Hugs and Kisses

We end our day with hugs and kisses, and have for years. Somehow, as the kids grew up they stopped liking kisses, but hugs still remain a constant after bedtime prayers. Now, my kids journey every night to Grandma and Grandpa Mackley's room for their nightly "hugs and kisses." In this instance it is to hug Grandma and Grandpa and come away with a chocolate kiss.

I loved this article, "The Magical Power of a Kiss" by Gary and Joy Lundberg,and it reminded me of the importance of kissing. I have noticed in my marriage that when I greet my husband with a "honest-to-goodness I-love-you-to-the depths-of-my-soul kind of kiss" that our marriage and day to day life is much better! I'll have to have a good kiss prepared when Brad come home tonight.

Video Book Reviews

We had a book review to kick off our Reading Competition.
Everyone shared a book - and we took video's. Here are the kids. I'll post the adults soon!

Reading Challenge

We are issuing a reading challenge to our extended family. The genesis of the reading challenge was this article Book Challenge 2009 in the LDS Homeschool dated November 24, 2008.

Here are the rules for the Growing Georgeson's Book Challenge.

Read Age Appropriate Books
Reading buddies can split the number of pages
Can't count the same book twice unless you are under the age of 4.
Teams will be decided on Sunday 7th of December by a random drawing.
Page counts start on December 1st - so start reading and counting.
Keep track of Book Title, Author, and page Numbers.
Scriptures, magazines, books all count, internet does not.

Be prepared to give a short book commercial of 3 of your favorite books on Sunday. These could be taped in advanced and posted on your blog. (Think Reading Rainbow style, or use your own imagination.)

The Amazing Online Friend

I just stumbled across a huge upgrade to the LDS church's website for kids. I didn't even know that the site was geared towards kids until tonight. On their page for the Friend Magazine they know have online coloring pages, and video's that are going to be updated monthly and you can listen to the Friend read outloud.

This is not a substitute to reading the friend to your kids, but is more geared to accessibility. It is however, a great way to build reading fluency. Your kids can put on the headset, open up the friend and follow along, and build their reading fluency while having fun.

Online Friend

Reader's Theatre

If you have never participated in a reader's theater you are in for a treat.

We really enjoy them, and they have been a big hit at our annual Growing Georgeson Homeschool Halloween Party. (Doesn't that sound official) We invite a bunch of families over to our house for a potluck halloween lunch. Everybody brings a creative halloween dish to share and before we much we perform 2 reader's theatres. Our favorite is The Little Old Lady who was not afraid of anything it is a great story for the whole family because even the non-readers can participate pretty easily and the simple props can be found around the house.


Here are 2 Christmas Scripts and and Easter Script from the Friend Magazine that we have also performed. These involve music which I've downloaded and burned onto a cd ahead of time in the correct order for the script. I also typed up the lyrics for the songs so everyone could participate.

Christmas in the America's: A Christmas Program
A Nativity Presentation

Why We Rejoice: An Easter Program
Testimony of Easter


This year I decided that I needed a Thanksgiving Reader's Theatre. I found some great scripts with just a quick google search - check out these and try this out with your kids!

ABC's of the First Thanksgiving by Marci McGown

Thanksgiving Idea's and Writing Reader's Theatre's and Other Links

A List of Reader's Theater Scripts

Aaron Shepard's Reader Theater's Page

A Turkey Takes a Stand - Lois Lewis


Now all I have to do is choose which one to use this year!

Scavenger Hunt

Today we went on a small nature scavenger hunt. We had to feel somthing smooth, rough and wet, I found a rock for smooth, a pinecone for rough and a walnut that had been in water for wet. I also had to find a seed, the green ball with spikes on has lots of seeds inside

I also had to find a red leaf ,a yellow leaf, a orange leaf, a green leaf, a leaf that had two colors and a leaf falling. I also found a leaf with three colors on it.

Sycamore Tree

We were at the hospital and we were visiting our grandpa at West Valley Hospital. We found this tree. It's a sycamore tree. I thought it was a sweetgum tree because it had a seedball. - Isaac


When we picked a seedball we decided that it wasn't exactly the same as a sweetgum tree, so we had to identify it when we got to a computer. It is most likely a california sycamore or at least some member of the sycamore family.

Veterans Day

It is the end of Veterans Day but I am finally researching and preparing to teach my kids why their Dad had the day off to play with them today. Somehow these holidays always seem to sneak up on me, and this was no exception, I was concerned with Rebecca's 11th birthday party this past weekend.

I found these two lapbooks as a starting point for our lesson tomorrow.

Veterans Day Lapbook Pack free from Currclick.

Veterans Day Lapbook from Our Homeschooling Expedition. This one includes some great website links.

