Christmas 2009- A White Christmas

We had our first ever White Christmas! We had the best four days ever! The break was so needed! We hope we can make it a new tradition. We all had the best time- no electronics (Even though the cabin did have a T.V. no one ever turned it on.) Long days of sledding, snowboarding, hiking through the snow, reading by the fire- Couldn't have asked for anything more! There are way more photos of DD than DS- He was busy running around the entire time and you couldn't get him to stop long enough for a photo! I tried.. DD was constantly begging for her picture to be taken on the other hand!


The view from the living room window- that is the lake through the trees


Stockings hung by the chimney with care????


The biggest marshmallows I have EVER seen!


I'll toast to that!


Wiped out after a long day of playing in the snow!



One incredibly happy dog!






Say hello to my little friend.....Well Eron's actually- there were 4 of them that would actually bang against the door every night wanting food! They were so friendly! They ate out of Eron's hand!


My partner in crime <3 ok maybe not crime- but everything else!


It was so beautiful!


<3 Him!



My lil snow bunny

sledding the day away


She's starting to do turns and jumps now- She is getting pretty good!


Who needs a blanket when you have Kona?


Take a picture Mom!!

Cousins!!

Erick and Angie!

She did this all by herself with her new makeup kit- she makes me laugh!!

Wordless Wednesday- Lets' Shake on it

Weekly Report #17

Had an awesome Christmas break! Fit in a few lessons in before we left.

MATH-
DS- Saxon 5/4 Lesson 67-68
Played TONS of board games this week!

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-
DD- Workbook Pg 105-107(Rough Draft- Autobiography)
DD- Workbook #2 Page 134-141 (Reading Skills, Writing skills, Thinking Skills)- Workbook completed- moving on to 3rd grade workbook next week!
DD- Spelling Workbook Pg 58-60
DS- Workbook Pg 128-130 (Prefixes, Suffixes)
DS- Workbook #2 Pg 122 (Simple Subjects, Predicates)

SCIENCE-
Watched episode of Raging Planet-(Volcanoes)

READING-
LOTS of reading over the holidays!

MUSIC/ART-
DD- Crafts- Made frame for Grandpa
Lots of coloring and crafts
Listened to Bach throughout the week

SPORTS/EXTRA CURRICULAR-
DS- Playdate at our house
Stayed at cabin over Christmas- lots of outdoor fun!
Lots of sledding and snowboarding
Sledding with cousins

Wordless Wednesday- Best Friends?

Weekly Report # 16

Another strange week. Started out good but had some unexpected things happen towards the end end of the week, so we didn't finish as strong as I had hoped. Camera broke so I missed a ton of photo opportunities :( Computer crashed- what a week... Oh well, it's almost Christmas! We are all REALLY looking forward to our getaway!!


MATH-
DD- Saxon 2- L 100-103
DS- Saxon 5/4- L 64-66
DS- Math Worksheet (division)
Numerous logic games throughout the week

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-
Discussed Autobiographies
DD-Wkbk- Page 101-104(Journal Writing,Autobiography writing)
DD-Wkbk #2- Page 128-133 (Reading skills, Writing skills, Thinking Skills)
DD- Spelling P 54-58
DD- Spelling Pre-test 5/10
DD-Spelling test 9/10
DD- Master Reader Lesson #22
DS- Spelling Lesson #8
DS- Spelling Pre- Test-11/15
DS- Spelling Test (Last Weeks words) 16/18
DS- Workbook Pg- 120-121 (Types of Sentences)
Played Mad Libs throughout the week



HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY-
Continued reading from The Story of the World Vol 1- Chapter #8,#9
Read World Civilization- Earliest Cities to Greeks Overview from What yoru 2nd Grader Needs to know.
Review Questions Chapter # 8
Review Questions Chapter # 9
Continued reading from the Kids Money Book- (Where banking originated, money terms)
Continued our Mummy Project
Watched Video- "Amazing Wonders of the World- From Egypt to Israel)
Coloring Page- Ceremonial Mask
Map Work- First Cities of India

SCIENCE-
Continued our animal study- Predator and Prey and Snowy Owls,
Experiment- Color changing volcano- The kids had SO much fun with this one! Introduction to Carbon Dioxide- What a blast!

