summer reading challenge

Mark worked on his drawing and enlarging skills for our poster

Over the summer our local Library and zoo are doing a dinosaur and dragon theme and I wanted to up the stakes by offering an additional challenge to the family. Our goal is to read 35 books collectively with our reward being a trip to the beach downtown. I despise going downtown if I can help it so its kind of a big deal. Between mission trips, VBS and the county fair our holiday is already filled so the kids will need to hustle if they would like to go before all of it has ended. Summer seems to be the shortest season here so it can easily get too cold for outdoor swimming by the last week of August.

We are already 3 books in going strong. Three more will be added by the end of this week by Koda, Beanie and Mark. I am glad to see my family with their noses in a book vs their phones or tablets. Baby steps!

Some family parties and craziness

Some time to reflect on the last few weeks and share some things that have made me grateful.

No time to be depressed when you are happy for what you have.

*****************************

Our family had 2 BBQs back to back since it is nearing the end of summer. It was nice to have hubby's family all together so our kids could spend some time with their grandparents.  Our kids are usually the only ones there but they are loved by everyone.

Dj and the girls

Randy, his father and grandmother

Koda, great grandma and adopted grandma

Randy and I also have been working heavily with the dogs. Shemp has been working on mastering tricks and getting his energy out and Magnar has been perfecting his obedience training.  

I have been art journaling like crazy and enjoying my guilty pleasure of Pokemon since my hands have been out of commission for crocheting due to my fibro and carpel tunnel.

Koda and Randy both also got new part time jobs this week. We are not sure how the future will hold for all of it but trying to be patient and taking it day by day. Randy will be doing janitorial work for a local park district and Koda is working at a groomer/pet boarding spa. 

Nanners and I finally exploring the gluten free diet and thriving on it. 

Also a very happy birthday to our kids godfather, DJ who joined us over the weekend. It is great having him around and the kids enjoyed hanging out with him.

I also spent the time watermarking all the photos for this post, in case you haven't noticed. :)

What are you grateful for this week?

The Butterfly Upon The Sky

all photos by Koda

The Butterfly Upon The Sky 

The Butterfly upon the Sky,

That doesn't know its Name

And hasn't any tax to pay

And hasn't any Home

Is just as high as you and I,

And higher, I believe,

So soar away and never sigh

And that's the way to grieve - 

 by Emily Dickinson

A new friend

Playing in our water bin.

We now have a new friend to play with. Meet Xay. You will see more pictures of her with our family in posts to come so I wanted to introduce her.

Red Riding Hood

So yesterday we started a little deeper and faster in our Germany study. Randy took the kids aside and worked with them on their flashcards for their vocab words. Next they read the background story of Little Red Riding Hood. Afterwards they read some interpretations and opinions on the moral of the piece. They were thrilled to find out that there was cannibalism involved in some versions. Go figure. I have dark and twisted kids. They then watched the movie Red Riding Hood that just came out with a werewolf interpretation. Not too shabby of a movie but we all werent that crazy about the ending.

We also went and registered for the library's summer reading program. We will see how long it takes them to get it done. 

Today the kids are  reviewing their cards again and doing a few more worksheets.Tonight we are heading to Chicago to see an old friend of mine and to visit their Aunt. Can't Wait!

summer school 2011

So this is our first summer of homeschooling all the boogers. Yes all 5 of them. I decided to do a unit study on Germany as their dad is a German buff in general and I figured it would be a good way to get everyone involved. We are doing a few worksheets a week when they are staying with us and hopefully are going to go to a German Festival next few months.


German Society of Rockford
Wisconsin German Fest

They each are required to learn German words. Each kid has to learn as many new words as their age. Some of their choices has been kind of strange but fun. Tonight we are going to read a German Fairy Tale and talk about its origins. Little Red Riding Cap.

We are also doing Dr. Suess for Nanners.