Gingerbread Houses

Swiss Alps

We read a book called "The Remarkable Christmas of the Cobbler's sons" by Ruth Sawyer.
It was about a village named Tirol where a legend of a goblin king, King Laurin. He loved to play pranks and pop on the Eve of Christmas to a herdsman's hut and share his wealth. The story is about a poor Cobbler and his sons and how the King came and shared his wealth with them. Very good I am not sure if this is a tradition they have or just a made up story.


The next book we read was "A Cricket's Carol" by Mark Kimball Moulton. I loved this book it is a about a poor orphan boy he hears beautiful music when he follows it he finds it is coming from a cricket. Next to the cricket is a new pair of boots that the boy needed, the boy follows the cricket and sings along with him. Every where they go the boy gets gifts of food and clothes, the boy shares with others in need. So good I cried. In the end the boy gets a family.

Hanukkah

Instead of doing the next unit in Weaver I decided to do Christmas around the world. The first place we visited was Israel. Which the vast majority of the Jewish culture celebrate Hanukkah. I read a story called "Grandma's Latkes" by Malka Drucker it captures the story of the Maccabees a family that stood up to Antiochus a cruel Syrian king, who ruled over the Israelite s and demanded that everyone pray to Greek gods. No other religion was allowed. The Maccabees won and returned to the Temple in Jerusalem when they got there it was filthy with blood,dirt,and ashes. All the books, and Torahs were gone. There was only a drop of oil that could last one day but God provided and it lasted 8 days. So the Jews celebrate Hanukkah year after year with a menorah with 8 candles, they light one for each night and they eat fried foods cooked in oil to symbolize the oil that God provided.

Latkes and Fried Doughnuts

Latkes Recipe

3 large potatoes
1 small onion
2 beaten eggs
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
1/2 cup veggie oil
Wash potatoes grate, grate onion, add beaten egg,four,salt,and pepper. Let mixture sit for ten minutes to thicken. Pour off excess liquid. Heat veggie oil then drop mixture into pan. Flip when brown, drain, eat with sour cream and applesauce.

Challah Bread

* 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
* 1/2 cup honey
* 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 3 eggs
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over barely warm water. Beat in honey, oil, 2 eggs, and salt. Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens. Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough has doubled in bulk.
2. Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto floured board. Divide in half and knead each half for five minutes or so, adding flour as needed to keep from getting sticky. Divide each half into thirds and roll into long snake about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Pinch the ends of the three snakes together firmly and braid from middle. Either leave as braid or form into a round braided loaf by bringing ends together, curving braid into a circle, pinch ends together. Grease two baking trays and place finished braid or round on each. Cover with towel and let rise about one hour.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Beat the remaining egg and brush a generous amount over each braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds if desired.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 40 minutes. Bread should have a nice hollow sound when thumped on the bottom. Cool on a rack for at least one hour before slicing.

Famine, ponds, lakes, oceans, and the water cycle

This unit was about famine, ponds, lakes, and oceans. We read a lot of books some of my favorites were " Autumn Weather" had a section about famine that made us cry. "Far away Home" about a man who is from Ethiopia. "The magic School bus" the Ocean floor about the ocean floor and the different animals and levels of the ocean. John John especially liked this book. "Swimmy" was very cute. "The magic School Bus" the water works."
The bible verses that were referenced are Gen 12:10 First famine in history. Matt 5:45 Rain being a blessing as well as a curse. Lev 26:4, Heb 6:7, rain needed for vegetation to grow. Deut 32:1-4 God's word blesses lives just as rain blesses nature. John 4:5-30 Woman at the well/Living water.

Ocean Mural

This is are ocean mural we did, we labeled the continental shelf, continental slope, shore, ocean bottom, and of course the coral reef. It was a blast the whole family did this.

For one of John John's writing journal assignments he had to write a poem about his life. Well I first had to tell him what a poem was and read some poems to him from
"The Sidewalk Ends." Here it is all in his own words.

"If you were a bug would you go into a jug?
Would you try to fly out?
Yes, I would because it's no fun to be a bug in a jug."

Israel: Shoe box Sukkah

Some of the ladies with their children and I got together at Ballard Hill to do some crafts,Wii, and of course fellowship. Sukkah is a Harvest Celebration that the Israelite s do in remembrance of when God provided for them in the wilderness for 40 years. It was a good lesson and a fun craft.

Hot air balloon time!

I would love to say that I enjoyed this project but I didn't. I had to hand sew it together I finally gave up and started to staple it together. I know ghetto! John John said "maybe we should have waited until I was in 2nd grade" Which I could agree on or when Mommy get's a sewing machine. Anyway here it is and yes that is Harrison Ford "Indiana Jones" in the basket because he is the only one brave enough to ride it.

The verses that were refrenced during this unit were: Gen 11:28-32 Heb 11:10- God directs Abram to move.
Jonah the whole book- obedience Acts 8:1 Acts 8:26-40 Immediate obedience. Here are some sandals the kids made an illustration of the shoes that they wore during Bible times.

Moving and Transportation

We learned different forms of transportation in this unit. We were able to go to the Cole's Transportation Museum to see the different forms of transportation and the history of them. Very fun!

My Nacho's

Just a pic of my three boys who wanted to make wrestling mask. Too much "Nacho Libre" for them.

Family Fun Day

Feild Trip

We went to Treorgy's Orchard in Levant for our first field trip of the school year. We had a blast with our friends, good times of fun, fellowship, and some learning.

Soccer time

John John's first soccer practice. He loved it, he loved being with all his friends too. We are so blessed!

Volcano Time

This was our first volcano. We had a blast, we used this volcano to show how it can change the Earth.

Fossils and maps

This is the map of the United States. We posted pictures of family and had arrows where they lived in proximity of where we live. It was alot of fun.

This is a picture of our fossil of an ash tree leaf. It was a mixture of coffee grounds, four, salt, and cold coffee. It was kinda weird but the kids enjoyed it.
I got this idea from the internet of course!

Luke 14:27-35 Math 5:14

These are piggy banks we made 1 for spending 1 for giving and 1 for saving. We discussed how important it is to be a good steward of what God gives us.

These are clay lamps that in ancient times they used. We discussed how we are the light of the world, we should not hide Jesus's love. If we love Him, we must either shine or diminish. Good reminder for me, the kids loved this.

Fun with puffy paint

We ran out of regular paint so I found a web-site that has recipes for homemade paint.
All it is, is equal parts of flour,water, and salt. Mix then add food coloring. It was great fun.

The First Day of School

The first day of school for the Robinson boys was very eventful. We had a couple hiccups in the day but managed. We had a blast learning so many different things. This year we will be learning tons.