Indy's #51

This past Friday was Indy's 51st birthday! It was a school day, first week back to school actually, so we didn't take off, but I did make an effort to do his favorite meals and have some friends show up to dinner as a surprise.

I made chocolate crepes for breakfast. They don't take much time at all, but are definitely a special treat...ie. not something I make often at all. He thought they were great.

And, here is where it gets even more delicious...his brother had an overnight in Spokane a few weeks back and picked him up some of his favorite huckleberry syrup and jam. We bubble wrapped those jars and ziploc'd them and they made it back to Kyrgyzstan in one piece. Yahoo!

For lunch, I made cornbread taco bake...it's pretty much chili on the bottom with cornbread baked on the top. He loves it with a big 'ol dollop of sour cream on the top.

We of course had to have a Disney pin for his birthday (to match his new Disney shirt that we picked him up a few weeks ago).

Two new WiiU Infinity characters to play with...the Lone Ranger and Tonto!

A close up of his new pin...Donald from the Mechanical Kingdom series. There were several of them, for all the lands in Magic Kingdom, done in a Steam Punk style.

Space 1889, a Victorian Science Fiction role playing game (RPG).

We ordered him a few of the rule books and the map set. He is hoping to play with the boys.

Dinner was a night out at Rick's American Diner. I had talked with our friends, Ryan and Beth, and they showed up as well, bearing gifts. They got him a super cool Stanley mug that also has a built in French press, so he can make his coffee when on the road. Definitely a great gift for him!

Sissi's 12th birthday and a new bunny!

On our drive back up from Orlando, we were in Winston Salem for a few days, but alas...I didn't take any pictures (ahhh!) and then, on our way to Valparaiso to fly back to Kyrgyzstan, we stopped in Kentucky to see our friends...some of our wonderful friends from our first 3.5 years in Kyrgyzstan. It was a wonderful gift for Sissi's birthday to be with her friend, Shelby.

These two girls have been friends since we first got to KG and have celebrated every birthday together since then.

They even made Sissi a Red Velvet Cake for her birthday.

Cathy and I in her kitchen. They made us a wonderful dinner of all kinds of special treats that we can't always get back in Kyrgyzstan.

The guys!

The younger set of guys :)!

Then, on Sissi's actual birthday, we were in Valparaiso and we did a joint family birthday celebration...it was Sissi's 12th, Penny's 11th, Indy's 51st, and Grandma's 78th.

There was all kinds of delicious BBQ food!

Each of the birthday people got their own cupcake...Red Velvet for Sissi on our special birthday plate that I had brought back with me from Kyrgyzstan!

Yummy, a Smores cupcake!

Penny got a Birthday Cake cupcake.

I think Grandma's was marshmallow flavored.

The Happy Birthday sign!

Sissi got some cute cards and money to put toward her bunny supply purchase.

She was getting super excited to get back to Kyrgyzstan and get her bunny!

A lovely bracelet from Tony and Yvette.

A new Oswald pin!

A super fun Western style shirt to match her new cowboy boots.

Cake!

That night, we went to a trampoline place during their glow-in-the-dark time! You get special shirts, the lights are out, and they play music for two hours of bouncing fun!

Sissi and her cousin, Lara.

Super fun, knocking each other out and into a foam pit.

Then, we got back to KG and made a visit to the TC Center and got a bunny! All of the supplies Sissi purchased at the bazaar.

We've been watching YouTube bunny videos this week and learning all we can about being bunny owners.

Her name is Winnie and she loves being outside and eating all the plants and grass.

She is also super happy eating her hay and each day we give her a mix of leafy greens...like dill, mint, parsley, broccoli leaves, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, etc.

We've rearranged her cage a few times, done some DIY to it to make her a hay feeder and to keep some of the wood chips IN her cage and not all over the floor. But, honestly, most of the day she's out and about hopping around Sissi's room.

And, once a day, we get her outside for some fresh air and play time...with Vera.

