Kindergarten - Day 83 and Day 84

Day 83 - January 7

 This is a new math game we discovered and both the kids love it. It's just a matching game but you have to match the coins to the correct value. It was fairly difficult and they both enjoyed it!

Several months ago Oma got the kids this sand. I don't know what the real name is - the kids call it "Squishy Sand". They love to get it out and build with it. Then we just put it back in a Ziploc until the next time. It never dries out. It isn't very messy either. Mommy approved!

Day 84 

This is our "Joy Jar" that we'll fill up throughout the month of January. It can be anything from having a fun field trip to learning something new to playing a game together. Next month it will be our "Love Jar" (spoiler alert!)

If I'm not mistaken, this is a dress that belonged to our family's best friends growing up. And now Bri is able to wear it!

Beyond All Dreams (Review)

This review is for the book "Beyond All Dreams" by Elizabeth Camden. In this historical romance novel, Anna O'Brien leads a very quiet life as a librarian at the Library of Congress. In her studies, though, she discovers something incorrect about the ship that sank when her father was a sailor. She begins investigating this mystery, and is soon joined by Congressman Luke Callahan. Together they search for answers and they also begin to fall in love. Unfortunately, there are many barriers to their relationship.

The politics involved in this novel were really interesting to me. The novel is set in the late 1800s so there are a lot of issues that arise throughout the book with politics and gender issues and war. It was all put together very well and I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Dandelion Field (Review)

This review is for the book "The Dandelion Field" by Kathryn Springer. This book follows Ginevieve Lightly and her daughter Raine. Gin and Raine are used to moving constantly - Gin's sister does not approve of her "gypsy" lifestyle. They stop by chance in Banister Falls and suddenly Raine is ready to put down roots. This is a foreign concept to Gin, but it's evident what the driving force is behind Raine when she announces unexpectedly her pregnancy and her relationship with senior Cody Bennett. Gin is thrust into Cody's world which involves his widowed mother and her best friend Dan.

Throughout the story, not only is Raine trying to figure things out, but you can tell that Gin is also still trying to figure herself out as well. This is a great story describing Gin's honest feelings about past hurts and bitterness toward God. She does come around in the story but it takes the efforts of lots of people in her life. This story was well-written and I really liked the characters. I would be very interested in reading more from this author.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Kindergarten - Day 81 and Day 82

Day 81 - Monday, January 5 - Winter break is over!

Every month we are going to be studying a godly characteristic that we want to embody and incorporate into our daily lives. In January we are learning about "Joy".

Bible story:

Missionary story:

Poetry time:

Math:

 We're starting science this semester!

Good thing we have this guy around! Our resident handyman/protector!

 Bri's latest favorite read by Arnold Lobel. One of my favorite authors!

 Day 82 - Tuesday

Our "Joy" craft:  The kids scribbled on paper (it was very hard to get Bri to understand the concept of scribbling instead of drawing something specific!) and then I cut it into the shape of a heart. I wrote a Bible verse pertaining to joy on a piece of construction paper, and they glued their heart on the paper. I laminated them so they won't tear up as easily.

One of our favorite games - Hedbandz. Kind of like 20 Questions but more fun because you get to look goofy!