November 19, 2010
Tonight the Music Man came to town & D entered into the world of theater traveling on a train to River City. He came out from behind his newspaper to deliver with his line "Hill!" with precision, ...
...then delivered the band instruments to a eager crowd ...
And put his gymnastic skills to use during the play's dance number.
What a fun evening of music and laughter with the Konos Junior class! Congratulations you all!
November 11, 2010
So sad.
Baxter had to have a big cyst removed.
We are hoping this means only another week or two in the cone of shame.
November 12, 2010
**A- with her Periodic Table Pillowcase
This year we decided to meet with another family for labs for accountability in our jr. high science class. The curriculum, The Rainbow, paces out 2 lessons and one lab a week. That's perfect for our two Jr. High boys to teach their siblings about "their" chapter and then we move on to the lab. For some of the Chemistry topics we've added some activities from Ellen McHenry's The Elements . Her curriculum is full of fun games and activities.
I am so thankful for the accountability and the fun getting together with another family provides!
November 12, 2010
Over a picnic breakfast of banana bread and hot chocolate, E, A- and I watched the mist rise off the lake early this morning. E had a photography assignment of taking a photograph every 15 minutes as the sun rose so she could see the effect of light.
I think I'm enjoying this class as much as she is. If not more.
November 11, 2010
***The many Konos Academy students in Roman Wear
Gladiators, Gods, Education, Weddings, Chariot Races, Fashion, Soldiers, ... these were just some of topics explored in the eighteen scenes of this year's Roman Forum. The students used their knowledge (and their wit) to put together video, conversation and displays to further our knowledge of the Roman Way. During intermission we were treated to a Roman Feast complete with peacock eggs and stuffed doormice - yum, yum!
Highlighting the fashionable Roman gentleman on the left, E explains how a senator would dress.
L models the latest in children's wear.
November 6, 2010
This was a rare day. We were all home and, oh, so industrious. Among some of the projects were putting up a dog run, composing a guitar solo, creating a tunic and toga for a Roman project, experimenting with the new found property of goopus to make fart noises, celebrating a friendship that will be moving away with an afternoon of air soft, and making the school/play room livable again. It always amazes me, and often makes my head spin, how many varied activities that eight bodies can bring to a family.
At dinnertime we settled down going in the same direction for a planned family night with a Columbian theme. The menu tonight came once again from the web. The Columbian author says that this (her mom's recipe) was her favorite growing up. I think my kids would have to get use to Columbian spices before they would claim it as a favorite.
Why Columbia? I recently received a DVD from Voice of the Martyrs about the ministry of Russell Stendal, a missionary pilot who drops Christian books and radios, pre-set to Christian programming, into isolated guerrilla-controlled regions in the jungle or in rural areas. The books and radios float to the ground by small parachutes. After watching the section of the DVD about his ministry we set to making a few parachutes to send to him.
Cutting
Writing "Dios es Amor"
Sewing on the Strings
Our two finished parachutes will soon be on their way to the jungle!
Now, onto a productive evening of making great strides towards getting our June 2008 Out West scrapbook done before the 2 for one sale ends. Can she do it? .... So thankful for the extra hour added in tonight!
November 2, 2010
For weeks, Konos Kids have been studying what it means to be an entrepreneur. They've read Truett Cathy's Eat More Chikin and toured his headquarter learning in the process how one man relied on godly principles to guide him in the world of business. They've stretched their brains to grasp the economic principles presented in Richard Maybury's Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? And after reading, The Toothpaste Millionaire, they dreamed of emulating Rufus' entrepreneurial qualities that gave him the ability to make millions off producing and selling toothpaste.
Planning, investing and creating, they brought to market day hours of sweat and toil - finally ready to tackle the title of entrepreneur.
After reading Jim Erskine's e-book, 101 Ways to For Young People to Earn Money, L was sure that making what she named, Goopus, was what her target market would enjoy. She broadened her merchandise selections with cards printed with her original artwork and homemade heart shaped crayons.
Her business was a success. She cleared $20 in profits and is planning on continuing the venture.
And we, of course, supported others and are now careful to avoid the sting of several dart gun's that were purchased by eager hands.
November 2010
Off to school this fall he went and, this month,
he brought home his report card.
Straight A's!
Nice job, J!
November 2010
N, M and I teamed up to create the poster for the Konos Jr.'s play.
You are all invited!
November 1, 2010
Easily distracted off my path, I used the excuse of the sunrise to take the way of the winding backcountry Kentucky roads instead of I-75. We stopped to photograph the glory of the sunrise not realizing that we'd start a stampede and loud bawling of this herd that seemed quite happy to see humans outside their gates.
Once again we were distracted off the path by a Book Warehouse store that also had a thrift store next door. Who could pass up the bargains? Or the opportunity to spend a little money to occupy three passengers for the next four hours.
And lastly, it was cows again that got us to stop at the Sweetwater Valley Farms to explore.
The farm has a newly built barn that houses displays describing the milking process.
M- milks? Well, pretends.
A- gets a look at all the different grains the cows consume.
After having a lunch of cheese samples, we couldn't resist some Mayfield's Ice Cream before we headed home.
