So... Hows it? *Ü*

So how is this new school year going for you? Hows life??

For us school has been a slow go, but we are moving ahead! We began school mid September. We have been winging it pretty much. This week I finally broke down and wrote a lesson plan. I still have the rest of the year to do, but I have been doing this a while... we can get it done..

Christian and I both work from 10-2 on Monday and Wednesday and I also work another hour and a half at another job each Wednesday. I also secured a new job on Friday evenings while Ry is at youth group so that one works out perfect!

My mom has been a HUGE help.She has been homeschooling RyLee while I'm gone on those 2 days. A huge blessing for me and a HUGE transition for us all.
I love my mom!

Love you mom!!

I decided that co-op was not going to work for us this year,that was a hard thing to decide.....but the obvious answer.... so Christian is not taking the world view class I was hoping for. But come January, together we will go through Thinking Like a Christian. It is also by Summit ministries. It is a 12 week study and I own it, so that works out perfect! *Ü*

So far, RyLee has begun Latin Tuesday began week 6?? and chapter 4 will be completed by next Tuesday.

Both girls are in a Spanish class on Fridays for 1 hour. Its a pretty far drive, but we need the accountability and its a class, not a co-op setting where I have to be around. It fits great right now. If I have to do something work related, my mom or even Shawn can take them.

Its also better than splitting them up into different classes... I even contemplated a class at the local Jr and Sr. High... that lasted about 2 seconds... this is perfect... they are in the same book and have been talking to each other... I love it!

RyLee is quickly reviewing La Clasa Devertida level 1 and then she will move onto level 2.

Both girls are doing well in math, and we began Washington State History and art this week(artistic pursuits). They are getting grammar done and we added dictation and spelling from dictation as well. We are doing this as suggested by Catherine Levison. (the spelling coming from dictation examples)

I lamented not continuing this w/ my kids. I realized while typing this we stopped after we stopped using Sonlight.... I remembered it was actually one of the things that drew me into SL (back in the day), that and the literature approach. I'm so glad we went to Catherine Levinsons workshop last month.... I was totally re-inspired...

For dictation the last 2 weeks we have used The Harp and Laurel Wreath: Poetry and Dictation for the Classical Curriculum.

For memorization this week we are memorizing The Amendments and the 5 freedoms from a book that is used in TOG redesign. Its called Our Living Constitution. What a great book! The timing couldn't be better, as we are also learning about the election process.

Gosh, lets see... what else have we been doing?? Oh! Nature study! Yes, we have been doing this, but have not posted on our Sticks and Stones blog for a while. ( come see!) We have pulled over and taken pictures from driving more than we have been out walking.... but we are observing and taking in Gods creation, and its the girls who spot this stuff!

Ya know, I feel like I'm forgetting something but I just cant think of it.... Logic! gracious me... We begin logic on Thursday... Introductory Logic ...


Life:

Dan and I have begun Sunday school with the K-2nd grade crowd again.... we just love those little people!! Lots of things have been going on in the home front, and we almost backed out...but we will continue on.

Our church had a walk through the bible Sunday in September, so we are going through the old testament right now and its been pretty cool...This age is so fun! They know far more than we expect, and they are so honest and sweet! Too fun!

This inspired me to pull out my Walk through the bible daily devotional bible (NLT). I have had it for years.... but never used it much. I have been reading it myself since September, but Christian sat with me one morning and asked her she could read with me? We prayed and then I read to her what the few chapters that day were about, and a practical application that went with what we were reading... I read a chapter, she read a chapter and I finished.... she liked it so much, we are now doing this every morning! It is so beautiful! We talk, we have cried,... I love this precious wee early morning hours spent with just her and I... My girl is growing up and maturing into a beautiful young lady. Ugh... I know they are supposed to grow up... but.. I'm sure you know what I mean....




RyLee started Jr High youth group! I don't know where time has gone, but its tickin! Do not blink... it does go by that fast... 13+ years ago I was beginning Kindergarten w/ Shawn...now I'm in a 6 year stretch and we are done folks.... oh, I need to stop thinking about that! It kinda makes me sad...

One thing I am doing for myself this year is I am going to a bible study again. Thursday mornings. I just decided I want it, I need it. I wanted to go back to BSF, but Mondays are no good, so I am going to a precepts class. The study is on Hebrews. I missed the first half... precepts breaks Hebrew into 2 studies. So I am playing catch up with an overview and jumping right into chapter 6... Icurumba!! That's a controversial chapter to start in!!

