Sonlight Core H Week 5B Dec. 19-25, 2016

Sonlight Core H 

Week 5B 

Dec. 19-25, 2016

Hello Friends!

This was a big week, between the Christmas Band Concert, the Christmas choir, going to the movies to see Rogue One, "V" family party, three days of migraines (Tue, Wed, Thurs), and, of course, Christmas itself!  We got a few things done academically too!

We had two extreme's for our weather too--snow, snow, snow---then on Sunday the wind started up and brought in some warm air.  I was glad Dh was able to get off after half a day to pick Dd and me up and drive us to the high school where the bands were to play.  

The week started with me finally getting whatever bug Dd had been fighting, but it only kept me down about 24 hours.  Tuesday was Dd's concert--she played the Tenor sax in the Beginning Band, and the Alto sax in the Intermediate Band.  The program had lots of different bands and quartets and specific instrument groupings---like a 'flute ensemble' and woodwind groups....hours of listening pleasure.  We didn't stay for all the bands; Dh had work early in the morning.  It was a fantastic show.  I recorded it and will post it on YouTube and share a link here for any friends or family wanting to see it.

Can you see what is eating under our feeders?

Thursday, our friends, the "V" family had a pile of us over to their house for a little Christmas party.  It was lovely to sit around and chat with the other mom's while the kids played games.  They were suppose to make paper ornaments, but the older kids preferred to play "Mafia."

Star Wars' newest film, Rogue One, turned out to be a disappointment for us.  We can honestly saw we have loved the other movies, but this one was very bleak...so much death that it was beyond feeling the loss. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but we were united in our disappointment.  Dd was particularly disappointed in the soundtrack, and something about how they didn't do the music right in the beginning...they broke from their usual format, or some-such-thing.

Here is a closer look---

Church on Christmas was particularly lovely!!!  Dd had been practicing our two songs that we did with the choir.  The whole service was 'special' after 'special.'  Of all the churches I've ever gone to, this one has the most musical congregation!  There are four women who play the piano and choir in rotation, a 'stringed instruments group,' and various choirs and solo singers.  In some of the churches we have visited, many of the musicians take on the role of being the entertainment for the audience to watch; but the musicians here, 90% of the time, invite the congregation to sing with them and they just lead.  The difference being that it FEELS like we are all together in our singing praises to the Lord, as a group, as a united voice of worship.  When our church sings, the sound is so surprisingly loud (in a great way) and harmonious.  It really is such a blessing to me to find a church that has this quality so well in hand and done right. It is very hard to describe.

Meet Harry and Sally!  These two opossom's stayed in a big bush that was covered with snow (think mini igloo) for a whole week.  They came out to eat seeds a few times each day!  So cute!

Presents were mostly books this year! Dd and Dh both got quite a lot of them!  I got an upgrade on my vacuum; that Dd has been enjoying so much!  That makes the gift twice as awesome since she may be more willing to help with the vacuuming!!!  She took the new vacuum out on Monday and cleaned out two cars! Without being asked!  She just likes it so well she has been looking for places to vacuum! Yay!!!  I splurged on myself and bought a new purple (eggplant color) blanket!  Dh splurged on himself and got a few socket, socket driver, pneumatic accessories, and upgraded drill bits.  Dh bought me two dvd sets--- the complete set of Miss Marple with Joan Hickson!!!! and Vera, another British show I enjoy. Dd gave me a watercolor painting of a Wood Trush--really nice, and a crocheted sweater/poncho..awesomely soft!

 Dd had been begging for some cowboy boots for two years, and they were on sale in the fall, so I bought them then (with her trying them on first), and then hid them away in my closet for her big gift.  She is loving them!!!  So happy she got something she loves so much!  Plus, they are great for doing chores and taking care of chickens in!  She looks like a real 4-H girl now! She also got new art supplies--drawing pencils and sketch books...

Our Christmas dinner--we splurged on a case of real Rootbeer! Dh cooked a whole turkey, asparagus, GF stuffing from scratch, Sweet Potato mash, gravy from scratch, and root vegetables.  What a lovely meal!

Academics this week:

The BBC Manual: Turning Your Bedroom into a Bible College by Gregg Johnson

pg 52-57

Typing/Language Arts: 4 hours

Dd got her hand-me-down typewritter out and started back, full-force, into typing again!  This week she typed up a long letter to her dearest/oldest friends; the LeFeb family!

History:

Sonlight Reader:

The Ghost of Tokaido's Inn by Dorothy Hoober: COMPLETED

Goodreads summary: 

While attempting to solve the mystery of a stolen jewel, Seikei, a merchant's son who longs to be a samurai, joins a group of kabuki actors in eighteenth-century Japan.

BTW: for book reviews or summaries, you can go: http://www.goodreads.com/

and type in any book you'd like to read about.

Story of the World, Vol 3, Early Modern Times:

ch's 9-16

Kingfisher History Encyclopedia:

pg's: 258, 265, 247, 260, 261, 274, 254, 255, 264

Sonlight Timeline & Mapping:

Week 4 & 5

BiblioPlan Commentary, Medieval, Vol II:

Ch. 33: Queen Elizabeth and William Shakespeare

BiblioPlan Advanced Maps:

Week 32: The Changing Church

Week 33: First Colonies in North America

DVD:

AMERICA: The Story of Us

**Dd actually asked me to check this out again, as it is so fun to watch!  Check your library and see if they happen to have this fun history dvd collection---your kids will actually love watching it, and you will too!**

With all the snow we've rec'd these past 3-4 weeks, we've had ALL sorts of visitors to our feeders!!!

Electives:

Drawing/Art: 10 hours this week

Watercolors: Painted me a Wood Trush, and Dh a Christmas Tree! 

Music:

Alto Sax: 1:00 hour

Tenor Sax: 1:00 hour

Violin: 40 min

Piano: 2:00 hours

Sang, choir, at church (two songs), plus the practicing we did at home: 1:00 hour

Chores: 10 hours

Chicken Care, Laundry, Dishes, *vacuuming!*, cat litter, major bedroom clean-up this week, especially in her closet.

Sophie!  I spoiled her this week and added extra stuffing to her dog bed!

Fun Audio:

(Star Wars) Vortex by Troy Denning

Goodreads summary:

In Book Six of the bestselling nine-book Star Wars Fate of the Jedi series, the suspense crescendoes as the Skywalkers and their treacherous Sith allies race against time to discover the origins of the mysterious Force-entity known as Abeloth. When they begin to uncover secrets better kept hidden from mortal minds, no one is surprised to see the uneasy partnership erupt into violence. But they are surprised at where the investigation leads: to the home of the reclusive Fallanassi, who may hold in their hands the future of the Jedi Order itself.

Fun Books:

Eragon (book 2) by Christopher Paoline- In Process

Fever Code (Maze Runner Series #5) by James Dashner- In Process

Busy Hands:

baking and cooking this week...perfecting her No Bake Cookie recipe, plus spent 4+  hours baking with Dh for his co-workers (he gave lots of cookies/fudge..to his co-workers).

We had a lovely, quiet Christmas!  Dd checked out a Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael Buble Christmas music for me to enjoy all week!  I watched Prep & Landing repeatedly!  Not to mention other holiday movies like: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, Elf, The Polar Express....so fun!  We don't have any hook-ups to watch tv, so we check out, or own, what we want to watch.  

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