Jul. 25, 2008 - Getting Ready for Next Year
It's almost August, so we're getting ready for next year. Besides our homeschooling, Kate will be taking Driver's Ed at the public school. (7 o'clock every morning!!
) Luke started taking tennis lessons this summer and will continue until the weather gets too cold. Both kids will continue their music lessons and Luke & Doug have Kajukenbo martial arts once a week.
Also, my good friend is leaving the homeschool group as her kids have decided to try "real" school. 
So, I will be taking over her duties as leader of our local support group. I've already had several Mom's offer their help and I'm praying for many more.
BOOKS
We finally have most of next year's books.
Luke will be using Heart of Dakota's 'Preparing Hearts for His Glory' along with MCP Math and Rod & Staff English.
Kate will be using:
Teaching Textbooks Geometry; Abeka English; Streams of Civilization World History; Apologia Science; BJU Spanish; Explorer's Bible Study; Alfred's Music Theory
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Jul. 23, 2008 - Catching Up on our Summer so Far
At the end of May & beginning of June we took a vacaction. - First, we went to Effingham, IL for a VW Festival. Then, we spent a week in a cabin at Kentucky Lake.
Luke & Doug IN Kentucky Lake:
At a historic Farm:
Bison outside our car window in the park:
Kate and her new car:
She'll get her learner's permit in August
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May. 1, 2008 - Field Trip to the Center for American Archeology
On April 28th we took a field trip to the Center for American Archeology in Kampsville, IL. We had rain, sleet & even some snow flakes that day, but inbetween we had about 3 hours of beautiful, sunny, almost warm weather! The center studies early native Americans and how they lived in our area. Our first activity was a 2 hour hike from the river up to the bluffs. As we hiked, our guide explained which plants the Indians would have used for food or medicine and how conditions like drought or late freezes could have impacted them.
Fighting the mud uphill!
Our reward at the top was a beautiful view of the Illinois River:
After lunch we had a class in flintknapping while the younger kids learned how to construct a wigwam with dried grasses.
Luke working on his arrowhead
Modeling the latest in protective eyewear:
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Apr. 23, 2008 - Turning 45!
I celebrated my 45th birthday last week & I got everything I wanted.
Luke made me a birthday card with $5 inside.
Kate took me to the movies after church on Sunday:
And Doug got me the lamp that I've been wanting because I never seem to have enough light when I'm sitting in my favorite reading spot
:
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Apr. 5, 2008 - Our Monthly Bowling Day with the Homeschool Group
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Apr. 5, 2008 - Luke's 10th Birthday
At home...
His party at Holiday Inn...
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Mar. 4, 2008 - SNOW
Our Back Yard on March 4
Two days ago we were wearing shorts & t-shirts.
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Mar. 4, 2008 - February
Our Homeschool Group's Valentine's Day Party
Luke & Tasha
A field trip to the Lock & Dam Museum
We walked across the river on top of the dam!
Kate, Daniel & Miranda driving a towboat simulator
Kate & Miranda finding facts for a scavenger hunt
Luke's Cub Scout trip visited the Fire Station
Webelo Scout Lumber Jack Competition at Warren Levis Boy Scout Camp
The boys competed as teams in knot tying, log sawing, fire building & target practice.
Paintball Competition - shooting wolves with slingshots
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Feb. 6, 2008 - January Pictures
Doug & Luke working on their car for the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby:
The race!
Kate & her friends getting ready for a formal dinner:
Our latest project - it should be ready for the road by the time Kate turns 16!
A roller skating party with the homeschool group
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Jan. 12, 2008 - We're done with South America!
We finished our study of South America on Friday! This is our lapbook:
On Monday we start on Norway!
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Dec. 31, 2007 - Christmas
We went to a homeschool class at Leftovers, etc. about "Christmas Around the World". In this photo, they're playing a Christmas game from Germany.
Christmas Party with the homeschool group:
Christmas Dinner at Church:
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Dec. 31, 2007 - Our South American Meal
We're almost done with our study of South America. All we'll have left to do after Christmas break is a few things in our lapbook. Kate & Luke fixed a dinner from 'Cooking The South American Way' by Helga Parnell:
Beans with Vegetables
2tsp. vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. oregeno
1 cup zucchini, peeled and chopped
4 cup canned navy beans (strain liquid & save)
1 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup canned stewed tomatoes
1 cup corn
salt & pepper
1. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, paprika, and oregano. Mix well and fry for about 3 minutes.