It has been crazy busy here at our casa... we have had some major stress's and changes over the last few months. Its one reason I'm not on much these days... I lost my groove so to speak........ I miss visiting all the peeps I have met on here,you are all such and encouragement...... so I have decided its time to carve out time and just do it... does that sound like a Niki commercial?? *Ü*

Oh!! One last thing before I go....my blog recently had a daily quote that just spoke to me! I want to share it w/ you...

The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent." Exodus 14:14

I LOVE this verse! It was easy to memorize.... So... as you move through this year... you can remember it too if you need it...

Love to you all~

Weekly Report before Spring Break!

This week has been a huge blur! Not sure if it is because we have been spring cleaning our 2 attics and getting ready for a yard sale, the kids pending Spring camp they leave for at 5 today and not return till Tuesday evening, or just the busyness of Dr. appointments and life! Its just been a slamin week!

School went well. We got a lot done, and finished some things up so we can enjoy spring break next week. Did I mention Spring break next week? *Ü* Kids going to camp?? *Ü*

Honestly though, they know I am joking... I have never ever been one of those moms who waited for the big yellow bus to come get them or couldn’t wait to get rid of them.......The kids think this one is the best camp the youth group has, and they do a camp in each season. They will be missed...

On to the school work....

Science Happened once this week. :( Sad but true.... I figured we can handle Astronomy next week, even though its break... or if not... we will finish after... this sets us back further, but honestly... I’m not worried and don’t really care! lol We are so close... its all good. When we are done, I thought I would take it to Kinko’s and have it made into a book! That will be fun for RyLee to see all her hard work in a book.

Christian took this week off from science, so we don’t break the module up over spring break. *Ü* Could you here her cheering Monday? *Ü*

Math The girls did really well this week. Christian even did an extra lesson w/o my asking... go team! RyLee... I don’t think she is being challenged. She has not missed anything on her math for a few weeks now... not sure what to do about that?? Do I have her do more lessons each day? 2 instead of 1? Suggestions??

Bible study: Both girls are still covering Explorers bible study. They also have 30 minutes each morning reading their bible alone and have quiet time. RyLee was excited because she has finished her bible I had her read for quiet time. Its the picture bible. She loved it. After break, she will read her regular NIV bible for her quiet time and work through the bible best she can. I think I have forgotten to mention this in our last few posts...


Tapestry of Grace Monday we covered what was left from last week. Charles Finney, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster. Just couldn’t fit it in last Friday.

I just realized I never changed our books over to our new week here on the blog... oops...*Ü* Its been a busy week.... We are now learning about Australia.. studding its History and geography through the 19th century. We took it light…… Again because of break... Christian read from Bob Jones p420-426 and 478-479 on Australia. Ry read from Streams of civilization pgs 211-214. They both wrote a narration of what was read. Other than this, that was it...

Literature: Christian is STILL on Emma.... she is so bored, but I refuse to let her stop. She is plugging away. She has next week to finish or else! Not sure what the for else is yet!lol I did let her watch the Masterpiece theater episode of Emma. I Tvod it.... it was pretty good...

yes I know it ruined the story for her, but I was trying to encourage her... she still has to finish. *Ü*

When we start up again after break we begin Les Miserables!! I can’t wait! We will cover this book in depth over the next 5 weeks. RyLee is supposed to read a Christmas Carol, but she did that at Christmas time, so I will have to pick something else....


Spanish! We had fun with vocabulary this week. But honestly that’s as far as we got folks.

Sketch Tuesday was fun! Dan, RyLee and myself had something to show this week! Christian was not feeling well, so we let her slide. *Ü*

Nature study:


This can be seen over at Sticks and Stones, our 2nd blog. It sadly needed the update!! We sort of did challenge 5... and have not begun 6 yet. I know challenge 6 will be great! We just need to "do" it. Especially since 7 is coming up!




Art study


Yup! This is a new one! One I have wanted to add for a few weeks now! Almost 3 weeks ago, I bought an art study from Amanda at Hearts and trees.



We began the study with a painting from Van Gough. It was called Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies. I liked it! I never really liked Van Gogh’s work... like I "knew" his work, lol... but the paintings I have seen before, they never really appealed to me. I enjoyed this one, and a few other we observed in the books we have. They are Great Themes in Art by John Walford and The story of painting by Sister Wendy.

The other paintings I enjoyed were " The artists bedroom", "Farmhouse in Province" and " The Night Cafe at Arles"

The girls and I both decided we don’t care much for most of his work, but we did appreciate his passion for painting, and I think we all agreed that anyone who would continue in a passion and have so much disappointment... must be worthy of some admiration. He was a strange, sad man, disappointments through most of his life...mental illness... sad life really... and he only sold 1 painting while he was alive.

The only fact that I knew before we began this study was that he cut off his ear ( the lobe part)and gave it to the woman he loved, but was betrothed to some one else...how gross is that?

