School prep is an ongoing thing for these disciples. We made time today to round up books from bookshelves, totes, and newly arrived boxes.
I was showing Stewart some of his books for Literature as Marie looked on.
Stewart hung is head. Marie exclaimed, “Wow! I REALLY hope the LORD returns before I have to read that!”
homeschool
H.I.S. Baseball – 2015
H.I.S. = Home Instructed Students. And, you know, His.
It’s not for everyone, but it is perfect for these Disciples.
Johanna got to play this year. We missed a few games for rain. And a few on our trip. But we didn’t miss the last night with the pizza party. And even Mommy got to go. Nan and Nene came by, too.
I love that the emphasis is on godly character and that doing your best is what counts.
John remembered the zoon lens. But trying to get to five different fields isn’t easy. 
Dayton's Corners School House
In Nov. 2012, Marie, Stewart, and Nigel got to do a field trip at Dayton’s Corners School
House. They went with some friends, and Johanna and
Tabitha and I went to the museum. When another opportunity arose for Tabitha to
get a turn we jumped on it. Marie was more than happy to go again.
We made authentic lunches again. Muffins, boiled eggs, cheese.
We gave them mason jars (albeit with metal, screw on lids) with lemondae, too.
They had a great time. ♥
Dayton’s Corners School House
In Nov. 2012, Marie, Stewart, and Nigel got to do a field trip at Dayton’s Corners School House. They went with some friends, and Johanna and Tabitha and I went to the museum. When another opportunity arose for Tabitha to get a turn we jumped on it. Marie was more than happy to go again.
We made authentic lunches again. Muffins, boiled eggs, cheese. We gave them mason jars (albeit with metal, screw on lids) with lemondae, too.
They had a great time. ♥
Sipping science
We’ve been reading about Thomas Edison. The story goes that he once mixed chemicals together and saw a tremendous number of bubbles form. This led him to believe this creation of bubbles could elevate a person off the ground. So he had his friend drink it. (He was about 8 at the time.)
Our science guide had us create our own bubbly chemical reaction… homemade pop!
I love school at home. 
Doesn’t she look scholarly?
Saint Patrick’s Day Shakes
Nan brought the goodies for St. Patrick’s Day milkshakes, mint extract and all. Nan also made some soda bread with Johanna and Tabitha. This was, um, lunch. Really. I don’t think we ate anything else.
This is really funny. The boys have been practicing at the Charles Finney school for the upcoming production of The Sound of Music. They’ve made some new friends and reconnected with some formerly homeschooled boys they used to know. One of their new friends often inquires about homeschooling. One day they took the iPod with them to take photos of themselves in the costumes. Nigel decided to mess with their new friend C. and showed him this picture, stating, “This is what it’s like to homeschool.”
C gaped and opined how lucky Nigel is.
Then one of the former homeschooler boys looked over C’s shoulder and said emphatically, “THAT is not what homeschooling is like!”
C gaped and opined how lucky Nigel is.
Then one of the former homeschooler boys looked over C’s shoulder and said emphatically, “THAT is not what homeschooling is like!”
Busted.
Ice Skating
For as long as I can remember, there has been an offering of homeschool ice skating in our area.
I first remember it being offered in Greece on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive to Greece.
Then I remember it being offered downtown on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive downtown.
This year it was offered about 7 miles from my house.
Okay – while it isn’t the CLOSEST rink to my house, it is pretty close. 😉
So I signed up Marie and Tabitha.
I first remember it being offered in Greece on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive to Greece.
Then I remember it being offered downtown on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive downtown.
This year it was offered about 7 miles from my house.
Okay – while it isn’t the CLOSEST rink to my house, it is pretty close. 😉
So I signed up Marie and Tabitha.
Tabitha was eager; Marie was reluctant.
But by the time the first lesson was over they were both asking if Dad could build a rink in our yard.
But by the time the first lesson was over they were both asking if Dad could build a rink in our yard.
There were a few spills that first day.
But before long they were happily gliding.
Within a month I let them doff the helmets.
I did not sign up the boys because our Spanish tutor comes on Tuesday afternoons, and the time away from home for the 1 hour skating is just minutes more than 2 hours. They weren’t comfortable taking that much time away from their school work.
But on the last day they had family open skate. Stewart eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Nigel was a bit more concerned about the time away from his work. I mentioned I could waive English grammar for the day and he jumped into action!
Guess who else put on a pair of skates?
I was fun. I skated about 20 minutes and was relieved that I did not fall. I DID get a NASTY blood blister on my HAND from doing up 5 pair of skates as tightly as I could! LOL.
Just before we left Nigel took a face plant and it was terrible to look at. (If you are his Mama.) But he handled it like a champ.
And both boys would like to do skating next year if we can make it work out!
Wild Wings and Bird Song Trail 2015
I’m not one for field trips. They interrupt the school day.
I’m especially not one for outdoor field trips in the winter. They are outdoors
I’m especially not one for outdoor field trips in the winter. They are outdoors
But – as this one was one we hadn’t done in four years, and the day was already being interrupted for a WCC for Katriel, I decided I’d take the three older girls to this one. I do like raptors and we’d just read the book, Poppy, by Avi.
I’d wondered if I should take Johanna, but she was super-animated and enjoyed herself tremendously.
Marie and Tab got to dissect owl pellets.
While the girls looked for what the owls had had for lunch, Hanny played with giant plastic bugs…
I wanted nothing more than to leave once we were done. But we’d come with sunflower seeds, and 16 inches of snow was not about to deter my daughters. Even the one whose legs are only a little more than 16 inches!
Before we even had gotten ready to feed the birds they started zooming at us. As Tab simply POINTED to something a bird dove toward her hand. We were all delighted and excited.
It was COLD. While I was never fast enough to grab a great picture of a bird in Marie’s hand, she was very good at standing still and they visited her often.
Sweet Johanna stood as still as she could, but as birds landed on her hand, she often startled and dropped her seed to the ground…
After we’d been out a bit, I asked her if her hand was cold. She gushed, “YES!” so we put her mittens back on.
After we’d been out a bit, I asked her if her hand was cold. She gushed, “YES!” so we put her mittens back on.
That seemed to do the trick.
Cardinals joined in the fun.
Tab had her share of birds, as well.
Matthew 6:25-26 <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23308A" data-link="(A)”>“Therefore I tell you, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23308B" data-link="(B)”>do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23309D" data-link="(D)”>Are you not of more value than they?
Second half of the school year commences
After two weeks off of school, I had a bit of trepidation about heading back to our rigorous schedule. Had we taken too long a break? Would we have to relearn how to manage our responsibilities? Would we crash and burn by lunch?
I’m happy to report we gave the day a 10 out of 10! The kids ROCKED!
And Johanna and I TIED in this massive game of Frozen memory.
Dayspring Disciples 