Tanis family journal.: September 2011

The Salamader Room FIAR

Super excited to be able to this year intentionally teach our children from a Creationist point of view. Simply because we can. Our children have lots of points of view barraging them in media and every day life . But as a family it is wonderful to be able to teach what we believe unequivocaly? to our children in our home . As long as we homeschool and as long as we can have access to curriculum that supports our point of view ..we will unapologetically enjoy some good stuff. And we do own Oceans and other items .. gasp.. that herald evolution as its only course. We enjoy these beautifully done DVD's and then discuss points of view. Open to our childrens debate or questions.The AIG books are created by scholars and teachers who Homeschoolerd for homeschoolers. Super easy to use. Versatile for differing ages in a family. Beautfiylly colored and fun. Leading the kids out of their seats to help them see and explore the world around them The Story of the WOrld promises to be a good Historical companion, starting at Ancient times and giving activity sheets and hands on "Roman belt" making and ancient skills in money or trades..:) We have other family friends who are doing the same program so I am sure we will be sharing notes on apologia. On the edge are the most beautiful "Katie" books that I will be using this year in our art program that I have developed. Aidan will put up with them.but secretly think they are cool . as we have already perused them...and Mary will love them!!

We watched Reading Rainbows presentaton of a tropical habitat and the book "The Salamander room" We read our FIAR Lesson. Habitats and mother child relationships, list making, setting of the story,reading for knowledge was discussedtthe use of space in the book and the border around pages, Science and the love of Nature as well. We then went out and did a scavenger hunt and found items to classify. We talked about our knowledge of Salamanders as amphibians. Aidan loves Salamander thats why we pulled this book study out of Volume 3. We are back to Volume 2 now this week.

School beginnings

lil homeschool classifier

A glimpse into my "escape for a quiet time with the Lord and breather and commitment and of course coffee"

What Mary does for fun. Organizing multi media artist.

Pointed out wind turbines. The sign fully powered by the wind.

Spotting solar panels. Daddy has a plan to put up solar panels .. now all he needs is the time and the cash:) He knows exactly how he wants to do it. We are hoping ot take a look at some solar power information in our "PLANTS " AIG book this year . ALso our powerhouse kit should have some solar experiments in it.

Geodetic Survey marker. ot to be disturbed..seen on our walk.

We walked and walked and then had to turn around and trek all the way back as the walk kept going for miles .. and didn't come anywhere near our car. It was nice to cross the pier again.

September 11th.. one of the last of the blazing hot days. Cooling their feet under the pier in a cove we found.

We found a super long pier just coming into Fairhaven.. the length of which you can see here.

We found a natural foods grocer to get ice and happened upon a bike parking area. Very cool safe option.

We drove to pick up Daddy on a very once in a lifetime ..wedding in CA plane trip that he was arriving back. We had to do 4 trips One ther , one back to Canada , one back to pick him up in Bellingham and one to pick him up . As it was a wierd timeof the weekend ot pick him up, we drove along the coast in Bellingham and Mum..ME was sure there had to be some delicous spot for us to find the waters edge after the DOCKS and Industrial areas of Bellingham. The town is a school town and the architecture of the buildings is veyr inspiring.

There are children of all ages there. Happily getting along. At the end the Parks Manager commented on wonderful safe play and well behaved children. SO very complimentary as such a diverse range of schooling techniques and disciplines are used.

At the ANnual "Not back to School Picnic" held by the Misson HS group. A very diverse group of ladies. The children ran through Heritage Park as they often do .. when there for park days or times like these. If you google Heritage Park it is very large and done up for walking . Teh chidlren encounterd a wasps nest in the trees and then ran and p layed for hours together. SO any memories and so many chums!

On September 11th at 11:00 we crossed through from Canada to the USA. We spotted mounties and dignitaries gathered for the solemn ceremonies remembering the lives lost in 2001. We talked about this a little bit. As we are a Canadian /US family we make sure to see things from a birdseye view:)

Mary runs, plays and socializes with the other little girls.. any she can find actually.. at the track twice a week. She is not doing the cheerleading. but loves to be actively a part of everything going on.

helping Dad put an extra wardrobe together.