We completed the notebook page that Amanda created and then did a project she suggested at the end. I have my own notebook and made my own picture along with the girls. I am not the creative sort, so I just tried to copy... Here are our drawings though.

The idea behind this was to create our own cloud picture.... and we were to try and "do it" Van Gough style.... First is RyLees, then Christians and mine...





We all enjoyed this. I thought they might not like it, but it went great. Looking at the pictures in the books I had, then reading what the books had to say, made filling out the notebook pages more enjoyable for the girls, myself included... we knew more about Vincent and his style... a little more about him personally too.

I also used some other questions found at Looking at art and asking questions. This was linked on Amanda’s site. This added a lot to what we were doing, not only that, but it just got the girls looking at other artists and comparing the paintings and what they liked and did not like and why.

It really was a good time. it might have taken us an hour, maybe a little longer... but that’s it... We will use 1 painting and artist a week. Next time we will cover Monet. 2 paintings actually. This has been a gentle way to introduce us to studying artists and I think after this one, we can handle going on our own... maybe. *Ü*

RyLee also baked this week. She has not done that for a while. She made scones! They were so good! They didn’t last long. Her brother has been home during the day, due to spring break. *Ü*


That’s our week, it was long and its not even over yet! I still have to prepare our craft/project for Sunday School, finish pricing stuff for the sale on Saturday, organize my paper work and payments people are sending in for a field trip on an Amtrak train I organized for May, Make a flyer for the used curriculum sale I host each year with my family and friends help.... ( I need the flyer done by Sunday)finish school today and get the kids off to camp...

Is it Monday yet?? *Ü*

Weekly Report.... 2 in a row! Woohoo! *Ü*

Greatings my weekly reporter buddies! 2 weeks in row! Can you believe it? Im so proud! hehe

This was a crazy week! Monday started off great! Wonderful in fact... everyone got up on time, cleand up on time, school went great... got it all done... then Tuesday hit! We spent the moring/afternoon in promt care with Christian. She started having back pain late Friday I guess. I was gone from early Friday till Sunday late afternoon on a womans retreat, so I had no idea she hurt all weekend... no one said anything! But she had lower back pain and shooting pain down her front leg... :( long story short, we left thinking she was going to have to have an MRI... but after our visit w/ her chiropractor later that day... she does not need one... its not 100% ruled out... but he does not think it is what the promt care Dr. thought it was...then had a ton of errands to run.

Wed and Thursday were also busy and we were not home much.... in and out all day. Shawn has had finals all week and with us still sharing a car (till the one we bought him gets fixed) I have been playing taxi cab driver! lol Oh I forgot how much I "really" dont like that.

School was done on the road a lot this week, and we still didn’t get to Spanish... only on Monday did we do a full day! Although we still have today! *Ü*


So with all of that! Here is our weekly report!

Science Surprisingly, this was done. All week. Christian does have a test later today, but she is done! She won’t have science next week, because modules take 2 weeks. Next week is our last week before spring break here...Now for Ms. RyLee she will have science next week....her last week and we will be done with Astronomy and move into Zoology 1! Yeah!! Not till after Spring break though.


Math Ha! Funny thing about textbooks. You can take them with you. *Ü* Even in promt care. *Ü* Christian has 1 lesson today, but its catch up from Tuesday. Her math is on the computer and that doesn’t go with us as well. No lap top. *Ü* Yet!

Tapestry of Grace: we watched a biography movie on Davey Crocket! We also for fun watched a few of the old Disney tv episodes... that was fun! We all read about the Seminole Indians and continued our Study on Andrew Jackson. Watched pre taped episodes from the History Channel on Arkansas and Michigan.... We did not complete our objectives this week... we still need to learn about Charles Finney, Martin Van Buren, and Daniel Webster and then cover our discussions....


Literature: Christian is finishing up Emma. She says its sooooo slow.... *Ü* She’s making it though... I gave RyLee another history book to read.... it was a narrative on Davey Crocket...

Spanish! Moving on.... nothing to see here folks...



Nature study! No walks this week... we did however plant our starts. Bought some bulbs and making plans where to place our 4x4 garden boxes! We have 2, but Dan is going to make us 2 more. We (RyLee and myself) are reading a book called Sq foot gardening. I love it! This is a perfect fit for us right now! Our focus for the next 8 weeks (and all spring and summer) is on garden flowers and vegetables. Mostly annuals, but we will be slowly adding in perennials and trees.... My B-Day is coming up and I really want a Kumquat tree!

RyLee and I both fell in love with one when we went on our first nursery visit! Stay tuned... more to come... and I will be posting this all on our Sticks and Stones blog soon.



