Are You Smarter Than a Homeschooler?

Last night was our monthly homeschool support group meeting. As an executive we decided to make it a family fun night, so thus evolved the game, "Are You Smarter Than a Homeschooler?" Christmas edition. The dads were pitted against the "class" competing for the "big" chocolate prize. It was great fun!
Greg was the "teacher." Can you pick out Shalayne? She was one of the students.

Christmas Baking

We set aside two days this week to do Christmas baking. On Tuesday we made our Christmas cookie favorites. Yesterday was chocolate making day. We are still experimenting to find our favorites, but it is a yummy project!

Happy Birthday, Greg!

Today is Greg's birthday! It's also the traditional first day of Christmas in the Lammiman household. So we decorated, ate a birthday dinner complete with chocolate candycane cake, watched the Festival of Lights fireworks out our back windows (it looked like they were in our backyard- almost; we would have gone over to the park except that it is -19C), sang Christmas carols and listened to Shalayne play her Christmas repertoire on the piano.

Lammiman's Top 10 for 2007

We hope you and your family find joy and peace this Christmas. May the Reason for the Season become a part of your everyday all throughout the coming year!

Lammiman's Top 10 for 2007

1. Dustin graduated from grade 12 in June in a beautiful ceremony and celebration with 11 fellow homeschoolers. He bought his first car after working hard all summer as a Barista at Starbucks, and is now attending Alberta Bible College in Calgary while living at home. One of his college highlights this semester was living and working at the Mustard Seed in downtown Calgary for several days as part of his Christian Ministry Lab.

2. Our whole family participated for our fourth year in the Canadian Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller. If you haven't been to see this production you must make it a priority this summer! Or better yet, join us in acting out the greatest story ever told!

3. Shalayne earned First Class Honors on her piano exam in June. In October she turned 13 and is becoming a beautiful young lady.

4. Travis has surpassed his dad in height this year. He is becoming an accomplished violinist and has taken over his brother's position at Starbucks. Wow, two coffee specialists in a non-coffee household!

5. MovieMakers, the joint business of Dallas and Greg, completed their first production, "The Amazing Map" educational DVD series! This product has been approved as a recommended resource by the Calgary Board of Education to supplement the grade 2 Social Studies program! Dallas and Greg did the major work on this project, but our whole family was involved with helping in various ways. Travis did the art work for the DVD disc, as well as visual effects for several episodes. Check out the website (created by Dustin) http://www.moviemakers.ca to see trailers of the videos.

6. In October, Greg and Dallas flew to Texas to attend the San Antonio Christian Film Academy and Film Festival put on by Vision Forum. This was a great blessing, inspiring them to a bigger vision for their business and our family.

7. Grandma Verone was home for the summer before heading back to Poland. Shauna, Shalayne, Grandma, Tammy and Brooke (Shauna's sister and neice), Janelle (Shauna's sister) and her family spent a week in Fairmont in June at the Fong's timeshare enjoying each other's company.

8. This summer saw us visiting Banff, the Creation Museum, the zoo, and Calaway Park. Dustin, Travis and Shalayne all attended AWANA camp in northern Alberta. Greg and the boys also built a new fence for our backyard.

9. We have enjoyed many activities with our homeschool group this year from Reformation party to Mystery night, from Film School (taught by Dallas) to a Musical (led by Shauna and Dallas and involving all of our kids), from the annual Homeschool Showcase to Friday skating and regular Teens and family get-togethers in our home.

10. Shauna has entered the world of blogging. If you are interested in keeping up with our family activities, visit http://www.slammiman.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to yours!

Much love from Greg, Shauna, Dallas, Dustin, Travis and Shalayne

Creating

My wonderful friend, Peggy, taught me how to make these beautiful, quilted Christmas balls. Even Shalayne is trying her hand at a few. They will make great gifts, if I don't save them for my own tree!

Barista

Travis has just finished his training for Starbucks. My Barista looks pretty sharp, don't you think?

I love Christmas!

