End of the Rainy Season

Rainy season is coming to an end, 

and our days are looking more and more like this:

Lu's been spending lots of time in the carpentry workshop,

and recently learned how to make 'empanadas'.

We learned all about the Nitrogen and Carbon Cycles.

 There's a Chess Club starting in town!

 We have a new, homemade ping-pong table!

It's still missing a proper net, 

but that hasn't stopped Lu and friends from playing,

with some Twister breaks in between matches :)

Lots of Learning, All Around the House

 The week started with Youth Group and cooperation games -

in the yard

In this game, two teams stand on opposite sides of the "field" and yell out instructions - all at the same time - to one member of their team, who is blindfolded and trying to collect all the balls of a particular color that are on the ground. It's funny to watch. Both teams are yelling pretty much the same things to the two blindfolded people, who are trying to recognize voices amidst the chaos.

 There was also this beautiful collective creation they made -

Lu's been reviewing fractions and decimals

with Khan Academy -

in the office

Making a poster about Socrates -

in the living room

 Reading and taking notes on important people

of Ancient Greece, like Pythagoras and Pericles -

in the kitchen

Learning how to figure out the surface area 

and volume of a cuboid -

 back in the office

And making tortilla pockets 

with his Kakchikel (local Mayan language) teacher -

So, lots of learning, all around the house.

And Then We Did Some Schoolwork

On Monday morning, Lu had dance and theater.

And then we did some schoolwork.

 Learning about Kinetic Energy in Science class.

 On Tuesday, Lu had team-building and cooperation games

And then we did some schoolwork.

Adding and subtracting with negative numbers in Math class.

Today we went to the lake to swim...

and play with our shadows.

We'll do some schoolwork... later.

(btw: Lu wants you to know that he IS wearing a bathing suit)

Goats, Chess, Healthy Diet, and an Award

Recently, some goats moved into town. The goat herders and their goats live up the mountain, just above us. So, every morning, they walk by our house selling fresh goat's milk. Lu hears the bells and likes to go out just to see the goats, and he chats with the herders. I'm not a fan of drinking any kind of animal milk. I think the idea in itself is kind of strange. Lu has tried cow's milk a couple of times, but we're both slightly allergic. However, he knows that goat's milk isn't allergenic (for us) and has been asking to get some for years, so he was very excited with the goat arrival. So, even though I don't fully approve, I let him buy some milk from the daily goat parade.

Coffee is also something Lu doesn't have often, 

but he had his heart set on making himself a cappuccino 

with the electric foam-making-thingy and his goat milk.

 

Cha and Lu have been playing lots of chess.

Lu is allowed to stay up past his bedtime for chess.

Hence, the craving for a cappuccino.

 

And I'll even let him get up later the next day,

because chess definitely counts as learning.

 

I'm on a fitness trip.

My goal - to lose 20 pounds 

and get my knees strong again.

Lu is being a great fitness buddy,

taking walks and hula-hooping with me,

and even having his diet changed up.

 

No more toast for breakfast.

Instead, I'm making yummy veggy eggs.

He loves them, and we get an extra veg serving.

(onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery, zucchini, sweet corn, red pepper)

Lu's shoulder was dislocated last April,

and frequently pops back out of place.

We went to a chiropractor and got these groovy bandages.

The chiropractor also mentioned that we needed

to work on Lu's posture, so we came up with this...

We used to start our day with fruit, but

I'm learning that it's better to start the day with protein.

So we're having our fruit for snack time.

Sometimes Lu has two fruit snacks 

between breakfast and lunch.

And I'm trying to get lots of fish in our diet.

Here's today's lunch -

 Fortunately, where we live, there is abundant fresh veg and fruit.

So no canned goods for us - except olives and sweet corn.

 Today, Lu shared his good water-drinking

and fruit-eating habits with a little friend.

 And, last but not least,

Karen at Homeschool Atheist Momma has tagged me for a sunshine award.

Thanks Karen!

So the deal is that I have to answer these 10 questions and then nominate some of my favorite bloggers to do the same. So here goes!

1. What is your favorite Christmas/Holiday movie?  The Goonies or The Sound of Music
2. What is your favorite flower? Mountain wild flowers - all varieties.
3. What is your favourite (non-alcoholic) beverage?  Coffee, coffee, coffee.
4. What is your passion? I am passionate about the lifestyle we have chosen.
5. What is your favorite time of year? Summer. Hot with occasional rains.
6. What is your favorite time of the day? Mornings.
7. What is your favorite physical activity?  Dancing.
8. What is your favorite vacation? This one is hard for me, because we live in a vacation place. But if I could, I'd love to do have a history-packed vacation and visit places like Greece, Turkey, and Egypt.
9. What song is stuck in your head right now? Eddie Grant's Electric Avenue  
10. What are you reading right now? Lots of articles on nutrition and fitness. 

And I'll be nominating...

Melissa at Through the Wardrobe
Ingi at Defying Gravity
Kristen at Teaching Stars