long time

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Its busy here!

We are getting ready for the school year. I'm finishing up buying our curriculum. We are returning to Sonlight this year. We used it several years ago and I wish we would have stayed with it. This year we will be using Core 5 for Donya and Sarah and Core 3 for Sophia and Samuel. For those of you that don't know the core # (5, 3 etc..) does not mean that is the grade level. The Core # is a range of recommended ages. For example Core 5 is recommended for ages 10-13 and grades 5-8. However typically people use a core lower than their child's age/grade because Sonlight is advanced and some children just are not ready for some of the content. Example: even though core 5 says it's recommended for ages 10-13 most people that have taught it say that in their opinion its not appropriate for a 10 year old. Many people use it for high school level. Core 5 by the way is Eastern Hemisphere.

Core three is American History. Core 3 is recommended for ages 8-11 and grades 3,4, and 5. In the younger elementary years it is not unusual for a younger sibling to join in on an older sibling's core. Samuel will be 8 about half way thru the school year and I know he might not "get" all the books we read but as long as he is listening and getting most of it, I'm ok with it. One of our main focuses this year will be to improve his reading. He has spent years listening in while we've read the Little house series, The Hobbit, The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe series, Jesus Freaks, Voice of the Martyrs, Pilgrims Progress, etc....all well above his level but I think it prepares him.

Anyway, we have some news...No we're not pregnant or adopting (yet). We are hosting an exchange student from Beijing, China. She is 15 and will arrive here on 8/9 at 8:15pm.

I've posted some updated pics and some pics of our Sonlight books.

Blessings
Lesa

Florida Trip

Well we are wrapping up our almost one month long trip to Florida. We have had a really great time but are very ready to get home. We been to the beach a bunch, Busch Gardens, Lowery Park zoo, going to our old houses, visiting with my brother, his wife and their three kids, remembering old times, swimming alot, getting sun burned, oh yea and a trip to the emergency room for Kai. The one thing I did not do yet is go to the cemetery to my fathers and grandparents graves.

Well enjoy the pics!

Here are some updated pics

Home School Book Fair Day!!!!!!!

Arlington, TX- Yesterday my friend Laura and I and my three girls and her two girls went to the homeschool book fair. We got there around 9:30 and I couldn't believe how PACKED the parking lot was, in fact the police were directing cars to park in a lot far away. I've been going to this bookfair for over 7 years and this is the first time we've had to park so far. We think it is because homescholing has become so popular and more and more people are coming to these things.

We had a great and tiring day looking at all the stuff. SO much to choose from its mind boggling. The girls had a blast buying all kinds of goodies (they brought their own money)

Some of favorite booths were:
Mantle Ministries http://mantleministries.com/
Grace and Truth Books http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/
Sing N Learn http://www.singnlearn.com/
Tomorrow's Forefathers http://www.tomorrowsforefathers.com/
YWAM Publishing http://www.ywampublishing.com/
Vision Forum http://www.visionforum.com/
Sonlight http://sonlight.com/

There are alot more that we spent time at but those stand out in my mind. I really love Little Bear Wheeler and wish we could afford to but all their stuff.

So today I am recovering from that, looking over all the goodies I bought and getting ready for the girls SAT testing on Monday. Also thinking long and hard about math for Sarah and history for all the kids...... I already know what we are using for everything else.

Oh and last but not least! Kai had a birthday party today!! He had a great time playing and eating cake!

Louie Giglio - Laminin

Want to watch an incredible thing? I let my older girls watch this and they were amazed!

a few new pics

Today we HAD to take some pics for our post adoption HS that is overdue I am sad to say. Here are a few from the millions that we took.

Yesterday we got a package from Corwin's foster family in China. I was hoping for some pictures but they sent some olives that we packaged and I am sorry to say did not smell too good. Also they sent some dried meat. Not sure how to cook that but I have a friend that is Chinese and will ask her. The letter said these were some of his favorite foods in China. So we gave Corwin some of the olives and he said "yucky"!! I guess he is really Americanized now.

Ok and now for one old picture that I just happened to come across and felt a little sad....