If You Know What I Mean...

There is always that one kid who struggles to let go of the summer and settle into the school year. This year, that prize goes to wonderful Aubrey!

She has been a little slow to get down to business, but she is starting to realize that school has begun and mom doesn't mess around! If you know what I mean...

Sydnee...

Sydnee is in 6th grade this year. Around these parts, that is considered middle school.

She is learning pre-algebra... which she is catching on to like an old pro!

She does a few of her classes on-line.

She is always up for any new project. I love her enthusiasm.

Sydnee is the best... and I mean the best... at asking those really thought provoking questions...

You know, the ones that make mom and dad really have to think about a good, deep answer.

Another Pre-School Day...

Last week the little ones were learning about eyes.

We did a lot of projects, but the kids really enjoyed "pin the eye on the face".

Miranda put a blindfold on each of them and they taped their eye to the paper face.

Everyone wanted to take extra turns. I was so surprised that their guesses were really close to where the real eye should have been.


Along with learning about our eyes we learned about how Jesus healed the blind man. I love that even my youngest children can tell you that Jesus heals.

These kids are so smart. They can all tell you the pledge of allegiance and sing My Country Tis of Thee...

I can almost see their brains gathering up knowledge.

Homeschool...

Miranda is learning so much this year. She is cruising through her classes because she can't wait to move on the next level.

In science, she had to make a balance. So... like any good homeschooler... she went out to the garage with her dad and broke out the table saw. They had a blast sharing this experiment together. Miranda is now an educated young lady on the table saw and has a better sense of of mass and all that goes a long with that.

Our 1st Field Trip of the Year...

Last week, we gathered up all of our little chicks (and the one rooster) and headed to the aquarium!

The kids had a blast! The only part they didn't love was having to write a one page report on what they learned while at the aquarium.

I think one of the biggest hits was the shark tank! I didn't enjoy the stingrays, although some of the kids liked it... as you can see, I didn't get one picture of the stingrays!

I love to see their curious little heads watching the sharks...

They asked a lot of questions and gathered a lot of information.

Miranda loved the jellyfish. She thought they were amazing. I just love to see the glow they put off. We spent the entire day down in Salt Lake. The aquarium, the park, the mall...

It amazes me that kids think the mall is different if you drive 45 minutes to get there!

Everyone practiced their boat driving skills while learning about our local waters.

Oh, and the girls are VERY into Little House on the Prairie right now... This was Sydnee's version of Laura's hairdo. Cute!

Now, it is time to plan the next field trip!

Who knows where we might end up...

homeschooling science...

Today sydnee was learning about molecules.

She was able to make a diagram of a protien molecule out of toothpicks and clay.

Sydnee had so much fun learning about the different foods and what they are all made of.

We pulled out some different foods and looked at the ingredients. This was a good way for her to see that sometimes it is hard to tell what foods are better for us than others. Some of the foods she thought would be healthier, turned out to be not so good.

Learning is a marvelous thing.

Homeschooling Science Projects...

One of the great things I love about homeschooling is that each lesson is tailored to the individuals needs. If we want more hands on projects, we do them... If we can master a skill without the project, we can skip it.

Daddy and Sydnee enjoy their time together.

The above picture is of a lesson about motion and the forces that affect it.

They had a great time with this project.

What a lucky girl you are, Syd...