Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a very nice Thanksgiving, and the kids loved everything this year.  They are so much more open now to trying different foods and like almost everything, except celery!  Now that they knew what was involved, the idea of stuffing the turkey was not very exciting.  So, they watched, and we stuffed!  As we celebrated our second Thanksgiving together, our challenges have become less, and the kids continue to adjust to their new life in our family.   We have a lot to be thankful for as we begin our second holiday season together.

 

Where has the time gone?

Time has just flown by since the kids started school.  I thought I would have more time, but I think it is even busier now!  Although none of us like getting up at 5:45 to get ready for school, the kids really like it, and it was a good choice for our family.  The work is hard for them since they are behind, so we have extra work to do each night.  We are very proud of them for the progress they have made.

The kids enjoyed Halloween more this year than last year because they knew what to expect.  We went to the same pumpkin patch as last year, so everyone could choose their own pumpkin.  They were much more selective this year and tried to find the best round ones for carving!  Although the pumpkin seeds were just as slimy, the kids new it would be worth it when they had roasted pumpkin seeds to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Our church has a special Fall Festival on Halloween night for our communit each year.  It is a great option instead of trick or treating.  The kids dressed-up like pirates and had a good time.  We have lots of candy to eat now!

It Has Been Two Weeks!

 

It is hard to believe the kids have now been in school for two weeks.  The time is just flying by!  Except for getting up very early every morning, this has been a nice change for us all.  The kids really like their teachers and are making new friends.  Our conversations at dinner are now about what did you do in reading and math today, what was your favorite activity today, who ate what for lunch, and who misbehaved and got their name on the board.  So far, the teachers have just been reviewing, so all of the material is very easy for the kids.  We will see as time progresses how they do and if we chose the right grade for them.  So, our afternoons include a snack, shower, homework, dinner, books, and off to bed.  I am still working with the kids on handwriting, Spanish, computer, and reading in the afternoon, since they don't have much homework yet.  I am learning that one of the hardest things about sending them to school is not having control over their learning and understanding all the material they are being taught.  So, we will continue to work hard at school and at home.  We are very proud of them, and they have done a great job embracing this new school and jumping in with a great and happy attitude.

Their New Classrooms

Everything about school in America is brand new for the kids.  In Colombia, the kids had desks to sit in at school, but it was first come first serve.  No one had their own.  If you didn't get one, you just sat in the back of the room.  School consisted of a lot of copy work from the teacher and the blackboard.  They were never called on to answer questions, take tests, or have a need for critical thinking skills.  They only went to school until lunch everyday  We really like all of the kids' teachers and really glad we made the decision to enroll the kids in this school.  The kids were so excited about their desks that have their own name on it and a place for all of their supplies.  This school bases a lot of their teaching with music and positive instruction.  They have very high expectations and want to instill a love of learning at the same time.  So, a lot of the skills the kids are taught, especially math, are set to music.  The teachers are all very up beat, and everyone is excited for another school year.

Painting Once Again

Although the kids are growing up (too fast!), they still like all of the simple things we did together when they first got home.  Playing with play dough, Wiki Stix, and painting on their easel are just a few of those things.  The only difference is that these fun activities have to wait for the weekend now.  Our afternoons now consist of homework, dinner, and bed.  We did paint recently, and the way the kids think now is so different, and it shows the progress we have made.  Rather than just picking up the brush and starting to paint, they really things things through.  Before we stopped schooling, the kids were doing creative writing at school everyday.  We taught them that they first need to start with characters and a setting, then a problem, and then a solution.  I had the kids think about that before they painted.  If they were to write a story, what would that look like on paper. 

Juan loves sea creatures and dinosaurs, so he wanted to illustrate what it would be like if you were driving over a bridge and could see fish in the water on a beautiful sunny day.

Angie loves animals, especially cats.  So, her story takes place on a farm near the barn.

Ingrid loved the beach when we went on vacation earlier this year.  So, like Juan, she focused her story on water as her setting.  In her picture, there were baby seagulls in a nest and a Mommy seagull nearby in the water.  The Daddy seagull is flying in the sky to make sure his wife and babies are safe, while he looked for some food to bring back to them.

We are proud of them for all they have learned!  Throgh all of the daily challenges we faced, the kids have made so much progress.