museum day

We visited Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art today to get some “culture” into the kids system. We’ve seen variety of art pieces (paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, you know… like in the museum) from different regions and times.

The kids were making fun of all of the “nakedness” exposed as something to be valued, cherished, looked upon and studied for the generations to come. Actually, Teah was disgusted, Kevin was laughing like crazy, Sophie was observing from every possible angle and then whispering something to Kevin. They’ve got educated, for sure.

Teah was amazed at some modern pieces ( the ones with huge black square on the dark brown background, or one small apple floating on the green background), and decided that to become a modern artist, you don’t need that much talent, and even less creativity.

Even I was amazed at the European Photography exhibition. I see better photography art on flickr, for sure… ( just joking…. or maybe not???)

It was interesting to see that they can recognize the characteristic art pieces representing different centuries, cultures and forms. Teah was liking Impressionists again and when my American husband ( her dad) asked if she knew what abstract art was, she looked at him with a dismay and answered:

Daddy, I knew what abstract art was when I was 6!

We ventured around the Museum’s grounds, finally having a spontanious picnic with crackers and chips, and observing the little chipmunk.

Then we spent about 2h in the Barnes and Nobles, just relaxing and having a good family time.

 

questions

Sophie was asking today many questions. Two of them:

“Do you think, after you die?”

That was the beginning of 3 minutes eschatology teaching on 5-year old level.

“Why can’t we be like God?”

(out of my three kids, only she could ask that… my independent, daring heart)

That was the beginning of 3 minutes Adam and Eve, consequences of sin, profitable obedience, and the issue of pride teaching. The snake’s question was pointed to, of course.

 

schedule change

My American husband has a schedule change. We had not have a free Saturday for over a year, so I am very greatful for this change. That means, I can go to the prayer room in the morning. I’m not a morning person… but…it works better for all of us, so here I come - 6am sets!!! ( I wonder how long will I last…)

I am looking into the next homeschooling schedule and I think we will be able to pull it off much better than the last year. Since he will have late afternoons, evenings and some nights busy at IHOP, he can spend more time with the kids, even help me with the homeschooling, and we have one day totally free for the “family day”. That also means, 5 evenings a week he will not be home… well, no schedule is perfect.

 

WALL-E

We watched it. You must too.

Humanly emotional robot longing for affection in his deserted earthly world, meets with an unexpected visitor of his kind, but much more civilized, sophisticated and armed. They create a bond, interrupted suddenly by an unusual find, which is precious to the visitor. Wall-E needs to follow his matrix heart, and discovers new, but also ancient civilization of species that live in a perfect world. His appearance interrupts this highly organized, sophisticated and predictable world and turns the things upside down.

In the car, right after the movie, Sophie asked: “Can we go and watch it again?”

I can not decide if “Nemo” or “Toy story” was better. I would put them all in the same 1st place. Totally worth $5.

 

StumbleUpon

In the theme of decluttering, I started to clean up this blog’s side bar. I am finally putting all of my links (gradually, few a day) in StumbleUpon !!! This is a great achievement, since I was dragging the thought for over a year or so. I had so many “favorites” and even signed up to del.icio.us, but the little icons on StumbleUpon (plus the convenient bar in my browser) convinced me to trust the visual oriented social bookmarking site.

You can have a peek in my StumbleUpon (click on the tags to find what you are interested in). I have so many bookmarks for homeschooling sites that it is ridiculous, but I use or used them frequently, so I want to keep them forever. Not mentioning hours of research I’ve put into it…

I hope I can finish this next week and declutter this blog from hundreds of links.

 

Dethroning the Prince

to read about it click on the photo

 

Tapestry of Grace

After many years (well, 3 or 4) of searching for the Curriculum that will fit our family (that I would like, kids will enjoy, somewhat classical, somewhat Charlotte Mason, literature rich, possible to teach 3 kids at the same time, Christian based), I am set for Tapestry of Grace. I like many things about it.

• 4 year rotation
• Bible/Christian rich
• Great books
• I can pick and choose, flexibility
• Once I buy each year, I reuse it with every child in 4 years rotations.
• It does not teach American History for 8 years!!!! (instead, it gives the understanding of the flow of the historical events throughout the ages)
• It covers: History, Church history, Literature, Geography, Fine Arts, Government, Philosophy, Writing & Composition. So I need to add only Math, Science and Grammar in older years, and in younger Phonics and Spelling, Math.
• It’s not only a plan of study, but rather evolving way of learning how to study.
• I learned in a very similar way in my Elementary and High School (Communism had a good free education)
• I love it.

Now I just need to get the money!

Below are the 3 weeks samples for the curious ones:

 

Kids in ministry conference

We’ve got blessed again. Our friends, the Whites, are sponsoring Teah’s participation in Kids in Ministry conference.

This year’s theme is

 

decluttering

photo by Anke

Lots of people over the weekend, from Ukraine, St.Louis and Houston. Lots of fun for the kids.

I am trying to declutter homeschooling stuff. Wish me luck. Amazing how much one student can accumulate. There is a law in MO, that we have to keep their “portfolios” form all the years, until they are 16, I guess. I can’t imagine how much is that gonna be over 11 years of homeschooling for each child. For now I have one big box (that’s Teah’s 5 years and Kevin’s 3 years of homeschooling career).

I am already done with the clothes. I think I had about 2 huge black garbage bags to give away. And…I did give them away, they are not sitting in my garage!

