- Why rain can be good/important.
- Why too much rain can be bad.
- Forest fires/dry grass fires.
- The Paradise fire.
- Serving others.
- Fire safety (ex: crawl to get under the smoke, don't hide under beds or in closets - get out.)
- Birds and worms after rain.
Friday Makayla headed off early in the morning to work at a local farm. She's now working two jobs - the farm in the mornings until lunch, and then the bakery in the afternoon until dinner. This is our new normal until she heads to college in the fall, which leaves me van-less and complicates all appointments for Mason. We're trying to work it out.
Saturday we figured out the vehicle situation - found one to borrow for the summer from extended family. We will get it in a week or two. Saturday was busy because it was Makayla's graduation party. She and a friend had a party together with a cookout, snow cones, and lots of food to prepare. I loved sharing the party with another family because it made the workload lighter!
Sunday Church. Quiet. Recovery. Family. In other words, all the good things!
Monday was Memorial Day. We talked with the kids about the holiday, went through all 10 kids clothing to switch from spring to summer (removing long sleeves/pants, bringing out shorts/short sleeves, etc). I made a list of everything we didn't have and needed to buy for various kids in their individual sizes, then hit WalMart for sale prices. The next thing to look at is shoes for everyone...sigh.
We went to my sister's home for a cookout, trampoline jumping, and a sprinkler. So much fun!
Tuesday my sister took Joseph to the orthodontist to get braces adjusted (thank you sister!) while Makayla worked and had my van. The home life included reading and playing games together.
The kids are all happily doing their summer reading and coloring in their charts, creeping toward the reward of a frosty. Joseph, Emma, and Daniel each finished the book they were working on and moved to a new book. Joseph and Daniel chose Framed by James Ponti as their next read. Emma chose Here There Be Dragons by James A Owen. Oliver is still working through Howliday Inn by James Howe. Caleb is on the last reader for All About Reading level 3. Mason is on the last reader for All About Reading level 4. Samuel is on the second reader on All About Reading level 1.
Many of them are also cheerfully doing Musical Multiplication from The Good and the Beautiful. This, quite literally, takes 5 minutes.
Wednesday I managed to take no notes.
Thursday we had book club with friends. We actually never finished reading the book, unusual for us. Beauty just didn't catch my kids. It happens! We had a wonderful time with friends.
Friday Several boys asked about some new to us math books that arrived in the mail this week and have been sitting by my computer. It was a lovely opening to introduce them to another aspect of our summer math review/maintenance. We will be exploring these books by Edward Zaccaro:
The other highlight for Friday was a library trip to restock our shelves with new books. We ended up with books about weather, big machines, tractors, different forms of energy production, Harry Potter, the Oregon Trail, optical illusions, some cookbooks, and a family that spent a year sailing together.
It is Saturday morning and we have a couple graduation parties to attend today. I'm hoping to get some work done on portfolios, and the bathrooms could use a good cleaning.
Saturday we figured out the vehicle situation - found one to borrow for the summer from extended family. We will get it in a week or two. Saturday was busy because it was Makayla's graduation party. She and a friend had a party together with a cookout, snow cones, and lots of food to prepare. I loved sharing the party with another family because it made the workload lighter!
Sunday Church. Quiet. Recovery. Family. In other words, all the good things!
Monday was Memorial Day. We talked with the kids about the holiday, went through all 10 kids clothing to switch from spring to summer (removing long sleeves/pants, bringing out shorts/short sleeves, etc). I made a list of everything we didn't have and needed to buy for various kids in their individual sizes, then hit WalMart for sale prices. The next thing to look at is shoes for everyone...sigh.
We went to my sister's home for a cookout, trampoline jumping, and a sprinkler. So much fun!
Tuesday my sister took Joseph to the orthodontist to get braces adjusted (thank you sister!) while Makayla worked and had my van. The home life included reading and playing games together.
The kids are all happily doing their summer reading and coloring in their charts, creeping toward the reward of a frosty. Joseph, Emma, and Daniel each finished the book they were working on and moved to a new book. Joseph and Daniel chose Framed by James Ponti as their next read. Emma chose Here There Be Dragons by James A Owen. Oliver is still working through Howliday Inn by James Howe. Caleb is on the last reader for All About Reading level 3. Mason is on the last reader for All About Reading level 4. Samuel is on the second reader on All About Reading level 1.
Many of them are also cheerfully doing Musical Multiplication from The Good and the Beautiful. This, quite literally, takes 5 minutes.
Wednesday I managed to take no notes.
Thursday we had book club with friends. We actually never finished reading the book, unusual for us. Beauty just didn't catch my kids. It happens! We had a wonderful time with friends.
Friday Several boys asked about some new to us math books that arrived in the mail this week and have been sitting by my computer. It was a lovely opening to introduce them to another aspect of our summer math review/maintenance. We will be exploring these books by Edward Zaccaro:
- Primary Grade Challenge Math
- Upper Elementary Challenge Math
- Read World Algebra
I love the thought on the cover of one of these books: "Math is often taught as all scales and no music. This book contains the music!" These books are explorations of math in a fun, thoughtful, and challenging way. Each chapter teaches concepts with fun stories and illustrations, then has 4 levels of questions from basic to Einstein. You should have seen my boys asking for one more question over breakfast, or a question from the next level. So fun! The Algebra book will be used more during the school year for Joseph and Emma, whenever they ask "when will I ever USE algebra?", because the entire point of the book is showing just how often real life has us using algebra.
The other highlight for Friday was a library trip to restock our shelves with new books. We ended up with books about weather, big machines, tractors, different forms of energy production, Harry Potter, the Oregon Trail, optical illusions, some cookbooks, and a family that spent a year sailing together.
It is Saturday morning and we have a couple graduation parties to attend today. I'm hoping to get some work done on portfolios, and the bathrooms could use a good cleaning.
It is wonderful that reading and math is going so well over the summer. That will pay off in the fall. I am glad you were able to work out the car situation.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Dawn
We have a homeschool graduation event this afternoon. The whole work/car issue is real here too...so I'm doing a lot of running from place to place dropping off/picking up a the moment.
ReplyDeleteBummer that your crew didn't love Beauty, but I can see why with so many boys! It's really a teen girl book in so many ways. :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for people who share cars! What a gift!
Life sounds mostly happy at your house. I hope that continues. And I have to marvel at your ability to provide clothing and shoes for everyone. We only survive because people give us clothes and shoes. I hope people share with you as well!
Clothing - yes, we have some passed down to us, so we use those for sure. We just end up wearing out so much with all these little boys...lol. We spent $250 and got everything we needed (underwear for 4 kids, church shirts for 3, shorts for 5, short sleeve shirts for 6, socks for 4). Hopefully this will cover everyone through mid-fall. We'll see!
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