A Daily Process

Sissi's art work, since February...in one place!

This is not all inclusive, by any stretch of the imagination...

I am telling you, this girl has a notebook with her and is drawing wherever she is, but these are the things I have snapped pictures of and while I was doing the other blog posts I realized, "I would like to have this art work all in one place." So, here it is. Maybe more for me than for you, but there you have it.

At the beginning of the quarantine we ran out of canvases so she used just half...painting took a hiatus the past 6ish weeks. We got resupplied the other day when shops started to open, so I think we'll see more painting this summer.

Working on her realism.

The weather has been beautiful this spring, so she often sits outside to draw.

A painting she made of a photo of my nephew.

One of her created characters for her RPG worlds.

A comic layout she was working on with a friend.

Painting book covers.

A painting from earlier this year.

Water color works from February.

Another canvas from the winter time, when we're dreaming of the spring blossoms.

A painting based on a photo from our trip to Germany this January.

Another painting from this winter.

Yet another one, that she has hanging by her bed.

Another Year Complete...School is DONE!

On Friday we wrapped up the 2019-2020 school year! Whew! It was a full one.

Krypto completed 11th grade and he...

published a book - The Bow of Ice,

took 3 science courses at the same time - Physics, Health, and Psychology,

2 languages - Russian and Latin,

got a 1440 on his SAT in December - he was just 10 points away from getting a perfect score in English, he missed only one question,

took another Potter's School course - Arthurian Lit and Comp

and kept his 4.0 GPA

Gwangi completed 9th grade and he...

created a computer game in his Potter's School Python coding class that got him a perfect score and a 99% in the course overall,

He earned a 99% in Geometry,

took the PSAT in October and earned an 1140,

and started off his high school career with a 4.0 GPA

Sissi completed 7th grade and she...

created so many amazing pieces of art that I think I need to make that another blog post,

also studied 2 languages with Krypto - Russian and Latin,

and kept up with the boys in their Tapestry of Grace Year 2 studies that is most likely the heaviest reading year in the Tapestry rotation while wishing that I kept a transcript for my middle schoolers, but I don't :)

Together, they all memorized the first 10 chapters in the book of Mark.

On Friday they said, "But, Mom, that is only 10 chapters. In the past we've done whole books." So, I did the math...they memorized 425 verses this year...on average 2-3 a day. In years past, they did about 300 or so in a school year. This year they were really pushed! At any one time they could quote, all together, about 60 or so verses. As we got further away from the beginning of the book, we would only quote the most recent chapter or two. In previous school years they have memorized, and been able to quote, the books of Ephesians, Philemon, James, Galations, and Colossians. Before we began memorizing whole books we did individual verses and paragraphs, but 3 years ago I wanted them to memorize Philippians chapter 2, a favorite of mine, and then I realized, "Hey, we can just do the whole book...," and so it began.

Woohoo, last day of school!

All done with Pre-Algebra

All done with Pre- Calculus

Last set of papers turned in!

First day of summer break...included some painting for a friend.

We are borrowing a guitar and Sissi is two weeks into taking guitar lessons with a friend.

Science labs all done for Physics.

Completed Geometry.

Last day of Arthurian Lit and Comp...he's decided to take AP US History with The Potter's School next year.

All done with Python Coding...he's taking Java next year with The Potter's School.

We did Apologia Health in a co-op format with another homeschool family here in Bishkek. The last 3 meetings were via Zoom due to the quarantine. Here is Sissi, doing her presentation on sleep disturbances.

Gwangi, preparing for a debate in our co-op.

Krypto sharing his presentation on Pregnancy and Childbirth.

We split up the modules amongst the kids so that everyone had 4 times to present during the school year. It was wonderful for them to learn more about creating Powerpoint slides and work on their public speaking skills while getting feedback from outside of the family.

On Friday afternoons we would all gather to have a History discussion where we reviewed their Accountability and Thinking Questions (AQ/TQs) from the week in a Socratic way.

I think we're all excited for the summer and a bit of "different"...

We'll be working on reading lists, hoping to get out for some camping and hiking and reconnecting with friends around Kyrgyzstan once the road blocks around Bishkek are removed, playing more games together, learning some new skills via our Master Class membership from my sister, spending time with our individual crafts, publishing Krypto's second book, and beginning the college and scholarship application process. It's going to be full and fun! We'll keep you updated.

Happy, happy birthday to our 15 year old, Gwangi!

Our second birthday in quarantine was Gwangi. It was his 15th!

We had made plans with his friends to have a big role playing game day, but when the lockdown was extended the 3rd time, it went past his special day. So, we came up with a plan...pick all your special meal (as was usual) and we'll set up a group chat with your friends across the globe so you can play your game, together! So, so thankful for technology!

For his special dessert, he wanted a 'Smores Pie. I make a chocolate chip cookie dough crust and then fill it with graham crackers, marshmallows, and Hershey's chocolate bars and then cover it with more cookie dough. It's pretty delicious, but watch the timer...I made the pie again, a week later, and overcooked it. This one though, was ooey gooey goodness in a pie tin!

All the gifts, wrapped up and ready for the special day.

The flowers, those were mine for Mother's Day.

Gwangi is my Mother's Day baby :)!

Every year since 2011 I have made bagels for Gwangi. Living in Tanzania and again here in Kyrgyzstan, finding bagels can be difficult, nigh impossible. There is a bagel restaurant here in Bishkek, but they don't sell them for customer take away and they are very different in style. They are flat and a bit drier. They are good for sandwiches, but they are not the fluffy New York Style bagels that our family enjoys eating.

Gwangi, ready to open his gifts.

A supplement book to use with his Star Wars role playing game.

Comics are always a fun favorite.

A new board game addition...Rebellion.

Learning how to shave became a right of passage for Krypto at 15, so we set up the same thing for Gwangi. Indy and Gwangi spent some time learning all about shaving on Sunday.