Highlights fromt the first week of Commanche Trail Academy 2018 All things considered, we had a successful first week!

He looks nearly fat enough to form his chrysalis!

 We discovered we had milkweed in our yard and learned that Monarch Caterpillars only eat milkweed which explains why we can find at least two plump Monarch Caterpillars at any given time on our milk weed plant.  You can also see the yellow aphids on the stem.  I nearly pulled out all of our milkweed because there were so many aphids on it, but I saved one plant after finding the caterpillars.  We also see a lot of Monarch butterflies and will try to get some pictures of that too.

This is the Indian fort/tepee that the kids built this week.  I liked to refer to it as a nomad tent since we were studying nomads this week in science.

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We were so excited to find a Monarch Chrysalis hanging on our garage.  I have never seen one before and it looks like it has been painted with gold.  We were especially excited to see this since we had tried to raise a Monarch caterpillar we found and watch it turn into a chrysalis but it ended up dying.  We are thankful we can still observe this one.

The kids made "cave" paintings to try and replicate the cave painting that the nomadic people that lived in caves drew.  They decorated their tent with them. 

So the is one way I find time to do school with the kids.  They are playing with sensory bins which are containers or trays filled with dried beans, rice, popcorn, or macaroni.  They play with their animals and little cars in it.  They love it.  It gives an incentive for the older kids to finish their school work so they can play to.  Does it get all over the floor?  YES!  especially when the twins play with it, which is the whole reason I made them, but it sweeps up well and it gives me an hour of time to do school with the other kids while the twins are occupied. 

The kids are making and presenting their first day of school sign.  Ethan is supervising or on a coffee break! :)

2018 soccer, Game 1

First soccer game of the season: Abbey, Ethan and Isaac are all playing this year.  They all played hard and did well, especially for the first game!

Isaac is in light blue (Carolina Blue) with sky-blue socks.  Abbey and Ethan are in pink (Heliconia) with yellow socks for Abbey and orange socks for Ethan, specially chosen to be distinct on the camera. :)

Butterfly Days

The kids found a beautiful but deceased butterfly on the ground.  Abbey looked it up and determined it was a Yellow Swallow Tail.  They decided to lay it to rest. :)  Abbey just happened to be wearing her butterfly shirt!

We just finished this year's VBS: "No Greater Love!"

Hand motions are essential to VBS songs

   

Luke participating in the wet-sponge relay race, which may or may not have tied directly to the theme.

 Naomi doing her part. 

 Isaac was pretty speedy

 Before games, the little kid group got a story.  I think this was just before the puppet show about showing love to the downtrodden, as Jesus did to the woman at the well.

More Japanese Beetles

Well, I guess I found the reason why there did not seem to be as many Japanese Beetles on the grape vines, they have all congregated on the cherry tree and seem to be making quick work of it although these pictures are a little blurry.  I think I will try to shake the branches with a rake and see if they take the hint and leave!

Ice Cream Time!

We went out for some expensive ice cream.  The kids used their lemonade stand money to help pay for it. A once a year treat:)

Lego Time

After a morning at the playground and playing in the pool after lunch, its LEGO TIME!