The Square Root Of...

(...desperately trying to catch up with blogging...)

(...and thinking that she'll just have to stay behind...)

Thomas joined Alpha Omega Math Team!  (That was in late January.)  Then, a few short weeks later, he dazedly attempted to compete with his team in the regional tournament (mid-February).  The A/O team leader, Mrs. Macwan, insisted that he compete, in order to get some experience under his belt for next year, and to help the team (only 12 students large) get extra points to try to qualify for the state tournament.

It was requested that we all bring food/snacks for the students (and for parents who stayed).  Thinking healthy, I put together chicken/cheese wraps.  Another mom thought of the teens competing and brought the below:

Real teen food!

Before the competition began, the students gathered together, and Ryan led them in prayer.  I was totally jazzed at that point.  :)

Thomas and Kirsten (below) made up one of the eight-man teams.  Yes, there were only two of them.  I felt so badly for them when they walked into their room for that particular round of competition, and eight-man teams were sitting at the other tables.  Sort of like feeding them to the lions!  They didn't seem nervous, and did great for having only two people on their team.

Once the adults found out I was a photographer, they wanted me to take their kids' pictures.  I, of course, was happy to oblige.  Here is one team picture I really like--the kids, though extremely goofy--cooperated nicely for this one.

The team sat together for the awards ceremony.  We knew that Thomas--barring a miracle--would probably not receive any awards, but we were excited to be there and to cheer on the team.  I was pretty nervous waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Here is Ryan receiving an award for one of his competitions.

After the competition, and since everyone was pretty close to home, we all met at Portillo's for a late lunch and socializing.  We didn't get out of there until almost dinnertime!  We had so much fun, though, getting to know the other parents and watching the students all have fun together.

Rah-rah, Alpha Omega!  Go Team!!  :)


Back to life,
Christine

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It's Not All Academics

A few weeks ago, a short conversation was hopping around my circle of blog friends.  We all pretty much agreed that we don't post much about our homeschool.  For me, this blog contains the chronicles of our lives together as a family, a written heritage, if you will, of our family's life, including everyday life, special events, meals shared, recipes we've enjoyed, stories of joy and sadness.

I think the reason that I don't post much about our homeschool is that it is such an integrated part of our lives.  It's just what we do.  The school subjects are there every day, and they get done.  I don't really want to blog about what Thomas studied in history today, or about the essay paper Danny has to write for English Composition.  I guess that school is such a seamless part of our day and our lives that it doesn't seem important enough, or momentous enough, to blog about.  Don't get me wrong--it's important!  But it is as natural as someone going to work each day, or even as someone going to an actual school building each day.  It's just what we do.

Homeschool life is everyday life.  It is a lifestyle dedicated to these goals, in this order:

• Discipling our sons in His Word, and living out our lives with Him before them, that they would in turn become followers of Christ.
• Living our lives together, working on character training, building each other up in Christ--as iron sharpens iron
• Fostering a love of learning, and of books, and of curiosity
• Taking care of academics

Christ is the Preeminent One in our lives and in our home.  Academics are secondary.  This is the way it is.

I do have lots of images of the boys studying, doing school, and participating in activities--especially science experiments.  And every now and then, I'll post an image, or write a post, about what we're doing.  This post, then, serves as proof that we really do cover the academics!

Great are the works of the LORD;

They are studied by all who delight in them.

Psalm 111:2 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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christine anne photography