School

Most of you know that Alina is schooling at home (as opposed to homeschooling LOL).  She was flying under the radar at school.  She is very good at reading the response of the person asking questions to see if she could discover the right answer.  Her teacher was also letting a lot slip by because "she is adopted and learning English." (I can't tell you how tired I am of this attitude, how are they ever going to learn if they aren't expected to learn).  He wouldn't listen to us when we talked to him about it. 

The intent was to teach her HOW to learn and then send her back to school with that bag of tricks.

She does the K12 program on the computer through Omak School District. She meets with the teacher and other "classmates" once a week with "Class Connection." An online meeting.  Other than that everything is self guided or Learning coach (that's me) directed.  She does the work and progresses through the lessons, I keep track of hours and help when needed.  

At least that is supposed to work.  Truth is, tain't working that well.  She is one sharp cookie when she put the effort in.  When she works, she works well and hard.    When she works.  Most of the time we have to wade through a lot of attitude, "I caaaaaan't"s, "I don't want to"s, huffing and silent treatment. That or just fiddling and looking busy not actually doing anything.  

We get about one good day a week.  One day where she gets done everything she is supposed to for that day.  Something in each of the 5, 6 or 7 areas.  All the other days she maybe gets about one thing done.  We have had to trim everything off but English/ Language, math and literature.

I know plenty of people who home school their adopted children and it goes well.  But maybe for us it is better to not complicate our relationship and just let me be a Mom and not a Mom/Teacher/Slave driver.  I don't know what that means for her education.  We will finish the year out and pray hard for a teacher that will see through to help her.

There are a lot of perks of having her home though.  And I will miss it when she goes back to school.

Caleb in 50 years

I think if  you click on it, it will show it full screen and might be easier to read...

Haircuts

Haircuts are a ritual at our house.  It starts with me noticing that the boys were getting a little bit shaggy.  And culminates with a couple hours of standing in hair coaxing kids to hold still while I cut.  This time the 4 dark haired girls all wanted their hair really cut, not just trimmed.  I gave Ryah lots of layers and I think she looks really cute.

Anastasia prides herself on having the shortest hair of the girls.

Kristina wanted bangs... and then didn't want bangs... and then wanted bangs and then not.  Finally decide to get them and longer layers.  She hates them.  She always combs them to the side and pretends that they aren't there.  .

 

 

 Alina wanted layers.  And she looks good in them IMHO.

 Everyone else just wanted theirs shorter...
You know.... I really ought to learn how to cut hair.....

Garden Party at the Secret Garden

Warning:  There are aLOT of pictures here.

An elderly couple in our ward, Brother and Sister Kohler, has kind of taken a liking to the girls.

They invited us over for a real live Garden Party.   They had formal invitations and everything.  We were all really excited and dressed up to the teeth.  I did all the girls' hair and everyone wore their Sunday clothes.

Heaven smiled upon us and the rain let up just for that day.  It was a little tiny bit cold but beautiful!!

Brother Kohler did some research and learned that Russian girls like flowers in their hair.  So he had some of his potted plants (he has a greenhouse that he keeps warm all winter) that had blooms on them.  He purchased head bands for the girls and had them put flowers on them while the boys played croquet.

Sorry, I was fiddling with manual mode on my camera and then never got back to getting her picture (she hates to have her picture taken).

Ryah loved her new dress and shoes that she got for her birthday. (Thanks Grandma J) It flares out in a very princess-y fashion.

 They had made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  They served them with cheetos and lemonade.  Totally kid-friendly!

 Does this one make up for the last blown out one?!?!?!

Then there was cake for desert and Ryah's birthday.   It was a super fun day with very nice company!  I came home and had the kids write/ draw/ create Thank You notes which they gave to the Kohlers on that Sunday.
Then Brother Kohler developed the pictures he took and sent each child a card with their pictures in.
Such fun!!!

No, no. Really? It can't be.

I found this post half written and feel guilty for not getting it up sooner.

My baby's turning seven.   

Shirt/ dress/ shoes from Grandma and Grandpa J.

Bunch of things to do from Grandpa and Grandma Nielson.  She loved it all and still carries it all around.

She loves puzzles.... and legos

All the kids played with puzzles and legos for the rest of the day.

She was so excited about each creation she made.

She celebrated by learning how to ride her bike (that she got last year for her birthday) with no training wheels.  Go Ryah!!!

Everyone had fun decorating the cake.  I spread the frosting gave them candies to put everywhere.  Ryah loved it.

Then we all were invited to a garden party.  (More on that later).

All in all a great way to celebrate my girl turning seven.  She asked if it could be her birthday every day.