Box Day!!

Box Day

Sonlight Core B: Curriculum for 2016-2017

The day before last was a happy day in our house.  The man in the black van dropped off a very heavy box of books.  We love books in our house, the kids even play "Library" during rest time.  So while Nathanael and Ellyana were still napping we opened our box of books and dug in.

I don't even know who was more excited the kids or me.  Here are some of our Box Day pictures:

Hannah, Ethan and I have been using Sonlight for 3 years (we've done p3/4, p4/5, and core A).  We used P3/4 and P4/5 which basically stands for Preschool Age 3-4 program and Preschool 4-5 program for preschool.  We used core A which is designed for 5-7 year olds this year and we have 2 weeks left.  This coming year we will be doing Sonlight Core B: Intro to World History Part 1.  Hannah both want to learn more about Ancient Egypt so I think it will be perfect.  For science we are doing Science B: Animals, Astronomy, and Physics.

Here it is in list form:

Core B: Intro to World History Part 1

Science B: Animals, Astronomy, and Physics

Sonlight Grade 2 and Grade 3 Reader sets.

Jump Math 2.2 and 3.1

First Language Lessons Level 1 and WriteShopB

Canadian Geography: The Canadian Adventure – A Virtual Trip Across Canada

 We will be doing our electives in a Charlotte Mason-y way for Art, Music, Nature Study, and things of that nature.

This weekend I will be happily putting my binder together in preparation. 

Happy 4th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my incredible nephew Ben, a sweet boy who makes Auntie smile.  You are such your own person and have been from day one.  It never ceases to amaze me what you see that others miss.  You play so well with Hannah and Ethan.  You are patient older cousin to Nathanael and gentle with Elly.

Wednesday morning art.

At the beach for a dinner picnic.

Playing with balloons at Hannah`s birthday.

Reading with Hannah.

Making rainbows at the Surrey Nature Centre.

Playing in the sandbox at Papa`s house.

Snuggling.

End of a weary day! Maybe too much partying.

Happy 4th Birthday Ben.

Bird Sanctuary in the Spring

This past school year we have done a series of field trips to the Bird Sanctuary.  We did 3 in the fall and then another 3 this spring.  Tomorrow will be out last of the six trips and it has been awesome to learn so much about the local birds of our area.  Each time we have been guided around by a biologist who has pointed and explained things we would never have know or noticed.  Here are the pictures from last month:

Hannah and Ethan watching a biologist (not our guide) perform measurements on a live hummingbird.

They are so tiny.  I'm still amazed that someone was even able to catch a hummingbird.  She did a bunch a measurements while we watched and then she released it back.

Cowbirds and Red Winged Blackbirds.

Nathanael feeling the ducks.  Seriously, he would burn through pounds of bird seed in a sitting.

Ethan is a little more selective in the ducks he chooses to feed.

House Sparrows. 

Ducklings...so cute...

A nesting Sandhill Crane (the female).

The male Sandhill Crane stands apart from the nest to be on alert.

A blue Heron.

Another Red Winged black bird up close and personal.  They have such a pretty song.

Baby girl sleeping.

Hannah looking at the Cranes.

Once he ran out of seed he is a bit of a lightening bolt, streaking from place to place.

Three of my loves.

Mud

They seem to be drawn to it, and it to them.  They love mud, dirt, sticks, rocks, grass and leaves and anything else they get their hands on.  I don't like the mess, laundry or the dirty hand prints on my windows and walls.  I know it's good for them and worth it and so they play with mud. Bonus for me is that I end up with some cute pictures.

Mud cookies.  I remember making mud cookies.

Wild boy.

Harvesting more dirt.

I love this picture.  I may have it enlarged real big for my living room wall. Nathanael looks like he just might be going into battle.

Boy with a broom.

Playing.

Sunshine Party

Last weekend, which seems like ages ago now we celebrated Hannah's 7th birthday,  This year Hannah had definite opinions about what she wanted to do for her party.  I think I may have created a monster.  Actually, she was very sweet about the whole party and it was my pleasure to celebrate with her ideas. Well fist she told me she would love a birthday party party with a Sinshine Theme but not a "You are my Sunshine" party.  Silly girl mommy can call it whatever she likes in her head so long as you don't know.  So a yellow sunshine party, with banner, and lemon cake.  What can I say my girl is fairly easy to please!

The food.

The Cake and cupcakes.  The cupcakes are sitting on top of plastic champagne glasses from the dollar store filled with yellow candies.  Did you know that it is very difficult to find yellow bulk candy.  Andrew Mom had picked each piece which was definitely a labor of love.

Hannah made a banner mock-up and then we re-sized it to banner form.  LOVED this project with her.  She is definitely her Papa's granddaughter with printer's ink in her veins.

Presents and giveaways.

Of course the most important part of a good party are the people.

and lots of kids.

I love these kids.

My mom and Ellyana.

Ben finally allowed me to take his picture (see kids picture above).  

Andrew's parents.

Blowing her candles out with Ethan,

Cheers!

Sweet Charlotte is such a dolly.

To eat or not to eat.  This was a supremely difficult decision for Cates.

My sweet Ellyana in yellow to match her big sister.

Cupcakes and candy.

Cuddles with Auntie Amanda

Opening presents.

I love celebrating my kids and Hannah's birthday also happens to be the day I became a mom so I'm also usually thinking about that in the back of my mind.  I need a pause button it's just going by too fast,