Resolve to update more!

The new year is coming and I need to post more updates. Just yesterday a friend I hadn't seen in several years comment on my lack of updates... Here goes!

The other day my husband came home and saw a giant box covered with tinfoil on the table. "What are you doing, building a spaceship!?" The kids were so excited to show him our light box with little peat pots sitting on a plate. I sure hoped it worked. That was about 10 weeks ago. We now have mini basil plants and cilantro growing in the hut. We had to transplant several of the peat pots into 4" pots. It may be dark and cold and rainy outside but I have some fresh herbs growing inside!

Writing:
E and I have been testing an upcoming writing curriculum for The WriteShop. We are currently beta testing level F. So far, E has worked on Adventures, Mysteries, Limericks, Tall Tales, persuasive letters etc and is delving into 5 paragraph essays. I have really liked the exposure to several different genres of writing and for the most part he has too. He still remains a bit of a reluctant writer despite a talent for writing. Although, the way that this program breaks down the preparation for writing into tiny steps and the brainstorming before the writing, it has been much easier for him.

Book Club:
My older girls are now in a Heroine Club for girls. They have read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Little House in the Big Woods. Each week they meet, they discuss the book and then do some sort of activity based on the book. The girls have made butter, embroidered handkerchiefs, had a tea party, and made little patchwork blankets. I am thrilled with the way that the parent in charge is running it. I love the way each girl gets to talk and has a voice and the way she draws the girls into discussion even though a couple are as young as 5 1/2 and some are a little closer to 9.

Art:
M has really taken to art. Her drawing gets better and better but she really excels at making 3D sculptures. Sometimes they are for her world of make believe, but sometimes they are just for fun. She has made everything from an old fashioned washboard to a bowl of salad with a cup of dressing where the dressing falls out when you pour it on the salad (a small paper glued to the base of the cup and designed to fall out and be put back in!) Today I came home from the library and she showed me the crown and flip flops she made for her Felicity doll out of typing paper. Needless to say, Santa brought her a couple of rolls of tape for Christmas!

Karate:
The highlight of C's week, when there is no "book club" is karate. She takes her karate very seriously and is doing very well. Her last test came back with almost all Above Average marks. Sensei was her judge and she raved about how well C did.