Finished Christmas gifts 2014

Finished Christmas gifts 2014
(Not all our gifts are here, we didn't get photo's of some things.)

Each year of our marriage, my Dh and I have exchanged bird ornaments to put on our Christmas trees.  We always write the year of the Christmas on the bird, somewhere.  Three years ago, my dear friend Heather L. taught me how to make some felt birds, like she had on her tree.  So, we have three years of homemade felted birds for our Xmas trees so far.  They each have the year stitched onto a wing, or belly, or somewhere, to keep up our tradition!  And, usually our tree is crowded with birds!

Remember the green birds I showed a few posts back in the "Christmas Present Making" post--well, I have been working on dressing those birds up, to give as gifts to the "family party".  Here are the final pictures:

This is the blanket Dd asked me to make for her.

The "Camouflaged" blanket Dh asked me to make him.  It has 3 to 4 strings woven together to make the blanket extra thick.

 I finished the yellow, brown, and blue birds and took a few pictures of them on the tree---I'll replace these with better pictures soon!

Dh asked for a robin this year---here it is!

Our stockings were safely packed up with all our Christmas stuff; so we have had to improvise this year!  Dd spent a good amount of time on her stocking; and I was a bit more hasty in making a stocking for Dh.

I made this stocking for Dh--it was very full and crammed with little gifts.

Dd made this as 'her stocking', and it was stretched to the seams bursting!  What fun!

Finalized birds that were gifts to Dh and Dd:

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SL Core G Week 7 "B" Dec. 15-20, 2014

SL Core G 

Week 7 "B" 

Dec. 15-20, 2014

Not really much of a Sonlight week, but we did learn along the way! Some weeks are more about books, and some weeks (like this week) were full of fun audio's, crafts, cooking, and friendship.

Our highlights of the week:

Bible:

Psalm 133, 134, 135

Audio 1:

Poppy and Ereth (Tales from Dimwood Forest)

Mar 22, 2011

by Avi and Brian Floca

Poppy and Ereth by AVI: Completed
I really liked this book, especially b/c it seemed that Ereth's grumpy behavior was not so gruff!  He showed his soft side more in this book.  AVI, the author, has SIX books in this delightful series.  We haven't read a bad one yet!
Amazon says:

Has Ereth lost Poppy forever?
Poppy, a deer mouse, has spent the long winter curled up inside her tree snag home in Dimwood Forest. When the ground thaws and life returns to the woods, Poppy sets out in search of excitement. Suddenly, swooped up by Luci the bat, Poppy is flying high over the forest. Meanwhile, Poppy’s best friend, Ereth the grumbling porcupine, who was with Poppy when she vanished, is convinced that she has died. He sets out to give her the best funeral ever. Can Poppy find her way out of the bats’ cave to set Ereth straight and return home after the adventure of a lifetime?


Audio 2: 

Holiday Toy List

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Aug 19, 2014

by Rick Riordan and John Rocco

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods: in process
Amazon says:
 A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.

So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. "If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that."


Math:
Math U See: lesson 7 review


History Reader:
 

Within the Palace Gates:

Within the Palace Gates: in process
I started this book and read a good portion of it before handing it over to my Dd.  I thought the book was really good, and a real 'page turner'.  My Dd has been s-l-o-w-l-y reading this book for around three weeks now, and tells me she doesn't find it very captivating.  I don't know if it is the book, or Christmas, or ? But, apparently she isn't as taken with this book as I was!

Fun Reader:
 

Christmas with Anne (L.M. Montgomery Books)

Sep 1, 1996

by L.M. Montgomery

Christmas with Anne by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables, No. 6)

May 1, 1984

by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery 
We have taken turns reading parts of this aloud, and Dd has also read a lot of it alone.  Dd said she was missing Anne and specifically found the series in our new library.  Everyone knows that Anne is GREAT!  I think part of the reason her history reader isn't getting done very fast is that perhaps she is reading Anne instead!  

