On Friday Micah and Joy participated in a homeschool field day with roughly 60 other kids. Noah and Amber stayed by my side while I helped lead the 6-year old team. There was tug-of-war, 50yd dash, 100yd dash, long jump, relay race and long jump. It was a great day to be out in the warm sun and exercise their athletic skills!
Joy in the 50yd dash (on the right, blue skort)
Water break.
Micah was on the green team (7-8yr olds).
I helped with the blue team (6yr olds), Noah was my helper (in front).
Red team (5yr olds) doing a team cheer.
Micah getting up after long jump, moms measuring distance
(he tells me it was 98...we're not sure if that was centimeters or inches) ;-)
Micah in the 50yd dash (in the middle, green shirt, baseball cap).
We have had some full evenings and weekends of garden "stuff" since we planted our seeds in a peat tray 5+ weeks ago. Scotty and I have dug out a garden plot, we transferred our seedlings from a peat tray to planter cups with potting soil, we started composting, and just last night we began to plant in the ground!! Everything provides such an opportunity to acquire new skills and learn so many new things, and the kids are right there with us learning and lending a helping hand.
Busting up sod (Scotty used an edger to make a grid)
ROCKS - we dug all these out of the ground.
Micah being helpful watering the seedlings in the peat tray...
...Middle two being helpful playing amiably, and Amber sassing her heart out.
Seedlings transplanted from peat tray to cups.
Going outside for sun...
...All tucked in at night in case of frost.
Scotty made a 2-compartment compost bin from pallets.
Our neighbor helped us get a free load of rich and fertilized top soil.
Putting our first plant in the ground - cherry tomatoes!
Girls chilling out while Scotty and I plant.
Tomatoes, spinach, carrots, green beans and broccoli are in!
It's official - Amber's walking! She's been taking steps for about 3 weeks or so, which steadily increases day by day.
Though she's a "big kid" now (at least she thinks so) and toddles solo as best she can, she also walks around the house with this lion toy and loves it!
Micah just finished his first year of Boys' Club at our church. It's been a great Wednesday night program for him - Bible study, hang out with other goofy boys, and learn some shop skills. The year ended with the "Pinewood Derby" this last Sunday after the morning service. Though Micah didn't win any of the races, it was a good afternoon.
Micah's "Mustang" (his own design and paint job).
Sneak peak of the boys/girls club cars before the Derby.
Potluck lunch first (my favorite part) ;-)
Announcing the boys/girls club cars.
Audience waits in suspense as the track is readied.
His first Derby car!
Joy and Noah watching the Derby from the end of the track.
Micah watching his fellow friends race their cars.
Our homeschool group had their grand finale, the "Student Showcase," on Monday night. Here are some snapshots and video clips of our presenting students, Micah and Joy. :-)
All the classes opened with "The Orchestra Song" (Joy is in the front row, right side, in a dress and pink cardigan. Micah is behind her a couple rows in a blue shirt).
Some of Joy's class presentation:
Some of Micah's class presentation:
Scotty had to take Amber out of the sanctuary for a bit because she was, well, being a mite loud and feisty. :-) Scotty took her outside and captured some funny video of her.
Micah and I a have been quizzing each other for the past few weeks for "Memory Master" last weekend where we recited all the content for the 24 week program (7 subjects). He was excited and nailed it, I was nervous but thankfully passed as well. :-) He keeps me sharp! We got a certificate and bubble necklace for it, hehe.
On Sunday after church we made a family trip to Home Depot to pick up some seeds, peat trays and soil. That's right, we're going to attempt our first ever full-on garden! (We've only attempted a tomato plant and a couple herbs in the past). We got all our seeds in peat trays and have them keeping toasty in our sunroom until they sprout and we can get them outside in the ground after the last spring frost (hopefully in a month).
Hydrating the peat trays before placing in the seeds.
Opening up the hydrating peat pods with toothpicks.
Amber is quite the determined, persistent little lady. She has a drivenness and curiosity about her which makes for some early milestones (i.e. crawling and climbing) and funny findings.
