A New Year!

I have arrived at a fresh year of life.  I am halfway to 70!!  I have decided not to grieve my age as some do, but to enjoy it!  Honestly, if you ask me anytime after this week how old I am, I will probably have to think and calculate for a while.  Maybe, just maybe, with the halfway to 70 comment, I will remember my age this year??  

Last week, Kevin's dad had an anniversary at the farm he has been working at and his mom decided to hire a photographer for some extended family pictures.  The timing was right and so were the backdrops!!  We haven't done it since L was just a bump! 

Here is me and my sweets on a combine that I mislabeled as a tractor.  I just thought all the big green vehicles on the farm were tractors...  I guess I am neither a city nor a country girl!  Since I have never ridden in a tractor (or a combine), Kevin's dad said that we could come up one day this fall to ride in one.  I'm excited for that, now I just have to follow through!  There are so many experiences available if you just have the follow-through!  I'll be working on that this coming year.  I don't know how long I'll be homeschooling or how long this flexibility will be in our lives, but for now, I want to do what I can. 

Also, happy 9th anniversary to us!!

L was reminiscing about my last birthday.  She reminded me that I had been sick and daddy had stayed home from work and made macaroni and cheese for lunch.  That was fun!  ...for her...

Lunch Game and Mn Science

No, we don't play games all day.  I am just realizing that games and puzzles are important and can teach things.  For instance, in the game of Sorry, 7 can be split between two game pieces.  So, we reviewed the addition sentences for 7. 

We played during lunch because Mn was occupied and L had an additional reason to stick to the game (she had to be at the table for lunch anyways).  L appeared to be winning midway through the game, but as the game progressed, the rest of us did some catching up.  L, with some firm coaching (No, you may not quit now!), persevered to the end and did win the game.  

When Mn was done eating, I gave him some magnets to play with.  They stuck to his chair and the cover of the game container and so he continued to test to see if they stuck other places.  He tried his eye (closed) and his forehead.  Nope, they didn't stick there, oh, well, back to the chair.

School Extras

We went outside for math today, working with chalk and rocks.  Adding without thinking and subracting and writing out the "sentences".  Then a bit of biking and back in for some puzzle time.  I turned on a cd and they went to work.  

L voiced her uncertainty about being able to do such a difficult puzzle (25 piece for Kindergartener - was just a guess).  But, after telling her that I would gladly switch washing dishes for her puzzle, she decided that it would be ok.  I told her that I was taught to find the edge pieces, put those together first and then work inward, she proceeded to do it her way...from the inside out!  Why did I not expect her to do the opposite?  ;) 

I tested Kj out on a little bit more difficult puzzle (100 piece for a 2nd grader).  She started at it as she was taught, edges first and inside afterwards. 

They both conquered their puzzles and went on to other puzzles that had been stowed away for a while.  I am hoping to have more such afternoons with the girls.