade bread dough, rolled it into a small square, added butter and cinnamon/sugar and rolled it up for a second rise.  It turned out really well and got gobbled up at small groups.  I saved back one loaf for breakfast for my kids Monday.  It sliced and toasted great the next morning.

Monday we were off and running early to go to co-op.  Co-op mornings bring an air of excitement for everyone, myself included.  I got an hour and a half class block, because one of the primary teachers was sick, and we used every ounce of that time in K-3 art/music.  

I took popsicle sticks for the children to build rhythms with and we alternated that activity with painting a turkey canvas.  This was a nice balance as some of the students really love art and painting, and some really move quickly with art, so having the rhythm sticks and instruments helped break up the time and give everyone something to do to keep busy.  I called it organized chaos and we even had time for the kids to help me clean up a bit.  

tas, titis, tika-tikas....

In addition to playing their own rhythms, I encouraged them to leave theirs out when they went back to play and play each others.

This project was a little selfish on my part - every year when we get out fall decorations I have these sweet little painted turkey canvases that Natalee and Xavier did in our Missouri co-op art class years ago.  I really wanted to have one from Mia and Zayden and thus it became the inspiration for my class.

We used a combination of a YouTube video and the kids' own imaginations to make our canvases.  The tutorial was our knowledge base but we didn't follow the color instructions and the students made their own choices.

We continue to strive to fill the whole area when we do art - if anyone has any tips for me on how to instruct that better I'd be glad to take them!  Overall everyone was so pleased with their turkeys and my heart was happy to see their confidence and listen to their chatter and ideas while they painted.

After my 90 minute block with K-3, I took a potty break and then headed right into preschool.  The teacher that was absent is also the other gal who does preschool so my little sweeties were waiting for me with anticipation.

I worked busily and my hands were messy with paint, so I didn't get many photos.  Our fingerplay was about a turkey, so naturally our activities were turkey focused, too.  I had found 4 little foam turkeys in my art cupboard, which was perfect, so I took along liquid glue, googly eyes, and colored feathers, and my little preschoolers got those foam turkeys looking right nice.

Liquid glue is such a delight to preschoolers and, if you don't open the bottle fully, it's a great way to strengthen hands.  While they worked on their turkeys, I took them one at a time to paint their hands with acrylic paint and make turkey handprints.  Be still my heart.  Some projects are child led and some are definitely for the parents.  

I had also taken my fall sensory bin, which was a hit especially with Mr. Sammy, and while I cleaned up our messes they played in that.

My morning went by in a flash and  I had just enough time to take my things out to the car, visit with a friend for a couple minutes, and then it was lunch time.

After lunch we loaded up at went to the Dollar Tree so that the kids could choose their items for the shoe boxes.  It is so difficult for me to do the boxes because I want to give the recipients everything.  Every child should have basic hygiene essentials, and a fresh outfit, and fun toys, and, and, and. ....

We sorted our items, including the essentials I had purchased, and the excitement was high, especially among the youngest 4.  They, too, have generous hearts and wanted their recipients to be blessed with much.

We quickly realized we were in over our heads and left our things in piles for Daddy to access when he came home.  He's a marvelous packer!

I wasn't sure Evie would "get it" but she completely saw that none of these things were for her and she gave willingly and generously.

Drawing a picture for "her girl" at the bottom of the little note and photos we printed out.

I thought I was going to have to go buy plastic shoe boxes but Daddy got everything to fit, with rubber bands.  Lord, let our recipients be blessed and know You...

Monday night the boys had wrestling and Natalee had swim.  I went to swim as it was photo night and I had organized the swim photos.  Everything went very well and our photographer was great to work with.

Zayden got a birthday present in the mail.  He loves birthday mail!

Tuesday morning serenade...

Tuesday started with a snowy recess that lasted a couple of hours!  We had a beautiful first tracking snow and the kids delighted in playing in it.  

We had no activities Tuesday night and that was lovely.  Evalynn moisturized my feet, 

and Daddy played games.

Wednesday was a pretty regular day of school.  We do protein shakes for breakfast on Wednesdays so mid morning I laid everyone out an oatmeal cookie and a fruit.

Our morning time game was Boggle.  We allow Mia and Zayden to do 3 letter words while the rest of us have to start at 4 letters.

Evalynn finished her first little preschool book!

She celebrated by covering the back cover in stamps.

The afternoon was just pretty chilly and windy and difficult to enjoy so they opted to play downstairs instead of outside.  Wednesday evening it was off to youth group and Awana.  Our little Cubbie got an award and was so pleased!

Thursday was school, hippotherapy, and another peaceful evening at home.  The boys ended up not having wrestling.  I do love regular ole nights at home.

Friday Natalee had an appointment via zoom, and then off we went for our weekend away to Columbia.  We had a great time and were thankful to be in attendance at our niece's birthday.

By the time we got home Saturday we were exhausted.  We missed the turning on of the lights on the square but drove around to appreciate them when we came into town.

We ended up having a kiddo vomit right around bedtime, and though it ended up being a fluke (travel, junk food, etc) we weren't sure at the time so we went to bed knowing Sunday was going to be a church from home reset day.

