New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve was probably the best New Year's Eve (other than the one we spent in Oregon).  The dinner was nice.  We didn't watch movies.  And I got to know some of my cousins better.

The dinner we had was delicious.  Well...most of it.  The theme was:  Bring Anything That Goes With Rice.  Our chicken was the best.  Grandma made some meatball/pineapple/sweet & sour sauce stuff.  Josh liked it and ate extra.

This year, Aunt Wendy said, "We're all big kids now:  we don't need movies to entertain ourselves!"  I thought, "Yeah!  Yay for you!"  So we had dinner, visited for awhile, played Two Lies & a Truth with the whole family, played Catch Phrase, and then played Mafia with kids eleven and older.  That was it.  Time flies when you're having fun!

This New Year's Eve I liked especially well, because I got to know some of my cousins better.  While everyone was talking after dinner, I played Would You Rather...? and Charades with Jake and Savannah.  Jake is such a tease!  I had dinner with Clarke, Dara, Eli, Grace, Josh and Abby at my table.  They are hilarious!

I really enjoyed this New Year's Eve, probably better than any other.  I got to know some of my cousins better, didn't watch movies, and had a delicious dinner.  Thanks to Aunt Wendy, everything was wonderful!


Written by Emma, January 5.

Photos from sxc.hu.  Used with permission of ven-.

Clarke Scholars

This year we are homeschooling the three youngest family members:  Emma, Peter and Thomas.  We have done some homeschooling before; each year we try to consider the needs of each person and make the best possible decision for each one -- and for the family.

In past years, we have been fortunate to find some wonderful teachers at good schools, but this year our favorite charter school cut their middle school program.  We always have a dilemma during 9th grade (the limbo year, after the charter school terminates and before high school offerings kick in); this year homeschooling started early for Emma, who is in eighth grade.  Does she miss her friends?  She does need more associations with other girls, but some of her need is met with her older sisters, who are 16 and 20, and their friends.

Why bring Peter and Thomas along?  Peter is a sixth-grader and there are offerings for him at the school, but we have noted some needs and have often felt we could help him better at home.  We removed him from his class partway through the school year, last spring.  Peter has life-science interests (particularly in botany, fish, birds and reptiles) and he loves to cook.  Right now he is making squash bread from scratch.

Thomas is a rambunctious and enthusiastic third-grader, who would probably do well wherever he went.  We kept him home this year so he would not miss out on the field trips we take!  He also has mentioned some of the friends from school that he misses, but he also has a lot of opportunities for his imaginative play.  Thomas is very diligent with assignments and he follows directions well.  He is a joy to have around.

It has been a great year, so far!  In addition to our regular studies, we have had many adventures together:  we have gone hiking and explored the formations inside a cave; we have gone camping together and were invaded by raccoons, we have been swimming and regularly had the pool to ourselves; we have repeatedly visited museums and the zoo; we have even taken a week to visit Grandma in Oregon.  Now we are publishing the essays we are writing for our assignments.

We are enjoying the journey together -- and we invite you to come along.

Photos from sxc.hu.  Used with permission.