Sketch Tuesday: Serious mind cramp... we didn’t get this accomplished.... but hope to this week! *Ü* We love it...

So that us! I look forward to reading other folks adventures this week...

Weekly Report?? I have no idea....

Seriously... I have no idea.... but then, we have changed to year round school so I suppose it wont matter in the long run, as long as we finish what we started right? *Ü*I recently posted about some changes to schedule here

This week started off very well. Christian has become the most motivated teenager I have ever met! She loves working 2 days a week, and she has been faithful to get up on her own (everyday this week) begin her quiet time, and accomplish math, science and either history or lit before she went to work on Tuesday and Wednesday. Who is this child and what have done with my daughter? *Ü*

No, seriously, we are very proud of her... not only that.... but she has taken a big girl pill of sorts and has made some wonderful connections to priorities and how good it feels to do the things she needs to get done and then be rewarded with youth group and a paycheck! She feels things have more of a purpose than before.... and may I add... (gasp) she has even been enjoying science.... Is that awesome or what? We are proud....

RyLee... oh my RyLee Kay....did well this week, but getting up on time is an issue... hasn’t been able to earn a star for a few weeks now... Im thinking of how I can help her be motivated in this area again... she does what she needs to during the day... its that getting up part she is having a hard time with.

AS far as our academic week... we accomplished almost everything *Ü*

Science: Christian did awesome, but still has an experiment to do. RyLee didn’t do any science this week.

Math: they both did great... RyLee has one more lesson for today, but Christian was done yesterday Thursday....I’m telling you... she’s a change gal... I’m hoping this isn’t short lived... I am a realist you know... *Ü* She was very tired yesterday....

History/Writing: Was fantastic... both girls wrote about Andrew Jackson. RyLee 2 paragraphs, Christian wrote 4. She also wrote about the trail of tears and Cherokee Indians.... It went well. We will finish this up next week.... we still have more... we also watched a video on Andrew Jackson. We are continuing through our Teaching Company dvd series on Early American History.

Literature: Christian took a detour and is reading Emma. We recently bought According to Jane and she just loved it! So she is on a Jane Austin kick... although I will report... sadly, she is not enjoying Emma... sniff...

Rylee finished up Cherokee Animal Tales. It was really short.... I have not decided what she will read next week...but she enjoyed this.

Spanish: didn’t happen :(

Nature Study: This has been fantastic! Barb over at The Heart of Harmony has been the best! Holding our hand and giving us bits of The Handbook of Nature Study to read each week and an activity to accomplish w/ our kids. Its called the Green Hour: NO child left inside. *Ü* I created a new blog to host our activity. Its called Sticks and Stones You can see our last 4 challenges if you like at the Sticks and Stones blog. Also, its not to late to participate. Jump on in... we are not formal...

Sketch Tuesday has been fun. I didn’t participate this week, but Dan and the girls did.


My plans for next week... the schedule we change a little... maybe not focus on blocks of time, but just completing what we need. I know the beginning of a new lesson in Science takes Christian twice as long... so we will tweak as we go... its a guideline we have to move a little....

Overall though, it was a great week... Thanks for making it this far! If you made it this far! *Ü* its good to be back...

A new week, a refreshed spirit....

It has been so long since I have posted a weekly report or any real happenings here at our casa.... although we have been sticking to basics.... I have been having a rough time getting the "other" stuff done... Like TOG, science and some Spanish... consistently anyway.

I have been so energized by our Sketch Tuesdays and Green hour challenges (although #3 will be up tomorrow, Monday) and revisiting a more Charlotte Mason style in scheduling..... I have come to peace with a new outlook for what we are about to embark on. My times are longer I’m sure… but feeling confident it will work…

First things first. I have been praying about school, and our main focus. My focus for my girls, is to train for heaven... not Harvard. Although academics are important, I do not want to burn my children out... I think we are all feeling a bit overworked from the beginning of the year and have not truly had a good groove since Christmas break! Yikes.... So we will school 6 weeks on 1 week off and school year round from here on out. Taking all of July off. My mind set may seem strange… but we work 6 days and take the 7th off… I’m just applying it to weeks instead. *Ü*

We are having our Basque student return from last year! We are all excited, so July will be busy with him and enjoying his time here.

Secondly.... our schedule that we have not even followed since December! It has changed. Christian also has a job 2 days a week and I want to allow her the freedom to do that. Its only 4 hours a day 2 days a week. She is loving it! My friend CD who owns a local teaching supply store here in town called and offered her the job 2 weeks ago. So she is working not only with educational resources, but for a wonderful Christian woman who also home schools her son. Couldn’t ask for a better first job!

