Week in Review: Week 12 November 3-7

We are still chugging along, trying to get all of our work accomplished.  This seems to be getting harder everyday to stay motivated and on top of everything.  I am still, yes STILL, trying to figure out the best schedule for us.  I am finding it really hard to fit in history, science, and our language arts after lunch for the big boys and work on science and language arts with Britton.  There is just not enough time.  I have been tossing around the idea of switching history and science every other month, so I feel like we actually put the time in that I would like too.  We will see.

We are slowly working on our FIAR & BFIAR books.  It is taking between 2 & 3 weeks for us to complete one book, due to so many other projects and activities.  Greyson and Lincoln are reading Storm in the Night and Britton is reading The Big Green Pocketbook.  Both are great stories and I hope to finish them up next week and move on to Thanksgiving activities.

Britton filling his green bag

Britton is learning about the 5 senses in science.  We worked on hearing and smell this week.  I hid a timer around the room and he had to listen for it, we read books on hearing, and we did a hearing Safari where he had to listen for different sounds outside.  I had him smell all different types of spices and he put them in good and bad groups.  This was funny to do with him!

 Sound Safari

 Writing good and bad smells

 bad smell

Much better

Greyson and Lincoln just started their Nancy Larson Vol. 3 science. They are learning about the solar system.  We read quite a few books about the sun and had some great discussions about how important the sun really is.  They also did a fun sun craft.

 Smooshing (that's a word, right?) colors together to make a sun

We made it almost every single after school activity this week!   Next semester we are simplifying a bit.  I need at least one day off after school.  They are all doing great with swimming and the big kids are still loving soccer.  They also were very excited to get their Christmas songs for piano. They have been practicing for their Christmas recital.

One exciting thing that happened this week was that I was pretty sure that my motor bike was going to explode on the way to the school.  About halfway there I almost turned back home because the sound was getting louder and louder.  By the time I made it to the street the school is on I made the boys hop off because I thought any extra weight was just going to push my bike over the edge.  I pulled into the drive thankful I had made it.  Ben tried driving it and it completely stopped moving! We called the bike shop, they came and picked up my motorbike and had it all ready for me the very next day!  Service really is amazing here.  They even fixed my broken break handle for no extra charge!  Thankfully, my bike wasn't completely dead and  it just had something to do with the clutch.

We celebrated our favorite Thai Holiday, Loy Krathong this past Thursday.  Check out my post here. We had a great time at the neighborhood festival.

This week, we also said goodbye and a massive thank you to our maid, O.  She has been with us since we moved to Thailand and I could not say thank you enough for all she did for me everyday she came to my house.  Honestly, she kept me sane!  She kept me organized and and feeling like I had some control in my life.  She actually works right across the street from us, so we still get to see her everyday.  I am very thankful for her!

Lincoln completed reading 40 chapter books so far this school year. Once you read 40 books, you can pick an activity to do to celebrate, so Lincoln chose to go to the mall and play video games.  We had a great morning celebrating Lincoln!

We also finished reading Hatchet  by Gary Paulsen this week.  If you have not read it, put it on your list.  What an amazing story!
                                                           

So, that was our week.  Ready to move on and start planning Thanksgiving.  And have I mentioned the HUGE surprise we have for the boys?!  It's happening on Thanksgiving and I cannot wait. Anyone have any guesses?

One more sweet moment:  Greyson & Lincoln both reading at breakfast