Monday DayLook: June 28, 2010

For Today:  June 28, 2010

Looking out from my back porch …  bright sunny day with a light breeze ... the weeds need mowing, again!

I am thinking about … 4-H Achievement Days is this week, so the kids need to get all baking projects done today – Angel Food Cake, 12 Egg Yolk Cookies, Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread.  Static exhibits are judged tomorrow morning starting at 10am.

I am thankful for … a peaceful morning

I am reading…  ‘A Haystack Full of Needles’ and still working my way through a pile of magazines

I am hoping…that Graham’s appt. this afternoon goes well.

I am hearing...the electric mixer whirring to beat egg whites for Angel Food Cake

I am wearing… beige capris and a blue t-shirt

 From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)…I’m just thankful that all of Angelina’s sewing projects are completed … 2 skirts, a small doll quilt, a pillowcase, and fabric ‘paper’ dolls.

 From the school room... the school room has been barren, but the learning continues in our backyard, kitchen, sewing room, etc.

 From the kitchen... this weekend, I made a Garlic Cream Sauce for Pork Chops.  It was ‘lick your lips’ good.

 State of the house… in the interest of 4-H, the house has been neglected.  I’m ok with it, for now.

 A successful moment… Louis has managed to figure out how to pull himself up beside furniture.

 A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Baking & Achievement Day preparations.

Tuesday: 4-H Achievement Days – Static exhibits are judged, Consumer Choices

Wednesday: 4-H Achievement Days – Small animals (rabbits & poultry), Tractor Driving Contest, Large animals (sheep)

Thursday:   Unpack, Laundry, REST!

Friday: Eric is thinking about a trip to town to purchase fireworks with the oldest kids

Saturday:  Our family will be lighting fireworks tonight with Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres

Sunday:  The oldest four kids will be meeting up with Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres to spend a week up at the farm and attend VBS in my hometown

 A picture memory: 

One of the great features with SFG’s (square foot gardening) is that you can easily replant or spread out your planting dates.  Here, Angelina and Graham are sowing a few more beets. 

The cutworms have been particularly hard on seeded crops this year, so Angelina had to replant about half of her peas and about a third of my beans.  With SFG’s, the planting process is NOT overwhelming and can be completed quickly.

Conference Memories

Almost three weeks ago, I left for the MN homeschool conference with good friend (& Louis’ Godmother) Sarah.  I haven’t had a chance to write about a couple moments that really stopped me in my tracks.  The days since have just been crazy with birthdays, swimming lessons, catching up, animals, gardening, 4-H projects, etc. 

So, if you read or look at my pictures at all, you probably can see that I’m the type of person who is a worker … and I like things to get done fast and oftentimes in MY way.  I barely slow down to take it all in, unless someone reminds me.  And that weekend, there were reminders.  It is good.

‘Breaking down the complexities of life … ~ homeschool ~ a faithful response to the here & now …’  These words were from the homily on Saturday morning.  I actually was able to jot it down so I could remember!  Sarah had asked to hold Louis, who was well-behaved for the most part, and I was able to listen… really listen.  This is rare.  I enjoyed it and the message of Father’s homily.  I didn’t catch Father’s name, so cannot give proper credit.

‘You don’t just need to think about it!  You need to pray about it.’  This was told to me by a vendor after a bit of discussion about Latin and different Latin programs.  You see, Dash will be in 8th grade next year.  He could take Henle I because that is the level he is at.  I’m just not sure I’m ready to teach Henle I or that he is ready for Henle I. 

‘Yes, I know, because you are a perfectionist.’  Have to admit that comment from dear Margaret stopped me in my tracks, too.  I thought to myself, ‘How did she get to know that about me?’ and ‘Geez, is it that obvious!’  Time for me to listen to her second talk, in it’s entirety, still hasn’t arisen.  But, her first talk was soo very good.  When reading blogs, we usually read in the way WE talk.  It’s lovely to hear a friend talk and be reminded of their living  & talking style.

I need gates…

Last night … he’s been doing this for a while …

… but this is new from the weekend

 
 
 

… how much time do I have to get gates??

Then, this morning, he had his first tooth poking through on the bottom left.  Please, slow down a bit, baby!!

Descriptive Wednesday - Playset

               

 

My brother, Doug, is the organizer behind this build.  My dad is organized, too, so it was built in a day.

