Nov. 2, 2009 - girlie craft
We did this craft in Kid's Klub for the kids to give to their moms. I thought it would be a good craft to do at our Princess and the Kiss Closing Ceremony. The instructions were from www.arteflorale.com
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Oct. 30, 2009 - Jumprope Competition
We had a blast on this past Saturday at Guam's 3rd Annual Jump Rope Competition. Attending was Lee Reisig, 3 time world champion jump roper!
The girls both got a gold and a silver medal. I was presented a medal for 3rd place for speed, but found out later the tally was wrong and I was actually 4th. But, hey I am still pretty excited seeing as the division was 15 years old and above. 
Sarah took first place in the Freestyle with a beautiful routine set to My Praise by Philips Craig and Dean. She also took second place in speed:
Joy jumped for 8:08 non-stop with no mistakes to win the endurance.
She also took second place for her Freestyle routine -- a fun routine set to He Came to Give us Life.
Here we are with Lee Reisig:
Not sure how long the online pictures will stay up but for now they are here:
Pacific Daily News
My girls appear in pics 8, 12, 13 (in red shirt/jean shorts + aqua shirt/brown-aqua plaid shorts). There is a great shot of Lee upside down in pic no. 5
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Oct. 23, 2009 - Healthy, Edible Centerpiece for Autumn
Okay, well it is just rainy and dry seasons here for us - this being rainy. But, nonetheless, we are enjoying decorating with pumpkins, fall leaves and the like.
Check out this fun centerpiece that really isn't hard to make at all. The idea came from Country Woman magazine:
Sarah helped me put it together and Joy made some fondant leaves (that we decided look more like petals). What do you think, does it look like they enjoyed this break from the books?
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Oct. 20, 2009 - Pretenders
In our neighborhood Kid's Klub this week we talked about wearing masks and pretending. Man looks at the outward appearance and we can sometimes fool people, but God looks in our hearts and we can't fool Him. He created our hearts and He knows what is really going on.
Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourself, do what it says. ~ James 1:22
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Oct. 12, 2009 - Thunderbird Show!
We had the privilege of viewing a show by the Thunderbirds this past week. The show was postponed from the previous week due to a typhoon threat (but we were spared!), and on the postponed date we had a bit of a wait for the low lying clouds to break a bit, but it was worth the wait:
Notice the Rainbow!
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Oct. 6, 2009 - Jumprope Pamphlet
Inspired by our jumprope class, dd1 chose that topic for her assignment to create a pamphlet about a topic of choice. Her final product came out really nice. Check it out at the link at the end of this entry if you like. DD wrote the script and Mom edited it with her. She then, typed it out and designed the pamphlet complete with photos and clipart which she organized and placed in the pamphlet. We did this over several days and it was quite a learning experience!
Click here for the document.
cover, back and page 1,6
pages 2,3,4, 5
Since the layout was done on a program many might not have , I published it to a pdf file. You will have to take note of the page numbers which aren't in correct order because of this. It was created on legal size and then folded but that layout doesn't come through in pdf.
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Sep. 25, 2009 - God's Encouragement for me this week
The Beyond Five in a Row Christian Character and Bible Supplement recently led us to this verse in Deuteronomy 29:29 which has been a huge encouragement to me of late!
"...the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever!" Deut. 29:29
Wow, just think about it! God has revealed secrets not only to us but to our children. It amazes me to see a child that has accepted the Lord at times possessing nuggets of wisdom that older people who do not know the Lord miss. Is that not remarkable!? God certainly works in unexpected ways!
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Sep. 12, 2009 - latest nature study
After giving a little talk to the homeschool group about nature journaling, I have had a few people check how it is going. A little accountability!! 
Our latest simple activity idea came from our Nature Friend magazine. We separated the pigments in some plants by mixing them with acetone (finger nail polish remover) and letting them sit for a few hoursw with a strip of absorbant paper inside. Due to the chemical reaction, the colors come out in layers.
I took my picture before the labels were added - but the first one is guava leaves, the second a bright red hibiscus flower and the third a purple orchid. By the way, these are all from our yard -- we are blessed!
Simple and fun experiment for a nice addition to our nature journal! What nature studies have you been up to?!
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Sep. 10, 2009 - great articles to ponder
Here are a few really great blog entries that have inspired me lately:
Keeping the Home in Homeschool
Growing your Children's Passions
Do You have a Dream?
