Advent Traditions

Our family has some Christmas-time traditions that we've continued for many years, some that we started a few years ago, and some that we are starting this year.

We have ornaments that we have collected over the years, many bought to represent things from that year, and we have special ornaments that were given to us as gifts. But I think our favorite ornaments are the ones that we buy each year for our family picture. We have an ornament from every year since my husband and I were married that represent our family that year. The first one is a picture of us at our wedding and the ornament is a little VW bug that says "Our first Christmas together". That's the one that started this little tradition and I just love to look at each of these ornaments and see what our family looked like during that year.

We also have an advent calendar that we've used for years that has little drawers and the kids pull the corresponding drawer each day to find a little candy surprise. This year we also decided to add a slip of paper in each drawer that says what we will do together as a family that day (an idea I got from Famliy Fun magazine).

Some of them are things we do each year already and others are new things (here are a few):

-go look at Christmas lights

-watch Polar Express while sipping hot chocolate

-make and decorate Christmas cookies

-read about Jesus' birth in the Bible

-make crafts

-do something nice for someone else without him/her knowing

-make wrapping paper

-make a gingerbread house

-play Christmas games such as To Bethlehem

-decorate Christmas cupcakes

-go Christmas Caroling at a children's hospital

-visit our city's special light show.

Each morning the kids are excited to see what is planned for the day, and it has really helped me from getting too busy and not doing these fun things like I may have in the past. Since it's in the calendar, the kids hold me to it!! Our family has had so much fun with this already!

A new tradition we have added this year is to read the book Jotham's Journey for advent. It is a great story set at the time of Jesus' birth about a boy who learns all about the coming Messiah while having quite an adventure. We read a section each night and the story eventually leads to the birth of Christ on the Christmas Day reading. The boys are enjoying it so much they often ask us to read more than one a night, which we don't do unless we are behind a day!

We also still enjoy our Elf on the Shelf, who hides in a new location every day. The kids usually get up and search for it as soon as they are awake.

Christmas Eve day the kids will go on a scavenger hunt to find one small present each. Then in the evening we read the story of Christ's birth in the Bible, read "The Night Before Christmas" and then the kids' cajun uncle reads a hilarious book called "The Cajun Night Before Christmas".
I really love traditions, especially ones surrounding my favorite holiday, Christmas.

I'll post some pictures of some of the things we do together as a family as we do them!

Tae Bo for P.E.

The kids have enjoyed doing Tae Bo together for physical education. It's a special version of Tae Bo made just for kids called Tae Bo Kicks.

Picking Pumpkins and Strawberries

We went with our homeschool group to a local ranch to pick some pumpkins. While there, we had to pick some of the delicious looking strawberries as well! Strawberries are Rose's favorite food and she was so happy to pick a basket of them! She wanted to eat some right away.
We had to use scissors to pick the strawberries and Rose got right to work!

We took tractors out to the field to search for just the right pumpkin.

Rose wasn't in the mood for pictures just then.

The kids with their chosen pumpkins.

The Store is Open

Jakson is a "numbers" guy. He loves doing math on his own terms or as part of play. He remembers number details, and always seems to notice things with numbers. He gets enthralled watching numbers change on a timer and watching the time tick away on a clock. If I'm reading something to the kids, he's most likely to remember the number facts (like the sun is over 92 million miles from earth, or Mercury makes a complete rotation every 59 earth days - stuff like that). However, he moans and groans when I give him a worksheet for math. Although I still give him some math work to do, I don't want to squelch that natural enthusiasm, so I'm on the lookout for ways to practice his math in other forms.

Along these lines, Jakson really enjoys playing with pretend money. I printed out some things for a pretend grocery store and he had so much fun setting up his store with prices, sales, coupons and shopping lists. He spent lots of time writing amounts on price tags (which is amazing in itself as he's not crazy about handwriting). When he was ready I came to buy things with some pretend money and we did quite a bit of "spur of the moment" math computations as he added up my items, gave discounts for coupons and gave me change after I "payed" him. What a fun learning experience! I've gotta find more stuff like this!

First Day of School

We finally got school started this year after pushing it back a few times (because I wasn't ready for summer to be over!)

I am happy to say that the first day was a success! I love when things run smoothly. We got our basics done in the morning (math, spelling, reading, writing, Bible, etc.) and then had some fun!

In our Tapestry of Grace curriculum this year we are starting with Y2U3 which begins at early American History; we are excited to finally be learning about our country after spending 2 years across the Atlantic in Europe, Asia and Africa as we studied Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation history.