 

They even brought their own work table!!  We provided chairs.

 

Little climbers – my Goddaughter & Graham – two peas in a pod and never far apart (except for when they needed a break!)

 

 

Dash, reading the instructions.  This kid loves … LOVES … to read manuals.

 

My brother’s son & Louis in the yellow onesie.  They’re only four months apart … we can hardly wait for Christmas.

 

Do you think Grandpa Golden Acres has a bit too much help?

 

Grandma Golden Acres with Louis

 

My SIL, Laura with their son.

 

Louis likes the swing…

 

COMPLETION! 

Time for a cold one … for the adults. By the way, Angelina took the majority of the photos, save for the beginning & end & just a few in between.  She snapped over 100 … definitely has photography (well, at least as a 4-H project!) in her future.

Swimming Lesson Recap

Dash passed Level 5!!  He was excited.  He looked stronger than last time.  Angelina, Zeke & Graham need to repeat, but none were disappointed.  I think that if we hadn’t missed a year of lessons, Zeke & Angelina could have passed, too.  Dash, Angelina and Zeke VERY much enjoyed lessons this year; Zeke especially had a great time.  Graham wasn’t so enthralled.  There are only two pictures to remind us of the whole two weeks.  They were taken by Eric on his cell phone, so are fuzzy and not worth sharing.  Let me give you a mental picture though…

Picture #1:  Graham standing in front of a cement wall, goggles in place with a wide, happy grin – he looks ready to have a good time

Picture #2: Graham clinging to his instructor, his arms very tightly wound around his instructor’s neck.  Definitely NOT smiling, but tense.

Most of my time during lessons was spent entertaining a busy, ‘get me out of this hot house’ baby Louis!  I couldn’t imagine carrying another thing into that pool area – like a camera.  Graham only went to his lessons about half the time, the rest of the time he was with me or trying to make himself small so his instructor wouldn’t notice that he wasn’t in the water or anywhere near the edge of the pool.  No amount of my trying to convince him would change his mind about relaxing and giving it a real shot.  However, in hindsight, I realized that he hasn’t been in a pool often.  We moved when he was just two & we sure didn’t set up a pool that summer!  Something about showing a house and having a pool set up on the deck doesn’t really jive.  And well, out here on the farm, there is no grass… that would amount to a large mud pie.  So, no pool around here, either.  Poor child has been deprived!

The best part about this set-up was that all the kids had their lesson at the same time.  Yep, four kids in four different levels … 30 minutes a day for two weeks.  The instructors were great, too.  They let us know the first day that our child could be moved up a level if they had mastered the skills for the level in which they were enrolled … definite plus.  I’ll be back for more next year.

Tuesday DayLook – June 22, 2010

For Today: June 22, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... setting sun behind the trees

I am thinking about…what I’d like to get done tomorrow

I am thankful for... warm, sunny days where the kids can play outside and cool treats are a must

I am reading…a couple gardening magazines & the recent Cooking Light magazine

I am hoping... that Dash & Angelina have a wonderful time with friends tomorrow

I am hearing... the littles are in bed, the biggers are in their rooms, so it’s quiet

I am wearing… my only pair of denim shorts & a turquoise top … I’m at home and it’s hot

 From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)…progress!!  Angelina finished her tiered skirt today and made progress on her childcare project for 4-H

 From the school room... Zeke finished up memorizing, reciting & illustrating ‘The Swing’ earlier this week and was able to start on ‘Psalm 23’; Dash should be able to finish up his lines from the ‘Tempest’ by the end of the week – then, he’ll only have one selection left, too

 From the kitchen... bread by me, pumpkin bread by Dash

 State of the house… laundry heaps are being conquered, dishes are cleared, dust remains at the edges

 A bummer … the crock in my not-so-old crock-pot (it’s less than two years old) broke … AGAIN… now I don’t trust the heating element & will have to replace the whole appliance

A successful moment… the play-set has been built!

 A few plans for the rest of the week…

 Wednesday: Dash & Angelina to friends’ homes for a play-date/sleepover/party/dance lesson, the littles and I will do an art project and baking

 Thursday:   Dentist appts for all and an ortho appt for Dash

 Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   Last days to finish up those 4-H projects

 A picture memory...

Here we go Bison, here we go!!