Hard worker

Sweetness of the day: My 13 year old taking care of the yard work for us. I pray these boys will always value and embrace a hard day's work.  They are amazing boys-always willing and offering to help.  Such humble, servant hearts they both have.  Dear future daughter-in-laws- you are lucky girls!

Running their race

"If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."

Eric Liddell

Such a pleasure to see God using their running as an instrument to teach them so much. Running presents so many easy parallels with life. Praying they find them.

Zombie run

The 5K Zombie run is a favorite. They run through dark woods and get chased by zombies. Awesome. They are learning endurance, discipline, and so much more. Cross country is a great sport for kids! Jack's time was 24:32 and Joshua's was 24:38. Hard work is paying off! My favorite quote from tonight was when Jack said, "I don't need a medal. I have the pride of my family." My boy.

Bolts' first 5k

Before their first 5k of the season

 

 

After

So proud of their hard work!

My brainy boys

The boys both qualified as 1 of 3 from their grades for the school spelling bee.  Last year they qualified, as well.  But last year Joshua won for the grammar school and Jackson missed his first word, "cloudy" which he spelled "cloudly", due to nerves.  In an effort to keep the humor going, he referred to every rainy day all year thereafter as a "cloudly day".  Glad he learned to laugh at himself!

Joshua, a little bit bummed still that he didn't hear the word correctly.  He recovered soon.

Grammar school competitors

This year the boys were better prepared.  Our prayer was that they would only miss a word if they did not know the spelling, and that they would show the love of Christ as either winner or loser.  Neither of them won, but our prayers were answered, nonetheless!  Jackson went out on the word "rosin" and Joshua's word was "frump" but he heard "flaunt" and spelled the wrong word.  I think they were good sports, and realized in the end that it was an honor to be in the spelling bee.  Praise to God for their gifts and talents!  My imagination could be entertained for days on end imagining what He will use these boys to do for His kingdom in the future, God willing!  What precious boys they are!

"I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine."  -Emily Dickinson

Logic school competitors

Jackson beside his friend who won!  (His little brother won the grammar school bee...so fun!

Jack as John in Peter Pan

As I mentioned in the fall, Jack took a brave risk as a new-to-the-school-sixth-grader and tried out for the logic (middle) school's drama club.  Instead of the part of a pirate in Peter Pan, which he tried out for and would have been glad to get, he was given the role of John.  The children have practiced several hours or more each week since school began.  And last weekend all of their hard work paid off!

It is hard to describe how it feels when you see your child using his gifts and talents to bless others.  He really did a marvelous job.  So many scenes, so many lines and stage directions, and did I mention he is new to this school (and previously homeschooled!)?  I looked at Andy during the curtain call, and we shared a slightly tearful, knowing, glance.  This kid is talented.  And brave.  And most impressive of all, he is so comfortable in his own skin.  Not that he doesn't recognize his flaws.  But his confidence is in Christ.  And he is comfortable and vulnerable, and it translates on stage.  We are so amazed with this boy of ours.  He brings so many laughs and so much joy to our family.  Here are a few pictures.  (Jack is the one with the top hat.)

Jackson had18 friends and family, along with the four of us, who came to support him.  We were so thankful!  Here he is pictured with a few of us.

Mother, Wendy, John, and Michael discussing Never Land

Peter, Wendy, Michael, and John eavesdropping on the mermaids, pirates, and Indian

The children in the nursery

Peter and Wendy

The cast doing "the chicken dance" at curtain call :)

Completed: Our Last Year of Homeschool

It has been an adventurous, glorious, roller coaster the past four years. I have felt so certainly called to be primary teacher to my kids. And I think, although I see weaknesses and faults in my abilities, we have all learned a lot together. I know by the government's standards we are doing well because the boys absolutely ACED their standardized tests. I question more whether I have taught them all that I can about Christ and walking with Him. THAT is the important question!

