LACMA Art Projects

We went to LACMA on Sunday. I didn’t realize that they have crafts for kids every Sunday. They also have NexGenLA, program for children 17 and under, which allows them to get into LACMA free. Even better: it gives them a free adult admission, too!

Friday Book Stack

At present, Gemma’s Fridays include Mark Kistler’s Draw Squad, choosing her own Bible reading in her blue Bible, a chapter in Janice Van Cleave’s Food and Nutrition for Every Kid. She’s also reading William Blake poetry this term, and - for this week and next - Two Mighty Rivers (about Thomas Rolfe) for history, instead of This Country of Ours or The Awakening of Europe. She also uses a spelling app, and works on one of four languages (her idea!) either using Duolingo or a TPRS book in the target language.

“Latin exam, Dad. It’s Tuesday.”

- Adam, Blast From the Past

Math: Year 3 Term 2

This is Gemma doing Life of Fred: Algebra on her Spooner Board. In a classroom, she would be told to sit still - IN. A. DESK. But at home, she work while sitting on this, lie down on it, rock, or spin around so fast it makes me dizzy.

Handicrafts: Cross-Stitch

Gemma and I have been working on this cross-stitch cat for most of this year (and, from the look of things, we’ll be working on it most of next year, too). I “assign” her 10 stitches per day, and for every 10 she does, I do 10 (but I usually save mine up and do a week’s worth on the weekend).

History: Two Mighty Rivers

We’re taking a break from our “regularly scheduled programming” in history, to read the sequel to Mari Hanes’ book about Pocahontas. The second book is Two Mighty Rivers, and it tells the story of Thomas Rolfe, the child of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. We just read Chapter 5, in which Thomas, who is living in England, learns that his father has just been killed by Thomas’ Algonquian relatives.

I Don’t Do “Cute Advent”

This is what we’re doing for Advent this year. Calendars. One with chocolate, and one with Lego pieces. There will also be the one they pass out at church, with a Bible verse behind each door. We’ll attend the annual church Advent luncheon and learn the songs for the Christmas pageant. But that’s it. No Jesse Tree. No moving nativity scene figures from one part of the house to the other. Nothing handmade. Nothing that involves me gift-wrapping 24 picture books I don’t want to gift-wrap. Advent is supposed to be about waiting for Christ. It has nothing to do with chocolates or Legos, and waiting for Christ definitely has nothing to do with calendars.

American Indian Arts Marketplace at The Autry

This afternoon, Gemma and I went to the Autry because they were having their annual American Indian Arts Marketplace. We were able to watch a hoop dancing performance, and participate in the workshop portion of the performance. The dancers, father and son, Terry and Michael Goedel, were amazing.