FourHandsFull

Sunday, July 26, 2009

We love Discovery School!

We're very sad to leave you, Discovery School. We were able to send Luca and Leea there only because we qualified for a big tuition discount. The kids have learned and grown so much since they started last year. The school is so hands-on and enriching that it's truly hard to find something that will compare in Colville. We especially love that the kids had music, art, P.E. and Spanish each twice a week. They also had reading buddies, at least one field trip a month and lots of fun stuff going on in their classroom besides the usual school stuff. One thing I especially like is that the whole school uses Positive Discipline by Dr Jane Nelson. Each teacher is required to read the book(s) and act upon. Dr. Jane Nelson has declared Discovery School a POSITIVE DISCIPLINE DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL.

Here's the school's mission statement:

We believe in INDIVIDUALITY: Each child is a unique and distinct individual to be celebrated. Children learn at their own pace. Learning takes place most effectively when one is accepted and valued.
We believe in COMMUNITY: The community is a valuable resource for learning. Contributing to the community is a personal obligation.
We believe in RESPONSIBILITY: Each person is responsible for his or her own behavior. Learning is enhanced by ownership in the education process.
We believe in the JOY OF LEARNING: Education is a life-long experience. The arts are an essential part of learning. Learning is natural. Learning should be fun.

This was the kid's egg drop with Discovery School. At the end of the school year they had planned a bunch of fun things. I had never heard of an egg drop, but as I started researching the whole thing, it appeared to me that it is quite common in the US. Luca's egg survived in about half a gallon of jell-o in a jumbo yogurt container. We also had an umbrella on the enclosed container, but the teacher throwing the thing off the cliff never opened it. There was no weight limit. Some people had eggs embedded in watermelons thrown down the cliff. A teacher had one in a cabbage head, and there were several other random things containing food. Pretty wasteful, but I guess I don't count jell-o as food. :)

Noa took a good mouthful of the red mass. This container also has Leea's egg in it.

Hers survived too. We built a giant bubble wrap pillow with Leea and put a little garbage bag parachute on it.

Here the whole school rented the Looff carousel for breakfast.

Leea and her Pre-K teacher Chinowa...

...and Desiree.

Leea in front of her school.

Leea and her friend Maddy.

Luca and his friend Jon.

Luca and his teacher Michelle.

The kids with their art teacher Charlie Schmidt. Check out his web site. He's a great artist in all kinds of areas and well known in the Spokane community. He's also performed globally with his nose dance. Watch the videos on his page - he's really funny.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

We had an Easter egg hunt at the park by our house with several other friends with little kids. Sure was fun! We are very thankful for the hope of the resurrection that we are reminded at this special time that Christ gives us. We hope you all are well! God bless you all!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Der Kleine Maulwurf- I Miss you, my Friends in all Parts of the World!

I loved to watch the little mole as a kid all the time. I'm so grateful for youtube and people uploading all these wonderful old treasures from the 80's.
This is my very favorite video. The two of them have such a wonderful true friendship. It's great to watch even if you don't speak any German, because the mole just mumbles a few German words and you still get the content of the movie. All my kids, but especially my two 2 yr olds, love all the little mole movies. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

4 Random Things

Danielle tagged me a long while back, but here we go:

4 Random things

4 Things I like about my husband:

1. His desire to learn new things.
2. His interest in health and natural living.
3. His sacrifices for us.
4. He is a great husband and father, thanks for being so patient with all of us, Linc! :)

4 Movies I can watch more than once:

1. Live is Beautiful
2. It's a Wonderful Life
3. Spaceballs (remember ladies? Oh come on, just one more time)
4. Labor of Love (This one is also for Steffi, Iris and Kristin- Good times...)

4 TV shows I watch: Don't have TV

1. Pippi Langstrumpf with the kids (German DVD)
2. We like to watch all kinds of things on youtube
3.
4.

4 Places I've been:

1. Most of Europe, my favorite places are the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas.
2. Canada
3. USA, duh
4.

4 People I email regularly: noone, unfortunately, thus this blog

1.
2.
3.
4.

4 Favorite foods:
1. Fresh strawberries
2. Sushi
3. Pasta
4. Fresh vine ripened tomatoes with mozarella cheese, basil& olive oil (insalata caprese)

4 Places I would like to visit:

1. Northern Europe
2. Mexico
3. Hawaii
4. Caribbean
and so on........I'd also like to visit Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.

4 Things I am looking forward to in the next year

1. Noa being potty trained
2. A perfect body, hahahaha (I've been eating raw and working out like crazy)
3. Lincoln finishing his 1st year of residency
4. More moolah

4 People I tag
1. Steffi
2.Nikkei
3.Tara
4.whoever feels tagged

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Twins' Idiosyncrasies

Please don't listen to my super high voice... :)

Messy, but oh so fun! The kids don't normally lick the table like this, but I felt I shouldn't interrupt. Their behavior was just too cute.

Thanks Allegra for teaching me the above word! Every time I hear it, I have to think about you! :)

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Honey, I shrink-wrapped the kids!

Yep, he REALLY did! One day I was wondering why it took Lincoln such a long time to get the kids ready for the snow. Then I found them wrapped up in the living room. I must say this sticky moving tape works very well to keep snow from coming inside the boots and between the gloves and arms.