Niagara falls visit two

Our trip to Canada coincided with Albert's Spring break from Seminary. I figured whether he studies at home or in Canada makes no difference. Thankfully he agreed to go! Unfortunately the Canadian schools had their spring break the week before, so while we were there, the girls friends went to school. Also we were staying over Easter which meant that some of our friends had other commitments. In God's perfect timing we managed to catch up with most of our friends! We stayed the second half of our stay with one of our other good friends Pam and Ken. Pam had arranged for Michaela and Grace to attend school for one day while we where there! How cool is that? The girls even borrowed some uniform from Pam's girls and they got to ride on the school bus! The older girls had a blast! Albert suggested that while the big girls were having fun that I take the little girls on the Skywheel. It wasn't something I had thought of but as a good wife I did as he suggested! :). So Kate, Zara and I had a blast taking photos of the Falls from the Skywheel! 

Girls waiting for the school bus!

There it is!

On they go

Selfie with Kate and Zara

I told you the girls had fun taking photos :)

American Falls

Horseshoe Falls
(It was a magnificent day unlike earlier in the week when it rained)

Kate and Zara with both Falls in the photo
American Falls to the left and the Horseshoe Falls to the right

On the Skywheel

Spectacular isn't it?

Having fun!

Can you see Kate taking the photo?

Kate and Zara in front of the Skywheel!

Again another fun day! Since it was a school day, the Skywheel was just about empty and we got to go around heaps of times! Girls had a blast! Oh and Mum too!

Kingdom Builders

As I said in my last post, we attend a homeschooling co-op called Kingdom Builders. We attend this every Thursday for art, music and PE. They are about 6 families with about 20+ kids ranging from 0 to 10. Albert came with us on his reading recess break to Kingdom Builders. Every week a family does a devotion and opening of the morning. I volunteered to this week as I had not been scheduled on (aren't those moms thoughtful!) but one of the families was unable to do their turn that week. It was a good opportunity to tell the group what we had done over the summer holidays! (HINT think plane!)

Providentially it was also the week that Albert had reading recess and so was able to come and have a look to see what we get up to every Thursday. Albert also volunteered to do the devotions, ofcourse I gladly took up his kind offer ;). He talked about a subject that I wanted to talk about, namely the ant and the pig in proverbs! (Think Judy Rogers songs of proverbs). Albert did an AWESOME job (I'm very biased) and took part with all the activities including saying the pledge to the USA flag!

Albert doing showing a picture of an ant

Shock horror, who is the leader?

Far out, me again this time going over the catechism
(Mama notice the t-shirt?)

Daniel you will be proud of us,
saying the pledge to the USA flag!

Girls telling about their summer holiday, spot our kiwi?

I had printed off some photo's of our trip

More photos

Michaela tell her story

Zara and Kate in art class

Zara and Kate in PE learning softball

Singing to top of the morning!

Homeschooling update and pics

Here is some proof that we do indeed provide some schooling to our lovely girls! :).

In the first photo you can see my master folder with all the schedules for the week in it. It even has questions to ask the girls about what they are reading (and the answers of course!). Kate is learning about early world history and Michaela and Grace are learning about early American history. Early American history is very fascinating and they are reading a lot of real life story books relating to the early history including the story of Thanksgiving! 

The curriculum is quite full on with lots and lots and lots of books to read which is just perfect for our readaholics! If your kids don't like reading this curriculum is not for you. I try to school Mon-Wed in which I also do enough for Thursday as we go to a co-op homeschool meeting on Thursday and then Friday is an easy day. I'm enjoying the flexible schedule but it is also a curse as I rarely start 'on time' (what ever that means ;) ). We get all our work done each week as per schedule and so no complaints from me. 

Homeschooling suits our season in life at the moment but I have still a soft spot in particular for Faith Academy School. Our co-op (thanks to Jenny Waldron's friend who made the suggestion that I join one!) has been VERY helpful. I don't contribute much as far as teaching goes (The mothers there are so much more talented than I!) but help out when necessary and do some babysitting. We're very blessed as a family by those Reformed ladies!

I do struggle having them with me 24hrs a day and so I'm very grateful for the lovely playground out the back where the girls can go and play. I'm grateful for the basement also for the same reason. I'm also grateful for the swimming that I'm able to do in a state of the art facility about 10 minutes from my home for a reasonable cost. 

Zara, Grace and Kate

Playing with the shapes blocks, never thought of this
but it came with the homeschooling package.
I'm VERY impressed by it my girls love it!

Audience, they are eager for the next biblestory! 

mmm I wonder what letter Zara is learning about?

