tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50021548417242292962024-03-18T23:23:38.946-04:00Little Strawberry ElephantJanelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-83006964219514575012015-10-14T08:10:00.001-04:002015-10-14T08:10:59.791-04:00Extreme Parenting<p> Time is flying! I dropped these pictures into blogsy at least a month ago, and then got so caught up in, well, <em>life</em> that I forgot all about them. I recently heard homeschooling described as "parenting on steroids".... and that is incredibly accurate. Extreme parenting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nfoHxFTUBo/Vh5GGov_o9I/AAAAAAAADWM/julhGDnnxMc/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080952364.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nfoHxFTUBo/Vh5GGov_o9I/AAAAAAAADWM/julhGDnnxMc/s500/Photo%25252020151014080952364.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659881.838" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> Botony from a Waldorf perspective was really something. Plant families as they relate to the development of a human being from birth to adulthood, how humans have brought about many plants from one base plant (check out the wild cabbage!), the different ways plants express themselves through scent, sweetness, color, shape, and size, the gifts plants give, the relationships plants have with other creatures (gall wasps!) and more. No mention of the standard info, like photosynthesis, parts of a seed, or cellular structure. That will come. First, the child must develop a relationship with and appreciation for the whole plant. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7RUMb5Q8_NQ/Vh5GJO4Av9I/AAAAAAAADWU/qMdv-t4gqoM/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080952665.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7RUMb5Q8_NQ/Vh5GJO4Av9I/AAAAAAAADWU/qMdv-t4gqoM/s500/Photo%25252020151014080952665.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659849.1804" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> E wrote this after his first French lesson. He's using an app called Duolingo; so far so good. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P5-R2A02vy0/Vh5GK1Pj_OI/AAAAAAAADWc/Om5eOYsVnYM/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080952918.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P5-R2A02vy0/Vh5GK1Pj_OI/AAAAAAAADWc/Om5eOYsVnYM/s500/Photo%25252020151014080952918.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659913.9731" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Fractions. I started this year with Jamie York's Making Math Meaningful, but quickly realized that E is not ready for me to teach him math directly, and perhaps never will be. That's okay. Back to Teaching Textbooks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCNAeA8iCHQ/Vh5GNd_IBtI/AAAAAAAADWk/IVy97ZQzX5Y/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080953163.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DCNAeA8iCHQ/Vh5GNd_IBtI/AAAAAAAADWk/IVy97ZQzX5Y/s500/Photo%25252020151014080953163.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659914.2854" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p>This is e racing her clouds! I used <u>Tales of the Shimmering Sky</u> for her first weather block, and she enjoyed it immensely. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vF1dDKyyNUo/Vh5GPWEDuKI/AAAAAAAADWs/iSWQ_m9Mt9w/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080953431.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vF1dDKyyNUo/Vh5GPWEDuKI/AAAAAAAADWs/iSWQ_m9Mt9w/s500/Photo%25252020151014080953431.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659907.6975" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> e helped me sew a set of math squirrels for a friend. They certainly have personality!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rFpxxxUuGgs/Vh5GRgw9LII/AAAAAAAADW0/x3E0jMlYWzg/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080953689.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rFpxxxUuGgs/Vh5GRgw9LII/AAAAAAAADW0/x3E0jMlYWzg/s500/Photo%25252020151014080953689.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659826.1685" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> I have never been able to create green by layering. I know it can be done....but not by me. So after seven years, I finally just mixed a jar of green! And one of purple. Beautiful, deep purple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_8j0cgN0vsg/Vh5GUAd734I/AAAAAAAADW8/XwCsTzJnSm4/s2048/Photo%25252020151014080953940.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_8j0cgN0vsg/Vh5GUAd734I/AAAAAAAADW8/XwCsTzJnSm4/s500/Photo%25252020151014080953940.jpg" id="blogsy-1444824659880.9824" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Another idea from <u>Tales of the Shimmering Sky</u>: the rainbow snake who threw himself into the sky as a sculpy necklace! The downside of doing so many varied crafts for e's first block turned out to be that my little sanguine e now expects that much variance every week! Painting the seven days of creation (we are on day five) was too much of the same by day two! </p><p> </p><p>So what have we done since these pics were taken in early September? Jewish culture, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, People of the Woodlands, the Jamestown Colony, Ancient Mythology and geography of India, typing, math, form drawing, painting, drawing, modeling, sewing, knitting, crocheting, building, food preparation and preservation, gardening, weather, fibers, Michaelmas, read-alouds (Wildwood series by Colin Melot), swim team, gymnastics, chorus.... And somewhere in there we've cleaned laundry, dishes, and toilets, too. Currently in the works is a <a href="http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2015/10/dyeing-yarn-with-marigolds-michaelmas.html">pot of marigolds</a>, boiling on the stove. I don't expect to get such a shade of yellow as Nicole achieved, as our marigolds are orange and red. Perhaps an earthy brown, good for knitting animals.</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-66720841355503086692015-09-10T07:52:00.001-04:002015-09-10T07:52:42.721-04:00Blessings<p>A year and a half ago, I joined Waldorf Essentials Thinking Feeling Willing program, and wrote about it <a href="http://littlestrawberryelephant.blogspot.com/2014/03/tea-and-pancakes.html">here</a>. Since then, Melisa, TFW, and the TFW community have been amazing, especially as we worked on getting E sorted out last spring/summer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xdhy073CdR0/VfFvB-lJc7I/AAAAAAAADTo/PUmKZtcWTU4/s2048/Photo%25252020150910075236271.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xdhy073CdR0/VfFvB-lJc7I/AAAAAAAADTo/PUmKZtcWTU4/s500/Photo%25252020150910075236271.jpg" id="blogsy-1441885962427.0845" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="435" alt=""></a></div><p>This picture perfectly embodies our school life right now. E's pill box, with all the gut-healing supplements that have enabled him to sit and focus. Sunglasses, which he now frequently uses even indoors because of <a href="http://irlen.com/">Irlen</a>. A return to cursive, which for 6 months was too much to handle. Shading, that he never had the will to do before. Best of all, my E <em>willingly</em> completing seatwork. I have no doubt this year will have ups and downs, but right now I am going to enjoy the blessings of peace.</p><p> </p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then last week, I had the honor of seeing my first guest post published <a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/2015/09/guest-post-janel-lippy-on-reading/">here</a>! So exciting.</span><br></p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-67460122985929676312015-09-05T15:25:00.001-04:002015-09-05T15:25:13.911-04:00First Week, Almost Complete!<p style="text-align: center;"> We began slowly, with main lesson only. Botony for E, weather for e. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKHAfkfN99w/VetBbT9UXPI/AAAAAAAADSY/RD69aj6Tpso/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152422538.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKHAfkfN99w/VetBbT9UXPI/AAAAAAAADSY/RD69aj6Tpso/s500/Photo%25252020150905152422538.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112926.603" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Bulbs: fleshy layers of leaves ready to spring up at the first warmth. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nFOSMtEZaRo/VetBc7qJ79I/AAAAAAAADSg/3p3sM8PMIf4/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152422869.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nFOSMtEZaRo/VetBc7qJ79I/AAAAAAAADSg/3p3sM8PMIf4/s500/Photo%25252020150905152422869.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112973.3064" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p> Some plants place their scent in the flower, while others keep it deep inside the bulb. We had an extra sixth grader with us for the first lesson. Two boys, onions, and knives... </p><p> </p><p>The wonderful part of this is that the boy attends a school for the gifted, but didn't know parallel vs reticulate leaves, that onions and tulips were both bulbs, or what rhizomes might be. He was truly impressed, declared me an artist for my chalkboard drawing, and told E this is the best school ever. E came to a quiet conclusion that I may have been right when I told him every form of education leaves gaps of some kind. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7j7IXLrWNOc/VetBeXRY5eI/AAAAAAAADSo/KUGh6cePQr0/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152423213.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7j7IXLrWNOc/VetBeXRY5eI/AAAAAAAADSo/KUGh6cePQr0/s500/Photo%25252020150905152423213.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112942.764" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="606" height="906"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Tulips are based on a six-point star. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BAtVWoQUiQw/VetBfr2iLLI/AAAAAAAADSw/feaJQMU3eio/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152423502.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BAtVWoQUiQw/VetBfr2iLLI/AAAAAAAADSw/feaJQMU3eio/s500/Photo%25252020150905152423502.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112973.3884" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p> What happens when one sautés onions? The sugars caramelize. There are sugars?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWZnbcynbA4/VetBhHjQFNI/AAAAAAAADS4/Y-iMEFSnwBg/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152423800.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWZnbcynbA4/VetBhHjQFNI/AAAAAAAADS4/Y-iMEFSnwBg/s500/Photo%25252020150905152423800.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112926.2517" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p>The parallel quality of the leaf extends down into the bulb. Bulbs are made up of layers of colorless leaves, right? So this makes sense. Shown is a rhizome leaf alongside the onion skin. We have an amazing number of rhizome plants in our yard....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AswrJX1y1BM/VetBiqhz_sI/AAAAAAAADTA/DtBMYAeJi8s/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152424091.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AswrJX1y1BM/VetBiqhz_sI/AAAAAAAADTA/DtBMYAeJi8s/s500/Photo%25252020150905152424091.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112954.6204" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p> e has spent much of her time listening to wind stories. Her favorite is Gluskabi and the Wind Eagle. We even watched a third grade class production of it on YouTube. This is the start of her Beaufort Scale, a visual method of estimating wind speed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bADnY2P9HGI/VetBkKc_-xI/AAAAAAAADTI/JxgF5Z9rjMc/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152424425.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bADnY2P9HGI/VetBkKc_-xI/AAAAAAAADTI/JxgF5Z9rjMc/s500/Photo%25252020150905152424425.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112916.715" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> Then on to roses, based on a five-point star. Briar roses have five petals. A long time ago, Persians created the garden rose from the briar rose, and today still all roses have petals in multiples of five. We learned about grafting, again with YouTube. And accents. One of the videos was a man from Alabama, and E was fascinated by his accent!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6uJ5xl5WNA0/VetBlmlG2PI/AAAAAAAADTQ/TdhyXGToy0Y/s2048/Photo%25252020150905152424673.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6uJ5xl5WNA0/VetBlmlG2PI/AAAAAAAADTQ/TdhyXGToy0Y/s500/Photo%25252020150905152424673.jpg" id="blogsy-1441481112907.8823" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> E has now completed an entire summer of 28-hours-a-week of gymnastics with the big boys, and his grips showed his efforts! Falling to pieces, they were. These are his new high bar grips, prior to breaking-in. He's the proud owner of buckles this time around!</p><p> </p><p>We have just a few tasks left to pick up this weekend: comparing roses to apple blossoms, a main lesson book page, completing the Beaufort Scale for the wall, and flying a kite. I love Waldorf more every year! </p><p> </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-23946320233443044422015-08-24T14:55:00.001-04:002015-08-24T14:55:28.882-04:00On Mark, Get Set....<p> One week left! One week to pull this house together and be ready to start lessons. This has been a fast and beautiful summer, and my children have gained quite a few new skills. E, training with the big boys, has pretty much lived at the gym; he trains 28 hours a week! He is ready to compete as a level 7 gymnast this winter. e earned Most Valuable Swimmer in the 8 and under category for summer swim team, and can't wait to get back in the pool this fall. They've both gained handwork and painting skills....but shhhh...don't tell E that! I'm not sure he realized what he was doing. ;)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9riQxpd9Gys/VdtonSGbLRI/AAAAAAAAC0A/0EuoqEo-SGU/s2048/Photo%25252020150824145520066.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9riQxpd9Gys/VdtonSGbLRI/AAAAAAAAC0A/0EuoqEo-SGU/s500/Photo%25252020150824145520066.jpg" id="blogsy-1440442527003.634" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="747" alt=""></a></div><p> So, onward! Weather and botony are up first. e has her weather vane ready, and her weather journal arrived yesterday. E has been looking closer at our garden, and I found a few torn-apart flowers last week. Here we go! </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-15957496284575174642015-05-04T20:59:00.001-04:002015-05-04T20:59:14.741-04:00The end.