Thursday, September 26th - Passport Club: Argentina

Passport Club day had arrived and we were excited to head to the Kalafut's to gather with friends to discuss all things Argentinian!  The kids were all eager to do their presentations, even Lincoln who had earlier in the week gone back and forth on whether he was actually going to do it (weird for him, but I tried not to make a big deal out of it and ultimately that seems to have been the wise choice since he did wind up presenting).  We had a terrific time, with a really fun story, neat craft and yummy food.  It was also nearly Olivia Kalafut's birthday, and I think if you serve big birthday cupcakes at the end of Passport Club you pretty much just win ;-)  

We had to wrap up a bit sooner than usual though so that I could drop the kids off at home before heading out to participate in a (paid) market research group. Grammie had played with the kids all while I was gone and once I returned she continued to hang out with them outside while Waverly, Jim and I made dinner. Two days with no naps had the kids in their odd I'm-so-tired-I-think-I'll-be-hyper-and-move-at-warp-speed zone, so bedtime came a bit earlier than normal which was nice for Jim and me :-)

Before heading out for our morning, Victoria and Jim took some time to snuggle up on the back porch in one of the comfy chairs :-)  They sure relish these days when daddy gets to work from home and they can see him more!

Lincoln and BearBear snagged the other comfy chair :-)

Mrs. Kalafut, taking a few minutes to do an overview on Argentina during board time.

Judd and Lincoln, hanging out at the little kid table.

The kids all LOVED the story that Mrs. K had selected!

In Argentina, kids don't have the Tooth Fairy tale like we do - instead it's a mouse, El Raton Perez, who children believe comes and picks up the tooth.  The book Mrs. K read was the story of what happens when the tooth fair and the mouse go after the same tooth :-)  It was really charming.  This is one element we never touched on during our studies on Argentina - yet again, another reason why I love Passport Club!

A close up of the board.

For the craft, the kids did mock metal work, using foil. 

Mrs. K wisely had the littler kids tracing work already finished, and they just got to enjoy coloring in the picture - here's Lincoln's finished sun.

Scarlett, finished tracing and now coloring~

Waverly is so fun - she loves watching all the big kids with those huge blue eyes... but again, that cozy hip sling position makes it hard to stay awake too long :-)  I love that squishy face!

N and Victoria's finished suns~

Scarlett's finished sun~

Snack time!

Getting fueled up for presentations :-)

The kids all ready to listen and/or present.  Victoria didn't have a board, as she was speaking on Gauchadas - the act of doing a nice deed for or gifting an object to someone without expecting anything in return.  She decided she wanted to DO a gauchada, so after she spoke briefly on what they are and why they are called what they are called, she had a bag of suckers to pass out :-)

Scarlett, doing her epic presentation on Jaguars.  I plan to get a video recording again this month!

Lincoln's presentation on the Cave of Hands in Patagonia, Argentina.

Lunch:  Mini cheeseburgers, freshly deep fried empanadas, fruit, tortilla chips... a great spread!

After lunch was consumed and cupcakes devoured, Mrs. K took the kids outside to teach them a fun kids game in Argentina.  For the life of me I cannot recall the name of the game, but it involved standing back a ways from a box that had two holes cut out of the front (kid-facing) side.  The kids tried to roll their marbles into the holes.  They really enjoyed it!

Scarlett's roll...

Earnestly willing it to go into the hole (it did not) :-)

Receiving the marble from Mrs. K...

And his roll was closer but also didn't go in.

Now Victoria's turn (after waiting so patiently)...

Nice form! (and a big thanks to Mrs. Lawson for snapping these pics while I was inside tending to Waverly's epic "presentation" she made in her diaper, hehe)

My view from the 18th floor of the Terminus Building in Buckhead, awaiting my turn at the market research group.  It was a really fun and short one, and because I arrived a bit early I enjoyed being quizzed by a fellow mom who was considering homeschooling.  She asked questions one right after the other for about thirty minutes, haha!  Fortunately for her, there is not much I enjoy chatting about more than that particular topic ;-)