Famous Landmarks and Twelve Puppies

Lu can find pretty much any country in the world on a globe in seconds, and tell you what the capitals of many of those countries are. He has a solid grip on world geography, mostly thanks to this great site that he's been working with for a few years now.

This year, Lu is focusing on famous landmarks. 

By the end of this project, he'll have 40+ flashcards 

of important places in the world.

Here are some of them:

On the back he writes the landmark's name, location, 

when it was built (if it applies), 

and any fun facts he can find about it.

He's researching, developing his drawing,

and learning about some truly awesome human-made

and natural wonders in our world.

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If you've been here before, 

you probably know that we're dog-crazy.

Last year, we added Izoxa to our pack.

She grew into a big, strong dog.

And then she met Ocayo.

It was love at first sight.

Last Sunday, she gave birth to 12 puppies.

Yes. 12!!!

 They get cuter by the day.

Lu was present for most of the three hours

that the birthing took. 

It was an amazing experience.

There are few things as wonderful 

as putting your face into a pile of twelve puppies, 

or having your chin sucked by one of them. 

We're in puppy heaven :)

Pre-Columbian Societies, Non-Newtonian Fluids, and Natural Building

It's been raining hard and we were on hurricane alert

for a few days. 

Rain or shine, the boy is up and at 'em at 6am,

even though mama sometimes sleeps in until 7.

He's an early riser, no matter what time he goes to bed,

or how gray and cold it is outside.

We're still starting the mornings with guitar practice.

This week, Lu's been learning 

Metallica's Enter Sandman,

Guns 'n' Roses' Sweet Child O' Mine,

and The Beatles' Let It Be.

We've been using DK Eyewitness Books 

as history supplements for three years.

We're currently studying the Ancient Americas.

 Lu loves all the little info bits,

and I like the short-trip-to-the-museum feel of them.

We're usually in the same room when he's reading,

and he frequently stops to say something that starts with:

"MAMA!!! Did you know that......?!?!"

He did a great job on his map of Guatemala.

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I can't tell you how many times Lu has discovered yet another YouTube tutorial for making some kind of goo/slime substance that is then left in a HUGE tupperware, taking up way too much space in MY refrigerator, which after being played with a couple of times is never to be touched again until MAMA finally tosses it.

But this time, he nailed it.

This blue slime, aka a non-Newtonian fluid (aren't we smart?)

((lol. Well, I sure didn't know what that was until now anyway))

is REALLY AWESOME STUFF.

Lu brought it out a few times that we had (grown-up) friends over.

Everyone was playing with it. It's hypnotic.

And it doesn't even need refrigeration :mama happy:

 

  

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Cha had a group of university students from the U.S. 

come to learn about natural building, 

and Lu got to participate in the construction of this bamboo cabin.

 

Thanks for all the great learning experiences, Life!