Friday Favorites ~ Back To School

Even as a homeschool family, we look forward to going back to school and the routine it brings. We didn't have signs this year for the girls to hold, but I did take pictures :)

Brook ~ 8th grade

Isabella ~ 11th grade

And oh my, this is the reminder photo of 2 years ago on their first day of school in Bogota, 6th and 9th grades.  

We celebrated with going for pizza and ordered these garlic knots at a local pizza place we tried for the first time near our home.

As a homeschool mom, while the girls did school one morning, I did some painting on our kitchen cabinets.  I'll post more on that once the project is complete. 

I also ran some errands and was able to hear my favorite on the radio.

Brook had a friend sleepover one night and I bought donuts for the girls that morning.

We were finally able to meet sweet Ruthie, who is 2 weeks old.  Just 4 weeks ago, we were preparing for her baby shower.

And to end our week, we had Bridgovich time (this is the name for the Bridges/Janovich families combined!). This is Pearce hanging out with us before we went to dinner.

Happy Weekend!

Brook's Play

Good morning!  Yesterday was like my Monday of my week due to being out of town Monday and Tuesday.  So that meant washing clothes, grocery shopping and catching up on other things to do. So today I am sharing a few photos from Brook's play she was in last weekend with her homeschool drama class.  She did a great job and had fun too.

This one was taken at rehearsal.   

Brook and her friend of 9 years now, Mallie.  

Isabella having fun with a prop :)

Cast with their teacher/director

Friday Favorites ~ Homeschooling

Homeschooling Mom.That is a title I have associated myself with for 10 years.  That was never in my plan, although I was never against it either. I just had other thoughts.  But I went by what God had for our family. I am homeschooling Brook this year after taking a year off last year.  Today, I am highlighting just a few of our favorites from homeschooling this week.

Most of Brook's school work is done on the computer this year, with the exception of Bible, Spanish, and a few workbooks to supplement for reading, writing, and logic.  So far, we've been pleased overall with the curriculum she is using. This afternoon, Clara comes for her first class with Brook!

Brook doesn't have to wake up at 5:45 like Isabella does, so we only have to pack one lunch and make sure one gets on the bus on time!  I think the girls do miss their morning/afternoon routines together, but the two different schooling choices seem to work well for both of them so far!

I know it is August and summer in most of the world, but it is chilly enough here to wear a wool sweater to the mall! The temperature is low 60's, but with the wind blowing, it seemed a little chilly outside.

Brook went with me to the mall.  She helped me grocery shop, we bought Cinnabon, and we got chair massages, which was the equivalent of $1.38 USD!  We won't go do things like this everyday, but it is nice to have her with me and to get us both out of the apartment every once and a while!  (We did bring back Cinnabon for Avery and Isabella too!)

Meanwhile, Isabella has 10 1/2 hour days at school and 2-3 hours of homework each night.  For now, that is the best decision for her, although it is no doubt very challenging and exhausting.  We are thankful for the opportunity to send Isabella to a private, Christian school and for the freedom of homeschooling both in Colombia and in the USA.

School Days

Brook started 2 new classes at a school in Bogota this week.  This is a Christian, English speaking school where we plan on enrolling both girls next year.  This originally started as school for missionary kids, but is now predominately Colombian kids.  Most of the teachers are from the USA & come for a 1-3 year commitment to teach.  Brook is taking art & bible one day a week with the 5th grade class.  She has gone to homeschooling classes in the states, but this was her first time in a "real" school environment.  She was very nervous the night before, but after many prayers were said for her, she was relaxed the next morning & ready to go.

After this picture, she & I hopped in a taxi, passed by a few cows on the side of the road, & made it to the school in just about 20 minutes.

The school is currently under construction as they are adding a 3rd floor, so there is a lot of activity.  Believe it or not, this is the front of the school!

The windows from the first room is Brook's 5th grade class.

The school has an outdoor space where students eat lunch.

This is Brook's closest friend here, Brianna.  She & her family have been so kind to us.  Brianna made Brook feel very welcome.

Brook was so excited to even have a locker to store her things!

It was good to see Brook for the first time in over 4 months to be with kids, especially kids her own age.  It will take some time to get to know the other students but she won't be as nervous for next week.  I spent the time doing my own Spanish homework in the library.  Next week they are going to let me observe an elementary Spanish class to help me :).  I also was able to see a few people I know who work there & meet some others.  We stayed for a special chapel presentation, took a bus home & returned 4 hours after we left, so not a bad day!

