As we journey toward Germany, we have entered into our sixth year of schooling at home! This chapter opens with new characters ... well, the same characters starring in new roles. We are now educating our first HIGHschooler as well as our first PREschooler (for those who were witnesses of our beginning in this endeavor, you will remember we began when Abi was in kindergarten, Isaac in 2nd grade, and Micaiah in 4th). New beginnings abound ...
As Patrick and I spent time studying what this new season and new year would bring, we focused not only on how to "calendar" our school year (with a BIG break to move across the world) but also on what the daily routine would look like. Needless to say, especially for all those moms out there who are schooling even more children, time is precious. Over the years, I have learned that I am a better student when I teach! So... our three older children each have a small block of time in their school day labeled "Bear Instruction." This small, active preschooler is blessed with three unique tutors who run him through various activities emphasizing a letter, a number, and a color (or shape) throughout his school day.
After enjoying a highly nutritional dinner (or homemade pizzas!), we push back the plates and continue talking over the day. All the while Bear anxiously awaits his turn to hear Daddy say, "So tell me, Solomon Barak Lopez, what did you learn today during school?" Quickly he will spout off, "I learned the letter B, red, and 2!" Then he leans back in his oversized chair, basking in the glow of all the encouraging ooohs and aaaahhhs!
We are currently in the second week of what we have affectionately termed "Abbreviated School" with "Full Blast School" looming ahead and ready to launch on August 2. It is my prayer that the excitement wave we are currently riding will only continue to swell ... not crash against some black lava rocks and dissolve into small foaming bubbles!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A New Adventure Begins...
Our time in Hawaii is coming to an end. We have grown to love this slice of paradise and even more so the incredible people who have become dear friends, a family far away from home. But now, a new adventure begins.
Just a few months ago we learned that we would be traveling from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, across the continental United States, and over the Atlantic Ocean to our next duty station ... Baumholder, Germany. (There will be a 3-week break in that trip as we spend Christmas in Kansas City, Missouri!) To say that the Lopez family is excited about this new adventure would be stating it mildly. While, once again, we will be very far from friends and family, we are imagining the incredible opportunities to "walk through history" while our children (and mom, too!) read about that history.
We have completed the first step of this journey ... medical appointments for the entire family (which is another story all by itself!) and the completion of DA Form 5888 -- Family Member Deployment Screening Sheet. Now, before we can take any other steps, we must wait ...wait for the official orders to be cut. Upon receiving those orders, the clock really begins ticking and the final four months that we have here in Hawaii will be filled with (but not limited to) flight arrangements, acquiring passports, vet appointments to prepare Riley for international travel, a huge yard sale, scheduling movers, shipping the vehicle, moving out of our home, and oh yes ... SCHOOL all along the way.
As Bear would say, "I want to go to Germany ... that's in Europe." If I left it at that, he would seem pretty bright for a 3-year old ... but then he adds, "Let's go in the van."
Just a few months ago we learned that we would be traveling from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, across the continental United States, and over the Atlantic Ocean to our next duty station ... Baumholder, Germany. (There will be a 3-week break in that trip as we spend Christmas in Kansas City, Missouri!) To say that the Lopez family is excited about this new adventure would be stating it mildly. While, once again, we will be very far from friends and family, we are imagining the incredible opportunities to "walk through history" while our children (and mom, too!) read about that history.
We have completed the first step of this journey ... medical appointments for the entire family (which is another story all by itself!) and the completion of DA Form 5888 -- Family Member Deployment Screening Sheet. Now, before we can take any other steps, we must wait ...wait for the official orders to be cut. Upon receiving those orders, the clock really begins ticking and the final four months that we have here in Hawaii will be filled with (but not limited to) flight arrangements, acquiring passports, vet appointments to prepare Riley for international travel, a huge yard sale, scheduling movers, shipping the vehicle, moving out of our home, and oh yes ... SCHOOL all along the way.
As Bear would say, "I want to go to Germany ... that's in Europe." If I left it at that, he would seem pretty bright for a 3-year old ... but then he adds, "Let's go in the van."
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