Seventh Grade with Agent H

Agent H's seventh grade curriculum was a bit of this and that.

We switched him from Teaching Textbooks math to Life of Fred math this year. We liked Teaching Textbooks but I had a hunch Agent H's learning style leaned towards LofF and after a year of it I think I was right. I had him get used to the LofF style by doing an Intermediate level that was a little young for him. Next he did the Fractions and Decimal & Percents books, then he started the Pre-Algebra books.  It was a lot of math.  He hasn't completed it all yet so we'll continue on through the summer months but I feel like it will keep him fresh for starting Algebra in the fall. He self-corrects and for every lesson that he gets less than one wrong on he gets to go to the SunRidge candy jar and dig out a few. I happily have had to refill it quite a few times.

I also used the free allinonehomeschool.com (more about it in this post) for his english, computer, reading material, science, Spanish. I was impressed with all of the assignments, really! They also do a nice job of breaking up the assignments with the occasional "thinking game".

Agent H has really enjoyed the history curriculum with Living Books Curriculum over the years so we decided to stick with them. History is his joy so he happily put his nose in the books and did mostly oral narrations for me.

He had such a busy year and handled it very well. Karate on Monday nights, Assistant Games Director for the Sparks at AWANA on Tuesdays, Middle School Ministry activities on Wednesday, our small group met on Thursdays, more karate on Saturday mornings, random social events. By the Lord's grace only is his introvert mama handling all this running around.

In the picture below I think he's giving me one of those "hammy" if-I-have-to-do-one-more-math-lesson-my-brain-will-burst looks.

He found a neat spot out in the woods behind us to build a little lean-to. He'll head out there with his knife and hatched and tinker around. His heart is leaning towards some type of military or police career. My mama's heart kinda quakes at the thought of the danger involved in those careers. Time to pray some more.

Agent H, you're kinda awesome

All the years that I dreamed of being a mom . . . it was always the baby/toddler years I envisioned.  All the rocking, tickling little toes, and the sweet smell.

Now I find that we're in the middle school years with our oldest.  He doesn't want to rock anymore unless it's to Toby Mac. We've traded toe tickling for arm wrestling. In case you don't recall, 12 year old boys don't smell very sweet.

His voice is changing, his facial structure is changing, he's growing taller and stronger, his appetite is rarely satisfied.

He's also a lot of fun to be around.

I. love. this. kid.

Lord willing, I look forward to finding out how awesome he is for years to come.

Project Life - Week 14

Theme: Choose a Theme (I chose A Memory)

We've spent a number of days this last summer and winter out at my dad's place getting it ready for sale.  I'm grateful that school is portable so I can be a part of this process of packing up box after box of memories.  Here Agent H and Agent E are at the old kitchen table (that we get to inherit!) playing a dice multiplication game.  I'm holding close these last photos of my family in my "growing up" home.

Project Life - Week 12

Theme: Evening

At the end of this day the boys headed to the family room so they could show off all their Lego creations to Papa.  I love all those arms working harmoniously together in one small space.  It will be a reminder to myself on the rough days to "not grow weary".

Project Life - Week 11

Theme: Morning

In the mornings we gather at the window to wave good-bye and blow kisses to Papa as he heads off to work.  Love that man.  Then off we go to breakfast, chore charts, and lessons.

Since taking this photo, the company that EH has worked at for the last 15 years closed its doors.  It was a surprise to us all.  We're in the process of sending out resume, after resume, after resume and seeking God's will for this next phase of life together.

Feeling Loved

I think someone (ahem, Agent H) slipped out of their bed to sneak this onto our pillow one night last week after we had gone down to watch a movie.  Yes, that says we rook (AKA: rock).  I love how he taped 50 cents to it and wrote "one for each of you". Feeling loved.

Welcoming Papa Home

Papa is home!  Not from some long trip, just home from a day at the office.  He is loved.

Service Projects

Agent H's curriculum inspired us to seek out service projects this year.  We have found a couple of ways to pursue this . . .

1.) Head to church and help out with organizational projects in the children's area
2.) Make a list of people to pray for
3.) Make a batch of bars to put in the freezer at church to be used for those in need
4.) Send an encouraging card to someone

I have a few other ideas in mind:

An idea I picked up from a friend is this one about writing letters to those who have been jailed for their faith in other countries through Prisoner Alert.

And then there's working with these local missionaries and friends at cru.

I can't believe we haven't made it to Feed My Starving Children yet this year, going to need to make that happen.

Project Life - Week 8

This week's photo assignment was "everyday adventure".

