School Happenings

Bible:

We are doing a combo of devotionals and Proverbs (with verses and reflections written in journals) and watching The Chosen.

This is the only class the kids will do together this year.

English/Reading:

Lorelei and I are loving her English I curriculum. This combines reading, writing, grammar, spelling and even some geography and memorization. It is very well organized for Lorelei to work independently.

Makin will be reading various books of our choosing and using his reading journal for comprehension questions to go with each book. He will continue with IEW Writing (we have done since 2nd grade) and we are going to incorporate some spelling and handwriting as well. Grammar is Shurley Grammar which we have used since first grade. :)

While he is doing a variety of styles of books, his top choice will always be Fantasy. This book pictured was a series I couldn't get him to try out until putting it on the list for reading books...and then he absolutely loved it and it is now one of his favorite series. Win! (Even bigger win, he got his sister to read it and they area reading it together!)

Labeling Sentences For Grammar

Math:

Lorelei will meet with Mrs. Buman twice a week and work independently the other two days. This worked very well last year and I cannot even explain what a blessing Mrs. Buman is to us!!! Last year is without a doubt the least amount of math tears we have had since Kindergarten.

Makin is using an online math course (for the teaching portion) and I think its going to be a great fit! This curriculum is designed to work an hour each day and then stop, and that boundary keeps us both sane! :) I'm also very relieved he likes this online teacher as there are high school courses that continue with this same teacher that we hope to use.

Science:

Lorelei will be taking TWO science courses this year.

Biology, which she will take at HOPE Prep...this mama does not want anything to do with dissecting a frog thank you very much.

and

Animal Behavior...if you hadn't guessed this is pretty much a dream come true for this girl. She has the opportunity to take a hands-on positive reinforcement class! Such an amazing adventure for our girl!

(Pics below are from when we toured the ranch back in March.)

Chickens going through an obstacle course trained through positive reinforcement.

Makin is taking General Science. We are trying out a new curriculum and overall enjoying it. It is a bit heavy on the experiments for me but that helps make learning more fun so I try to oblige as much as I can!

His face in this picture as he takes his first look at his student workbook..."It's bigger than the Bible!"

History:

Lorelei is taking World History. We chose a curriculum we have enjoyed in the past. She prefers to read it independently and I plan to check her work weekly. The sticky note pic is from when I told her to start looking through the book and find items she would like to include special projects/online field trips...and she wasn't even done going through the whole book yet. :) Love this girl's love for learning!

Makin is taking on Texas History as well as Geography this year! I plan to use the book we already have from Lorelei's year of Texas History and come up with our own activities. He claimed he couldn't tell you where all 50 states were located on a map, so that will be our focus for Geography this year. The first day he took a pre-test and only missed 11 states on the map...so that portion of the year should be pretty simple!

Organizing Texas Explorers

Art:

Lorelei will be taking Art History at HOPE Prep. She is so excited to combine a couple of her favorite subjects!

SAT Prep:

Lorelei will be using a free online test prep in order to prepare for the SAT tests.

Typing:

This didn't happen over the summer as I'd hoped...so typing class for Makin in 7th grade it is! :)

Yearbook:

This was an unexpected class Lorelei is taking at HOPE Prep as you have to apply to be on the yearbook team. They meet over lunch on various days and will be working on putting together the yearbook for the school. Of course, this yearbook mom is thrilled she gets a small dose of what I was able to experience in my high school days!

P.E.: Makin's favorite subject this year is probably P.E. We are thrilled to have a homeschool PE class only a few minutes away from home once a week. Each week it is a variety of games and keeps the kids challenged and excited.

Other:

Lorelei absolutely loves the idea of tracking her hours for HS and earning credits. We got her a special HS planner and she uses it to keep track of her hours.

Lorelei and Brad went to do work/school work out at a coffee shop.

Makin and I worked out of a coffee shop during Lorelei's class.

We call Wednesdays "Whirlwind Wednesday" because we have quite a full day when you put together Hope Prep, a golf class, and Animal Behavior. While we won't have the golf class the entire school year, it has brought us some very full Wednesdays!

