1st Grade...where did the time go?

 I can hardly believe that Annabelle is 6.  I remember so sweet and little very vividly.  She's still sweet.....and quite a stinker. lol

 Anyway, I've been adding some geography to our Sonlight Core A.  I figured since the next 2 years after this will be focused on history of the world that this year we will learn light history and light geography and then for 2nd and 3rd grade we will delve more heavily into it.  With that said....we aren't doing things as chronological as Sonlight has it in their IG, but I made it more 'area' based (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceania).

We started in the US/North America (because that's where we live). Among other things we learned a little about Native Americans and did some fun crafts.

We learned a little about how they lived.....

 and that they made their clothes from animal skins.

Astronomy is going pretty slow.  I just haven't figured out how to fit it into our schedule yet so as of now we are doing it as we have the time (which may end up how we fit it into our schedule).  We melted chocolate to see how hot the sun can be.....

 We also made sun prints on construction paper.  Kind of fun to see!

 We had Zak help demonstrate that the earth revolves around the sun.....

 ......and that it rotates while it revolves.  She enjoyed this a lot. :)

Working on math.  She is still doing parts of Horizons....but we will be starting Math U See very soon. (As soon as I find the time to figure it out....yeah....time, about that.....)

 Working on All About Reading....she really likes this curricula....and I do too.

 FINALLY she lost her other front tooth.....it's been loose for a good 8 months!  I never knew teeth could be loose for so long.  Really cute!

Happy blogging!

jess_hak

The Apple Pie Tree

 We wrapped up our Aa week (well, week and a half).  Our book for the week was The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall.  The kids really enjoyed this book.  My trays are little toned down this year, but if you would like more Apple tray ideas see this post from last year.

 The Aa sensory bin doubled as a tray this week.  This was Silas' favorite.  He found the letter A beads and covered the Aa on the apple which is from 1+1+1=1 .

 Counting the As

Stamping tray (picture is also from 1+1+1=1)

 I have no idea where the big A stamp went....still can't find it.  Silas was kind of bummed about that. lol

 File folder game.

 Play dough mat.  This little guy LOVES his play dough.  He will sit and play with it for a very, very long time.  Makes this mom pretty happy when she needs to keep him busy.  The play dough mat is from Homeschool Creations .

 This activity was all child led.  I was pretty amazed to see Silas' ideas.  We started off with him picking a coloring sheet from the Google image search I did for A coloring pages.  He colored two of them.  Then he decided he wanted to cut apples.  I quick made up a printout using clip art so that he could cut apples.  Finally he decided he wanted to glue the apples onto the pictures he colored.  What a great activity that he thought up all on his own!

 We have done this stained glass apple craft a few years in a row.  It is one of my favorites.  Contact paper, tissue paper and voila....done.  This year we used construction paper and I had them tear it themselves.  It took them longer and they enjoyed it.

 I saw this cute idea somewhere randomly online and it just popped into my head one day when the boys were asking for something to do.  Their hands/arms are the trunk and branches.  They used their fingers to make the apples.  Really cute!

 Our school door decorated with apples and the apple trees.

 Asa also worked on his All About Reading letter Aa lessons this week.

 They had the most fun making the apple pie.  This is a HUGE accomplishment for me as I am not normally in the kitchen (I really, truly dislike cooking and baking).

 They LOVED cutting up these apples.

 Before it went in the oven.

 This isn't A themed stuff, but it includes more of what Asa did this week. 

In math he worked with pattern blocks......

 And started learning about graphing.  We graphed boys vs. girls in our family....however, it is a tie so it was kind of anti-climatic. lol

In Sonlight this week for science we've been discussing the months of the year and we started with winter.  He painted snowflakes using doilies as stencils...... 

 Silas has to join in on all things painting.

 We also froze water.....and melted ice.  Funny little face.  Love him.

 That was our week (and a half).  Happy blogging!

jess_hak

Linking up to Preschool Corner.
Linking up to 1+1+1=1

1 Month and counting.....

It has been 1 month since this little one entered the world. What a month!  I was so blessed to be able to have help for 2 weeks after I came home from the hospital before I was on my own with 4 littles.  By the grace of God we have been doing much better than I ever expected!

Day 2 of life....so sweet and sleepy.....so wonderful to be in a hospital and be waited on hand and foot with a nighttime nursery where all I do is feed the little sugar plum and send her back to the lovely nurses so they can put her to sleep.  lol  I enjoy my hospital stays can you tell?  They're sort of like a mini-vacay for me. :)

Awake and alert after a nice warm bath.  Finally starting to like them a little more.

I am LOVING cloth diapers.  Seriously, why did I never use them before??!!

We took a trip to Grandpa and Grandma's cottage over labor day weekend (above).  We learned that Eliza may have a hard time not sleeping somewhere familiar.....even after only 3 weeks of life!  I must say she really enjoyed snuggling with Grandma all weekend though....and slept very good in her arms. :)

These kiddos absolutely adore her.  Silas will continue to hold her even if she is crying as loud as shecan.

Asa asks to hold her all. the. time.  AND at the most inconvenient times (like when she's eating or fussy)...maybe he does it on purpose so he won't have to hold her....but looking at this smile I really doubt it.

Annabelle is the BEST big sister and is so excited by how much she's changing everyday.  She can hardly wait until Eliza is moving around and able to play more.  She drew a beautiful picture of them  playing in a field of flowers under a rainbow.

1 Month.

Pretty, pink and precious.

What a fun month it has been.  I wish she could stay little and tiny forever.  Bittersweet because this is the last time we will be here with our own little one.  Just trying to take it one moment at a time and doing my best to treasure every single second (even when it's frustrating).  Looking forward to the smiles and cooing that the next couple months have in store for us.  Happy blogging.

jess_hak