School Happenings

Geography

Photos: Lorelei working on mapping.

Makin discovering new ways to google his geography questions.

Reading

I have utilized our reading assignments to get Makin to try some books he isn't excited to try reading on his own and it has been quite a success!

Science - Circuits and an Electro Magnet 

History  - Civil War Generals Project

Math Outside the Box

Makin and I modified how our math lessons are being done and it has been interesting to see a change in our days with this little tweak. Instead of doing his math on paper, he does the problems on a dry-erase board. Amazing how a small change can make the subject go more smoothly.

Geography Research

When you study Kansas and discover that is where Pizza Hut started...

SAT Prep

This girl's desire to be prepared has her very excited to start preparing for her SAT tests when she gets to High School. She has already started a free training course and I'm so excited that she is taking the initiative and is so excited for this!

Flower Dissection

We enjoyed checking out the parts of the flower up close for science.

Typing

While I have had plans for the kids to take typing each summer we have not followed through...this means I'm typing Makin's papers for writing while he reads them to me...which can get a bit tiring...so hopefully this summer will be the one where he learns to type!

Inventors Mini-Project

We spent some time learning about various inventors in history

Mad Libs

I was able to attend a homeschool moms retreat in February where they suggested the idea of Mad Libs as a fun start to the morning. It has been a hit!

Math

I cannot say enough how amazing it has been for Lorelei to have 1-1 math via google meet with Mrs. Buman. Mrs. Buman has perfected what I call "encouraging breezy" which is EXACTLY what Lorelei needs. We have also hit the level of math that I'm way too rusty to feel comfortable with even being much help to her...we are just truly so thankful we have this blessing of Mrs. Buman to make homeschool math SO much better.

History Homework - Bonus Movie Night!

This is my kinda homework. ;)

Reading

When I think about reading for Lorelei this year it just makes me smile. How amazing is it that she can read the same book as her old Kindergarten friend and they can discuss the book together each week!? Truly special and makes me feel so grateful and blessed for her to have this. It is rare for her to find anyone who loves books as much as she does and this is one of the many ways Anna is a gem of a friend.

History Wrap-Up Art Project

I decided a fun way to finish up history this year was with an art project. They each chose one of their favorite stories from history this semester and turned it into art. Makin's was the Ferris Wheel and Lorelei's was The Pony Express.

Spelling Aspirations

I thought a bonus to homeschooling would be catching those words that you just don't quite spell right for Lorelei's 8th-grade year...which we did...for a whopping two tests. ;) I'm still counting it as a win if she has the hang of 20-30 more words than she did when she started!

Geography

I really enjoyed learning more about each state for geography this year!

Pic: We often found pictures during our research we had to show...Makin is in the make-a-face phase. ;)

It's a tough job but sometimes you just have to do some serious research.
(Oregon - Tillamook Ice Cream)

We read this book that includes how each state got its name as part of what we learned about each state.
This story was one of my favorites!

Geography Art Project Wrap-Up - Choose three states and make a postcard for each!

Spring Snapshots

Knitting and Reading

This girl spends so much time knitting and reading these days. She is hoping to sell her knitted items to make money for horse camp. (Camp will take a couple years of saving...so this is a long-term goal.)

Shopping Dates

We had one-on-one shopping dates again this spring to get the bulk of our spring/summer clothes. We get to have a treat that day to make all that trying-on more bearable. ;) Makin chose donuts and Lorelei choose ice cream.

Super Mario

The boys were so excited to see The Super Mario Bros Movie in 3D!

Airplane Gliding

We enjoyed some fun with a glider I had stashed away.

Sunday Funday

We enjoyed playing putt-putt and our usual Sunday movie night.

Man-Of-The-House 101

Brad taught Makin how to replace Lorelei's bike tire over the weekend and they discovered one of the replacement tubes was the wrong size. When the tube came in the mail, Makin got the replacement all done so we could enjoy taking Lorelei's bike on the trail that day.

Ortho Update

The expander is out and a retainer is in! We are working towards the upcoming surgery, which included sending x-rays and pictures to the surgeon.

Gardening

We are enjoying some new plants again this spring.

The Cove

We received some free Cove passes and had to use them up before May so we enjoyed a weeknight trip out for some swimming fun.

Spring Recital

Our girl still loves her Polynesian class! She had her recital in April this year and had one of her most elaborate costumes yet! This year the style of dance her group did for the recital was Tahitian.

Couldn't resist a quick horse visit.

Most of her class.

Lorelei and Layla with their teacher,
who they call Auntie Christine per Hawaiin tradition.

Community Sale Weekend

The kids have learned that it's ideal to have a sale during the community garage sale weekend. Both kids have items they are saving up for and had been working towards this event...but the timing wasn't ideal weather-wise or schedule-wise. We did the best we could and they did earn some money but not as much as they would've on a typical weekend. Now they are working towards having another sale in the fall. We haven't found any free farmers markets but we are looking. :)

ManeGait Event

Lorelei and I both signed up to help at the large fundraising event - ManeGait's Country Fair and Concert. We spent the day helping with crowd control at the petting zoo!

Bluebonnet Photo Shoot

"The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England and the tulip to Holland." - Jack Maguire

"Now let's take one without the book..."

Easter

We enjoyed celebrating Easter.

The kids painted egg wreaths for their rooms.

One of their favorite lunches of the whole year - the egg carton lunch!

Part of the fun is seeing if you can guess what food is in the egg.

Egg Dying

Baskets

Photos (though not sure how much that part was enjoyed... ;) )

We spent a relaxing Easter afternoon with a mix of watching The Masters, some time at the field near our house (Makin), coloring (Lorelei) and eating carrot cake cookies.

Happy Easter!