Back To School

8th grade & 5th grade ~ These are the grades of Isabella & Brook this year.  Hard to believe.  Hard to believe I am starting my 9th year of homeschooling. Hard to believe I am in Bogota, Colombia homeschooling my children.  Hard to believe I am back in school trying to learn a new language.

The school calendar in Bogota is a little different. They actually have 2 school calendars.  The first school calendar returns to school in July, so a large group of kids here have been in school for a month now.  They call this calendar A.  They have all of December, January, and June off for their breaks. The calendar B here is like the school calendar in the United States, basically school from August until May.  We are generally following the good 'ol USA calendar for school.  The girls returned Monday to their school routine. However, they don't feel like they have had much of a break.  After all of our traveling this year, they have been doing math here every day all summer to finish up last year's math.  And they have been in spanish classes for close to 8 weeks now. But this week they add their history, science, grammar, bible, & literature to their math and spanish classes.

Last week, the girls & I went to the office supply store to buy some new notebooks.  Oh my word, those things are soo expensive here.  Sure makes me miss notebooks for a few dollars & tax free weekends. Anyway, on the way home, the girls claimed front row seats on our bus ride back home.  We always get exercise when we are walking to & from the bus stops & then walking to & from the store from the stop. However, I may not be getting enough exercise to justify all the ice cream we eat here!!

Girls on the bus ride home

Pray for me as I balance homeschooing with my spanish & housework here, & then just time for me to be outside at some point each day.  The sun goes down around 5:30-6, so my time is limited after class.  Not to mention I am usually so exhausted, mentally anyway, after class.

One more note, I am going to miss this place so much this year.  Many tears have been shed in me missing this.....

This is the school where the girls & I volunteered each week last year

From my last visit there with my sister, the most amazing sister & special ed. teacher in the world.  What a privilege to help her & love on her kids she teaches, all while sharing these experiences with my daughters.

I treasure this gift they gave me on our last day there & it is hanging in our home with pictures of the students.  Can't wait to visit them sometime next year hopefully!

Pray for my sister & her school year, which started last week.

Homeschool Conference 2014

This is my 6th year in a row to attend a homeschool conference  When I was asked if I wanted to go to this one, my first thought was, I really don't need that many new books.  But immediately, my next thought was, it is not about the books!  It is all about spending time with friends, being encouraged, laughing, and then learning about new products is always fun too!  Two of these years, the conference was in Memphis, but we still made a weekend out of it & got hotels in town.  This year, I traveled to Nashville with 6 other ladies. Three of these ladies I know well & have traveled with each of the other years.

First stop was my recently new favorite Mexican restaurant, Chuys.  They have locations in Austin, Atlanta, & in Nashville.  I'm sure they have other locations as well.  It is an excellent choice if you are ever near one.  I had my picture taken in front of the Elvis shrine!

We stayed at the beautiful Opryland Hotel, which is where the conference took place.  

Throughout the conference, I was able to purchase the majority of the girls school books for this upcoming year.  I love how the Lord provided a new bible curriculum for Isabella, which is the one missing piece I was lacking by the end of the conference.  On the drive home, I had so much fun laughing with 3 of the other ladies & ending our trip in prayer together.  I am thankful for these friends, a girls get-away & the freedom to homeschool.

Back to School, already??

As the saying goes, we strive to be lifetime learners. As we prepare for a busy fall & even busier spring, it was time for school work to begin.  We have officially begun our 2013-2014 homeschool year! Isabella is in 7th grade & Brook is in 4th grade. Before you think I'm crazy for starting school in July, our goal is to get in one week of school before the end of the month.  Therefore, we will only be doing school maybe 2 days each week. This will help us be ahead come this fall before we get behind! So far, the school year is off to a good start!  When daily school in August arrives, we will be adding a few more things to the school schedule.  This year, we have no outside commitments, which feels great.  I am giving the girls much more independence with their school assignments this year to train them to do a lot on their own in preparation for homeschooling in Colombia & for even college.

The girls working on their art drawing....they are using their teeth, drawing like Joni Eareckson Tada.  The title of this lesson was appropriately called "Frustration".

Isabella's science experiment on the density of atoms.  

We have 3 layers: corn syrup, water, & oil.

A rock sank to the bottom of the glass.  A grape floated on top of the corn syrup.  A piece of ice floated on top of the water.  A piece of cork floated on top of the oil.  

Here I was on planning/organizing day.  The girls are continuing using My Father's World curriculum studying Creation to the Greeks this year.  It is a great curriculum, layed out well & bible based.  We add our own math, grammar, writing, and spelling.  I am thankful for this company & for a friend who blessed me by sharing her old curriculum with me!