Beyond FIAR Co-op - Homer Price #3

Playing catch-up here on our co-op posts.  Thought I'd share it though for those who want to follow what we have done or are using any ideas for their co-op. 

We met for our last time covering the book Homer Price.  This was our 3rd meeting and we covered chapters 5 and 6. 

They learned about assembly lines - a little about the history and also how they function.  Then it was their turn to try their hands at it.  They were split into two groups.  Each group was going to use assembly line structure to make 8 Christmas cards each (all alike).  They looked at the cards and each chose a job to do.  Ready ... set... go!

First was glueing a paper on the front and one on the inside.  (Is it funny the two of my boys were doing the same job?!)

Next was adding a tree to the outside of the card.

The third step was adding a star and ornaments to the tree. 

The fourth step was adding presents under the tree.

The fifth step was adding a garland inside of the card.

For the last step, someone in the group added some glitter to the front and they had beautiful finished cards! 

They learned a lot in the process.  One was that you needed to understand the steps that came after yours.  For example, if you didn't place the tree high enough on the card, there wasn't enough room for the presents.  They learned about quality control too.  What a fun way to learn!  They each signed the cards and several were sent to the mayors of our respective towns.  (We talked briefly about government too). 

We had a devotion on gifts, giving and being generous.  We also had snacks.  The second part of the co-op focused on learning to play checkers.  Now, some children already knew, but these rules varied from what some were used to. 

They were split into group of two for playing the games.  It was fun walking around the quite house and seeing them all so intent on their games.

This was another wonderful co-op with our FIAR group.  Thanks Jen and Julie!

Blessings
Leslie

Asheville Girl's Week-end

My sister generously offered to take us on a girl's week-end and we were all elated!  There were 5 of us - my Mom, my sister, her daughter, Rebecca and I.  Eliana will have to be a bit older before joining us.  One day though it will be fun to have her along too!

We went to Asheville for the week-end staying in a suite-style hotel close to the downtown area.  Our only firm plans upon arrival were to visit the Biltmore house on Friday night.  After settling in our room, we made our way to the Biltmore Village for dinner.  We chose to go to Neo Cantina for a yummy Mexican dinner.

After eating, we bundled up and headed to the Biltmore House.  We went on a Christmas tour held in the evening.  It was self-guided.  We had brochures to tell us about the rooms, though I wish we had known to get an audio guide.  Something new to do the next time!  I don't have any photos of inside the house as they weren't allowed.  It was stunningly beautiful!  So many decorations and so many trees!  We made guesses over dinner as to how trees there would be and Rebecca guessed the number correctly!    52

After touring the house, we visited the adjacent gift shops.  Lots of fun things to see. 

We talked over our plans for the next day and decided to go on a trolley tour.  We did this about 4 or 5 years ago when we toured Asheville with our History Group and it was great fun.  It was great again!  So many fun stories about the city and the people. 

What I had not anticipated though were the fun and interesting stories from my Mom!  She grew up in Asheville.  We saw the hospital where she was born, where she went to high school (its on the historic register), saw friend's homes, saw a place where she worked and also her mom and much more!  I'm so thankful to have been able to visit Asheville with her!

The trolley has a variety of stops.  You can get on or off at any of them and pick up the next trolley coming by.  Since it is winter, there was only 1 trolley running.  So if you got off, you had two hours until the next trolley came by.  We decided to make just one stop in the downtown area near the Grove Arcade.

We looked around at some of the shops.  There was a lovely knitting and yarn shop.

We saw some gingerbread houses on display.

I even found a statue that made my chuckle.  (Note the name on the label!)  We also visited a chocolate shop and various arts/crafts exhibits.

By now, we were getting hungry and began looking for a lunch spot.  We chose one Mom had been to before (and that Christopher had recommended to our group when we were here last too!).  What an excellent choice!  Southern cooking using organic and local foods.  YUM!  The Early Girl Eatery. 

I'm not sure this picture will do it justice, but oh my was this good!!!    It was fried green tomatoes layered with fresh basil and herbed goat cheese, topped with salsa and balsamic dressing, served over grits.  Some of the best food ever!

