September

 This was my attempt at getting a picture of the 3 kids together. Hopefully Charlie has better luck on the 15th!

 One of those moments when David and Angeline were getting along so well. Not sure where they came up with the doubling idea but it works well on this tricycle.

Mmmm... we decided to buy a waffle maker. Chocolate waffles with strawberries and whipping cream. They were yummy! Samara thought so too but the pic we took of her and her first whip cream turned out blurry... we were probably laughing too hard.

Just thought I would add a few pics. We've been having lots of fun lately. We're getting serious about renovating our kitchen soon.  We are very excited but we have to make a lot of decisions in the next week or so. I'm hoping we can get it together quick enough that we don't have to have to stove unhooked for too long. I will definitely blog before and after pictures once it is complete. Really not sure when that will be.

Week 3

 (Yes, David is still in his PJ's... that's another bonus to homeschooling!)

This week was all about the letter "C." David loves to practise his letters. Besides practising the letter of the week he also spends time practising each letter of the alphabet on his dry erase board. We have a handy one for numbers to so that he can practise those as well. He's been independently figuring out the first letter in many words as well as adding to his list of words he can spell from memory. We had to throw Cookie Monster in there because we often watch him on you tube singing C is for Cookie.

David is going through his math book so quickly. I have it divided into approximately one until per week and I am finding that we are already getting ahead of our lesson plan. He often finishes the lessons before I have time to photo copy the next ones. This week we did units 3E, 3F, 4A-F & 5A-D. Still focusing on counting 1-20... have to get those "teens" really ingrained into him.

Delta Library had a program that encourages reading to your kindergarten student. They have select books with special stickers "100 Books to Read in Kindergarten"... we began this summer and have read over 30 so far (plus probably another 15 that aren't included)... plus many of the books we have at home. We do story time every day. We also have to make sure to do 30 minutes of activity. Yesterday it was so nice out that we walked to the library (David rode... I pushed the girls in the double stroller) until we were almost at the library and the chain came off David's bike. Okay, I know I SHOULD know how to fix a chain on a bicycle but I had never had to before. So there I am pent over his bike clearly looking like I had no clue what I was doing. A kind man pulled up in his truck and asked if I needed help. I said "no thank you." He said "are you sure?" I said yes! Okay, I needed help but he was a stranger AND I didn't want to admit that I needed help. I did manage to get the chain back on but it was off again in less than 60 seconds.  Needless to say it was a long walk home... uphill with a cranky baby and me... pushing 3 kids in my double stroller. To top it all off Angeline lost her shoe and forgot to tell me until 1 km later and it was surprisingly hot out yesterday.

We will be starting "Sing, Spell, Read, Write" on Monday

PS- Thanks Mrs. Van Breada for the planner... I am using it to keep a record of what we accomplish each day and I will scan it and e-mail you a copy.

9 1/2 Months

Here is a very happy... and very MESSY Samara! She had her check up on Tuesday and weighs 16.5 pounds and measures 28 inches tall. She pulls herself up on anything and everything and sometimes lets go to practice standing but she has not attempted cruising as of yet. She has been saying Mama for a few months... particularly when I'm not around and she wants me but yesterday she said it to me for the first time so that was very special. Today she got her 7th tooth... I expect the 8th will follow shortly. Just had to share these precious pictures and give a quick update.

How We do Kindergarten

Here's David on his first day of school. We started our homeschool adventure 2 weeks ago and he attends school on Fridays with other homeschool students. He's loving it... at home and at school.

David's been writing his name along with some other words for quite some time. For Language Arts we are making an Alphabet Book. Each week we talk about one of the letters of the alphabet... what sound it makes... what words start with that letter... we practice writing it... we draw pictures and find things around the house that begin with the letter of the week.
Our Language Arts Curriculum just arrived yesterday morning (it was backordered) so we are looking forward to using that as well. It is called "Sing,Spell,Read,Write" and it is Phonic based.

For Social Studies David is making a book all about him. We will be adding to it each week. He will be learning how to spell his middle names, last name... his address and phone number etc.

For Math we have chosen a curriculum called Math-U-See. Here are some examples of types of questions he covered in the first 2 weeks. The first picture is "cross out the wrong answer." The second one is "count and circle the correct answer. The third type of question is "colour the squares to show the correct number."

I will be blogging our homeschool journey weekly or by-weekly as a way to report our teacher and for anyone else who might be interested on how things are going and what we are up to. There are other subject that we cover as well and I am adding things weekly as adjust to our new routine. We are attending Bible Study Fellowship which is an interdenominational bible study and I am using the program for our Christian Studies... it includes a weekly memory verse as well.
http://www.bsfinternational.org/
I am also planning to teach David to speak French so we will be getting started on that in a few weeks.

Qualicum Beach

Here are a few highlights from our trip to Qualicum beach. Had a great time there with Grandpa Brent and Aunty Mandy. Also stopped at Coombs on the way home... though we didn't see any goats on the roof. Would have loved to have spent more time on the sand but the tide came in. We'll have to do it again next year.

Fall Fair

We spent a week on the Island at the beginning of the month. Took the kids to the Fall Fair... their first time at a fair. We weren't sure if David would go on the rides but he did without any hesitation! Angeline was first in line though she ended up being too short for most of the kids rides there. The fish ride was the only one we found that she was actually tall enough for (she enjoyed this one the most anyway) but we did manage to sneak her on a few other rides. Lots of rides, walking, cotton candy, farm animals, and dancing. We all had fun but it was about 34 degrees even though we went after dinner! It was a bit hot but who can complain when fall is about to set in and turn to winder. Great summer memories. Might have to go again next year. Thanks Nana & Papa!

9 Months