Math Video In The Car

Field Trip! The Animal Behavior teacher organized a field trip to Window To The Wild which is a bird rescue sanctuary that also includes educational programs. We had a great time learning about their birds!

Makin At Thirteen

You are our kind, determined, engineer-minded teenage boy!

You love to be funny and we really enjoy your comedic timing. (Most of the time...)

Your new-found love is remote control (RC). Mostly cars and boats for now but planes are on your short list as well. It has been interesting to see how this ties in with your project-mindedness as you tinker and fix them as they break.

You enjoy golfing and watching Husker games.

You much prefer audiobooks to reading a paper book and wear headphones much of the day listening to books. You are still a picky reader and would rather re-read than try something new, but we gradually work to add some more books to your list and you have recently found a new series you love. You prefer to stick with the genre of fantasy.

You prefer dairy and carbs and it's a project to get you to each much else. You have a bowl of goldfish daily. (Unless we tragically run out...)

You have acquired quite the Nerf collection and love a chance to battle with friends when you can.

Laser engraving is another hobby/project for you and you have made a few wood projects to sell.

You have your own playlist on Pandora and it is made up of all upbeat songs.

Quotable Moments:

E: You know what that's teaching you right?
M: (In a disgusted tone) Work ethic. (Big sigh.)

"I have a case of the Thursday's."

(Oregon trail activity...) "We definitely need whiskey."

"No dad, if you sit on Santa's lap you'll give him a ruptured thy bone."

"Except that her songs are a little repetitive. And drab."

"You could sand wood with your face!" (Brad's 5 o'clock shadow)

"I think I'm going to do a sugar fast today."

M: (seeing a neighbor with a dishwasher on the curb) Oooooooo!
E: No.
Lor: They are putting their foot down at the dishwasher.

E: The barista.
M: The bahoosta?

"Sorry, my fidget energy battery is overflowing."

"I mean, life is expensive."

(After a week of more whole-food eating...) "I have a whole new respect for those people in that book...when it rained only Brussels sprouts...a whole new respect."

"I might need to have some zen after the goldfish discontinuation."

E: I'm not sure I'm going to survive two teenagers.
M: You probably will. You're hearty.

Makin's Thirteen Year Interview

Favorites -

Food: Pesto Stuffed Shells

Place: Wherever my audiobook is.

Movie/TV Show: Super Mario Bros, Sonic, Ninjago

Color: Neon Everything

Thing To Do: Drive my RC car while listening to my audiobook

Animal: birds

Books: Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Gryphon Chronicles

Song: Let's Do This - Outskrts, Wolves - Sam Tinnesz and Silverberg, Gladiator - Zade Wolf

Treat: Better Than Anything Cake, Dirt

Holiday: Christmas

What do you like to do with Dad? golf, watch football, watch movies at movie night

What do you like to do with Mom? Read alouds, watch movies at movie night, play games

What do you like to do with Lorelei? Mess around

What makes you happy? books, rc cars, games, going places

What do you think about before you fall asleep? Anything and everything

What do you want to be when you grow up? Mechanical engineer

Lorelei At Fifteen

You are our exuberantly chatty girl with a passion for learning and all things animal.

You are up for trying almost any book and continue to love reading.

You read the Christy Miller Series and the Sierra Jensen series this summer. It was SO special for us to be able to talk about these books that I read back when I was your age!

You crochet and/or knit almost every day. You were taught some basic crochet by a friend which then turned into many self-taught crochet and knitting projects. You use a little mix of video tutorials, books, and creativity.

You are extremely focused on saving up money for horse camp. Not just any horse camp, but the perfect camp a few states away that you have seen in your horse magazines. You are doing various odd jobs and sales (of previously mentioned yarn items) in order to save up. 

You love volunteering at ManeGait and telling us stories about both the horse and the rider you work with each week.

You enjoy horseback a couple times a month.

You love all things decorating and planning from parties to your bedroom. 

You enjoy listening to a horse podcast several times a week. You listen to classical music, holiday music, and more Christmas music from CDs at night.

You love learning behind-the-scenes movie information.

