Snowflake Bentley Co-op

We love our co-op!  Do I say that each time I post about it?  I'm so thankful to be a part of it!  Each time is so much fun!!!  This time is was my turn to co-teach. 

We started with reading the story and then moved to a storytelling game.



We took words from the story and put them on index cards.  Each card had three words on it. 



Each child drew a card and was asked to use at least one (but could use all) of the words on the card.  One child started the story and then we went in a circle with each child adding a bit more to the story.  It was a very creative one - with twists and turns that didn't always please the group.  lol  It was fun to hear what they came up with and how they used their words.

The next activity was an art project.  We did block prints.  Each child was given a square of florist foam in which to carve a picture or design. 



They used a pencil to draw their designs.  What I forgot to tell them was that their print would be the reverse of what they had drawn (my test design was symmetrical).  Some of them figured this out when they tried to write words.



I loved seeing the variety of designs.  Once the design was deep enough, they were ready to paint.



They painted the block with white tempera paint and the pressed the block to the paper.



Sometimes they needed to have more or less paint to get a good print. 



We then took a break for a snack and then another art project.  This time we focused on the photography lesson.  We didn't use cameras though, we used the sun!  Thankfully we had a beautifully sunny day!  This is the type of solar paper we used in case you were interested.



Each child selected some things that they wanted to use - tools, foam shapes, items from nature, etc.  Once this was decided we went into the sun to place the items on the solar paper. 



We had the children shade their papers until they had completely layed out their items.



Then they waited a few minutes as the sun began to fade the paper.  You can see in this picture that the one on the right has been in the sun longer.



After several minutes, they then took the items off of the solar paper and then submerged it into water.  Notice how the color has begun to darken again.



These are Daniel's prints after they have dried and darkened.  Pretty neat, huh?



Our next activity was a game on snow facts.  We thought it would be a fun way to see what they knew as well as to teach them some new things.  Here is how the game was made.  I found some images of the actual pictures Snowflake Bentley took of snowflakes and printed two of them.  One was the base of the game and the other became the pieces.



For the pieces, they were cut in half.  One half had a question on it and the other half the answer. 



Each child was given an answer.  Several were true/false, several were numbers and several were places so that hopefully none of the answers was too obvious.  When a question was asked, the children tried to guess the correct answer.  They were able to see if they were right by seeing if the picture on the back of their card matched the picture on the back of the question.



It's a simple way to learn some facts and an easy way to review things at home.  Hopefully I'll remember to use this technique again.

We ended with a snowball fight - paper - since we clearly had none of the real stuff!



A fun day.  I love learning in a hands-on way and I'm motivated to do some projects for co-op that I might not have the energy to do on my own.  I think it's a great opportunity for me as well as for my children.  Thank you friends for a fun day!  Looking forward to the next one!

Blessings

Leslie

Just made me laugh

I was looking over pictures that had been downloaded and when I came to these, they just made me laugh!



I could tell that Rebecca and Eliana had been playing and having fun taking pictures of themselves.



Eliana loves to imitate and when we find it funny - so does she!



Funny faces and cute ones.



Are you smiling yet?



I wasn't sure if Rebecca would mind these being posted. 



I asked and she didn't mind.



Pucker up!



Laugh, smile and spread the joy!  It really is contagious!

Love
Leslie

Random January Happenings

Things remain busy around here.  Even though I really try hard not to commit to much or take on too much, still things are busy.  I thought I'd share a few things that have happened this month in a kind of catch up post.

Christopher ran in his first race.  It was a 5k on New Years Day.

He has been diligent in training and setting up his own schedule of running to meet his goals.  He is planning to run in another race next month.  I'm proud of him for setting goals and working hard to reach them, for choosing his own interests and pursuing them. 

He is also busy with schoolwork and looking into colleges.  We attended a workshop at which several admissions counselors were there to talk about their schools.  I can't believe we are at that point!  I'm not ready.  I know though that he is quickly becoming ready and I pray for us both as we approach this new time. 

Rebecca has started doing more babysitting.  I know she is a blessing to the moms and to the children.  I know this because she has SOOOO much experience with a variety of younger children - typical and special needs and really enjoys them.   

She has been wanting to babysit for a long while so she could earn some money.  Want to know what she is doing with her money?  For the first two months of babysitting she is donating all of it to Anya.  I love her heart for others. 

She also auditioned for a play this week - and was chosen to be in it.  (Charlotte's Web)  It will be a heavy commitment for her for the next several months, but also a lot of fun I'm sure.