OFFICIAL Last Day of School

June 11th marks our final day of school for the 2019-2020 school year.  What a year it has been!
We started the year late, after a move and new baby, and so, instead of our usual 4 day a week year, with the fifth day for fun, field trips, or activities,, we buckled down hard and did five days a week.  We took practically no breaks this year, and I'm so proud of my crew and how diligently they worked.
We all really enjoyed our school flow for the most part.  We kind of have a rhythm of what curriculum we use for each subject and how to set up our days for success.  I know a lot of families are switching to the loop scheduling system for homeschooling, but that is just not my style.  I write our lesson plans for the week and we move through each day.  If we don't make it to something, we push it to the next day, but without our grace day of the 4 day scheduled week, we really tried not to miss things.  My days were much easier this year, having Mike here so much more, so actually the stress was less in regards to getting time to read aloud and do science activities.  I also didn't have JAM, Bible study groups, or any extra activities to divide my time, so I was wholly devoted to the children during the day (the perk of not knowing anyone in a new town).
Anyways....

Congratulations, Natalee, on your completion of 5th grade!!
You have grown and matured so much this year. 
Natalee enjoys drawing, coloring, riding her bike, and writing stories in her free time, in addition to lots of reading and playing pretend.  Her favorite game is Scrabble, and she likes playing Wheel of Fortune on her iPad.  Natalee soared through 5th grade and made great gains in her math skills (not pictured - we do it on the computer) and her grammar/English/writing abilities. 

We were in Sonlight Core E this year - the 2nd half of American history - and it was my favorite, and probably most thought provoking year of History yet.  You can't learn about the Civil War, WW1, the Depression, WW2, the Civil Rights movement and more without getting a fire in your belly about the great injustices in the world.  If you can, you need to read them again.  These two kids and I have marched on battlefields this year, we've traveled with historians and world changers, and we've had many many thought and tear provoking conversations.  I'm grateful for the growing we all did this year.

Congratulations, Xavier, on your completion of 4th grade!
Xavier had made HUGE gains in his reading comprehension and has fully fallen into the world of reading for enjoyment.  His fluency is now top notch, and he is often found with a book while the rest of the kids are playing.  Xavier began a cursive handwriting book this year, and we discovered that he has gorgeous cursive ability.  He enjoys sketching, serving others, video games when allowed, shadowing his dad (running cables, etc), riding his bike, and playing a multitude of sports in his free time. 

Congratulations, Ameliya, on your completion of Kindergarten!
Ameliya shocked me with her mental math abilities and whipped through the Masterbooks level 1 book without much difficulty.  She can add, subtract, tell time to the hour, skip count, tally mark, and write to 100!  Ameliya also enjoyed learning about nature and sitting in on the big kids' read alouds.  She knows a great deal about much of the American history the big kids and I did, simply because she is a listener.  Ameliya also learned to READ this year!  She is a proficient beginning reader, and is very eager to continue her lessons after we take a little summer break.  She is reading anything she can get her hands on and likes to write letters to other people by sounding out the words and getting help for some of the hard ones!
In her free time Ameliya plays pretend with the others, but is often found drawing, coloring, looking at books, or playing with her babies or her kitty.  She learned to ride her bike without training wheels this year and puts a lot of miles on it riding out front of the house.  Ameliya has grown so much physically this year, too.  She is tall, slender, and her hair is growing again.  She looks healthy and she feels good and we are so thankful.

Congratulations, Zayden Sam on your completion of preschool!
It feels like Zayden has been in preschool forever, because, while he is a crazy active little dude, he's also always been a quick and eager study and has known his letters forever.  This year he worked on refining his writing, coloring in the lines, and his cutting and gluing abilities.  He would often go several days without doing "school" and then would sit for hours with his books and want to do page after page.  School at Zayden's age also included a lot of following directions, learning to obey, and following through, as well as cleaning up after himself.  He worked on a lot of Lego projects this year, and his little fingers got stronger because of that.  Zayden likes to ride bikes, scooters, and skateboards, jump on the trampoline, draw, do whatever his big brother is doing, and have an occasional tea party with his sister in his free time.  We are giving Zayden a chance at kindergarten next school year, but we will take our time, and may schedule in two years of first grade for him.  He is sure in a hurry to get to "real" school, but mom is dragging her feet - although I did order his school books!
Oh yes, and Zayden also wants everyone to know he learned how to make stars this year. 

We did it, kids!  And we even did it with a pencil nabbing, crayon eating, paper tearing little tyrant sister amongst us!  Congrats on a school year well done.  Your teacher mama is SO proud of each and every one of you, and word on the street is that so is the principal.

B.L.I.S.S. Academy will be taking a couple weeks off before reconvening to do a fun, light study on backyard birds and then beginning the new school year sometime in July-August.  Mom's still reviewing the calendar.  This school year our children have welcomed a sister, moved, watched a space launch, schooled through a pandemic (which meant the loss of every extra activity we had chosen), and done it all with exemplary determination and grit.
Enjoy the summer break, sweets!  You earned it!

Musical Day

We had a very musical day today.  The children are doing a three session music class with a homeschooling family in our co-op and today kicked it off.  The instructor, Miss Janeane is using this book for the littlest singers:

I was impressed with how quickly the hour and a half session went and the kids came home eager to practice the lessons they were assigned. 

We also very much enjoyed the fellowship with the attending families over lunch after class!

After naps I gave the children their first piano lessons.  

  

Natalee was frustrated with getting her mind to make her fingers move individually, but I think with practice it'll come and she'll enjoy it more. 

I gave each child an assignment note book and set them a practice schedule to practice everyday this week.  My intent is for them to remember to do this without reminders.

 Xavier has strong little hands and caught on quickly.  I actually hadn't intended to start him with lessons but he begged so I caved.

I believe that music education is such a gift for children and I'm hoping that, in time, this gives our children a creative outlet.  Even if they choose another instrument, knowing how to read music is such an asset in life!