Cracking into 2013!!!!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted.  There is a reason I've not been keeping this up.  We had a pretty busy year last year.  I ended up with two surgeries, one after a year of health issues which I thought were all in my head but resulted in the implantation of a pacemaker at the beginning of December.  The cause of everything that led to that is to be dealt with this year we hope and pray.  We also moved mid year into our own home, which was something that surprised us completely as we had only been talking how neither of us felt it was a great idea for us and our family.  But God led the way, and opened the doors and even now I wonder how it all happened, but it is a wonderful and fabulous thing.  We are back in what we class as our home town, and are in a great spot where anyone can call in when they are out and about.  We have also started a home group here, and church is now just down the road.

Anyway, despite all the craziness of last year, it was a year that completely blessed us as a family, and this year I'm sure is going to be just as great or better.  God is certainly keeping us and guiding and teaching us.

PHFHG - Week beginning 14/1/13 - Unit 27

Shakayla finished up Unit 27 this week.  It has been such a joy to work through Preparing with her.  She has gained such independence since she started this. She finished reading Adam of the Road for extension history, and began Columbus for science.  She is continuing with R&S English 5.  She is working through Singapore Math 4B at the moment, but is working at her own pace as she has done most of it over the years, but I wanted to make sure she covered the bits she had missed, so I would imagine she will likely be starting 6A before the end of the year.

Shakayla working on grammar.

Shakayla's History Project.  A stained glass window.

BHFHG - Week beginning 14/1/13 - Unit 15/16

 

Bethany is now doing Bigger Hearts for His Glory, after we found she was floundering a little too much for my liking.  She has flourished with this guide.  I think she also likes the time that she gets with me.

 

She is working through R&S English 3 and is now doing Singapore Math 2B (again that was due to me wanting her to fill in bits she has missed).  She is nearly into Singapore Math 3A and is working well at her own pace.

 

We have been reading a wonderful storytime book called Rabbit Hill.  It has been a fantastic example of the fantasy genre, and we have talked about various things within the book, and why and how it is a fantasy book.  We both really love this time together.  She has been learning more about George Washington which has been really interesting for both of us, as I can't say I know a great deal about him.  She is just beginning to learn the states of the US and their abbreviations, not overly necessary for a kid from NZ but the skills she is gaining through this guide are too many to name, and too beneficial for her overall learning.

 

In science she has been learning about the creatures and plants in the woods.  It is just amazing learning alongside her, as much she learns, I do not know.   It just encourages my love of nature and of learning in general.

 

Bethany keeping Eli occupied while I was working with James.

They had a great time pretending to be the puppets.

  LHFHG - Week beginning 14/1/13 - Unit 18

 

James and I finished Unit 18 this week.  It was great to get back into it.  We were learning about the early Christian church.  It was great fun.  James is doing great with his reading and is progressing well through The Reading Lesson.  He is doing a terrific job with math and is doing Singapore Math 1A.

 

We really love the hands-on activities in this guide.  It really appeals to James style of learning.  He is also gaining incredibly on his ability to listen to stories and to verbalise what has happened in the story.  This is a really hard thing for James so any gains is a huge thing.  We are loving reading about Grandfather Frog and his adventures.

 

  James reenacting the prison falling down around Paul and Silas.

Anyway, overall it was a great start to the year, and we pray the rest of this year will be a relatively smooth run through these guides and into the next ones.