Weekly Wrap-Up

It's been another good week at the United School.  Here's what we've been up to:

Look closely at Thing 2's desert diorama and you'll find 2 coyotes,
a chuckwalla, a gila woodpecker, a tortoise and a sidewinder.
Thing 2 had a blast creating this and, proud mama that I am,
I think it's pretty impressive for a kindergartner.

Thing 1 chose a coral reef for her dioarama.  Cellophane doesn't
lend itself to photography, but see if you can find a giant sea slug,
several anemones, kelp, brain coral, and various reef fish.
Well done, Thing 1!  I especially love the anemones fashioned
out of clay and pipecleaners, Thing 1's very own creative brainchild.

Today we did a nature study at a wildlife rehabilitation center.  This beauty
is a sandhill crane.  Thing 2 circled back twice to look at the cranes.

I've spared you the photos of this bobcat noshing on a
frozen rat.  We heard every crunch and Thing 2 was fascinated!
This particular bobcat had been hit by a car in Southern IL.
He has lasting vision problems and neurological damage
and would be unable to survive in the wild.

Veronica had amazing appeal for a rat.  She really did!
We all had our turn petting her.  She was soft and silky.

Both kids got to hold Rocky the ring-necked dove.  And that's Ranger Kev
with his Santa Claus beard in the background.  What an amazing guy!  He does
nature hikes for homeschoolers in various area forest preserves.  (He homeschooled
his own kids back when no one did.)  We could have talked to him all day long
and he was beyond generous in sharing information about the animals with the kids.
Thank you, Ranger Kev!  You made our day.

Gratitude really is the antidote to complaining.  I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to homeschool my children.  How did I get so lucky?

May our blessings be many and our complaints be few.  Amen!

Election Day

No homeschooler worth her salt can miss an opportunity like Election Day.  Leading up to the day, the kids and I studied the candidates and read a little about the election process and the electoral college.  They know red states from blue states, elephants from donkeys, and Romney from Obama.  On election day, after a little more talk about the process and some speculation about who might win, we headed off to the polls.  I talked the kids through the process, explaining each step from looking up a voters name and address to verifying the signature to filling in the ovals on the ballot and turning it in.  And then, we headed off to our local library where the kids were allowed to vote in their own election - for favorite book. They even had mock voting booths.  Too cute.  And, they each got their own sticker to boot, just like mom's.

The Owl, by Thing 1

The owl how swiftly he flies,

his wings make no noise as they beat,

he swoops upon his prey without sign of approach ,

he flies back to his nest,

for a satisfying rest.

Thing 1 was inspired to write and publish a poem this morning.  This is the fruit of her Thursday morning writing journal.  She chose the accompanying picture.  Beautiful!

Thou shalt not complain...

...for the next 40 days.  I attended a yoga workshop on Saturday and was given a 40-day practice not to complain.  I love it!  It's a welcome and much-needed challenge.  It's all too easy for me to fall into relating to people by complaining and yet, I realize that it does nothing to improve the vibration around me.  Gratitude is the antidote to complaining, so gratitude is my practice.  Yoga is more than just asana.  Join me if you like! I'd love the company.  And now, in that spirit, let me share with you some of the things we've been up to.

On Halloween, we spent the second half of our day partying in costume.  We did mazes, dot-to-dots, and word searches, played games, did crafts, and baked cookies!

It's amazing what you can do with
a toilet paper tube and some cupcake liners!

Making mom's famous 100% whole wheat cut-out cookies.

Since Halloween, we've been up to a little of this and a little of that.  Check us out!

The kids were inspired to meditate as ghosts.  (You're supposed to laugh.  I did!)

The kids were inspired to make me lunch.  Isn't it gorgeous?

Ben LOVES his geoboards.

All in all, the kids (and I) agree:

That should read "Homeschool is great!"