<p>Last week was our last week of main lessons. I had scheduled another month, but we are done. Botany can wait until August, and Stories of Wonder can be enjoyed anytime. I downloaded Jim Wiess audio stories onto the kids' devices that they haven't heard since our drive from Alaska two years ago. E's been listening to <em>Treasure Island</em> and <em>Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea </em>in addition to his usual Sparkle Stories. e is enjoying <em>Good Luck Duck </em>and <em>Tom Sawyer</em>. It's been a bit quieter than usual around here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jv8R1NXxkJE/VUgVxdv0sxI/AAAAAAAACzE/PK3GkE8Q5mE/s2048/Photo%25252020150504205840052.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jv8R1NXxkJE/VUgVxdv0sxI/AAAAAAAACzE/PK3GkE8Q5mE/s500/Photo%25252020150504205840052.jpg" id="blogsy-1430787554093.0522" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> This is the first time in 8 years that our tangrams have been played with! I'm just a little excited.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dUF_YRQNfZY/VUgVzENzwsI/AAAAAAAACzM/yE3sgI-n9Oc/s2048/Photo%25252020150504205840348.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dUF_YRQNfZY/VUgVzENzwsI/AAAAAAAACzM/yE3sgI-n9Oc/s500/Photo%25252020150504205840348.jpg" id="blogsy-1430787554044.3809" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> e's penguin, standing on an ice block, nose in the air...</p><p> </p><p>A volcano to go with our ancient studies. It led to quite a bit of experimenting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fNm4Wu2h06s/VUgV0qtZgsI/AAAAAAAACzU/sw_VwxkXM8c/s2048/Photo%25252020150504205840682.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fNm4Wu2h06s/VUgV0qtZgsI/AAAAAAAACzU/sw_VwxkXM8c/s500/Photo%25252020150504205840682.jpg" id="blogsy-1430787554010.884" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=8681FB64-FD7D-4A0F-8D0F-18CDAFF1EB9E&ext=JPG" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><p> I might have mentioned to the kids that I took all my notes in high school backwards....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6YdZjR1fC2g/VUgV2WsBWlI/AAAAAAAACzc/m_v-bETZ_nQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150504205840950.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6YdZjR1fC2g/VUgV2WsBWlI/AAAAAAAACzc/m_v-bETZ_nQ/s500/Photo%25252020150504205840950.jpg" id="blogsy-1430787554004.2954" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Math review, because testing is a-comin'....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oN0lBfl7d9E/VUgV35IL76I/AAAAAAAACzk/kzVNYSBw6eY/s2048/Photo%25252020150504205841234.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oN0lBfl7d9E/VUgV35IL76I/AAAAAAAACzk/kzVNYSBw6eY/s500/Photo%25252020150504205841234.jpg" id="blogsy-1430787554091.8225" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> I'll be back with final pictures of main lesson books. Testing awaits....as does the beautiful sunshine!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-9753264800126830982015-04-21T15:57:00.001-04:002015-04-21T15:57:42.187-04:00Ancients, Geometry, Botony, oh my!<p> E's blocks are flying by! This month is Ancients, which means practice at drawing maps and taking notes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fYGu6Js0uW4/VTarZdhTSpI/AAAAAAAACxc/1WV6116BdGI/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155611731.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fYGu6Js0uW4/VTarZdhTSpI/AAAAAAAACxc/1WV6116BdGI/s500/Photo%25252020150421155611731.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261701.6785" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> We dyed silkworm cacoons and unwound them...unfortunately our attention didn't hold up to the mile of silk thread in each cacoon, so I used scissors to find the larvae and its final shed hiding inside. Fascinating.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZFyhJrLDpy0/VTara9zppYI/AAAAAAAACxk/VrNkHlY-h8k/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155611980.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZFyhJrLDpy0/VTara9zppYI/AAAAAAAACxk/VrNkHlY-h8k/s500/Photo%25252020150421155611980.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261709.2205" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> We also read about Ancient Chinese gods and goddesses. Very different from the Greek and Norse.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B9l1t8AysFU/VTarcaMG7JI/AAAAAAAACxs/T4DsVqDqgkc/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155612227.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B9l1t8AysFU/VTarcaMG7JI/AAAAAAAACxs/T4DsVqDqgkc/s500/Photo%25252020150421155612227.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261664.092" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> We attended a concert of the African Children's Choir, which was perfectly timed right in the middle of the week E studied Africa! So much energy and dance and beauty. E was angry about going, anxious he'd catch Ebola, and unsettled by the change in routine, which made for a difficult week....but I am still glad we went. Totally worth it.</p><p> </p><p>We also watched a documentary about the history of the Sahara. Ocean-life fossils in the blocks that make up the Great Pyramid? Whale fossils in the dessert? Piqued his interest. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w06U_wpcyls/VTardzR6SvI/AAAAAAAACx0/-YE6ztrwOos/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155612472.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w06U_wpcyls/VTardzR6SvI/AAAAAAAACx0/-YE6ztrwOos/s500/Photo%25252020150421155612472.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261705.1797" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> Then back to Egypt. Amenhotep caught E's attention- that was the pharoah from the book <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Casting-Gods-Adrift-Ancient-Egypt/dp/0812626842/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429645029&sr=1-1&keywords=Casting+the+gods+adrift">Casting</a> the Gods Adrift</u>! Awesome.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JaDR2p9R64g/VTarfncYDqI/AAAAAAAACx8/WaQOyGvOc98/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155612719.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JaDR2p9R64g/VTarfncYDqI/AAAAAAAACx8/WaQOyGvOc98/s500/Photo%25252020150421155612719.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261629.6829" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> This was the first map I insisted he trace. I wanted him to recognize the land shapes around the Mediteranean: Italy's boot, round (future) Spain, curvy Greece. He grumbled about tracing but noticed the shapes right away. He especially likes Italy's shape, and was surprised to see Greece so close to the Nile. Next side-reading will be <a href="http://www.amazon.com/DAulaires-Greek-Myths-Ingri-dAulaire/dp/0440406943/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429645340&sr=1-1&keywords=D%27Aulairs+Greek+myths">D'Aulairs</a> <u>Book of Greek Myths</u>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CGqc_c2yGow/VTarhe1eLJI/AAAAAAAACyE/XMeQ4H2YBgQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155612978.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CGqc_c2yGow/VTarhe1eLJI/AAAAAAAACyE/XMeQ4H2YBgQ/s500/Photo%25252020150421155612978.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261703.227" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> Phoenicians produced a purple dye from boiling salt, lemon juice, and snails, so we thought we'd try our hand at blueberry dye. It turned out more pink than purple...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpZUV4_e3uE/VTari3mqF8I/AAAAAAAACyM/ZagquQwuf7A/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155613231.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpZUV4_e3uE/VTari3mqF8I/AAAAAAAACyM/ZagquQwuf7A/s500/Photo%25252020150421155613231.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261697.5938" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p>We just can't let geometry rest. It is far too interesting! </p><p> </p><p>And here are the Botony pages I did not share for the end of March:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--b0ZTITWcrI/VTarkTI1cUI/AAAAAAAACyU/_g_I7LP5evU/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155613473.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--b0ZTITWcrI/VTarkTI1cUI/AAAAAAAACyU/_g_I7LP5evU/s500/Photo%25252020150421155613473.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261654.508" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7k7SaclSp_M/VTarl6qHi1I/AAAAAAAACyc/TLscub1LYEk/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155613714.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7k7SaclSp_M/VTarl6qHi1I/AAAAAAAACyc/TLscub1LYEk/s500/Photo%25252020150421155613714.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261667.4766" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5MLjr0Rk2tA/VTarn51BseI/AAAAAAAACyk/eKPmfivnsXU/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155613957.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5MLjr0Rk2tA/VTarn51BseI/AAAAAAAACyk/eKPmfivnsXU/s500/Photo%25252020150421155613957.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261639.4248" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> Gardening has given him many opportunities to demonstrate his knowledge and power of observation, like yesterday he pointed out that taproot leaves all funnel water to the center, while fibrous root leaves scatter the rain. Hmm....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lAFxYluM6iY/VTarqb-KSTI/AAAAAAAACys/cw648BLONRo/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155614228.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lAFxYluM6iY/VTarqb-KSTI/AAAAAAAACys/cw648BLONRo/s500/Photo%25252020150421155614228.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261675.8474" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p>This. I took e to the doctor this morning, leaving big E alone. When we returned, he had finished his entire school and chore list and had made plans to build a paralette! I took him to Home Depot for supples, and he created this, a mini high bar, all before lunch.</p><p> </p><p>So proud of my boy. :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DWfQC7p7CWM/VTarsvVD7nI/AAAAAAAACy0/2PrZxJgORDU/s2048/Photo%25252020150421155614489.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DWfQC7p7CWM/VTarsvVD7nI/AAAAAAAACy0/2PrZxJgORDU/s500/Photo%25252020150421155614489.jpg" id="blogsy-1429646261737.6702" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-31936997054403930072015-04-21T14:40:00.001-04:002015-04-21T14:40:31.075-04:00Tricksters, a Saint, and a Few Forms<p> After a month mostly off from writing and drawing, e is back into it! She has even begun writing her own summaries. I ask her what scene she wishes to draw, and what story elements are necessary for a reader to understand the picture. She is proud of her new independent skill, as am I. :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wGhpv4jsjgE/VTaZaKwSy1I/AAAAAAAACwM/hXvqc8tVS3o/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143930244.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wGhpv4jsjgE/VTaZaKwSy1I/AAAAAAAACwM/hXvqc8tVS3o/s500/Photo%25252020150421143930244.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630724.3896" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Anansi and his strange, moss-covered rock sitting on e's form.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z_dUICbggn0/VTaZbi0_hCI/AAAAAAAACwU/cR1_mjnF8o4/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143930563.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z_dUICbggn0/VTaZbi0_hCI/AAAAAAAACwU/cR1_mjnF8o4/s500/Photo%25252020150421143930563.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630736.7847" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Coyote's Rain Song</em> from Enki kindergarten. One of our all-time favorites!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kg6Quzeehjo/VTaZdMKG-WI/AAAAAAAACwc/kmrkhM2Okqg/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143930818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kg6Quzeehjo/VTaZdMKG-WI/AAAAAAAACwc/kmrkhM2Okqg/s500/Photo%25252020150421143930818.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630758.49" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zomo-Rabbit-Trickster-Tale-Africa/dp/0152010106/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429639792&sr=8-1&keywords=Zomo+the+rabbit">Zomo the Rabbit</a> is by the same author as our beloved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Raven-Trickster-Tale-Pacific-Northwest/dp/0152024492/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z">Raven</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u_S9WWKyxlA/VTaZensaRHI/AAAAAAAACwk/TApaRI-468s/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143931069.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u_S9WWKyxlA/VTaZensaRHI/AAAAAAAACwk/TApaRI-468s/s500/Photo%25252020150421143931069.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630720.9492" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another favorite from Enki that we can't let go of: <em>The Bojabi Tree</em>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ciI43hq6U9w/VTaZgJKEwnI/AAAAAAAACws/SQzFPx0kwKM/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143931315.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ciI43hq6U9w/VTaZgJKEwnI/AAAAAAAACws/SQzFPx0kwKM/s500/Photo%25252020150421143931315.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630771.1455" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Now we are working our way through Christopherus' trickster tales. e has decided she should read them herself, so each night while I am making dinner, she pulls out the binder and reads to me! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mhb7xHyoNPA/VTaZhhWkEsI/AAAAAAAACw0/7ylvyhqNiio/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143931563.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mhb7xHyoNPA/VTaZhhWkEsI/AAAAAAAACw0/7ylvyhqNiio/s500/Photo%25252020150421143931563.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630758.5405" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">The trickster tales, combined with her ability to read them herself and write her own summaries, have met e exactly where she is at this moment in time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rzwVMFYSVjI/VTaZi49os2I/AAAAAAAACw8/QD4s0IVSVUE/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143931811.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rzwVMFYSVjI/VTaZi49os2I/AAAAAAAACw8/QD4s0IVSVUE/s500/Photo%25252020150421143931811.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630753.3179" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> The mirrored forms also catch her attention. It is harder than it looks to produce these!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WPsFJRiLxsw/VTaZkk69hbI/AAAAAAAACxE/IZ0bwxLBfY8/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143932064.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WPsFJRiLxsw/VTaZkk69hbI/AAAAAAAACxE/IZ0bwxLBfY8/s500/Photo%25252020150421143932064.