Picture Day

It was Picture Day for our homeschool group.  I was really impressed with the photographer, Jeffrey Hosier's ability to get natural smiles out of the kids.  He did a little magic trick with a coin that brought out a glimpse of wonder in Ronin's expression and a sweet, playful one in Reid:

However, once I saw this idea on Pinterest I was pretty much decided that this will be our homeschool's picture day tradition.

While shooting, I talked to them about our last trip to Disneyland, which proved far more effective than shouting at them to look at the camera and smile.  I loved all the personality I was able to catch!  Here were some of the out takes...

And Sometimes Homeschooling Looks Like This...

Even during our baby break, the boys are still learning.  Today, Big Ma brought us a tampon box.  

No, this isn't for sex ed, as this is no ordinary tampon box.  If you notice, there are breathing holes in the lid for the grasshopper and one-armed praying mantis that came inside.  Don't feel sorry for the one-armed mantis.  It ate the head off the grasshopper.  

Sometimes Homeschooling Looks Like This...

As part of our lesson on the sun, we had planted beans and left one cup in a dark cabinet and another on the window sill in the sun.  Naturally, this would teach the necessity of sunlight for life.  However, when we left for the hospital to deliver Dax, we also left the one cup in the sun to burn to a crisp while the one in the dark flourished.  Nothing a little sharpie can't fix, right??

S is for Sun

During our first official lesson in our MFW curriculum (My Father's World), we learned about how Jesus is the light of the World.  We studied the sun, why we need it, how Jesus is the light of the world, and why we need Him.

Here, the boys are planting beans with Dad on the other side of the glass door we practiced writing the letter 'S' on:

 Our sun dial:

While playing in their Star Wars tent, I caught Reid demonstrating to Ronin with a flashlight and ball (as we had studied earlier) how the sun shines on earth and creates day in some parts of the world while it's night on the other side of the world:

 Writing the letter 'S' in rice:

Here, Reid illustrates his daily catalog with changes in the grapes we left in the sun to dry (Ronin likes to do whatever we're doing):

 Practicing letter writing:

Kindergarten is Officially in Session!

Our homeschooling has been very informal up until this point, so I guess it's time for an update!  As I was organizing our "My Father's World" kindergarten curriculum, Reid asked what I was doing.  When I told him, he got totally excited and asked if we could start.  "Sure," I said.  "Right now?" he asked.  "Ok..." I responded.  ("Here goes nothing," is what I was really thinking.)  Probably good that we get a bit of a head start though, to give us some cushion since Baby's due September 1st.

So we've so far completed the introduction, which covers the creation story.  Each day he contributed to one page in his book (pictured below) and one piece of his banner, which is now hanging proudly in our classroom.

When Reid shows people this page, he says, "Do you know why Adam & Eve have a heart stamp in between them?  Because they're in love."

And so did we.

Reid was very excited to use the exclamation point!  :)

Ronin didn't want to miss out on any of the action so I plopped him in his highchair and let him play with whatever medium we were using that day (i.e. glitter paint, rubber stamps, stickers, etc.).  I soon learned he couldn't be trusted with the kid scissors when I caught him trying to cut his own hair and actually cutting a hole in his shirt.  A lot of the material so far seems too easy for Reid, like learning his alphabet, colors, numbers, so instead of skipping it, he and I make games to teach Ronin together.

Reid and I are also getting into chapter books and read a chapter (or two if he could sit through it) of "Mr. Popper's Penguins" each day before nap time.  As a reward for finishing the book, we went and saw the movie together, which was hardly like the book, but he didn't mind.

Once we find our groove with the MFW stuff, I plan to add on "Making Math Meaningful," which utilizes around-the-house items and conceptual conversation to, well, make math meaningful, avoiding flash cards, memorization, etc.  (I'm considering starting at level 1 instead of level K.)  Colby will also be planning a simple science project for each weekend to coincide with the previous week's MFW theme.

Hearing the kids on recess around the corner over the past school year has really piqued Reid's interest in school, so I felt it was time to make more of an effort to plug-in with a homeschool group.  I finally settled on the Cornerstone Homeschool Connection, which had a nice, modern (and very welcoming) feel to it.  We've been joining them for park days and will be joining in on a co-op with.  

Here we go... We're actually doing this!

A Cherry-Pickin' Good Time

We joined our local moms' club for a morning of cherry picking.  Reid loved picking them, but refused to try even one, while Ronin got quickly bored of picking them and just chowed down on them the entire time!  He must have eaten about 25 of them, including a few pits, which came out in the shower a couple days later.

Reid & Ronin checking out the chickens:

Reid & his friend, Sebastian:

Time to get to work:

Our loot:

Playing at our picnic afterwards: