Week 5: A "Normal" Week AND a Really Good Article!

While the kids are having some "down time", I thought I would take the opportunity to post about our week last week. It was a normal, good school week. Nothing spectacular and nothing awful to report. We made it through school well every day (maybe that is spectacular -- not sure) and had a lot of fun on Friday. Below are some pics of what we did Friday. Also, the last pic is of yesterday, so that's a bit of this week. But it was too priceless not to go ahead and post!

Before you look at the pictures, though, I thought I'd share this link to an old article that a friend shared with me. It deals with the generation gap between generations past and basically my generation. If things have gotten this bad with my generation (and this was written in 1998), then what's going to happen to the ones that we're parenting? I'm not saying I agree with every opinion in her article or her solutions (though I do agree with a good bit of it), but I think she puts some really great food for thought on the table. May God's children be open to His leading and not just be content follow societal norms as we raise our children -- no matter WHAT our educational choices may be...

We started off by working on our Valentine mailboxes. The kids are thrilled to be attending a Valentine's party with our homeschool group. Carter was a bit upset and thinking since he's not in a school building anymore, there would be no party. To his surprise, there will be a party! We are working on our love verses and talking about how romantic love and the love between mother and child, etc., are good and gifts from God but how God's love is perfect and never-failing. I am really enjoying the love verses and I think the kids are too.

We flooded our Nile River again. Both kids got a turn. We flood it once a week. As you can see below, the grass is starting to sprout up in some areas, showing us why it was so important for Egyptian farmers to plant in the silt left behind from flooding. We have learned some about the pyramids represented in our project as well. Do you know how many years it took to build the Pyramid at Giza (tomb of Khufu)? 20 YEARS of flood seasons with 100,000 men working a month at a time and being relieved each month. Whoa! We are thankful for construction equipment!!!

We had game afternoon. The weather wasn't very nice, so we played Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Hi Ho Cherry-O, and Hank BEAT ME for the first time at checkers!!!! Pictured above, Carter and Addie are enjoying building skyscrapers and knocking them down...

Carter got in some good time on his guitar...

This is from yesterday. We were working on history -- still in Ancient Egypt -- and Carter stopped and said, I need a towel and a rubber band so I can be an Egyptian! We completed the rest of school with him in his head-dress. Love it!

I also wanted to share two poems that Carter has learned. He has memorized several but these are my two favorites so far. Though short poems, they carry a heavy impact of meaning for me and I hope for him too:

Work:
(anonymous)

Work while you work
Play while you play
This is the way to be happy each day.
All that you do
Do with your might.
Things done by halves are never done right.

Hearts are Like Doors:

(anonymous)

Hearts, like doors,

Will open with ease

To very, very little keys.

And don't forget

that two of these

Are "Thank you, sir," and "If you please".