Stormy Weather

Hurricane season in Florida is serious.  

Last week we began tracking Isaac, gathering supplies and preparing for a storm.  Thankfully, Isaac remained a Tropical Storm and stayed just off the west coast of Florida over the weekend.  That brought a lot of wind and rain for Fort Lauderdale, but our house never lost power or water.

 We had a Hurricane Party with the children, letting them make ice cream sundaes
(of course, they wanted some of every flavor and topping!) and have a slumber party with everyone in our bedroom!

 

watching the wind and rain

Classical Conversations

We are doing Classical Conversations again this year! 

Corban did a super job last year and we really like the curriculum and model.  

One day a week, Corban has class with a tutor and other students his age. 
New material is introduced (which we continue to review over the week), and he does an
oral presentation, science experiment, and fine arts.  

While Corban is in class, they have a nursery program that Abigail and Hadassah attend.  Everyone starts together in the morning for chapel and then comes together again later for lunch and recess.  This year we are at a new CC community whose campus is closer to our home.  The first day went well for everyone!

In his presentation (introducing himself to the class), Corban shared that cheeseburgers are his favorite food.  

 

And, we made mini hamburger cookies 

to share with his class!

 
We did this absorption experiment at home last week. One evening, we set up a glass of yellow water and glass of blue water, each with a rolled paper-towel leading to an empty glass in the center.  The next morning, the center glass had green water and all 3 glasses had the same amount of liquid!

Bicycle

Chris had Corban ride his bicycle for a few months without pedals to practice balance, 

but now the pedals are back on and the training wheels are off!  

On his first try Corban took off riding!  And kept riding all over the park!
 

Corban did have his first fall and scraped his knee, but was even proud of that when Daddy explained that everybody scrapes their knee sometime, but not everyone can ride on their first try!
And while Corban rode,

  Hadassah led the way as we walked







 

and chased lizards.

 

 

Abigail did somersaults

 and gave Hadassah a ride!

First Pedicure

I had painted my toe nails, which Abigail immediately noticed and asked if I would paint hers the same color.  As I painted Abigail's, Hadassah quietly watched.  I painted one of Hadassah's big toes and her whole face lit up and she kept pointing at her toe and saying "ooooh". Her excitement was so great that I had to paint all her little piggies with the
bright orange polish too :)

1st Grade

We've started school again! 
Corban is in 1st grade this year! This year, we are again using Classical Conversations as his primary curriculum and supplementing with additional materials.
Abigail sometimes joins us in what Corban is doing, works on her own school book, or plays.  And Hadassah plays or naps! 
It was a great first week, we all enjoyed having more structure to our day again and
I am excited about the year ahead!

Classical Conversations curriculum which includes:
Timeline/History, Geography, Math, Science, Latin, and English Grammar

Bible:  My Father's World, Bible Study Fellowship

Math:  Horizons, Quarter Mile Math
Language Arts:  Explode the Code, Horizons Spelling and Vocabulary,
A Reason for Handwriting, Pathway Readers

Science:  My Father's World

Night on the Town

stop at beach after Friends of MODS kick-off  (August 14)

Friends of MODS Sunset Soiree (June 5)

Rio's PartyPalooza 2012 (August 10)

with Bubba and Abba

Hadassah's cute personality is getting bigger and bigger every day! 
She pretends to read, holding a book and saying "blublublublu."  She acts like a puppy;  crawling around and barking!  She can blow her nose now and empty a container of wipes practicing on her own.  She consistently signs and says "please" when she wants anything.  She LOVES her baby dolls and always has at least one that she is carrying around holding, patting, and kissing her "bay-bay" (if I ask her to give mommy a kiss, she laughs and gives her baby another one!).  She is gentle and intentional and exploring more independence.  She has a soft, sweet little voice when she babbles, the cutest giggle, and a big, loud laugh
(we call it her Fat Albert laugh)!

 

 taking turns pretending to be asleep

 

protective arm

Swimming

Abigail and Corban began swim lessons a couple weeks ago.   She was originally placed in the schools first level group class, but after two classes it was suggested that Abigail spend a week in private classes. 
This week Abigail did amazing!  Over the week she began swimming freestyle, back stroke and butterfly, floated, jumped in, and dove down!  Abigail was moved up two class levels and will now be in the beginning strokes class.

Corban was also promoted after 2 classes in the intermediate strokes class and will begin with the advanced/pre-swim team group next week!

 Hadassah made sure to bring her accessories (purse and phone) and
even played in the shoe/towel cubbies one day