The Rest Of The Senior Pictures

We picked some of our favorites to print as wallets for guests at her party or to slip in thank you notes.  

A Soft Place To Land

This morning, Angelica and I packed the car before heading off to the college to meet up with Miracle for the campus visit.  I should say, Angelica loaded the car while I sat in the lobby after paying the bill. (#288) She is always quick to help me. (#289)

After leaving the college, we finally found a Chick-fil-A and had a quick bite before beginning the journey home.  (#290)

Angelica drove all the way home. (#291) I am so proud of her and how well she handled the responsibility of driving this whole trip. (#292) She has grown and matured so much these past few days.  (#293)

This sign was a welcome sight... (#294)

I am thankful that we were able to make this trip, (#295) that travels were safe, (#296) and to be back home. (#297) Now it's off to bed for me. (#298)

Taking It Easy

Today started with us getting ready and checking out a church here.  Since we are moving here, we thought it would be a good idea to get a jump start on finding a church.  I'm not sure that church is for us, but it was a good experience overall. (#283) Among other things, someone prayed for my ankle to be healed and Angleica's allergy break out to be cleared up.  Both of those prayers were answered before the end of the day. (#284 & 285)  

Then we headed in search of a Target to pick up a few things we needed.  Finding it was easy enough.  After yesterday's attempt to find a restaurant that was a huge blessing. (#286) When we arrived at the shopping center, we looked for a place to eat.  Angelica walked ahead and asked if they served anything she could eat.  They didn't but were willing to make something fresh using only ingredients she could consume. (#287) That is not something a fast food restaurant typically can do, but this little Asian store did.  Plus the food was good.  Less "Americanized" than most.  :)  

After that it was time to drive Miracle to the campus for her overnight stay.  Angelica opted not to stay the night because the risk of encountering corn is just too high.  She and I will head out to the college in the morning to meet up with Miracle and start the tour of the campus.  

What An Adventure!

The plan for today was to spend the day at Mall of America.  It was overstimulating and they didn't have a place that Angelica could eat so we left after only a couple of hours.  It is HUGE and it is so much more than a mall.  Miracle and I both want to go back - just not this trip.  Angelica is so stressed from being the only driver that she can't imagine enjoying it - well, that and the reality that places that are that busy are not her cup of tea.  Still, going was fun. (#275)

We left with directions to Chick-fil-A and ended up driving for over 2 HOURS trying to find anywhere that Angelica could eat!  At least part of that time we were lost. I am thankful for public libraries with free wifi (#276) because that is how we finally found a restaurant!

We ended up eating at Ruby Tuesday. (#277)

Then we all opted to go back to the hotel to relax rather than try to do anything else today. (#278) I look up after a bit and realize both of my girls are doing school work! (#279) I LOVE homeschooling! (#280)

Now we are about to snuggle up and watch Frozen! (#281) Did you know that there is a site that has a plethora of kids movies online - FOR FREE? (#282) 

Learning

Hello.  Bonjour.  Hola.  

A lot of time around our house has been spent learning recently.  Both girls are of course doing their high school work.  In addition to that, they are both taking a language course at the local college.  Miracle is learning French in class.  Angelica is learning ASL.  

At home in the evenings we are also learning Spanish.  Monday through Friday, the girls watch Busy Bee (age 2) and Doc McStuffins (age 7) from 2 until 12.  When the girls first began coming to our house Busy Bee knew no English.  She spent the first hour and a half each day pointing to things saying, "Y esta?" and I would answer in English.  Things were a bit easier once Doc got in from school but there was still some struggle for her on English words as well.  Busy Bee has learned quite a bit of English, we have learned quite a bit of Spanish, and all in all we are communicating well now.  Most things come out of our mouths in Spanish, then English, then often with a spattering of sign language thrown in when we are talking to the little ones.  Angelica is doing the best at picking up Spanish.  

In addition to Busy Bee and Doc, the girls watch Baby Girl (age 1) a few days a week. While she is here both she and Busy Bee are learning to share and use words to express their needs.  Baby Girl's mother is autistic so we worked primarily on learning to recognize and express emotion.  Words cannot convey how excited the girls and I were the first time Baby Girl squealed in delight.(#7) 

We have also realized that in addition to learning language, we need to understand culture.  When Busy Bee and Doc first started coming, Doc would phrase everything as a statement rather than a question.  For example she might say, "I can't have that"  rather than "Can I have that?"  Written out it appears to be a statement, but her inflection almost always sounded like a question.  We had to teach her that in English you actually have to ask the question.  Several months later, we realized that stating questions was a cultural norm for her.  

Doc is doing much better in school since coming to our house.(#8)  At the beginning of the year, she went to her ELL class several times a week.  I haven't seen ELL homework in over a month!  That means she has a much better grasp on the English language.  She has also improved in math, spelling, and reading.  

So it seems we have all been learning.  My girls and I are learning Spanish.  Miracle and Angelica are learning another language as well.  Busy Bee is learning English and how to share.  Doc is learning so many things.  Baby Girl is learning to use language and express emotion.  

What have you learned lately?

SAC Museum

Yesterday, we went on a field trip to the SAC with the entire homeschool co-op.  It was really fun.  A bit much for FigNewTon, but worth the expenditure of energy I think.

We enjoyed the warmth and the sunshine waiting to go in.  

A little more waiting for the presentation to begin.   

They had an inflatable planetarium even.

Then there was a time of learning about our solar system.  

Lastly, we went to a hands on room where they learned about comets, meteors, and asteroids.  It was nice to see the older children interacting with the younger children and teaching them.

I think it is so good for children to be together in a learning environment like that.  I am always blessed by how respectful the older children treat the younger children, how patient they are with them, and how much the younger ones adore the older children and teens.

Also posted on our homeschool blog.