A peek into our homeschool adventures

Homeschool has been going very well for us.  We have been at it for a month now, and I can already see big improvements in Gabriela's reading and writing skills.  She is a hard worker and is very excited when it's time to show our teacher all the work we have been up to.

Here she is on her first day of homeschool, with a special breakfast.

 My little homeschoolers

 Last month we learned about animals: fish and sea creatures, insects, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, and birds. During our insect week, we found a praying mantis, during bird week, we found and inspected an owl pellet in our front yard. It was full of fur, claws, molar teeth... super cool.  I am pleased to report that we didn't find any mammals during mammal week.

We did go on a guided insect walk at Tilden Park right after insect week. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and even caught a dragon fly so we could inspect it up close.

 We have been trying to get into a weekly routine to get us out and about and doing fun stuff.  On Mondays, we go to the library, Tuesday is cooking day, Wednesday we do science experiments, Thursday is field trip day - we have been to the Lawrence Hall of Science and to Little Farm to feed and watch the farm animals up and close.  Fridays are park day with other local homeschool kids and also ACTING class.  Gabriela has joined an acting class and will be in a performance of Mary Poppins in December.  She is so precious, memorizing her lines and practicing her songs and dances.

Here we are making pennies shiny again with lemon juice.

 Oh, and we got a few friends during bird week: four baby chicks that Gabriela has named Lavender, Scarlet, Pearl, and Sapphire.  We have two americaunas who will lay blue/green eggs, a Welsummer who will lay dark chocolate/copper color eggs, and a barred plymouth rock. 

 Gabriela and Sapphire

We are definitely newbies at this homeschooling business. But I think Gabriela is learning lots and we are having fun and spending time together.  Now we are learning about maps and landforms and bodies of water.  Fun times!

Gabriela's Birthday revisited

Yeah, that's right.  Gabriela's birthday.  Wasn't that in July?  Well, I am just now getting some pictures loaded from the camera. It's been a crazy few months. 

Here is my big girl at her Rainbow birthday party.

 And one of our tables before it was all set up at the park.

 She had to wear a rainbow outfit with matching rainbow barrettes.

 Easton had fun too.

Goofy cousins.

 Here's Weston, ready for the party!

 And Papa

 Getting ready to serenade the birthday girl

 So cute!!

 Cupcakes, anyone?

 Easton used this face successfully to get unsuspecting grown ups to hand over their cupcakes to him.

 Uncle Matthew and Auntie Banu.  We were so lucky to have nearly the whole family on both sides there to celebrate with us.  Along with Gabriela's friends and their families, this meant one giant party!

 Giving love to Auntie Theresa.

 Grandma and Grandpa treated us to dinner and by that time Easton had just had too much stimulation for the day. So they dropped us off and headed to Tucker's to continue the birthday festivities.

 This girl just moves too fast.

 Birthday girl with Grandma and Grandpa!

22 months

Easton Michael is now 22 months old. Two months away from being a two year old!  This little guy just oozes sweetness.

I know I said it last month, but Easton's language skills have totally blown me away (again) this month, even more so than last month. When I call him to me, he comes running saying, "yes, Mommy!"  When he receives something he requested, he always thanks you for it, "thank you, Mommy wa-wa".  He says, "my turn" very often and is stringing together longer and longer phrases. "Mommy, please read Eee-nee book. I want George."  And he basically repeats anything he hears. Tonight G was talking about blue whales so the next thing we knew, Easton was desperately trying to get daddy's attention and repeating, "Daddy blue whale" over and over again. 

Easton likes the little tricycle we got him last month, and he is really into playing with the water table out front. He is a coloring machine and a total animal lover. 

I realized this month that Easton has memorized many of the books we read him. If I pause mid sentence, he immediately fills in the blank.  His favorites are Curious George and any animal book he can get his hands on. Easton loves to pretend he is pulling the animals' tails in our books and yells, "ouch!" when he does. 

He kisses his own owies, reaches out to touch the moon, and yells his name and points when he sees his shadow. If you ask Easton how much he loves you he will stretch out his arms and say, "deees much!"

Just this month we discovered that Easton can, in fact, sleep through the night without nursing frequently. He now goes to sleep for naps and the night without Mama's milk. I do still nurse him once in the mornings. This is a huge deal for us. 

He also willingly sits on the potty but hasn't really done much on there other than roar his terrible roars and gnash his terrible teeth.  I bought him some big boy undies and let him try them on last night. When it was time to change to a diaper, Easton cried, "no undies off!" So we will see what happens. 

Easton is a good sport about homeschooling and keeps himself busy in the mornings by coloring, reading books, playing with money, and taking things off the shelves.

Whenever I tell him we can't do something or refuse his requests, Easton's response is always, "WHY????"