2011-2012 homeschool kickoff!

Each year, we begin school going over rules.  They really haven't changed much over the years, but I like to sort of revamp, and remind everyone of what we're trying to accomplish here.  One of the things that I am required to teach by the state, and one of the things I feel that I fall short in, is good citizenship.  Especially this year, with a tween and a teenage girl, I want to focus on attitude, which can, even on the best of days, go south in a hurry.

1) Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Matthew 7:12

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

2) Respect your teacher.

Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

3) Do your best work.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

4) Do your chores cheerfully.

John 13:4-5

so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

I wasn't able to find a verse really applicable to doing household chores, but if Jesus can wash his disciples smelly feet, then NO ONE is too good to pick up around the house a bit!

And that, dear friends, is the summation of our rules.  I, of course, have little specifics for how I want work completed and organised, but it all boils down to those four rules.  I'm seriously considering printing them out in a pretty font and framing them in the hallway where we keep some of our visuals for school.

So what exactly have we done on this, our first week of homeschool for the year?  Well, chores, of course. I've implemented a new system that I stole from my pastor's wife.  I am not a naturally neat person, so I need all the help I can get!  Each room has its own card, and everyone has to choose a chore card to complete that day.  So far it's working pretty well.

We use a literature based curriculum for most everything, so there's been a lot of reading, a bit of science, some math...

copywork...

music theory...

music appreciation, and composer studies...

and we died some formerly natural coloured wool longies for Zachariah a pretty purple, because the natural gets really grungy.

And what has Zachariah been doing during all this?  Eating is always a big favourite...

And Tatiana made him a transmogrifier.

All things considered, the first week back in school went pretty well.  We had a few meltdowns the first couple of days, but once we got rolling, there weren't too many problems.

A busy mom's pictures

Daddy worked from home one day.

Hi Daddy!

Oh, you mean I'm not supposed to have this?

Celestia babysat at our house.

Livy and Tatiana

Ela

We went to a birthday party where Zachariah was quite enthralled with the baby  playing on the other side of the window.

Hi baby!

Mwwwwwwah!  I kiss you!

And attended the Big Latch on!

We had to raise our hands to indicate we were nursing for the count.

Where we were on the news!
And that's just the pictures I (or someone else) took.
WHEW!!!  This week may or may not be any quieter.  We're starting the 2011-2012 school year!

Stinkin' cute!

Lately, Zachariah has taken to hanging one leg over the side of his hammock.  <3

Summer fun!

Busy, Busy, Busy summer!
Both girls have gone to camps and had bunches of fun.  I have absolutely NO pictures of Celestia at camp, but we took Tatiana, and picked her up, so there are pictures of them at Camp Copass.  I'm really glad I got to go out, because we've had at least one child there for the last five years!  This, sadly, will be our last year for a while though, because both girls have gotten too old.  :(

The Jonathan Project playing a final set.  Oh how we love these guys!

Drew Worsham is always a hit, too!

Love these girls!

It's Zachariah's first trip to Camp Copass!  I hope he will have the same wonderful experiences that his sisters did there when he's old enough.

One last look at Lake Lewisville before we leave.

Zachariah is eating lots of new foods.  Basically, if we eat it, he does too.  Sometimes we need to keep him clean...

 

But for the most part, he feeds himself.

What's this?

Ooh, noodles!

Thanks for the super tasty stew, Daddy!

 Which is often a very messy experience

Requiring multiple baths in a day.

Which obviously, Zachariah loves!
And while we're on the subject of water, How's this for some super cheap entertainment?

Several bowls of water and a half a dozen towels later, Zachariah had happily splashed for a solid 20 minutes.  :)  Gotta stay cool somehow.  I'm so ready for fall!

Zachariah's first trip to the lake

Zachariah loves to swim!  Our visit to Lake Texoma this past Sunday was no exception.  I forgot my camera, but Cody took this amazing picture.  Click on over and check out some of his custom paint jobs!

9 month stats

Height 27.25" 17th percentile
Weight 21.4 pounds 62nd percentile
Head Circumference 17.75" 43rd percentile

Zachariah loves trying new foods, and prefers to feed himself rather than being fed.  Some of his favourite finger foods include
Apples
Avocados
Blueberries
Fruit leathers (perfect for diaper bag snacks!)
Grapes
Mangoes
Pasta
Peaches
Pears
Raisins
Watermelon
Things he likes so much he will actually deign to being fed are
Baked potato
Rice & veggies
and apparently oatmeal

1/3 cup oats
2.5 oz breastmilk
Throw in a few raisins
Sprinkle on a little cinnamon
Yum!
UPDATE:  I wasn't particularly pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, so when I gave it to him a second time, I added some pureed prunes, and he seriously gobbled it up!
I also realised that I hadn't mentioned anything about drinking.  Zachariah likes to take sips of water from a big-person glass.  He still doesn't seem to know what to do with bottles or sippy cups at all.  Baby steps!  :)

Coffee CSA

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you'll know that I'm something of a tree-hugger.  And a coffee lover.  And I try to be socially conscious.  Yes, I'm one of "those" people.  You can go ahead and call me a bleeding-heart liberal.  I promise I won't cry.  So when LaRissa spoke to the church about slavery in the world today, I was horrified to think that my coffee could be (and probably was) harvested by people who were not paid a living wage, or in fact, any wage at all.  Yeah, I know.  I probably should have thought of that.  I said I try to be socially conscious, I didn't say I was perfect.  Interestingly enough, Jonathan did not know any of this, as I quietly started buying Fair Trade coffee without saying anything.  He, knowing my love for wanting to save the world in my own small way, sent me this link to a coffee cooperative last week.  I jumped all over it, and we got our first shipment today!

I can't wait to try it out!  :)