Here we go with a new year of homeschool. Joseph is in grade 3. John Paul begins Kindergarten (we're betting it will be grade 1 by January). Emilie tells us she is in "nursery school" (something she learned from the boys).

It has been such a blessing having Dan home on paternity leave. I'm certain our transition into school would have been much more difficult and we'd be struggling a lot. Instead, Daddy has been teaching the kids arts ed. and doing a huge chunk of the general household upkeep while we do school. He's also been reading to the kids daily in French - an activity they love and he benefits from!

Morning Basket
Poetry: "Rain" & "The Land of Nod" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Read-alouds:

  

Audio books:

 

Catechism
Joseph is preparing for First Communion and Confirmation this year. He has classes as often as we can make it at the Latin Mass in Saskatoon and homeschools the remainder. Also, we began using the Baltimore Catechism 1 this year.

John Paul is reading and illustrating an Old Testament Bible stories book.

Math
Joseph is learning multiplication with Math U See Gamma and using a another Math Smart book for practice on other skills. John Paul is quickly mastering basic math and already into the March month pages for Kindergarten; he has just started to feel a little challenged in the past week!

Language Arts
We're trying some new-to-us programs this year. Joseph is doing Writing with Ease and First Language Lessons from Well-Trained Mind for writing and grammar. Dictations are a little long and tough for him, but otherwise so far, so good.

That's my cursive of Joseph's narration and his dictation back

Social Studies/Geography
We are very excited to be doing Around the World with Picture Books, Part II this year, covering Europe and South America. The first and largest unit was France. We studied art, history, geography, and native animals.

France - searching for famous art depictions in Anno's Journey, doing our own watercolours of famous French artists, reading the chapter book The Little Prince, making and eating baguettes and pastries.






Some of our favourites of 30-something books we read for France:

  

  

  

  

 

Joseph's Henri Matisse

 Science
I decided we're saving most of our science for 2nd semester. However, we did a bunch of hands on outdoorsy stuff before winter came. Trip to the wildlife sanctuary, outdoor hikes, collecting and examining leaves, harvesting our garden.

 

Arts Ed
Dan has been covering Arts Ed with the boys. They've learned about famous periods of art, architecture, and music.

John Paul's architecture

Carving pumpkins

Joseph made stilts

A Necessary Book Reviewed: Defending BOYHOOD

First, a word of context. Dr. Anthony Esolen could write a cookbook, and I would read it with admiration - for the splendour of his words far surpasses anything our society could, or want to, produce. I imagine it would read, “Complement your sustenance with one trifle of salt, for “We have some salt of our youth in us,” sayeth Shakespeare, and so too should your meatloaf…”  Something like that. Now, on to the book review.

What happens when the best writer in the English language alive today writes a book on a topic I personally have a deep-seated interest in? The result is a book so astute, masterful, and essential, I have little hope of adequately sharing its impression on me. I speak of Dr. Anthony Esolen’s Defending BOYHOOD – How Building Forts, Reading Stories, Playing Ball, and Praying to God Can Change the World (TAN Publishing).

I have written before on my experiences dealing with boyhood’s clash with the world, particularly in the public school setting. Esolen’s book dissects this milieu rather thoroughly, using his trademark wit and insight. I am not surprised by this. What Esolen did, however, that I wasn’t expecting, was challenge me personally in my own family, particularly in how I am as a father for my boys (now three of them).

Why do I play hockey with my boys? Why am I happy that they invent and build things? Why do we homeschool? Why do we frequently drive 2.5 hours to a Latin Mass? Why am I very nervous that there are no good Catholic boys around for them to be friends with? Why do we regiment chores? Why pray the rosary together? Why plant a garden? Why and how do we raise these boys to become good Catholic men?

My wife and I do what we do because we innately know what our boys need physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But to understand the inherent reasons why? Esolen touches the depths of this mystery. Through personal examples, Scripture, literature, history, and everything in between, we are shown why boys are required to become men, and why so many are not achieving this requirement.