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630732.3062" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="869" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Columba was the tale end of our Irish studies in March. She learned <em>Einini, </em>a sweet lullaby in Irish Gaelic, as well as an Irish step dance to <em>Irish Washerwoman </em>and (part of) a Scottish sword dance. We learned that Irish Gaelic does NOT sound like it looks. We looked at pictures of Ireland, memorized poems about Ireland, and found out that there is evidence that the Celts visited the shores of North America long before Columbus. We did not ever finish <u>The King of Ireland's Son</u>, though. Maybe this summer, if she asks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=03EB13E5-2457-46B3-986D-A09E5ACD70AB&ext=JPG" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DbotW_Q-q3s/VTaZmmYJOyI/AAAAAAAACxM/kzQ8Z3MiDkk/s2048/Photo%25252020150421143932306.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DbotW_Q-q3s/VTaZmmYJOyI/AAAAAAAACxM/kzQ8Z3MiDkk/s500/Photo%25252020150421143932306.jpg" id="blogsy-1429641630742.3364" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="869" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> She is still doing Teaching Textbooks four days a week, and squirrel number practice with me. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">We are doing nature paintings this week, a few more trickster tales next week... A friend recommended <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Roast-Chicken-Trickster-Mountains/dp/1575056577/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429641511&sr=1-1&keywords=Love+and+roast+chicken">Love and Roast Chicken</a>. I can't wait to read it!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-11880454347533966802015-04-20T21:39:00.001-04:002015-04-20T21:39:58.526-04:00A Season With a Happy Ending<p> By the teeny little hairs of our chinny-chin-chins, we survived the few weeks between states and regionals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_9KKatUGrNM/VTWqZYTtd1I/AAAAAAAACv0/1Ws_hlHutQ4/s2048/Photo%25252020150420213944268.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_9KKatUGrNM/VTWqZYTtd1I/AAAAAAAACv0/1Ws_hlHutQ4/s500/Photo%25252020150420213944268.jpg" id="blogsy-1429580397174.059" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> And it was well worth it. E had some new experiences, like figuring out how to put on a singlet and competing with a cold after being up all night coughing. When all was complete, he had his highest ever all-around score and a fifth place award. My child, who used to perform worse under pressure of competition, had competed against the best level six athletes from seven states, with a cold, and came in fifth. Pretty freakin awesome. He had finally proven to himself that there were no excuses, no reason to worry...just give it your best and have fun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vjImi-r2WbU/VTWqa1OpyBI/AAAAAAAACv8/Mr0cqKGDIqs/s2048/Photo%25252020150420213944750.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vjImi-r2WbU/VTWqa1OpyBI/AAAAAAAACv8/Mr0cqKGDIqs/s500/Photo%25252020150420213944750.jpg" id="blogsy-1429580397222.3125" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="435" alt=""></a></div><p> This season, nearly everything that E worried about came true. He was injured and thus forced to scratch events, but the world didn't end. He was perfectly healthy but performed only <em>okay</em>, and his coach was not angry. He caught a cold right before a meet, and performed fine. He competed under pressure, and did better than ever. He nearly missed his moi support on parallel bars, but <em>still</em> earned his best ever all-around score. </p><p> </p><p>This has been a fantastic season.</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-54244459790955091862015-04-05T18:34:00.001-04:002015-04-05T18:34:11.353-04:00Happy Easter!<p> This past week has been a bit much. We have been busy with two physical therapy appointments, an African Children's Choir concert, and a Gathering of the Guilds in addition to the usual chorus, errands, play date, and gymnastic trainings. Whew! In addition (or because of?) the kids were rotten to each other and E fought school every day. Noted. But the PT was necessary (and will be ongoing), and the choir and guilds were amazing experiences that I believe we all benefitted from. It is tricky to sort out what is worth pushing E for, though. The backlash can be long-lasting.</p><p> </p><p>The kids have been asking a lot of questions about countries, continents, capitols, states...and they have been listening to anthems and drawing flags. Many, many flags. So I attempted to draw a map of continents on my board. Not too bad. The kids compared it to our little globe, which led to questions about the lines criss-crossing on the globe, time zones, and hemispheres. Longitude and latitude! Did I say E missed geography last year? It is covered now, and in a fraction of the time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fztNSBqss7Q/VSG4OrE--QI/AAAAAAAACvQ/OpJnjUfBSo0/s2048/Photo%25252020150405183311919.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fztNSBqss7Q/VSG4OrE--QI/AAAAAAAACvQ/OpJnjUfBSo0/s500/Photo%25252020150405183311919.jpg" id="blogsy-1428273249790.0068" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> Next up on E's agenda is science. He wants to know all the laws of of physics. All. The. Laws. Rather than googling it, I am reading through this science <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Building-Foundations-Scientific-Understanding-Curriculum/dp/1432706101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428268575&sr=8-1&keywords=Nebel">book</a>. I want to approach this in a logical order. The author recommends starting with this book even if the children are middle school age, and I plan to read through the second book as well before we begin. E takes issue with science experiments he didn't create himself, so I am not sure how this will go. I may need to be teaching e, or myself, instead. I wonder how he would respond to something like <a href="http://tinker.kiwicrate.com/">Tinker Crate?</a> It is pre-fabricated, but not by me...</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, E is perfecting his 3D drawing. This is his first house with a roof.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CuN_Xahg-I4/VSG4VLyJgDI/AAAAAAAACvY/HdE0KCGUuhE/s2048/Photo%25252020150405183312203.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CuN_Xahg-I4/VSG4VLyJgDI/AAAAAAAACvY/HdE0KCGUuhE/s500/Photo%25252020150405183312203.jpg" id="blogsy-1428273249784.4395" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> Easter eggs! And, as part of our Ancient China lesson, silkworm cocoons that we are unraveling. We dipped them into the leftover egg dye!<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zxgWEDsCkfA/VSG4X3edfiI/AAAAAAAACvg/3xWw5xyJflg/s2048/Photo%25252020150405183312461.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zxgWEDsCkfA/VSG4X3edfiI/AAAAAAAACvg/3xWw5xyJflg/s500/Photo%25252020150405183312461.jpg" id="blogsy-1428273249779.9478" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p>Happy Easter! </p><p> </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-23486838728957922862015-03-31T20:18:00.001-04:002015-03-31T20:18:05.470-04:00All About the Plants<p> Botony has taken over! We received a gorgeous flower arrangement from Nana this morning, and what do we do? Dissect a daisy! We thought the yellow center was made up of stamens, but we were wrong! Many, many pistils. The stamens are tucked into the curve at the base of each petal. Soooo....how does the flower insure that the pollinator will come into contact with the pollen? Maybe the nectar is tucked in there, too. Interesting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s3vl1JEJCXQ/VRs4-viYygI/AAAAAAAACt8/EfZXacEmSOo/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201641052.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s3vl1JEJCXQ/VRs4-viYygI/AAAAAAAACt8/EfZXacEmSOo/s500/Photo%25252020150331201641052.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484320.76" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Last week I pulled up old (or invading) plants to prepare the garden for new growth. Noting that roots are similar to branches, E decided to see if they can switch duties. Will the branches begin to draw in nutrients? Will the roots grow leaves? Nope. But a mint plant will survive with only a <em>teeny</em> bit of root touching the soil, it's stem doing a U-turn to head upward again. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YSrleMaL5UY/VRs5Af56j-I/AAAAAAAACuE/DE6qzY-KTHE/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201641353.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YSrleMaL5UY/VRs5Af56j-I/AAAAAAAACuE/DE6qzY-KTHE/s500/Photo%25252020150331201641353.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484322.9922" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> Ready, set, grow! Seeds are planted. Why are we still getting frost at night? Where is spring? </p><p> </p><p>The garden is e's baby. She and I have worked on it from the start. She made the markers, planted seeds in the rain, watered it today in the sun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IopKnP2PwaE/VRs5CVeRnsI/AAAAAAAACuM/m5E-AMuXC_4/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201641636.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IopKnP2PwaE/VRs5CVeRnsI/AAAAAAAACuM/m5E-AMuXC_4/s500/Photo%25252020150331201641636.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484365.597" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> I adore my chalkboard wall!! So much learning can happen without me saying a word. Today E ran in and out, matching roots he'd pulled up to the kinds on the board. He found everything: a great benefit to living in Virginia! He also dug a few holes in the grass...luckily grass grows back. :)</p><p> </p><p>e is learning to read cursive. Not write it, just read. Fun stuff. I'm still not sure how my little e grew big enough to be reading cursive!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3EhJlzQGIho/VRs5Euba14I/AAAAAAAACuU/Ge6W1-y6sjA/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201641943.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3EhJlzQGIho/VRs5Euba14I/AAAAAAAACuU/Ge6W1-y6sjA/s500/Photo%25252020150331201641943.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484364.3796" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> "I don't eat anything from a flower," declared my otherwise quite intelligent boy. Luckily we had a lot of fruit in the house to cut open. Crazy boy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tfITyrqDrtg/VRs5HBgdv3I/AAAAAAAACuc/zKGLLq6JA70/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201642225.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tfITyrqDrtg/VRs5HBgdv3I/AAAAAAAACuc/zKGLLq6JA70/s500/Photo%25252020150331201642225.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484335.5017" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> Symmetry! I found the kids playing with the laundry doors last month. Hilarious, and a great teachable moment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H6Fu_2v_I7U/VRs5I9MV-WI/AAAAAAAACuk/XuIfKKT1INA/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201642725.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H6Fu_2v_I7U/VRs5I9MV-WI/AAAAAAAACuk/XuIfKKT1INA/s500/Photo%25252020150331201642725.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484347.6665" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="747"></a></div><p> E received a 3D pen for his birthday. Quite a lesson in melting points, different plastics, and architecture.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_YJ_oW17pOY/VRs5KxQd0lI/AAAAAAAACus/i2pLtnIlbEM/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201642988.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_YJ_oW17pOY/VRs5KxQd0lI/AAAAAAAACus/i2pLtnIlbEM/s500/Photo%25252020150331201642988.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484329.9995" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-geI4JRpX8Ic/VRs5MnWmuxI/AAAAAAAACu0/VUkzmqOgtBc/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201643266.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-geI4JRpX8Ic/VRs5MnWmuxI/AAAAAAAACu0/VUkzmqOgtBc/s500/Photo%25252020150331201643266.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484384.3745" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Geometry won't stay in its own block! We've moved on to using a compass, which at first elicited fits. It isn't as easy as mom makes it look! But he got it, and now draws his own compass creations during quiet time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sNYiYesnSa8/VRs5OvLoTEI/AAAAAAAACu8/bLa23eL4KiM/s2048/Photo%25252020150331201643531.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sNYiYesnSa8/VRs5OvLoTEI/AAAAAAAACu8/bLa23eL4KiM/s500/Photo%25252020150331201643531.jpg" id="blogsy-1427847484400.6685" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Aaaaand I'm still not caught up! More to come!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-49543494612712521802015-03-26T15:18:00.001-04:002015-03-26T15:18:35.152-04:00My Reluctant Competitor<p>Last fall, C and I filled out an Intent to Compete form for E. It listed every meet for each level, as well as dates and locations. We were to mark the meets in which E would compete, so that no money was wasted registering boys for meets they did not intend to attend. Knowing E does not favor competition or travel, we chose one meet a month, ending with states. We saw no reason for regionals at level 6, especially since regional costs (registration, coach fees, travel, hotel) can be upwards of $700 for that <em>one competition</em>! Meet season already does us in. When I showed E the paper, he said he'd like to do only the first meet and be done. Mmmmm no. But you can stop at states. I signed the form and turned it in. </p><p> </p><p>E did amazing at his first few meets. He hinted that he might be starting to like competition. But as the meet season wore on, his anxiety grew. It became something I helped him through every single day. In January, his scores dipped. His worry had gotten the best of him. Then he cracked his sternum (though we didn't know it at the time; we thought bone bruise) a few days later. At the February meet, he still had a lot of pain so had to scratch two events. The three weeks leading up to March states were hard to bear for us all; E was so nervous that he felt every teensy pain and worried constantly about getting sick or injured. Then a miracle happened: he began to see that he was days, mere days! from the end of his season. The countdown began, and he started feeling excited rather than nervous.</p><p> </p><p>Indeed, the kid nailed it. He sailed through each event. The other coaches sat up and took notice, making comments about wanting him in their programs, and the judge at still rings called him over to give him pointers (<em>not</em> a common occurrence!). Even falling from the parallel bars (turns out they were adjusted wrong, so he made sure to adjust them himself after that!) during warm-up didn't phase him. He earned his highest-ever all-around score: 63.3! Which also turned out to be the highest all-around score for his age and level. Let me say that again: <em>highest AA score</em>. Gold. First place. My child, who hates pressure. He had pushed through, knowing nothing was riding on this score because it was his last obligation of the season, and had done better than every other level 6 competitor in Virginia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r2owAs96jKU/VRRbh7t9zfI/AAAAAAAACto/fbd9i3Ix26s/s2048/Photo%25252020150326151828181.