Christian does have some school after work, and youth group has become third in priority on Wednesdays. She has a disciple group that gathers Sunday morning during 1st service and then we are all in 2nd service together. So she still has an outlet each week if she can’t go to YG each Wednesday. I doubt she will miss though! lol She loves Youth Group!

We will also take 1 and a half to 2 weeks on TOG. This way we will get it all in, geography, world view, church history, timelines, art appreciation and literature along with regular history readings. So this means no online co-op for next year. We were going to ease back in, but now I have just decided we will not. Sad, but maybe we can find another in real life family to co-op with. If not, we have done fine these last 4 almost 5 years now.

I have mixed my schedule up a bit.. Following Jessica’s lead and not having the same subject each day at the same time. Here is our new schedule.

For now the main focus of the schedule is before lunch. If we do not get to after lunch things, I wont stress. However, Tuesday and Wednesday for Christian is a must. Please ignore the lunch time in the space all by itself. I forgot to remove it.

I really want the afternoons free to go on walks, exercise, cook and or crafts…. What ever we want to do. I want this time free....

So that’s us, I hope to be back on track with our weekly reports being weekly, instead of not reporting at all.... I love seeing what we do, but writing out what little we have been doing seemed tedious and useless....

Prayerfully looking forward to this week!

Koinonia Academy Weekly Report

Here at our casa we have been busy schooling, writing, cooking, crafting, working outside the home and trying not to freeze! We have been getting a lot of snow in the last few weeks, and I feel the need for a good thaw! I’m only going to highlight some of the more interesting aspects of our schooling. Its just to much to go over sice we have missed reporting so much!


So let me begin......

Tapestry of Grace: We have learned about William Careys life and other Christian missions to India. We revisited India, Hinduism and Buddhism. Reviewed British involvement in India before 1800's. They worked on student activity pages, maps and a timeline of William Careys life. Rylee made some lap book folds for Carey and India.


We also have been learning about President Adams, the creation of the Erie and began studying about the life of Charles Finney. We have done a lot of reading, but have student activity pages to cover and map work along with timelines. RyLee has been working on her president cards and lap book folds too. The cards are turning out great!


Spanish is moving slow but they are enjoying it. RyLee just loves her Spanish and both girls make a game out of learning it. They are practicing phrases and vocabulary regularly. RyLee is probably better at speaking Spanish out of us 3. *Ü* She stumps us all the time! We play "what am I saying" *Ü*

Science is moving slow too, but getting it done. We finally finished the moon and moved into Mars the rusty planet! We began, but will not finish Space Rocks till next week! Woohoo!

Christian is beginning to feel more comfortable in her science. She really doesn’t like it, in fact comments a lot that she doesn’t see the point to biology and why "she" has to learn it... hmmm good question... So the last few weeks this has been a point of discussion. The best part about this though is on the way home from work one evening (she cam with me and helped) I was sharing with her how I read an article online that scientists believe those who have blue eyes are mutants. Oh! How I wish I could play back how she shared and with confidence how she could see how that might be possible! She even backed up her thoughts. I let her speak, I asked a few more questions and when she was done explaining her knowledge.... hahaha... I asked her where she learned that?? *Ü* Can you see where this went? *Ü* yes... connection made... she may not grow up to be a scientist, nurse what have you.... but she was able to participate in a conversation confidently and hold a discussion. Oh I loved it! She also realized her flawed way of looking at it. I know I hate the because you have to lecture... its your job.... this discussion was a wonderful example of how it can at least be beneficial, even when she wasn’t understanding the whys..... she got it...

I love those types of moments don’t you?


RyLee has been cooking and crafting up a storm. In the last few weeks she has been playing with sculpy clay. She made flowers and a pineapple crown.
she made a no sew blanket..... made a pot roast stew with my mom and learned how to make doughnuts!
She has made pizza all by herself, seriously no help at all and made the best crust! Even better than I can make it! Go figure! Even melted some candy to make these Valentine candy suckers.

Bible study has been good too. The first subject of the day is not a regular one. I set the timer for them and they go where they want to pray and read their bible. 30 minutes. Then we have our regular bible study. This has been the biggest change, but it’s a habit I want them to develop. Not just "study" but to read and have a prayer life. This was our first week with the quiet time and it went wonderful.

Grammar is review, math is moving along and daily, writing has been an issue as I have not had time to invest in our CW studies. They have been using WA and student activity pages for the most part, keeping it simple for them and me. I have been busy outside the home and had affected my 1 on 1 time and prep time. I only have so much time and energy.