Joshua is doing well.  He is staying healthy (all of us are for which I give thanks daily!).  Diabetes continues to be a rollercoaster ride - and not always a fun one!  He is still in his "honeymoon" which means his numbers can really fluctuate.  Maybe this won't change when he is out of it either.  I really don't know.  He had his lowest low a week ago - 41 - and didn't even feel it.  :-(  I think this will make him a candidate for continuous glucose monitoring though I'm not sure if he'll want it.  (Another thing attached to you that will take constant readings of his blood sugar) 

We weren't able to attend the pump info night last month.  My parents had just gotten into town and he wanted to stay home.  (Which I think was a really good choice, after all the pump can wait and people are more important!)  We'll see about going this month.  We are attending a Family Retreat sponsored by the JDRF later this month.  I think we'll all be going.  It will be nice to try to connect with some others and other families dealing with diabetes.  I'm hoping this week-end will be a blessing for all of us able to go. 

Isaiah is doing well too.  He is really enjoying some of the new games we have (as are the others).  The karate on Wii and Civilizations are huge favorites.  I'm amazed at all that he learns from playing them and the retention of information from them. 

We are still working on figuring out how best to help him learn with some of his unique learning challenges.  He is an incredibly smart little boy and I want learning to be fun and interesting and not leave him feeling frustrated.  He was diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (this week) in addition to the other diagnoses earlier this year. 

It hurts my heart sometimes to know how hard things are for some of my children.  I know it could be much harder and that there are children facing much more.  I'm praying that working through the challenges that they face will help them cultivate understanding, patience and strength - and that through these challenges they will learn how to rely on God.  I know that God has a plan for each one of them and I pray that these challenges will prepare them well for what God has in store for them.  While I sometimes wish that the road was a little smoother, I'm so thankful to be walking it with God!  I pray that God would give us the grace, patience and wisdom needed to encourage them, prepare them and just love them as they are! 

How am I handling the news?  Pretty well.  I haven't had a lot of "feelings" over it (which is probably good since usually the feelings are stressed and overwhelmed).  Am I finally just learning to accept things?  Did God prepare my heart?  Am I finally learning to rest a little better in His arms?  I'm not sure, though I'm certain it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God.  Perhaps it's just that He is holding me and all that I have to carry.

I do know that none of this is a surprise to God.  He has great plans for each one of us - and these bumps in the road will not deter His plans!  I continue to remind myself of these truths - He is good.  He is in control.  He loves us very, very much! 

It's hard to know how much to share sometimes in a public forum like this.  I hope that some of what I share will be of help or encouragment to someone else and at the same time don't want to share anything that would be upsetting to my children.  Please pray for our sweet boy and all that he is dealing with.  Please pray too as I try to learn how best to teach him, encourage him and help him navigate life. 

Daniel has lost his first tooth!  I can't believe my baby has already reached this milestone!  The earliest of all my children.  He also got his first tooth the earliest too - at 5 months (yes, I do remember it!). 

Daniel and I have scaled back on some of his schooling and are rowing again the Before FIAR books.  It's a relaxing time when he has me all to himself.  I think it's a sweet time for both of us.  He is still little and there is plenty of time ahead for him to be a big boy.

Eliana is doing great.  While I've missed seeing our therapists, it has been nice to have more free time in our days and in our week.  We have several days now where we have nothing planned!  It's nice to have the freedom to make the days what we want them to be. 

We've started doing workboxes officially with her and I think it is helping to have some routine in her day.  At this point, the routine is more that she is getting more done in a day and that the children working with her have specific things to do with her.  I know that actually building some timed routines in her day will be a good thing too, but that hasn't happened yet. 

Roger's work is going well and he has a birthday coming up soon.  No news on how we'll be celebrating as he does read here. 

Me - I'm staying busy.  We are working on getting into a good routine with schooling and so far things are going well.  I've started a new Bible study which has been encouraging.  I'm also going to be doing a new study thanks to the gifts of some sweet friends.  I look forward to seeing what God is going to teach me!

This is getting long and I realize needs more pictures, but I'm going to post and more pics will have to come later.  Its late as I'm up checking Joshua who has been dealing with lows tonight.  Trying to make sure his numbers stay well - and hoping that maybe I can get a nap in tomorrow!

Blessings

Leslie   

Happy New Year

It really was my intent to get this up earlier.  Oh, well, here it is.

New Year’s Eve 2009

We had a fun time celebrating leaving the old year and ringing in the new!  We were joined by friends for our annual tradition and as always - it was a blast!  My children love the bags and couting down to the New Year.  We've done it often enough now that it is considered a tradition and one that they look forward too. 

I started a little earlier this year (2pm) thinking I'd include some things just for the younger children.  I did this since both Roger and our friend's dh had to work.  It was fun, but definitely pushed me to get things going earlier than I was ready.  LOL  Thankfully, we approach this in a really relaxed way and if we are a little off schedule, we just work in order and don't worry about the times. 

Our theme this year - Monsters and Aliens

Here are our clues, what was in the bags and of course pictures!

1^st clue:

It’s New Years Eve, the countdown has begun!

Are you ready to have some fun?

We’ll spend time eating and creating too.

