check-in

[momof2]

Hi All,

We have just finished week 15. Both my kids are enjoying the book Growing Up in Coal Country.
My dd started listening to Jason's Gold on tape and doesn't like it that much.
I cannot wait to start reading about the inventors. That sounds like so much fun!

Karine

[alisarussell]

We have also just finished Week 15. Dc liked Gold Rush Fever and are liking Down the Yukon. They also have liked the beginning of Growing up in Coal Country.

Karine, how did your dd like Down the Yukon? My ds will be reading Jason's Gold for LA when we get to that point in the schedule. Is it not as good as Down the Yukon?

Merry Christmas to all! After Monday, we will be on vacation until Jan. 7.

[momof2]

Dd actually likes Down the Yukon. I think it's because she read the books out of order. She already knows so much because of the sequel. I guess the suspense is gone.

Karine

[Dani in MN]

We have finally moved on from the Civil War. Kind of sad, kind of relieved....sad because I enjoyed our studies so much more than I thought I would, and sad also because we never did do an in-depth Civil War timeline like I wanted. I have tagged it as a year-long project so maybe after the first of the year we'll get it going. I'm finding it very hard to be the motivator (sp?) all the time, with everything!!! It has drained me, but that's another post topic altogether.

Kind of relieved because I think we all needed to do some reading about other topics!! So that brings us to Week 7, and the "Settling the West" section of the curriculum.

After some grumblings about backtracking in time (about which I posted previously and about which I feel better....thanks, Alisa!), I now can tell that we'll enjoy this section. There's something about pioneers and wagon trains and wide open, unsettled spaces that brings me peace. Maybe it's the "Little House on the Prairie" familiarity....I don't know. I enjoy reading about simpler times; although, that having been said, I do know that these folks faced real hard times and some difficult circumstances, so my peace and enjoyment is tempered with reality that this wasn't always hunky-dory for settlers.

This past week we (should I say I???) especially enjoyed the website where you can view a sod house and do some activities related to them. Great list of books, so it seems; we'll check those out to see if any are worth squeezing into our already crammed reading schedule, but not at the expense of causing me untold anxiety (I really struggle with stress caused by too many good books, too little time!). I love to view real photos of real families like these on the site. I love to imagine living back then (or at any time in history actually).

Instead of taking time off for Christmas, I'm actually going to go back to a full schedule next week. We've been pretty relaxed lately, and I wish I could say it's because of Christmas or Advent activities. Relaxed solely because of me feeling a little blue (first Christams in forever that I'll be away from my family in MN :-( ). I think that both the kids and I could use some structure and brain exercising!!!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!! And Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

[Amy Po]

We jsut finished week 13, but I'm reading ahead to get done with Godl Rush Fever before Christmas! We haven't used our gold panning kit yet, maybe over break?