Blueberries for Sal

We have just finished rowing Blueberries for Sal by RobertMcCloskey. I looove this book. Liana never grew tired of hearing it and there were so many great things to do that we ended up rowing it for 2 weeks!

Here are some photos of the lapbook we made for this book. First is the open lapbook. Then we have a minit book on ways fruits grow. Next is cards for what bears eat. Then we have a sorting booklet for Sal, Little Bear or both. The basket shows different foods we can cook using blueberries. We made blueberry muffins and blueberry pancakes and ate lots of blueberries on their own!!! YUM!!! The last photo shows the life cycle of a blueberry bush.

We also did a blueberry painting and played lots of maths games using the blueberry and number cards.

Next up I think we will row Goodnight Moon.

Christmas Photos

We've just had some Christmas photos done by a friend of ours. Thought I would share a few of the cuter ones!

1 Corinthians 13 (sort of!!)

I love this Christmas version of 1 Corinthians 13. I've read it on several blogs so thought I would post it too!

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
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If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
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If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
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If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
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Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
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Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
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Love is kind, though harried and tired.
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Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
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Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
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Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
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Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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Love never fails.
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Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

Now if only I can remember these things when Liana empties the flour all over Liam when we are cooking....sigh

A Star Is Born!!!

Liana has been learning Suzuki violin this year and today had her very first performance, a christmas concert. I was worried how she would go as she is not always co-operative in lessons, especially the group lessons. I needn't have worried though. The only problem we had was keeping her off the stage when she wasn't performing!!! She had an absolute ball.

At the end of the concert the littlies played bells while the older children played Christmas carols. Liana was VERY enthusiastic about her bell playing to the point where she was even standing up playing solo while all the others were sitting quietly during the slower carols.

The photos are not great as the lighting was bad but you get the idea. I will post some better video footage when we buy a lead for out new camcorder - YAY!!! Another new toy.

Just Like Daddy!

A subscription to the local toy library has been the best investment in toys this year. The kids love going and choosing new toys every few weeks and deal with having to return them far better than I had imagined. Our latest acquisition was this awesome fire engine. Liam would spend all day in it if he could. I think he has seen his Dad talking on the mobile in the car waaaay too often though!!!

Corduroy

We have been having a great time using Before Five in a Row and making lapbooks for each title. We have just finished a fortnight of rowing Corduroy. We even managed to find a video of the story to watch at the end. I have posted some photos of our lapbook so you can see some of the things we have done.
The first pics are of the cover and open lapbook.



Next photos are show the minit books we made for our Bible verse, button patterns and F is for Friend.

There Were Ten In the Bed...

Well, I have finally got back to my blog.....and figured out how to download the photos for my first entry. It's about time!!!!

Tonight I went to check on Liana and found her in bed with all her teddies and dolls lined up in a row. All carefully covered and on pillows. If you count them, there are 10 in the bed - hence the title.

I had to include a photo of Liam asleep too. Just so he didn't feel left out!

I am determined to keep up with my blog this time. I have lots of photos to post and will include some of the lapbooks that Liana and I have made while reading out BFIAR books. We just finished one on Corduroy so I will post some pics of that tomorrow.