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r2owAs96jKU/VRRbh7t9zfI/AAAAAAAACto/fbd9i3Ix26s/s500/Photo%25252020150326151828181.jpg" id="blogsy-1427397515108.8289" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="747" alt=""></a></div><p>I knew there would be a state team chosen to represent Virginia at regionals, but I couldn't seem to find details. It was just this vague thing that another mom told me could happen. His coaches didn't mention it, and honestly I hadn't pushed for answers because I didn't think E would do better than average. Historically, more pressure equalled worse scores. In hindsight I picture myself as an ostrich, head in sand.</p><p> </p><p>Awards were announced, but no state team was chosen. I asked a few nearby coaches and the announcer about state team, nobody knew anything, so we left. E was elated that his season was OVER! We headed to the Air and Space Museum Annex to see the shuttle.</p><p> </p><p>Two hours later, on the road home but stuck in traffic, I received a call from another gym mom. She needed E's final answer as to whether he would attend state regionals or not. What?!? She gave me cost and date. C and I did some quick math, wondered how we would come up with that much, and asked E if he would like to accept the honor. Remember, he's still celebrating his successful completion of the season! He gave an adamant no. I breathed a sigh of relief and told the mom no thank you. E hadn't been the only one celebrating; with the end of season usually comes an end to the sleepless nights of panic and days of nervous misbehavior, and I was ready for a break!</p><p> </p><p>It wasn't to be. One cannot give such a stellar performance and then bow out. We received an email, the first of many, from the head coach. I'll just say emotions ran high, both for the coach and us, and we got no sleep that night. The coach had forgotten that we are new to this- it is only E's second competitive season- and thus how very little we know about all things competition. No one had prepared E for the possibility of state regionals beyond the few times C and I mentioned it. No one had prepared us. And no one had prepared the coach for E's thoughts on the matter.</p><p> </p><p>In the end, we presented it to E, he panicked, we talked him down, and now he is actually a bit excited about it. The coach held to his word and had a long chat with E about what to expect and why being on a state team is less stressful than individual. When E joined the upper level training group on Monday, he was greeted with handshakes and high fives. And there is no sleep for the weary....at least not for the next three weeks!</p><p> </p><p>Which is okay. E lives and breathes gymnastics. We will never, ever be those parents who push for more competitions; E must lead his own charge. He told me today that he wants to compete in college. Three months ago he was worrying that he'd <em>have to</em> compete in college! My baby is growing up. Age 11 looks good on him. </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-52137496718841059102015-03-18T13:57:00.001-04:002015-03-18T13:57:29.915-04:00On to Botony and Irish Saints and Heroes!<p> E's Botony block has been so much fun! I bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Painting-Drawing-Waldorf-Schools-Classes/dp/0863158781/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426698885&sr=8-1&keywords=Painting+in+waldorf+schools">this book</a> last month, and have learned quite a bit about painting and drawing. We've been trying different techniques; it is both frustrating and intriguing for E. My painting is the top one, E's the bottom. </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mMJWlgxLhiA/VQm8L-aNd6I/AAAAAAAACrs/ghlqhc9P03c/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135552498.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mMJWlgxLhiA/VQm8L-aNd6I/AAAAAAAACrs/ghlqhc9P03c/s500/Photo%25252020150318135552498.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450247.056" class="alignnone" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> I bought mushrooms to taste...neither child is a fan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LfnXmWIsbaM/VQm8OMta5pI/AAAAAAAACr0/SR9Jb4Xa76A/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135552772.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LfnXmWIsbaM/VQm8OMta5pI/AAAAAAAACr0/SR9Jb4Xa76A/s500/Photo%25252020150318135552772.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450302.325" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> Seaweed! I have fond childhood memories of running along a length of beached kelp, popping the floats. Such a lovely sound. My kids don't know kelp, but they remember the feel of Chesapeake Bay seaweeds from summers past. Slimy, thick, and hairy, ha!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nQTD850JHN4/VQm8P2XTYuI/AAAAAAAACr8/-_spW97xowM/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135553030.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nQTD850JHN4/VQm8P2XTYuI/AAAAAAAACr8/-_spW97xowM/s500/Photo%25252020150318135553030.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450278.3838" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> E and I took a walk in the woods to find mushrooms, lichen, and moss. We were both amazed at how many varieties we found! Moss with starry leaves, moss with fern-like leaves, moss with round leaves. Lichen with bumps, lichen with flat petals, lichen that appeared to be just a scar on the tree. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FTeZIFsgvBk/VQm8RJn2DAI/AAAAAAAACsE/lCGrj5zH-XY/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135553472.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FTeZIFsgvBk/VQm8RJn2DAI/AAAAAAAACsE/lCGrj5zH-XY/s500/Photo%25252020150318135553472.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450327.868" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p> Plus these mushrooms in the snow! Hardy little things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vxtVYDa52-c/VQm8SjXxaKI/AAAAAAAACsM/WCGx5_3qvkI/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135553814.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vxtVYDa52-c/VQm8SjXxaKI/AAAAAAAACsM/WCGx5_3qvkI/s500/Photo%25252020150318135553814.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450262.7273" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="435"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-igKwjkODXHk/VQm8Ud-VSsI/AAAAAAAACsU/j17otOa_FxA/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135554069.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-igKwjkODXHk/VQm8Ud-VSsI/AAAAAAAACsU/j17otOa_FxA/s500/Photo%25252020150318135554069.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450253.8613" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bq48-YHRg04/VQm8VxYTArI/AAAAAAAACsY/DTR9oFeaeYs/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135554350.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bq48-YHRg04/VQm8VxYTArI/AAAAAAAACsY/DTR9oFeaeYs/s500/Photo%25252020150318135554350.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450294.9136" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--6lEHzgh-YY/VQm8XWF1BGI/AAAAAAAACsk/L5MPt2_H3X8/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135554607.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--6lEHzgh-YY/VQm8XWF1BGI/AAAAAAAACsk/L5MPt2_H3X8/s500/Photo%25252020150318135554607.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450264.4834" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> So far so good! The approach of Kovac's <u>Botony</u> is serving us well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jma2PJeXGfE/VQm8ZOxuECI/AAAAAAAACss/nrb8zL8C9E8/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135554908.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Jma2PJeXGfE/VQm8ZOxuECI/AAAAAAAACss/nrb8zL8C9E8/s500/Photo%25252020150318135554908.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450276.196" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> E now prefers that I give him the form already complete, allowing him to figure out how it was drawn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RsGINIoJaRc/VQm8ahttJRI/AAAAAAAACs0/jNogzZ2U-_I/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135555189.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RsGINIoJaRc/VQm8ahttJRI/AAAAAAAACs0/jNogzZ2U-_I/s500/Photo%25252020150318135555189.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450322.3694" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> As for e, she and I are reading <u>The King of Ireland's Son</u>. <u>The King of Ireland's Son</u> is not a story I would have chosen to read, and in fact chose <em>not</em> to read it when E was in second grade. It has not been holding e's attention like <u>Where the Mountain Meets the Moon</u> did, so to be honest, I'm not sure we will finish it. That's awful, isn't it! I know there is value in finishing what one starts, and lessons in the story itself...but the garden is calling, and she is chomping at the bit for Trickster Tales!</p><p> </p><p>We might just finish out this month of Ireland and call it good. We have learned a dance to <em>Irish Washerwoman</em>, how to say hello in Irish, and to sing <em>Einini, </em>a sweet lullaby. e discovered that while the English version of her name means 'peace' and is feminine, the Irish version means Ireland...and is masculine. Oops. Luckily, she was appeased by seeing her name so often in Irish poetry. However, don't be surprised if you see her spell her name differently. Six letters is oh so much more pretty than four letters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3iiaqnw5nbs/VQm8cNMmnZI/AAAAAAAACs8/ny4I9op0btE/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135555455.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3iiaqnw5nbs/VQm8cNMmnZI/AAAAAAAACs8/ny4I9op0btE/s500/Photo%25252020150318135555455.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450277.8364" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> Math! She has moved on to 4s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uhn8G6OkxeY/VQm8d4p_d2I/AAAAAAAACtE/sjLT0pRDeck/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135555705.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Uhn8G6OkxeY/VQm8d4p_d2I/AAAAAAAACtE/sjLT0pRDeck/s500/Photo%25252020150318135555705.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450306.327" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> St. Patrick-</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOEZNEWdiR8/VQm8f3_-ZKI/AAAAAAAACtM/8GWfxDx_Bkw/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135555964.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOEZNEWdiR8/VQm8f3_-ZKI/AAAAAAAACtM/8GWfxDx_Bkw/s500/Photo%25252020150318135555964.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450277.257" class="aligncenter" width="691" height="515" alt=""></a></div><p>and Finn MacCool (hers on left, mine on right) spearing the Salmon of Knowledge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R11MUtf_lVA/VQm8hsvDahI/AAAAAAAACtU/GFlNWOpgCwc/s2048/Photo%25252020150318135556220.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R11MUtf_lVA/VQm8hsvDahI/AAAAAAAACtU/GFlNWOpgCwc/s500/Photo%25252020150318135556220.jpg" id="blogsy-1426701450309.7432" class="aligncenter" width="694" height="517" alt=""></a></div><p> Whew! It has been a fun and BUSY few weeks, and it isn't over yet! This weekend is E's state gymnastics meet. Always an adventure!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-54867540808051664742015-03-17T20:10:00.001-04:002015-03-17T20:10:04.048-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<p> It seems like forever since I've had a moment to blog! I've been planning, planning, planning...and both children are eagerly gobbling every lesson! It makes the effort worth it. If I had done this much prep in the past, when I would have met nothing but resistance, I don't think I would still be homeschooling. But now, <em>now </em>it is incredibly rewarding. Everything in its season. </p><p> </p><p>I have so much more to share; March has been a delightful month! Botony and <u>The King of Ireland's Son</u>. Alas all I have time for now is a quick note and a few pictures of our day. Our St. Patrick's Day actually began days ago, with a parade. The first one in e's memory. She and I enjoyed the bagpipes, drums, dancers, little race cars, clowns...while the Oregonian in me wondered where the horses were!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lc-FJOGPw0s/VQjCRQXeELI/AAAAAAAACrE/RyDOY_9O0Xk/s2048/Photo%25252020150317200936899.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lc-FJOGPw0s/VQjCRQXeELI/AAAAAAAACrE/RyDOY_9O0Xk/s500/Photo%25252020150317200936899.jpg" id="blogsy-1426637403522.3247" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> G loves a good story. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tV80lnk4Eac/VQjCSwvGlxI/AAAAAAAACrM/kkPvOwAoYX4/s2048/Photo%25252020150317200937166.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tV80lnk4Eac/VQjCSwvGlxI/AAAAAAAACrM/kkPvOwAoYX4/s500/Photo%25252020150317200937166.jpg" id="blogsy-1426637403483.6533" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="689" height="513"></a></div><p> e re-made an old rainbow watercolor into a leprechaun scene, and then drew the scene below of St. Patrick planting the shamrocks and God saying, "Awesome!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xUhf_Dz-azI/VQjCUnZqRfI/AAAAAAAACrU/3PDz9xCg_54/s2048/Photo%25252020150317200937406.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xUhf_Dz-azI/VQjCUnZqRfI/AAAAAAAACrU/3PDz9xCg_54/s500/Photo%25252020150317200937406.jpg" id="blogsy-1426637403492.3308" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="869" alt=""></a></div><p> Yes, that's our new chalkboard wall! That's the other thing we have been doing! Removing wallpaper. What craziness that has been.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mBEmLWdB4gM/VQjCWBzYuJI/AAAAAAAACrc/foTGK7Vpr0E/s2048/Photo%25252020150317200937661.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mBEmLWdB4gM/VQjCWBzYuJI/AAAAAAAACrc/foTGK7Vpr0E/s500/Photo%25252020150317200937661.jpg" id="blogsy-1426637403466.8909" class="aligncenter" width="689" height="513" alt=""></a></div><p>Today E, e, and I also worked together to ready our garden for planting and to fold a shamrock window star. We ate green and gold foods and the kids debated what was really meant in the legend about St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland. And you know there was Irish music!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-80978159087423253342015-02-27T17:10:00.001-05:002015-02-27T17:10:33.420-05:00Snow Week<p> The snow this week has been perfect snowman snow! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S93yuYqtniA/VPDrBqQzhUI/AAAAAAAACo8/HuE6kjSFWJ0/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170900721.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S93yuYqtniA/VPDrBqQzhUI/AAAAAAAACo8/HuE6kjSFWJ0/s500/Photo%25252020150227170900721.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034784.1846" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="971"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y0rHaN6_r9I/VPDrD3T2rSI/AAAAAAAACpE/ovbvgykd6OI/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170901053.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y0rHaN6_r9I/VPDrD3T2rSI/AAAAAAAACpE/ovbvgykd6OI/s500/Photo%25252020150227170901053.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034739.8723" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="971"></a></div><p>We spent most of our time this week outside or peeling wallpaper (that stuff is more difficult to remove than I expected!), but did manage a fair amount of math. </p><p> </p><p>E:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gol50whUksw/VPDrFrVVR1I/AAAAAAAACpM/v1c-c_d4m84/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170901360.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gol50whUksw/VPDrFrVVR1I/AAAAAAAACpM/v1c-c_d4m84/s500/Photo%25252020150227170901360.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034806.175" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> e:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lN__sXNDzks/VPDrHamvDFI/AAAAAAAACpU/fx8v0kt1rVI/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170901600.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lN__sXNDzks/VPDrHamvDFI/AAAAAAAACpU/fx8v0kt1rVI/s500/Photo%25252020150227170901600.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034742.9866" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> e's geometric paintings:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JCPwb4gkaR8/VPDrJFiL5II/AAAAAAAACpc/v_tcTUl1h7U/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170901848.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JCPwb4gkaR8/VPDrJFiL5II/AAAAAAAACpc/v_tcTUl1h7U/s500/Photo%25252020150227170901848.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034772.8594" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-psdbpRsfRfM/VPDrK0eAK0I/AAAAAAAACpk/mD2oLgLJUSw/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170902158.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-psdbpRsfRfM/VPDrK0eAK0I/AAAAAAAACpk/mD2oLgLJUSw/s500/Photo%25252020150227170902158.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034805.002" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OTtVbDZP9Eg/VPDrNFgpy5I/AAAAAAAACps/iBLN81I7rq4/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170902399.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OTtVbDZP9Eg/VPDrNFgpy5I/AAAAAAAACps/iBLN81I7rq4/s500/Photo%25252020150227170902399.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034742.6313" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BcaE9c4vsSg/VPDrPG_rtaI/AAAAAAAACp0/_tC7P_4KLX4/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170902646.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BcaE9c4vsSg/VPDrPG_rtaI/AAAAAAAACp0/_tC7P_4KLX4/s500/Photo%25252020150227170902646.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034772.7842" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jDPfEsayQI4/VPDrQkKNhBI/AAAAAAAACp8/7AiQUcQIaF8/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170902909.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jDPfEsayQI4/VPDrQkKNhBI/AAAAAAAACp8/7AiQUcQIaF8/s500/Photo%25252020150227170902909.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034746.1013" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7u9tWVoKgWk/VPDrSLmSgxI/AAAAAAAACqE/TMboT2qJOt0/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170903201.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7u9tWVoKgWk/VPDrSLmSgxI/AAAAAAAACqE/TMboT2qJOt0/s500/Photo%25252020150227170903201.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034808.7922" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rp75owSpIho/VPDrTwrw5qI/AAAAAAAACqM/h1eqsweRZ4A/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170903459.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rp75owSpIho/VPDrTwrw5qI/AAAAAAAACqM/h1eqsweRZ4A/s500/Photo%25252020150227170903459.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034817.9275" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> And her mystery knit! She loves guessing as she goes. This is Clam the otter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EQmBFvfzA1A/VPDrVpKtJ0I/AAAAAAAACqU/Du0MRXnIBWk/s2048/Photo%25252020150227170903721.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EQmBFvfzA1A/VPDrVpKtJ0I/AAAAAAAACqU/Du0MRXnIBWk/s500/Photo%25252020150227170903721.jpg" id="blogsy-1425075034755.9128" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> It has been nice to stay in, but I am definitely looking forward to swim lessons and a play date tomorrow!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-66871201801139373212015-02-24T17:23:00.001-05:002015-02-24T17:23:48.960-05:00Do-Over<p>It is always a wonderful affirmation to find out E already knows the math material I plan to teach. Teaching Textbooks only <em>appears</em> to progress slowly! This turned out to be easy review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dp8HWev9suc/VOz501lx2qI/AAAAAAAACoI/cmvEVUQT4Ws/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172311214.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dp8HWev9suc/VOz501lx2qI/AAAAAAAACoI/cmvEVUQT4Ws/s500/Photo%25252020150224172311214.jpg" id="blogsy-1424816629298.874" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dp8HWev9suc/VOz501lx2qI/AAAAAAAACoI/cmvEVUQT4Ws/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172311214.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n504ESOPSCk/VOz52m9sohI/AAAAAAAACoQ/JzA24EXPCH4/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172311484.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n504ESOPSCk/VOz52m9sohI/AAAAAAAACoQ/JzA24EXPCH4/s500/Photo%25252020150224172311484.jpg" id="blogsy-1424816629311.8906" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Today dawned 22 degrees, so e and I decided it was a good day for a frost painting. The last time we did a frost painting was in Alaska at 42 degrees below zero! Would it come out different? Indeed. Beautifully large crystals formed! </p><p> </p><p>While those crystals were forming, we headed to the pool. The kids took a deep water test, passing easily, and spent two whole hours swimming laps, diving, and inventing variations of flips and twists under water. As we were leaving, the lifeguard (also e's swim teacher) stopped me to say that e had definitely passed level 3. Excellent! She has one more class this weekend before she starts a stroke clinic to prepare her for a summer swim team. She has progressed very fast, as she always does. But swimming is something she has been begging for since... well, babyhood. And she likes every single thing about it. Perhaps she has found her <a href="http://littlestrawberryelephant.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-e_19.html">thing</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qNew-Q_WS0c/VOz54iV1AEI/AAAAAAAACoY/YVEN_I4SixE/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172311848.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qNew-Q_WS0c/VOz54iV1AEI/AAAAAAAACoY/YVEN_I4SixE/s500/Photo%25252020150224172311848.jpg" id="blogsy-1424816629260.644" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> Speaking of finding what makes one's heart sing...E continues to <em>thrive </em>in gymnastics. The head coach has been working all season on easing E into Future Stars. He pulled E for the training, taught him the routines, all without telling E why. Now he's encouraging E to attend the Future Stars camp in June, and has told E he will be at least a level 7 next season. Maybe 8. That means training with the big boys! Coach has pulled E a few times in the past few weeks to train with levels 7-10, and E had a blast. I wonder if the coach is trying to build E's confidence as we lead up to state...but whatever his purpose, E is absolutely thrilled.</p><p> </p><p>But back to school. The planners are working beautifully! I added a list to the front of each to remind us all what needs to happen each day:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UJrDwRrAtkQ/VOz56uPirRI/AAAAAAAACog/XQ7ENdUfOhU/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172312138.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UJrDwRrAtkQ/VOz56uPirRI/AAAAAAAACog/XQ7ENdUfOhU/s500/Photo%25252020150224172312138.jpg" id="blogsy-1424816629324.3518" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> I'm also trying to once again stick to the plan. A do-over. I don't know if E has calmed down any, but his behavior is once again 'normal'. As in we have gotten used to it, so we don't over-react, so E doesn't escalate. Usually. He is acting much less anxious, too. Bit by bit, there is progress!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7E-7Xo6QYnU/VOz58XVUVTI/AAAAAAAACoo/X9DTNB2Mk4w/s2048/Photo%25252020150224172312430.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7E-7Xo6QYnU/VOz58XVUVTI/AAAAAAAACoo/X9DTNB2Mk4w/s500/Photo%25252020150224172312430.jpg" id="blogsy-1424816629310.5693" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> Happy Tuesday, everyone!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-51493713469666263272015-02-20T08:44:00.001-05:002015-02-20T08:44:45.916-05:00Happy Chinese New Year!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QPqKxQtxQDo/VOc6PV-4_sI/AAAAAAAACno/BUBu5FeKv2Q/s2048/Photo%25252020150220084426502.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QPqKxQtxQDo/VOc6PV-4_sI/AAAAAAAACno/BUBu5FeKv2Q/s500/Photo%25252020150220084426502.jpg" id="blogsy-1424439887320.8503" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="844" height="1127"></a></div><p> The girls took their babies for a sled,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Xu6fpTPTgk/VOc6REzvtdI/AAAAAAAACnw/IKiNvUCLqxw/s2048/Photo%25252020150220084426950.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Xu6fpTPTgk/VOc6REzvtdI/AAAAAAAACnw/IKiNvUCLqxw/s500/Photo%25252020150220084426950.jpg" id="blogsy-1424439887278.2917" class="aligncenter" width="844" height="565" alt=""></a></div><p> Made snappy dragons from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birthday-Crafts-Festivals-Family-Activities/dp/1903458013/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1424439680&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=The+birthday+book+festival"> The Birthday Book</a>, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cffm0Py4MjA/VOc6SpuOqSI/AAAAAAAACn4/DepmEt4r6b8/s2048/Photo%25252020150220084427309.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cffm0Py4MjA/VOc6SpuOqSI/AAAAAAAACn4/DepmEt4r6b8/s500/Photo%25252020150220084427309.jpg" id="blogsy-1424439887282.3718" class="aligncenter" width="844" height="565" alt=""></a></div><p> and designed and sewed their own sheep hand puppets! Happy Year of the Sheep!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-20535163578696833582015-02-17T17:19:00.001-05:002015-02-17T17:19:40.474-05:00Long Weekend<p> Snow day today! I actually hauled out my <em>real</em> camera. Our house being so dim and the weather being so cold and windy, I haven't used it much lately. I also just recently discovered how to enlarge pictures in Blogsy, so I'm including a few different sized photos for comparison in this post. :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZQTUMmgL6Qs/VOO-Q8cNTII/AAAAAAAACmg/lxL2HY00fts/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171838625.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZQTUMmgL6Qs/VOO-Q8cNTII/AAAAAAAACmg/lxL2HY00fts/s500/Photo%25252020150217171838625.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581160.301" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="767" height="513"></a></div><p> The kids ran outside first thing, then ran back to the door yelling "MOM! It's tundra snow!" You know, the snow in Alaska that is blown into solid layers that then make excellent blocks for use in igloo-making. Days like this make me miss Alaska! Anyway, the kids enjoyed walking on top of the snow crust for a while before it melted just a bit and began to give way. E declared it much more dramatic to fall through four feet of snow as we did in Alaska than the measly four inches here, though.</p><p> </p><p>Eventually E turned the cracking crust into a game. He laid down and pulled himself from hole to hole as fast as he could, which was pretty speedily. No need for a sled or a hill here, the kids slid around the yard for over an hour this way!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-onE79fD7neY/VOO-ScS4LyI/AAAAAAAACmo/z1EKnuwpWVM/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171838959.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-onE79fD7neY/VOO-ScS4LyI/AAAAAAAACmo/z1EKnuwpWVM/s500/Photo%25252020150217171838959.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581190.8896" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="765" height="512"></a></div><p> e has begun her set of art lessons Grandad gifted her with for Christmas. A happy squirrel is in the works!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5OFeBIpgbNI/VOO-T0XM-cI/AAAAAAAACmw/VNg3AtopuZQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171839377.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5OFeBIpgbNI/VOO-T0XM-cI/AAAAAAAACmw/VNg3AtopuZQ/s500/Photo%25252020150217171839377.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581136.8176" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> e made exactly one Valentine this year, and what a science lesson it turned out to be! She found the pine cones a few weeks ago on a walk, and pushed them together. They sat on our deck in the cold for several days. When e brought them inside, they had closed...still stuck together! She brought them inside and painted them. Over the course of 5 days, they opened, starting at the large end. Each day another few rows had opened, until finally they were fully open again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7VSEaqMg6F8/VOO-W7fmWFI/AAAAAAAACm4/F9vSZa1v0PI/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171839766.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7VSEaqMg6F8/VOO-W7fmWFI/AAAAAAAACm4/F9vSZa1v0PI/s500/Photo%25252020150217171839766.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581199.61" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> My birthday was this weekend as well, and e woke me with a treasure hunt! There were berries and whipped coconut cream for cake, and my most favorite tea. Spaghetti squash (with a bow) and chicken for dinner. I didn't have to wash a single dish or make breakfast (the most time-consuming meal in our house). I finished several small projects and <em>finally</em> sewed up the ripped seam in E's favorite gym shorts. It was a lovely day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ygjt8Uha7Yo/VOO-YkgJTPI/AAAAAAAACnA/pIKVTU0A4GY/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171840060.