"Little Women" Family: Santa Train

Friday, January 11, 2008

Santa Train

In mid December, our friends invited us to ride on the Santa Train, with them. (It is by the Point Defiance Zoo, every Saturday in December, but you have to get there early.) The best part is, it is only $1 per person. You get two cookies and hot chocolate and then you get to ride the Train with Santa for about 1/2 hour. (The downside is that the train just goes 'round and 'round in circles.) It was a lot of fun spending time with our friends and talking with Santa. Although, not all of us had fun with Santa. Karina was clinging to me, every time she saw him, or any other old man with a beard. But we just had to drive her a bit crazy and sit her on Santa's lap. She was not happy!! (In the picture, I don't know what is funnier, her face or our friend Dan's.) Anyway, it was a fun morning. :)

My Favorite Part of The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 17:21-24

"21 And when (Jesus) had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/17

To learn more about The Book of Mormon or to get a free copy: http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Our homeschool program!!

My style of homeschooling is "public school at home." We began homeschooling on our own, the 1st year. Then we were enrolled in the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) for 3 years. Now we are enrolled in ORLA. Our girls are taking several classes at an Elementary School that is no longer used for a typical Elementary School. Instead 450 homeschooling students (K-12) take classes there with certified teachers (you choose which ones and how many) but you do have to be at the school with them until they are 12 (in another room with toys for the younger kids) or sign them out to a friend. Then you fill in the rest at home. For example, my girls take Music, Art, P.E., and Science at the school 2 days a week and then I teach them Math, Language, and History at home, on the other 3 days. The school also pays for an additional $300 a year of curriculum (like the Math, Lang, Hist.) We do have to keep up with a certain number of hours per week. We also have a "home room teacher" that helps us with everything, like deciding what extra things to do at home and making sure we don't miss anything. We are really enjoying this program-- it truly is the best of both worlds! If you have any questions, email me. :)