Yes, we introduced them a few days after bringing Winnie home and they get along great.

In fact, we often have to tell Vera to back off and give Winnie some space. Vera is a natural herder and wants to keep an eye on Winnie. She also licks her and Winnie doesn't seem to mind the extra grooming at all.

Eating all the plants...We'll have to feed her inside more once winter comes. For now, lots of free food in the yard.

Vera trying to figure out what Winnie finds so interesting.

Grooming each other.

Laying down together, the big dog and the little bunny.

Again, Vera trying to figure out what Winnie is so interested in on the ground.

I am so glad they get along so well.

Sissi's two favorite animals, her dog and her bunny!

Happy birthday, dear girl!

Back to School 2019-2020

Are we really already back to school?!

This summer seemed to fly by and I'm kind of in denial that I have just 2 more years with our oldest, Krypto! He's in the 11th grade this year, Gwangi is in the 9th grade, and Sissi is in 7th.

We started back with our first week of school last Monday and it's gone very smoothly. We all love our Tapestry of Grace History curriculum and particularly we were all excited to get back around to Year 2, our favorite. It's a jam packed year, covering from the Fall of Rome to the founding of the United States of America. So much good literature to read from this time frame, fun philosophies and governments and worldviews to study, and it's just our all around favorite time period.

This year I have two Rhetoric students, so we're having some deep discussions and bringing in our Dialectic student (Sissi) when we can. She's doing different readings, more age appropriate for a middle schooler, but she is so smart and I enjoy stretching her.

Another new thing this year, we're all doing Apologia Health as an elective. We're going to be getting together with another local homeschool family every other week and have the children do presentations and projects together to cement what they've been learning about themselves and how to live a healthy life.

Teacher and kids, back to school photo!

Group pose with our dog, Vera.

Our 11th grader, Krypto

He'll be studying Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, History, Literature, Geography, Worldview, Philosophy, Government, and Art History

Math-U-See Pre Calculus

Apologia Physics and Health

Analytical Grammar weekly reviews and Wordly Wise daily

The Potter's School - Arthurian Literature and Composition

Russian and Visual Latin

He's also working on writing, editing, and publishing his novels

PSAT/SAT prep with Khan Academy and taking the tests this year

College research!

Our 9th grader, Gwangi

He's also studying Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, History, Literature, Geography, Worldview, Philosophy, Government, and Art History

Math-U-See Geometry

Apologia Biology and Health

Analytical Grammar in a year and Wordly Wise daily

The Potter's School - Python Computer Programming

Russian

PSAT prep with Khan Academy and taking the test this year

Our 7th grader, Sissi

She'll be studying Tapestry of Grace, Year 2, History, Literature, Geography, and Art History

Math-U-See Pre-Algebra

Apologia General Science and Health

Easy Grammar

Russian and Visual Latin

Setting up and planning for our first week of literature and history discussions. I've got my salted caramel chai in my new Disney World mug (I love it! I think it is so much prettier than the new Starbucks mugs - gasp!) and I'm all set up with my favorite purple pen and pencil and yes, I even got myself a purple mouse this year!

First day of school notebooks and candy for each of the kids.

I love to pick out new school supplies...

...and to surprise them with some neat chocolate or special treat for the first day of school.

Marzipan for the teacher and a raspberry Ritter Sport for the principal.

Krypto, watching his first Pre Calculus video with Mr. Steve Demme from Math-U-See....we've been using this program since the 1st grade. It's wonderful!

We've used a few Science curricula over the years; Answers in Genesis, Berean Builders, and Apolgia...we keep coming back to Apologia, especially in the high school years. It's just very thorough! I think their new Health curriculum will be just as wonderful.

Several times a day the kids get out and play with the dog.

We're also doing some "30 day challenges" as a family to add to our PE routine. Right now, we do them while lunch is heating up. We chose "Action Hero" and "Wall Sit" for this month from www.darebee.com