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ygjt8Uha7Yo/VOO-YkgJTPI/AAAAAAAACnA/pIKVTU0A4GY/s500/Photo%25252020150217171840060.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581158.5137" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p>Last week's lessons included St. Valentine, whom e was shocked to find out was a man. ;) Love and hearts would be a woman, no?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdUzNkFlVrE/VOO-auwzrnI/AAAAAAAACnI/fHxGUWVsErc/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171840447.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdUzNkFlVrE/VOO-auwzrnI/AAAAAAAACnI/fHxGUWVsErc/s500/Photo%25252020150217171840447.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581150.4744" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="869"></a></div><p> Circle vocabulary. He's been seeing most of these words for a few years in Teaching Textbooks, so nothing super new. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-11M8ajezLgQ/VOO-cpne8SI/AAAAAAAACnQ/Vea-YYI3PtI/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171840733.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-11M8ajezLgQ/VOO-cpne8SI/AAAAAAAACnQ/Vea-YYI3PtI/s500/Photo%25252020150217171840733.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581164.9573" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="869" alt=""></a></div><p> E's handwriting, one line a week...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LstornGPkQY/VOO-eWjlH7I/AAAAAAAACnY/W3iz6QXRBUo/s2048/Photo%25252020150217171841018.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LstornGPkQY/VOO-eWjlH7I/AAAAAAAACnY/W3iz6QXRBUo/s500/Photo%25252020150217171841018.jpg" id="blogsy-1424211581193.9866" class="aligncenter" width="679" height="506" alt=""></a></div><p> We haven't done school in days and days. Tomorrow we get back at it! </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-56315169333600502582015-02-11T13:32:00.001-05:002015-02-11T13:32:09.659-05:00It's a Beautiful Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qmmmvjRbykw/VNugB0HTNEI/AAAAAAAAClk/upG-qZgR9Zc/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133132524.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qmmmvjRbykw/VNugB0HTNEI/AAAAAAAAClk/upG-qZgR9Zc/s500/Photo%25252020150211133132524.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531843.565" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="650" height="484"></a></div><p> I finally, finally cleared my craft table enough for a work space. It has been piled high for a long time! Now I can disappear for a few quiet-ish moments rather than sit at the dining room table in the very center of everything. Except that my quiet spot is in G's room, so she tends to then sit on my feet and tug at my pant leg, thinking I'm there to feed her.</p><p> </p><p>We had a beautiful Sunday- sunshine, warm weather....we finally got the bike rack onto the car, figured out how to attach the bikes, and I took the kids to the botanical gardens for a ride. e was quite excited, but E seemed determined to ruin the experience purely because we had never done this before. The bike rack was new, the air pump was new, the warm weather was new, to be on a bike at the gardens was new, daddy working a girls' gym meet instead of me was new, the purple gymnastics shirt daddy was wearing was new.... But everyone survived. e kept singing Jamie Grace's song "It's a Beautiful Day" in between yelling at E for going too slow and listening to squirrels rustling in the bushes as we rode past. I'm glad I pushed through and got us there, because the next day blew in COLD! </p><p> </p><p>E's fun with geometry is continuing nicely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NZupcDhg-k4/VNugDmSWriI/AAAAAAAACls/kNmw5Wttso4/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133132876.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NZupcDhg-k4/VNugDmSWriI/AAAAAAAACls/kNmw5Wttso4/s500/Photo%25252020150211133132876.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531889.5728" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Notice the date? I didn't take the picture upside down...he actually wrote the date that way. He reminds me of myself sometimes. When I was in middle and high school, I took the majority of my notes in what my kids call 'mirror writing'.....just because I could. </p><p> </p><p>My favorite quote from e's time with St. Brigid is this: "Mom, I like St. Brigid because she glew. That must have been beautiful." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xSNWNxCvv6Y/VNugFLLpjDI/AAAAAAAACl0/ed0oL6MF_1E/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133133143.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xSNWNxCvv6Y/VNugFLLpjDI/AAAAAAAACl0/ed0oL6MF_1E/s500/Photo%25252020150211133133143.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531879.087" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> This is how geometry is done:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cJpzbKbcZA8/VNugGtC1VyI/AAAAAAAACl8/AAhq-VuHcUE/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133133422.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cJpzbKbcZA8/VNugGtC1VyI/AAAAAAAACl8/AAhq-VuHcUE/s500/Photo%25252020150211133133422.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531879.7698" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> e has been enjoying an old Explode the Code during quiet time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PntE1DmUBIs/VNugIP4yInI/AAAAAAAACmE/9ZWRxSsjQco/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133133720.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PntE1DmUBIs/VNugIP4yInI/AAAAAAAACmE/9ZWRxSsjQco/s500/Photo%25252020150211133133720.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531842.238" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> G and e have been snuggling in the mornings, when G has cold paws...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FaRUwttHrGY/VNugJopykeI/AAAAAAAACmM/e7F-JDHURFY/s2048/Photo%25252020150211133133998.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FaRUwttHrGY/VNugJopykeI/AAAAAAAACmM/e7F-JDHURFY/s500/Photo%25252020150211133133998.jpg" id="blogsy-1423679531863.0417" class="aligncenter" width="650" height="484" alt=""></a></div><p> Yesterday, I took the kids swimming. I usually bring planning material and get in an hour of school prep while the kids play, but this week I decided to get in. I wanted to give e a chance in deeper water to practice her new swimming skills. I ended up swimming 12 laps; 6 with each child. Whew! Then I stood at the drop off point while E figured out new ways to tread water beside me and e swam from the wall to me, me to the wall, never stopping. Back and forth in front crawl for another 15 minutes or so. Best part is that she wasn't even tired at the end! Summer swim team, here she comes!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-47219134604842605352015-02-06T20:03:00.001-05:002015-02-06T20:03:03.634-05:00Borders and Circles<p> e has discovered the fun of using running forms as borders! The decorations are hers alone; I required only the date and the math facts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8yPMIwexXcM/VNVkHcS2U5I/AAAAAAAACkk/r7FuPo9XsJQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200213072.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8yPMIwexXcM/VNVkHcS2U5I/AAAAAAAACkk/r7FuPo9XsJQ/s500/Photo%25252020150206200213072.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982307.213" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ax6xcPzxL8k/VNVkJNfHIbI/AAAAAAAACks/Kh3EGKs0oVw/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200213332.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ax6xcPzxL8k/VNVkJNfHIbI/AAAAAAAACks/Kh3EGKs0oVw/s500/Photo%25252020150206200213332.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982391.147" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> GEOMETRY! This block by<a href="http://waldorfessentials.com/product/journey-waldorf-geometry-grades-5-7/"> Waldorf Essentials</a> is the best thing ever. E can't wait for 1:30 and then races through his math and spelling in an effort to get to this quicker. Emphasis is on beauty and form and is totally freehand. We are also reading through <u>String, Straightedge, and Shadow: the Story of Geometry</u>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PI3_hXOULCY/VNVkKsG6xoI/AAAAAAAACk0/cjVYjm3krIo/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200213663.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PI3_hXOULCY/VNVkKsG6xoI/AAAAAAAACk0/cjVYjm3krIo/s500/Photo%25252020150206200213663.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982375.9485" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="670"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YsX1bwDHWVM/VNVkMTCm-oI/AAAAAAAACk8/I2XGQyI10qU/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200213922.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YsX1bwDHWVM/VNVkMTCm-oI/AAAAAAAACk8/I2XGQyI10qU/s500/Photo%25252020150206200213922.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982314.6597" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IVm2h_m7Aqw/VNVkNzf-IoI/AAAAAAAAClE/idRflgbnUTQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200214186.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IVm2h_m7Aqw/VNVkNzf-IoI/AAAAAAAAClE/idRflgbnUTQ/s500/Photo%25252020150206200214186.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982366.7124" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="670"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q5PtNd9dPGA/VNVkPnw5OKI/AAAAAAAAClM/KXPuFK38YC8/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200214430.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q5PtNd9dPGA/VNVkPnw5OKI/AAAAAAAAClM/KXPuFK38YC8/s500/Photo%25252020150206200214430.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982371.1235" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="670" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X44-jfnHSK4/VNVkRGn93PI/AAAAAAAAClU/fsl_AWL8eDQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150206200214683.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X44-jfnHSK4/VNVkRGn93PI/AAAAAAAAClU/fsl_AWL8eDQ/s500/Photo%25252020150206200214683.jpg" id="blogsy-1423270982339.9827" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> Love, love, love. </p><p> </p><p>I re-worked our daily rhythm to give e a constant lesson time. I hope she likes early morning! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=741A8C27-CBE3-40CC-ACD1-B9A13DE65DEE&ext=JPG" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-74677806623081707852015-02-01T18:13:00.001-05:002015-02-01T18:13:08.230-05:00Week 4, and starting over
<p> The week, as well as the month, is over. Here are the final assignments from E:</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jeBMpVaTClE/VM6y4JHXGpI/AAAAAAAACfA/O9zhXryi2qU/s2048/Photo%25252020150201181229860.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jeBMpVaTClE/VM6y4JHXGpI/AAAAAAAACfA/O9zhXryi2qU/s500/Photo%25252020150201181229860.jpg" id="blogsy-1422832389955.36" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tzg1jxq-iVU/VM6y7QY307I/AAAAAAAACfI/klFC74RceAE/s2048/Photo%25252020150201181230164.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tzg1jxq-iVU/VM6y7QY307I/AAAAAAAACfI/klFC74RceAE/s500/Photo%25252020150201181230164.jpg" id="blogsy-1422832389930.512" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div>
<p> Not what it was a few weeks <a href="http://littlestrawberryelephant.blogspot.com/2015/01/week-1.html">ago</a>. I feel sad looking at the differences. I want him to be able to do the more detailed, careful work he obviously <em>can</em> do, but why? At what cost? I have to once again put my focus on the main goals: a love of learning and a solid relationship. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>e and s enjoyed a sleepover this weekend, complete with an evening spent playing in the woods.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The girls made Cartesian Divers with S last week. Mesmerizing to watch the pipettes sink and rise. </div>
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<p> As we continue on into new blocks (freehand geometry and math squirrels) with our new rhythm, I have to remember this:</p>
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<p> Right? So I'm working on getting enough exercise and enough sleep. How about you?</p>
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Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-46022634506394877172015-01-29T08:16:00.001-05:002015-01-29T08:16:17.306-05:00Week 3... and a bit of reality.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T2SCeUGwUyM/VMoyOTfz_hI/AAAAAAAACc4/5d6zEISQTrQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081424892.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T2SCeUGwUyM/VMoyOTfz_hI/AAAAAAAACc4/5d6zEISQTrQ/s500/Photo%25252020150129081424892.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377093.033" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> The girls enjoyed their lesson last week on St. Francis. What better saint than him for two girls who absolutely adore animals? Here is e's MLB:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v5reqNLjJEo/VMoyQRmP31I/AAAAAAAACdA/dNNiif7C5dQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081425213.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v5reqNLjJEo/VMoyQRmP31I/AAAAAAAACdA/dNNiif7C5dQ/s500/Photo%25252020150129081425213.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377087.311" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> The spring chorus semester has begun! Oh the happiness...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xrUYP3n9KME/VMoySEU83nI/AAAAAAAACdI/hAaxdflIT3c/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081425611.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xrUYP3n9KME/VMoySEU83nI/AAAAAAAACdI/hAaxdflIT3c/s500/Photo%25252020150129081425611.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377059.7554" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> E has been wanting to carve soap for a while now. Much easier than wood! e hung around, waiting for the chopped-up leftovers to mash into slippery playdough.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oMjLqzbJRWU/VMoyTzBs-rI/AAAAAAAACdQ/FBDp291SQ_E/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081425938.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oMjLqzbJRWU/VMoyTzBs-rI/AAAAAAAACdQ/FBDp291SQ_E/s500/Photo%25252020150129081425938.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377155.7515" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p>I finally finished the yarn I spun on my new drop spindle! Aren't the colors amazing? It makes me happy just looking at them. What shall I knit?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qo80K4uoLCA/VMoyVl8e2FI/AAAAAAAACdY/RLNnLnaKlc4/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081426260.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qo80K4uoLCA/VMoyVl8e2FI/AAAAAAAACdY/RLNnLnaKlc4/s500/Photo%25252020150129081426260.