Share 'n' Tell, Larry Arnoldsen

We hold a weekly Share 'n' Tell where our family gathers round and shares what it is we've been learning about. Here's this weeks...

Tyra

Subject: Gemology

Shared with us her favorite gems: Opal and Quartz
Recognized different birthstones including most everyone in the family.

Ethan

Subject: Indians

Explained the difference between sedentary and nomadic Indians. And the differences in how they ate, lived, and hunted.





Cedric

Subject: Book of Poems

Pointed out his favorite details from the poems and illustrations from the book, Here's A Little Poem.






Millie

Subject: Balance



Showed us how she can now stand up by herself.

John

Subject: Chinese, Writing, Economy, Computer Part



Explained basic chinese grammar and character writing, supply and demand equilibrium, graphic design principles, and showed us basic components of a logic board in a Macintosh computer.






Claudia

Suject: Oil Painting, Homeschooling



Discussed one rule for good composition she learned from her first oil painting class. Discussed Larry Arnoldsen's view on curriculum and how to learn.

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So, here's my two first oil paintings ever! Very exciting! I'm taking painting classes from Nathan Pinnock.

Also, here's a link to a wonderful article from Dr. Larry Arnoldsen on Homeschooling.

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Enjoying the last of summer...

It's still summer time and we're soaking up every last bit of it. We're enjoying being able to go with the natural flow of what feels right for our family and love that we have a few more moments of time to spend together in the warm and sunny weather.

Last monday I went with the kids one last time to Bear Lake for the day. We got up early in the morning and 12 wonderful hours later made our 3 hour drive home.

At the end of the day, as the sun was setting, we went for a walk along the empty beach. The warm sand massaged our feet on our hour journey with sounds of the small rolling waves echoing in our ears as the sky changed colors overhead with the setting sun.

We went on a little adventure through some tall weeds and, although a couple of the kids were skeptical of our safe return, we came out just fine, finding ourselves along the shore of the beach once again.

We sat and ate snacks as the air cooled and held out until the first star came out which we celebrated with shouts of joy. Then we made our long and quiet journey home.

Bear Lake came and went and with us will forever stay happy memories we found together.

That's what life is about. Growing together. Learning together. Giving eachother strength and support on our individual journey back to our Heavenly Father.

Although our summer moments aren't yet over we have been preparing for a more focused homeschooling year. By simplifying, organizing, and rearranging the things within our home. We've made it more comfortable and are now more excited to spend the colder months indoors.

So here we now are, preparing for better in depth homeschooling. We've come up with a fresh schedule that will help keep the things John and I find important for the kids ongoing. Yet, I'm keeping in mind something John Gatto has said, "I get out of the kids' way, I give them time and respect...letting themselves be the major text of their own education."

And so it will be. This will be a wonderful year full of learning, growing relationships, and individuality.

I can feel it.

Garden, face painting, camping, family outings

There's been lots going on....

Our garden is growing like crazy and is ready for a few new plantings.

Face painting has been going well. My kids are often seen with their faces painted. .. them and the neighborhood kids.

We went on our yearly campout with our friends. It was a lot of fun. It was more work than fun for the parents but the kids had nothing but fun and made it worth all the work.

We made a trip to the mountains....those are always some of our favorite summer memories.


Today, in particular, was a great homeschooling day. Scripture study went well. I test read my newest book to the kids (they like it so far). Tyra wanted to learn about Bach's life. But we were interrupted because she wanted to learn about math instead. My homeschooling heart flutters when I hear sentences like the one she gave me then, "Mommy, can we finish reading about Bach after I learn about math?" Of course!!!!

Tyra and Ethan practiced on the piano...they do this at their own free will. Ethan is memorizing songs and Tyra is almost finished with the first piano lesson book. It's amazing to watch them want to learn and to see them progressing.

We also juiced and made fruit roll ups from the free apricots we picked up yesterday...all 6 bags of them! It was messy (as you can see) but it was fun. We also had the opportunity to share some of our apricot wealth with a lady I visit teach...her husband is severely disabled from scar tissue that has built up from the debilitating disease most of us have heard of -MS. She has a large load to carry so we stop by as often as we can.

Sorry to keep going but there's more that went well. Tyra and I cooked dinner together and Ty really enjoyed it today. The other kids wanted in but I told them we'll switch days. Tomorrow will be Ethan's day to cook with me, then cedric and so on.

