Getting Bendy

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Philippians 4:11b)

I spent the majority of our first week of schooling learning to become bendy. A flexible spirit that "rolls with it" is one that I've tried to obtain for ... well, let's just leave out for how long! So I've had to throw out "the schedule" - yes, that's right ... that beautiful, color-coded schedule that made me smile so widely. 

Some of you might be smirking because you know how much a schedule like this brings joy to my life! But truth be told...I had to ask myself, "Is this for me, or them? What will work best for them?" Thus the restructuring of the days, the lessons, the setting. And so be it. We learn to be content with the new. 

So Abbie and I start school when she wakes up (which is always before 7am!) and get her lessons started early in the morning. To do this, I must have at least 2 cups of coffee in me to have my eyes open, so my rise-n-shine time is by 6am. And for those of you who know me at all ... this is truly an amazing feat! But I digress. This has become my sweet one-on-one time with Abbie ... the richness of conversation, quality time, and discovery has been amazing. She loves having me all to herself, and I'm not complaining one bit! I love having this time with her.

Ellie and Ben join in the fun mid-morning, which works just fine for getting Ellie's work started while Abbie's ready for some independence. Mid-morning has proven to be good time working with Ellie on her phonics:

and her history and science lessons. This past week was a 10-day study of creation:

We've all enjoyed other fun things throughout the day like math, science experiments, art, library visits, and read alouds. 

This week, Abbie started reading about the first pioneers and specifically reading about the voyage Christopher Columbus took from Spain. Today we made tin-foil ships - the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria - and launched them from one end of the tub (Spain) and tried to "blow" them to America since the only power those ships had was wind-power. 

I'm quite certain that Christopher's fleet was far safer than our tin-foil, lop-sided ships. : ) 

Science experiments are a family favorite around here ... Abbie's especially. Here she's discovering why bubbles are created when placing a container full of air under water. 

Did you know that North Dakota has the largest amount of sunflowers planted than any other state? South Dakota and Kansas are next in line. These are next week's focus of study! I'm arranging a field trip out to a local farmer's sunflower fields so we can see them up close and be able to see the whole process of the sunflower's life cycle. More to come on what we learn!

And I'll leave you with this ... a lovely, LARGE spider on my deck this afternoon about to have its lunch. Aron was able to capture it in a picture. I think I'd rather not encounter this furry friend anytime soon, but Ellie sure thought it was cool. 

Blessings to you all ... 

Jenn