A Bunch of Burts

Ahh. Christmas Break. I just love those words. No homework, no need to worry if you did a math problem right. Yes, I wish it were Christmas Break everyday! Unfortunately it was not to be. I have to go to school so I can learn new things and be able to get a job when I grow up. It always comes down to that, doesn’t it? To be able to finish paying off college tuition, you have to get a job. To pay rent, get a job. To buy groceries, get a job…………the list just goes on and on.
Well, I got a little bit off track there. I really am here to tell you about our awesome trip to the northeast. It was great, 12 hour car trip there, and 12 hour car trip back. Fortunately, that was not all we did.J We actually spent a week at our friends the Sullivan’s (otherwise known as the ‘Sullys’) house. Many times I forgot that we had to come home to go back to (sniffle sniffle, blowing nose) school. You may ask what we did for a whole week at someone else’s house. Well, we basically did everything possible. Chelsea, the oldest Sully child who is my age, and I went on a bike ride almost everyday while romping around in the woods and building forts. Don’t worry, we did calm and relaxed things as well like listening to Odyssey, eating, and checking e-mail.

Me and Chelsea roasting marshmallows (a treat from the US!)

We had a Christmas party for all the NTM people that were working in the northeast. We all met at a restaurant in town. It was delicious! Until I made a fatal mistake. There was a plate of fried chicken on the table. The girls at my table were full so we took all the left over food to the adults. I saw that piece of chicken on that plate and I wanted it. So I debated with myself. Should I eat it, should I not? Finally, Mr. Eat It won and I quickly grabbed a piece of chicken and popped it into my mouth. I chomped down and realized my mistake. I felt like I was going to gag, so I calmly did not ask the adults any more questions and quickly handed them my plate. Then in the privacy of our own table, grabbed a handful of napkins and spit out what was in my mouth. I looked and saw what I guessed it was. A piece of deep fried squid. The tentacles were even still on it! I lost my appetite after that.

this is our Christmas lunch at church in LaoBada. Can you guess which food we brought? I will give you a hint, they have frosting and sprinkles.

Since we had about 2 weeks of break, we also visited our friends the Culletts and Lynches who live in a different town. We stayed there for 3 days. My friend Abby Cullett and I stayed over at Kristen Lynch’s (they are both older that me) house while my parents and siblings stayed at the Cullet’s house. They have 6 children and they all do school on the computer except the two youngest. That means a lot of computers. So whenever we weren’t doing anything all together, you could here shooting noises and such coming from upstairs. That is because my dad had been introduced to a game that they have. It is called Call of Duty. I’m telling you, it must be addictive because even Sam, who is only 3 years old, plays it, by himself! Our stay there was wonderful. We were there for New Years and boy, did we make some noise! In fact, we were the only ones doing it at all! Their neighbors were probably thinking, it’s those crazy foreigners again! What are they doing now???

Playing New Year’s games at the Culletts.

Well, I can definitely say that I had tons of fun over break and just want to say thank you to everybody who made that possible. That would include my parents and siblings, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, Chelsea, Amberly, Drew, Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Cullet, Rachel, Abby, Sarah, Lydia, Zach, Sam, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch, Kristen, and Christopher. THANK YOU!!!!!
I hope that you have enjoyed hearing from the marvelous guest blogger Leah Burt! Hopefully you will be hearing from me again soon!

WFMW faithful: I need your help.

We are going to be re-entering the world of homeschooling and I feel as though I have no idea how to do it.

We have homeschooled twice before, but only in the loosest sense of the word. To be completely honest, it was much more home than school.

The first time we were still in Bible School, Greg was a full-time student and working part-time. I was a part-time student, working part-time and trying to still keep and run the house in 300 square feet without my own bathroom, sink, or running water of anykind in my apartment.
Leah was only in the 2nd grade, Ema was just Preschool and Zach only 4, so let’s just say everyone caught up the next year.

