homeschool mother's journal [november.9.2012]

In my life this week. . .

After much consideration, I bought a yogurt maker on taobao (think of taobao as the Chinese eBay, but without the bidding). I think I was almost giddy about its arrival. But I was not the only one...

We are loving the homemade yogurt and are experimenting with our favorite toppings. Josh is a big fan of blueberry jam in his and Tori prefers honey and a little cinnamon.

In our homeschool this week. . .

We had our typically busy Monday with writing class and Girl Scouts both on the other side of the city. In fact, Monday night we didn't get home until after 7:30! But after that, we spent the next four days at home. As the weather turned cooler with lots of rain, we were glad to just stay at home and be productive. Both Josh and Becca started their second book in our literature program. Becca started A Cricket in Times Square and Josh began Shiloh. In A Cricket in Times Square, the book is set in Chinatown in New York City. B has been humored by all the suggestions that she should do to be help her become better acquainted with Chinese culture. ☺

My favorite thing this week. . .

One afternoon I had a friend over for coffee. While we were talking downstairs, Josh was reading (typical).  However, the girls were quiet and nowhere to be seen. It is normal for B to disappear into a book or retreat to her room to knit. But Tori is my busy girl. So I almost always know where she is just by listening. The exception to this is when she is drawing at her desk. I found the girls in their room, knitting away, and listening to an Adventure in Odyssey. During that time Becca had taught T how to knit a hat using a loom and both were quietly working away. I love that homeschooling has given my girls time to pursue things that they enjoy. Becca is hoping to start a small business teaching other girls how to knit.

Tori proudly shows off her work. And I am not sure what Becca was doing!

Places we're going and people we're seeing. . .

Monday was busy and we saw many people. But by the end of the week, we were rooted at home and didn't leave our neighborhood for 2 days. We had plans to go to the other side of the city on Friday to play and learn with another family. But early Friday they called morning to let us know they were sick. Our kids were disappointed, but we used this time to start a new unit in science. When we were done with our required reading, the kids all wanted to continue on. Don't you love when they are the ones driving the learning?

I am cooking. . .

Becca had requested that I make pulled pork sandwiches. When I went to the store, I could not find any bread that would work for buns. The obvious choice was that we made our own. My round cutter was nowhere to be found, so in the spirit of fall, we used a pumpkin cutter instead. If you notice the pumpkin in the background, this is about as big as pumpkins get in Suzhou! There is another type of gourd that tastes just like a pumpkin, but the outside has the appearance of a butternut squash. And these can be enormous! I have tried to figure out their name, but everyone calls them a 南瓜 , pumpkin, which in my opinion, is kind of general name for gourd in Chinese. 

A link or quote to share. . .

I am loving these ornaments. 

And really think that I might need to buy some to put on our tree this year!


**As I side note, I think that you all should be proud of me.... did you see how many pictures I used?! Far exceeding my goal of one picture per post!