A lengthy, but worthwhile, quote:

“What attracts woman to the person of Jesus is not exactly the same as what attracts the boy. The woman wants from Jesus forgiveness and consolation. The boy wants – even if he does not know it – severity and commandments. The woman wants Jesus of infinite patience and mercy. The boy wants Jesus eager with a baptism that will set the world on fire. The woman wants peace. The boy wants war. They are both quite right to want what they want, and I do not say that the woman will never want Jesus the fighter or that the boy will never want consolation. But the woman who brings to the boy the Jesus of peace and patience and mercy brings to him, without perceiving it, a Jesus who will not throw open to him the doors of the world, and life. The boy does not want a domestic Jesus. He wants the Lord of the universe. He does not want to hold hands at the altar with a priest and an altar-girl. He wants to swing the thurible as if it were a sword” (p. 82-83).

Defending BOYHOOD must be read by all men; and by those who think they are men but really are self-absorbed males who have never entered the arena to live and fight. It must be read by women, such as the holy mother who understands her sons need to move, act, sing, and battle; and it must especially be read by the woman who thinks a boy is stupid for not excelling at 6 hours of desk work a day. It must be read by priests who train young boys for priesthood, fatherhood, and to swing the thurible as if it were a sword; and it must be read by the priests who subject such boys to effeminate liturgies that no true boy can rightly stand. 

Defending BOYHOOD is just that, a defence of boyhood, of which there can be nothing more important for the world today. If we do this, the boy becomes a man, the man becomes a noble warrior of God - a power for the world to fear: “And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

“Dear Reader, may it be so for you and yours.”

-         final line

Originally posted at www.bravestthing.com

Rider Game 2019

 

 

The boys got to attend their first Roughrider game at the beginning of the month. Dan got the best end-of-year gift ever from a student who has season's tickets: 4 seats. And lest it go completely undocumented, I decided to throw up the pictures for the sake of posterity.

It was altogether very memorable. The Riders won. The boys had the time of their lives (obviously). Joseph tried (and failed) to get on TV by flossing as fast as he could. Joseph also made a name for himself in their section by being the most enthusiastic fan; people were lending him their horns to blow. The boys made sure Grandpa yelled as loudly as he could. They had huge hotdogs and beer (for the men). They even walked back from the game to our hotel, all the while replaying the entire game with their new football. We stayed at a great hotel, with a great water slide. Emilie swam for hours while the boys were at the game. When they weren't at the game, the boys spent all their time in the pool too. Epic all around.

Glorious Autumn Getaway

 

 

  

Near the end of September, we spent five days house and dog sitting at the Millette acreage in Nipawin. The weather was simply glorious, cool mornings followed by sunny warm afternoons. Autumn at it's true best.

We took full advantage of the weather to visit the regional park and Tobin Lake, to garden and explore the trails and fields.

The day at the lake was so warm, but we had the beach to ourselves because no one was around. Dan brought along Grandpa's metal detector; unfortunately, he didn't find any Spanish gold. The kids searched for treasures and waded in the cold water. John Paul and Emilie started out with slightly wet clothing; then, when I told them I'd brought extra clothes, ventured deeper until they were soaked. A little otter (mink? we're not sure) tried approaching along the beach several times, so the boys made mud balls and found sticks to attack it should it return; they were disappointed it didn't.

At the regional park, we did our traditional circuit at the playground, river, steep climb up the steps, and a hike through the woods to visit the petting zoo area. Again, we were surprised that the park was so empty. Perfect.

Even though we brought school work with us, the majority of our learning was simply taking in the outdoors: walks in the woods, building with Dad in the garage, shooting practice with guns, and work in the garden. Absolutely perfect. And no mosquitoes. We are yearning even more for wider spaces and acreage living. It's a good, good life.

And the little munchkin around the 1 month old milestone.