Updates for the 2016-2017 School Year

Oh, my! Where to begin!

First, let me say that we are going into our 9th year of using Tapestry of Grace as our primary curriculum. Each year it just gets better, deeper, and easier to manage and I am just thrilled with everything that the kids are learning.

We'll have TWO Dialectic students this year, Krypto in the 8th grade and Gwangi in the 6th grade. Sissi will be moving up to the Upper Grammar level and will be in the 4th grade. We're studying the 19th Century in depth this year and I cannot wait! I know I always say that Year 2 is my favorite, but I truly love them all...and Year 3 is a super close 2nd place since I adore all things Jane Austen. The beginning of the 19th Century is an amazing time period to study and learn about (and there are lots of great movies to show our kids!)

If you aren't familiar with Tapestry of Grace (TOG) or have questions about how I use it, you can read my series of blog posts about it here. Also, if you are wondering how we made some changes when Krypto moved up to the Dialectic level 2 years ago, you can read about that here.

In other areas of study, we have been blessed to find some great curricula that are still working for us! Math U See has been a favorite, we still like Berean Builders and Apologia Science, Critical Thinking Co.'s logic workbooks are wonderful and last year Krypto did a semester long Memoria Press Logic curriculum that was very good as well. Sequential Spelling has been going along beautifully for all the children and we're on our last year of Bauer's "First Language Lessons" and "Writing with Ease" for Sissi.

So, what are our new additions for the coming year. Well, Gwangi will add in watching the 10 minute "CNN Student News" each school day. We have really enjoyed this past year having lunch time conversations with Krypto each day about current events. I think it will be neat to add in another kid, especially with it being an election year. We might not always agree with the viewpoint that CNN holds, but it is a great opportunity to listen to the other side and have some family discussion time about what "we believe." I have also found that the topics discussed are right on time and target for the middle and high school age groups.

Krypto will be adding in two new things this school year. First, he is branching off and doing Science independently this year. We've always done Science as a family, so this is a big step for all of us. To help him along, and let him see a different teaching style, I have registered him for an At-Your-Own-Pace (AYOP) class on the Virtual Homeschool Group (VHSG) and he'll be taking Biology using the Apologia curriculum. He and I sat down and watched a sample lesson and he is really excited about it. We still have to figure out if I will do all of the labs when we return to the US next spring or if we will sign him up for one of the Landry Intensives...unfortunately, they aren't in NC when we are there this upcoming year.

The other new thing that Krypto will be doing is the One Year Adventure Novel, and he'll be doing it alongside Indy who has always said he wanted to write a book, but has never gotten around to it. I am praying this is the motivation they both need to put all of the many ideas they are always talking about, down on paper. You might want to be on the lookout in the Summer of 2017 for a couple of new books to read.

The whole family will be adding in Russian studies, 3 days a week, using the GPA method. We will also be continuing 2 days a week with our Kyrgyz language teacher so that we don't lose what we have worked so hard for over the past almost 2 years. We won't be putting in nearly the hours with Russian that we did with Kyrgyz, so it will be a slower process, but I pray that in about 2 years, we'll be pretty conversational.

Also, for our family devotionals, we'll be studying chapter by chapter through Ephesians, Philippians, and Titus this coming year....if we have time, I will add in James, which is one of my favorite books.

A few other links for free and fun things we do...

Art History with Khan Academy
Art for Kids Hub
Scripture Typer
Typing Web

Is there anything I didn't cover? Let me know and I hope you know that I love to read all of your posts and blogs about how you do your learning also, whether at home or in a school.

Gwangi is 11!

On May 9th, Victory Day from WWII, our very own Gwangi turned 11! Like with his brother, we celebrated on a Saturday as a family and met with some friends to have pizza and play games.

Sissi made him his very own super hero costume...

complete with bandana and cape.

He got some Legos that we had been holding onto for years. He was thrilled to get this old Batman set!

He also got some old Disney comics that we had brought with us from the US.

This was his combined gift from the grandparents and cousins...he really enjoys Minecraft and all the building and creativity it affords him.

After school, on his birthday, I took him out to our park area and shot a few pictures. What a handsome boy.

And sometimes, he's a bit shy.

But, I love those double dimple cheeks of his!

My handsome and sensitive boy! Growing up to have a precious heart that loves others, volunteers his ideas and help when needed, plays so beautifully with his sister, and talks the ear off of his older brother. They love to exchange ideas for books they want to write or games they want to design. He's a perfect middle kid and we love him so very much.

