October co-op

So, this year and last year, we have transitioned from meeting every Friday, to meeting about once a month. There are so many contributing factors. One of them is that the kids go to classes 2 days a week now...so 3 days of being gone would be too much (we would never get any of our work at home done). Other reasons were babies, pregnancies and bed rest over the last 2 years. It just became too hard to be prepared EVERY week. It is working out really well this way. We study science, Story of the world (history in chronological order), and usually try to celebrate a holiday that is nearby.

So, after our study of the different parts of the brain and the brain lobes, as well as history, we had some fun.

The kids decorated Halloween cupcakes. Julia, as you can see, refused to wash her face painting off from the day before. We did, however, take a shower and scrub it off after co-op :)

Stefanie had a fun craft idea of modge podging glass jars with Halloween characters, to put votive candles in. The kids had tons of fun with it. Jacob told me it was his favorite craft we have done in co-op thus far.

Here are the final results: We have ghosts, pumpkins, monsters and creative designs.
They turned out really cute!
Here are my kids' lit up after!

Spring Break Field Trip-The Science Center

So, our homeschool co-op group has slowed down quite a bit this year. I ad a new baby and Stefanie was on bedrest for the 1st semester. Then, she had her baby 2nd semester and the kids started attending 2 days of classes, rather than 1. All of that to say....meeting every Friday was a bit too much this year. (How did I manage to do it last year-pregnant for the whole school year and working for 2 schools?-so crazy). Anyway, we started out with the intention of meeting every other Friday and this semester, it has become about once a month. We love the book we are using...it allows for almost no prep-work. We look forward to it so much! Weeks are just so full and we would have no days to homeschool if we did it every week! The 1st year of co-op, we took like 4-5 field trips. The kids remember those most. This year, we just took our 1st (and maybe last) one. It makes me sad because the kids love them so much! Anyway...we studied the human body this year. The CA Science Center has some really cool stuff in this regard, so that is where we went. We chose to go during our spring break from classes, rather than cram it into a week with 2 days of classes. It was lots of fun. I really hope we will plan more next year! :)

Funny how our group continues to "grow" yet no one new has joined! :)

Even cute Jonah got to participate and daddy came this time, which was a treat! :)

There was this cool "ecosystem" exhibit. It bag with a "film" and our group pretty much took up the whole room!

Brace Yourself for the rest of April!!!!

Well, here I go again.....totally behind on my blog. This is becoming a way-of-life. I needed to sum up all of April so bare with me....sorry for the plethora of pictures! Then, I need to move on to May. What is going to happen to my poor, neglected blog after this baby is born?

The yard project continues!.......Jeremy is a good worker and did a lot to help prepare the garden and plant.

Daddy and Jeremy are laying the sod!!!!yeah.....no more dirt!

Julia is working real hard while the yard work is being done!

One coop day at Stef's house. Does Josh look like he is loving life?

Our Reagan Library field trip. We just got finished studying the Magna Carta, so we wanted to see it while it was still on display there.

The kids had a fun day! It was a really great fieldtrip!

In front of AirForce One....

Yard work in the back also! I had to take this picture to remember Jeremy's determination. He needed to dig up this plant that was entangled in tree roots. He was so persistent and would not give up...all the while mumbling to the plant to "say your prayers" etc. until he finally got the plant out about 30 minutes later. I was quite proud that I got to witness his hard work and refusal to quit!

We started a fruit and vegetable garden. The kids were so excited to get a "Topsy Turvy" (upside down tomato planter). they love to check daily for new tomatoes.

Julia was so excited to find her 1st strawberry of the season!

Josh's 8th Birthday morning.....he got to wake up to a counter full of presents! Lots of fun. This year, his party will be a month or so late....we are doing a combination party for Josh and Jake because of the baby being due the day before Jake's birthday.

The boys are very impressed with his new Bakugon.


We also celebrated at co-op.

Loving all of the attention....

Easter "Saturday".....we had a celebration at one grandma and grandpa' house while Louie was off on Saturday.

Our little "Easter Bunny" playing the piano

After the 1st Easter Celebration, the kids were exhausted. We went to tuck the kids in and couldn't find Julia.....she was passed out in Josh's bed with her "muffin hat" on! (Her little hair net she sleeps in when she sleeps in curlers!)

Easter Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's.......

Easter Co-op

Co-op was really fun the Friday before Easter. For science, we studied creation vs. evolution so the kids read through creation in the bible. For History, they studied the Crusades. Then, we had a fun snack and craft for Easter.

We made Rice Krispy treats into Easter eggs (which sure beats hard-boiled eggs)!

Then, the kids got to dip them half-way in milk or white chocolate, and decorate them with sprinkles!

These plates were not actually "posed" in a very cute way, but each kid ended up with 3 eggs and jelly beans to eat in the end.....happy kids!

We also made a craft of Easter Lilies and the flowers were actually created out of the kids' hand prints. (I'm a sucker for anything made out of their hand prints because it is so touching to look back on later!)
The end product was really cute. here is a bouquet of all of my kids' lilies in a vase!!! Fun Day!

Valentine's Day Party

It has been so much fun to be meeting for our co-op group again, after such a long break for Christmas. It's amazing how much more enjoyable and relaxed it is this year, now that we have a year under our belts! We had a good time throwing the kids a little mini class Valentine party. Lots of food, and a card exchange, of course! The kids had a great time!