Crowded House

The kids are exaggerating a little...

The house we're renting is one third the size of the house we had in Reed City, but it's not quite this crowded.

All Dressed Up

I have to give credit to photographers who can take a group shot and have everyone look good.
After about twenty attempts, I decided this was the best one, since everyone at least looks natural.
Plus, Noah (the guy in the middle) has such a great smile that everyone else is just decoration.

Apple Pie Baking Contest and unit study too!

During the Johnny Appleseed festival, there was an apple pie baking contest. We were not able to participate this year, so we held one of our own.
1) We started out in the morning doing RESEARCH; each child had to find and EVALUATE apple recipes from several sources.
2) Once they selected their recipe, they each copied it onto a recipe card (this keeps the cookbook from getting messy and counts as HANDWRITING practice). It also ensures that they READ through the recipe completely.
3) Everyone searched for their needed ingredients, and made a shopping list. This required them to calculate (MATH) the total amounts needed for ingredients that were in more than one recipe. Example: There are 5 cups of flour in the bin; if I need two cups, then I don't need to buy any, but if we each need 2 cups, then we do need to buy some. (COOPERATION)
4) We drove to the grocery store with our list, and each child found the items that they would need, and considered how much would be spent on their recipe (HOME ECONOMICS). If I was to do a project like this again, I would have them find out the cost of every item in their recipe, and determine a cost per serving. (BUSINESS SKILLS/RESTAURANT MGNT.)
5) At home, they worked together COMPARING recipes to determine how to best use the oven (who needed the longest cooking time, highest temp., etc.) CITIZENSHIP
6) They each prepared their recipe, cooked their item and displayed it on a plate. (CREATIVE PRESENTATION)
7) When Dad came home, they presented their creations and had them judged (SPORTSMANSHIP) Summer made an apple cookie, Caitlin made traditional apple pie with a homemade crust, Tyler made apple cake, and Ethan made apple pancakes with homemade syrup.
In the end, Summer won most creative, since she altered a recipe she found and made her own version. Caitlin won most effort since she had to use two different recipes, one for the crust and one for the filling, plus she peeled enough apples for everyone. Tyler won best breakfast, since his bread went great with coffee. Ethan won best taste because the pancakes were good, but the syrup was outstanding!

This unit study was designed and shared by Corinne Johnson, homeschooling mom to 6, seminary wife to Don, and author of Vacation Education Books; unit studies for families who love Walt Disney World.

Kitty-sitting Gwendolyn

I thought I'd better post a photo of Gwendolyn since she is going home today.

This is the kitty that Caitlin has been babysitting this weekend.
She has another cat coming over Thanksgiving that she volunteered to kitty-sit.

As you can see from this photo, Gwendolyn made herself right at home here.

Up an Coming Cub Scout

We LOVE the seminary co-op. There are always great finds that have been donated by people from churches all over. It is such a Blessing!
One of the big expenses of having children is affording uniforms, books, patches and other necessities that go along with their many activities.
Summer knows: She is paying for her own activities this year; $32 every 8 weeks for dance, $34 for Civil Air Patrol annual dues, $230 for camp, $170 for meals at the National Youth Gathering, and so on... it's a really good thing that she is such a great babysitter. She'll have lots of opportunities to earn money.
They boys don't have as many expenses, but they do have to have uniforms for Cub Scouts. Dad spent some time shopping at the co-op this morning and found a shirt (with some patches already on it), a neckerchief, a slide and hat. (about $30 worth of scout stuff).
Tyler and Ethan need these things this year, but here's a shot of Jacob trying out "the Cub Scout look"! He's our little up and coming Scout.

Cub Scout field trip FW Air National Guard Base

Cub Scout Field Trip Photo Album

The above link will take you to a page on Facebook where I have posted several photos (with captions) from our trip to the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base. I am really glad that I chaperoned since it was such a great trip.

Summer's first dance

November 7, 2009
Summer's first formal dance.

Summer has been taking ballroom dancing lessons at the dance school near our home.

The national ballroom dancing association hosts a dance once a month at the IPFW ballroom.

Many of the teens in CHAT (Christian Homeschool Association for Teens) also take these classes and attend the balls, so she will be there with several friends. Tonight is Summer's first chance to go. She has been looking forward to this night for the past month. She was able to get the dress from a donation at the clothing co-op at the seminary. This is certainly a part of life in Fort Wayne that we will miss.