We did some fun learning while we were home too!

Olivia and I visited the Alphabet Museum at the JAARS center in Waxhaw, NC. It is a museum about the history of language and writing from its origins and then the present day efforts to continue to give people groups without an alphabet or written language that gift. There is certainly an emphasis on bible translation as this museum is part of Wicliffe Bible Translators and the idea came about from Cameron Townsend. Here is some info if you are interested in reading more. It was packed full of wonderful information and I would highly recommend it.

Part of our math curriculum this last year has been to count money. Olivia is also at the age where she has lots of questions about what things cost and what role money plays in life. My Aunt Kelly works for our bank. She graciouly offered to give us a little field trip. She gave Olivia a piggy bank 2-3 years ago. Olivia has been putting coins in it for 2 years and asking when she can take them to the bank. So we took her money, put it in the counting machine, and then wrote in the amount on her check register. She then got a tour of the vault and safe deposit boxes and met some of the various employees. The kids each got a bag of shredded money and some fun booklets and activity sheets. Then she and the boys got their photos taken for their accounts and received ID cards. My aunt gave her some play money and spent some time talking to her about money. It was a fun experience.

SECU calls their kid accounts Fat Cat accounts. The boys had fun climbing all over the Fat Cat himself!

A week before this trip, Olivia was dusting her room and accidently broke her piggy bank. My aunt presented her with a new one for her birthday. It is twice the size! Aunt Kelly's explanation was "Inflation", LOL! :)

Olivia deposited most of the money into her bank account. She kept some to spend and then put some in the "Dollars for a Drink" collection at church. There are a few guys at church that are from Sudan. We are working toward raising money to dig a well in the 1st Peter's village. (We call him 1st Peter because there are two Peters. :))