As Christmas draws nearer (only 35 days to go!), my mind turns to ways I can make this season celebrating Christ's birth more meaningful, and yes, even fun, for my kids. It was easier when they were younger; they don't get as excited as they used to about making gingerbread houses, although they do like to eat them- but they still do help with Christmas baking or chocolate making- and they don't care to do math questions on a Christmas tree page! They also won't allow me to play Christmas music until December 1st! (December 1st is the first day of Christmas in our house, beginning with celebrating Greg's birthday.) No matter what their ages though, I feel it is important to take the time to reflect on why we celebrate, to slow down in a world gone mad over consumerism, and to connect as a family.
Over the years, we incorporated 'Christmas School' into the month of December in place of most of our regular studies. We're still learning, just in special, different ways. Even if you don't homeschool, you can use many of these ideas to make December special and more meaningful. Below is a sampling of things we have done over the years.

Christmas School Ideas

Language Arts

Read together- as many Christmas stories as you can

Memorize: scripture, poems, the real 12 days of Christmas (did you know that each of the symbols represents a Christian principle?)

Christmas cards/letters- kids address in best penmanship
-kids write notes for in cards
-kids write the Christmas letter (a fresh perspective!)

Have kids write Christmas stories as gifts

Frame kid’s handwriting or poem as gift

www.abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/l_december/christmas/
www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/misc/christmas/
www.edhelper.com/Christmas.htm

Math

Construction and measurement- have kids design and create gingerbread houses
www.recipelink.com/ch/2000/december/mrfoodchristmas1.html

Sewing (patterns and measurement)

Baking (shopping, measuring, doubling recipes)
www.kidzone.ws/math/christmas/

Geography

Stamping Christmas cards (with postage stamps, that is!- where in the world is each card going? Find that country on a globe)

Study Christmas traditions around the world

The Arts

Make music together

Attend concerts, stage productions

Play Christmas music- study the classics, however, the exposure alone is good and painless!

Great Artists- Understanding the Arts (Homeschooling Today)

Science

Crystal Snowflakes http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/winter/crystalsnowflake/

Study winter birds- create snowman for birds with seeds, popcorn, etc.
-decorate a tree for birds (as above)

Snow experiments

Animal Tracks http://42explore.com/animaltracks.htm

Ice cream-the science of making your own!

Unit Studies-pick a theme

Operation Christmas Child Activity packs (geography, world history, crafts)

Homeschooling Today magazine (Dec. issues)

Nativity http://www.first-school.ws/activities/bible/nativity1.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/holidays/ss/nativityprint.htm
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/nativity.htm

Above all, enjoy Christmas with your children and the real Reason for the season!

Mystery in the Library

The other night in the library, when many characters were out of their books enjoying a sojourn in the night air, a crime was committed, grim and grave, right in our own library. As a result his Majesty Henry VIII- that famous monarch from the English history books- has disappeared. Gathered are the characters that were present in the library at the time of the nasty deed. Fortunately Master Sherlock Holmes is here to investigate, so the perpetrator of this heineous crime will no doubt be revealed as the night proceeds.

So began our homeschool night of mystery. With almost 40 people (seven families) involved, we were hosted by the Conways in their beautiful home (big enough for all of us- must be 4000 sq. ft. +). Everyone dressed up and the costumes were fabulous! What fun we had! This was a mix and mingle game, with lots of goodies to nibble on besides, and it was a blast to watch the interaction of all the characters from little Baby Bear (Robin Contos) to Sherlock Homes and Mr. Watson to beautiful Cleopatra to Captain Hook. And my, oh, my, you would never guess who committed the nasty deed!

The Amazing Map

Great news! The Amazing Map, Dallas' and Greg's movie project, has been approved by the CBE (Calgary Board of Education) and will be included in their recommended products catalogue! Please visit the website to learn more about it and to watch the trailers! moviemakers.ca

Exciting Boxes!

Here is Dallas Lammiman, the proud owner of his first officially published work, The Amazing Map! And look at all those boxes... don't you want to buy your own copy?!!

Red Letter Day!

Am I allowed to brag? Guess who I had for lunch today! (Actually, it was really on account of Dallas) None other than the Bluedorn brothers, Hans and Nathaniel! For those of you who don't know, they wrote the books The Fallacy Detective and The Thinking Toolbox, which ironically we have just been reading each morning to start our school time. Wow! Celebrities in my house! Dallas met Nathaniel at the San Antonio Film Festival and then the brothers came to the Banff Film Festival. They are looking into filming a rock climbing documentary.