I'm a homebody to the core and thankfully my kids don't seem to mind so most of our adventures take place at home in the simple things.  Here is an everyday kind of occurrence.  Agent L was happy to have his big brother (Agent H) join him for a few minutes of playing cars and dog-fighting airplanes.  Agent E (the knight/Union soldier in the background) was doing his math.  Have I blogged about how much we love our math program this year?  I could write them a love letter for how they have transformed math time at our house.  Thank you Teaching Textbooks!

Project Life - Week 7

It all started with Math.  Agent E likes a little head massage while he's thinking through his multiplication tables, so I obliged him.  Shortcake wanted to show some love too so she found Agent H's head while he studied his AWANA lesson.  She has such gentle hands.  And then Agent H returned the loving act.  I love how Shortcake's eyes are closed and she is just resting in his tender hands.

Mom, I Love You in . . .

I left off washing the kitchen floor when Agent L came in from outside and showed me Shortcake's winter boot.  Meaning it's 13 degrees and she's outside without foot cover and her foot is probably covered in snow.  Brrr!  I bundled up quick and waded my way through last night's 12 inches of snow to the backyard.  Norah was reclining on the plain of snow, Agent H was holding her foot above the snow with his own hat wrapped around it. Bless his heart. Her sock was drenched.  I wish I had thought to bring extra socks.  Back into the house I trudge.  Two layers of dry socks and a boot back in place and mission accomplished.  The boys have named their rescue team B'nF Rescue (Backyard and Frontyard Rescue).  I love their imaginations and the thrill they get at helping others.  When all was said and done Agent L looked at me with sparkly eyes and said "Mom, I love you in your snow pants".  Never mind the below freezing temps, my heart melted . . . again.

Between you, me, and the cinnamon tree

Tonight Agent H was helping me clean up dinner when he gave a little chuckle over an old memory. He told me a story that happened a few years back when my mom was visiting or maybe babysitting. He had just completed his chore of emptying all the dishes from the dishwasher and Grandma asked him to do the silverware as well. He responded with "I don't usually do that part" and Grandma smiled at him and said "well you go ahead and do it, and it will be between you, me, and the cinnamon tree." And of course he did it and he chuckled as he did.

Project Fair 2013

Time for the project fair at our homeschool co-op.   I love these things and then I love when they are over!

Agent H's project focused on the life of a Civil War soldier.  He is such a history lover and he just reads and reads and gushes everything he has learned.  I think he gets it from EH's dad. :)






Notice the Lego soldiers with horse and cart (teeny tiny on the table there)?  Everything in life is better with Legos.  We made some hard tack to serve and put out a sign warning about possible broken teeth if they chewed it.  It's supposed to be good for something like five years!

Agent E made a book about eco-systems as we read through his science curriculum.  He wrote the book as if he and Agent H were traveling and so there are lots of great pictures of him running away from a volcano erruption, his brother pulling him out of quicksand, having tea and toast in the desert.  

I am so proud of their hard work!

Cozied up with a book

It's where I find Agent H over and over again.

Beautiful Blessings

Agent E's 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday Agent E!  I love how this kid expresses his joy!  In our family, the kids get to open a present at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Here is the first in the line up.  He really had his hopes set on this sling shot!

He was thrilled that his brother bought him the next level for his Star Wars Angry Birds application.

Time for some Facetime with Papa (who was at work) while Agent E opens his next gift.

Ed discovered the Pizza Ranch (pizza buffet!) in Champlin and said we HAD to take E there sometime. Pizza is a food group all unto itself according Agent E.   So in lue of a birthday lunch down near Ed's work we headed to "the Ranch" for dinner.  

Here he's trying out gift number three!

Agent E chose a family party this year.  He asked for a Halo cake (thanks to his big brother we had plenty of figures/vehicles for the cause).  So decorations, family, cake, and some presents and we called it a good time.

New Years 2012

We've seen our share of flu bugs, colds, and nastys this year.  We barley made it to Thankgiving, Christmas, and we didn't make it to New Years.  Here is our post New Years celebration.  I made up special bags and we opened one on every hour.  One hour was New Years resolutions, another games to play, a kids Wii dance game we borrowed from friends, a movie, and treats.  Making memories!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2012

Time for Pumpkins

Expedition Earth: Our Final Review

It's our final geography review for the year - it really is!!

Back in the very beginning we made paper mache earths.  This is what ours turned out like . . . opps!  The picture below is what it was supposed to look like.  Our friends brought theirs along and kindly made it into a pinata!  Of course someone needs to run off with "the world of loot"!  He is soo his father's son.

Then the kids enjoyed their last game of Jeapordy - I was pleasantly surprised with what they all remembered! Whew, I'm going to pat myself on the back a tiny bit and breath a sigh of relief.
















Then we ate lunch and for dessert we had these fantastic world cupcakes that our friends brought.  Seriously KS, they turned out so cute!  Can you believe they left the cake for us too? YUM!