We then finished up the trolley tour learning more about historic Asheville.  I highly recommend this if you are ever in the area!  We decided to go back to the Biltmore House to see the grounds in the day time.  It was bitterly cold, but we ventured around for awhile and took some pictures. 

The views are amazing.  He owned all of the land for as far as he could see.  Such beautiful country!

And the house.  What an incredible work of architecture.  The details both inside and our are astounding.  I can't imagine all the planning it took to design and build this mansion.  What a treat to be able to tour it!

This is a view of the terrace just outside of the library.  This was one of my favorite rooms in the house.  I bet this is just lovely in the spring and summer.

We did not walk all around the gardens - too cold and not too much to see.  The ponds were obviously cold.  Did I mention how very cold it was there this afternoon?!

I'm so glad we were able to visit.  I'm hoping that one day I can go with our whole family during their homeschool days.  I'd love to the know the dates if anyone sees them.  (I've looked and can't find any for 2011.)

After a quick dinner at Subway, we headed to the theater to see Tangled.  Fun movie!

The next morning, the girls were delighted to wake up to SNOW!  They ran out to play in it.  Making a snowman too.

Then went swimming in the heated pool, ate breakfast and headed out.  We visited a mall nearby for awhile and then got on the road.  The snow wasn't bad, but none of us wanted to get stuck either.  (Not that it would have been a bad place to be stuck.)

Thanks Laura for planning such a fun week-end!  We are already looking forward to our next girls' week-end!

Blessings
Leslie

Happy New Year

Wanted to share a couple of sweet praises with y'all!

First - ANYA has a family commited to adopt her!  Isn't that exciting?!  (And no it is not us in case you were wondering.)  Its been almost a year since we first advocated for Anya with a giveaway last January.  Praying for a family to go get this precious little girl.  God has answered this prayer!  Her Mom is a sweet gal who is so excited about her!  I'm excited that I get to walk with this family as they go to get her.  I am honored to continue praying for Anya and to add her new family to my prayer list.  When they are able to go public with this news - and if they have a blog - I will surely share it!

Second - The Angel Tree ended yesterday.  This is a huge fundraiser for the children on Reece's Rainbow.  The goal this year was to raise at least $1000 for each child.  Each child had someone working to raise funds - but it isn't an easy thing to do!  As of the morning of December 31st, there were still many that were not close to their goal.

People continued to pray and to donate as volunteers added in the monies up until midnight.  Want to know the final result?

EVERY child is has met the goal!  Is that a sweet answer to prayer or what?!  Here is the Angel Tree if you want to peek for yourself.  (I'm not sure how much longer it will be up though!)

There is still more work to be done, but as always, it is God working through us.  To Him be the glory!  Praying that this new year sees the grants rising so that more of these sweet children will be home by next Christmas!  Will you join me in praying that more children will find families?

I'll post more later on our New Year's Eve activities.  I hope the start to your year is a fun one!

Blessings
Leslie

Baking and a Count-down Calendar

Rebecca loves to bake and she often includes Eliana in the fun.  (Isn't she a great big sister?!)

This year, Rebecca decided to try something new.  She made an edible countdown calendar for Eliana.  She made a variety of cookies and placed a number on each one.  She make a large board with many brads on them and hung a cookie from each brad.

One cookie each day until Christmas.  Isn't that cute and creative and clever?!  The picture below if for your FIAR moms so you can see what I'm doing.  LOL  (On the FIAR website)

Wondering if this is going to be a yearly tradition now too.  (And for those who are wondering, Eliana shared the cookies with her brothers.)

Blessings
Leslie

New Year's Eve

Looking for something fun to do?  Several years ago someone on the FIAR board posted a great idea for activity bags used to count down to the New Year.  I won't be posting my activities for this year until after the event.  (Don't want any of my kids to see it in advance - plus I love posting it with pictures.)

In case you want to see more of what I'm talking about, here are posts from the last 3 years of what we did.

2009 - The theme was monsters. 

2008 - The theme was spies

2007 - Our first year doing this with no theme.  Still lots of fun.  Look how tiny Eliana is in these pictures!

This is so much fun and my children are already looking forward to it!

If you do this, I'd love to hear more about your night - please share info and/or a link!

Blessings
Leslie