Hodge Podge! Lapbooks, Sunsets and a DEER!!

To begin, I have finally gotten all the pictures of the three lapbooks I have done so far with one of my coop classes. I am doing a class for Kindergarten based slightly on the Five In A Row curriculum. The first two we made were on the stories from FIAR but this first one pictured, I just completed with them for Christmas. It was not based on a story. (The pictures are of the one I did as a sample, each child made their own to take home)

Front of the Christmas lapbook.


Back cover

front cover opened, under the Christmas tree matchbook we added Christmas tree facts, the gingerbread house has a gingerbread recipe inside, the word list has two lists of Christmas vocab words, the candy cane has the history of the candy cane on the back.

the opposite side, poem book with lots of fun Christmas poems, a mini book with the Christmas story


Inside red flip up page with Christmas picture made from shapes cut out, under the flap is and envelope holding a Christmas bell puzzle, the winter day mini book has a recipe for peppermint hot cocoa and a picture of hot cocoa and cookies, the bottom flap is a colored candy cane with a candy cane poem ( short version of the legend of the candy cane)

the front of the white flip down page is a snowman with a poem, the pocket holds various scarves and hats that can be used to "dress" the snowman.


The red flip page folded down has an angel made from bells.


This is the first story we did based on the book Lentil.
front cover


opened up, a picture of a boy playing the harmonica with an outline of the story, counting lentils activity ( the children actually glued lentils on theirs instead of the dots), an Ohio flag and Ohio facts, lots of patriotic holiday mini books, a USA map showing where we are and where Ohio is, a bookmark with the Pledge of Allegiance.


The inside small flap flipped over shows the mini book with fractions in music, and also an accordion folded worksheet making musical note patterns, on the flap are two mini books on the sense of taste.



The second story we worked on was How To Make An Apple Pie and See The World.
front cover


front cover opened shows an apple pattern activity, the little pocket holds apple cards to complete the patterns, down the side are some apple poems, a map of the world, the opposite page is an apple tree made with using fingerprints for apples.

opened up, the typed out complete story, and directions for the flash cards(under the pink page), and apple fact shape book and an apple puzzle


the inside page flipped open has the flash cards in pockets and the four seasons flip books



We all have really enjoyed making the lapbooks and are excited to start a new story when we get back to coop after Christmas break.

One night last week, we happened to look out the window and saw an AMAZING sunset!! It was so pretty, the sky looked like it was on fire almost!! My camera is not the best for taking pics like this (can't wait to get my new one that is being delivered TODAY!!) but it does give an idea how beautiful it was!!






Now, if you do not like hunting, or hunting pictures, I am warning now to not go any further. Aaron finally got to go hunting with Aunt Kay and Uncle Nicky. They have been trying to take him for the last 3 years or so but it hasn't worked out until now. He got his first deer the first night there!! Here he is with his deer!! When he shot, they thought it was a doe but found out after it was a small spike.

Yes, that is the deer's tongue hanging out!




Talking to me on the phone telling me all about it!







Well, that is all for now. We have been staying busy with Christmas fun. We are officially on our Christmas break and have lots to keep us busy! We have been working on painting Momo and Ian's room and changing the theme to Ga. Bulldogs!! I will post pictures when we get it all done. I also have plans to paint the bathroom and living room before Christmas. I also plan to do some baking, making some gifts, our Christmas party for coop,Aaron and Kristen have church parties, family coming to town for the holiday and our BIG Christmas Eve family get together is at our house this year!! That all should make for a busy but fun week!!

Playing the Catch Up Game

Well, once again, I have gotten slack in my blogging. No excuse really other than just staying busy with life and enjoying the season with family and friends. I'll just tell the story of what we have been up to for the past few weeks in pictures.

First, Ian was helping Papa(Randy) fix a leak on the truck one morning.





We finished the first term at coop on the 14th of November. It was a great term. Here is my kindergarten class finishing up their lapbooks for the story How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. We had a lot of fun with this story. I will take more detailed pics of the lapbooks to post later.


Momo on the far right, back row.


Next, here is my It's a Bug's Life class showing their "bugs" they created using all sorts of craft supplies. They also wrote a story and shared those with the class to finish up the term. Lots of fun!! (Kristen is the second from the left in the back row)



My sister and brother in law came down for the night that next Sunday. Both my brothers were also at the house as we were taking care of some business. Here are the four of us!! Pictures of all of us together don't happen very often. Yes, my LITTLE brothers are TALL, I am 5' 91/2 " to give an idea how tall they are.



Here I am with my niece Asha.


And here is my sister and my nephew (her son).



Next up is Thanksgiving Day. This was early in the day. Ian, Aaron and I were watching the Macy's Parade on TV. Aaron got the camera out and snapped some pictures. They girls were out playing and Randy was still at work.








I got up bright and early on Black Friday and went shopping. I am happy to say I am about 98% finished. I just have a few small items to pick up but other than that I am done!! I am so glad to have that behind me.
Saturday, we just hung out, ran some errands and then put the Christmas tree up that night.

After the tree was done, the kids and Uncle John John all chilled on the couch!!

Now isn't this an exciting looking bunch!! HAHAHAH

Sunday morning started early again. Randy, John John, Aaron and Kristen went to Jacksonville to see a NFL game. Here are a few pics they took while there. Ian, Morgan and I just hung out at home and finished putting the Christmas decorations out.

The guys.


Uncle John John.....my youngest brother.

Back at home. Just a few random shots.




Some of the decorations.

The hard life of a teenager.....playing ZUMA

Thursday was an exciting day for Morgan. She was invited to go to a concert with her friend (our neighbor) Sara. She was very excited to do such a big girl thing all by herself!! Here she is all ready to go, waiting for Mrs. Lisa and Sara to pick her up.

It wouldn't be Momo if she didn't get a silly picture!!

Now the cute ones!

Last but not least....here is Maggie. She has found that the window sill behind the love seat in the school room makes a good place to relax and watch the world go by. Kristen took this picture of her the other day. Maggie's birthday is today, Dec. 2nd. She is a year old!! Happy Birthday Mag-Mag!!

Well, there you have it. That is what life has been like around our house the past few weeks. Now, we are getting ready to start a new term at coop this Wednesday and the normal school. We will have lots of fun celebrating the Christmas season throughout the month as well, I am sure!! We will be painting pottery, having a Christmas party at coop and lots of crafts, baking and such too so there will be lots of pictures to share. For now though, I guess it is bedtime for me......