Busy Hands:
Dd made Gabbie a scarf -no picture taken...bummer.
Dd made James a hat- crocheted - see post below this.
Wrapped lots of gifts for her Indiana friends---silver wrapping paper with red ties
Gingerbread Cookies with Gabbie
Chicken dish with Gabbie
Drawing birds - with the help of the bird book that Mrs. L gave her:

Peterson Field Guide Coloring Books: Birds (Peterson Field Guide Color-In Books)

Mar 5, 2013

by Peter Alden and Roger Tory Peterson

Hiking:
Nature Hike by apartments on Monday
Sat. woods by the L house
Sat. hike at Eagle Creek Park with us all

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December 14-19, 2014 Our week and trip to Indiana

December 14-19, 2014

Our week and trip to Indiana

What a WONDERFUL week!  Monday we went for a nice nature hike in the woods beside our apartment buildings:

and we went to our library in downtown Grand Rapids.  We also worked on our craft projects (Christmas gifts for family and friends), not to mention getting some reading and math done.

Tuesday we did some more "lessons", packing, and grocery shopping, all in prep for our trip to Indiana.  Worst or best of all--we made our trip to the Post Office to mail off a few packages of gifts to dear loved ones. 

Wednesday we drove the 5 hours straight through, without making any stops along the way.  We arrived at 3pm and unpacked for our stay.  We were glad for a night to finish up on projects.  Dd still had some work to do finishing the scarf she made for Gabbie (we failed to get a picture of this cute scarf!!! bummer!).

Thursday we had planned to meet up with Gabbie at her house at 10AM.  We chatted with Gabbie's mom for 2 hours until it was time to head back to our house with Gabbie and get lunch started.  I made the spaghetti and brussel sprout lunch.  The girls played and played, then they made dinner:



During their day together, they played Twister:

They made and decorated gingerbread cookies:

The knitted (Dd is finishing up James' hat):

They played Twister again:

We took Gabbie back home and hope to see her again soon!

Friday was our day with the "L" family!!  Dd brought LOTS of various swords and daggers (here you can see "A" with one of her big, long swords) to play with.  Can you spot James in Dd's camo cloak?  He thought he might be invisible in the cloak!  He had a great time wearing her cloak through the day!!!  He would have been willing to keep it for her, if she didn't want it any longer! ha!

Little Laura had the most presents...little things to fit inside the purse that Dd made her.

Little Laura had been up sick during the night, so she kept her distance from us...but, at least we got to see her!  She is opening the gifts Dd got for her.

Laura opening the purse that Dd crocheted for her!

David had been sick during the morning, and also had to keep his distance from us too.  He enjoyed his gifts from Dd.

We didn't take a picture of the hat that Dd made for James, so this picture will have to do!  He appears to have really enjoyed it, as he wore it the whole day!  He also liked the little Lego kit too.

Here Andrew is with the hat Dd made for him!  It is a Minecraft "Creeper"...whatever that means!  He seemed happy with it.

After the present exchange, it was time for lunch, so we went to Eagle Creek Park for our hike and picnic.  What a lovely visit at the park!  But, for once I was so excited to be talking with our friends I wasn't giving the trees much attention.  I guess it is a good thing Dd had to camera and took lots of tree pictures for me!

While sitting at the picnic table we had a lovely visitor about 75 yards away from our table!  Here is one picture of the very vocal hawk that entertained us for a long time.  He/She kept calling and announcing it's territory!

After we returned back to the "L" house, they had a "Disco Night"...with balloons and the colored ball light.  Then we all (except the 2 sick children) went to see the eldest "L" play her violin in her school Christmas program.  I think we finally got  home after 10 PM---what a full, and terrific day!

