The Peonies Popped and Logic Stage Year 2 is Over

Classical Education and gardening go together. We're always cultivating something around here.

 

And G1 makes his first trip to the state homeschool conference with me this weekend.

G2 graduates from Indian Princess at the Summer campout with the Daddy.

G3 enjoys all the time he wants with one of his favorite buds. 



Book Review: A PRETTY AGE By Barbara Mueller

This was a compelling story about turn of the century, rural Kansas convent girls caught up in a drama of abuse and distress and it drew me in to it's mystery. I like mysteries. I know a little about rural Midwest. I know a little about family struggles for power, but I knew nothing of turn-of-the-20th-century catholic convent dramas until I read this complimentary e-book from BookSneeze.  

This story was an easy read even though the characters were a bit chatty.  When I say chatty, I mean that we read a great deal of Sophiny’s thoughts while reading Antoinett’s journals.  The conflict is applicable to today and this book does challenge me to be thankful for my simple life, family and faith.  Complicated is good stuff for historical fiction though. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

G2 Babysitting for the First Time

I have never babysat before, so didn't know what exactly to do.  I've been studying a website about babysitting, but haven't completed it yet.  My mom was there while my charge was in the house with us on Valentine's Day from 3-6pm so her parents could go on a date (isn't that sweet...).  Mom had three of us, so she knew what to do.   I knew that this 15 month old liked to read, so Mom helped me find some board books that my brothers and I used for me to read to her.  She also liked playing with the puzzles we used. 

I also knew that this baby liked to move, so I kept her moving.  She doesn't walk or crawl, but scoots upright on her backside.  Mom helped me carry her upstairs so I could practice the trumpet quietly and she didn't get upset at the loud sound at all.  During the last few minutes she was here, I could tell that she was really tired so I bounced her on my knee.  I also picked her up carefully and carried her on "tours," which means walking around the house.  I was really tired after my first babysitting job.

I'm looking forward to this summer when I get to take the class for babysitting that my local library offers for kids my age.  Mom says that my brothers have to take it too in order for each of us to be certified.  I hope they don't make me change a diaper, but I know that's part of the job someday.  For a reward, the baby's parents gave me a bag of goodies.  Yummy!

Dayspring Challenged Me

It really isn't my fault. I hit some Dayspring Cards link and they said that they would send me some cards if I'd just send them and tell of the experience. So, I've sent one to my Uncle John. He's older than the hills and broken his hip, but finally on the mend and needs a giggle. I've sent him this U-NEEKS get well card.  He's always been big on hunting and working union jobs. He's mostly on his own except for his remaining siblings and his devoted niece, Lisa. She is quite a work also, and I'm so glad she is up to the task of dealing with his medicare paperwork as she encourages him from the nearby. I'm only able to send this cute get well card of a puppy saying HEAL - aka= get well from the far-away. And pray for those who work with Uncle John and his healing.
 

 

 

Dayspring Cards says these are kids' cards and they may be, but I sent one today to a kid-at-heart. And I pray it encourages him to get well! More about U-NEEKS card stories to come - STAND-BY.

 

Successful Home School Conference Visit

 

I got to hear Dinah Zike and the Daddy got to hear 4 speakers who were very helpful. Fun day!


The 3Gs got to be with my parents who came in from the Iowa farm to celebrate Mother's Day with us. Brilliant Weekend visit!

Sewing with G#2

I didn't best learn to sew from my mom.  We are very much alike.  I did value the time I spent with Dad's Aunt Ruth who patiently guided me through many of the 4H sewing projects I tried. When I waited too late and the county fair approached too soon, then I had to sew with my mom's supervision. That wasn't much fun for either of us. 

So, when our junior me decided she wanted to wear an outfit that resembled Ahsoka Tano from the Clone War episodes which occur somewhere in the Star Wars continuum before Anakin Skywalker turns rotten.  I offered her the opportunity to buy the costume on-line, but she asked if she could make it. Well, she picked out the fabric, the shirt, stockings and tapes. I found the face paint that helped finish it off. The one thing that didn't go as well as I'd tried was my first attempt at paper mache for the head piece. 

The paper mache head piece was pitched into oblivion on Monday the 31st at 3pm, and the muslin do-rag with blue paint tape and shiny beads was found an acceptable substitute.  After the face paint was applied, she was satisfied with the production and we commenced to visit the neighbors for treats. 

This will always be her first sewing project, and it was a memory for me of a cooperative, patient mommy. I hope she wants to sew again soon and that it becomes something she does with all her creativity and independence. 

SNOW, Mountains of it!