Capturing the kids in their first week of books.

Another game and straight wins. Wahoo!

Aidan is the sentry of the home .. keeping brother safe. Such a wonderful loving bond they have.

Mary jumping into her CLP English .

checking out the pull out drawers wiht classified historical things like childrens toys, tickets, tools. Also looking at the old mechanics of things. eg Typewriter.

Kellen LOVES trains!

Visiting the Port Moody historical Train Station. It had a lego train display. We went with another HS family. Every year we see each other frequently. We trade books and the childre are familiar with each other.

Daddy does the first book reading for the start of schol. He is a great reader:) Kids love it.

There was also an agricultural area. Very large.

We fulfilled a promise and took the chidlren to playland at the PNE. They were able to take in the pyro technic display at the end.

They won!

Aidan relaxing mid tournament with Kellen his little brother. It was a scorcher.

Aidan is the big guy in the middle of the pic. He is getting ready for a game with his atoms team mates. Coach is adjusting his daughter's football clothes.

Playing in the back yard.

What a bunch of hams. Aidan loves to play with his younger brother.

The kids and I managed to get up to Hayward Lake. A pristine man made Lake that when we had visited it afore in the Fall was totally drainedwith tree stumps showing. This time it was hot and gorgeous. We had to look up the rules before going as it is off a long road that comes off of the Stave Lake Dam. Only so many cars are allowed into the lot and then it is closed. We were glad that we made it in. We speculated, guessed, determined, planned, and were rewarded.

We grew sunflowers . We plan to dissect them this September when we do our Beatrix Potter , "Tale of Peter Rabbit" FIAR study. Gardening etc.Also I will be adding in some art studies. Sadly we could not atain "Katie and the SUnflowers" as it is a rare find now. but we will still study sunflowers in art using our Usborne art book. And then do some multi media expression of the sunflowers.

We are hoping for a bit more sun to ripen our giant Kiwi tree.

Outting the kids to work helping sledgehammer out concrete slabs that were holding moisture in between the concrete and the building and allowing moisture into AIdan's bedroom. Aidan is still displaced and has a cozy nook in the living room until we have the drywall back handy dandy.

Aidan helping paint the porch for the WINTER.

Enjoying our firepit.

More sewing.

Oh, to be a child way up in a swing!

At a WA Carnes family reunion. Mary with Grandpa standing with one of the many Dodge cars driven by cousins and Uncles to the get together.

Mary taking off.

Grandma took Aidan to the reptile zoo..he LOVES ANIMALS! He is working on us getting a crested something or other. Mom still needs to be convinced:)

G&G Tanis Homeschooled Dad Tanis . So they are very supportive of our ventures knowing that it is completely doable.

Mary taking a spin:)

Aidan and Mary visited with Grandma and Grandpa Tanis for a week Grandpa had prepared his experimental plane so that they kids could go up for a ride. They drove to the local Arlington WA airport pulling the plane. They then each got to take a ride. Grandpa has been flying for quite a while now.

As life would have it our hot water heater blew. But the blessing of good friends enabled us to replace it and buy another that was more efficient anyway.30 galloon tank. and then for the drying out. The kids experienced the mayhem first hand. Water and then the dryi gout of the under basement and the dragging out of xcarpettin gthat was under the hosue. Quite the intrique. But all is well down there now.

Kellen our third child helping gather.

Aidan getting to help with food.. Very happy to help:)

Mary shucking corn for our dinner.

Daddy went away for a week for work to WA. The kdis were really sad. But they adjusted well.

Aidan running at Splashdown Park. A first for us. We were given tickets by a friend.

Mary baking cupcakes

Aidan helping prepare out potatoes for the meal.

Mary hanging out in the Lavender

Being silly. This year we were swarmed by mosquitos. Much discussion was had about the wet weather the environment in which mosquitos breed. We missed out on going into our garden for months.