Advent Calendar and Contest

If you haven't decided upon your Advent calendar activities this year, be sure to check out Focus on the Family's new resource:  Advent Calendar 

You can access this resource on the web, from your Ipad, facebook and there is even a printable version.  Even if you have lots of traditions, this Advent calendar is easy to use and has some great ideas.  We used Sunday's activity for our church service.  We adapted the original idea just a little by finding the materials through a scavenger hunt around the house and outside.  It was so much fun putting together our collage.  My husband and I had as much, if not more fun than the kids.  God, our Creator looked at all He made and declared that "It was good!"   Here's our finished product:

Focus on the Family is also having an Advent Contest that you can enter everyday, as you work your way through the Advent activities.  Click here for today's entry form!

This is an awesome resource and we can't wait to use this to help us refocus our attention to the reason for our celebration.  The Greatest Gift ever given:  JESUS!

Fall Art

We had a unit week before Thanksgiving.  These are usually intensive history units, but this time we did lots of art, Life of Fred, Hands On Equations, swim lessons, co-op, reading, computer time and various other things.    Abstract Turkeys 

Faux Leaf Batik 

One afternoon, we had friends over to learn how to make rolls and join us for some art. 
Leaf Drawing
  Warm/Cool Color Leaf Art 

Tissue Paper Watercolor Leaves

Oil Pastel Overlapping Leaves

Swim Lessons

Tera and Daniel have been taking swim lessons at a local college for the past seven weeks.  It's taught by college students under the supervision of the college professor.  It's an opportunity to swim at a very inexpensive price.  Daniel was not able to swim at all last year before lessons and has shown a great deal of improvement.  Tera has done a whole lot better as well.  I personally like swim lessons because of the social interaction I get in the bleachers.  I knew quite a few of the moms this time and had a great time talking and learning new things.  We also met a really nice family for the first time that we look forward to getting to know more. 

Today was the last day and although, we enjoyed it...I'm glad it's over.  This week is basically my last crazy week before the holidays.  I have something everyday this week including Saturday and Sunday...but come Monday, I'll be alright, come Monday, I'll be...sorry, got a little distracted.  Anyway, after this week, normal life will again reign in our household.  Advent has begun, our trees are up, we've started Jesse Tree and I'm ready to slow down, a lot. 

It is Good!

New

New friends in new places...

New play...

New pajamas...
 New hobbies...

Thanksgiving

We had some friends over for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time.  Lots of food and desserts and good company. 

Our Thankful Tree was brimming over with praise and gratitude from ourselves and our friends. 

Here's our list:

Wealth and honor come from God

Thank U for sending your Son to die on the cross

My family

God's faithfulness

My chicken, Be Black

God's love endures forever

My family

Cale

God formed the mountains and seas with His own hands

God's strength and power than strengthens us

Friends

God is above all gods

Kitten

Friends

Rylan

Home

My new cat, Bill Jr.

God's glory and splendor

My family

Thank U for Redwall

Larkin

Cohen

He is our maker

Books

He is good

Brother

books

Swim lessons

My family

Thankful for God

That He is our salvation

Pepper, our cat

Michael

Thankful for the Vilaires' friendship

God's righteousness

God's refuge

God and Jesus

Animals

Faithfulness that Continues through all generations

God has called us "HIS"

Mazey and Pepper

Miss Sarah

Homeschooling

Rohan

books

God made us

God's love

I'm thankful for all my new friends

Time alone

Pirates who don't do anything

Car

Lakin

Rolling down hills

family

food

God's goodness

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His love endures forever!



Thankful Tree

Check out our version of The Thankful Tree at Friendsville House!

All about Bats

We met with our co-op to talk about bats.  We started with the life cycle and basic facts about bats.  It was fascinating to think about how important something as gross as a bat is to various ecosystems.  How God designed bats is truly amazing. 

Sniff test:  The kids had to match 2 cotton balls that smelled the same.  In essence, they had to find their "baby" just like a mother bat finds her---by smell.  It was harder than it sounds. 

Beep-Buzz game:  The "bat" wears a blindfold and says "beep" to which all the "insects" answer "buzz".  The bat tries to find an insect, who then becomes the next bat. 

Learning about echo-location

Measuring out the largest bat, smallest bat and all the bats found in Tennessee.

Playing the bat version of "Red Light, Green Light", which was "Nighttime, Daytime"

Making caves by wrapping clay around sugar cubes and soaking in water.  The water dissolves the sugar leaving a hole, which demonstrates the way caves are formed.   The best part:  playing with all those bowls of water. 

It was a very fun day with lots of great activities.  For more check out The Forest Room.