Little Things

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Zoo Day

Friday the kids had zoo class again! The weather was so nice, so we got there early to walk around the zoo before class started.

We lucked out and got there in time to feed the giraffes!

So fun!

Turtle vets!

The zoo hospital opened last fall, but this was the first time we've visited.

Checking out slides

This was a fun exhibit where you read a medical case and tried to diagnose the animal.

Did I mention how great the weather was?

And of course, we visited some of our favorite animals.

Really, there's not much that can beat hanging out with your babies at the zoo on a sunny afternoon.

The kids' classes were about invertebrates.

Stealing a peek at his favorite turtle!

Next month I think we're going to try the homeschool zoo snooze--I'm feeling brave after the night at the science museum!

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Any homeschooler will tell you they have doubts. If they tell you they don't, they're lying. It's impossible to take on your child's entire education all the way through high school and say with confidence that you're doing everything right. Or sometimes, even that you're doing most things right.

So, of course I have doubts, especially after the last year and a half of craziness that has been our lives and especially with Alice, who, as the younger child, has had much less one on one instructional time and much more being dragged along with whatever someone else is doing.

If she were in a classroom, would she be reading bigger words? Reciting her math facts more quickly? Writing stories on her own?

Maybe.

The other night we went to a planetarium show on the Sistine Chapel--a show aimed at kids 12 and up, but of course, she went along. The narrator described each section of the ceiling as it was shown and she sat quietly and listened. When the picture of Adam's creation came up, the narrator said something about how Adam was limp and lifeless and God was full of power and energy and just about to give Adam all of the good things he wanted most. Alice crawled up next to me and whispered in my ear, "Isn't God so good?!" and then got back in her own seat and watched the rest of the show.

And I sat through the rest of the show and thought about what she had just said. My six year old, who adds with her fingers and still calls the letter Y "V with a stick" gets it. For all the facts I haven't taught her yet, she's been soaking in the Truth and goodness and beauty all along the way.

I think that if she had been in a classroom for the last two and a half years, she might be a more independent reader, but I also think that there's not much chance she would see things on a regular basis in the classroom that would inspire her to reflect on the goodness of God giving life to his creation.

The last year and a half hasn't been wasted. We'll keep on. She'll learn her math facts and W will become W, not just upside down M. And we'll continue looking for Truth, goodness, and beauty that you can't find in a traditional education.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

The Bee Gees

To Love Somebody

I Started a Joke

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Jive Talkin'

You Should Be Dancing

How Deep Is Your Love

Tragedy

One

Bee Gees Songs Recorded by Others

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Bright Nights

Last night we participated in the Bright Nights overnighter at the science museum with 4-Hers from around the state!

The theme was Star Wars!

Ready for the Science Live show

Monkeys!

They had tables with different activities set up in the main area. Alice is eating a cheese ball that was frozen with liquid nitrogen and then blowing out the smoke!