READING-
Continued to read aloud from book club selection "Among the Hidden"- Finished this week- (Good book, a little scarey for younger ones- but we all liked it and are looking forward to reading the next in the series)
Silent Reading 45 min daily

MUSIC/ART-
Listened to Bach throughout the week
Attempted to make a "Royal headress" inspired from Ancient Sumerian Jewelry- The beads were so small it was a difficult task- but fun!
Made Christmas ornaments for friends (Thanks for the idea S!)
Made soap- has become an annual Christmas tradition





( I forgot to get pictures before we wrapped them- but they turned out really cute- with a very fun surprise hidden in the middle!)
SPORTS/EXTRA CURRICULAR-
DS- Playdate at a friends house
DD- Miss Lane County Pageant Christmas Party
DS- Sleepover at our house
Attended basketball game of family friend
Church
DD-Playdate at our house
DS- Playdate at our house
DS- Sleepover at our house
Pizza playdate with old friends


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Wordless Wednesday- Sports

Weekly Report # 15

We started the week off on a really high note. The kids both seemed very motivated (Our history switch seems to have encouraged the attitude change)
DD has been a reading maniac. Sneaking up, finishing whole chapter books in a night. She is loving the Baby Sitter's Club- Little Sister's books and read 3 just this week! DS seems to have finally realized what I have been telling him for years- the sooner you start the sooner you finish! It has made a huge difference time wise for us! Because he has finally figured this out (so it seems at the moment- hopefully it lasts) Our school days end much sooner! We have had more free time for the fun stuff!

MATH-
DD is still breezing through math. We are working on multiplication in her book but she already taught herself the basics(1,1,10,100) so it has been really easy review for her. She completed 2 lessons per day this week.
DD- Saxon 2- Lesson 89-99
DS- Saxon 5/4 Lesson 60-63
DS- Investigation # 6

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-
DD- Wkbk #2- Page 118-125(Thinking Skills, Reading Skills, Language Skills)
DD- Wkbk- Page 95-100 (Comics, Characters, Settings, Journal Writing)
DD- Spelling Wkbk Pg 48-53
DD- Master reader Lesson #21
DD- Spelling Test 8/10
DD-Spelling Pre-Test- 7/10
DD- Spelling Test 12/12
DS-Wkbk- Pg 97- (Reading Skills Practice Test #11,12,13,14,15)Whew- think we are all tested out this week!!
DS- Wkbk #2- Pg 116-121 (Contractions,compound words)
DS-Spelling Lesson # 6
Played Scattergories Jr.
Played Mad Libs
DS- Continued to write Thank you letters for birthday gifts

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY-
Chapter #4-#5#6 #7 Story of the World
Review Questions- Chapter #4
Review Questions- Chapter #5
Review Question- Chapter #6
Review Questions Chapter #7

Coloring Page- The Pyramids of Egypt
Map Work- The Old Kingdom of Egypt
Jewish People Word Search
Made comic strip for Story of Joseph
Sumerian Inventions Word Search
Began our Chicken Mummy Project
Map Work Hammurabi and the Babylonians
Crossword Puzzle- Name that Place
Coloring Page- The Ziggurat of Ur
Watched an episode of Amazing Race

SCIENCE-
Watched an episode of Oregon Field Guide

MUSIC/ART-
Introduction to Bach.
Listened to Bach's Favorite 25 throughout the week.
The kids have been doing a lot of songwriting latley- writing them together then singing them and "playing" guitar :)

READING-
Silent Reading 45 min daily
Continued reading book club selection- Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix- Chapter 3-15

FOREIGN LANGUAGE-

DS- L1.1 Review
DS- Quiz 1.1.4
DS- Test L.1.1
DD- Speaking L1.1.1


SPORTS/EXTRA CURRICULAR-
DD- Playdate at our house
DD- Cheer Practice 2x
DD- Cheer Private Lesson
DD/DS- Playdate at friends house
DD/DS- Family visit to Grandma's house
Painted Pottery- homeschool group activity
Bowling with friends and family
Church

The Passing of a friend

A friend passed away today. Sitting here grieving her loss and thinking about her 3 young children and husband. I went to her facebook page and amazingly her verse of the day was this:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

— John 3:16 (NIV)

Thank you God. You give me peace in my weakest moments.

