Curriculum 2016 & School Pictures!

Oh it is that time again....time to really sit down and pull out the books and get working.  We've delayed by about 2 weeks or 1 depends on what school your "following".  

We've been on holiday and trying to make the most of it with Jett (Daddy), hopefully I'll get around to posting some of our pics from that.  But now we've got to dig in...baby is due in 3 weeks time which doesn't leave much time to get some school done!

So today was officially our first day of school. :) I did two hair cuts this afternoon in order for them to look like proper school children and not some raggedy boys.  Here is Aaron, starting grade 3 (year something or another).

And Owen is kind of in a mixed grade, but to make it easier we'll say grade 1.

And Amelia. :)

And some of our books...

Owen is doing Math U See- Alpha(dvd shown but not the textbook). But I think he'll be into Beta before the end of the year.  

Aaron is in grade 3 bob jones math....not sure if we'll continue this next year.

Both Amelia and Aaron are doing Abeka for grammar/language arts.

Mystery of History Vol 1....yes this is embarrassing how little we've actually gone through in one and a half years, but we hope to get much more done this time! :)

Kids are sooooo excited to start Zoology 1 by Apologia (excellent Science program). Amelia is our bird expert and Aaron is into bugs/insects both are covered in this book!

More books...

I've decided to try something different for Spelling....Aaron and Owen are trying out sequential spelling this year.  And the other two books here are Owen's as well.  However, he is more advanced in the Explode the Code series.  I use these as a way to get him to follow instructions and just some busy work.  Beyond the code I think deals with more comprehension which is what he needs most(something I'll be getting in the future).

Here is the notebooking journal for the Science curriculum and Amelia's Spelling book and Math (both new things this year).  So far she is enjoying doing her math on the computer, so hopefully this will be a good fit.

Other things I haven't included here:

• Swimming Lessons, 
• Memory work for Sabbath School
• we are reading Little House in the Big Woods together,
•  the two oldest are writing diaries - this will be good for their handwriting skills, 
• and my kids are ever reading nature books from the library not to mention any good books from our own library (Aaron is currently reading Pilgrims Progress -my favourite).

I haven't put much more effort into Art or Music yet. We are hoping to have a baby soon so will have to think about this as the year progresses.  Anyways, this is what our homeschooling will look like this year!  Always exciting starting off new. :)

New Years BBQ and Devonport

Happy New Years everyone!  NZ is a bit different from other countries, well at least from the US.  Lots of trades, and some shops are closed for what seems like a two week period. This year I was really missing family.  So, I decided to host a BBQ here at the manse with a few families (lol which means loads of children).It turned out very nice, the men cooked. And some of us women were busy chatting away.:) 

Here is Tanya and myself.  She is a homeschooling Mum of 8 children.  She also is very photogenic...unlike the big pregnant mama beside her. :D

We had dreary weather, but with the little cover we did have the bbq's stilled cooked up some yummy meat!

See what I mean?  She always has this cheerful smile. Maybe I was needing food... :)

Paul (a Deacon in our church) helped himself to washing up and his wife followed suit and did the dessert dishes. :)  It really as an enjoyable evening.

The following Monday, a lot of the same people met up in Devonport to have a picnic lunch and a walk.  It was a beautiful day and the views were spectacular.

North head was a WW2 artillery emplacement.  The Kiwi's were prepared to fight off a Japanese invasion should one happen...thankfully it didn't.  There are tunnels to go through and a lovely coastal walk as well.

Here are some of the children, myself, Jett and Alasdair (an elder in our church).

 More children looking out...

 Another lookout.  Yes my hat has gone all floppy, but it kept my head from getting sunburnt. :)

About this time I turned around and walked back to the vans.  I am pregnant and didn't want to overdo it.  So insteadof doing the whole coastal walk I got to visit with Ruth and her 2 week old baby boy, which means I also got a cuddle too.  He is such a cuddly sweet boy!  I have still about 2 and 1/2 months to go, before we see our little one Lord willing.

And here are a few children getting dirty. :)

 

Another year is over and another has begun.

Long time no see

Yes, it has been a while since I posted.  And no I don't feel bad about it at all.  I don't think any busy mother should feel bad about not posting regularly.  I've had thoughts about closing my blog for good in the past couple of months but then I wouldn't post anywhere else really, for family and friends to see, so for now we remain.  

So what has this family been up to in the past couple of months?  Well, we've had a busy Sept-Oct and it never seems to really slow down sometimes.  Always something to do.  Anyways, Jett has been to Sydney communion, and then we travelled to Gisborne as a family so he could read the edict.  Was so nice to see Leah and the family again. Feels nice having some family in the same country even though they are a good 6 driving hours away.  Oh yes, and Jett had to go back for the Induction/ordination, and again he had to go back for the communion.  Oh yes, and how can I forget we had family over in Sept!?