Can you figure out the theme of all that we’ll do?

In the bag:  items for making noisemakers; we played charades to guess the theme.

 

Getting some help from big brother.

Guess these monsters weren't too happy.

The kids like reading the clue and then guessing what might be in the bag.  Some of the ideas are the same or similar from year to year.

2^nd clue:

Monsters are silly and funny too!

Do you think they are sometimes blue?

Maybe they’re happy or perhaps mad

A game of expressions will make you glad!

In the bag:  The game Silly Expressions. 

The general idea of the game is to draw a card with a face pictured on it.  You then try to make the face (the mirror is to help you get it just right). 

The others try to guess which face (pictured on the board) you are making.

3^rd clue:

They come from a planet far away

Sometimes to visit and sometimes to stay

Would you like to travel?  Ready let’s go!

Let’s make a rocket out of play-doh!

In the bag - play-doh.

Eliana even skipped her nap (she went to bed early) so she could join in on the play-doh.  This is one of her favorite activities - if only she didn't eat it!

 

They  made rockets and aliens - all versions from cute, to creative to clever to fierce.

4^th clue:

We’ve been busy, is your tummy starting to rumble?

You’ll like the next step, so don’t start to grumble.

We’re making more spaceships, but these for our guests

They’ll look like a saucer or maybe a nest?

In the bag:  some of the pizza ingredients.  This is a traditional item.  I thought about changing the food this year, but when one of my children listed this as a favorite activity for the night, I knew it needed to stay the same.

5^th clue:

When people travel they often keep a log

It reminds them of the past when their mind is in a fog

Its time to look back and ponder the past

This years almost over, today is the last.

In the bag:  Questions on pieces of paper for everyone to fill out.  This is also a favorite activity that is repeated.  After everyone finishes, we read one question and then all the answers to that question.  We then try to guess who wrote each answer.

 

Here are the questions for this year.

*Favorite book you’ve read this year

 

*Favorite trip/outing you’ve taken this year 

 

*Name something you are most thankful for 

 

*Something you have learned 

 

*Something you hope to do next year

6^th clue:

We’re going to make aliens

These will be sweet

Decorate how you’d like

And then you can eat!

In the bag:  sprinkles, frosting, candy  This again is a repeat.  We may need to find something a little lower carb for next year though. 

7^th clue:

It’s time for adventure and maybe a giggle

Find a spot to sit and don’t wiggle

Does anyone need something to eat

You can have some popcorn while in your seat

In the bag:  movie and popcorn

We enjoyed watching a movie on the "big screen".  We hung up a sheet and used a projector to make it a big.  It's fun to see it this way.

 

8^th clue:

The monsters are gone and the days near the end

Still a little more time with our friends

Let’s play a game – or maybe more

We’ll split into teams and then start to score

In the bag:  chalk and pictionary cards.  This is a fun game that everyone can play!  We split into boys v girls and had some fun.

This one was funny in person and I'll try to explain.  The cards had "themes" to them and if you could figure out the theme sometimes it was easier to guess the rest of the words.  After guessing the first word (which was tooth), they were then guessing for the second word ... dental floss, and other words related to teeth.  They were stumped.  Daniel walked up and looked at it and said "triangle" which was the correct answer.  It made for a great laugh all the way around. 

9^th clue:

It’s time to say good-bye to ‘09

Watching the ball drop is a fun time again

A hug, a prayer, a sweet drink for the toast

Happy New Year, it’s 2010

In the bag:  Bible verses to read.  I picked verses that had to do with how we were perfectly made to accomplish God's purposes.  (Tied in with the theme of the movie.)  We discussed briefly and then prayed.  We also had bubbly cider to toast in the New Year.  I didn't get a picture of all of us in the New Year. 

Hoping the formatting on this works as it is a long post.  We had a fun time and I highly recommend the "bags" as a fun way to bring in the new year - or to count down to anything.  Hope you enjoyed reading about our fun time ringing in the new year with friends. 

Blessings

Leslie

FIAR Ornaments

This is the last Christmas post.  Our FIAR group did an ornament swap again this year.  I love these ornaments.  I'm hoping to eventually have a full set of ornaments from ALL of the FIAR titles.  We are making sure progress. 

Here are the ornaments from this year.  I wish you could see the details.  They are really wonderful.  These represent Mrs. Katz  and Tush (notice the Star of David necklace on the cat) and Owl Moon.

Next is Night of the Moonjellies (notice the little moonjellies) and The Runaway Bunny.

These are both from Beyond - Neil Armstrong (all of this is made from sculpy!) and Thomas Edison.

Next is Gullywasher (also individually made from sculpy) and Who Owns the Sun (from a cotton plant).

Last up are The Bee Tree, Little Nino's Pizzeria and Harold and the Purple Crayon. 

Love the ornaments and the memories that they represent for our family!

Blessings

Leslie