A Super Hero Show.

 At the end of the school year, the two third-grade classes at Nathan's school took an interim break to learn about theater production, which concluded with a performance on Friday evening.  A group called Dakota Players from the Black Hills area came in to teach the kids about the ins and outs of putting on a play.  They passed out parts, and the kids learned the script during the school day that week.

It was fun to see Nathan's first performance.  It was titled, "The Super Hero Show".  Nathan  played a chemical scavenger, which is sort of like a minion for the bad guy...who of course in the end learns a lesson and turns out to be not so bad.  All the kids got a lot of stage time, and Nathan had about five lines.

He was super nervous, but he delivered his lines well and did a great job.  It was fun as a parent to see him do something out of his comfort zone and to try hard to do it well.

They performed in their gym, so it was difficult to get any good photos during the show (no elevated stage), so I did my best to get a few after the show.  

All the kids were pretty pumped after the performance!

 

Nathan stayed in character and went for the tough look!

Schooled.

It's that time of year again.  School is in session!

It's always bittersweet; the sadness of the end of Summer mixed with the excitement of Fall and all the activity it brings with it.  With school not starting until September 8th though, we all definitely felt ready to get into a school routine (well, maybe some were have mixed feelings).

Last Spring we wrestled and prayed about the best school choices, and now we get to see how God is going to use this year, and where He has placed us, for His glory...

So, here is the 2015-2016 Thompson Line-up:

At the Challenge Center at Robert Frost Elementary, is our 3rd grader Nathan.

Nathan is attending the same school as last year, though they are meeting in a new location.  Last year there was also only one section of 2nd graders and this year there are two sections of 3rd grade.  So, his class is filled with a mix of kids from his class last year and new friends.  

(Now there will just be two sections until 6th grade when he goes to middle school).

I love getting boys (or at least my boy) ready for the first day of school.  Nathan threw on a shirt from last year and some shorts he just received from his cousin,  I think they're a size 6 (Nathan's 9).  When I asked him if he wanted to put on something newer or more special (like NOT basketball shorts for just one day, please) he looked at me strangely and said, "nah".

He was feeling a mixture of excited and nervous, but once we got to school I could tell he was ready to go!

His class went in a few minutes earlier than expected so I didn't get a good photo at the school, but here he is heading in for his first day!

I did manage this year to not cry until I got back into the van...success!

Everyone had risen early to bring Nathan to school, but then the girls and I headed right back home again to begin our first school day!

The girls will continue to stay home with me, though how I have two schoolers!

Ella is in the second grade!

Much of our curriculum will remain the same as last year, just bumped up a grade.

This includes:
Reading and Poetry: Heart of Dakota

Math: Singapore 3A

Language Arts: Logic of English D

History, Latin, Science, Art, English, & Math memory work: Classical Conversations

Ella was also super excited to begin her day.  

We didn't get through everything we typically would, but it was a great soft, rolling start.  

And, Adeline is a Kindergartener!

Adeline too was ready to be a "big girl" and get "real school work" to do.  

At home, we'll be focusing primarily on the 3Rs:

Reading: How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and Explode the Code

Writing: Handwriting Without Tears

Math: Saxon Math 1

 Adeline also is enrolled in Classical Conversation and does the same memory work as Ella (sometimes better than anyone else).

Sweet Evelyn is a pre-pre-schooler.

 

Her year is focused on puzzles, books, drawing, playing with babies, and soaking up knowledge like a little sponge.

In addition,  all four kids are enrolled in Bible Study Fellowship.  Nathan and Ella go in the evening with Matt and Addie and Evelyn go in the morning with me.  This year we are studying Revelation.  How awesome that we get to study all together as a family!

Now that we're two weeks in we're developing a routine.  I can't say it's always smooth, we've run the gamut of emotions from joy to total frustration, but it is good and I'm so thankful to be in a position to keep my kids home with me, or not.

Can't wait to see what the rest of this year holds in store!