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Aug. 21, 2009 - applications for nature journaling
Besides the obvious science and art lessons that can be pulled out of nature walks, here are a few other things we have used it for:
*language: spelling practice, handwriting practice, dictation, notebooking, paragraph construction, labeling, vocabulary, poetry, abc's, descriptive language, list-making
*math : figuring dates (incubation dates, growth rates), measuring circumferences, weights, lengths, graphing of types,
*geography : indigenous species and use of field guides when travelling, how and from where an invasive species came, flora and fauna of a region
*art: photography, making crafts with nature, drying flowers, blending of colors, various art mediums
*science: weather, plants, animal studies, flowers, insects, senses, animal classification
My other blog entry with ideas for getting started
To read an inspiring nature blog by Jane Claire Lambert, Writer of the Five in a Row curriculum visit:
Jane's Nature Notes
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Aug. 18, 2009 - New for our School Year
Well we dove into our new school year recently week and so far, so good!
Here is what new things we have added this year:
I decided to try a curriculum called Vocabulary Vine My intention isn't so much for vocabulary as it is a supplement to reinforce spelling in a fun way. So far, so good - they enjoy it so far. An index card system is created day by day, with the roots/prefixes and sample words.
A second addition this year is Daily Geography since we love that subject! It is already a strength, especially for older dd but it adds a spark to the school day for us.
Lastly, for mom's organizing help, I am trying out Homeschool Skedtrack and so far it is helping tremendously with my planning and will help with record-keeping as well. I am one of those who is trying to move away from paper as I get bogged down with too many papers and no place to file them! So, this online system may be just the trick!
What is new in your homeschool this year?
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Aug. 14, 2009 - Available to borrow (Guam Homeschoolers)
Available to borrow for those on Guam: (email to: degregso@hotmail.com
Beyond Readers (vol. 1): Betsy Ross, Homer Price
Very Last First Time
Papa Piccolo
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening
Lentil
Who Owns the Sun?
Another Celebrated Dancing Bear
Cranberry Thanksgiving
Glorious Flight
Wee Gillis
They Were Strong and Good
Ferdinand
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car
The Giraffe that Walked to
Owl Moon
The Little Red Lighthouse and the
Truman’s Aunt Farm
Andy and the Lion
Andy and the Circus
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar
Amber on the Mountain
Climbing
The Dutchess Bakes a Cake
Paul Revere’s Ride
The Bee Tree
The Gullywasher
Snowflake Bentley
The Hatmaker’s Sign
Mailing May
Babar to Duet or Not to Duet
Roxaboxen
The Raft
Arabella
Big Green Pocketbook
Blueberries for Sal
Jessie Bear, What will you Wear?
I am an Artist
If Jesus Came to My House
Caps for Sale
http://www.homeschoolshare.com
Crawdad Creek
Apples to
The Day of Ahmed’s Secret
Bobbin Girl
I Love you the Purplest
Aunt Flossie’s Hat (and Crabcakes Later)
Baby in a Basket
The Mitten
Mama, Do You Love Me?
Masai and I
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush
Hawk, I’m Your Brother
The Big Snow
The Gardener
Meeting Trees
Beethoven Lives Upstairs
Wilma Unlimited
Daisy Comes Home
Penny in the Road
When Agnes Caws
Flat
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Aug. 3, 2009 - No Greater Joy!
My mommy heart was blessed recently to see my little "disciples" applying God's Word to their lives. It was the last Sunday of the month when there is no children's church in order to allow the kids to sit with their families and put into practice what they have been learning.
Being a homeschool teacher at heart I had made a sheet to help my kids actively listen to the service.
It looks like this:
Sermon Notes:
I was rejoicing to see how one dd accurately listed the key words to the sermon and had a personal application of needing to change her attitude from what it was in the morning before she went to church (when she and mom had a bit of a spat).
Second dd didn't seem to be listening very intently and didn't put much into her notes but several days later she had her own personal application that blew me away!
I have no greater joy than to see my little ones having their own personal walk with the Lord!
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Jul. 25, 2009 - I have a mamulan!