My other piece of exciting news is that Dallas is in Calgary at this minute picking up his now finished and packaged film project, The Amazing Map! ! Next step, selling them!

Dustin is off the Streets!

Dustin is home from four days of living at the Mustard Seed in downtown Calgary as part of his Practical Ministries course at Alberta Bible College. He said it was a very interesting experience. The first thing he did when he got home was to take a shower! The team had to pick out a set of clothes from the donation room at the Seed and wear only them. They slept on the floor at a church. Dustin helped to peel 100 lbs of potatoes for the supper meal at the Seed and washed dishes. One day, the students had to pick bottles and panhandle to get money to feed themselves. Dustin said it was interesting how people would turn away from them or hold their purse close to their body when giving some change. But the street people at the Mustard Seed were friendly and pleased that the students were learning about their way of life. Unfortunately, a virus was going 'round and over half of their group ended up sick and had to return home. Fortunately, Dustin was not one of them. I'm glad my boy had this experience, but I'm also glad to see him home!

Reformation Night

It has become a yearly tradition in our homeschool group to hold a Reformation Night party in leu of Halloween. (If you remember your church history, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses of Contention to the door of the Wittenburg Chapel on October 31, 1517, declaring his intolerance of the Roman church's corruption.) However, this year we had to do our party a night early because the church was booked on Wednesday. We began with a pot-luck and then each family ran a booth /game where the kids were rewarded with, of course, candy! This year we focused on reformer Martin Bucer.

They're Back!

My guys are home! With stories, gifts, lots of pictures, and new products.









I can't wait to see some of the DVDs they brought back, such as The Monstrous Regiment of Women and The Return of the Daughters . But most important, this week was a worthwhile experience for them and they met many men of like vision. In any case, I am glad they are home!

Don't these pictures make you want to visit San Antonio?!

Shop 'Til You Drop!

It is now an annual tradition to go with my dear friend, Charmaine (and her select friends), on an all day shopping spree to celebrate her birthday. This is such a fun day! Charmaine scouts out these wonderful stores that we ladies love to browse and rarely get to visit, except on this special day, and we enjoy girl chatter and shopping to our heart's delight~ without interruption!! We each pitch in to bring a portion of a go-gourmet picnic, which this year we enjoyed in the Devonian Gardens.

Some of our haunts:
McNally Robinson bookstore
La Cache- beautiful, feminine clothing and linens (my kind of store, but I can't afford it too often!)
Chintz and Commpany- home decor (Janelle, you would like this one I think :-)
The Beehive- homemade soaps and more
My Sewing Room- quilting and fabrics

Thank you, Charmaine, for your beautiful friendship and for teaching me that I need times like this to refresh my spirit and strengthen my friendships. You are a rose in my garden of life!

Snow!

It was not snowballs we woke to this morning (referring to a former post) but the ground covered in the white stuff! Thankfully it is a blue sky, sun shiny day, so I know it will not stick this time. I guess God is just preparing us for the cold to come, but I'm trying not to think of that!

San Antonio, here they come!

They are in San Antonio! I dropped Dallas and Greg at the airport at 5:00 a.m. this morning and they flew to Texas for a week-long Christian Film Makers Academy. They are so excited to be able to attend. Greg phoned this afternoon from the Rainforest Cafe on the Alamo Riverwalk! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to hear him because the elephant decided to trumpet just as I answered the phone :-) Of course, it is very lovely and warm there. Check out this site to see what my guys are up to!
http://www.independentchristianfilms.com/academy/

Walking Across Canada

We are attempting to walk across Canada. How? Well, there is a site that will track your steps each day (we wear a pedometer) and show us how far we have traveled. I think it is helping us be a little more active. For example, we walk when we can instead of taking the van.
http://www.speakwell.com/ipedcanada/

Finished!

It has been a long year and a half. But it is finished and today goes to 'press'! Dallas has worked long and hard on his first video production for profit, 10 videos correlating with Alberta grade 2 social studies curriculum. I know I am a proud mom, but they look awesome (and he has had very positive feedback from others as well). At this point, Dallas is in business with his dad and has done the largest extent of the work; however, over the past few months, everyone in the family has had a part in helping out. Dustin has set up the MovieMakers website, Travis has made computer graphics and promotion material, I have added my input for teaching suggestions and watching the videos for error, and Greg has worked alongside Dallas, especially this summer and summer past, directing and editing. Shalayne appears in some of the footage. So as you can see, this has become a family persuit. The next step is marketing!

Chocolate and God

In the beginning, God created chocolate. He divided the light from the dark and said, “This is good.”

Lindt Excellence dark 85%... extra fine dark chocolate. Just a few bites will satisfy my sweet tooth. However, with a regular chocolate bar, I’m likely to consume the whole thing. Anything less than rich, dark chocolate sets into action a cycle of craving, consuming and craving more.

I’m so happy that God created chocolate. King David knew wonderful tastes were a gift from the Lord. He said,

“Bless the Lord, O my soul...who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

(Psalm 103:2,5) It was also David in Psalm 34:8 who encouraged all to,

“Taste and see that the Lord is good."

God is like the perfect blend of dark and milk chocolate. He simultaneously satisfies my soul, and yet in this state of fulfilled satisfaction I desire more of Him- to go further and move deeper in our relationship...deeper into the river, the fountain, of God.

Peter described what should follow our tasting of the Lord’s mercy, love and grace:

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3)

Milk is the perfect accompaniment to chocolate! So what is pure spiritual milk? It is the Word of God.

How does this apply to motherhood? I believe that, above academics or anything else we may teach our children, the most important thing is our relationship with God and their relationship with God. This relationship is not built only on spending one hour a week in church, but in time alone with God, listening, and getting to know His heart. It requires time and commitment. Don’t let Satan sabotage this time. If nothing else is done each day, why not the quiet times? When we seek God first, He has promised to add the rest. I know that when I begin the day with prayer and bible reading, everything else seems to fall into place so much better. It sets the tone for my whole day. On those days that I let it slide because “I am too busy”, the whole day becomes a case of rush, rush, rush, and trying to catch up.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Cindy Rushton says,

“We are made with a void in our souls that cannot be satisfied with anyone or anything else but God.”

I must make it a priority to seek God first to nourish my own soul. This is a spiritual battle; it is hard because my soul does not always scream out for help like the cares of the world do.

Chocolate and milk, they go hand-in-hand. So does God’s love and God’s Word. By consuming plenty of both on a regular basis, I grow and experience a deep satisfaction like no other.

Have you delighted yourself in the Lord and His Word lately? Bon Appetite!

Garden Delights

Saturday, October 13, 2007
I love Fall days like today. Warm, with a slight breeze, colorful leaves still clinging to the trees, yet enough on the ground to make a delightful crunch as they are walked upon. I spent the morning putting my garden to 'bed' for the winter. I notice the ladybugs already settling in for their long winter naps, and I delight in the bird life that passes through our yard. This season I have seen American finches, flickers, robins, chick-a-dees, grossbeaks, blue jays, sparrows and others I have not been able to identify. It seems I am regularily running for my bird book. There is also a squirrel, which when not scolding Kazzie (our cat), is busily storing up his winter food supply.

Shalayne turns 13!

Snowballs From Heaven

Yesterday evening during supper the most unusual thing happened. A thunder and lightening storm had begun. Suddenly, a huge crack of thunder and the sky opened up flinging SNOWBALLS to the earth! It was most bizzare! Not snowflakes, not hail, but hundreds of soft snowballs about the size of twoonies came plummeting down. We ran outside and started to catch them as if they were little softballs. It was wild! I've never seen anything like it! God makes snowballs, too!

I convinced them!

Travis and Shalayne are drinking green smoothies! I talked them into drinking one once a day. (Can't seem to convince their older brothers yet.) Below is their favorite:

Smooth Delight
Bunch spinach
1 banana
1 peach or 1/4 pineapple
1 apple (peeled and cored)
2 cups water
2 Tbsp ground flax

A Job Well Done

There is something very satisfying about putting up food for the winter. This year I asked Shalayne for her help with the condition that she didn't have to start back to her books right away (we call this home ec.!). So together we canned peaches and pears and made a dozen apple pies as well as canning apple pie filling. I also made several batches of jam. The boys were full of compliments for Shalayne's pies!