I really like the mottos, flags and seals of the branches of the military on this lapbook at LaPaz Home Learning


The Origins of Veterans Day from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Here is a great collection of learning activities.
Maybe next year I'll remember to check out library books in advance!

Eating with Harry Potter

My Dad started a new tradition last Fast Sunday, Ok, maybe he just modified that tradition. We have been gathering for dinner with everyone that could make it for dinner for years. Last month Dad suggested that we come up with a monthly theme for the dinner, so last month it was Chinese. The best part was, I didn't have to cook, the boys really got into it and my brother made orange chicken, and Brad made the fried rice. Dad said we was bringing the chopsticks, and he did, along with Pork and Seeds and fortune cookies. Malinda brought some sort of a dessert, called ? Another interesting think about this meal was the the kids weren't the only ones that had to try something new, and everyone actually liked most of the food. Ok, the mustard was hot, or not, depending on your tastes and the dessert was, edible, soggy biscuits cooked in coconut milk. Ok, so nobody really liked the dessert, except maybe Malinda, but we ate it and didn't complain and got to understand how it is to be a kid again.

The theme idea was a hit and we decided on England (the home of Harry Potter) for next month, and the Scandinavia Countries for the first of the year so that we can have rosettes.

I claimed the privilege of making butterbeer, because I had just heard of a couple of good butterbeer recipes on the Mormon Mom Cast which is one of my favorite podcasts. I don't know that we will be repeating treacle fudge however.

Mysterious Fruit

We went on a nature study walk and found an interesting tree. We found the prickly balls lying on the ground and had to identify which tree they fell off of. Since it is Fall the leaves had turned yellow and fallen to the ground. We also found a few dried out seed capsules. We didn't take notes to identify the tree by it's leaves, so we identified it by it's fruit. It is a sweetgum tree.

Snowball Bush

It is hard to identify a tree - when it is really a bush. We started our Seasonal Tree Study today with Autumn and each of the kids picked a tree in our yard to observe for a year. Rebecca chose the snowball tree in the yard. It is so beautiful in the spring when it blossoms, unfortunately it is delicate and the blossoms seem to get lost in a rainstorm. Rebecca studied the tree like we have been practicing and came in the house to identify it using the internet. She kept coming up with some sort of a maple, but that didn't seem right. Finally, I said, let's search for snowball tree.

We found out that bush is basically a tree that has many smaller stems rather than a main trunk. We think that it is a Viburnum opulus as described here or here or here, however, we will have to continue observing this bush over the course of the year to be sure. It is a beautiful bush any time of year.

The other kids enjoyed spending time with their trees as well.

Emily and the walnut tree.

Kevin in the walnut tree.

Isaac in the Northern Catalpa

Look at me Sitting UP!

MaryAnn is nearly 7 months old, and sitting up! She is developing such a personality. She loves to eat, she loves to reach for things and play with toys. She is almost always happy, she will let you know if you aren't feeding her fast enough. She loves to cuddle and be around her family. She is only taking a short morning nap now, she'd much rather be in the dining room with everyone else while we are doing school work.

Love is the Lesson

We explored a small part of Kathryn Albertson Park today scoping out good spots to take pictures. We had a lot of fun, and saw some beautiful fall colors. On the way home I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Life is the school, Love is the Lesson." This thought sums up my education philosphy nicely. These photos are a result of our traditional yearly photo shoot.

Can you "see" the LOVE in my kids' faces.

Here are the three girls, sisters, and friends to the end.

Oldest girl, youngest boy, buddies!

The boys! Wrestling buddies!

Together Forever!

Pine Tree

We have a pine tree in our yard that is giving us difficulties identying it. It has needles in bunches of 3 that are 6 inches in length, but we can't find pine cones. How can you have a pine tree without pine cones? The closest match that I could find was the Loblolly Pine. However, it would make more since that it is a Ponderosa Pine since they are common in Idaho. The ponderosa pines don't produce pinecones until they are 7 years old, and our tree is still a young tree.

We will have to observe the tree year round to observe its flowers before making a conclusive decision.

Challenge 3

Using Our Words - Challenge #2

We started out today's nature study by looking at the research I had done last week on walnuts, and then running outside to check our walnut tree - and to harvest our walnuts. The kids cracked them open and I tasted them. Not great, but ok, more like, not quite ready to eat. They are supposed to dry for two weeks, and then I bet they will be better tasting. This is the first time in 3 years at this house that we have harvested walnuts.

It was a bit chilly outside - and we didn't take the time to dress for the weather so our time outside today was in about 5 minutes intervals, but after we sat wrapped up in blankets we came up with some great words.


R- wind rustling leaves
M - whistling wind
K - tall trees
M - chill in the air
R- soft, green prickly grass
I - hard nuts
R - brown, crunchy weeds
E - Yellow swaying leaves
E - Birds chirping, cold wind
E - leaves swaying
E - cold wind
K - wind, green grass

I'm glad that this is a challenge, and we can keep plugging away at it each week.