We girls are part of the Guam Skipjacks Jump Rope class and if I understand correctly, mamulan is the adolescent stage of the tuna fish. Pictured here is our coach along with Joy and Naomi (and her mom). Both girls have achieved the "mamulan" status by jumping for 10 minutes nonstop (which is the equivalent of 30 minutes nonstop jogging). Coach Brian had a celebration for us at a local park. Sarah and I are still in the tatika tiyu (spelling?) stage -- more like a toddler or little kid! Joy gets to help lead with coach and Mom is her student! 8>)
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Jul. 25, 2009 - neighborhood VBS
We hosted our yearly VBS outreach at our home last week and it was a great week! God was faithful to provide good weather, lots of kids and workers. It was a great time of fellowship with our church friends and a privilege to be able to bring VBS right to the neighborhood kids who otherwise would never have made it to a VBS at one of the local churches.
For a scrapbook of our Serengeti Trek visit:
http://www.thegregsons.org/scrapbook/serengeti.pdf
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Jul. 23, 2009 - Partial Solar Eclipse on Guam!
We were able to see the eclipse through some safe eclipse glasses as well as through a filtered telescope. The sun being SO strong and bright here, we really didn't notice much of a darkening. It was pretty much what a slight cloud cover would cause. What we did notice, though, was that it wasn't so hot in the direct sun as usual this time of year. My dh took these photos through the telescope:
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Jun. 12, 2009 - More on Cake Decorating
At our final neighborhood Kid's Klub recently, Sarah and Joy put the cake decorating skills they had learned to use and taught the kids how to decorate cupcakes:
Sarah showed how to put the icing on
and Joy showed how to make a fondant flower.
It was a little nutso with such a large group but it all worked out. The Kid's Klub kids always love it when they make their own snacks so we try to do that every now and then.
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Jun. 8, 2009 - Guam Quarter
We were able to attend the ceremony for the introduction of the Guam coin into circulation, part of the DC and Territories Quarter program. For more information on the Guam quarter visit:
Guam Quarter
Anyone under 18 at the ceremony was given a free Guam quarter;
For activities for kids related to the Quarters program visit:
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/
For teaching aides:
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/
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Jun. 6, 2009 - We grew a pineapple!
When our friends were leaving island we bought a pineapple plant from them and continued the lengthy process of growing a pineapple. Our friends had already had the plant for several months. A few months after we got the pineapple it flowered. Here is it is on week three from when it flowered:
Following the typical timeframe for pineapples to ripen, it took about 17 more weeks for the pineapple to ripen. Our pineapple is 2.6 pounds. The plant grew two shoots, one on either side, which we learned are called ratoons. We have left them on the plant and will continue to water them and we may get pineapples from them after another year. It is a long wait but fun to watch. We had a little accident when one of the neighbor kids fell against the plant and so we had it propped up with boards. We are SO glad that it continued to ripen despite the injury.
Here it is at week 16. Notice the ratoons:
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Jun. 4, 2009 - Summary of our Homeschooling Year
Four Beyond Five in a Row chapter book units with lapbooking
(Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Fine Arts):
Thomas Edison, Betsy Ross, Homer, Boxcar Children
Other Units: Castle Diary, Arabella, Wilma Unlimited (Homeschoolshare.com)
3 R’s:
Math U See – Gamma and Beginning of Delta
Growing with Grammar – Grade 3 and started Grade 4
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Bible:
(Home)
Jesus in the Spotlight by Kay Arthur
Five in a Row Christian Character Supplement
A Girl of Beauty by Carol Fiddler
Princess and the Kiss Life Lessons
Jotham’s Journey
(Church)
Torchlighter dvds
Grapevine Old and New Testament Timeline
8 Swim lessons and trips to the pool
Weekly Jump rope class including 2 performances
Hike to
“ice skating” 1X
Rock climbing 1X
Piano lessons - Sarah
Recorder lessons with Mom, (including two recorder performances at church); piano lessons with Mom, a few flute lessons at church - Joy
Cake Decorating lessons
Knitting lessons
Visit to
On Guam --Fish Eye Marine Observatory, War in the
Nature journaling: 13 entries
Timeline numerous additions
Reading Rainbow Young Writer and Illustrator contest (Joy)
Drama class with Covenant Players
Several lessons of Chinese (Learnables)– Joy
A Few lessons of Spanish – Sarah and Joy
Library summer reading program
Quick Study Labs summer science club
Bookmobile and library- numerous visits
Shepherd’s Fold Christian Camp
Kid’s Klub biweekly- Bible and Arts & Crafts, games
SAT10 testing (Joy)
PASS testing (Sarah)
Home Depot kid’s workshop (5 times)
Read alouds mom read: Swiss Family Robinson, Wind in the Willows, The Railway Children, Carry on Mr. Bowditch, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart, A Door in the Wall
Geocaching numerous times
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