It has, by far, been our busiest year yet!
Academically, Jackson and Joshua's 5th and 3rd grade years...
Math: Lessons 1-150 in Horizons 5 (or 3)/ many multiplication and division drills/ 1-2 hours every day of hard work
Grammar: Lessons 1-150 of BJU Press 5 (or 3)/ 7 major writing assignments/ much chanting/singing of grammar memory work
Spelling: 32 lists and tests from Abeka 5 (or 3)
Logic: 40 middle school level puzzles solved
Latin: Completed English from the Roots Up
Geography: Map skills book completed/geography of Europe and Asia as we studied the wars of the 1900s History: Sonlight, Core E completed (1800s and 1900s) In our 4 years to homeschool, we studied Creation through today!
Science: Completed Christian Kids Explore Chemistry/ weekly science experiments
Reading: Read 31 chapter books from the Sonlight Core E course! VERY impressive!
Art: Drew many historical subjects: Mt. Rushmore, M.L. King, world war I soldier, etc. from the Draw Through History series. Also took a fabulous art class!
Bible: Lots of reading and Who Is God? from Apologia

What a year we have had.  I have two very bright, hard-working sons.  I am so honored and proud!

Yucky 9 year old boy humor

Joshua got in the car from art class on Monday with a mischievous, smug look on his face. For such a quiet little guy he has such an enormous amount of facial expressions that I didn't think too much about it. And then he said, "Mom, it might not be okay." Oh dear. "What might not be okay, darling?" "Well, you might not like my art from class," he replied. "Of course I will", I assure him thinking he is just feeling insecure. "What did you make?" He tries not to grin, not sure if I will see his humor and whispers, "Well, poop...but you can call it cow poop if that will make a difference." "No, no, that won't make a difference, I am sure. What was the assignment?" (I am buying myself time here while I think this over and try to act reasonable.) "Well, we are studying proportions. I thought it would be funny to draw big buildings in a city, a little house, a little airplane, and a big piece of poop. You know, to compare proportions." He shows me the paper, and points to the gigantic display front and center. Oh my. "Well, what did your teacher say? Because really poop and gas are something you boys might laugh about on the playground, I get that, but do you really think you need to bring it into the classroom?" "Oh no Mom. I didn't put any in the classroom. That would be nasty! See, I just drew the poop on the paper. My teacher thought it was weird, but I didn't get in any trouble." Keeping a straight face, I again requested poop and gas not be draw, discussed, shown, bragged about, or in any way displayed in class. Agreement made. Of course, when he showed Andy there was all out laughter and amusement. At the dinner table. Even I had to bite my lip a little.

Mid-year update: The boys (5th and 3rd grades)

The boys are in a class together at a hybrid school 2 days a week. Here's what their days look like on the 3 days/week that they learn at home:
::Breakfast and chores (the boys are great at doing mostly all basic chores around the house now- cleaning windows, making beds, washing dishes, vacuuming, cleaning their bathroom, sweeping, etc.)

::Then they do a list of exercises that Andy created for them. It includes: jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, wheel barrow walks, board twists, knee bends, shoulder presses, and throwing the football. This is part of their "p.e", along with golf lessons(Jackson), bike riding, farm work, basketball team(Joshua), and of course all the free playing. The boys, along with Andy, are going to take karate beginning in March when basketball is over.

::Start our learning day with a devotion/Bible from the Who is God? book (Apologia). This book has been an excellent study of basic theology for us.
::The boys study their spelling words (Abeka), verses (chosen by hybrid school teacher), and poetry (Abeka) while I clean up breakfast dishes, finish my chores, etc.

