Power Tool Fun

Andy got to use Steve's new power tool. It was a first for both Andy and the tool. We needed a new board cut and Steve thought it was time for Andy to learn how to use power tools. Steve also saw this as a blogging moment for me not to miss.


.

Feasting Fun

We are involved in a co-op class with one other homeschool family. Michelle and her two kids, Sharon (4th grade) Caleb (3rd grade) are doing the class with us. We meet once a week and study history, science, art, missions and sign language. This is our first time doing a co-op class, and same for Michelle. This is her first year homeschooling, she is a former public school teacher. It has been so great to be a part of this. God brought our two families together for a reason. I know I have learned so much from her, and she has been able to learn from our years of homeschooling.

We have been studing in history the Medieval times, it has been a ton of fun for the boys. Knights, swords and lots of violence. At the end of our unit we planned a Medieval Feast. There is another co-op that also has two families, with older children, and they are using the same history program. We planned to have the feast with them.

It was so much fun. We dressed up, ate traditional foods (with our hands), and had entertainment. Andy wanted to juggle, Caleb talked about jousting, Sharon made a craft showing the different classes of people in those times. When Ellyn found out that everyone was doing a talent, she said "I can show them I can see my nose!" It was a lot of work, but the kids had a blast.

Word fun

How much ice did the fishermen catch today?



We had to drive up Provo Canyon to get to tubing, and it was such a beautiful drive. I don't know the last time I had been up the canyon in the winter. It looked so different. We drove past Deer Creek and it was frozen over, we could see there were fishermen out there. Steve asked the kids if they could see the ice fishermen. Well, Andy asked why they were fishing for ice. I guess we will just have to ask them.

Tubing Fun

For Steve's moms birthday the family went tubing at Solider Hollow. We had so much fun and the weather was perfect. But the best part of tubing was we didn't have to walk up the hill after we went down, they had a tow rope. As much fun as it was I think the best part was after tubing we went to lunch at the lodge. Just seeing Kathy surrounded by her husband, 4 kids and 3 grandkids and how happy she was made the whole day worth it. (Thank you Ev for the great pictures.)


Steve, Joy, Ellyn, Michelle and the birthday Girl Kathy



Everyone went down together. Each tube had a rope and we were all going to hang on to each other and go down as a group, well once we went down, Tim and Andy were not with the group. They were just hanging on to themselves, but not the rest of the group.



Ellyn, Michelle and Grandma ( she sure is not acting like a grandma!)



Ellyn


The Snyder Girls:Ellyn, Joy, Jocelyn, Michelle, Kathy and Steph.



Andy & Joy

School Fun

When asked how long have we been homeschooling, I have begun to wonder how to answer. I heard a mom wonder why she had to send her kids away to learn when they reached the preschool age. Mom and Dad were the ones who taught the kids to walk, talk and go potty. She taught them to count by counting fingers and toes, so she had been schooling all along. I am feeling the same way, we have always schooled, just now we get to buy fun curriculum.

One of the most important things that I have learned is that no two homeschooling families are the same. What is normal and working for one family will not work for the next. I just have to remember to do the best and figure out what will work for our kids, right now. What is working this week may not work next month, but that is ok. We have a school room set up, two desks, white board and a big map on the wall. But for about a month Andy would have nothing to do with his desk, so we schooled in the living room. Andy and Ellyn on the floor with their books and me on the couch. And it worked, until he wanted to move back to the school room. As you can see from the picture he is at his desk, sort of. I have learned to love the search for what will work for the kids. I love looking at catalogs full of school books and going to homeschool conventions. At the conventions we get to hear great speakers, look at new curriculum and most of all remember that we are called to homeschool our children. One speaker said that the reason there are conventions in the spring is because that this is the time of year when we are getting tired and burnt out and are ready to put our kids in public school, but after the time away and a bit of encouragement we know this is what God has called us to do.

Christmas Fun

Christmas is so much fun with kids. Steve had a tradition growing up that all the kids would sleep in one room on Christmas Eve. When it was time to go in the living room they would then have to line up in order (not sure which order), but I think it was mostly to give the parents time to get the camera ready. Then they would run to their spots. Yes, each child had their own spots, and i think they were the same year after year.

Now my family traditions are a bit different. My dad would let me open gifts early. I think it was because he got tired of me asking him, "please daddy!!" It was fun, we had Christmas for a week. We also opened all of our gifts on Christmas Eve. I think that was so my parents could sleep in. I also remember trying to catch Santa, so I would sleep on the couch. But it never worked. I would wake up and find my stocking full and the cookie plate empty.

With the merging of two families Steve and I have tried to create our own traditions, and keep some of our family ones. This year we let the kids open gifts from Grannie and Great- Papa (Joy's parents) early. And then on Christmas Eve the kids had a sleep over, in Ellyn's room. They did line up, so mom could get the camera ready, and then they ran to their spots!

After the mess was made, we head over to Grandma's house (Steve's parents) for even more Christmas fun. We share gifts and then feast on what has become the traditional Christmas morning breakfast with all the kids and grandkids.

Here we are

The Snyder Family: Steve, Joy, Andy (9), and Ellyn (4)