Graham H. Grade 7/8

OK...this just makes my brain hurt...but here it goes.  I wanted (for my own records) to make a list of what I hope Graham accomplishes between the third week of August and January.

When I first started homeschooling 4 years ago...I only used Sonlight!  I still LOVE Sonlight and all that it has to offer...and would certainly recommend it to anyone!  However, over these years, I have been adding to Sonlight and really developing my own curriculum based on the strengths/weaknesses of my children....as well as their interests!  We gotta keep it interesting around here, right!

So here it goes (you have been warned!!)

Bible:  Bible Study Sampler from Sonlight
           Live Like a Jesus Freak: Spend Today as if it were your last

History:  Story of the World Volume 3 along with the tests

Reading:  (not in any order)  getting all of these from our local library!
1. Maniac Magee
2.  Year of the Impossible Goodbyes
3. Peter the Great
4.  Amos Fortune, Free Man
5.  Stowaway
6.  Betsy and the Emperor
7.  Streams to the River, River to the Sea
8.  Only the Names Remain:  The Cherokees and the Trail of Tears
9.  I am David
10.  Nory Ryan's Song

We will be doing "unit study/novel study" type activities with each book to reinforce comprehension and vocabulary.  I have been spending many nights on the computer looking for ideas to download.  If you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know!

Science:  Physical Science Abeka 9 (bought this used...really cheap...hope it is good!)

English:  Finish Rod and Staff English 6 book, worksheets, and tests

Math:  Saxon Algebra 1 with Dive CD

Additional Language Arts:  Analogies 1 and Wordly Wise 3000 Book 8 (both purchased from Sonlight)

Competitive Robotics Team:  Computer class via Stanford University- cs106A (no college credit, though)
Weekly meetings to discuss class and assemble robot for competitions.

Piano and Guitar Lessons

I sure hope I am not leaving any holes or gaps in his studies.  If any of you see or know how I might add anything we are lacking, PLEASE leave me a comment!

Hope your head is not hurting too bad after reading all of this!  Blessings, Leigh Ann

Every Family Needs One

That's right...every family needs one of these....someone who loves the Lord and then loves his family, who is level-headed, who is loving and gentle, who doesn't easily jump to conclusions....

who makes wise decisions for our family, who is compassionate, who is loyal, who works hard, who knows how to relax and have fun.....

Our family is beyond blessed to have this man in our lives!
We love you, Daddy!

The Crafty One

Meet Grace.  Certainly The Crafty One in our family.

Usually her crafts involve a big mess of paper, glue, paint, play-dough, scissors, markers, etc....but lately these very simple, very clean, very neat friendship bracelets have caught her attention.

You will most often find her doing exactly this....and lovin' it!

I sure am glad there's one crafty one in this family!

A Few Things I Love...

I don't really have a lot of time to blog...but I was just cooking dinner (tacos...yum!) and thinking about all of the "little things" in life that I love....
Like....

clean laundry....especially when that laundry has been folded and put away!

the smell of cookies in the oven

flowers blooming in the summer

my shirt from 147 million orphans

Michigan cherries

clean toilets

anything from Chick-fil-@

and adoption videos....

This one happens to be one of my favorites.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

Friend or Foe?

 In the winter, Lake Michigan is just not my friend.  

We get so much "Lake Effect" snow...it really is not funny.

But in the summer...that same lake becomes my very good friend.  This weekend we spent some time with my friend (Lake Michigan) and our good friends, The Whitlow's, at the Venetian Festival. 

 Sarah Joy is always happy if the pink blanket is around!

Still not sure where this handsome young man came from!  HA!

 Grace and Taylor had a lot of fun together!

We cooled off with Snow Cones!

And enjoyed a beautiful evening with friends!

Tent Camping...Oh Yes!

So here is the proof that I actually did this....and if I hadn't been so sick with a
sinus/allergy/something, I REALLY would have enjoyed it.

We spent the weekend with about 60 friends from our local church...the kids rode bikes, made bracelets, did face painting, played games, went on scavenger hunts, ate s'mores....but mostly just bonded and made memories with each other....

In fact, I don't think any of us will forget the fun we had....

...we talked, we laughed, we cried, we sang, we ate...

and we are looking forward to doing it all again next year!

9 pounds!

Some of us (well, OK, talking about myself here!) wait all year for this day...

blueberry heaven (aka Blueberry Ranch).....

....and thanks to my really great helpers.....

....who are very particular about which blueberries go into the bucket....

...but look so cute while they are pickin'....

....we brought home 9 pounds!

Happy Friday, Friends!