Saturday, January 7, 2012

Our Holiday Season

We have been involved in the French Story Time at our local library. The teacher is amazing and the kids have learned so much. Here is a song they sang infront of a bunch of parents for Christmas. Austyn has taken an interest in singing and was asked to sing a part of the song solo.


 We really never stop homeschooling. Our life is full of learning and educational activities. We learned about Christmas past, other religious holidays, watched movies, made crafts and much more. The kids made these pictures to give as gifts. Austyn ended up liking his too much to give away, but I thought that the concept was creative. I didn't give them the idea to do these pictures this way. They did this on their own. Zoe's is the one covered in tape. She still really enjoys using tape over glue.

 We have been visiting family more since we've been here in Ontario. My mother got a few visits from us. We can't paint in the house we are in, easily so we go to her house to paint and do other crafts. The kids got to choose things around the house to give to people. These two boxes are gifts they chose for eachother.

 What did we do with our Christmas crafts? We decorated Grandma's tree!

 We are still living with relatives, but this didn't mean we stopped some of our own traditions. We made cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. This always includes a great deal of joking around.


 We took the time to write Santa letters and then we also did a letter to keep with the cookies. Zoe did the top part and Austyn did the bottom.

 One of the most memorable gifts that they got first thing on Christmas morning was the Bell off of Santa's Sleigh. Austyn had the great idea of asking Santa for this on his letter because we read about how the little boy got a bell in the book Polar Express.


Above are a couple of the surprised looks they had opening gifts Christmas morning. Nanny, Papa, and Grandpa were all there.

We went to more relatives for supper.

 Zoe enjoyed doing make-up and hair.


Austyn enjoyed singing to everyone.
On Boxing Day we saw more family. This is the first time that everyone was together (except one person) in many years. It was nice.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

100 Book Challenge - December 2011


We didn't make it to 100 for December. I am sure I missed some books and some of these books were long, but we still did fine. If'you joined in on this challenge, post a link comment.


1.       365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet
2.       A Christmas Carol by Disney
3.       Aesop’s Fables for Children by Milo Winter - 5 stories – Audio Book
4.       Alphabet of Dinosaurs by Barbie Heit Schwaeber  - Audio Book
5.       Alphabet of Space by Laura Gates Galvin – Audio Book
6.       Animalia by Graeme Base
7.       A Pioneer Christmas by Barbara Greenwood
8.       Beatrice Doesn’t Want To by Laura Numeroff
9.       Bedhead by Margie Palatini
10.   Bing and Chutney off to Moosonee by Andrea Wayne von Konigslow
11.   Blue Horse by Helen Stephens
12.   Celestine Drama Queen by Penny Ives
13.   Chester by Melanie Watt
14.   Chicka Chicka 1 2 3 by Bill Martin Jr, Michael Sampson and Lois Ehlert
15.   Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela and Steven D’Amico
16.   Eloise at Christmastime by Kay Thompson
17.   Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
18.   Ghost Gets Dressed! By Janee Trasler
19.   Have I got a book for you! By Melanie Watt
20.   Henry Bearès Christmas by David McPhail
21.   I can be Anything! By Jerry Spinelli
22.   If You’re Happy and you Know It by James Warhola
23.   If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by laura Numeroff
24.   Is Your Mama a Llama? By Debarah Guarino Audio Book
25.   It’s A Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook by Stephanie Spinner
26.   La Noche Buena by Antonio Sacre
27.   Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber – Audio Book
28.   McDuff and the Baby by Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers
29.   McDuff Comes Home by Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers
30.   McDuff’s Wild Romp by Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers
31.   Merry Christmas, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
32.   Mommy in my Pocket by Carol Hunt Senderak
33.   My Father Knows the Names of Things by Jane Yolen
34.   My First Baby Brother by Eve Marleau and Michael Garton
35.   My Mom and Me by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
36.   Once There Was a Christmas Tree by Jerry Smath
37.   One Special Tree by Olena Kassian
38.   Oops! By Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet
39.   Owl Babies by Martin Waddel
40.   Panorama A Foldout Book by Fani Marceau and Joelle Jolivet
41.   Pas de taches pour une giraffe by Lucie Papineau et Marisol Sarrazin – Audio Book
42.   Petit Papa Noel by Tino Rossi – Audio
43.   Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Segal
44.   Santa Calls by William Jo6yce
45.   Santa Claws by Laura Leuck
46.   Santa Surprise by Keith Faulkner and Jonathan Lambert
47.   Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
48.   Skippyjon Jones Class Action by Judy Schachner – x2 – Audio Book
49.   Sleepyhead Bear by Lisa Westberg Peters
50.   Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! By Sarah Weeks
51.   Super Hero A B C by Bob McLeod
52.   Ten Timid Ghosts on a Christmas Night by Jennifer O’Connell
53.   The Apple Pie that Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson
54.   The Bakers Dozen A Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Schepard
55.   The Christmas Story by Gennady Spirin
56.   The Christmas Witch by Steven Kellogg
57.   The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
58.   The Knight Before Christmas A Goblin Tale by Clement C. Moore
59.   The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein – Audio Book
60.   The Nutcracker by Wren Maysen
61.   The Popcorn Tree by Carolyn Mamchur
62.   There was a Cold Lady who Swallowed some Snow by Lucille Clolandro – Audio Book
63.   The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett
64.   The Scarecrow’s Dance by Jane Yolen
65.   The Three Grumpies by Tamara Wight
66.   The Twelve Days of Christmas by Justin Todd
67.   The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs by Carolyn Conahan
68.   The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams – Audio
69.   This is the House that Jack Built by Simms Taback – Audio Book
70.   Trixie Halloween Fairy by Daisy Meadows – 5 chapters
71.   Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
72.   Two eggs, please. By Sarah Weeks and Betsy Lewin
73.   You’re Different and that’s Super by Carson Kressley
Austyn
1.       One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss – Austyn Helped Read
2.       The Elson Readers Primer by William H. Elsonand Lura E. Runkel – 5 Stories( Austyn read)
3.       The Reluctant Dragon by Robert D. San Souci
4.       The Spirit of Canada – 2 Stories
5.       The Story of Canada – 2 Stories
6.       Viking Tales by Jennie Hall – 2 Chapters
French Story Time – 2 Books
Zoe
1.       Bob Books Set 1 Book 1 – Zoe Read
2.       Bob Books Set 1 Book 2 – Zoe Read
3.       Bob Books Set 1 Book 3 – Zoe Read
4.       Bob Books Set 1 Book 4 – Zoe Read
5.       Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow
6.       Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
7.       Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
8.       Skippyjon Jones Mummy Trubble by Judy Schachner
9.       What’s Wrong with my Hair? By Satoshi Kitamura

Monday, January 2, 2012

Book Sharing Monday - I is for Inuksuk

I is for Inuksuk is a great way to look at the alphabet in the Arctic. 

 
Many Inuit words are used.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Mystery Class 2012

We may try and do the Mystery Class this year. I learned about this from Alex over at Canadian Home Learning a couple of years ago. I have watched through her blog how much her children enjoyed this clallenge. Basically, from what I understand, there are ten cities around the world. These cities document their sun rise and sun set over a period of time. The participants in this challenge document each city and their own sun rise and sun set and when the time period is finished they compare them all and research it to try and make an educated guess as to which cities the mystery locations are. It starts January 30th so click HERE to learn more or register for Mystery Class.