First Day of School August 2026 9th and 11th Grade

On Monday, August 3, we started back to school.  This year Cruz is in 11th grade, and Ben is in 9th. 

 

Ready or not, here we go! 

 

 

11th grade 

 

 

9th grade 

 

 

  

 

me and my boys

I love being their teacher! 

 

 

 

 

It is Ben's first year of high school. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is the curriculum we will be using this school year.

 

Cruz:

English 11- IEW Advanced U.S. History Writing Lessons with Literature

Math- Math-U-See Pre-Calculus

Science- Masterbooks Anatomy and Physiology 1 with lab

History- Masterbooks American History

Electives:

Beyond Personal Finance

Liberty University Online Academy- Essentials of Business

Liberty University Online Academy- Public Speaking

Liberty University Online Academy- College and Career Readiness 

 

Ben:

English 9- IEW American History Writing Lessons with Literature and Fix It Grammar Book 6

Math- Math-U-See Geometry

Science- Apologia Biology with lab

History - Outschool World Geography (semester 1)

                State History from a Christian Perspective- Mississippi History (semester 2)

Electives:

Spanish II- Homeschool Spanish Academy

Bible- Masterbooks Foundations in Faith

Health and P.E.- Not Consumed: Thrive   

Art- International Cooking 

 

Cruz's 16th Birthday Celebration

 On May 26 we celebrated Cruz's 16th birthday.   

 

kitchen decorations 

 

 

He is currently obsessed with trucks and vehicles.  When I saw this balloon at a local store I knew he'd love it. 

 

 
birthday pancakes

 

 

opening gifts

This year he didn't ask for any presents.  He wanted money for upcoming outings with friends.

 

I did get him a few of his favorite snacks. 

 

Sweet 16 

 

 

We took family photos. 

 

 

David and Cruz 

 

Ben and Cruz 

 

me and Cruz 

 

 

We drove into Guatemala City to visit Futeca Top Tee. 

 

 

He had the best time!! 

 

 

 

 

We stopped for coffee on the drive back home. 

 

We ended the day with supper at Hector's Bistro. 

 

birthday supper 

 

We ended the day with birthday dessert. He wanted a chocolate swirl cheesecake this year. 

 

 

He is growing up fast! 

 

 

his birth announcement 

 

 Here's a look at his birthdays over the years-

 

 

birthdays 1-10 

 

birthdays 11-15 

 

 

family photos 1-7  

 

 

family photos 8- 14 

 

 

family photo from his 15th birthday

 

He will be a junior in the fall.  He just got his Guatemala driver's license and will transfer his U.S. driver's permit to a regular license later this summer.  He is steadily getting more independent and mature.  It is a joy to watch him grow up and become who God wants him to be. He makes us laugh, keeps us on our toes, and fills our home with so much life. We cannot thank God enough for this incredible gift.

Ben's 14th Birthday Celebration

On April 16th we celebrated Ben's 14th birthday.  It was a full day from start to finish.  Here is a look at how he celebrated this year.

 

birthday morning decorations 

 

 

Like all special occasions around here, we started the morning with pancakes. 

 

 

blowing out his candles 

 

 

We then took photos. 

 

brothers 

 

He was eager to open his gifts. 

 

He got a t-shirt from the climbing gym, which happens to be his favorite place. 

 

He also got a gaming chair for his bedroom. 

 

David and Ben putting his chair together. 

 

Much to his dislike, he had a normal morning of school.   

 

We went out to eat for lunch.  He chose Pasta Nostra. 

 

He loves penne alfredo! 

 

The restaurant brought him an ice cream birthday dessert. 

 

We came home for cake.  This year he wanted a cheesecake. 

 

Ben's birthday cake 

 

Later that afternoon we drove into San Cristobal for a bowling party with a few of his friends. 

 

The bowling alley served a fruity pebble funnel cake for his birthday.

 

 

His friends singing to him. 

 

opening gifts from friends 

 

 

Overall, it was a very fun day for him.  I still can't believe he is fourteen and will be starting high school in the fall.  The years fly by quickly!   

 

Here is a look at his birthday over the years. 

 

 

Welcome to our world Benjamin Miller White

April 16, 2012 

Guatemala City, Guatemala 

 

 

Ben's birth video 

 

 

birthdays 1- 5 

 

birthdays 6- 10 

birthdays 11- 14

 

Here is our family celebrating Ben over the years-  

birthdays 1- 4 

 

birthdays 5- 8 

 

birthdays 9 - 12 

 

birthdays 13-14