Year 2, Weeks 32-35

     The past four weeks have been a whirlwind but let's try to catch up.  Shall we?

     Week 32 began with a wonderful dinner with the supermom/woman behind Half a Hundred Acre Wood, along with her lovely family.  If you participate in Classical Conversations, then you are likely familiar with Brandy's blog and the wonderful plans, resources and ideas she shares.  If not, go check it out.  She's also an Usborne consultant.  Usborne books are used by several complete homeschool curricula, such as Sonlight and My Father's World.  If you're interested in looking at what Usborne has to offer and would like to purchase some books please click here.

     Brandy and her family made a quick stop in California before heading across the U.S. back home, checking off a few more states on her 50 States Before They Graduate List.

     We also concluded our reading on Corrie Ten Boom.  Her story was loved by all in our family.  Seriously, read some YWAM books.  The books are well written and engaging.  They're having their Spring Sale and a Mix and Match special right now.  Stock up!

     Week 33 was our final week of CC.  I can't believe how quickly it passed.  This was my first year tutoring and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I loved seeing my class and they way they would sponge up all the information presented to them.

     Needless to say, Week 34 was pretty laid back.  Since we were done with CC and all the work we do with it, the kids didn't have much to do.  Our school day would end pretty early which was nice, since we were having summer-like weather.  We were outside a lot and got extra books from the library to read while soaking in the sun.

     Easter happened to fall somewhere between these weeks, thus we made Easter cookies.  My Little Toughie worked with me each step of the way, from making the dough, rolling it out, cutting and then rolling fondant and making royal icing.  Then, both of my kids got creative with their cookie decorating.  See?

     Week 35, along with their school work, involved appointments, new activities, final rehearsals and our CC end-of-the-year celebration.

     My kids have done CrossFit Kids before and recently signed up at a local box.  Of course, they love it.  What's not to love?  They think they're playing but they're learning functional movements and getting a workout.  Adults need to play more often too; chase the kids at the park, climb the jungle gym with them or play catch.  Just move!

     As for the rehearsals, my Little Toughie has always loved acting.  Since she started talking, she would put on her own shows.  Last year she was in a production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  This year she's in Alice in Wonderland and has a lead part.  She is very excited and is taking it very seriously, but we'll get to that next week when I wrap up in the last post of our school year!

     Ciao for now.

Year 2, We've just finished Week 27

     My last post was in January!  It's been quite busy here, as usual.  I think next year I may have to take a different approach to how I blog about our school year.  I just don't know what that is yet.  It seems that as I tutor for Classical Conversations and homeschool the kids (let's not forget their extra curricular activities and my domestic duties too) that I barely have time to read a magazine let alone blog (FYI, I still have a Christmas issue to read.  Just in time for this December)!  I have a stack of homeschool books, Christian books, and "just for fun" books piling up on my coffee table too.  The good thing is that we only have 9 more weeks of school and then I can take, oh about a week or possible two, to read the 10 books I have and then plan next year's curriculum.

     Yes, next year I definitely need to change the way I blog.

     Over past few weeks we finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (the book we had  a copyright of 1929!) and began Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.  My daughter loves the stories; my son, not so much.  As for me, I find Alice a bit annoying!  The "curiouser and curiouser" thing about it is that coincidentally my daughter will be in a Spring production of Alice in Wonderland, playing the role of Small Alice.  Have you ever watched Disney's animated Alice in Wonderland?  We did after we finished the first book.  If you've ever read both the books, you'd know that the movie is really an odd combination of both books.

     We're also completed reading about Milton Hershey.  It's a fascinating story.  I chose it because, well, we love chocolate and I thought it would be an interesting read.  Plus, I timed it so that we would finish it close to Valentine's Day.  His is a great story of the rewards of determination and hard work coupled with compassion and vision.  Even my husband was intrigued by it.  I highly recommend it.

     In CC, we wrapped up chemical experiments and our study of great artists, from Grandma Moses to Jim Davis.  The kids even got to create their own comic strip.  It was great to see what the kids came up with for their art projects.

     I think that's it or at least that's all I can remember from the past few weeks.  I'm off to try and read a book, despite the fact that laundry is beckoning me!