Work is another area that has been an issue, having to work. I’m not on a schedule, I work when a job is open. This has thrown a wrench in my plans twice so far in the last 3 weeks. I’m in the process of finding balance in it all. It can be done. I’m just re learning to be flexible and in another way. Re prioritizing when I work and when I don’t. I’m finding a new schedule for when I do need to work and our regular one for when I don’t. Its the going back and forth that’s been tiring.

I took RyLee to work one of the 4 days last week (not this last the other last week *Ü*) Look what she got to do for a bit....




I always joke when I enter a book store that I hear angels singing....can you hear it… listen…..lol When RyLee saw the size of that TV.... guess what she said? *Ü* sigh... silly kid....

Our getting up on time has been going well. I am still at 6:00 but I’m working on it. *Ü* RyLee is getting better too. My quiet time before others are up set my day off right. Dan gets up at 6:00/6:10 and I would like to use that time to be on the treadmill. I just want to get to a point where I can get up, have my quiet time and walk/run on the treadmill before Dan leaves for work at 7:15 or so. We must keep going in this direction. To much good has come from it. The days we don’t get up early feel almost wasted....when we are all up early the day runs better… its just how its been working out..

One last thing before I go. The girls are going to go and get manicures and pedicures today. Both girls have a date with dad to the yearly father daughter dance this weekend. They have never gone before, this is the first. We either heard about it to late and tickets sell fast or Dan was working. We heard about it in plenty of time and Dan made sure not to let work interfere. They will meet up with other dads and daughters from church to have dinner at a local restaurant and then go to the dance together. I will post about that night, or maybe I will have Dan post about it??? Hmm… I bet he will… we shall see. Either way, we will share the special night with ya!

I hope you made it.... it wasnt a short post was it? *Ü* Im glad to back posting again though. I love seeing what we have been doing. It helps keep me going. Im just sorry I have not taken the time to do it. Its better I tell ya... just better when I do it.

Till next time.... this is Koinonia Academy... *Ü*

Koinonia Academy Reporting....

This is a first in a LONG time. A weekly report from Koinonia Academy has not happened since... well last year! *Ü* In fact, Nov 17th was our last! Yikes! It said week 13. Honest, I looked it up!

I hope you all have had a blessed Christmas break! I'm excited to get into the groove of things and fellowship with my weekly reporter peeps!

So with that out in the open, here we are I guess at week 14! 14 down, 22 to go.

This has been a strange and challenging week. Normally just regular routines can be a challenge, but this week was not routine.

Monday, was actually a good day. No one got up on time, school took longer than normal... but it was not stressful in anyway.

Tuesday~ Now this was a great day! Look what we woke up too! More snow!








We also went and spent most of the day in Seattle.
We first hit West lake Center Mall and rode the monorail to the city center.


We took a short walk to the Seattle Children's theater to see The Never Ending Story. This was my husbands first play with us, and he really enjoyed it. In fact he wants to go see Hamlet next month with us.

Next.... the Seattle science center for some relaxing educational fun and kill time!

After all that we were all starving! So we took another short walk to a favorite burger and fry restaurant close by Key arena called Dicks drive in.

It was time to start our journey back to the ferry, so we took a bus to Pike place market for some fresh mini doughnuts and coffee as we walked to the ferry.

See, it was a good day!

Then Wednesday... this day... well it was eventful. School went well, we completed History, literature, math, science, grammar reviewed, Spanish.... accomplished chores... oldest 2 went to youth group. It began to snow just after 9:00 pm so I called my son to hurry him home, and said drive slow. 9:50 I got a call form my son, a bit panicked saying they got in a car accident and totaled his truck. long story short, that is what happened. He slid right into the back of someone. Everyone is fine, but they all had sore backs and necks. Shawn and Christina both have hurting hips too. We are so grateful it wasn't any worse, but it was absolutely horrible having to drive so incredibly slow in the snow to go get them.

Thursday No school for anyone.

Friday was a half day. No one has been able to focus. Especially myself, and if I cant focus, chances are no one else does either.

Recap of week we really completed about 2 maybe 2 1/2 days worth of school our first week back. So in light of it all, we will pick up where we left off here. Next week is another week, just like today is another day!

I read these 2 scriptures this morning... they belssedme so Im sharing them with you too.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Koinonia Academy weekly Report # 13

Greetings!Can you believe it? only 23 more weeks of official school left for us! I cant believe how fast time has flown by.... I cant believe that its almost Thanksgiving! It seems like just a few weeks ago we began school!

This week... I had some devastating news!! My computer died! Yes died! At first, we thought it was just corrupted files,now its drivers gone bad! :( Sadness. No pictures to share... sniff... how boring! Post I must though... I honestly hate it when I dont.... I miss the bigger picture of our week.