A New Season

I didn't hold his hand or need to encourage him~ he was quite ready. However, for me, I felt very emotional. For today, my son began "formal" schooling, the first time he will be under the tutorage of others. I know, he is 18 and he's just begun his first year of college, but I strongly feel the separation and the realization that something good, something wonderful has come to an end. Of course I want my son to move on, to become all God desires him to be, but I am treasuring in my heart a precious time that has officially come to an end. I thank God for allowing me the privilege and pleasure of mothering and schooling Dustin for a season. (And yes, I will always be his mother :-)

Science at Big Hill Springs Park

We are co-oping with the Contos' this year for science, studying flying creatures. Shalayne is enjoying our Friday get togethers. Its more fun than doing it alone!

Homeschool Camp

It is a family tradition to attend Homeschool Family Camp every Labor Day weekend. Our kids won't miss it and have made several very good friends. This year we enjoyed the experience of paddling a 12 passenger voyager canoe in Lac St. Anne. Wow, what power!

We also got a kick out of the 'royal carriage' for the littlest King baby.

Joy in Rain

This weekend was our Lammiman Campout, an annual summer tradition. It was cold and then last night it started to rain. It rained all night and hasn't let up today. Our tent is soggy, everything damp. Even so, we enjoyed being together.
Once home, I marveled at the number of robins in the park, no doubt feasting on worms coming up for air! However, it was our larch in the backyard which really drew my attention. It is ALIVE with birds...dozens of robins, a pair of jays, several wren couples, and my favorites, little yellow canary finches. They are so brilliant in color! And all the birds are so joyful, literally frolicking through the branches and around the yard. I could watch them for hours. It lifts my spirits on this otherwise dreary day.

Dallas turns 20!

Big Birthday Bash!

Dallas, Dustin, (Auntie) Pam, (Grandma) Verone, baby Cole, (cousin-in-law) Jason

Fun in Banff

Green Food!

Greg, Mom and I are trying a new way of eating inspired by the book, Green For Life. Two times a day we drink green smoothies~ freshly blended greens and fruits or other veggies. It is surprisingly good! Why surprising? We've just been so spoiled by processed and convenience food that we forget that God's basics are so tasty and fortifying! I've never eaten this many fruits and veggies a day before in my life and it feels great! Now, somehow, I need to convince my kids to try it!
A couple of my favorite smoothies:

Just Peachy
bunch spinach
2 Tbsp ground flax
2 peaches
1/2 banana frozen
1/3 mango
2 cups water

Date Shake
2 cups water
5 ice cubes
2 Tbsp ground flax
about 10 pitted dates
1 Tbsp tahini
1 Tbsp unpasteurized honey

Dustin Turns 18!

Baby Cole, my nephew, is born!

Our 4th Year in the Canadian Badlands Passion Play

Greg and I are always looking for activities that our family can participate in together. This is the fourth summer that we have acted in the Canadian Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller, Alberta. Each year is an exciting summer adventure, one that stretches us, enlarges our friendship circle, and provides us with shared memories that we will never forget. It is like a wonderful family mission trip opportunity, one we don’t have to go halfway around the world for nor spend much money on because it happens in our own backyard. Not only are we able to help share the gospel in six performances to over 10,000 people, but it also brings Christ’s story to life for us in a very real way.
We learn about the Jewish customs of Jesus’ day and the oppression of Roman occupation. Often we reread the biblical text to understand things from the script that we had failed to notice in the scriptures before. We are encouraged to develop our character, within the script, to how we feel we would have reacted to Jesus’ message. At first I had a hard time turning against Jesus and yelling “Crucify him!” until I reminded myself that it really was because of my sin that He died.
We commit to eight weekends of rehearsals, some Friday nights, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoons. We make new friends and by the end of the Passion Play runs we feel very much like a large extended family. Though we come from different backgrounds, we all, for the most part, share the common love of Christ. A few are not Christians, but what a witness to them!
We are thankful to God for the adventure He has provided our family for the past four summers, and we thank everyone who supports us though prayer and coming out to see the Passion Play.

Travis Turns 15!

Dustin Graduates!

What a beautiful God-honoring ceremony and banquet was held for the eleven graduates. I am so proud of my son, Dustin!