Hello my friends.  I read looked at the blog today to add pictures and realized I havn’t been very good at blogging this month!  We have made alot of changes.  The most important that has taken the most of our energy, is that we have figured out we have an allergy intollerance to several foods.   If we eat wheat or dairy, we get really tired and have runny noses and itchy eyes. So, we have undergone a huge dietary change in our cupboards, fridge and habits.  The results have been a really healthy family, weight loss and a new way of learning how to cook.  I’ve seen my doctor about it and she gave me suggestions as well, so we are on our way. 

 

This is also the time of year that we switch grades.  We decided to go from Miquon to Saxon 6/5.  I’ve done quite a bit of research, and then was at a friends home and saw how they did it.  I was really impressed, and impressed on my heart that this was the way to go.  The next day I went to a used book store and found the book, un marked, teachers guide and test and prep book.  All for less than $30.00.  WOW.  A quick call to the homeschool bankers (my parents) and I was on my way home with a fresh set.  Nathan is on about lesson 5 now, and we are really enjoying it.  I’ll see what we think when it starts to get "hard".

 

We started a huge unit study on Galloping the Globe.  We were going to start an intense session in Spell to Read and Write in January, but in the testing, both boys tested a grade ahead of where we were going to start, so I figured we are learning alot just by knowing and reviewing the phonograms and rules in every day life.  So we took the GTG book to the copiers and made notebooks for each boy.  We are going to spend the spring roaming around Europe.  Right now we are in Russia.  Learning where it is, learning the foods, learning the culture, playing lots of detective and spy games.  We also purchase 10 days in Europe from Timberdoodle. I highly recommend this great resource.  It is a game the whole family can play and enjoy. We have made food, and learned about the animals that roam around.  Tomorrow the boys are going to write their names using Russian sounds.  We are keeping all the information in a 3 ring binder, a step up from the lapbooking, another change with switching grades.  Tracking all the books we are reading, writing them in a list. 

 

The boys are still involved with Awana.  It is really hard for them still in the memory.  We go over the verses just about every day, hmmm thinking on it, except for this week . . . . And they write out the verses.  We are gearing up for the Pinewood Derby contest.  I"ll post pictures of their cars when they are near to complete!

 

We are working on Ecology for our badge in Keepers of the Faith.  For the first time, the whole family is working on compost, recycle and garbage.  We have done it off and on, here and there, when we were in the mood, but now we have it set up.  I’d like to see us do this on a permanent basis even after the badge is earned.

 

We are still doing the Good News Clubs on Mondays – Always a joy to be involved in this great ministry from Child Evangelism.  At our church, Compass, Darren and I are on the Greeter team.  I love being a part of making people feel welcome.  I think it is a job well suited for me!

 

Hm…. Oh!  And we got a dog.  I"ll post pictures if she ever sits still.  We used to have a dog on the coast named Rookie.  We have been without a dog for a few months now, and have been looking with interest for quite some time, but never have found a good fit. We ran across this pup in an ad on freecycle.  She is 3 years old, potty trained, crate trained, fixed, shots, quiet, great with kids, all the good stuff.  So we just went to "see".  Well, she looks like a skinny version of our dog Rookie.  So, in the van she went.  Other than being a tad hyper of wandering in circles all day long, I think she is going to be great for the family. I took the snow shoes out today and walked around with her for a half hour.  She’ll be good to get my lazy cold behind out of the house. 🙂 Boys are in heaven and Darren is REALLY happy.

 

Well, Nathan says its time for me to look at the big green goo I made earlier out of present he recieved, their favorite, home made GAK from some good friends.  Yep. Better go see what they are doing with it!!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by!