Stagecoach drawing project

::I teach them their new material for Math (Horizons) and Grammar (BJU Press). (These subjects, along with Spelling, are the only where they are on different levels.) Once I get them started and they begin their practice sheets, I work with Lydie.
::Snack/ rip and roar outside.
::Next we work on creative writing. Their grammar book teaches technical writing. I have loosely used the ideas from the Institute for Excellence in Writing to give an assignment based on our history studies. Every now and then they write in the journals on the subject of their choice. Every Friday they have a finished story and I type it and then they illustrate it. Jack has always been an excellent writer. Joshua has BECOME a great writer this year, too. When I get a chance I will post his recent assignment, a personal narrative. He BLEW MY SOCKS OFF!

Statue of Liberty drawing project
::Next we work on our History/Literature assignment from the Sonlight curriculum. This usually involves reading a short history lesson from a history book, plus a couple of chapters in 2 chapter books (one read aloud by me, the other read independently). Here are the chapter books (along with excerpts from 5 or 6 history books) that they have read so far this year:

Lincoln: A Photobiography

By the Great Horn Spoon!
Shoes for Everyone: Jan Matzeliger
Sing Down the Moon
World Changers: William Wilberforce
Freedom Train
Turn Homeward, Hannalee
The Perilous Road
Caddie Woodlawn
Old Yeller
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison, Inventor
The Great Turkey Walk
The Terrible Wave
Helen Keller
The Great Wheel
The Story of George Washington Carver
Little Britches (currently)
The Wright Brothers (currently)
::Lunch/ rip and roar outside or take a walk
::Next we work on "drilling". I have a thick notebook that contains all of the math, history, science, Bible, songs/hymns, and geography facts that I want them to remember. I divided them into five days. (Monday and Wednesday they are in school, so only math fact drills.)
Monday-Multiplication/Division facts (2s, 3, 4s)
Tuesday- Multiplication/Division facts (5s,6s,7s), Geography songs, Measuring facts with volume and weight, books of the Bible, disciples' names)
Wednesday- Multiplication/Division facts (8s, 9s, 10s)
Thursday- Multiplication/Division facts (11s, 12s), Shurley Grammar chants, capitalization and underlining rules, Measuring facts with time and temperature, presidents, US capitals, prime numbers, emergency procedures
Friday- Subtraction and addition facts, patriotic/history/folk songs, measuring facts with distances, planets, types of matter, types of sentences, address and phone number
::The rest of these topics are taught once or twice a week: Art (I find a weekly project from several art teacher's websites & they take an art class on Mondays), Logic (Perplexors workbooks), Latin (English from the Roots...), Drawing (Draw and Write through History), Music (Music Ace), Composer studies (I create these), and Science (Christian Kids Explore Chemistry).

Q-tip snowflake art project
::We are usually done by 2:00/2:30. It's a full, very challenging load of school work, but they are excelling. They are working hard and up to their full potential (Joshua especially). We all agree that this has been a really wonderful school year!

My boys!

I found some pictures that I had never seen before from my husband's digital files. They stirred some wonderful memories of days gone by with only two boys!

Apparently boys tie one another to trees when they go on camping trips with little cousin.

That year I gave Andy a canoe for his birthday.

This little 3 year old will be 8 next week. Be still my beating heart!

This one made me shed a tear or two. They are really sweet boys.

This is lovely, Papa. What (little and big) boys do when Mom (or wife) is away.

This looks fun!

If I could visit anywhere in time, these days would be one of my picks!

Happy birthday, boys!

This year we went the easy route, thankfully. As we were walking out the door for the party, not only did it begin to rain but we had people come with an agent to look at our house. I am SO glad we did not host the party at our house! We have also found that having the boys' party the weekend after school starts will enable almost all of their friends to come!I hope the Moms enjoyed an excuse to sit and gab.
The grandparents traveled 3 hours for a 2 hour party! Thank you!

Jackson's best friend came dressed in Harry Potter costume as a surprise for Jackson. So adorable and fun!

Fun gifts

Gotta love the older girls who watch out for Lydie! She is well loved.

Some buddies at the party

Homeschooled gangsta from suburbia :)

Super cool book!

The cakes were a hit.

Happy birthday, my darling boys!!