Homeschool Blog

http://homeschoolingtraveladventures.blogspot.com/

Friday, April 4, 2014

Welcome to the Bartlett's crazy life..... and adventures!

Who are we?  We are the Bartlett's!

We love adventure, we love doing things a little outside the normal "protocol" of life such as Homeschooling our kids when it wasn't super popular or accepted, we love spending time together (especially traveling together)  and we love being a family.

Our family of 6 has now enlarged by a few marriages & a few more "unofficially-adopted" kids (even one at 29 - which we tell everyone we adopted in China), another one was our Indonesian student who lived with us for a year.... amongst many others that are not less important or loved (whom you will meet one day via our blog).

POSTCARDS FROM CHINA

Our youngest daughter, Marissa (or Missa as we affectionately call her) had the opportunity of a lifetime....  travel to China, at 16 no less, with her best friend and live there teaching English for a few months.  Would our least adventurous traveler be up for this adventure?  Without a doubt she jumped at the chance! And off they went just a few months ago.

I just arrived last week to spend some quality family time with them and our daughter, Brianne (who is making us a grandparents in a few months), and her, fantastic husband,Tim (what other words could you muster up when he is willing to bless his home with two teenage girls for two months?).  With the compartment size of housing in China they were willing to squeeze us all in for more adventures together.

This past week consisted of working with Marissa, Bri, and Madie at the International School.  Bri knew all too well that her (secretly ADHD) mother could not sit for too long while she was working, hence came the "Mom TO DO list" for school.  I was more then happy to tag along to help where needed.  This gave me a chance to walk to and from school with Madie and Marissa, which presented it's own exploits from our ventures out.

   You know you are in China when.....

....carrying all these "goodies" on your bike is ranked as normal not superhuman!

                  
              Brianne's co-teacher "Star" working on a few school projects with the girls.

 Can you say "Girls Day Out"?  And of course that means some sort of gooeyness......so what else could we do but go fishing?

 We had our "fish" filled with mango.... some chocolate custard..... both were warmly d'lish.  Or you can order one with the fish's mouth open and fill to your hearts content.

                       This escalator was a little daunting because of it's severe height!

         Behind Marissa and Bri is only a small part of the GINORMOUS shopping area to check out!

"Where do we start?"

Watching the "General Women's Conference" with my girls in China and others from Bri's Branch!  What could be better?

You can see Bri's cute little tummy....

Spring is here!!!

Chinese street food.... don't forget to order a bug or two!

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

-Saint Augustine

Throughout our Homeschooling years (around 15) we have not conformed to any set schedule or particular curriculum.  One of our favorite ways to learn is by traveling with our kids.  We would read about and study our desired destination and write essays, talk about, and watch documentaries highlighting a certain place, people, cultures, etc.   The classics, Mentors, and histories where our major teachers.

While visiting France for the first time we studied about many subjects including Napoleon Bonaparte, Joan of Arc and visited the places they lived and died.  For example, when studying Napoleon's life we would study the places he lived, was exiled to, and conquered and then we would visit those areas.

Wherever you travel with your kids, no matter what age, use these moments to help them be excited to learn all they can about the diverse cultures, histories, and people around them. 

Here is our adventure to Qibao, China.......

                                

Madie had never really seen much Chinese Street food (it can be a bit outlandish).

Fresh eggs anyone?

                                          

Just entering Qibao.....

Marissa LLLLOOOOVVVVEEEESSSS these caramel apples.

Hummmmmm..........You decide what this should be used for!

A perfect scene to end a wonderful night!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Who is the biggest?

Sunday morning we attended church at the LDS Branch in Shanghai with Bri and Tim.  I love attending in different countries!  I was able to enjoy Bri give the RS lesson.  Where does she get her eloquence from... could it be from her Dad?:)

Bri and Tim were having a "Tummy" contest..... I am pretty sure Bri wins!  She just hit her 6th month mark which is incredibly exciting even if that does make me a grandparent!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Mondays....

Monday was a busy day as Mondays usually are:

Helping out at Bri's school.......

Marissa and Madie found another way to enjoy working.....

Fast lunch options at the local corner mart....

Ini, mini, miny, moe,....

These two happy guys were excited to pose for my photo.......

Laundry fun!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The 'Oasis in the Desert'!

The 'Oasis in the Desert'..........  Bubba's Texas Barbecue!

As much as we have enjoyed the variety of foods China has to offer.... it was nice to get some down home cooking!

Book Heaven ....... they let Bri and Tim take some English books home.  The excitement from Tim was infectious!  

Now, that is Gourmet art...... how much do you think it is worth?

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Stronger then what?

Marissa and Madie have seemed to enjoy their time serving at "Fortune Kindergarten".  I know that they will be a bit torn about leaving all the kids because they have felt a connection with them, laughed at the cute things they have said and done, and grown to love them!

Service is such a fantastic teacher of love, compassion and letting yourself go, to think of others first.  This is exactly what I hoped for the girls............ Life lessons can sometimes teach much more then any teacher!

Marissa and Madie trying to ""hold" up the school they worked at the past few months..... good thing they don't have to rely on their muscles to keep the school standing!

Garbage day is..... everyday.

My new friend Kevin and I were suppose to make a crazy face, apparently he just wanted to watch ME make one!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Everyone needs a "Good Luck Cricket"!

The BEST part of the week, by far, was being able to hear the baby's heartbeat!  Exciting!!!  And because she had to do soooo many blood tests we had hours just to ourselves, a rare event at this time in life. 

Bri and I were headed to her early morning Dr. apt. and our taxis driver was showing us his "Good Luck Charm"........ This huge cricket will certainly live the good life as the driver seemed to love him (not as much as I love "Jiminy Cricket", plus he can sing)

They have street sweepers that are constantly sweeping with their homemade brooms...... 

We helped with some of the scenery for Bri and Star's class play.  So sad we won't be able to watch it..... perhaps it will get an Emmy.

SO cute.... and disturbing all in one!

Our healthy IKEA meal for the start of our girl's night out!  It was a good thing too because.....

We bought a bit of chocolate!

We were the afternoon entertainment for a few business men and women.....

It was coming to an end of our time with the "Fortune" school kids.  We enjoyed a fabulously planned field trip (planned by my adorably pregnant daughter) to a printing museum followed by lunch where the kids were eager to share their food by actually feeding me.... I don't want to know where the hands have been!

When leaving I felt like our procession of "Teachers and Kids" were quit the spectacle as groups of Chinese business men and women lined the side of the streets to watch us walk to our buses. Apparently being American in China (especially since there was 4 of us ) makes for some interesting people watching and dialogue.