Game Day!

Finally!

Indy has been waiting to get a group of people together to play an all day game...something other than the normal board game...something that we would call a strategy or a "war" game.

Last year he offered an elective class at HOPAC and had several guys sign up, they played "Soldier Kings."  It was quite a bit of fun and they had asked him to do something like it again.

Today was the day!

We brought out "Here I Stand!"  This is a fascinating game that covers the political and religious conflicts of the early 16th Century, one of my favorite periods in History.  You can have up to 6 player, which they have today!  You can play the Ottomans, the Habsburgs, the English, the French, the Papacy, and the Protestants.  The game is not "fair"....each player has "realistic" set ups economically, politically, and environmentally so that you are learning the History of the period at the same time as you are playing a game and having fun.  I love this kind of stuff!  I love having the kids over and seeing how they get into their characters and have fun with each other.  They already asked, at lunch time, if we can do this again in January.  I think the answer to that will be a resounding "Yes!"

Tesfaye, so serious....thinking, I'm sure...

The board at lunch time.

More serious contemplation.

He just told me I couldn't put it on Facebook...I'm not, I'm putting it on my blog!  Did he miss his role in life as a stand up comedian?!

Rapt with attention...and humor!

Making some plans and some moves.

Look at that rule book and all those counter pieces.

More planning and figuring out the system.

Vincent, making his move, while Ben looks on...

HOPAC International Day - 2012

Today was International Day again....  I had downloaded the pictures from my camera last night, but thought my battery was good.  Alas, in the first few minutes of the morning, the light started to blink red.  I still got some great shots, though no where near as many as I could have with a full battery.  If you want more pictures, you can check out last year's link below.  Things were different this year, of course, but it will give you a good idea of what was there.

http://www.whateveristrueandnoble.blogspot.com/2011/11/annual-international-day-at-hopac.html

Sissi, on Bekah's back...waiting for the fun to begin.

Oh, yes....our British friends went above and beyond in the costume department.

Beautiful Grace!

Tanzania starts the parade and the US ends it...we have the two largest groups, but the school has 40 different countries represented.  We played each of their National Anthems and had a Parade of Nations.

Some of our friends from Zimbabwe and also Jane, with her Papua New Guinea bag.

I love the clothing and the dances from India.

Very creative dance!

Oh my, they were so wonderful...their agility and balance were something to be "wow"ed at.

I didn't get a good shot, but a moment later, they let go of each other's hands and balanced...one head on top of the other head.  Incredible!

The last week in pictures

Tomorrow is International Day at HOPAC, so we'll need to be up early and out the door before 7am...not super easy for this homeschooling mom that likes her morning cuddle time and cup of tea.  We'll get there though.  Before I sign off for the night, I needed to get my camera ready for tomorrow.  SO, here are the pictures that were on my camera from this past week for your enjoyment and amusement.

More Lego plans from Gwangi.  This is a Dino camp that is on separate islands, all connected by ramps.  The floor is the water.

A look straight on...I think they caught one!

The guys are on the watch, making sure that dino doesn't escape.

The boys are both doing NaNoWriMo...The National Novel Writing Month.  We got them each a notebook and they're writing stories, and time to time, poetry.  Here is a photo of Krypto sharing his poem for the day.

Gwangi, setting up some Legos.

Happy, our gardener, playing some games with Krypto, while Smokey looks on.

UNO!  Sissi and Krypto love Uno and taught Happy how to play this week.

Gwangi isn't a big Uno player, so he sat by and worked on his story while they were playing.

Working on his math. Gwangi started Lesson 18 in Beta (Math U See) this week. Over half way done with the book.  He's doing so well!

Sissi, working on her Logic/Thinker Doodles coloring book.

Krypto, working on typing up the final copy for his Andrew Jackson report.

We've had great success teaching him how to type via www.typingweb.com  it's free and he just does a little bit every day.

Our Electoral College Final Results maps....I think this was before Alaska and Florida gave their final nod.

Working on our "calling cards" as we're studying early Victorian England.

Gwangi's personal calling cards.

Sissi's calling cards...all cut up and ready to be handed out tomorrow, "Just like Laura and Mary in the Little House books."

Smokey is feeling better

Our dog had a swollen lip, and we had to call the vet in to give him a shot of antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory.  After his shots, he and Sissi went and cuddled under the truck.  It was certainly cooler there, in the shade.

You can see this side of his mouth is normal.

Can you see the bulging, red spot as you look at the right side of his mouth?

Here is what it looks like today, still a bit larger than normal, but looking better.

Oh, my baby pup!

Rag Dolls and Spoon Dolls

Sissi and I signed up for an American Girl Club for homeschoolers on CurrClick.com.

We've been reading the Addy books together and then once a month, there is a 1 hour class where you discuss the book, do a craft, and have a snack.

This month, we made rag dolls and spoon dolls.

Super simple and they have quickly taken a place in our "Favorite Dolls" category.

Hope you can enjoy this simple craft with your kids.

I just had to make one "old fashioned" as Sissi would say.

Working on gluing the cloth on our wooden spoon.

Using our Sharpies to draw on some eyes.  We also wrapped some ribbon around the cloth to make her look like a ballerina.

Our two new girls.  The rag doll is named Hailey.  The spoon doll is named Sweet Pea after the Veggie Tales "Sweet Pea Beauty."

Full view of the girls, laying on the floor.

The Flora and Fauna Around our House

I just wanted you to see some of the natural beauty here that we get to see most everyday.

Some of the beautiful flowers in our garden.

I'm really enjoying playing with all of the settings on the camera lately.

More of the flowers in the garden.

Pink is so vibrant!

Love these flowers.

Up high on the bush.

Low to the ground.  I had these flowers in my gardens in Virginia, Colorado, and in Maryland.

One of the gardens just outside of our gate.

Many people grow vegetables to sell on the side of the road.

The cows in the field around the corner.  Half of the time they are on the road outside of our house, but not today.

Yes, more cockroaches.  Not sure where they are coming from...but I don't think it's because we're not cleaning!