Our second attempt was the year we were on deputation before leaving for the mission field.
Not the best arrangement for a steady schedule. We knew we were leaving, so of course found ourselves saying ‘yes’ to most invitations and we ‘fit in’ school with a couple of trips across the country, well to the Mid-West at least, and weekly commitments that seemed to grow as the year went on.

The kids have been in a wonderful international school here in Chaing Mai as we have been studying language. They would love to continue going, but it is, as I said, in Chiang Mai, and we intend to move out the the NE of Thailand at the beginning of 09. So, we begin our homeschool journey again for the upcoming school year.

It feels early to me to prepare for it, but I know many of you homeschooling moms are already planning and ordering your curriculum for the next year, and so apparently it is time!

I am asking if you would give me a peek into your day, to get a glimpse of what your schedule looks like.
What time do you start?
Do you have timed -out class periods?
Do you do one thing until it is done?
Where do you fit in chores?
How about projects, are they random or planned as part of your curriculum?
Where do you do school?

I am very curious as to what ‘works for you’.
We have no school room available, and one computer available for research ect.
My kids will be 8th, 6th, and 5th.

I would also be interested in your favorite programs/curriculums/books. ect… and why you like them.
We are starting from scratch here, so let it fly!

I so appreciate you pouring out your wisdom on me, Thanks!

P.S.
My oldest is interesting getting in on this blogging stuff.
She has written one about our Christmas break in the NE and is planning on posting it tonight after she chooses some pictures. She would be thrilled with some comments and feedback to encourage her to do more. Would you check back tommorrow?

Just before we left for our holiday adventure in the NE, Ema had her birthday too. We were able to find an afternoon for her to have her party in the midst of packing and preparing to leave.
Can you believe she is 11? Yikes!

She had a backwards theme for her party this year and it turned out to be lots of fun.

Of course, you eat cake first.

hmmm, there appears to be some sort of madman in the background. Better serve that cake quick and placate him!

And blow out your candles and then sing Happy Birthday, backwards, what else?. (That is not as easy as it sounds. )

We even came up with some backwards style games.

Silent Chairs : you sit when the music comes on

I am Who? : each child gets ‘tagged’ on the BACK with an animal and they must guess who they are by only asking yes or no questions. But here is the tricky part. The answers are backwards!
Yes= no and no=yes. Tricky and silly

Pencil in the bottle: This is a game of partners. The one with the pencil tied to a string around their waist is blindfolded, and they must try to dip down and get the pencil in the bottle by only using the verbal directions of their partner.
Of course the pencil is hanging down the BACK side.

You may be wondering why all the girls are dressed alike. They came home with Ema from school, and had all just had PE. Does make for some nice coordinated pictures though.

Happy Birthday Ema, we love you!

P.S.
We are always on the lookout for great and easy birthday ideas. Zach turns 10 in March, do you have any suggestions? As a girl myself, boys parties are always harder for me, and I could use some help.

I had hurriedly carefully prepared and uploaded a lovely, wonderful and heartwarming post about my oldest daughter and how much we are enjoying seeing her grow into a young woman. It had some great pictures from her birthday party and of course I said sweet things about her.

Imagine my surprise when we got back from Isaan and it ubruptly stopped mid-post, mid-sentence even! arrgh.

Not sure what happened, but surely was not user error. Of course not.

I wanted to make sure the rest of the pictures got posted, so here they are.

Isn’t she turning into quite the young lady?

We have entered a new era in a our house. This past Saturday, our dear eldest daughter turned 13!
She had long anticipated becoming a teen ager, and after a month and a half long countdown, she arrived!

Leah had been claiming to be a pre-teen for a while, but when we moved to Thailand, we discovered there is no such desgination. Ages are broken into two basic categories. Kuap–for children, and Bii–for those 13 and older. There is a word for teenager, but it is not used in telling your age.

We look forward to seeing you grow into a beautiful young woman Leah! We love you and all the ways we can see how you are growing up and growing with Christ.