Category Archives: Homeschool

blue sky day

It is that time of year– the time where we are in need of pumpkins.  We packed ourselves and some lunch in the car (oh GPS, I love you and your navigational skills around this humongous new city), and headed up to Berry Patch Farm for a hayride, some pumpkin picking, some crafting, and even a little honey bee lesson from the farmer.

under the picnic tables

This rolly polly pig patroled under the picnic tables as we ate.

huddled together

And not too far away the hens were snuggling.  The roosters provided the mood music, and made sure to kids stayed on their toes.

hay ride

straw maze

picking pumpkins

blue sky day

I’m really liking this 300 sunny days a year thing Denver has going on.  Even when it is a little chilly out, our jackets just have to come off.  Just look at that sky.

 

 

today

bread maker

making… bread with my littles.

knead

laughing… at Ellie helping Brenna fold the laundry.

helpful laundry help

loving… that 15 minutes of quiet scripture study has become a consistent part of our daily routine.

quiet time

using… my craft space just a minute here and there– right in the middle of the action, just like I had hoped.

unpacked my sewing machine

It was one of those days I just needed.  Not totally smooth and predictable, I think it will be many, many years before I have a day like that, but the time flowed and we flowed with it, and I’m happy.

math day

So, I’m not doing very good at posting every day.  And here’s another schoolish post, because, well, that’s what I do lately.

math day

Jonah figured out that he is exactly 2510 days old today.  I made my Montessori math bead materials last summer.  Traditionally they’re the “Golden Beads” but we opted for ruby.  After I made the thousand cube (Can you see Logan holding it?) I was pretty much burnt out on stringing beads on wires, but we still needed more 10s, 100s, and 1000s to really do all the math we wanted, so I made some beads I could print out.  If you’d like to print them yourselves, here they are in a PDF:

Math Bead Materials

They’re totally no frills.  You’ll have to figure out your own little fold-over tabs to hook the sides of your cubes together, but they do the job and get A LOT of use around here.  To make your 100s, just cut the squares apart, obviously.  The last page is 10s, in case you couldn’t tell.  If you’re really going to use these and need some units, leave a comment and I’ll make a page of those too.  I’m really just posting this on here to have something to post!!

I’m still hoping to get to some thing-making soon– like this weekend.  My batteries need some recharging and I’m realizing (once again) that my sanity and ability to cope directly corelates to the amount of creating I do.  What keeps you sane?

Attention all who will listen!!

new reader

We have a new reader in the house!  There’s nothing like a new set of BOB books to inspire this 4 year old to read, read, read.  It did help that Brenna and Jonah were at their one day of school this week, so Ian and I were a pretty captive audience for Logan’s new found confidence and skill.

attention all who will listen

And, it is only natural to document your reading triumphs with stickers and drawings.

 

They never cease to amaze me, these little people I get to live with.  They learn so readily, so naturally.  It always seems that when I’m up against a wall I can’t see over or around someone just makes it dissolve all on their own.  The job of patience that is mine is often so hard– but it always has its rewards.

 

The best kind.