More from Bogdan's birthday

Last week I posted the photos from the first half of Bogdan's big day. Here are a few more:

Birthday hat

Will said "Look serious." Jaan didn't hear.

The birthday boy looks scared.

Raia can read!

In the past week, Raia finished reading her primer! Apparently, we "always" have an award ceremony, a crown and ice cream when someone reaches that milestone. So, that's just what we did last night. We made a crown for Raia. Will presented her with a certificate and the next reading book, and she got ice cream for everyone.

Below is my favorite photo from the past week. Bogdan found a teeny, tiny beetle on the windowsill, and of course he was completely fascinated with it.

While I'm at it, I can give a little school update: Jaan finished Term 1 of Year 3! (I didn't say finally finished. I love that we can move at our own pace.) Raia is already part way through Year 1, Term 2. So, for the second half of our week, we've had an unusual exam week. (Brandy wrote a bit about AO exams a few days ago. I agree with everything she said. Also, you might know the person who wrote and compiled the Bible questions. Um, let's say, the person who is in the process of writing the Bible questions.) We've kept on doing a regular school schedule, and Jaan and Raia also record videos of their answers to a question or two each day. It will take us a while to get through the questions like this, but it is working for this time around. They haven't noticed that they're not getting their usual intense and fun exam week, but a question or two a day is nice and easy.

Jaan also had testing at music school. That was about the only time I feel sorry for homeschooled children. He was very nervous, because he had no idea what to expect. He kept asking me what "testing" means. Cruel Papa said that I should have told him it's when they beat the children or something. But he did fine. He survived and afterwards said that it wasn't so bad.

Lenten Love

Our Easter is much later than the Western date this year. So, we've just started our family preparation, when many of you are almost to Easter itself. In the past, we've read and loved Lenten Lights (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). I was planning on repeating that this year, but at the last minute I changed my mind. Instead we're focusing on Jesus' love for us and learning verses to go with that theme.

Evolution

No, this isn't really about evolution, as in evolution vs. creation. I just thought the evolution of this post was funny. I started writing last weekend about school. Then left it open and added thoughts about sleep, and then I looked at the photos we had....

I haven't kept up with my "Weekly journal" school posts this calendar year, but maybe I can start again now. Way back in January I thought I would have some time right after (Russian) Christmas to do some mid-year planning and get started again, but everyone was so tired and grumpy that it was actually easier just to jump into school the next day. Strange, but true: school is very calming and centering for this family of ours!

Still, we've been moving along slowly, and it seemed like we were bogging down a little. Math (which both Jaan and Raia love!) was really getting to be a bit of a problem. So, I made one goal for the week, and wrote it up on a sticky note over our table: "20 min. for math!" I set the timer each day, and it worked. No more daydreaming and dawdling. I think we're back on track there.

Special goal for the next week? I think I'll make it reviewing memory work every day. That's something that has been getting skipped lately.

Also, Bogdan has not been sleeping well lately. Ugh. It's one thing to lose sleep with a little baby who mostly just lies around during the day. It's another to get up with him in the nights and then keep up with him (a full-speed toddler!) during the days. Up until now he would have gotten the Best Sleeper Prize for our family. Not anymore.

Photos: around here March 1 counts as the first day of Spring. We had a special tea that day, with...

Butterfly napkins

And butterfly treats

Since this is about random evolution, something funny that Bogdan does: our printer also has a copier function. Bogdan has figured out which button to push to make that go. When he wants to draw, he'll come running up to the printer, crayon in hand, push the button, and wait for the big "paper dispenser" to spit out a piece of paper for him.

Could anyone following my ramblings here? I hope so!

Two years old!

Bogdan is two! He doesn't seem to understand what all the excitement is about, but he was very happy to "finally" have cake. Last night while we were making it, he sat in his high chair, cheering and clapping his hands.... And then he was horribly disappointed when I announced that it was time for bed.

So far today, we've had Yana come over for tea, because she shares a birthday with Bogdan. They opened presents, and Bogdan was very serious about enjoying his. Now the birthday boy is asleep. When he gets up, we'll have ballons and then a birthday dinner. We didn't make any big plans, and that suits Bogdan very well; he's easily pleased.