Columbus

Christopher Columbus Hidden Picture


Prophets Prophecy of the Future - November Friend 2001

Albright Family - Columbus
JoAnn's Lapbook Lessons

Columbus

Mystery of History Lapbook
Columbus Remains

Columbus

Map to New World

Coloring Page

Columbus and Isabella

Coloring Pages
;jk

Help Me - Spin.

We were sitting at the dinner table, and Kevin kept saying, "Help me SPIN" We were unsure of what he wanted help with, but he kept saying it over and over again, and then he started signing and then twisting his plate. All of the sudden it dawned on me, he wanted to microwave his chips and cheese like all the other kids had done. It was so cute and we all got a good laugh was we figured out that he wanted his plate to "SPIN" in the microwave.

Homemade Applesauce

We made applesauce again today. It takes a lot of work, but it feels so good to work together as a family and know that we are following the Prophet's council and preserving our own food. Since we were able to glean these apples from the church orchard it is an extremely frugal way to ensure that we will have applesauce all winter long. Not only that, but I so enjoy working together as a family.

Swingin' MaryAnn

MaryAnn got to swing for the first time - I thought it would be a hit - I remember Rebecca laughing and loving it the first time we put her in the swing at about the same age - but - MaryAnn - well see for yourself.


Good News on MaryAnn - she doesn't need to go back to the specialists for 6 months! Her ultrasound turned out great and her development is right on schedule. The doctor said that wrestling with Kevin was better than a slew of therapists. Kevin will be happy to know that he is still allowed to rough house with MaryAnn, at least until he makes her cry, and then I'll rescue her.

Green Challenge #1 Research

We have a large walnut tree in the back yard, we discovered today that the walnuts are falling out of the husks. We picked up a few and I decided I had better find out how to harvest them so that we(I) can enjoy eating them.

I'm just listing the helpful links that I found - that way my kids can explore and learn on their own later this week.

Black or English Walnut?
Black Walnut Tree

Harvesting Walnuts - Harvesting Walnuts


We have another huge tree - it has very long seed pod and gigantic leaves. Grandma Mackley just came in and when I told her what I was doing she asked if I could find out what kind of tree that huge one was with the white blossoms. I don't remember the blossoms, so its a good thing that Grandma does. I found these three great websites for identifying trees. I'm sure that the kids will have fun identifying them later this week.

Identifying Trees #1

Identifying Trees # 2 at Arbor Day Foundation

Identifying Trees # 3

I'm so glad that we have decided to participate in this challenge, I've learned a lot already!

Green Hour Challenges - #1

I found this blog called Handbook Of Nature Study where they host a weekly outdoor hour challenge. I thought that it sounded like fun, I love to be outside, but I often get so wrapped up in cleaning house, taking care of the baby, trying to get stuff done on the computer, etc, etc, that I forget to go OUTSIDE!

I introduced this idea to the kids today, and they thought it was a great idea. I haven't finished the assigned reading (the Mom gets homework, the kids get to have fun) but it was Wednesday (we do science on Wednesday) so we went outside. I didn't get to explore much, I was sitting on the lawn with MaryAnn though. We also can't find the camera, so no pictures today, although the kids really wanted me to take pictures of them in the walnut tree.

Challenge #1

Today's discoveries:
MaryAnn rolled over and discovered the grass.
Rebecca gathered several parts of a walnut tree - a twig, a leaf, a hull, a walnut shell, and broken walnut shells.
Emily found a seed pod off a huge tree in our yard.
Isaac decided that our grapes aren't ripe yet.

To Investigate
Walnut Trees and how to harvest walnuts
Grapes - what kind do we have, when will they be ripe, what to do with them when they are?

Canning Pears

I had a lot of helpers canning pears on Tuesday. I've been really amazed, my kids have been fantastic at helping with the canning. So far this year we've canned peaches, applesauce, and pears. The kids have helped throughout the whole process. They helped pick the produce, wash, peel, cut, and can. I've had to insist that they aren't tall enough to take the jars out of the canner - or they'd be doing that as well.

I came home from the doctor's today and had a pleasant surprise - Rebecca and Isaac had started canning pears again! They had the syrup made and simmering on the stove, and the lemon water bath with peeled and cut pears in it! I had mentioned that I would need to finish the pears today and they took it upon themselves to get started. WOW! I have fantastic kids!

Our canning inventory to date:
16 quarts peaches (2-3 bushels)
26 quarts jonathan applesauce (apx 4 bushels)
14 pints pears (1 bushel)
2 pints peach jam

We had a little bit more, but we gave it to Uncle James and Aunt Emily because they helped with the process!