School’s Out!

Well, I’m a couple weeks behind on this post but better late than never!  Big Bro is officially done with elementary school…not sure if we should be celebrating or crying.   Either way, it’s finally here and after a whole week of activities at school and with friends….here are some shots from a great week of celebrating:

5th Grade Field Trip to Busch Gardens with a good friend

 

                              Award #1                                                      Presidential Award #2

The Banquet… where to begin.  At our school, the 5th grade banquet is a major affair, not something to be taken lightly.  Planning began in July and the theme voted on in September.  Teams of moms (yes, me, too) planned, created, decorated and ultimately assisted to prepare an elaborate send off for our precious babies. It was really a spectacular event and I think all the kids and parents (even those who decorated) were surprised at how it looked!

Wizards Walking the Red Carpet Theme (Hollywood Style)

Lighting (one of several colors)                              Kids’ Wall of Fame (stars with photos)

Entrance to Party…kids loved this part!   There

were even two limos as part of the scene!                             Big Bro entering the party!                   

Let the fun begin…                                                      Big Bro (center) gettin’ his groove on!

            

 

Here are the limos that took his class to Cici’s the next day!

 

Big Bro was the first one out of class and the first one in the Hummer Limo!   This was a surprise so his face says it all! 

 

Daddy was excited, too, because they asked him to ride up front (not planned at all!) and give driver directions to extend their ride before going to eat.  Look at that smile!  

  

So, here we are, end of June and six years of elementary school and many memories behind us…ready for the journey ahead but sad for the end of this period of his life.   As they say, though, the best is yet to come! 

Fantastic Frogs!

Little Bro is head over heals in love with his new “pets”…two of the largest tadpoles I’ve ever seen!  After sending off the order form for the tadpoles weeks ago, we began the very long

 

wait for their arrival.  I was on pins and needles when the box arrived that they when I opened the box the tadpoles would still be alive and well.   And they were.

While waiting for the 6 lb tadpoles(or so it seems) to arrive, we began our theme unit study of frogs with the introduction of a new homeschool project I’ve learned called a “lapbook.”  It is essentially a file folder that when opened reveals a book of child-made items that helps him to learn the topic.

  

Little Bro really loved working on this!  Each day we would complete another part of the lapbook together.  I love his drawing above of the tadpole and the frog above.  He copied it from a book we read and I thought his rendition at the age of 3 was quite nice.  Some of the frog activities during our unit study include:  sequencing the life cycle of the frog, matching various frogs, rereading books to me, made a paper plate frog with popsicle stick tongue, even Big Bro made an origami frog for Little Bro. 

Sequencing the frog life cycle

Rereading some of our frog books

Play-doh life cycle creations

Just today our tadpole started to grow tiny legs.  We are all excited to see them become froglets!  More to come…

Testing the Waters…

We began to join a few homeschool groups for various activities after Christmas.  We really wanted to see for ourselves what a homeschool family would be like.  Were they unsocialized, sheltered, or otherwise “weird”?  Nope!  They were just like us…moms who were trying to educate their children and kids who were more interested in playing!  Here are some photos from some of those activities:  (run cursor over photos for description)

From Jan at Crystal Springs Preserve…learning to build shelter, make water in the ground and identify different snakes.

    

Homeschool Kickball                                                  Trip to Busch Gardens with new HS friend

                      

HS Day at Renaissance Festival:  Maypole dancing, medieval clothing & weaponry classes

Not a HS activity, but a good learning experience nonetheless…Take Your Child To Work Day.  Garren went with Nana to MacDill AFB and got to see and do some amazing things!

Another fantastic opportunity, not an organized HS activity, but a great learning lesson…

seeing the (maybe) last launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in May.

Rock Climbing with HS group in May

Looking forward to lots of new adventures both at home and in our world! 

Homeschooling for Kendan

Well, Big Bro is still in school for a matter of days still so I have been focused on activities with Kendan alone.  With that said...

We have had a blast with our new Sock Monkey tea set.  We've had a tea party for the past two days...today he said, "Mommy, can we play tea party again?"  Who could say no to that?  But what really got me was our first "tea party" yesterday.  I showed him how to hold his little tea cup with his pinky out, check, place his cup on the saucer, check, gently take a piece of food one at a time, check...all very dainty UNTIL the very end...I look up and catch him swigging from the tea pot itself!  Just goes to prove that boys are boys!  Boy, did I get a laugh!

FPEA Homeschool Convention

We are at Day 2 of the FPEA Homeschool Convention in Orlando right now.  Arrived yesterday and not having read my conference manual...did not realize the exhibition hall was open last night for evening shopping.  SO today I have tried to squeeze in browsing in between classes which hasn't been easy.  I stayed until they kicked us out tonight at 7.  Plan to go back tomorrow.  Several times. 


Love being around other homeschool families.  I have taken several helpful classes...making kids accountable, managing time, and finding balance.  It has been super motivating and now my batteries are charged and ready to start. 


The exhibition hall--my word!--I have NEVER seen anything like it in my life. 
Aisles and aisles of vendors, stands, products, books and forget about counting the people.  But I have found many great products and have many brochures to hold onto for another time.

I must give kudos to my wonderful hubby and parents, though.  First, my hubby for believing that coming here was of value to our family. And also for going to classes all day with me!  Well, actually he went to one class while I went to another. Tag teaming!  Second, to my parents who graciously agreed to watch the kiddos while we did the homeschool thing.  And, they even came to the hotel and are staying here and chilling with the kids.  Mwuah!

Looking forward to our new future!!

My First Blog...

Hi and welcome to our blog!  I have been wanting to get this up and running for a few months now and tonight it is done!  Well, the basics are done and it's enough for me to get started.  I am trying to manage this one without much assistance from my hubby since I am always bugging him for tech help.  (Kisses to him for being so agreeable when I ask!)

We are counting down until our first official home-school day begins.  But as any homeschool family knows...we've already begun...field trips, mini-lessons, teachable moments, life skills, etc.  As for the first day, I think for this year we will stick to the first day of public school as are our guide.  Not sure, I'm so excited to start that I want to begin in June but we'll see.  Maybe we'll do some informal "lessons" this summer!


Here's just a couple photos of newly designed
and decorated homeschool room!  We are so proud
and excited about it!  Our wonderful Daddy did
a fantastic job of putting it all together!  He even
added a few extra details that I hadn't even asked
for or thought of, too!  Big Bro and Little Bro (and I)
are going to like love working in this space!