A funny part of our trip, was that on Friday we got a text that someone wanted to come see our house on Saturday.  So, I called the "L" family to see if we could arrive a bit early (9:30 AM), so we could accept the showing request for Friday.  So, Thursday night and Friday morning, I cleaned and mopped, and got the house as nice as I could.  Then on Friday, I got up at 6:30 to finish cleaning, and we left the house by 9:15!  Then a few hours into our visit with the "L" family we got a text that the family that had wanted to view our house decided to cancel!!!  Cancel! after all the work I did!!!  Blah!  But, on Saturday when it was time to pack up and prepare to leave, at least I didn't have to do any cleaning!!  It had all been done earlier--so maybe it was a good thing!  

Then on Saturday, I loaded up the van while Dd kept sleeping in...poor thing was exhausted with all her fun!  We arrived back in Michigan around 3pm.  Poor Pappa had woken up sick, sick, sick! on Saturday morning, and was in need of some TLC.

I am so thankful for getting to see our friends in Indiana!  I feel like I received my Christmas gift a week early!  So nice to chat with our friends, exchange gifts, and hugs! 

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Christmas with Anne (Anne of Green Gables)

Christmas with Anne 

 (Anne of Green Gables)

Dd found this book at the library, and I wanted to post the exact book for my "L" family friends especially, since they are fellow "kindred spirits" that love her stories.  This is the book we are enjoying (along with re-reading Anne of Ingleside):

 

Christmas with Anne (L.M. Montgomery Books)

Sep 1, 1996

by L.M. Montgomery

We already own this book,

 

The Anne of Green Gables Christmas Treasury

Nov 1, 1997

by Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson

 but it had been in Indiana, so we went to the Grand Rapids downtown library to borrow something "Anne" for our holiday enjoyment.  I had, very luckily, left a few Anne books in my bookshelves as decorations, and decided to bring them back with us.  I don't think they were doing much to impress the people viewing our home anyway!!

Einstein's Papers & Letters Online

Einstein's Papers & Letters Online

http://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/

I just heard about this resource, and am excited to spend some time looking at this site.

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SL Core G Week 7 "A" December 8-12, 2014

SL Core G 

Week 7 "A" 

December 8-12, 2014

It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas!

Dd had a blast with this Gingerbread House! 

It has been a good week!  No migraines, no major problems...just a simply nice week!  Dd and I went on a nature hike each day, and I think that really suited us perfectly.  We worked on our Christmas gifts, and did some cooking too.  We also went to our downtown library two times.

Busy Hands:

Dd completed the purse she has been working on all week, for Little Laura, the youngest in the "L" family, our friends in Indiana.

The back view of the purse

Our Sonlight Core G has us doing the Story of the World (SOTW) with our core, but Christie sent me her Mystery of History "Ancients" (MOH) disc set, so I  have been doing both.  This week was a MOH week; and last week was a SOTW week!  I worried that the two programs might be repetitive, but they compliment each other very well!  It is working out fine!

A close-up, to see the stitch

The handle to the purse

ETA: We did have a viewing/showing on Saturday, but they preferred a house with a three car garage.  But, we know the Lord has a plan on when it will sell and to who!  Prayers appreciated!

Dd already has the little gifts that will go in the purse all picked out (and now wrapped!)

Our lessons this week:
Bible:

 http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/015224
Veritas Press

 

Veritas Chronicles through Malachi Enhanced SET--Enhanced CD and Cards (Bible)

Veritas Press: Chronicles Through Malachi

Card 78: completed

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Daniel 3 - 600 B.C.

We read Daniel 3 with our Bible and the Believer's Bible Commentary

Journey Through the Bible

pg. 175

The Greenleaf Guide to the Old Testament

Lesson 159: Daniel's Companions and the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)

Card 79: in process

The Ministry of Jeremiah, 626-580 B.C.