We did turn on the TV today .... to the History channel and Ty says, " Ooooh, I love history!" There went that fluttering heart again.... :)

Then during bedtime stories the story/book Cedric wanted me to read him was my most recent story. (I took it as a compliment.)

Today really did go well.

PS Sorry Heather I realize that picture wasn't the best photo of you... I'll have to post a better one of you another time. :)

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TRIathlon, Birthday, Boating, Canopy

>>>triathlon<<<

John did the Provo Triathlon this last weekend.

This time it involved swimming, biking, and running.

What a neat dad!

This triathlon was a little harder for us than the last one. We had a couple busy days before the race and didn't get to bed until late the night before the triathlon. But we got up at 5 in the morning and made it through the triathlon anyway.

Millie and Tyra hung out while we sat on blankets

under big trees after the race was over

>>>third birthday<<<

Cedric had his third birthday. He was sooo cute opening the presents that were just for HIM!

>>> boating <<<
We went boating with oma and opa. The boat almost sank ... but we made it out and back safely.


Look, here I am! I'm trying to look like I'm kicking back and relaxing in the boat but, instead, I just look retarded. Too bad Millie doesn't make up for my bad shot either.
My hunk came with too.

Opa let Ethan steer the boat. That smile couldn't be wiped from his face.


Cedric really loved it too.

Tyra got a try as well.

>>>comfy canopy<<<

Playing under our canopy in the front yard.

Cake, Dirty Pond, Secret Garden

Tyra designed this cake for fathers day ...originally it was blue and red with orange and red sparkles but it's close enough.

Nice job Ty.









The kids like to play in the fountain area in front of the Lehi Legacy center. Most moms walk by and say to their kids who are tempted to join us, "Eeew no, that's gross."

It's all ours baby!









Tyra LOVES gymnastics. Her favorite is the poles. Look at her go!








We began our annual tradition of reading The Secret Garden in our own little secret area at the Thanksgiving Point gardens. We look forward to this every year.

Dythalon, Krishna Temple, Constructing the universe

John completed a triathalon (dyathalon) today - more details are on my personal blog. We're so proud of him, he did great!











The kids did so well considering that they were woken up at 6am, had to wait in the car (to stay out of the rain and the cold) for 2 hours, and were shivering and all goose bumpy for another couple hours as we watched the racers take off and saw daddy come in.








We also went to the Himalayan Festival. It was So neat. The Inia(ns) have such a beautiful culture. We ate Tofu and other side dishes that were....interesting. Their food is more spicy than we thought it would be. The Tofu was actually our favorite.







Here's a beautifully dressed young India(n) girl.










The temple grounds consists of open hills and ... a llama farm. We were able to feed and touch them. A few people were spat upon by these woolly creatures. But, fortunately we weren't one of them!

I ran across a book I'll recommend to anyone thirsty for knowledge and unafraid of paradigm shifts. This book it titled, "A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe". Who knew that there's such a thing as secular, symbolic and, most wonderfully, sacred mathematics.

Oh my goodness, I just saw that they have activity books to go along with this wonderful find - even more exciting!

"Studying number properties and intellectually knowing the road map, the symbolism, is not the same as actually taking the journey. We take that journey by finding within ourselves the universal principles these properties represent and by applying the knowledge to our own growth." Michael S Schneider

Where have we been, you may ask?

We've been to the center of Whangdoodle land.

We've been growing amongst the Babylonians.

We've, once again, been a witness to Leonardo da Vinci's successes.

We've been in Egypt with Joseph.

We've been watching our garden grow.

We've been undoing some messy predicaments between the Elf King and the Fairy Queen.

We've been carried off by the Comuter rail train.

Tyra has started Gymnastics. Ethan is starting karate tomorrow.

And in case I don't come back soon, you may find us under the busy streets of New York or continuing our adventures in Egypt with Moses or taking in the colorful life of the Indian people in India.

Those are some of the things we've been doing... ;)

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Summary of our Homeschooling life:

Morning Devotional
-read B of M
-Memorize current Article of Faith
-Maybe a quote or song and...
-Pray

Read, read, read!
-Library books
-Chosen learning books
-Short story books
-Books about chosen country

Math days with daddy

Making discoveries in every new experience

Listen to Story of the World in car
or to
Audio Book

Night-time Bible stories

Night-time fun novel

Understanding the lives of the composers (Classical Kids)

Learning Sharing time

FHE

Sunday family meetings

And other small things that life is always willing to teach us!