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377118.1506" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> E and I spent his week's lessons on Mesopotamia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LDGyvtsWqhg/VMoyXbJUgVI/AAAAAAAACdg/xP0dc8J0jUU/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081426545.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LDGyvtsWqhg/VMoyXbJUgVI/AAAAAAAACdg/xP0dc8J0jUU/s500/Photo%25252020150129081426545.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377134.1472" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> We read <u>Gilgamesh the Hero</u> by Geraldine McCaughrean. Oldest recorded story, found on shattered clay tablets....what could be more intriguing?</p><p> </p><p>Then there are Hammurabi and Shamshi-Adad. One believed everyone should follow a common code of conduct, while the other cut off heads and displayed them on stakes. Good thing Hammurabi won out in the end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kohMG1aVzTo/VMoyZOV-eGI/AAAAAAAACdo/dyehxf5Bgw8/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081426846.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kohMG1aVzTo/VMoyZOV-eGI/AAAAAAAACdo/dyehxf5Bgw8/s500/Photo%25252020150129081426846.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377087.3909" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Animal stories galore for e:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AzmA6de3puI/VMoyct-021I/AAAAAAAACdw/HS9kqWSu28w/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081427144.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AzmA6de3puI/VMoyct-021I/AAAAAAAACdw/HS9kqWSu28w/s500/Photo%25252020150129081427144.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377124.5696" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hBfoU9Z1-O8/VMoyeQQBTkI/AAAAAAAACd4/3nC2XlmhcOI/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081427451.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hBfoU9Z1-O8/VMoyeQQBTkI/AAAAAAAACd4/3nC2XlmhcOI/s500/Photo%25252020150129081427451.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377146.966" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aPXEjjMeVGw/VMoygIUlOfI/AAAAAAAACeA/ASh_GwmMJPQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081427846.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aPXEjjMeVGw/VMoygIUlOfI/AAAAAAAACeA/ASh_GwmMJPQ/s500/Photo%25252020150129081427846.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377136.518" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> And her forms:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U0N_oQmaQw0/VMoyiOm9XTI/AAAAAAAACeI/liV8-1I_2Vs/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081428172.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-U0N_oQmaQw0/VMoyiOm9XTI/AAAAAAAACeI/liV8-1I_2Vs/s500/Photo%25252020150129081428172.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377108.4258" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PPZcd15WouA/VMoyj0QVjMI/AAAAAAAACeQ/gzulRGrVUKw/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081428465.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PPZcd15WouA/VMoyj0QVjMI/AAAAAAAACeQ/gzulRGrVUKw/s500/Photo%25252020150129081428465.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377120.7864" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EyTvryVlOJo/VMoylqH41II/AAAAAAAACeY/1Kpe8_Gy_RU/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081428821.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EyTvryVlOJo/VMoylqH41II/AAAAAAAACeY/1Kpe8_Gy_RU/s500/Photo%25252020150129081428821.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377103.8" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> With a bit of math thrown in. </p><p> </p><p>Now comes the part about reality...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-63kVQo3nChA/VMoynUWKgeI/AAAAAAAACeg/uOq-jzSSyqc/s2048/Photo%25252020150129081429145.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-63kVQo3nChA/VMoynUWKgeI/AAAAAAAACeg/uOq-jzSSyqc/s500/Photo%25252020150129081429145.jpg" id="blogsy-1422537377142.5059" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> This. Based on the results of some functional medicine testing, we are giving E a whole lotta supplements. Lo and behold, he suddenly has his energy back. And I do mean back! Plus the attitude, the impulsivity, and noise level, too. Which is overwhelming for me. The cooperative, focused, relatively calm child that I have had the past few months is gone. Poof. Our new rhythm was working not because E had matured, but because he was chronically tired. Tired. I knew he was tired, he said he was tired...but the kid does 16 hours of gym a week and never stops moving, so of course he's tired. Thus I find myself getting mad and overwhelmed by him now being himself. Everything I loved about the past few weeks/months was possible because he wasn't himself. What does that say? It's awful. What kind of mother rejoices that her child is ill? It's heartbreaking! </p><p> </p><p>So...now what? e has been blindsided by this also and raised defenses. They've been fighting, bickering, yelling. E tries to focus on lessons, but it isn't really happening. He's pushing back. The noise and energy levels are high. </p><p> </p><p>I had a chat yesterday with Melisa of Waldorf Essentials, not really even knowing what I needed, and she gave me some insight and more info on temperament. Interesting stuff. Best of all is that she was able to reassure me (as the mother of a puzzle herself) that parenting and teaching a child like this is difficult, but <em>it can be done. </em>I can do this. I can also forgive myself for being so happy at his expense. I didn't know. That's pretty much how it goes- we don't always know. Like the time I made him walk his own bike home with a concussion. I didn't know. </p><p> </p><p>Then my wonderful friend S took the girls to chorus (thank you!) while I dropped E at gym and, well, just breathed. Alone with my thoughts in the woods. I ran for a bit before the cold air made my lungs rebel, and had a good cry... </p><p> </p><p>I <em>can</em> do this. I'm not sure how yet, but I can. E can, too. We are actually already halfway through week 4 now. Two days until we switch blocks. Two days until the end of our trial rhythm, but I feel like we need another 30-day trial because we've changed. For the better, right? Deep breath, first step- to the pool this morning. </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-88478772350139379562015-01-21T07:23:00.001-05:002015-01-21T07:23:19.799-05:00Week 2<p> End of week 2. I can honestly say that our new rhythm is WORKING! It isn't perfect, so I'm still tweaking things, but overall it is working. And I stuck to it. I'm pretty proud of myself for that. 2 whole, entire weeks without tossing the plan!</p><p> </p><p>More about that in a moment. First, Egypt. I didn't get to read Egyptian myths with E. He listened to them on Jim Weiss' CD. He also read the book about Egyptian jobs on his own, as well as <u>Cat Mummies</u> and a few others. All I have to do is bring the books home, stack them up, and attempt to look through them. They disappear faster than I can blink! Which is good for our time frame- so many books, so little time! </p><p> </p><p>We built pyramids, figured out how many sides, angles, lines, and cubes were involved, and tried leaving central passages. The cubes were the most played-with thing for 4 days straight!</p><p> </p><p>Next came cartouches. We read <u>Casting the Gods Adrift</u>, a fictional account of an ancient Egyptian boy whose task is to create the royal family's cartouches. E wanted to carve his, but the best I could do right then was glue and cardboard. Even E admitted that they came out well! E's is in cuneiform instead of hyroglyohics because.....well, because he's E. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zWkZ5NYZuoM/VL-aAFxcxFI/AAAAAAAACbo/cfDGDOJJrLQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072221190.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zWkZ5NYZuoM/VL-aAFxcxFI/AAAAAAAACbo/cfDGDOJJrLQ/s500/Photo%25252020150121072221190.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001834.9146" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-STt32CDG-S8/VL-aBi--LpI/AAAAAAAACbw/tId2HP_pkss/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072221580.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-STt32CDG-S8/VL-aBi--LpI/AAAAAAAACbw/tId2HP_pkss/s500/Photo%25252020150121072221580.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001789.8354" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-67Q9DOArfi8/VL-aDGQDSbI/AAAAAAAACb4/nWnkRc5sdK4/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072221842.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-67Q9DOArfi8/VL-aDGQDSbI/AAAAAAAACb4/nWnkRc5sdK4/s500/Photo%25252020150121072221842.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001765.2537" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Then there's this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W8vxWJK8evg/VL-aE1aW3vI/AAAAAAAACcA/5zaiVuckA20/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072222143.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W8vxWJK8evg/VL-aE1aW3vI/AAAAAAAACcA/5zaiVuckA20/s500/Photo%25252020150121072222143.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001774.9038" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Totally E. He told me the other day that he likes Waldorf because it doesn't restrict him. :)</p><p> </p><p>I took the kids to a library homeschool art program the other day. It was not quite what we expected for something billed for school-age children. It was more like a preschool presentation: a cutesy picture book, some painting activities, and a few slides with some big words like 'secondary colors' and 'osmosis' thrown in. Crayola watercolors and brushes, thin paper. My kids raised their eyebrows but quietly did the paintings. Once home, we tried it on our own thick paper with vibrant paint. Much better! The effects were barely, if at all, visible on the library paintings. On ours, well...here's the salt:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCobxDBmvZw/VL-aGZ8qVYI/AAAAAAAACcI/QEBng5IXm1E/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072222426.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCobxDBmvZw/VL-aGZ8qVYI/AAAAAAAACcI/QEBng5IXm1E/s500/Photo%25252020150121072222426.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001804.0996" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> It was fascinating to watch! Not only because of the way the salt seemed to suck up the water. It has been a long time since we did a purely abstract wet-on-wet. The way the color fans out and blends is mesmerizing. How have we never done salt paintings before?</p><p> </p><p>e is chugging along through her Animal Tales block. So many great stories of wisdom, trickery, and foolishness! E always listens in. Who can resist? Here is the hungry fox, who fasts for five days so that he can fit through a crack in the wall to get at the peaches....only to have to fast again in order to get out! (My painting is the top one, e's is the bottom.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yTFYCNbpkDE/VL-aIOBlVvI/AAAAAAAACcQ/-J6a04va4XY/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072222704.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yTFYCNbpkDE/VL-aIOBlVvI/AAAAAAAACcQ/-J6a04va4XY/s500/Photo%25252020150121072222704.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001801.0154" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lb-vuvBqfvg/VL-aJxFg7WI/AAAAAAAACcY/JPEPw5FpYgU/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072222983.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lb-vuvBqfvg/VL-aJxFg7WI/AAAAAAAACcY/JPEPw5FpYgU/s500/Photo%25252020150121072222983.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001853.2073" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Which brings us to this- rhythm, routine, and planning. The piece I wanted to add this week was the meal plan, and I did! After our shopping trip, I spent an hour in the kitchen combining what I had bought with days of the week, and bam. A plan. Everyone loves it. It takes the guesswork out of food prep, keeps the fridge shut between meals, and E can relax because he knows what food is coming and when. I no longer run up against forgetting to thaw meat or trying to throw together random ingredients at the last minute, and the asparagus made it into the oven before it spoiled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UxsQWMjbdas/VL-aLSyJoVI/AAAAAAAACcg/6dSsjmxI9TE/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072223257.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UxsQWMjbdas/VL-aLSyJoVI/AAAAAAAACcg/6dSsjmxI9TE/s500/Photo%25252020150121072223257.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001823.4888" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> So, about this planning thing. When I was a teacher, I was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants sort. My students had learning and behavior disorders, so my job was to fill in gaps. Gaps, by nature, are just that: gaps. Where they begin or end is not readily apparent. Once one is discovered, it could take a day, a week, or a month to fill. The end is usually discovered as abruptly as the beginning. How does one plan for that? So I didn't. I knew what was developmentally appropriate, I knew the standards, and I had a zillion tricks up my sleeves. It worked. With E, I have had to pull out every last trick. And it worked; I've gotten him this far! He always, always tests above grade level, as does e, and his thirst for knowledge has not waned. He still loves to learn, still has burning questions every day, still delights in new information. </p><p> </p><p>Now, however, he's noticing that he spends so much less time at schoolwork than his peers. He doesn't want to 'fall behind'. He sees how much more of the curriculum e is getting than he did, and he worries that he's missed out. So- time for action, right? That's what E is working on. If you are worried, take action.</p><p> </p><p>This is where the plan comes in. I bought two planners and laid out each child's main lessons. Then I overhauled our daily rhythm, turning it back to times when the kids were tiny. Morning outings, afternoons home. Getting myself out of bed consistently at 6am. </p><p> </p><p>A few things have become cemented as they truly, wonderfully work: E's lesson time from 1:30-3 (with a whole lotta breaks). Swimming Tuesday mornings. Wednesday afternoon teaching trade with S. Playing cards in the evening with e before C goes to pick up E. e's independent math on the computer with Teaching Textbooks right after lunch. Getting up early to <em>just breathe</em>. </p><p> </p><p>Others, well..... I'm still working on where to put e's lessons, when to do chores, which kid chores will be the most help to me, and, most importantly, how to get to bed earlier! Which goes back to finding everything a place earlier in the day so I'm not faced with it all after putting E to bed... time, trial, and error. I'll get there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--1PIk0IHVSo/VL-aM9dG0jI/AAAAAAAACco/doXP552gXn8/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072223527.