Tuesday, January 31, 2017

US




New Year's Eve 2016.

We do NOT have a selfie stick (I can't believe I just even typed those words!) so it was a little tricky trying to fit everyone into this picture.

How is your year going so far?

Happy Almost February!

CO-OP HAPPENINGS: THURSDAY

So, it is only fair I share about our Thursday co-op as well.
I love this group of people and the way it is run.
We changed locations this school year, which has changed things somewhat--we are in an ENORMOUS, old church and getting from class to class can get a little hectic.
Nevertheless, we all enjoy our Thursday classes.

Nature Friends


Best Buds


Fitness and Fun had some visitors since their teacher was absent..
I mean who wouldn't want to hang out in a room with a ton of those gigantic bean bags?
Seriously, if we had another room in our house and unlimited funds, I'd furnish it with those bean bags.  So. Fun.
Not to mention comfy.


Lego Club.



Music Appreciation.
I'm always busy teaching so I don't really think to take pictures, but this past week the kids were
really getting into the music (Beethoven) and busting out with dance moves, so I thought I'd snap a picture.  It didn't turn out that well, but at least I have it documented.  :)


Some of our other classes include: Show me a Story, Show and Tell Craft time, ABC fun, Gym Class, Kitchen Science, Mystery Science, Classic Tales, Math Skills, Parables, Promises and Predicaments, Art, and His Little Princess.  

As long as all goes well and we are able,  we are in this co-op for the long haul.
It offers so much and the kids and I have all made some good friends.
I'll have to try for some more pictures in this second part of the year.

Monday, January 30, 2017

CO-OP HAPPENINGS: FRIDAY


As most of you know, we made our lives crazy this school year by joining not one, but two co-ops.
Why would I do this to myself?  Well, they offer very different classes and the one is located literally right down the road.  

Here are some pictures from Friday co-op:

Recently, Daddy was able to come to co-op with us for a visit.
The kids also were able to each perform a piano piece in the morning for an assembly.

There is a running joke about when we come in every morning..because we come in lugging keyboards.  3 (well technically 4) of the kids are taking piano lessons--number #4 wasn't quite ready so we stopped him--all at the same time.

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Some pics of the piano recital:

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Art class!
This is a two step project, so not yet finished.

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Calendar Time!

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Pre-K Art!
The two littles are in this and I am an aide in the class.
It is a bit crazy, but they both participate and do well.



Jump Right In!
Another mom and I (unknowingly) became the leaders of this class--when no teacher showed up the first day. Or on any day since.  It is basically a gym class with organized games and such.

You'll notice the targets in the background, the two eldest are in an outdoor skills class that includes indoor archery!  They have also made forts in the woods, cooked outdoors over a fire and "made" scat.  


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MJ in cooking class!
They eat all the finished products.

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Dance class for the girls.
They missed dance the past couple years and are really enjoying this.
I'm looking forward to the final performance at the end of the school year.

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Recess..in the cold or the hot..


Group Piano Lessons.

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I missed a couple of classes, but since I have duties I can't be everywhere to take pictures.

The older kids love it.
I like the course offerings, but it is a lot.
#1 with two cling-ons
#2 getting everything else done with only 3 days home
#3 everyone being exhausted by the end of Friday which leads to lots of tears and such from the munchkins..

I have not yet decided our course of action for the next school year.
I'll keep you posted.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

MAKER MONDAY

I've said it before, I'll say it again--we LOVE our library.

These are pictures from a Maker Monday workshop in December.
The kids get some hands on STEM education free of charge and they LOVE it.
The woman who runs the programs is very much into it and so it makes it much more interesting.




This particular program was winter themed and geared towards 9-12 year olds.
They run a separate program for the 5-8 year olds that the two younger ones went to.
I just didn't happen to get any pictures from the other one.


This is pretty much once a month, but I heard rumor that the Maker Camp is moving to OUR LIBRARY for the summer!!  It is typically a 4-6 week program that we have attended in the past, but always at another library in our system that is a bit too far to drop off the kids and go home...so we always ended up staying the whole time--up to 4 hours at the library!  Yeah, it got old.  Needless to say, I am super excited to have this program at our home library.

The three oldest are currently attending a Science Action Club that meets once a week for 6 weeks, again, at the library and they are loving it!



Saturday, January 28, 2017

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY #1

Miss Bean turned 9 early on in November.


Somehow I missed cake pictures.
I'm sure that Mike got some though.
It is a standing joke..but not really?..that she uses so much of the following products that she got them for her birthday..

salad dressing


a cookbook


syrup..


applesauce..



This girl loves her condiments..we need to add ketchup to the list for next year.
We hope you had a great 9th birthday!


Thursday, January 5, 2017

BIRTHDAY BUDDIES



As you know, we have two that share a birth-date.

THIS guy was SOOOO excited for his birthday this year!
It was fun watching him open everything and blow out candles and the whole nine yards..



This gift has a bit of a story behind it.
J loves tractors and we found this on a yard sale site for pennies--but it was pretty beat up.
So, we bought it and Mike spent quite a bit of time taking the whole thing apart and re-painting!
It turned out to look brand-new and he loves it.



This little stinker is just that--a stinker.
He is a little ball of energy so I didn't get too many good pictures.



Birthday Buddies!


They get along pretty well.


Hope you enjoyed your birthday, boys!!


Wednesday, January 4, 2017

CHRISTMAS



The kids practiced a few songs and memorized verses for the annual

Sunday School program.

Our normally small-ish church is then full on the program day.




There are only two older boys in the group, 
so this year they said their piece and then sat down while the others sang.


We have three Sunday School classes and then the older kids in two classes.
I teach the pre-k class. 

Last year I had one of my little guys refuse to go up or say a piece.  This year he still refused to go up, well, I should modify that.  When we practiced, he did a fantastic job..day of--he refused to go up and stand with everyone.  However, he did walk up albeit reluctantly, and came back down with me and said his piece from the safety of the front bench.  Maybe next year...



Other than that, everyone did a great job!


Tuesday, January 3, 2017

HOT SHOT #2


Bean is in 4th grade this school year, and that made her eligible for Hot Shots!!

I believe this was at the first shooting session for the season.

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Just a little bit excited, eh?!
She enjoys it and is doing a great job!

Monday, January 2, 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOOGIE!



Travel back with me, if you will, to November 2016.
I do realize that I am starting the November birthdays in reverse order, but you don't mind. 
Right?

Boogie turned 6!


The sweatshirt was one of his favorite gifts.
Since his birthday was on a weekday and we had church that night, he opened his presents with Dad on facetime rather than waiting until really late.

This WAS after church.
Cupcakes before bed.



Hope you had a great birthday!