To celebrate, we made maps of the United States. But these were not just any maps; they were not made of paper and they were not even salt maps.

In the past, as we began a unit, we made salt dough maps, (see here and here), which are great for creating topography with mountains, rivers, lakes, and other geographical features. But, this time I decided to go more for the fun factor and so we made our maps from sugar cookie dough! I made the dough the night before, then divided it and gave some to each child on parchment paper. With my sister's help, we rolled out the dough and then let the kids cut and form their giant cookies to the shape of the United States.

After we cooked the maps, the kids decorated them with frosting and sprinkles.

The finished products:

The best part was that they got to eat them when they were done(or at least part of them - they were huge!)

The boys laughed about eating the United States: quote - "wow, Florida tastes delicious!" and 3 year old Rose walked around all day saying "that is the United States" and "California is right here" (as she correctly pointed it out on the map!) So, even in the fun, someone may have learned something!

I think the cookie dough maps were a big hit and a great way to celebrate our first day of school!

Perseids Meteor Shower

We had such a fun outing watching the Perseids Meteor Showers. We traveled out to a country school where a number of people from an Astronomy Club were gathering. We put blankets on the ground and our family plus my brother lay under the stars until late that night. We saw quite a few "shooting stars" and the kids were so amazed! One very bright one looked as if it was burning up as it made its way across the entire night sky. Rose fell asleep as she hummed under the stars. The boys laughed and talked as they searched for meteors. It was definitely a memory to cherish always. (picture from public domain on National Geographic News website)

Reflecting on School

As I plan and prepare for our next school year, I like to think back to the past and learn. What worked and what didn't? What can I change? What should I keep the same?

In doing so, I figured out that I have been like a pendulum my first two years of homeschooling. The first year I was at one end of the pendulum; I was so relaxed and fun. I think my kids enjoyed that year, as did I, and things were so peaceful. I took to heart all I had heard about "de-schooling" and that I should be relaxed and we really just enjoyed being together. But at the end of the year I panicked because I felt that I had neglected so many areas of teaching. Yes, it was great, but ignorance is bliss! And I didn't want ignorance!! Ok. Maybe it wasn't that bad. After looking over the year, I did realize they had made progress and learned a lot. But still, the weight of their education felt heavy on my shoulders and the next year the pendulum went full swing the other way.
My second year educating at home, I was very intent on content, curriculum and results. I wanted to see my kids learn so much, to jump by leaps and bounds. I wanted areas of weakness to be erased and areas of strength to be enforced. I wanted to feel that I had taught them everything they "should" know and I went overboard. Unfortunately, I don't think school was as fun for the kids last year. In addition, when I reviewed the year, expecting to see bigger results, I realized they hadn't grown much more than they had the year we were so relaxed! My desire to "teach everything" made me lose sight of one of the reasons we homeschool...love of learning. It's that love of learning that sparks the imagination, strengthens thought, and creates a desire to know more. That's truly where education can begin; when a child decides he wants to learn it is then that he educates himself.
So now, as I am about to begin my third year of home educating, I am hoping that I can slow down those giant swings of the pendulum and actually be more balanced. I want to foster a enjoyment of learning, so that the kids really WANT to open up that book, or write that paper, or figure out that math equation. I want to be relaxed, and yet still give them the mentoring and teaching that they deserve from me. Besides that, I have reminded myself that the weight of their education is really not on my shoulders alone. God is there to lighten the load and I know I must rely on His strength. I'm also praying that God will give me balance; a balance that will stop the swing and bring us closer to that point of equilibrium.
All the pictures in this post are from the end of last school year. I was just looking back and remembering. Here are a few more. Now back to planning for the new year.

Leo teaching the younger kids about light, reflection, and refraction.

Learning the colors of the rainbow in their correct order from their "student teacher".

It helps to play with silly putty when you have to sit still and read!

Already "diving" into books!

She SO wants to do school "like the guys"

River Nature Preserve Pictures

We had a great time exploring a nearby Nature Preserve with family.
Here's some pictures from the hike. It was a beautiful sunny day after days of cold and rain.

Snowy Egret

Red-winged Blackbird

Hummingbirds

California Poppy

Red Tailed Hawk

Cousin Kisses

Vulture

Red Tailed Hawk

I think these are coons? (can you tell I'm really not an expert in birds - sorry for all the mistakes for those who are!) I liked the picture of that one standing on one leg.