So, on my sons laptop I type....

Koinonia Academy's weekly report, and maybe a few side notes too!

This weeks subjects that we stayed on task with....

Math
Literature
Science
Spanish
Bible study

Life skills for the week

Cooking from scratch mac and cheese
Accountable kids (responsibility)


Fun activities

Turkey hunt with youth group

New season stuff

I began my first day of work for my business. ( nothing to go OOOO about, but will share more in the post)

Ok, for History because I knew I would work this week I decided a few weeks ago to continue our review of unit 1. Christian has been enjoying the review! I had her read Bob Jones Chapter 8 2 weeks ago and week 9 this week. She also wrote out all the review questions in BJ and answered them.

RyLee has been using SOTW 3 as a review, because we have used it so little this year. Good accountability and she didn't seem to mind. Although she would rather move ahead. :)

Literature: Christian is finishing up Pride and Prejudice. This has been by far her favorite for the year, and mine hands down! The more I read it, the more I love it!Although this is not my first time! :)

RyLee has finished her series (6 books) from the American girl collection for Josephina. This has always been RyLees favorite character, and now she finally read the books! Her gramma bought her the doll when she was 5 I think. So that has been out this week too!

Science: we are behind technically, but then again, not. As Long as we keep up from here on out we will still finish 2 weeks before we need to begin Zoology 1.

This week she completed earth. :( sadly No pictures of anything! Christian has been keeping up with Biology at an ever slowing pace. She focused on it this week a bit more than normal, so she is getting herself on track. I'm sick of nagging.... and she is sick of hearing.... so the threat of no Turkey hunt on Wed if she didn't bust a move motivated this child to unbelievable study habits this week! Ha! Gotta do, what a moms gotta do!

Spanish:

Lesson 3 for RyLee. She is truly loving this Spanish program! Its fun for her and something she can do almost all on her own. I am able to help Christian along more and practice with her. Christian has been memorizing and reviewing all her vocabulary and simple phrases to date! Writing them all out and in conversational style. Keeping up with her notebook etc. she is motivated in this subject!

For a refresher Christian is using The Easy Spanish and RyLee is using La Clasa divertida

Math... yup... getting her done.... Christian was having a mini melt down because no computer.... no computer no cds.... so my son has been gracious enough to leave his laptop home (he uses it at CC) so she can use it! What a guy. Math is math and we keep moving on... Same with Ry.

Bible study this week was great. Reading out of Romans 5 with Chris and Luke Chapter 3 with RyLee. RyLee had map work this week too and she liked that being added in.

RyLee was proud of herself. She made homemade Mac and Cheese all by her self. She used 2% milk instead of whole milk or cream, and she has decided cream next time. I chuckle at this... who is this child Betty Crocker? :)

Accountable kids
RyLee missed 2 tickets this week. She was a bit slothful in the morning. She was so disappointed. :( She keeps trying and will let you know as soon as she completes her first 10 stars.

Turkey Hunt! This is a main event of the week for Christian. Her youth group goes on a scavenger type hunt each year in search of the Turkey. Its a rubber turkey that the Associate pastor hides in down town Bremerton. The entire Sr. High youth group is broken up n teams with 2 leaders. They have a list of "things" to do and they have to take a picture to prove they did the task. As they finish each task they move on to the next clue on the list. Its a hoot! For example they had to sing under the sea by a big fountain and take video. They made up a rap about french fries... crazy goofy things like that! They find out Sunday who truly one the hunt and completed all tasks. ahh to be young and carefree hu? :)

My Health:

I walked on my treadmill 3 times this week and RyLee and I went on 2 outside walks. I even took pictures on our walk.... but I cant show you because my computer died and I dont have what I need to download on my sons pc.

I followed my menu I posted earlier in the week. The only day that changed was Wed dinner and Friday Dinner. Wed I had clam chowder again. Youth group always makes for a later night and both older kids are gone... so we eat light. I forgot about that when I made up my menu. Friday hubby and I went on a date to Silver City. Our favorite yuppie place to go! I splurged and we split an order of Fish and chips! Ohhh it was so good... even the coleslaw!

I have not weighed myself yet this week. I don ot own a scale and do not want to buy one. So I have to Wait till I visit my mom. :) i am feeling good, I have had great energy all week. Other than Friday night I have stuck to my plan and my calorie goals for each day! 2 weeks down! 4 more to go before I add bread back!

Now my new job! Thursday was the first day of my new business. Koinonia Kleaning. :) Hows that for corny? LOL I clean homes.... but only after remodels or new construction. I bid by the square foot not the hour and I am able to only work 1-2 days a month if I want! it took me 8 hours to clean the entire house and 3 more to clean all 21 windows! Inside only thank goodness.... but I was home by 4:30 and the girls did great! Christian really stepped up to the plate and even helped and did Rylees bible study with her amongst other things!