Uncles are the best!

 Sweet baby J.

 Amelia loooved her little cousin...she can't wait for her new sibling to arrive (3 and 1/2 months to go).

 Little L...heehee what a character.  For some reason I imagined him to be shy, and quiet.  Neither are true.  Such a cutie.  Keith still talks about him.

 Here we are with some of our many nephews.

 Could be a political debate or something they were looking at...not sure. 

Yes, I'm pathetic at getting photos.  I guess I was too busy enjoying them! :)

Ah yes, the drive to Gisborne...gorgeous beaches.  We actually saw a seal in the water but when I ran to get my camera the seal was gone.

 Story time at the manse, not sure if they were listening to the story or to my crazy Aaron. :)

 These two are so cute together. And I don't know why I didn't realize they are also very close in age!

 And another scenic pic on our way back....

Yes, I failed to take pictures of Leah and Caleb!  :S

 November has been just a busy month for schooling, swimming lessons, teaching music lessons, and the various midwife appointments and tests that have to be done.  Aaron has completed his Maths, Spelling, Handwriting, and Language book this week which is very exciting for him!  Amelia has her Language done, and is very near the end of her other core subjects.  Yes, we will be done early this year which is GREAT!!!  

And now I need to badly check on children and start dinner. :)

Amelia's 9th Birthday

Call me a little crazy for having about 17 kids over for a birthday party (or was it a few more?) But that is exactly what I did.  But hey, if we were in Texas it would probably be the same right?  So here are a few pictures of her party.  And I mean a basic party.  I make a lunch, and cake and the rest well the kids took care of themselves.  Here is her cake...it wasn't supposed to look like a hat but nevermind. 

 

Oma sent Amelia a Cabbage Patch doll - it's her favourite dolly now. :)

And her current hobby is learning about NZ birds so this gift from the Jago's was perfect!

More gifts (she was spoiled!!)

There was more presents than the above pictures but I won't bore you with details. :)

History Fair!

The last day of Term 2 we went to our local annual homeschool history fair.  Last year A&A did a joint project but this year they did projects separately. Aaron was all into dinosaurs until wbout a week or so before the history fair....sigh.  But anyways he did really well. 

Of course when you go with friends, you need to take photos of their children and projects too. ;) Here is Mr Lincoln, really like his hat!

 Aaron's dinosaur display.

 Mrs. Washington....er Amelia.

 Amelia being judged on her knowledge of Mr. Washington.

 Aaron being judged.

 Another friend's project on the US flag (they like America btw) she got a prize for this, well done!

 Another friend's...she also got a prize; not surprising really as she knew her stuff and enjoyed studying the Queen.

 Her sister did Queen Victoria. :)

 The Great Fire of London.  I'm sure a lot of people know who this wee man is (at least some Scots will).

Amelia's group - was quite large, actually the three younger groups seemed to be quite large!  This year they had double the participants which meant a full room.

We went to Mcdonalds as a treat afterwards.  I had two crying children because Mcdonalds makes junk food...(I thought this was going to be a treat) Anyways they calmed down when I said it is okay because we only eat here very rarely! I guess I have been talking too much about how bad junk food is...!

 

  Unfortunately this MCd's willbe moving to a new building which si being built next door (Keith is watching the machines in the pic). This most likely means a noiser Mcd's....the newer ones all seem to have tv's and some have loud music. I guess we'll have to eat outside if we want peace... :)

Anyways the next post should be of Amelia's birthday party.  She had such a good time with her friends and they gave lovely thoughtful gifts.  Very sweet. :)

Owen's 6th Birthday and a few random photos.

Not sure why I haven't posted about Owen's birthday yet not that we did anything overly exciting. Cake,a few presents and thats about it. :)  I filmed lots of it but I didn't take pictures except this one, of the cake. Silly me.

He enjoyed it though, and even blew the candles out which was nice.  He got a ukelele but it already needs to be restrung...right, my fault for buying cheap. :(  I should probably get something better but not right now.  Why does this seem to happen every year with him?

We went to the Museum sometime in May I think?  Before Jett headed off to the faraway land of Scotland.

I like the architecture...must be in my blood. ;)

I'm not into selfies but I am into taking pictures (occasionally that is) of us together.

I'll need to post pictures of the history fair next....but for now this will have to do.  Struggling just now with some flu bug and next week is the communion here so lots going on.