School Days

I cant believe that it's going to be October this week- this month flew by...
So in August I was almost dreading starting up school w/ the kids...the free- no schedule lazy days of summer were so...easy :)
BUT I'm Loving it! I think it helps that fall IS my favorite season. But I truly love teaching these kiddos...
Here was our 1st day of school...all ready w/ their fruit smoothy brain boosters- dont they look excited ;)
Last year Jacob and I started an afternoon ritual...when I put down the kids and it's time for the 'real' stuff (math, reading, writing) we have tea together at the table. Here he's showing off his tin cup and the coconut that we learned how to break open by watching a 'how to' video on you-tube...
big knife+ strong wack= nervous kids
Question: what do you do once you open the coconut?

Music to a mama's ears...Jacob reading to the 'little ones' as he calls them I guess I should have expected this...
Sova's a genius :)
I was quite nervous about teaching her for some reason- maybe the whole 'she just learned how to speak English several months ago thing!'
Well I started doing phonics w/ her 4 weeks ago and she has already read several words by herself!

I found a fun way to keep Caleb busy: freeze candy and toys in a bucket of ice and have him chop at it all morning! Just kidding- that would be mean right? This was just plain fun for them.
The Turner kids have the best recess in town!
We have been putting on little skits...3 kids make a great #...we did Goldilocks and the 3 bears and the 3 Little Pigs. After reading the stories we find props and even little costumes and do a play. They Loved this so much that they started making up their own at night for Mike and I. Here they had Sova in her flower towel- lie on the ground and they poured water on her to make her grow...it was quite creative :)
Enjoying an eye- spy together...when they should be sleepingJust had to throw this is in...she's so stinkin cute.
So this is my class of 2009...we are on to a great start!

Field Trips :)

Yesterday was 'Homeschooling Day' at Sturbridge Village.


It was a wonderful day but I am still recovering! I took the kids by myself and that self had an awful cold :)
I cant remember how many times I had to take them to the bathroom! But I can remember the look on their faces as they watched the horse drawn carriage tromp past them, watching them run up and down the little houses exploring, and watching in awe as the old fashion characters talked about what type of work they were doing. They loved it! As a kid I always wished that I lived in that era- I think I still do :)
We went on the little boat ride but Caleb and Sova were disappointed because they thought the boat was going to go fast. Even though Sova has been here a year- things still pop up that are new to her...like a boat...this was her first and she watched the man steer w/ his steering wheel and she said, 'is this a car boat?' I guess she didnt know some boats have steering wheels :)
The highlight of the day was...The Tin Shop. Jacob was enthralled w/ the tin worker. The man was working on a lantern all day and Jacob wanted to stop into his little shop throughout the day to see how it was coming along. The man got a kick out of Jacob and every time we visited he asked Jacob to hold something for him- which made Jacob stand up straight and glance over at me to make sure I saw the important job he was doing.
Our last stop was again the tin man and Caleb just about had enough- he was exhausted and needed his car seat! I told Jacob we had to go and he quickly said ok and thank-you to the man and walked out. The man said he was impressed w/ Jacob listening to his mama so well that he ran after us to give Jacob on of his creations...a tin cup. He told us not to tell anyone because he is not supposed to do this.
If you could have seen the look on Jacobs face...you would have thought that cup was filled w/ an everlasting bag of candy! The whole ride home he talked about how much he loves 'the tin man' and that he was going to send him a giftcard! He is so proud of his little cup- make sure you ask him about it when you see him!

Sova-Grace looking out of the 'car boat' in her bonnet...(actaully that was my bonnet when I was little that I got in Amish Country :)





And...here are some pics from the the Hebron Fair...
Jacob got to hold a baby chick- so cute.
Caleb lovin the kid quads

Little Ballerina

August 31, 2008
Sova's 1st day in America...she walked into her room and put on a tutu...


August 31, 2009: One year (to the day) later she is in that same tutu at her 1st Ballet class.


I took her to the studio a few weeks before and the instructor gave Sova her own little tour of the 3 studios. While the lady was talking to me- Sova started jumping around in the center shrieking, 'I just want to dance- I just want to dance!'
Because of her uncoordinated- and still somewhat awkward legs- I thought that dance would actually be good for her (and the fact that she has been asking to do it since she learned English;)
Everyone knows that Sova is not shy- but the day before Ballet we were talking about it and she said, 'ummm...maybe tomorrow we will just have a stay home day..."
I couldnt believe she was nervous- she's been through newness all year and never showed nervousness...I actually see it as a good thing...she know's what is normal and safe (home w/ mommy:)
Anyways...she ended up loving it...
I was glued to the observation window...wondering how all the other mom's could sit and chit chat- I didnt want to blink and miss a second of this! It's 45 minutes long- She listened and followed all the instuctions...I was one proud mama :)


This is her nervous stance- hand on the hips-observing...

the girls each bring in their own dance bags to change from their tap to ballet shoes


Prima Ballerina