Choices, Decisions, a Legacy

How many meals a week do you prepare, cook and serve your family each week, month and year? 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, equals 21 meals a week. We eat out on Friday evenings, so that number here is 20 meals a week, and then 1000 meals a year because invariably there are at least 2 weeks in there that I'm not or the Daddy is not preparing a meal. My kids haven't seen a food pyramid, but they know that each time they eat, a veggie, meat/protein, bread/cereal and milk are required. They know that My Grams would always run for relish when the plate wasn't colorful enough. We don't always get those necessary servings per meal, but when averaged out over 1000 meals a year, and who knows how many snacks, they are establishing healthy eating habits.  I don't always serve fresh cooked meals, and there are WAY too many packaged items in our pantry, but they do know how to identify each vegetable, and that we rotate between rice, potatoes, pasta and cous cous as our starch servings. My parents are always discouraged that we serve only skim milk (farmers who owned a milk cow and served fresh milk while I was a kid). We drink at least one 16 oz bottle of filtered water a day AND I don't buy chips, cookies or keep ice cream on hand.

"You must be rich that you travel so much," people say. "Nope" - I think. It's 1000 meals a year prepared at home; healthy consumption of water each day; sleep and rest and unhurried playtime.  No antibiotics in how many years? I can't count. Sure, we have cavities when we visit the dentist, but then again, you can get cavities if you are born with less enamel on your teeth than others.  Exercise and competition are part of having 3 children withing 18 months.  They all want the same thing at the same time and can't agree to take turns.  But, we sit and eat our meals as a family at the table and work hard at being full, full to overfilling with good stuff whether it's in our spoons (what we eat), our ears (what we hear) or our eyes (what we see). These are choices we make (less for the mommy and daddy and more for the growing children), decisions agreed upon and a legacy learned. 

Note to self: remember what http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html Jamie Oliver said about eating habits and health in the USA and the world, and what he learned while working with a village of people in West Virginia.  Remember what his recent tv show demonstrated about using my garden for many meals and organically fed meat sources to build us.  Remember that he first demonstrated how useful my "magi mix" could make my food preparation efforts less painful than years of peeling, chopping and needing.

Backyard Fun, and Then...

 Drilling a hole in a board with the hand drill.

Building platforms in the tree.

...someone got the mail, and the new lego magazine got all the attention.

Expeditions with WebRangers

We are a three web ranger house now thanks to the National Park Service. You can do it too at http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/

Geography Fair Presentation Test

Today, we visited a teacher-friend's classroom of 5th graders to present about our trip last summer to Turkey. G2 wore her traditional dress and the boys wore their soccer kits. We spoke for close to 30 minutes and shared what was on the 18 notecards that I had prepared. We took questions and the twins did a very good job of sharing eagerly. The older brother was reserved and spoke well and directly to the questions also. I believe they will be ready for the home school geography/science fairs that occur in April and May. I also hope that they will prepare their own presentation from this example some time in the future. We'll see...

We look forward to the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies this evening at 8PM CT. Where will you be? Is Miga or Quatchi or Sumi your favorite Vancouver mascot?

And now for something completely different...

Mommys should be able to read for their own growth. For me that means a book from the library or something from my Bible. I've been reading through the book of Acts because of our involvement in Community Bible Study. I've been so glad for this time through Acts of the Apostles because it's finally sinking into my brain and heart.

Yesterday I finished reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. I found it at one of the two local libraries I visit often. It was recommended on someones blog. Yes, by the way, I do read so many blogs, and I HAVE to be more focused and disciplined on teaching my kids and developing the projects that I'm preparing for our homeschool studies (i.e. Winter Olympics study and Oceanography study). But, WOW! this book about a boy in Malawi and is something I can't wait for my kids to be ready to read during the logic stage when they angst and debate EVERYTHING! This book discusses physics, general science, geography, economics, history, political science and in some little ways religion (both from a church teaching AND an ungodly perspective). I am exposing the children here to African countries, flags, basic geographic concepts. But someday, they will be ready for this one.

Finally, this is my view out the back door at the snapdragons. They continue to provide color even on the coldest day of the year (zero degrees Fahrenheit) with snow all around.

Monday Musings

It's Monday and the children are lunching. We've had a productive time starting Week 30 of our studies. The little girl is worn out from hers and my weekend trip to Kansas for a part of her birthday present. She enjoyed too many giggles and I enjoyed the JoCo restaurant trifecta with dear friends. This morning while I wait for these three to finish lunch I'm re-listening to A Prairie Home Companion and investigating the Lions at the New York Public Library. I'm curious who wrote the poem that GK read about New York City in April. It was so, well perfect. Even with my limited knowledge of the city. I also enjoyed thoroughly the performance from the musicians. Wynton M, Heather M, and the violinist of the Old Shoe Band.