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--1PIk0IHVSo/VL-aM9dG0jI/AAAAAAAACco/doXP552gXn8/s500/Photo%25252020150121072223527.jpg" id="blogsy-1421843001785.4004" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> I'm just amazed at how far E has come. He has not pushed back <em>at all</em> about school time. When I forget math or spelling, he is quite quick to remind me. We are now working our way through <u>Gilgamesh the Hero</u>, and he is even doing some of the reading to me. Now my task is to stay on top of this new rhythm. It's working!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lb-vuvBqfvg/VL-aJxFg7WI/AAAAAAAACcY/JPEPw5FpYgU/s2048/Photo%25252020150121072222983.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-25215641729842697722015-01-13T15:56:00.001-05:002015-01-13T15:56:14.280-05:00Week 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TdNviSvtUyU/VLWGRzzoWGI/AAAAAAAACas/I9-D7GU8nQg/s1532/Photo%25252020150113155531729.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TdNviSvtUyU/VLWGRzzoWGI/AAAAAAAACas/I9-D7GU8nQg/s500/Photo%25252020150113155531729.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574730.9495" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="374"></a></div><p> This week ended with E's third meet, which provided a learning experience (or three). A few weeks ago, E was told that there would be an hour-long warm-up rotation prior to competition, as opposed to a warm-up, compete, warm-up compete, etc format. He was convinced he would not do as well with this format. He worried about getting sick or injured before the meet. He wondered if his coach would be angry if he didn't score as well. He also felt a lot of excitement; he'd just added another bonus to his parallel bars routine. He knew his routines inside and out. He could close his eyes and visualize how his body felt moving through the motions. Yet he worried. In the end, he didn't score as highly as the first two meets. He earned third on rings, 5th, 7th, and maybe 4th. Plus sixth on All Around, which is the total of all scores. So not bad. Solid performance. No gold or silver, but solid. His coach's response? Good work. Solid performance. Not your best, but still good. It's just one meet. <em>It's not any more important than any other meet</em>. Have I said how completely blessed we are to have this man as E's coach?!? Plus he is working on E's mind game. When conditions of a meet are announced, the gymnast says 'Perfect! I'll do well.' No matter what. Early registration? Perfect! Warm up at the start? Perfect! Mind games.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lOSIcu3VqIs/VLWGUOmXM6I/AAAAAAAACa0/TW8cmQEnsgA/s2048/Photo%25252020150113155532087.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lOSIcu3VqIs/VLWGUOmXM6I/AAAAAAAACa0/TW8cmQEnsgA/s500/Photo%25252020150113155532087.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574725.049" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> But back to the week itself. New schedule, seeing how things will fit... So far so good. Above are moving pictures from <em>The Tortoise and the Hare</em>. Well, except E's. When he saw my project, he whipped out a car racing picture, lol. s and e made the pictures in the bottom row. Fun stuff.</p><p> </p><p>Below is E's form drawing (plus a face!).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-05WXdWl3Faw/VLWGVmN7dFI/AAAAAAAACa8/F3YUbeiHGbA/s2048/Photo%25252020150113155532376.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-05WXdWl3Faw/VLWGVmN7dFI/AAAAAAAACa8/F3YUbeiHGbA/s500/Photo%25252020150113155532376.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574728.706" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=55B3BAFA-F726-4FB1-8A45-80522D2ABD59&ext=JPG" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><p> Then there's E's notes! First try at note-taking. Not bad. This is the first main lesson book he's had with lines, so I was curious how he'd react. Do you see what he did? He didn't picture the bottom line as a shelf for his words, but rather used the lines above and below as a frame! He centered his letters between lines. Interesting! (The headings are my writing.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Yzrqns0qwdc/VLWGXdVSFFI/AAAAAAAACbE/UJwflN1xepk/s2048/Photo%25252020150113155532762.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Yzrqns0qwdc/VLWGXdVSFFI/AAAAAAAACbE/UJwflN1xepk/s500/Photo%25252020150113155532762.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574690.171" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> A map of the Fertile Crescent:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8duV_WGe-Sw/VLWGZOF6vqI/AAAAAAAACbM/f0gLh3-dxDs/s2048/Photo%25252020150113155533049.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8duV_WGe-Sw/VLWGZOF6vqI/AAAAAAAACbM/f0gLh3-dxDs/s500/Photo%25252020150113155533049.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574709.4167" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> e and I read <u>Hairy Hezekiah</u>. Adorable story of a lonely camel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XS5MbA5xWiQ/VLWGanYiZ1I/AAAAAAAACbU/pL8iXsU1VWM/s2048/Photo%25252020150113155533332.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XS5MbA5xWiQ/VLWGanYiZ1I/AAAAAAAACbU/pL8iXsU1VWM/s500/Photo%25252020150113155533332.jpg" id="blogsy-1421182574690.7932" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> This week is chugging right along. The biggest challenge is my own will. Get up before kids, stay productive, keep us all on track. I'm failing in so many ways....yet making a bit of progress also. Ups and downs. I'm determined to try this for a whole month!</p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-40421844585138592832015-01-08T10:44:00.001-05:002015-01-08T10:44:17.260-05:00New Year, New Rhythm<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DuxdhuilUgc/VK6lrJO-QtI/AAAAAAAACaU/xhqCtHUy0VM/s2048/Photo%25252020150108104327545.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DuxdhuilUgc/VK6lrJO-QtI/AAAAAAAACaU/xhqCtHUy0VM/s500/Photo%25252020150108104327545.jpg" id="blogsy-1420731857534.823" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <em>Kings came riding, one, two, three</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Over the desert and over the sea.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>One on a horse with a saddle of gold,</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>The children came running to behold.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>One in a ship with a silver mast</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>The fishermen wondered as he went past.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>One came walking over the sand</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>With a casket of treasure in his hand.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Night came on as those kings went by,</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>They shone like the gleaming stars in the sky.</em></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odnL8FKINjg/VK6lzXR0FhI/AAAAAAAACac/fVXcEV2p-g8/s2048/Photo%25252020150108104327857.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-odnL8FKINjg/VK6lzXR0FhI/AAAAAAAACac/fVXcEV2p-g8/s500/Photo%25252020150108104327857.jpg" id="blogsy-1420731857563.533" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> A new year and a new developmental stage (E is almost eleven!) have pushed me into changing things up around here. I'm taking Waldorf Essentials rhythm round-up lessons online, which delve into marriage, family, and temperaments. I hadn't given much thought to temperaments before, at least not as described by Steiner. It's given me some new insight into my teaching and my marriage...why I'm so content to go with the flow and find the path of least resistance, yet when push comes to shove I'm a force to be reckoned with. ;) Phlegmatic temperament is likened to the ocean: calm and steady or strong and moving. As it turns out, all four of us have a good bit of phlegmatic in us. E has a side of melancholic, e of sanguine.... Quite eye-opening, actually. Gave me a lot to think about.</p><p> </p><p>Two changes to our weekly rhythm have made us very happy: an early morning sibling swim time (a quiet pool!) and a teaching trade for e and s one afternoon a week! I got to start us off with some form drawing and Three Kings shadow play yesterday. Much more enjoyable with a friend! Next Wednesday S will take the girls for some science experiments and embroidery while E gets me all to himself. </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002154841724229296.post-43476490020867678772015-01-04T14:51:00.001-05:002015-01-04T14:51:52.308-05:00Holidays<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> We had a wonderful holiday break. C took leave for the entire two weeks, and his parents came to visit. It was a restful time, but still full of adventure! e tried out the adventure park, thanks to Nana and Papa:<br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iJC81I19ajU/VKmZhTztrqI/AAAAAAAACY0/fnLIdeK23s8/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145022551.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iJC81I19ajU/VKmZhTztrqI/AAAAAAAACY0/fnLIdeK23s8/s500/Photo%25252020150104145022551.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401111973.743" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="335"></a></div><p> Wow. She was waaaaay up there. She tried all three lines she was allowed, and decided that the third one (pictured) was a bit much! We are proud of her for giving it a go...nobody but daddy wanted to accompany her!</p><p> </p><p>E spent much of his time at the gym, training with the big boys. I am grateful the coaches continued gym through the holidays. The workouts make all the difference in E's attitude and attention!</p><p> </p><p>e also received some artsy Christmas gifts, including chalk pastels from Grandma. First things first: try out the new chalk pastels and the new beanbag! Grandad gifted her a few more art lessons with Ms. Holly, too. Below is the bird from her last lesson.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7f1xMCIwexc/VKmZizn1yKI/AAAAAAAACY8/RQv9Xpxeaa8/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145022884.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7f1xMCIwexc/VKmZizn1yKI/AAAAAAAACY8/RQv9Xpxeaa8/s500/Photo%25252020150104145022884.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112057.5632" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xa8JPtUxzb4/VKmZls6iWXI/AAAAAAAACZE/6lKryVE6VLA/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145023196.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xa8JPtUxzb4/VKmZls6iWXI/AAAAAAAACZE/6lKryVE6VLA/s500/Photo%25252020150104145023196.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401111985.1726" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ll7CJOBNFms/VKmZneCYwYI/AAAAAAAACZM/keyS24p8SlU/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145023416.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ll7CJOBNFms/VKmZneCYwYI/AAAAAAAACZM/keyS24p8SlU/s500/Photo%25252020150104145023416.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112044.56" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> Here is little G. Her latest adventure consists of little bitey things. Mites, perhaps. Never a dull moment with her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BXKL5pyqPJU/VKmZpBmHfpI/AAAAAAAACZU/ugvTySeatkQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145023635.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BXKL5pyqPJU/VKmZpBmHfpI/AAAAAAAACZU/ugvTySeatkQ/s500/Photo%25252020150104145023635.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112052.3433" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><p> I received drop spindles and a niddy noddy for Christmas, so I've been busy spinning last Christmas' roving into gorgeous skeins of yarn. The wool is so soft, and is so easy to spin... e has caught on to the excitement and is now working on her own spindle of purple!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WW2kH-kWSP8/VKmZq53-1dI/AAAAAAAACZc/THD57B1ybMc/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145023854.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WW2kH-kWSP8/VKmZq53-1dI/AAAAAAAACZc/THD57B1ybMc/s500/Photo%25252020150104145023854.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112033.9075" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> Now, about school topics... </p><p> </p><p>I have never required e to write anything but copywork. Never dissected a story into its parts or examined adjectives. Yet the other day I found this on her desk. Waldorf at work!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fZS0cOgIO2c/VKmZs1ymafI/AAAAAAAACZk/qp7Hl09OWWU/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145024110.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fZS0cOgIO2c/VKmZs1ymafI/AAAAAAAACZk/qp7Hl09OWWU/s500/Photo%25252020150104145024110.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112050.653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I6_D2Z2VB9s/VKmZyBdl14I/AAAAAAAACZ8/pWcAPo6SWjk/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145024855.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Z9tysbWsdk/VKmZut8bwWI/AAAAAAAACZs/ZdrlrOQ9ILA/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145024351.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0Z9tysbWsdk/VKmZut8bwWI/AAAAAAAACZs/ZdrlrOQ9ILA/s500/Photo%25252020150104145024351.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112019.7646" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ahKsJc2__us/VKmZwTGwdJI/AAAAAAAACZ0/M8yO8k72vbM/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145024614.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ahKsJc2__us/VKmZwTGwdJI/AAAAAAAACZ0/M8yO8k72vbM/s500/Photo%25252020150104145024614.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401111986.6262" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="669"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I6_D2Z2VB9s/VKmZyBdl14I/AAAAAAAACZ8/pWcAPo6SWjk/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145024855.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I6_D2Z2VB9s/VKmZyBdl14I/AAAAAAAACZ8/pWcAPo6SWjk/s500/Photo%25252020150104145024855.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112000.8127" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="669" alt=""></a></div><p> And here is the final installment of Man and Animal: the scorpion. This was tricky, keeping sight of the scorpion shape while making dots all over the place! But fun and messy. We love acrylics.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cpYtnlEAgeI/VKmZ0o3oh5I/AAAAAAAACaE/Tv4ixEu7dy4/s2048/Photo%25252020150104145025102.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cpYtnlEAgeI/VKmZ0o3oh5I/AAAAAAAACaE/Tv4ixEu7dy4/s500/Photo%25252020150104145025102.jpg" id="blogsy-1420401112030.4973" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> </p>Janelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07095076173288812823noreply@blogger.com0