2. Add zucchini and beans and mix well.
3. Add enough water to the reserved bean liquid to make 2 cups. Add liquid to the Dutch oven, stir, and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to simmer and add the tomatoes, corn, salt, and pepper. Cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, reducing the liquid but not allowing the stew to dry out. Serve as a main dish.
Sauteed White Rice
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice, rinsed
5 cups hot water
salt & pepper
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. 2. Add the rinsed rice and stir constantly until the rice has absorbed the oil and the grains are translucent (about 8 minutes). 3. Add the hot water and bring to a boil over high heat. 4. Reduce heat to a simmer and add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 20 minutes, or until the rice in tender. 5. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes until the rice has absorbed all of the moisture.
Milk Pudding
4 eggs
14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1. With a hand mixer or in a blender, beat eggs. 2. Add condensed and whole milk and blend well. Set custard mixure aside. 3. Heat sugar over medium-high heat in a small saucepan, stirring constantly, unit the sugar carmelizs (turns brown and syrupy). This may take 20 minutes. 4. Quickly pour sugar mixture into bottom of ovenproof 2-quart mold or bow, coating the bottom and sides of container. 5. Pour custard mixture into the mold. 6. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in teh center comes out clean. 7. Chill until ready to serve. Turn onto platter. The pudding will be covered with a caramel sauce.
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Nov. 12, 2007 - Our First Lapbook
We just finished our first lapbook. We're studying North America in our My Father's World curriculum. Instead of doing worksheets, we researched different topics and turned them into a lapbook made with file folders.
The Cover
On the inside we had: the highest & lowest points of North America, Flags, Population, Endangered Animals & the official language of each country.
The back cover was a booklet of people in North America that need our prayers.
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Nov. 11, 2007 - Doug & Luke earn their Purple Belts
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Oct. 16, 2007 - A Busy 2nd week of October
Our Art Project from Gloal Art this week: Apple Face Dolls - The early settlers of North America made toys from natural materials and things they had on hand. People had no toy stores to go to and little money with which to buy things. The apple face dolls became a tradition that has remained part of the American culture, especially in the Appalachian mountains and New England.
Monday - We enjoyed a beautiful park day at Culp Park
Tuesday - Kate was chosen to be part of "Project Next Generation" at our local library. It's a small group of teenagers that meet on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons to work on various projects at the library. Luke had Cub Scouts in the evening. He just finished earning his 'Citizenship' badge and is now working on his 'Communication' badge. This week he gave a 3 minute speech on Bats & practiced writing in codes.
Wednesday - We all went to Jefferson Barracks for a field trip. This has been a major military post since the days of Lewis & Clark.
Our guide gave us an excellent presentation on the life of an average Civil War recruit - Billy Yank. Luke got to dress up as a Civil War Cavalry soldier.
We then heard about GI Joe a World War II infantryman. At one point, Jefferson Barracks was processing 100,000 WWII recruits a day!
Thursday - This is always our busy day: Piano Lessons, Library, Kajukenbo (martial arts).
Friday - We went to Eckert's Orchard to pick a pumpkin. We usually go apple picking here every year, but this year the apple crop was so poor, due to the weather, that we had to skip it.
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Oct. 3, 2007 - September 30th - Church in the Park
We had Church at the park this week, followed by a picnic. The weather was perfect!
Sunday School on the Playground
Our Prayer in the Park
Creating Tie-Dyed shirts without dye
Kate making Snow Cones
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Oct. 3, 2007 - Young Eagles Flight
On Saturday, Kate & Luke got to go for a single-engine airplane ride with the Young Eagles:
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.
Since 1992, more than 1.3 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by more than 41,000 volunteer pilots.
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Sep. 24, 2007 - Week 3
Our Final Celery Experiment Photo:
The Back to Homeschool Picnic
The Teenage Girl Table:
Luke & A New Friend:
We started studying North America this week. These are our Navajo Sandpaintings. We used colored salt instead of sand.
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Sep. 18, 2007 - Week 2
This year we are using My Father's World Exploring Countries & Cultures and WinterPromise Animal Worlds to study about the people & animals around the world. The first two weeks are just general information: learning the names of the continents (sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy) and oceans, and looking at different kinds of maps. Next week, we will start studying North America and Deserts.
Our Celery Experiment:
Day 1
Day 3 - Stay tuned for our final photo next week.
Our newest thrift store find - a real accordian!
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Sep. 11, 2007 - Our First Week Back to School
A Drawing that Luke made from "Draw, Write Now"
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