Recent Pictures and Stuff

Just thought I'd update you on some goings on around here. This one below is just because she's cute!

And here's L showing off his kendo practice sword (I forget the official name). Notice his lightsabers in the background. He's a nut for swords.

Daddy has been taking S around on his bike. She really enjoys it and says "bike hat," referring to her helmet.

Z is such a wonderful big sister. She often takes care of S on the church playground when we're there on Sunday and for co-op. Here's she's showing S the ways of the swing.

Since Daddy's had more time lately, he's trying his hand at cooking. His sushi is terrific. L likes rolls with cucumber or egg in them.

Since Z learned how to ride a two-wheeler this summer, she's been itching to get out everyday to ride. She and Daddy sometimes go to the store, weather permitting. Isn't she getting big?

That's it for now!

Woohoo!

Great news everyone! Jomo passed the bar exam! We are thrilled that all his work has paid off, and now he can officially work as an attorney in the state of Washington. So now just to find that job. Jomo is actually tutoring while he job hunts, so we’re very thankful for that consistent source of income. And we’re enjoying having him home during the day. We’ve even shifted our main family meal to lunchtime.

School has been going well. I’m pretty happy with our curriculum choices this year. For L I’ve been mostly making it up as I go along (with the many resources I’ve collected at this point), which has been good for him. He’s not thrilled when workbooks come out, so I’m glad we’ve gone very light with those, but he really thrives on being able to be creative. Once he gets an idea in his head, watch out! He gets those wheels turning and talks my ear off about it, sometimes even into the next day. Lately he’s been pretty fixated on what he’s going to be when he grows up. Some recent ideas have been: musician (who writes his own music!), scientist, science teacher, archaeologist, science teacher who teaches about space, geology, and digging up things only, chef, apple tree grower, video game maker. I can’t think of any of the others right now. Jomo’s idea was to give him some paper to draw some of his ideas. (Mine was to go get books from the library about his ideas. Guess whose idea he likes better? See, this is how we balance each other in parenting J)

Z’s school is going well too. Ambleside Year 2 is proving to be challenging, even though I think her understanding is pretty advanced. The hardest part is being able to get it all in in a day thanks to little Miss S. She tends to climb all over me, sing her ABC’s loudly, or just cause general mayhem when I’m trying to read aloud to Z. So we’ve been trying different things to keep her busy. And often Z and I do our reading during rest time. But neither of us is too excited about that. Oh well, S won’t be this little for very long. I’m trying to treasure all the wonderful little things about being almost 2.

Another exciting thing is that a friend from church is giving our older two kids Japanese lessons once a week. Jomo has been teaching them for maybe a year or so, but what a great opportunity for them to learn and hear Japanese from a native speaker. Even I am trying to get in on learning their homework. Hajimemashite Dina desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu! (My name is Dina. Pleased to meet you!)

And lastly, we’ve joined a local homeschool co-op, which has proved to be very fun. L is taking Drama class (which he loves! I always knew he had dramatic talent!) and also a science class. And Z is taking Geography and a music/art history class. Both kids are making friends and really enjoying our days there. I’ve also had a great time at co-op and have met new people that I’ve enjoyed talking to each time.