A wonderful stay at the Historic Crags Lodge, hiking through the Rockies.  What an amazing trip!

So, it is Halloween… a perfect day for a swim, and then to let the kids open up a small Christmas present, which is a clue to a larger present. Guess where the King’s are going in December!

We have been busy!  Our trip to the Aquarium and Insectarium was canceled due to flooding in New Orleans, so we made our own aquarium and lady bug houses.  Well, that is at least part of the reason we did these projects.  We have 2 (going on 3 outdoor ponds in our backyard).  In one of these said ponds, are guppies.  Guppies are livebearers and are called the millionfish for a reason.  So, now we have a grow out tank for all of their babies!  As far as the ladybug houses.  Well, we have aphids in our garden… and ladybugs take care of the little pests!  The girls measured out all of the 2 and 3/4 in bamboo pieces, helped measure the frame for the box, and learned the names of different tools, and used the electric screw driver to help their daddy put the house together.  They then spray painted a stencil for the roofs.

Besides these projects, the Roo and Kbug practiced shooting a gun, and all the kids spent some time at the grandparents playing with the mini horses, and mini donkey. Unfortunately, Roo broke her clavicle when one of the horses took off while she was holding the lead, and threw her onto the ground.  She is a trooper and only cried for a moment.

As far as our formal studies.

MATH: Iz has been working on mental math strategies for adding larger numbers, using some Singapore methods.  I am pleased with her progress.  We used number discs, dice, hundreds board, and playing cards as our manipulatives this week.  Roo has been practicing 10 more, 10 less, 1 more, 1 less… but she really already understands this concept.  In fact, she watches me teach Iz sometimes, and then starts making up her own large addition problems.

READING: As far as reading, both girls are still thoroughly enjoying All About Reading and all of the activities and stories that go along with it.  Iz has been learning the importance of using adjectives and words to paint a picture in a reader’s mind, and one activity she did was to organize words that  meant slow or fast into columns.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Home-ec: They made strawberry Jello. Kbug measured the cups of water, and the girls prepared the jello.  They chose to do the fast version when you add less boiling water and ice and cold water.  They want to do it again the “real” way, and compare the two versions.

We also have worked on typing, handwriting, some piano and yoga.

On Wednesday, we had orientation for our Classical Conversations Co-op.  The girls are very excited, but we won’t start until September 6!

On Thursday… Professor B Math for the first time… we started at a pre-K level, just to get the feel of the different way of looking at numbers, and Kbug joined us – and loved it! The girls got bored because it was so easy – but it gets harder, and I gave them a sneak to peak of a future lesson.  This is not our primary math program.  Singapore Math US edition is our primary math program.

On Friday, we had our first day of Lighthouse Homeschool Co-op.  We attended this co-op for 2 years prior to the girls going to public school.  We are glad to be back.  The girls enjoyed their classes: home-ec, let’s get messy, IEW – All Things Fun and Fascinating,  cupcake decorating, and art.  Iz picked the cupcake decorating class, so she could sell the cupcakes.  That girl is an entrepreneur for sure!