Charlotte Mason Would've Loved My House

All these years of encouraging Nature Study with my kids have backfired.

I wanted them to learn to identify trees/birds/flowers.  To observe butterflies and clouds.  I envisioned family nature walks, hand in hand, where we did bark rubbings, picked flowers to press, spied birds, and spotted rainbows.

Somewhere, things when wrong.

MY kids want to fill my house with things I pray I don't find in my bed.  They want to dig up every last grusome detail of a Bloodsucking Conenose's behavior and then systematically fill me in at the dinner table.  What is this Conenose that I was happily ignorant of five minutes ago when I was mashing your potatoes?  "Mom, did you know that it climbs on you at night and sucks your blood while sitting on your mouth?  They call it the kissing bug."  Lovely.  Remind me to keep my mouth closed when I sleep.

They want to 'capture and keep' everything they find as well.  For further observation of course.

"Mom, trust me, this cricket can't get out of his tiny jar.  He loves it in there."  He did not.  

"Mom, those little tadpoles won't go anywhere, they can't."  Ah, but they could. 

"Mom, just one more glass jar.  I need it for my 14th crawfish."  Sure thing, we don't really need drinkware anyway.   

While I do feel slightly betrayed by Charlotte Mason and all the Nature Study books/articles I've read in the past, in truth I am glad.  The kids are learning.  Observing.  Identifying.  Consulting resources.  Gathering and internalizing information.  Preparing them for a lifetime of independent learning.  Til then I'm checking my shoes before I step into them.

Today

So, I figured out why I am blogging more this week than say...the last year. Ben bought me a nifty little netbook that is ALL MINE. That's right. Mine. Kids cannot even breathe on it. That said, here is today:

Sonora and Quinn pooled their creative juices and made a note delivery service. Your note will be printed and delivered via paper airplane for the low low price of 1 cent.

I requested a note to be sent to Ben letting him know that I love him. Here is the finished product.

Judah is not quite used to our new school schedule and he was worn out today. He was getting REALLY cranky so we put him on the closest thing we could find for blanket time. This is how we found him a few minutes later. School is tough.

Finally, I busted these out tonight for the first time in about 4 years.

Excited to start a new tap class tonight. Classes started in August so I'm hoping that I can catch up. Haven't tapped in years, so I'm looking forward to it. Fun + Exercise. What a deal :)

New Shoes?

You would think I would know this lesson. I mean, goodness...I've been a mom for 12 years. Apparently not. Lesson: Never leave a toddler with scissors unattended.

Desks, Lockers, and Cabinets Oh My!

About a week ago, Ben's job had an auction to get rid of all the stuff they didn't need after their move to a new building. We scored: 6 rolling chairs, 5 'desks' (probably more like printer tables), a locking storage cabinet, and a set of 18 lockers (the small 1 foot square ones) for $65. I was impressed with the price, but the kids have been SO excited because today was the first day of our entire homeschooling life that the kids have had their own desks. We have always schooled at long tables or the kitchen table and I gotta say...I LOVE THESE DESKS and the kids have spent quite a bit of time personalizing everything. Guess it's contagious, because I'm excited for them! We also moved the schoolroom downstairs (to be closer to laundry and cooking...sigh...) and our bedroom upstairs so I'm hoping that this will work great this year.

Oh, and to throw in a random bit from today...our yard is swarming with these little guys. The boys are loving it. Me, not so much. Although, he looks like he's smiling at me :)

H~s 9th

Happy Birthday to my beautiful 9 year old Harper! And, since I am in a picture kind of mood, here is a collage of H's Yellowstone trip. You know what I noticed most about H in all the vacation pictures? She is always smiling. I know that there were times in our trip where she was frustrated or cranky, but she always tried to smile for the pictures. I love that about her :)




(I had to add the following because it really shows her heart)

He has a six shooter, shooting EVERYTHING.

Her name is Harper.

AND, this...this, is the cutest video EVER.








(Just to make sure it's heard...his first words are "I shoot a mountain lion, Harper.")

She's such a good big sister. LOVE you H!

(Wow...2 blog posts in 2 days. A record. :)

2011 Vacation Slideshow

I had SUCH a great time making this. We had a wonderful trip and made many memories. I've done my best here to put them in the order they occurred. It is my hope that this video captures a small fraction of what I have stored in my heart.


(Don't expand because I saved this video in an easy to upload format because it was so long :)

Lego Love

The kids heard that my little jewelery box was breaking so Quinn and Harper took action. Quinn designed the fancy little box and Harper fashioned a ring tree. Love, Love, LOVE them!

Precious Minutes

Our home is not known for being quiet. Pretty much ever. So yesterday, when it became eerily calm I had to stop, look around and figure out why. Then, just to document the occasion, I took a picture of where everyone was at that moment. So at 10:16 on 10-14-10 there was absolute silence for a few precious minutes. It was nice :)

This Post Has No Title

A couple things from today...

