Saturday, May 23, 2015

Medieval Week

It's been a little over two months since we began homeschooling and I love it more daily.

Last week, the boys decided they wanted to learn about Knights! Because of their age, I decided to focus primarily on how one would become a knight and the chivalry/character traits of a knight. We'll touch on the crusades, Renaissance, and art later on in the older grades. With school almost over for the year, we focused on fun. Crafts, games and dress up! 

Lincoln loved learning that he is at the age when most boys would start working/training as a page. He decided he'd rather be the king (we took liberties) so Boone became the knight, with Hudson as his obedient squire.

We made a trip to the library to get books, searched online at images of armor and the outfits worn during the medieval period. Of course that sent us on an impromptu trip to Joann's Fabric to buy felt and yarn. (Any excuse for mommy to create something.) 


One evening we made chalices! We found these tiki goblets at the Dollar Tree and superglued on some gems. They loved it!


Another craft was creating catapults out of Popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Obviously we had to launch mini marshmallows.


Learning about the coat of arms, heraldry symbols and family crests was fun. They picked out the symbols they wanted to draw on their shields.


I had incorporated some medieval spelling words for Lincoln (first grade), and I was pleasantly surprised at how Boone (kindergarten) pushed himself to compete with his brother. He's such a hands on/visual learner while Lincoln can see the words in his head and remember everything! I love how I'm able to recognize their differences, and teach them accordingly.


Lastly, we hosted an "open house" for the grandparents to come see what they had learned, complete with dubbing ceremony. At the last minute, Hudson changed his mind and preferred to be dubbed "ninja" instead...so we did both. (A friend declared him a Kninja. I love that!)




We finished off the open house with pizza and The Court Jester. Danny Kaye at his best!


Thursday, May 21, 2015

Staying Healthy and Speaking Britterish

Lincoln just informed me, "Mom, I don't want any mnms after dinner. I'll just have a banana. I want to stay healthy. Can you remind me of that next time I ask for sweets? I want to be super strong and healthy so I can run faster than Tanner. He runs like (spreads hands 6 inches apart) this much faster than me right now."

Boone immediately interjects, "Yeah. And also? Dixie speaks Britterish." ...Gibberish.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Summoning the Tooth Fairy?

Last night as he was getting tucked into bed, Boone discovered his first loose tooth! His first reaction was excitement, then worry, as I felt it. I imagine he's going to be just like his mama, wait until it falls out on its own. Wrong. This morning I was woken too early by a tapping on my shoulder, followed by whispers, "Mom, can Kristy and Collin come over and pull out my tooth today?" Collin is Lincoln's best friend (19 years his senior), who made Gillespie history and pulled Lincoln's first tooth, and again his second, just a few months later. He's sort of become a necessity in the dental extraction department.

Uh oh. Now I can hear him "helping Hudson" by instructing him how to get his own loose tooth. I'm hearing something about a Lego or a block? Maybe I should go intervene? They are trying to earn money so they can fund their juice stand business. Boone wants to buy cups. Brb.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Hudson Says...

"Moooooommm...Dixie got her slobbert  all over it!"

"We're perrrtending there is a robbert and we're catching bad guys."

I hope he never grows up.



Friday, February 13, 2015

Hotel Rule No. 1

Because when you get to a hotel, you're supposed to jump on the bed. It's the rules.