Albert's Update 13/11/2012

(Editors note - here are some photos as I have so many photo posts still to come, it might be a couple of week before you would see photo's of today's outing!)

Even Heit and Mama made it to the top, notice our 'costumes'

Albert and the girls!

Our first snow flakes, it didn't last long :(

New lounge decorations! Thanks heaps! Can you spot Murray?

Temperature Report. It's a Tuesday evening as I type this, at 7:30 pm. The temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Which makes it -1 in Celsius. It's supposed to get down to 27 degrees tonight (-3). It's a real blessing to be nice and warm inside. We are blessed with a nice warm house!

It has been another full on week. Last week Friday I had a Hebrew Test, a Greek test on Monday, followed by a Mid Term exam today for New Testament Introduction. I also had a Sermon outline due yesterday, but I managed to get that completed earlier last week, and handed it in then. Friday is a vocab test for Hebrew, which not should be too bad. I have had a few exams and tests back lately, and the Lord has been gracious with some good remarks, even in areas that I have been struggling.

We had a lovely family afternoon, out to the playground with the kids, and I even managed a game of tag with the girls. Not bad for an old man! I'm sure Hanneke has a few photos that will surface at some time. It was nice to have an afternoon off after all the study.

We were also blessed from with some goodies from home from the family with the return of the MARS NZ Party. Thank you to the grandparents for the supplies! I have also heard that the MARS party enjoyed their time in NZ, and spoke highly of the welcome they received.

The exam this morning was interesting. As I have said it was for New Testament Introduction. This topic looks at the background around the New Testament. What was the language spoken at that time?  (Greek!) What were the Social/ Cultural factors at play, what were the various religions that were at that time etc. Including in this is the idea of Canon, as well as Textual Criticism today.

One of the questions in my exam today went along the lines of this (In paraphrase): "A well-loved and respected old minister in your Presbytery approaches you and asks: "You do agree that the Textus Receptus is the text that the Church is received don't you, or have you gone the sinful way of those modern text critics?" Outline your answer to him, and clearly state what you believe. I won't bore you with my essay, but it was a great question to answer.

For those interested here are two links of some recent assignments that I have handed in.

A Textual Criticism Assignment:

https://www.box.com/s/lvnhy9hd67thepf9ppmz

A Sermon Outline:

https://www.box.com/s/50ugy1zbohowy9dj6bqq

I have a full Sermon due at the end of this month, but also a large Apologetics paper. So my aim is to complete my Sermon this week. I will be looking at Philippians 2:1-4.

Well, that's it from me for this week. Please continue to keep us in our prayers, we certainly keep you all in ours. Pray that in the business of life we may remember all those things that are important, and that we will continue to do all to the best of our ability. Give thanks also, for the continued blessings that we are receiving.

Have a wonderful week,

Blessings,

Albert

Stair Race

This happened ages ago or so it feels! This was when the weather was sooo hot that you couldn't go outside and play even though the sun shined outside! Now the weather has cooled considerable and this warmth seems a distant memory! 

We hadn't received our homeschooling materials and were looking for something to do inside, the girls challenged me to see how many times I could run up and walk down the stairs (to the basement). I thought my effort of ten was pretty good considering that I had swam for about an hour early that morning. Well I was WRONG! the girls beat me well and truly  Michaela kept going and going and going until I told her to stop so that the other girls could have a go as well. Kate did AWESOME too and very determined to do better! I LOVE peer pressure in this way, to spur each other on to 'good' deeds! I did have a second go to see if I could do better than my first go but no as Brydie (and Trish too!) know stairs are mean and so I had to 'bow' out early on! Girls kept going and going!

Michaela

Tigger - I (Hanneke) bet him does that count?

Murray had to have a go too!

Tigger and his helper

Zara - I think Murray is winning

He has had enough!
 (In his defense it was very hot even inside the house!)

Grace

School Fair

About a month ago, our neighbors invited us to come along to the local (Private) Christian School Fair. We didn't  know that it was on and we were grateful for their invitation. This is the school our girls would go to if they went to school. (It's about US$5000 per year per child!). The fair is their main fundraiser for the year. The set-up was huge and very well organised with each of the parents assigned to something. Albert had never seen anything like this before! Our neighbors bought the girls some tickets so that they could go and play a lot of the games. The girls and their granddaughter had a ball!

Me and neighbours to the right

What's a fair without some candy floss?

Michaela (blue jacket), Grace (pink jacket)
waiting for a game.

In this game they drop a wooden circle
down the board.

Albert and Zara

Grace and Michaela watching their 'circle' going down

Going down

Kate was there too!

Naughts and crosses

Kate

Girls watching some 'fishing' action!