Survey of the Bible:

pg's: 116-118, 257-264

Add-in Bible:

Lamps, Scrolls & Goatskin Bottles

pg's: 62-79

SL's bible: 
Children's Bible Field Guide, Ch. 6

Current Events:

CNN Student News

Monday - Friday

Math: Math U See: Pre-Algebra

Review of what we have learned so far, instead of going onto lesson 15, we have stopped and gone back to Lesson 1 on Monday--re-watched the Lesson and then did the test page for Lesson 1.  Tuesday we re-watched the DVD lesson with Steve Demme and then she did the Test Page for Lesson 2, Wednesday she did that same process for Lesson 3, Thursday she did Lesson 4 & 5, and then for Lesson 6 on Friday, I erased her previous work done on 6 "A" and had her do that page over again.  I plan on continuing our review process, doing one or two lessons each day and finding out where there are any weak spots and focus on those spots before we continue on to the second half of our book.  We are half-way through the book and the past month's work has been a LOT of things to learn.

Language Arts:

Dd finished her Daily Grams -Grade 7 this week!  She had started this book on December 30th, 2013!  This has almost taken a year to complete--and she did it!!!  So happy for her completion!

Daily Grams 7: pg's: 173-179

All About Spelling 6: 

Step 21: passed

Reviewed Steps 11-14

IEW's Fix-It

Week 20: completed

SL LA: worked on Week 7, half completed

Add-in History Read Aloud:
Black Ships Before Troy by  Rosemary Sutcliff

(I have to admit this book isn't a book that I've sailed through.  I think reading all the Greek names aloud has really been hard for me!  I keep going to the computer and typing in: "How to Pronounce ***********" over and over each day!  If I had to do this book over again, I would have bought it as an audio instead of the paperback version I bought.  The other problem we have with this book is that Dd already knows all these stories, and she hasn't been too excited about my reading it.  But, her knowing the story so well has been great for me, since she has drawn me diagrams of who is who, and which are the Greeks vs the Spartans vs the Trojans!  She has been very helpful to me, as I kept getting so confused!  As we are getting closer to the end, and with her help, I have learned a lot--hope she has too!  If nothing else, she has enjoyed teaching me some this week!)

Add-In Audio- History:

Mystery of History, Ancients: Ch.'s 25-44

Add-In History Reader:

Within the palace gates : the story of Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes,

1932

by Anna Pierpont Siviter

Within the Palace Gates

Science:

Nature Hikes:

M,T,W,Th, & F

Exploring the World of Biology by Tiner:

Ch. 12: Birds and quiz (great chapter!)

We looked up some of the birds online and on YouTube:
"Anhinga-Designed for Survival" Richard Kern 4:18
"Anhinga the "Snakebird" Famous spear technique for a fresh meal "water turkey" ":42
"Anhinga Swimming Underwater" 0:39 mackrock4

Apologia Chemistry and Physics:

Lesson 10: Light of the World: pg. 164- 175

and notes

Food & Nutrition by Janice Van Cleave

Ch. 4: Linked, The Formation and Importance of Protein

Ch. 5: Alphabet Nutrients, The Importance of Vitamins

Ch. 6: Minerals, The Importance of Minerals

Ch. 7: Veggies, The Differences between Types of Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, and Grains

Typing:
Nitro Type: each morning

Cooking:
Made dried fruit, oatmeal cookies
Bagget and tuna fish sandwiches, baked with melted cheese on top...delicious!  

What is left of the tuna melts on baggets--so good!

 
FUN Audio:
One of our favorite series---Poppy and Ereth by Avi

  YouTube music:
Pride and Prejudice- Full Soundtrack, Bach, Yo-Yo Ma....

 

SL Core G items this week:

Week 7's portion of Usborne Encyclopedia of World History, and The Kingfisher Encyclopedia

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Free Current Events site

Free Current Events site

http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/

When we started Core F, which was my Dd's Grade 6, we heard about CNN Student News, and their weekday, ten minute broadcast.  I am so glad we heard about this site, but couldn't help wishing that we would have heard of it a little sooner!  It is a special broadcast just for students; explaining the current events of each day.  It covers a lot of events from around the world, not just American topics. 

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