We're off!

We're Off!

SHHHHHHH!

Hi! I'm Stowaway Barbie! I thought at first I'd hide in Ellie's suitcase.

But I think the view will be MUCH better from her backpack! Besides, in her suitcase I would get squished while in the hold of the plane.

SHHHHHH!

Study Board

This is our list of places we've been studying. Thought I'd see if I can get a picture on. Yipee! It worked!

Here are some of the books and movies we've enjoyed while getting ready:

England:

The Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit

Henry VIII (Brilliant Brits series) by Richard Brassey

Elizabeth I (Brilliant Brits series) by Richard Brassey

Katie in London by James Mayhew

Mary Poppins (movie)

France:

Katie and the Mona Lisa by James Mayhew

Louvre up Close by Claire D-Harcourt

Stepping Stones version of Les Miserables (we've also been listening to the soundtrack of the play and have watched parts of it on youtube)

Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney movie-I read a youth version of the book but it's pretty gruesome-Tucker read it, too, but didn't like it)

D-Day Landings (DK readers) by Richard Platt

Italy:

Miranda the Great by Eleanor Estes

Madeline and the Cats of Rome by John Bemelmans Marciano

Roman Holiday (movie with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck- sigh)

Egypt:

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (REALLY good-we couldn't put it down)

The 5,000 year old Puzzle by Claudia Logan

Seeker of Knowledge by James Rumford (about the man who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs)

Mrs. Frizzle's Adventures in Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degan

Good Times Travel Agency Adventures in Ancient Egypt by Linda Bailey

Egyptian Diary: The Journal of Nakht by Richard Platt

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (movie- we actually haven't watched this yet but are hoping to tonite- I know it's silly but it was the least violent of all the mummy movies :) )

We have also looked at many pictures of paintings that we may be seeing in various museums (moving quickly past what Ellie calls the "Ewwwww! Rated-R!" pictures.) My, they thought a lot of skin back when. We are looking forward to the Renoirs and Monets.

There are some awesome websites, too. One of my favorites has been about the Bayeaux Tapestry. It's a 230 ft. long piece of embroidery that tells the story of the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066. Sound thrilling? Well, Jan (HA!) it reallly is! This is the website: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homewowrk/bt/who/htm If you're studying medival times you'll love it. We're planning to see the actual tapestry in Bayeaux, Normandy, France.

Thanks to volunteers!

We want to thank all of you out there who have been so sweet to volunteer to go with us. You wouldn't believe all the offers to be:
a nanny
a babysitter
a private tutor
a luggage carrier (that one really tempted us!)
a personal photographer
a tour guide
Also, to those of you who wanted to hide away in a suitcase, I'm afraid there is a 50 lb. limit so most of you don't qualify!
God has planned this whole trip out in such a cool way. Sully and Tucker are studying "Much Ado About Nothing" in Language Arts and it takes place in Messina, Sicily, Italy.....where we are going on the last leg of the cruise! We watched the movie today- the one with Emma Thompson. It had been 15 years since I had seen it and obviously I'd forgotten the bath scene (all the returning soldiers bathe in the moat and all the women bathe in an indoor pool). Lots of skin which means lots of "HIDE YOUR EYES!!!!!!!!!" Pre-viewing by parents is strongly advised before showing this one to your kids so you know where to fast forward. We also have a great book called Shakespeare Can Be Fun: Much Ado About Nothing for Kids by Lois Burdett. There are several other books in the series.

For the past month we've been studying all the places we are going to visit. The list includes: Windsor, England
London, England
Paris, France
Normandy, France
Rome, Italy
and by cruise ship:
Pompeii, Italy
Athens, Greece
Rhodes, Greece
Ephesus, Turkey
Alexandria, Egypt
Cairo, Egypt
Messina, Sicily, Italy
We've been reading books, checking out websites, watching movies, going to the library and talking to those who have been. We also know that this trip is a blessing from God and we want Him to be glorified in all we do. There have been lots of talks about MANNERS and BEHAVIOR and "Do everything without complaining or ARGUING." Ha! We have praying for the people we will sit by in the plane and those at the hotels we'll stay at and those we sit by in a restuarant and our guides and people on the ship. I am praying that goodness and mercy will follow us on our journey and that we will be victims of His grace along the way! I am also praying that my children's eyes and ears will be closed to things they don't need to see (naked art has them freaked out already).
I'll tell more about books, movies and things later.