Favorite Gifts from Christmas 2011

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best gifts 2011, christmas gifts, TADTown

I was reading another blog, and the writer posted her family’s favorite gifts from the holidays. I thought it was fun to read what everyone loved the most, so I thought I would write a post on the same topic. I am always surprised at what my children’s favorite gift is, as it is often not what I expected.

Truffaut’s favorite gift this year was a giant angry bird stuff animal that his grandparents got him.

He also loved his new Bing Crosby fedora.

Autry had trouble deciding what her favorite gift was but in the end she choose her opera gloves, a necklace, and a ring. I think the fox ring is my favorite.

I was surprised by Decca’s choice. I bought him a blank book at Anthropologie, mostly on a whim. He loves sketchbooks, and this was a cool one. I didn’t realize how much he was going to love it, but he does. I think he feels challenged by all the blank pages.

He also enjoyed his Ood mask that he got.

As for me I had a wonderful Christmas that included many great gifts. I love my new Kindle Fire.

And my owl lamp.

I think my favorite though is this pillow my mom got me. I just love it!

7:30 on a Saturday Night

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family time, Homeschool, TAD Town, TADTown, Try X

I originally sat down at my computer with the intention of writing a weekly update, but I have no energy to do that right now. Instead of writing all about our week and posting a ton of pictures, I thought I would just take a few shots of what everyone is doing right now. It is around 7:30 on a Saturday night, and here is what my artistic, creative, crazy, homeschooled kids (and dog) are doing.

Autry is editing a movie that she filmed today with a friend.

Tru is working on a Try X game with his Grandpa using Unity and Blender.

Decca is working on a comic called The Hamurai.

And Kingsley is being cute as always.

That is our Saturday night. Not much going on, but it is nice. I am trying to appreciate these quiet nights because I feel like things will change soon. The twins are going to be teenagers in less than a year, and I know they will be spending more and more time out of the house, which is normal. But until then I will savor these times and look back on them with happiness.

 

 

A Month of Thanks – Day 12

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Decca, month of thanks

Decca sat at the piano today for over an hour just playing away. Not practicing his assigned work but making up his own songs. Piano is a creative outlet for him, and I think it helps him with his selective mutism.  He plays like this nearly everyday, and I love to hear his songs.

At a recital last year

Well I mostly love to hear his songs. Sometimes they go on forever, and they don’t sound that great. And sometimes he plays the first thing in the morning, and sometimes late at night, and sometimes all day long.

I am thankful for this though, even if sometimes I need to remind myself to be thankful. He is creative and passionate about his piano playing, and I am happy to nurture that love. I am thankful he found something to be so passionate about at such a young age. Hopefully he will remain passionate about his music as he grows up.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

Weekly Update

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month of thanks, weekly update

It has been a lazy week.

This is going to be an easy update because there is so little to update. The week has been hot (nearly 100 degrees), Autry has been sick, and I have been tired. This means that we practically took the week off, at least from book work.

The kids did do Time4Learning everyday, and that does cover math, language arts, and touches upon science and social studies. They also listened to SOTW in the car. They learned about Ancient Africa and moved on to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. Everyone also read daily the book of their choice.

They also attended all their classes, even though Autry was still a little under the weather. Autry went to choir, piano, science lab, and two drama classes. Tru went to piano (his first week), science lab, and Lego engineering. Decca went to choir and piano. We also attended a play (Peter Pan) through our charter school.

Outside the threesixty tent with Grandma.

I haven’t been able to keep up daily with a month of thanks posts, but I wanted to post today about something I am very grateful for.  The kids and I spent today at the homeschool campus, where the kids take many of their classes. This has been such a blessing in our lives. It is a little campus where the kids go to different classes all day, much like a school, but it is so much more. The parents and children can hang out all day. The kids like to play in the grass or on the playground. Decca likes to eat the fresh-baked goodies that they have, and he enjoys going into the study hall room and hanging out. Autry and Tru enjoy their classes a great deal, and we all love the feeling of community there. I am so glad to have discovered this resource this year, and I am very thankful to be a part of it.

Decca eating a lemon poppy-seed muffin at the homeschool campus.

The kids running and jumping at the campus today. I got some great shots of them that I wanted to share.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

A Month of Thanks – Day 9 & 10

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30 days of thanks

There is a debate among homeschoolers regarding public schools. Many homeschoolers (especially out here in California) enroll there children in virtual academies, such as Connection Academy and CAVA, or charter schools that cater to homeschoolers. Those enrolled in these schools still consider themselves to be homeschoolers because their children are learning at home. However there are many homeschoolers who disagree with this idea, and they believe it is wrong to enroll in any public school. These parents often do not agree that these children are homeschooling.

I understand both sides of the debate, although I am a little put off at how angry these public schools make some homeschoolers. Regardless of how some people feel I will tell you that my children are enrolled in a wonderful charter school, and they are still very much homeschoolers.

 

We’re homeschoolers I tell ya!

The kids and I went to see Peter Pan last night, and this brings me to what I am thankful for. I am thankful for being in our charter school because the school enables me to educate the children how I want to. The school pays for piano lessons, science classes, choir classes, and buys our curriculum, which I get to pick out. On top of that they have some great field trips that we can attend. Peter Pan was one such field trip. The kids tickets were paid for by the school, and my mom’s and mine were discounted.

Piano lessons paid by the school has led to Decca finding his passion.

Many of these things I would not be able to afford if it were not for Sky Mountain. I am very appreciative of the education my children are getting through working with a public school. They are growing up with the arts all around them, and I honestly could not ask for more. For that I am very grateful.

To see what others our thankful for visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

 

Day 8 – A Month of Thanks

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30 days of thanks

The day after Halloween I am always thankful for two things.

 

Roasted pumpkin seeds and

minature Hershey bars.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

 

A Month of Thanks – Day 6 and 7

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a month of thanks

I am thankful for the weekend, a time I can relax and not worry about much.

I am also grateful for the breaks I get on the weekend. The kids are out with their Dad today, and then they will spend time with their grandparents later. I love alone time, and I am forever thankful for it.

 

Ahh...solitude.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

 

A Month of Thanks – Day 5

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a month of thanks

I am thankful today for this:

and the books found at the N00KBook store.

After a long and somewhat trying day I am now cuddled in my bed (another thing I am forever thankful for), and I am reading Dracula for the first time ever. It really makes for a wonderful story this time of year. The air is cool outside, I am tucked in under many layers of blankets, and I am scared just enough to keep me reading. A perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day, and for that I am thankful.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

Day 4 – A Month of Thanks

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30 days of thanks, autry

I’m actually having a bad day, and I was dreading writing this post. I just wasn’t up to it, but then I heard Autry singing in her room. It made me very happy, and I thought to myself how thankful I am to hear her sing everyday.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.

 

Wordless Wednesday – AKA Day 3 – A Month of Thanks

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30 days of thanks, truffaut, Wordless Wednesday

I’m thankful for living next to a nature preserve.

I love waking up to this view every morning

(so does the cat)

and seeing flowers in the fall.

I love warm weather, falling leaves

grassy fields for the dog to play in and

taking walks with just Tru and me.

To see other posts from a month of thanks visit Daisy over at I’m Nobody! Who are you?.