Admirable Works. We needed these products this year.

After years of producing science and history notebooks I thought it would be necessary to try something a little formal. Write Shop has taken a lot of discipline and close observance to instructions but well worth the time. The first few assignments are simply description paragraphs but I have been pleased with their creativity. I can only show Paul's work as Joshua's wasn't on this computer. I will post one here.

My Conch Shell by Paul Houk age 12

Last night I found a beautiful conch shell at the beach. The main structure is shaped like a diamond. Sticking out on the side is a study lip that has a wide opening which leads into the mysterious shell. If I place my ear up to the large opening, I can hear the moaning sea. The blush pink inside spirals up to a small hole on top while the rough tan outside has dull spikes that start at the middle, which also spiral up to the top. As the spikes spiral up, they get smaller I am lucky to own this remarkable conch shell.

This next paragraph is just a first revision:

Dynamite Comes in Small Packages by Paul Houk

I have taken a liking to our aggressive pygmy goat called Swade. Swade’s coarse black and white hair, including his stalwart appearance, fits his demeanor perfectly. Bearded and little, he is rather inconsistent with his attitude. He can be emphatically frisky, yet cantankerous at other times. This hoofed creature has a small set of horns that he uses often, nearly as much as his voice, which greets me with a loud quavering bleat. If any other goat attempts to munch Swade’s victuals he will dismiss it with a swift, though sound, butt with his little head. This mammal can be a curious fellow, and will consume practically anything. I enjoy playing with this stout miniature goat.

Lisa is our much appreciated editor but at least we just run our papers next door and her boys are in this with us. No complaints so far from my guys. We will give a report again at the end of the year.

Above are the spine books for our 20th century history. We include as many biographies and even fictional stories (based on events in that period) as possible. I usually read the spine out loud just because I am all about history now. I won't read their science out loud because I just don't have the passion. So if your curious about how our year is going or you might be looking for reviews on homeschool products yourself... well.. here ya go.

Food Fights, Hay Rides and Pink Ponies

birthday girl- she also received a pet bunny that she carries everywhere
with dad, grandpa Lenz, Julie, Savannah, Joe, Jordan, and Aunt Lisa
She loves her grandma Lenz
it doesn't take a pro to decorate a cake for a 4 year old. As long as it was pink.
John and Abel with a miniature donkey. Maybe this should be our next addition to the petting zoo.
annalise in the corn
goofy
Paul with the baby pot bellied pigs (we may get one soon)
Abel and Paul with the magnets

the pumpkin patch

Our friend Ben
on the hay ride
4 yrs old at mayfield dairy
Sarah's birthday breakfast
baby Judah 7 months
Lily in her new bathing suit wrap
after the fight

Two birthdays were celebrated this past month or so. Lily turned 14 on September 5th. I
wanted to do something unique for Lily and Candace had a great idea- "Let's have a huge food fight in the back yard". She definitely liked it especially when someone gave her a pan of cold gravy left over from dinner. Instead of flinging it with the ladle, she decided to throw the whole pan followed by the ladle at Michael. I just wish I would have helped her a little more instead of running from the syrup that was blown out of an air compressed can, followed by a onslaught of flour. We combined all the birthday money from the grandparents, and with a little more added, we purchased her an ipod. She is still a music lover with a brain full of diverse songs.

The last of September was Hope's 17th birthday party celebrated with a family dinner at Lisa and Ford's. She is still very active in music and is training for a performance in Florida this coming January. Joshua and Hope sang together recently at The Feast of Tabernacles meetings held by our friends not to far from our house. They are improving all the time.

It took about 4 days of going through bags of winter clothes brought down from the attic. The piles in the living room were something to see. (and they were almost all you could see in the entire room) But once again we are all well supplied for the season ahead thanks to shopping all through the year and putting it away. I like being surprised at what I find.

We had a visit from Granny and Grandpa Martin on their way down to Florida. We were stricken with a flu bug the very day they came for dinner which passed to them a few days after they arrived on their vacation. It was horrible but short lived. What are the chances? We hope they were still able to enjoy their time. I was so distracted that I forgot to take pictures.

Finally Sarah's birthday arrived and after a pink pony pancake we met with a couple of special needs kids and their families for a hayride out at Mayfield dairy. It was on a rare, warm sunny day. You can tell from the pictures that the we all enjoyed ourselves.
The evening was spent enjoying a very excited, now 4 year old, whose age and personality makes pink pony parties very fun.