Weekly Report # 14

It is amazing how much "extra" time we seem to be able to find now that we are not tied down to the football schedule. DS is going to take a break from sports until after the holidays then it will be on to something new.. Not quite sure what yet... Trying to encourage him in to taking some music lessons, but so far he has no interest. I am enjoying the break- only having to run one child to activities is so much easier! I will enjoy it while it lasts!
DD finally reached her goal of getting her back walk over perfected! She has been working on it for many months. She is so proud of herself, as are we! It is an integral part of her individual cheer routine and now that she has it- her coach has changed her team routine to make her front and center with her new moves!
She is ecstatic!

DD is excited about math- getting ready to officially start multiplication next week. She is still working really hard to get to her goal of starting 3rd grade math this year. (She wants desperately to catch up to brother!)

DS is doing better in math. He actually woke up before everyone else one day this week and started in on his math before being told. He said "The sooner I get started the sooner I am done." Holy cow- did I finally get through to him?!?!?!?

Both the kids have a renewed interest in history thanks to The Story of the World book that we started. (Thanks SIL for letting us borrow it!!) The format works really well for them (AND ME!) We all really enjoy it and we are moving faster than I originally had planned as they were asking to do more throughout the week :)

MATH-
DD- Saxon 2- Lesson 79-88
DS- Saxon 5/4 Lesson 55-59
DD- Fact Card Practice

ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS-
DS- Workbook Pg 85-92 (Reading skills practice test 8&9)
DS- Workbook #2- Page 110-115 (Plurals and showing ownership)
DS- Spelling Lesson # 5
DS- Spelling Test-10/15
DS- Spelling practice for missed words from test
DS- Spelling Pre Test (Next Weeks Words) 8/15
DD-Workbook Page 87-94 (Writing Dialogue,Setting, Characters, Problem, Comics)
DD-Workbook #2 Page 108-117 (Thinking Skills, Reading Skills,Language Skills)
DD-Spelling Workbook Page 43-47
DD-Spelling Test 100%
DD- Spelling Pre-test (Next weeks words) 8/10
DD- Cursive Handwriting Practice- G
English from the Roots Up- Metron- Made vocab card- practiced word-meaning throughout the week.
Reviewed previously learned Greek root words
Letter Writing- DS continued to write thank you's for birthday presents, DD writing to friends
Added another page to our "ME" books- "My measurements"
Did Mad Libs throughout the week (The kids' new favorite stress reliever :)


HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY-
Started reading "The Story of the World, Book 1- Ancient Times" (Introduction, Chapter #1, Chapter #2,Chapter #3)
Review Questions- Chapter #1 #2 # 3
Map Work- Nile River/Egypt
Map Work- Egypt/Sumer
Coloring Page- Osiris and Set
Coloring Page-Carving Hieroglyphs
Continued reading from "The kids Money Book" (Minting,Paper money,Markings on paper money)
Made and decorated crowns representing the King with the White Crown, and the King with the Red Crown-
The kids decided they would do a reenactment of the Battle for control of Egypt.


Pre Battle- Poor King with the Red Crown- No idea he was about to be overthrown :)
No battle photos available as the battle was too intense :)




VICTORY!


SCIENCE-
Continued our Animal Study- Adding Polar Bears and Seals to our Animal Notebook

MUSIC/ART-
Listened to classical music by various composers throughout the week (I found a really cool CD set a few weeks ago, it has become a staple in our house!)

READING-
Continued to read aloud from "Esther" Chapter 5-14- (Great book! The kids expressed interest in celebrating Purim this year)
Started reading the new book club selection " " Chapter 1-2
Silent Reading 45 min daily

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
DS- Rosetta Stone L.1.1 Listening, L.1.1 Listening and Reading
DS- Worksheet 1.1.3
DD- Rosetta Stone L 1.1 Speaking
DD- Numbers worksheet

SPORTS/EXTRA CURRICULAR-
DD- Cheer Practice 2x
DD- Private Cheer Lesson
DD- Participated in Christmas Parade with Cheer team
DS- Playdate at friends house
DD- Playdate at friends house
DD- Gymnastics Private Lesson
DD/DS- Book Club Meeting