September, 2010

Ya know, I thought when I graduated from college I was done with classes and learning. Of course, since then I've learned that learning never really stops, but lately it feels like I'm taking this to a whole new level!  Seriously, I'm getting flashes of college here! LOL So what am I doing?

First up, Brian and I are taking an 8 week marriage course by Dynamic Marriage. It's pretty intense with nightly homework and weekly meetings.

Then for a few months now, I've been working my way through the Crash Course for transracial adoptive parents. There is a lot to read, watch, and think about. Here are just some of the books for this one.

Then earlier this month I had the fantastic opportunity to attend an Empowered to Connect workshop and hear Dr. Karyn Purvis speak. (If you have the chance to go hear Dr Purvis and you have adopted or are thinking of adoption, PLEASE go!! It is well worth your time!) So now I have added her book, workbook, and materials to my list of things I am studying, Also I'm reading The Out of Sync Child to help me evaluate if one of my sweethearts might suffer from a Sensory Processing Disorder (I'm thinking the answer is yes).

And as if all of this were not enough, as part of our homeschooling co-op, I'm in a support group/class called Homeschooling 101. While not intense, we have had homework and reading for it too!
And I still need to do the work to get my 5 CEUs to keep my nursing license active... but I've got a month to get that done! :)

So what should I start next when the marriage class ends?

One of the things we've been working very hard on lately is sharing and not just grabbing things from our siblings. Honestly most days I feel like no one is listening or learning a thing! But every now and then, just when I despair, I get a little sign of hope like this:

When we went apple picking the other day at lunch time I had Evan climb into the van to get his cup. He found his cup and one of those mini pretzel sticks... you know, the ones about 3 inches long. Without my saying anything, he broke it into 3 even pieces and gave one to each of his sisters. Aww, my sweet little boy!

Miriam has also gotten into the sharing mode, but she might have missed the point a bit! The other day at lunch she didn't finish her P.B.&J sandwich or banana. An hour later she wanted a snack. I reminded her of that half sandwich and banana still on her plate. She walked off eating the banana and carrying the sandwich. Three minutes later she is back asking for the snack and proudly declaring the banana and sandwich gone. This is how the conversation went:

Momma: Miriam you didn't have time to eat all your food already. What happened to your sandwich?
Miriam: Oh, I shared my sandwich with Evan.
Momma: What?!?!
Miriam: Well, Momma, I couldn't not share with Evan! (big innocent eyes)

God help me with this child!!

Last weekend we made a trip to the zoo to wrap up the 4 units we just
finished in My Father's World K. They were the "wild animal" units
including E-e-elephant, P-p-penguin, K-k-kangaroo, and Z-z-zebra.

We had a wonderful time, and the children were able to see all the
animals except kangaroos. It was actually their first time seeing an
elephant live as the zoo we normally visit does not have any.

We were able to get right up by the zebras:

The kids rode a few metal animals....

And pretended to drive a 4 wheel drive...

More WILD animals kids and one camel! (Can I just say Katie makes the cutiest little zebra!)

One of the elephants...

Miriam and a penguin!

Katie while looking at the cake Momma made for Aunt Jen: "I not touch it! I not mess with it! I not do ANYTHIN' !!"

Katie re the name of her baby doll: "Dis is baby Jesus Moses."

When you follow roads like these:

You end up with loads like these!

Then your kitchen looks like this:

And your sink fills with these!

Thankfully, I have helpers like these!

Look what my boy did!!

Friday was our first day at our local homeschooling co-op. The kids were
SOOOOO excited. Especially about the new backpacks they got to hold
their items!

Miriam is now a Kindergartner! Wow, were did my baby girl go?? She is
taking three class. First is a class called Storytime. They read a story
and do games/crafts based on the books. It looks like in October, the
teacher also wants the child to dictate a story to a parent, illustrate
it, and bring it to class. The second class is a Montessori style class
with some Montessori learning stations. And the last class is called
"Show and Tell". I'm not sure where they are going to take that class,
but Miriam did get to see a puppy and some praying mantises during the
first class.

Mr Evan is a preschooler!! My big boy did just wonderful. I was so proud
of him! He is taking three class starting with Before Five in a Row.
It's the same program I used in more depth with Miriam for pre-K and I
am excited he is getting it too. His next class is Letter of the Week
which should be lots of fun for him. Last of all is Art. He already came
home with a bead bracelet with his name in it.

And poor Katie is stuck in the nursery much to her dislike. At one point
she staged an escape attempt to get to her "friends" which is what she
called her brother and sister. (And can I just say how SWEET I think
that is??)

I also have a class during the co-op. It's informal but is called
Homeschooling 101. An experienced homeschooling mom is going to be
teaching us newbies what she can, and I really hope the class will be a
source if support for us all.

Here are the cuties their very first day.

I'm finally getting around to posting about our unit on K-Kangaroo even though we finished almost 2 weeks ago. :)

We did the standard My Father's World work pages like always. Here is Miriam working on one of those.

I printed off some coloring sheets and work sheets about the letter "K"
and kangaroos for Evan and Katie from the same website as before. Katie
decided to put stickers on her kangaroo!

The book we were to read for Day 6 in MFW was Katy No Pockets. I decided
to supplement the reading with some of the lapbook projects available
for free at Homeschool Share. I love Homeschool Share. When I did Before
Five in a Row with Miriam for preschool I used it all the time to make
lapbooks. I did not actually make a lapbook this time, but did have
Miriam do 3 of the little projects. Here she is making a "Kangaroo
Facts" book.

Evan was not in the mood to join us as much for this unit so he did some puzzles and sorted his cars. :-)

One other special thing we did this unit was to go outside and measure
out how far a kangaroo can jump in a single bound. Then we each tried to
jump and see how we measured up! Here are our results. (Note: Evan is
standing on the kangaroo's line)