I was sitting on the couch looking up at the ceiling when I saw what looked like a spider. I asked Quinn if HE thought that it looked like a spider. He said, "Yes, and you can scream now."

Also, this morning Sonora asked me what I was like when I was a baby. All I could think of in response was, "I was little."

That's all I could think of...really? I think I'm slipping...

Mother of All

Ben and I had the privilege of teaching Sunday School together this morning. While I stepped out to make some copies, he decided to try and have the kids impress me upon my return. He taught them the Hebrew meaning of the the names Adam and Eve. Adam being 'man', and Eve being 'mother of all'. I came back in and Ben looked at one little boy and said, "What does Adam mean?" The young man replied "man!" Then, Ben turned to Quinn and asked, "What does Eve mean?" Quinn replied, "Mother in Law!"

His Go

So, I've been really bad about blogging this year. REALLY bad. Well, I'm hoping to take a few minutes each day to write just one thing about our day. I'll start there and see where that takes me. Hopefully.

So tonight at dinner we were talking with the kids about what it means to be a 'Christian'. We asked the older kids and received their answers. We then asked Sonora. She thought about it for a minute and then mumbled a bit (I think she was embarrassed that she didn't 'know' the answer). She talked about praising God and then I heard her say, "and you follow His go." I love that. LOVE it.

24 Hours

Random things heard in my house in the last 24 hours...

"I'm not wearing a shirt because I like to feel the wind rushing through my armpits." ~Q

"Aren't I precious?" ~S

"Can I have a bowl of sugar?" ~H

Life is Dangerous

So last night at dinner the kids were having hot dogs and Harper said, "I can't eat this, it will kill me." Quinn looked at her and said, "If it does, don't worry Harper, everytime we see a hot dog, we'll think of you." Then later, when I asked her to go to bed, she replied "Awww mama, if I do that, it will kill me like a dog being whipped by a one eyed crocodile." Happy to report, she made it.

Bits and Pieces

Writing to remember a few snippets from today...

In random order:

Harper: At dinner, she said, "Mama, do you know you have the best mama smile ever?" I don't know what she's up to, and frankly, I don't care. I'll take it :)

Quinn: This afternoon the kids went door to door looking for work. (Yes we feed them) Surprisingly, a neighbor told them to pick up sticks from the yard and she would pay them $2 each. She went to give them the money beforehand, and Quinn gave it back to her saying that he couldn't take it until she saw the job he had done. I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM!!! I saw a glimmer of the man that I pray for him to be.

Nate: After the kids brought their money home to show us, Ben told them that they now had to pay taxes. Running away upstairs, Nate yelled as he went, "I don't believe in taxes."

Judah: It is so fun to walk hand in hand with Judah. He is so short and his little legs are so chubby, that he has to take five steps for every one of mine. I love it. I looked down at him today as we were walking and felt happiness and sadness at the same time. It is such a precious time, that will be gone all too quickly...

Sonora: Alright, I admit, I saved this one for last. The first words I heard this morning have stuck with me all day...She walked down the stairs, and the first thing out of her mouth was, "What is that ugly smell? Smells like chicken."

A Perfect Day

Today was a perfect day.

Beautiful weather, awesome agenda of activities, interesting conversations, loving family, and a day where smiles lit up every moment. My heart is full.

Here is what I managed to capture from what the girls called "the best, most best day EVER!"...

The tea room provided beautiful hats for the girls to use during tea.

The atmosphere, service, and TEA were fantastic! What a treat!!

FINALLY at the barn!

The riding lesson started with a grooming lesson.

More grooming...although, this was considerably more scary!

Harper riding after all her hard work.

Sonora learning the reins.

Getting ready to brush AGAIN :)

I LOVE this picture...it sums up the day for me...ALL SMILES!

Thank you April and Will for the gift of a perfect day...it will be remembered...

Tea Party

Yesterday, the girls and I had the opportunity to go to a Tea Party at a friends house, thanks to our Keeper's group. We learned about tea, how it is made, various uses, and a bit about etiquette. We had a great time, and learned a lot!

The girls before we left home.

The girls and I before we left home.

Getting settled.

Chatting with friends.

Listening and learning about tea.

Finally, TEA!

Beautiful smile :)

Treats

And more treats...

Sonora was the last one at the table. She loves tea.

It was a wonderful afternoon with tea and friends!

Number Nine

Frankly, I feel like this picture says it all...

ET Walker

Tonight Judah was walking on the treadmill (it wasn't on :) and Harper said "he walks like...like...ET!"


I guess maybe he does!

A Birthday Wish

Number Five

Sonora's leisurely breakfast in bed for her fifth birthday :)