An update that's way past due...

It has been so long since my last update! What can I say? We've been having the most fun, and taking advantage of every single moment. Presently, BabyGirl has a nasty bacterial infection and we are staying in this week to get well. That has also given me the opportunity to sit here and come up with a post!

So much has been happening! We've taken our annual family vacation to Branson, MO to spend time with our Grandma and Pappap the Great. I always have some of the best times of my life when we go on these trips. Our cabin was awesome, the weather was beautiful, and we have enough memories to last us a lifetime! We already miss our grandparents and can't wait to spend time with them again.

For science, we've wrapped up our units on plants and animals and are moving on to habitats. It looks like it will be a lot of fun to put together. Our home school group had a little get-together where we discussed hibernation and then created our own critters. We also wrote descriptions and stories about the critters. The children were then able to show and tell their creations! It was so much fun! This month we have many more fun opportunities coming up with our group including Lego club, cooking classes, a trip to the pumpkin patch, and a pumpkin paint!!

For history/geography we're still working on Ancient Egypt. We just finished learning about Egyptian writing. BabyGirl wrote her name in hieroglyphs and pretended to be a scribe. She also created an Egyptian mask for herself. She is the goddess "Sissoo"...Goddess of the animal world.

Our co-op recently got together to celebrate the moon festival. It was such a wonderful experience!!! The children were able to make lanterns, learn to use chop sticks, go on a scavenger hunt, play games, eat traditional food, parade outside with their lanterns, roast marshmallows, and enjoy each other's company. Children and adults alike had the most amazing time. I'm so thankful to be part of such a great group of parents and children!! Our next 6 week session starts later this week. The classes will be Spanish, American history through art, and hands-on science. (taught by yours truly :) We will also be having an open house where friends and family will be invited to see what all the children have learned and created over the past 2 sessions.

For our visual arts this month we played with mixing colors, discussed how the different colors make us feel, and painted with our eyes closed using our minds and imaginations. BabyGirl totally enjoys these art classes! Our good friend Barbie is an amazing teacher with a real talent and gift for teaching children. Again, I am so thankful for not only her friendship, but also the priceless learning opportunities she provides for my BabyGirl!

Last week BabyGirl informed me that her heart was telling her not to take dance class anymore. She said they were becoming boring to her, and she would rather take drum lessons. She did throw in that she loves recital so much that if she could just perform on stage every week she would be happy to continue dance :) So, we have contacted a couple of local music shops and set up some trial drum lessons to see how it goes. We are so proud of her for making this decision on her own. I know it was a very difficult one for her. She is working on her 5th year of dance, and she is anything but a quitter. Her daddy is always talking with her about the importance of following her heart in everything that she does. We are relieved that she is already practicing this, and pray that she continues to do so into her adulthood. After all, that is what life is all about! This month for music we have learned about Mozart. Babygirl was fascinated by him and his music. She could spend hours sitting at her keyboard and xylophone creating songs she knows by experimenting with the sounds until they are just right.

Our phonics/reading/spelling is coming along as usual. We have started on the 3rd Harry Potter book, and BabyGirl received her Hermione costume in the mail for Halloween!! I never cease to be amazed by her spelling abilities! She spells better than some adults I know! We are still enjoying the math curriculum, and she has found an interest in learning about money...which she did not find last year! She delights in doing her math boxes daily, and I'm so glad for her enthusiasm!

A couple weeks ago, BabyGirl found a great Kermit puppet to add to her Jim Henson puppet collection....

Last week BabyGirl did a great creation of Gumby with her play-doh...

I'm so happy to welcome fall and everything that comes with it. Bright, crisp, cool mornings....leaves changing color....pumpkins...home made soup....Halloween....the list is endless. We look forward to lots of fun, and more importantly....lots of happy HEALTHY times together! :) Until next time...