Its a new season in my life... I dont like that I have to work, but grateful that I can... and make my own hours... and a few full days a month is nothing....compared to having to be gone for 3 days a week and those are mostly nights. Oh, I hated that. My heart was wanting to be home. I can handle 2 days a month.... so can the girls. They are old enough to have a light day of school and a full day of required tasks to keep them busy! :)

Well, that's about as much as I can remember w/o visuals! :) Maybe next week I will have my pc back.... although we are seriously considering going MAC. What do you think? Maybe I will let my business buy it. :) Hows that for a perk!?

Till next week, my weekly reporter friends! Have a wonderful weekend and new week ahead!

Koinoia Academy Tri Weekly Report

Hello Weekly reporters! *Ü* This is a bit long this week. The last few weeks of October were fun. We traveled to Oregon and toured Fort Clatsop, went to Seaside and Astoria. It was just a weekend trip, but good. You can read about that in a post further down below.

The girls had Harvest Parties. Christian went to the Jr/Sr. High school party the Friday before Halloween at church and RyLee went to a local church Carnival on the 31st. Christian and her dad made her costume and her friend’s costume. They turned out cute.







Even Snickers helped out



The finished product




RyLee made a lemon pumpkin cake. The cake was lemon and shaped like a pumpkin. We were so busy the day she made the cake. I helped her out with making frosting,but we made it to thick, so I asked good ol dad to help thin it out, because I needed to get dinner going. Well, they made it to thin and Ry jumped the gun so the frosting didnt turn out well, but the cake still looked and tasted great....... even though the frosting wasnt stiff...










*Ü* When we traveled South to visit Fort Clatsop.... we picked up and continued our study of Lewis and Clark for week 10 and a little of 11. Week 11 we began a review of Unit 1 for TOG year 3 while continuing regularly scheduled subjects. We will be finished with our review next week, complete week 10 (of TOG)after that and finally move into unit 2! Yeah Koinonia Academy team!

This week Christian and I both began Pride and Prejudice!! My all time favorite book and author! Did I mention I love this book? I also love the BBC version of the movie! The one with Colin Firth! They stay true to the book... sometimes word for word. No other version can compare... anyway... did I mention we love this book and movie? *Ü*

RyLee reviewed both weeks 1 and 2 for Spanish this week. She reviewed the beginning of a vowel song in week 1 continued and completed the song in week 2 and began colors. Along with some vocabulary, and a recipe to make plantains!

*Ü* She loves her Spanish now! Here are a few pictures of her cooking Plantains! ( I tried to post a video of Rylee singing her Spanish vowel song, but it wont load or something....) :( It was so cute too...




Slicing them medium thickness



Getting ready to fry on Med-Hi.



After frying, mash them with a cup or a mug.


Time to fry them for a second time.


Place on paper towel to cool.



Sprinkle with powdered sugar.


whala! Yum!





Last week we went to our second play in Seattle.



It was called the BFG. The big friendly giant. It was terrific! As always. *Ü* We wont go back to Seattle now till Feb 08. :( I love these plays! They are always well done!


RyLee began her accountable kids program this week! Finally, since I bought it back in June at the WHO convention. *Ü* She has been so motivated to accomplish her daily work and tasks all week. I have not nagged, nor reminded! Gasp! Here reward after 10 days of completing all 3 sections every day was a date with either mom or dad. She chose me! Yeah mom! *Ü* So we will take in dinner and a movie when she gets her stars all filled in. Its been a good week. We have been really busy around the house, and schooling a bit in the evenings to get it all finished. One of the distractions for me this week has been quilting. I have only made one quilt top ever.... and this week I attempted my own thing....



I cut my points off on the side because I didn't watch my 1/4 inch seem allowance... but didn't notice or pay attention till I was all done. Live and learn! It has been a while since I have quilted.....I'm still green. *Ü*



Health wise... I am doing good in my diet, but not so well with the exercise. I have lost 4 and 1/2 pounds so far. *Ü* I a pleased.... but need to be more consistent with the walking! Remember now... I want to be a runner like my friend Jennifer! *Ü* I will keep it up, and keep moving forward.... It is my goal and desire!

My scripture memory selection to help with this task all week has been

Hebrews 12:11

" No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Christian chuckled when I read it to her. It was perfect! *Ü*

Well If you stayed with me, thanks.... I won’t post anymore... lol I could add a few things but I want you to come back sometime! *Ü* So I will leave it at here for now.

Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you all next week!