Tuesday DayLook: November 29, 2011

 

Looking out from my back porch... clear skies.  Slight frost on the grass.

I am thankful for... plenty of food to eat, warm beds, a reliable vehicle, reliable washing machine & dryer, fresh eggs every day, silly kids.

I am reading… cookie magazines, still reading about purgatory, mountain gorillas (for Zeke’s study of Uganda), various Christmas/Advent/Saint stories from our Advent book basket.

I am praying for... reconciliation and peace.

I am hearing... the rustling of paper and slight stomping of feet in the school room.  The silence from the rest of the house makes me wonder where the toddler is….

I am wearing… jeans, black sparkly t-shirt, grey cardigan.

From the School Room... it’s going ok.  I’ve found that the block scheduling actually works better for Dash, as long as he doesn’t realize he’s doing double time.  Next semester, I just won’t make the Week/Day notation in the syllabus (at least not where it’s visible to him) because he is distracted by the thought that he’s ‘ahead’ when in all actuality he’s working double time in one and NOT DOING another at that particular time.  He’s been finding more time to work on Foundations in Personal Finance (Dave Ramsey), too. 

Zeke’s reading skill in constantly improving.  The struggle is to find enough time to just listen to him read out loud for longer periods.

Angelina is self motivated … when it’s something she enjoys and she finds a way to get it done when she doesn’t enjoy the work, too.  She’s been having a log of fun with the Egyptian craft/activity book that goes along with her History studies.

Graham usually plays before completing his schoolwork.  He’s been helpful in keeping Louis entertained until Zeke is done with his schoolwork.  Then they switch roles.  It works well because both need me to help read directions and more in their work.  It’s nearly impossible to stay sane and help both at the same time.  I’ve tried!!

From the Kitchen...

From the FarmYard… the Ameraucana’s started laying!!  So we get one to two eggs from them each day and I’m sure that will increase as the weeks pass.  The first were large compared to the brown layers’ first eggs.  The brown egg at right is about medium sized and the two Ameraucana are the first we picked.  Not too much difference.

A successful moment… the Advent wreath came out on time and the Nativity was set up, too.  Our stockings are hung on the mantle… in time for St. Nicholas’ Feast Day on December 6.  The books were wrapped for the Advent Book Basket.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Tuesday: Dance for Angelina, Altar Server practice for Dash, Grandma Green Acres is coming over to watch the youngest three because Eric is at a trade show this week.

Wednesday: Adult religious education

Thursday: Home day!

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: Hope to see friends on Friday, BISON play off game on Saturday.

A picture memory... these are all from Oct-Dec 2006. In order:  Graham, Dash, Angelina, Zeke.

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is hosted by my maternal grandfather, Grandpa Earl, at my aunt’s horse ranch.  Her daughters are gracious enough to saddle a few horses for all the cousins.  The kids thoroughly enjoy the get-together and activities, not to mention the awesome array of food prepared by my aunts.

Great-Grandpa Earl with the Lahlum kids.  I’m so thankful I remembered to take this picture.

Wordless Wednesday

 

DayLook: Monday, November 21, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... a light dusting of snow.  We’ve been spared a huge snowfall, though not the bitter cold.

I am thankful for... date nights, lunches with girlfriends while our girls play together, children who finish up their schoolwork on time (ie. on the day it is due!!), toddlers who provide amusement.

I am reading… still reading various books about purgatory.  It’s a good month to read such a topic.

I am praying for...  the poor souls.

I am hearing... the three youngest boys running around upstairs.

I am wearing… jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt

From the School Room... we are on track and the kids are working hard.

From the Kitchen... a friend introduced me to a new Chex mix concoction.  It’s yummy and I only recommend you make it if you want to gain weight!

From the Garden… hubby put away the garden fence this weekend, so all is done for this season/year.

From the FarmYard… the Ameraucana cockerels have been culled.  We are down to three roosters:  a Buff Orpington, a Barred Rock (my husband must like him, even though he’s naughty!), and a feather-footed bantam.

A successful moment… I made a batch of Christmas goodies… now to hide them deep in the freezer and hope they aren’t discovered and that I don’t forget!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Eric took Dash to Fargo for an ortho appt, and will take him to his FFA meeting tonight.

Tuesday: Dance for Angelina.

Wednesday: Adult religious ed class in the evening for me (this is the 9th of 11 sessions). 

Thursday: Thanksgiving in Manvel – hosted by my Grandfather.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: Dash will serve at a wedding, hope to bake more goodies and watch a few Hallmark movies.

A picture memory...

Youngest to Oldest

Crafts & Candy

 

Graham made this rosary case from a kit.  Thanks to Illuminated Ink!

While we were working on the rosary case, the youngest stinker in the house was getting into candy…

Where do they find this stuff?

Cool project

 

On Monday night, Eric and I attended a 4-H Rustlin Up workshop for leaders and teens.  It went through about five different subject areas that are under development or are newly developed for project areas in 4-H.  Eric attended sessions related to Energy and Crop Judging.  I went to the Shopping (not my favorite past-time, but a great project area!) and Robotics.

The Robotics class was great and is a special interest area of Dash’s.  I came away with three different baggies of ‘experiments/projects’ to let the kids try.  The robot was most fun.

In addition to the supplies pictured below, you’ll need masking tape.  Zeke had this mostly figured out quite quickly.  He needed help with the eraser.

Supplies can be purchased at the dollar store and at jameco.com. 

Good Idea

A while back, I read an article with tips to keep yourself on the right spiritual track …it was a homeschool related e-letter.  Many times, I’ll just skim, but this one I printed out and kept for a while.  One of the points said that we should ‘Keep a journal of answered prayers’.  This reminds me of Jamie’s Thankful Thursday posts.

It also fits right in with ‘Inspirations: A Gratitude Journal’ that my MIL gave me (also a while ago!!).  I’ve been writing in it every once in a while since mid-July.  The actual act of writing is good and it’s different from typing.  Quieter for one, but is slower, too.  It’s peaceful.

There is a section of the last page for each entry where I can keep a journal of answered prayers. 

4-H meeting

 

Our club meetings have started to run more smoothly.  Each year is a little better as the kids learn parli pro and know what to expect.  Sometimes it gets a little loud, but I think they still have fun.

Below the club officers are shown with Clover Shop Grant Award.  Our club applied for a grant to help with expenses associated with our Garden Workshop and Greenhouse Tour that has become an annual event in the Spring.  We won a grant!  The money will be used to cover the cost of supplies, reimburse the project leaders, and cover the cost of the community service aspect of the project.

Our project at this meeting was making butterfly/dragon-fly garden stakes from metal.  The older members helped the younger members before doing their own.  These kids are great!

You probably notice that we involve parents at each step, too.  We have great parent involvement in our group, and it’s so nice to have a variety of talents. 

You can just barely see the project in Mr. B’s hands.  They’re really cute and not something that will sit around the house … that’s something we always try to think about because most of us have more than one child!  We don’t want three, four or five of something that isn’t useful or purposeful.

We were missing a few families, but had a great time.

Way to go Sow & Sews!