New Year's Eve!

This New Year's Eve was a little different for our family.  We had some sickness running through our family and while we all felt pretty well on this day, it was just too close to risk sharing it with friends.  So we celebrated with just our family this year.  

Some things were the same.  We still had bags to count down the hours.  This has been such a fun tradition and its one that we all really love.

The kids take turns opening the bags and this one made me laugh as you can see that someone can be a little bossy.  

Some of the items in the bags are the same from year to year.  Making noisemakers.  

One that we added last year that was a HUGE hit was silly string.  We definitely kept that one!

Lined up and ready to go!

It was hard to get pictures with all of the running around.

You can still see some of the fun that we were having though.

The laughter and the mess.

Everyone got 2 cans this year as we found that one can was just not enough!

We didn't decorate houses this year, but did finally pose for pictures.  This is Daniel and Rebecca's creation.

And here is Christopher and Isaiah's train.  

Sometimes a girl just has to find a quiet space to hang out with her ipad.  

In the past we have done pizza which we all love, but its just really hard to make GF pizza so we opted this year for a less labor intensive meal ... taco bar!  Yummy and pleasing to everyone!

We played a game of Quirkle.  Rebecca won easily.  

One of my favorites is the questions that are asked from year to year including a favorite trip and hopes for the upcoming year.

I like getting a family photo on New Year's Eve.  Its a fun way to start the new scrapbook each year.  This year, since it was just our family, we took the pictures using a timer.  Since nobody was watching our group, we couldn't see what was going on.  Two people were being silly.

Then it spread to two more.

They aren't coordinated yet though.

Then the word spreads and its most of us now.

Well, a majority at least.

Silliness is abounding and we are all laughing so much.

Eliana is not quite sure what is going on and Roger never did any of the silly faces.

The rest of us were quite tickled though.

OK, lets try to get one regular photo.

Everyone cooperating?

Now its back to silliness once again.

I loved this part of the night.  Maybe one of my favorite memories of the evening!  Just lots of laughter. We'll definitely have to do this again!

We watched the ball drop.  It was even more fun this year since we had been there just a couple of months earlier!

Holding onto our bubbly drinks and waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

Cheers!

 Happy New Year!

Praying that this is a year in which you know God's abounding love, grace and peace.  Praying that you would know His perfect plan and that you would follow His leading and call on your life.  Praying that His love would shine through in your words and actions.

Blessings
Leslie

Beyond FIAR Co-op: Marie Curie #4

This was our last co-op of last semester.  Our 4th one for Marie Curie.  We ended up swapping around our co-op lessons for the 3rd and 4th due to some sickness and conflicts so if you see that some things are out of order, that is why.  It all worked out beautifully though!

We started our time with a devotion and then discussion on the importance of family relationships.   The students took turns sharing a favorite family memory.

Next they split into two groups.  One worked on making a family tree.  A literal tree.  Painting it on canvas and then writing family names on leaves to add to it.

The other group wrote notes to people in their family sharing a favorite memory with them.  Really sweet!

Love seeing the creativity.

Some of us didn't finish up there, but this is something we can easily add to at home.

Next, was an exercise on listening to others and valuing their opinions, persistence and cooperation.  They were given instructions as a group and their goal was to get from point A to point B.  There were obstacles or decisions that had to be made along the way.

The obstacles kept coming and sent them back to the starting point.  This gave them many opportunities to get frustrated or to give up.

Thankfully there were also encouragers in the group that motivated and encouraged those who were weary.  (Isn't that a great analogy to life?!)

In the end, they did make it and they were most thankful!

Snack time!  Always a treat in our co-ops!  This time we had yummy foods that were from favorite family recipes - haystacks, sausage/cheese balls, pickles, dip and crackers.  Yum!  Another delightful day and a fun way to end our book!

We continued our learning at home and made our meal to go along with the book just a week ago.  It was a delicious crock pot dish with sausage, cabbage and potatoes, pickled cucumbers and boiled potatoes.

We enjoyed our Polish meal very much and the time we spent learning with this book.  I love that we have these lessons and shared memories.  I'm thankful that our family has so many sweet ones tied to stories that we love!

More coming soon on our next book ... The Saturdays!

Blessings
Leslie

Beyond Co-op: Marie Curie #3

I have two more posts on our Marie Curie co-op that I didn't get posted before the New Year.  We have started a new book and I will get to that soon, but wanted to share this one first.  I got behind on posting this one as this is the same day that Joshua ended up in the hospital.  He started the day with what we thought was a stomach bug.  :-(  It was so much more than that.  I hate that he missed this fun morning, but am so very thankful that we live in a time and place where he can receive the care that he needs!

This co-op focused on two topics - the Periodic table and composers.  What a fun morning with both teachers focusing on something that the loved and are excited about!

We started with science and looking at the structure of elements in their most basic form.

 We learned about how the periodic table is arranged in families and how to read the lines and rows.  Families were illustrated by the children in lines.

 This is a fun new book that a sweet friend gave me.  It was such a fun addition to our morning (and many other days since in our house!).  I highly recommend it if you are studying this topic.  It comes with a box of cards - one on each element - that you will see if future pictures in this post.

 We learned about various elements.  Not all of them but each child took a turn talking about the element and telling something about it.  In addition to an interesting fact, they showed a picture (the cards mentioned above) and said how many protons and how many electrons.  (This was important for their position on the periodic table.)

 A picture helped to visualize the drawing of each element.

 As each one was discussed, they were placed on the floor in their order.

 An "atom" snack.  See the protons and neutrons?  LOL

 After our discussion, you can see a bit more of out table with each white piece of paper being a different element.

 We also watched some videos on the various elements.  You can find the videos here.  http://www.youtube.com/course?list=EC7A1F4CF36C085DE1&feature=plcp

 Its a listing of all of the elements in alphabetical order.  The videos are short and fun to watch!

Next it was time to learn more about composers and music.  We learned about different periods of music and the composers in those periods.  We listened to different pieces.  Also learned about some of the instruments available at different time periods and how that influenced or changed music.  Very interesting!  I love that my children have this exposure to music here as we don't do much of this at home.

 We had a polish lunch.  So many yummy foods.  We really are spoiled by our foods at co-op.  I'm not complaining at all - loving it!

 Several stews and hot foods to go along with breads and vegetables.  Delicious!

 And before running out to play for a bit, they each had a time of review to see if they remembered what they had learned about the elements.

 Taking time to place the correct number of protons, neutrons and electrons on a selected element.  Good job!
 
As always, it is an amazing time!  Very thankful for this group!

Blessings
Leslie