Century Christian Academy

{I named our homeschool last year. Century Christian Academy. We don't have to name our homeschool in this state, but I had to have a name for a couple of the programs we use (an online keyboarding class, and the Pizza Hut BookIt program).}

We're 8 weeks in to our school year (wow!) and about to take a break next week, for about a month, while we adjust to Baby 4's presence (who, by the way, is taking his/her sweet time like all the rest of them did!) I am really loving the Heart of Dakota curriculum we're using, and I like the reading curriculum (All About Reading). Meredith is reading beginner books now! And Russell is halfway through the first grade reading curriculum! I am not too crazy about Singapore math, but I suppose it's doing the job okay so we're sticking with it for this year at least.

Here are some pictures of our first weeks of school:

Combining art, science, and Bible: making quails (Exodus 16) and flying them south for their winter migration!

We took a field trip to a farm and went on a 30-minute covered wagon ride to learn about the history of the farm.

Combining art, science, and Bible again: painting an oat field (Ruth 2) and talking about different types of grains and what is made from them.

Math with Dad was a nice change for everyone!

Meredith helping Paige learn about yellow:

I've been giving Russell some extra writing assignments (since the curriculum doesn't have a lot and he needs practice.) He loved drawing a dot-to-dot dinosaur and writing about it!

There are so many games/books/shows/etc about school, and few about homeschooling, so we buy them when we get the chance :) Bonus: this is obviously a Monopoly game and Jason has collected Monopolies for years!

Art/Bible: painting "mortar" on the brick walls of Jericho.

And lastly, today was the first day of school for public schools around here - so naturally we celebrated our flexibility as homeschoolers by going to Dunkin Donuts in PJs at 8 am! :)

I'm really happy with everything we've accomplished so far this school year! Even though our break is coming up, we'll still be doing a little school here, and the kids are starting their programs (Bible study, Russell's homeschool classes at the co-op, and the girls' once-a-week preschool) in mid-September, so it won't be a full break - which is probably a good thing!

Short Aunt and Uncle Visit!

We were so thankful to see Uncle Jef and Aunt Sejal this weekend!

On Saturday morning, we met them in the city to check out the splash pad at Millennium Park and eat a picnic lunch. It was a very hot day, so we were all glad to stick our feet in the water! (Someone had an attitude about taking photos that day, so only 2/3 kids are in this pic.)

On Sunday, they took the train to our house and we had a nice time playing, eating lunch together, and playing games.

It was a quick visit, but we were so glad to see them! The kids were asking the next day when we could see them again :) Thanks so much for visiting with us!

Paige is 2!

Well, this is a little bit of a late post, but better late than never!

Paige turned 2 on July 18!

Because we are a "big" (I guess) family, we've decided that only 2 kids per year get a birthday party. Next year will be Paige's year :) She definitely didn't mind! She loved all the attention, the singing, the presents, and the cupcakes!

She didn't quite know what to do with the candles - she had to have Jason help her blow them out!

Paige walked around all day singing "happy birthday" - at first to everyone, then just to herself :) We went to a church picnic in the afternoon, which was a nice (HOT) way to spend the day. 

Here's Paige's 2 year old photo that I took at the end of June:

Goodness gracious, she's so adorable!

All About Paige at 2:

Favorite Drink: juice

Favorite Food: bananas

Favorite Book: it changes daily

Favorite TV Show: Strawberry Shortcake

Most-Used Phrase: "No, I don't want to" (well, she is two, after all)

Favorite Playtime Activity: Paige loves baby dolls, MegaBlocks and Duplos, and following the big kids around :)

Favorite Outdoor Play: swinging, and riding around on her 3-wheeled scooter

Height: 34.8 in tall (75th percentile)

Weight: 29 lbs 2 oz (78th percentile)

Paige counts to 20; speaks in full sentences (and has since maybe 20 months old); is sociable and easily adjusts to new people and places. She loves to cuddle, read, and sing. She is such a fun, sweet, blessed part of our family!