After that I will target every bedroom and hopefully every other possible place, except garage (too hot and humid) I hate clutter. This is FlyLady advice about decluttering. She says, do 1 h every day, but I can’t. I throw all the “junk” in the middle and then go through it systematically, until I can’t look at it anymore. Then I have a tea.

I wanted to do it since last year, and if I don’t start now, I will never finish before the new homeschooling year comes. I will see if I have guts to do a garage sale.

 

artykuł o edukacji domowej w “Polityce”

Znalazłam artykuł na temat edukacji domowej w “Polityce”

 

wife hunt

I have a friend who is looking for a companion in his life. Here is what I found about biblical wife-hunting:

Finding a Wife

The Top 15 Biblical Ways to Acquire a Wife

Find an attractive prisoner of war, bring her home, shave her head, trim her nails, and give her new clothes. Then she’s yours.
– Deuterononmy (Deuteronomy 21:11-13)

Find a prostitute and marry her.
– Hosea (Hosea 1:1-3)

Find a man with seven daughters, and impress him by watering his flock.
– Moses (Exodus 2:16-21)

Purchase a piece of property, and get a woman as part of the deal.
– Boaz (Ruth 4:5-10)

Go to a party and hide. When the women come out to dance, grab one and carry her off to be your wife.
– Benjaminites (Judges 21:19-25)

Have God create a wife for you while you sleep. Note: this will cost you a rib.
– Adam (Genesis 2:19-24)

Agree to work seven years in exchange for a woman’s hand in marriage. Get tricked into marrying the wrong woman. Then work another seven years for the woman you wanted to marry in the first place. That’s right. Fourteen years of toil for a woman.
– Jacob (Genesis 29:15-30)

Cut off 200 foreskins off of your future father-in-law’s enemies and get his daughter for a wife.
– David (I Samuel 18:27)

Even if no one is out there, just wander around a bit and you’ll definitely find someone. (It’s all relative of course.)
– Cain (Genesis 4:16-17)

Become the emperor of a huge nation and hold a beauty contest.
– Xerxes or Ahasuerus (Esther 2:3-4)

When you see someone you like, go home and tell your parents, “I have seen a …woman; now get her for me.” If your parents question your decision, simply say, “Get her for me. She’s the one for me.”
– Samson (Judges 14:1-3)

Kill any husband and take HIS wife. (Prepare to lose four sons though).
– David (2 Samuel 11)

Wait for your brother to die. Take his widow. (It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law).
– Onan and Boaz (Deuteronomy or Leviticus, example in Ruth)

Don’t be so picky. Make up for quality with quantity.
– Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3)

A wife?…NOT!!!
– Paul (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)

taken from here

 

5 year old

Teah and Kevin are at the Signs and Wonders camp (click the banner to read), which means Mon-Fri: quiet house. Right? Not, when you have 5 year old!!! I thought I would have time to attack some of the parts of the household, which are neglected an no one even knows what grows there any more, but… 5 year old needs to be entertained. So after reading 120 books, playing 38 board games, helping me with the cooking and cleaning, having some friends over, watching all of the movies we own, it’s Friday and the older kids are coming home to reunite with the lonely 5 year old Sophie.

Next year, please do the camp for 6 year old available too.

 

14 years

today is our wedding anniversary.

When we were getting married, I though that for 10th anniversary we would go to Hawaii, for 2 weeks or so. By then, I though, we would be “established” (whatever that means).

Well, here we are, after 14 years, living in 3 continents and 5 countries, having the 3 awesomest (I made up this word, neologism=making new words) kids, we celebrated with an ice cream from McDonalds. I will go to Hawaii for my 25th.

photo by Um Ibrahim

 

real football

Euro 2008 started. The real football (you really play with your feet). Why do Americans call football soccer(maybe to remember to put socks on)? Why do they call the other game football, when they hardly use their feet? The real football (soccer) is much harder to play (according to me). it’s the only sport I loooooove to watch(well, maybe gymnastics and ice figure skating fall in the same category). People in Europe(and the world, except for USA and China maybe) go crazy over it, especially during European or World cups.

Kevin played soccer for some time in the past, but he talked more to the couch and the kids than kicked the ball. I don’t think he will be the next Pelle ot Platini.

 

weekend

Friday: friends from St. Louis with their kids arrived for 3 nights: 3 adults, 5 kids. The kids played, loud. The adults talked, long. Someone spotted 2 snap turtles in our ditch. My American husband was trying to catch one for all to admire, but the turtle was smarter.

Saturday: More play, more talking. No hot water, and 5 adults+8 kids trying to get ready for the wedding. Some bravely took cold showers, some splashed in a tub filled with 3 in of warmed up water. We were not even late for the wedding. Panke was getting married to Rachel. Miracles happen. For Nate, that is.

Sunday: church ( Lou Engle on fasting ), grill with more friends (2+2), worship set at IHOP, packing kids bags for the camp. Couldn’t find flashlight and Kevin’s Bible. Evening visit with more friends (1+2). Kids go nuts.

Monday: Sophie off to another VBS. Lunch. Teah and Kevin and the other kids off to the camp. They tell me one million times to take care of the bunnies, while they are gone. Took Sophie to the library, came home at about 2pm and took a nap. American husband took Sophie to Chucky Cheese. Then I finished “Escape”. It’s so quite. Amazing.