I'm Baaack!

I know I have been woefully neglecting this blog, but I think Facebook ate my brain. :D It's so much easier to post a quick status update blurb than to actually sit down and think about what I want to write.
The school year is winding down. After Easter break, Mattie asked if we could "just be done now" -- the weather started getting beautiful, the outdoors is calling to us, soccer practices started, and I wanted to be done with the books too. We have loosened our school schedule (or what there was of it) and have been doing more science experiments, more long-term research projects, gardening, and journal writings and less slogging through workbooks. I'd still like them to both finish their Math workbooks before the official end of the year, but I won't lose sleep if they don't finish every last bit.
I have grand plans of course for next year. The whole family went to Cinncinnati for the homeschooling conference, and I am filled with new ideas, new curriculum choices, and good solid Christian homeschooling advice from some really inspirational speakers! I'd like to start a family website and blog next year with Tim's help, one that the kids can blog on. It will be useful for computer and typing skills and still help them journal regularly. I'm going to switch Jonah's math program and add an elementary Spanish program for them both. I'd also really like to find a great Bible study to do with them. We have been winging it thus far, talking about character traits, some memorization and Bible copy work, reading aloud from the Bible, but I'd like to make it a more regular part of our school day.
Kaisa's year is flying by too...she just had prom and was in the school play. She really doesn't want to go home, but I keep telling her she has to mentally prepare herself for it. I think it will be a tough goodbye.
Here's some pictures to end with...enjoy!

Mattie's skating performance this spring....

Kaisa's prom dress

Garden ....snap peas popping up!

Mattie's new cast....

Jonah's Birthday Surprise! A Wii!

Kids and Activities

Just wanted to jot down some things about school and life and activities before I forget!
-The kids are really getting into our Egyptian history lessons...they will be sad to move on to something else. In the car a few days ago, Jonah said, "Mom, the Egyptians were realllly interesting people." I said, "I know, that's why we are studying them." He said, "They did all that stuff and didn't even have TECHNOLOGY!!" He just cracks me up. They especially were interested in the gross parts of embalming (like when Egyptians removed the brains with a brass hook through the nose before embalming...ewwww). They have also been into hieroglyphics and we made a replica of the Nile river that represented how the flooding each year used to water the crops grown close to the river -- here's some pictures:




-Soccer is going -- well, o.k. Jonah is a good goalie and is now starting to pick up some foot skills and be effective on offense -- in fact, he nearly scored last game and surprised us all! I think Jonah is really liking playing, but the coach quit, leaving me in "charge". Luckily we only have 1 more practice and 2 more games left, and then the end of season party. I'm half hoping that I can coach next spring...


-Mattie finally perfected her scratch spin -- she's been working on this off and on for a couple months, and really needed to "get" it to move on to the next level, and I think she's got it down:

She will be performing again in the Christmas program, both in a group and on her own as well.

And Kaisa is doing well - she's starting to make some friends, understanding her classes better, and doing some afterschool activities. She joined the Disc Golf club and is taking skating lessons as well. She is really an awesome kid, and it's nice to have her here.


That's all for now!

Hello, Blogspot, My Old Friend...

*cue up Simon and Garfunkel*

So, it's been crazy busy, and September is looong gone.
I just wanted to post a few pictures to update our blog.
Jonah has been playing soccer, not winning much, but playing his little heart out. It's good for him to have an activity of his own -- I'm sure he's getting sick of sitting at the rink watching Mattie skate.

We went Up North as planned, and the weather was a final gift before Fall hit...it was warm enough to swim and tube...and cool enough at night to take a sauna. It was a wonderful and relaxing weekend.




Then we came home to Homecoming week at BHS, and Kaisa really enjoyed participating in all the events and special dress-up days.

Soon it will be Kaisa's birthday and Tim's too! And of course, the kids are beginning to discuss their Halloween get-up....
:)
Sarah

Finnish Alphabet

Sorely Needed Update

It's been waaaay too long since I've written here, so I will try to bring everyone up to speed. This summer flew by, of course -- and got even speedier towards the end when we "acquired" a new family member. Three school years ago, we hosted an exchange student from Finland, and her sister was in the States this year. She was really unhappy with her host family in Indiana, and her mom emailed us to see if we would be willing/able to take her. So, after a mountain of paperwork and phone calls and emails, we picked Kaisa up on August 16th!

Then we took a whirlwind tour of every touristy place nearby, showing Kaisa the sights: Greenfield Village, Metroparks, Toledo Zoo, Tigers game, the mall, Crosswinds Marsh, etc...

I had planned on starting school early this year, but once Kaisa was here, we decided to follow her schedule instead, to make it easier on everyone. Not sure what happened to my enthusiasm, but it started really waning as school started getting closer -- I really was having back-to-school envy, worrying about whether I was capable, or whether I was "depriving" the kids of the school experience. I was also concerned about Mattie's developing attitude with me, and had several long talks with her about how she had to be willing to have me teach her things without eye rolling, sighing, and all those other oh-so-wonderful behaviors.
So I worried and I prayed and I talked with Tim...and worried some more.
The first day of school was....
Very nice! Kids were well behaved, really into checking out all the new stuff, receptive to the ideas I had for the year! Whew!
So long story short, things turned out better than I expected (as usual -- I think it's God's way of constantly reminding me that my worrying is completely ineffective and a waste of my time).
This Fall will probably race by too..we are planning a trip to the cottage for our 10 year anniversary at the end of September, and the kid's activities are all starting up again: soccer, skating, science at the nature center, and zoo classes.
I hope to update much sooner than I have this time! :)