You love research.

Quotable Moments:

L: Mom, we should pick up Greek food.

Me: No, we don't need to eat out.

L: But what about your mental health!?

"Is that song from your era? The 1900s?"

(At the Oklahoma farm...) "I learned something! The cows are more receptive to Spanish than English!"

(Brad threw her a sweatshirt and she was in fear it would mess up her curls.) "Ugh! I have curls!"

B: Do you know what organized crime is?

L: Like if mom were a criminal, she'd be organized.

"You and your one-word answers!" (Her opinion of my texting responses...)

"I want chili so much I can smell it!"

E: What do you think, is a real fire pit better than a gas fire pit?

Lor: That's like salad versus ice cream!

"I think some people don't take summer as seriously as we do."

(Makin kept asking for more scrambled eggs after his tooth removal...he typically isn't a huge egg fan... Lorelei and I look at each other incredulously...) "Do you think they fixed his taste buds?!"

Lorelei's Fifteen Year Interview

Favorites -
Food: Spaghetti
Place: the beach, CMA (Clearwater Marine Aquarium), ManeGait, Universal, my room, anywhere with animals
Movie/TV Show: Harry Potter, The Mysterious Benedicts Society
Color: Pink, Purple, Teal
Thing To Do: Read, knit, do stuff with animals, horseleader at Manegait, schoolwork, horseback riding
Animal: Dog, Horse, Dolphin
Books: Harry Potter Series, any animal books, historical fiction, Gryphon Chronicles, Keeper Of The Lost Cities, High Hurdles
Song: Brave Souls and Handpainted by Cozi Zuehlsdorff
Treat: Ice Cream, brownies, dirt
Holiday: Christmas

What do you like to do with Dad? back massages, coffee shops, trying new foods

What do you like to do with Mom? go to fun places, homeschool, read books

What do you like to do with Makin? reading the same books, teasing each other, outside time

What makes you happy? animals, the beach, books, knitting, Manegait

What do you think about before you fall asleep? the next day, fun places I've been, fun places I want to go to

What do you want to be when you grow up? Zoologist/Animal Behaviorist (Whatever degree gets me a job at CMA or somewhere similar)

 

Makin Turns Thirteen

We had a great time celebrating Makin becoming an official teenager!

He celebrated over several days because of timing of schedules, and enjoyed each activity he chose immensely.

His actual birthday came first, where we spent the day enjoying his new RC car and boat. He also requested a movie and some Dude Perfect episodes...until midnight, inspired by his sister's birthday.

Now front-seat approved!

The rc car was great in the sand.

Then onto the boat!

Battery recharged so lets try the pool...

Pizza and movie lunch!

We enjoyed Better-Than-Anything Cake with firework candles. (On the front porch due to wind!)

We headed to Indy RC World Sunday after church for a chance to use their track.

Monday he enjoyed laser tag, arcade games, bowling and shakes with a couple of friends.

Happy Birthday Makin!

Lorelei Turns Fifteen

We had a great day celebrating our girl!

We woke up early so that we had time for breakfast and gifts before heading to the zoo!

Layla joined us for a day at the zoo. We decided Brad wouldn't really prefer the zoo with the hot temps and possible crowds so we made it a girl's outing. We were pleasantly surprised with only a high of 96 degrees and minimal crowds! There were some special moments we didn't expect and it felt like little blessings for the birthday girl. My absolute favorite was getting to see a baby elephant play with water!

How to get two teenagers to sleep in the car: wake them up early and walk them for hours in heat

We came back to enjoy supper (spaghetti of course!) followed by a couple more friends joining us to make what we call Crazy Fancy Shakes, which we modeled after the idea of The Yard, per Lorelei's request. The girls had lots of fun creating their desserts!

Two friends stayed for a movie, and then as a family we stayed up until midnight watching a second movie. All the birthday girl's requests fulfilled!

Happy Birthday Lorelei!

Lorelei must've gotten the movie-making bug from Brad and I and has enjoyed putting movies together as a hobby...she wanted to make one of her birthday this year. Thought it would be great to add it to this post! :)