Chrysalis Academy is in session

The school bell is ringing at our house.  We need to get an early start on our curriculum because we don't want to be stressed about getting lessons done at the same time as our international move.  So, even though it looks and feels like summer and IS summer...we're pulling out our books and binders and crafts and projects and CD's and notebooks and pencils and crayons, etc. (you get the idea, right?)  This first week went rather well for all of us.  I think I'm getting the hang of this gig because we also ate 3 meals a day and even had time for daily pool time! 

In 7th grade: For Language Arts we learned about personal pronouns:demostrative,reflective, intensive,and antecedent, wrote haiku's, finished reading and discussing the book "Around the World in Eighty Days."  For Science we learned about moss, and other nonvascular plants like liverworts and hornworts, seedless vascular plants like ferns and the functions of seeds, roots, stems and leaves.  Geography lessons were about the U.S. landforms and climates.  In history, we finished up our unit about Islam.  For Math we practiced using square centimeters/inches, A=wh and P=2(w+h).

In 4th grade: We reviewed all the cursive alphabet, upper and lowercase.  We continued at least 20 minutes of daily reading (although his choice of books to read does not have his teacher's approval so we'll be working on that detail over the coming weeks).  For Math we reviewed calendar skills and played skip counting games.

In 3rd grade: We learned about Nouns.  There is a lot to know about these kinds of words!  For Math, we continued to practice telling time and understanding clocks.  Each day is rounded out with 45 minute swim lessons!

I'm combining 3rd and 4th grade lessons for history and science.  For history we learned what history is and what archeology is.  For science we learned what anatomy is and what physiology is.

All together we learned about Greek temples, specifically the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena.  We read poetry from Robert Louis Stevenson.  We started each day with a bible lesson, starting in Genesis to learn about the seven days of creation.  For P.E. they are all taking Kenpo (karate) classes twice a week through the summer.

In toddlerland: We learned about transportation!  Isaac and I recently started attending a little Mommy & Me playgroup organized by his Early Intervention therapists.  There are 4-8 kids each time with all the Mommies and 3 therapists: early development specialist, speech therapist and physical therapist.  So we are in GOOD hands while we are there!  Transportation will be the theme for the next 6 weeks.  He loves it and even though he is the youngest, he's doing very good in this enviornment.  In addition to this biweekly group, he has weekly, one-on-one physical therapy for 30min. and speech therapy for 1hour, at our house.  His schedule is keeping me much busier than I ever thought a 22 month old would require.  Sometimes it's difficult to juggle but mostly, I love slowing down, getting on the floor and taking the time to play with my baby during all of these structured activities of his.

It's official

Our hard copy orders have been delivered (finally!) and we're now able to start planning for what we've expected.  Jacksonville, Florida...here we come!  We've got 2-3 months to pull it all together and start the next chapter of our lives.  That's not long!  Usually we've known where we're headed at least 6 months in advance so to plan and schedule this huge international move with such a short timeframe will prove to be a little tricky.  The biggest stress we have is trying to get to my sister's wedding in 72 days (from today).  Actually less than that because we can't arrive on the very day of her nuptuials and Travis is still TAD in Italy so no concrete planning can get started until August.  At this point, I just don't know if we'll be able to pull it off but we're trying to think outside the box and see how creative (aka: complicated) we can make things.

Happy 4th

Military members aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain took part in a rare and special occasion during the base’s annual flag raising ceremony commemorating Independence Day July 1. “It is rare, a moment like this,” said Capt Bill Mosk, NAVSTA Rota commanding officer, “where we can all come together and watch the raising of an iconic symbol that has united our fellow Americans for generations.”

NAVSTA Rota resides on a Spanish-controlled installation, where the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marines and Army live and work as guests. While raising the flag is a daily occurrence on U.S. military bases around the world, NAVSTA Rota is only permitted to fly the U.S. flag with special permission from the Spanish Admiral-in-Chief because of the Agreement for Defense Cooperation, the governing document between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Spain regarding this base.

“The flag stands for our land and our people,” continued Mosk. “It represents our highest principles, our way of life and our heritage – including the sacrifice of those who have bled and died for our freedom. Cherish this special moment, and stand reminded why we are here – to defend the greatest nation on the Earth.”

This year’s ceremony saw a larger gathering of military members than previous years. The U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas, is at NAVSTA Rota conducting a helo-transload operation on their way to a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. The Soldiers welcomed the opportunity to observe and take part in the ceremony.

Spc. Rachel Eckman stood among her brothers and sisters in arms during the ceremony and said it was great to see all of the military branches doing something together. “This is what we all have in common,” said Eckman. “This is our flag and it gives you goose bumps to watch it rise.”For Yeoman 1st Class (SW/AW) Earl Mcfarland assigned to NAVSTA Rota said the day was special for him. Mcfarland recently transferred here from USS Anzio (CG 68) where he was accustomed to colors every day.

“It was strange coming here and not seeing the flag flying,” said Mcfarland. “Today, seeing it rise, felt good and very patriot. Every time I have walked by this morning, I’ve stopped and looked at it with the same feeling over coming me that I felt during the ceremony. It really is a beautiful sight.” The flag will fly over the base and receive honors every morning and evening through July 4.