Friday, December 28, 2012

PreK: Letter C

Welcome to Letter C (which we did way back in September).
 
{David is 4.5 years old}
 
We are using K4 curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler.
 
We used a lot of circus stickers for different activities.
 
 
Our lowercase "c" crab craft.

 
Our uppercase "C" caterpillar craft.

 
Our C bible verse: "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing to the Lord."  Colossians 3:20.
 
 
Handwriting: Letter C, Number 3 and shape: rectangle.

 
C letter search sheet and beginning sounds.

 
Beginning math and missing numbers sheets.

 
Sight words: see, the, and, a.  (from You Can Read curriculum)

 
Number puzzle (1-20).

 
Circus crafts.

 
Caterpillar activities (from Letter of the Week curriculum)


 
Circus sand art (from Oriental Trading).
 
 


Books we read:
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Caterpillar Spring Butterfly Summer by Susan Hood
Clara Caterpillar by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Emeline at the Circus by Marjorie Priceman
Disney Cars Step Into Reading Books-Race Around the World, Secret Agent Mater, Mater's Birthday Surprise, Race Team, Mater and the Little Tractors


This post is linked up to these great blogs ... check them out for more great learning ideas!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

2012 Book List: Part II (June-December)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book was recommended to me by many.  It was excellent.  A World War II story from the perspective of a German child who learned to read during the war and shared that love of books with a young Jewish man who was hiding in her family's basement.

The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips
Come In and Cover Me by Gin Phillips

Both of these books were inspired by a recommendation from my high school English teacher.  I'll let you read her review.  (It's way better than anything I could ever write.)  I was able to get both books from the library and liked them both very much.  The Well and the Mine was a quick read.  It took me about 100 pages to get into Come In and Cover Me, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

A bestseller and probably the most page-turning book I read this year.  I couldn't put it down.  I even read it on my phone at my nephew's birthday party when I was close to the end because I couldn't wait to find out the ending.  You may not like the ending (I really didn't care for how it ended) but it is a thriller nonetheless.  I've heard they are making a movie and Reese Witherspoon plays Amy (the wife).  Can't wait to see that!

Circle Maker by Mark Batterson

We read this in our LifeGroup at church and it was really good.  It will really change the way you think about prayer and change the way you pray. 

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Art Stein

This book was interesting and narrated by a dog!  For those of us who grew up with family pets, it was interesting to see the narrator's loyalty to his owner and insight into the lives of those around him.  And this sad story ended on a happy note so that was good.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
This was a book club pick that I previously read in 2004.  I loved this book when I read it the first time, so I decided to read it again before my book club meeting since I didn't remember many specifics about the story.  I'm so glad I did!  It was just as good the second time and I had forgotten a lot!!  (Think Desperate Housewives without all the unrealistic drama!)

First Grade Craftapalooza!

Claire and I got a little behind on her art project from her homeschool program this year.  Art is once a week and is always the last class of the day.  Many times she would watch the video and start the project, but never get it finished because it required help from me and I was tied up doing something else.  So, we spent the last day of school before winter break catching up on several unfinished art projects (and doing a few other activities).
 
(Claire is enrolled in an accredited program so we are required to complete all the work.  Otherwise, we so would not have finished these things up!)
 
1.  Felt pencil can.
 
 
2.  Christmas placemat.
 
 
3.  String painting.  (David's project is blue; Claire's is red.)  This was fun!

 
4 and 5.  Draw and penguin and a pig.

 
6 and 7.  Make a duck and a bear out of circles.  (Luke added some decoration to the duck's face.)

 
8.  Christmas tree with sequin ornaments.
 
 
9.  Christmas bell.

 
10 and 11.  Indian vest and headband.
 
 
I hope and pray we never get this behind on art projects again!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Will's 36th

Will turned 36 earlier this month.  We started out our celebration at our favorite burger joint.  The kids were not fans but Will and I enjoyed the meal very much.
 
 
A better picture of Will and the kids at home.
 
 
Double-layer cookie cake from Sam's.
 
For some reason we didn't have a 7 candle, so I had to improvise.

 
Time to sing Happy Birthday!

 
And blow out the candle.

 
Time to open gifts.

 
A favorite Christmas treat.
 
 
And a new golf shirt.
 
 
Cute kids excited about Daddy's birthday (and eating cookie cake).
 

 

 
Happy Birthday to the best hubby and daddy ever!!

Good News!

"EVERYTHING WAS READY.  The moment God had been waiting for was here at last!  God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.

But how would he come?  What would he be like?  What would he do?

Mountains would have bowed down.  Seas would have roared.  Trees would have clapped their hands.  But the earth held its breath.  As silent as snow falling, he came in.  And when no one was looking, in the darkness he came."

"And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift.  The baby that would change the world was born.  His baby son."

"This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night.  A Light to light up the whole world.  Chasing away darkness.  Helping people to see. 

And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine."

"But this child was a new kind of king.  Though he was the Prince of Heaven, he had become poor.  Though he was the Mighty God, he had become a helpless baby.  This King hadn't come to be the boss.  He had come to be a servant."

             Excerpts from the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Monday, December 17, 2012

Christmas Greetings


Scripted In Glory Religious Christmas Card
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View the entire collection of cards.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

12/12/12 ... in 12 photos

1. Making a list and checking it twice that morning.  Coffee and a computer ... many times how I start my day.
 
 
2.  Claire playing on the ipad after breakfast ... 2013 is going to be a year of limiting the electronics for the kids.  We are not doing a great job right now.

 
3.  David carries this blanket around everywhere!

 
4.  Luke taking my picture on the phone.  Actually, I think he is taking his picture ... not sure!

 
5.  Coloring books from Santa the night before.  (Santa at the mall.)


6.  Sometimes, Luke colors with us too.  Sometimes, not.


7.  Our advent project.  Truth in the Tinsel.

 
8.  Claire pretending to be Mary.  She said this is what Mary looked like in Marketplace at our church.

 
9.  Our family message board adorned with Christmas crafts.  Our babysitter is an expert at making handprint/footprint crafts!

 
10.  Claire looking cute in her BIG Christmas hair bow.

 
11. My Christmas card "books".  I finished the one from 2011 to add to the pile. 

 
12.  Luke looking cute in the kitchen before dinner.  Actually, I don't think he ever got dressed that day.  It was a pajama kind of day.
 
 
More than 12 photos ... Will and I are so rarely on the blog, we'll put pictures 13 and 14.
 
13.  Claire and me.

 
14.  Will and David.

 
The end!