A Snowy Day

This is not a hill. It is a snow pile from clearing the driveway. Yep, we have lots of snow.

Poor Emanuel always ended up on the bottom. He didn't mind too much, though.

A close-up of their sled loading technique.

They stayed outside for hours sledding down that "hill". They also asked for bedtime at 6pm. Big day.

Even Grandma Pat gave it a try. I'm sure she went back to sled some more after we left.

Isabel and I gave it a try too. We learned that Isabel does not like snow... or sledding. Maybe next year.

Thanks, Grandpa Bob for taking all these great pictures!

Happy Valentine's Day!

For us, it was more like Valentine's Week, but we had lots of fun!

 

I, er... I mean the boys, made their Valentine boxes. Emanuel wanted Spiderman and Ben wanted a monster truck. I think they turned out pretty well. Then it was off to the party with the Omaha Area Homeschoolers.  

 

Everyone had lots of fun eating too many sweet things, passing out valentines and playing games. Both boys made new friends and can't wait for next year's party!

Emanuel also had a party with his Preschool Storytime class at the library on Thursday. He was feeling so generous after that party that he gladly gave his cookie to Ben. On Sunday the boys made valentines and brownies for their abuelos. We had a great Valentine's Day 2010! Hope you did too.

A New Year

Wondering what we've been up to? Here's a hint: snow. It has been snowing and snowing and snowing. While the adults may be getting a bit tired of it, the kids are SO happy!

This picture was taken mid-December, when there wasn't much snow yet!

A new "semester" has started here at our little homeschool. Ben is making such great progress! He can count to 100, and also write and recognize numbers up to 100. This week we've started on addition. He's got the concept down so it's just a matter of memorizing the facts and playing fun addition games. We like games.
In reading Ben has learned the sounds of all the vowels and consenants and we are moving on to blends like ss, ll, and ck. He's excited that he'll be able to read more words- stories made up entirely of 3 letter words aren't very exciting. We've been playing a fun game in which I write subjects on one set of index cards and predicates on another set, then he mixes and matches them to make silly sentences to read. We all have fun with that one!
Handwriting is definitely his least favorite subject, but he's awesome at it. He's also very good at drawing which I think has something to do with his perfect handwriting.
In religion we've been alternately doing the Who Am I Kindergarten workbook (and the preschool one for Emanuel) and reading out of their children's Bible and saints books. Both boys really enjoy the St. Joseph Picture Books.
These are the subjects we do every day (Mon-Thurs). I am still working on a more regular schedule for science and history/geography. Luckily we have plenty of time for that!

Isabel has been busy terrorizing Ben while he tries to get his work done. She loves to climb on the table and knock all his supplies to the ground. Nothing makes her laugh harder than her brothers' reactions to her destruction. She's lucky they love her so much and are always kind and gentle with her no matter what she does. Her second favortie thing to do is play in the pantry. Who needs block when you have cans to stack, right?!
Tax season has started but I am working one day a week preparing returns. I enjoy it because it's a great way to get out and interact with adults for a few hours each week, but it still leaves plenty of time for family.  
Tito is still busy selling cars in spite of all the snow. We found out that he has never played in the snow before, so the boys have been lobbying to remedy that. Hopefully, they'll be successful in getting him outside and there will be pictures coming soon!
We're all looking forward to 2010. I'm sure it will be a great year. Happy New Year! 

Pioneers and Gingerbread

On Fridays our local Catholic homeschool group gets together for playdates, field trips, or service projects. This Friday was a field trip Friday, which we spent at the Mormon Trail Center Winter Quarters learning about pioneers and their journey west.
A pioneer tour would not be authentic without the proper attire, so everyone began at the dress up trunk where they chose their outfits.

Although the displays focused specifically on the Mormons' journey from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah with their winter stay and the hardships faced at Winter Quarters (in what is now North Omaha, NE) much of what they went through was faced by all pioneers. The children were able to see a covered wagon and experience making choices about what to bring and what to leave behind. They learned about the weather conditions (and the MUD!) the travelers had to endure. Some of the earlier Mormon pioneers used handcarts which they pushed and pulled themselves, across all those thousands of miles. Emanuel had a chance to help pull one (and I didn't get a picture- grrr!). The children also got to fit themselves into the tiny replica log cabin that an entire family would live in all winter. We thought we  were crowded in our small apartment, but really it is quite luxurious compared to that cabin!

Emanuel loading a wagon with supplies.

After the pioneer tour, we went to the lower level of the Mormon Trail Center to see their gingerbread house display. Wow! There were so many great gingerbread houses. The kids all did a scavenger hunt through the houses, looking for certain houses on their list. Emanuel posed for me in front of his favorite gingerbread creation... a ship!

Can it be spring?

After all the excitement of winter snow wore off, the boys' fascination with it wore thin. The last snowy day caused an outcry of, "Oh no! Not again!"

Today was 50 degrees. What a wonderful warm day. Ben and Emanuel rode their bigwheels outside on the sidewalk. We had two happy boys today! Hopefully this weather holds out.

Snow!

"Winter is not good for me." That is what Ben had to say about the cold weather... before the snow came. Both of the boys were sooo excited watching the flakes fall and cover the ground. Emanuel held a bit of snow in his hand, until he realized it was cold and shook it off with a surprised look.

We went on a snow boot shopping trip and also bought them snowsuits, hats and mittens. They were ready to head out into the snow to play. Of course they didn't have to play alone. Ben and Emanuel's uncles played with them. They had fun sledding down the hill in teh backyard, throwing snowballs, and running and rolling in the snow. There isn't a day they don't ask to go out and play in it!