April in the South

In April, we went with another family that runs a car rental business to the south of Kyrgyzstan. We were able to visit Batken, Osh, Isfana, and many of the surrounding areas. Ah-mazing trip!

One of the reasons for the timing of the trip was that the 2nd week of April is the height of the Aigul blooming. It is a lovely, orange-red flower (seen recreated in metal, at the top of this bench) that only grows in this particular area of Kyrgyzstan.

We were able to hike up this hill to see the blooms, this was toward the beginning, it got a bit steeper the further we traveled up the hill.

This is the lovely Aigul. It is protected here in Kyrgyzstan and so you cannot pick it and take it with you...pictures are the way to go!

My kids, sitting amongst the Aigul blooms.

Family shot!

This is around the reservoir outside of Batken, leading west toward Isfana.

We camped out one night, in the mountains south of Isfana, up against the Tajikistan border. It was COLD! Next time, we'll be sure to bring some warmer sleeping bags and clothes, particularly for the children!

At least on the morning after, we were all still friends and loved each other, though a little tired from being up most of the night rotating kids in between us to keep them warm!

Father and son!

In the rocks and caves around Batken are lots of beautiful rocks and even a few fossils.

These next couple of shots remind me of my home back in Colorado.

The striations and bright colors are just lovely.

We took a little hike into Kanigut cave...but we didn't find any of the fabled treasure.

A traveler with his milk on his donkey.

Watching them make their bread in their oven in the ground.

Talking to one of the local wisemen.

Some old abandoned forts are in this area; used for fighting as recently as 100 years ago.

Hospitality in this area was amazing...lots of good food and tea and conversation was to be had.

Part of the road that we drove on in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

Another tower and mausoleum outside of Osh.

The view over Osh, from Sulaiman Too.

The bazaar in Osh.

The view of Sulaiman Too as we drove away.

A new business and some spring trips around KG

As our language visa came to an end in January, we decided to go ahead and start a new business here in Kyrgyzstan. We are so thankful for all the pieces that fell into place this spring and really, over the past couple of years, to start Taigan Expeditions...our very own educational consulting and cultural tourism business!

This is our new business logo! You can check out what we have to offer by going to our FB page or our website at Taigan Expeditions.

As we began our new tourism business, we got busy checking out more of this amazing country. We are even more in love with the people and land here after our trips and would be thrilled to have you come out and enjoy many of the things there are to see and learn here.

We took a day trip with some friends...a hike in the snow!

The kids took their staves on the hike.

They enjoyed a few snow ball fights and getting wet crossing the creeks.

Finding rocks and bones in the creek.

Then, Indy took some trips with other local businessmen. This trip was to the Naryn region to see what the hunting and tourism opportunities might be. They loved the frozen lakes....especially driving their vehicles across the frozen water.

This lake had some caves they were able to explore.

Eating in a roadside cafe on a mountain pass in Naryn.

Coming back home, the clouds settling in at sunset over a mountain pass.

In March, Indy and Krypto took a few days to head to Almaty, up in Kazakhstan. It doubled as a business visa run and also a couple of days away for the guys to have special time together to chat about Krypto turning 13 and what that means. They were able to do the Family Life "Passport to Purity" kit together and we'll make this a tradition for our other two children's 13th birthday as well.

Krypto, and the above picture is Indy, in front of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Almaty.

In April, Indy took a trip out east, to Saruu. There are some amazing options for fishing out there and seeing the local goat polo (ulak tartysh) team perform their national game.

Indy with the team, after playing the game.

An action shot of the riders fighting over the dead goat while they play the game.

Following the game, they were able to take a horse trek through a red rock canyon to some natural hot springs that feed into a sort of Turkish bath. It was nice to relax and enjoy the steam after the game and the horse trek.

Krypto is a Teenager....ahhhh!

Our oldest is 13 years old! We celebrated on 2 days...one day on the weekend so he could have friends over to play a board game and then a bit on his actual birthday day.

His little sister made him a gift and even decorated the box for packaging.

Gwangi made him a paper board game of his own design.

His gift from Mom and Dad was a board game that he wanted. I had picked it up in the US last fall when Sissi and I were back for my sister's wedding. He was surprised and thrilled about the game.

His one request was to have his two friends over to play a game...they picked "Onward to Venus."

Chocolate Lava Cake for the special day!

On the morning of his actual birthday, we made this list together over breakfast, "13 things we love about our Krypto!"

My boy, outside our apartment, in the park.

Being silly and adorable.

Loving life! This boy is incredible and kind, has a heart for others, and can always be depended upon to help in whatever way we need it. Cannot say enough how much I love him!