Spring outing

There are days that must be spent out of doors. Yesterday was just one of those days. The children and I packed our nature journals and explored the backroads of our growing town until we ended up at a little park.

We saw Pelicans - which I have never in my life seen before. We watched them circle above us in perfect formation. The graceful sky gliding dance pretty much made my day.

Liam is seven and so I know better than to question why he does what he does. It makes complete sense in his mind and that is good enough for me. So I did not make any comment when he decided to wear his long johns under his shorts. Nor did I inquire how he managed to lose his shorts in the lake. If I were to guess I would have to say he lost his shorts in the lake so that he could have an excuse to take off his shoes and wade in the frigid waters. Good thing he wore his long johns though.

While Liam was up to his knees in muck, Tansy wandered away with my camera. She took pictures of trees, shells, duck prints, gofer holes, geese and pretty much anything that charmed her curiosity.

Days like this keep me sane. Days like this remind me how truly blessed I am to be able to have most my children at home with me. (I wish Tristan could have shared in our outing. We miss him while he is in public school). Thank you Father for days like this.

Dear Shawna: Math

Shawna is our home school facilitator and we use our blog as a means of letting her know what we are doing with our education. These posts could be used as possible reference for other home schoolers (not that I am someone of reference but perhaps what works for us might work for someone else - you never know). So, with no further ado...

Dear Shawna,
Liam and Tansy are using the worksheets from math-drills.com.


Tansy is working daily on her multiplication and long division. The goal is to make sure she is proficient in the basics before we move on to algebra.


Liam has a firm understanding of the concept (he adds in his head and uses his fingers one and two digit numbers). We have never really sat him down for any formal math study. He has picked up his knowledge through play and perhaps observation. Any worksheets he does is a form of play now. He enjoys to do what we call 'window math'.


http://www.math-drills.com/addition/add_horiz_one-digit_001.pdf



http://www.math-drills.com/multiplication/mult030236_001.pdf


http://www.math-drills.com/division/div0301nr_003.pdf




Most of Tansy's work is done using waterproof markers on the windows in the kitchen. We call this 'window math'. This is one way we excite the children to do some figures.

Little Red Ridinghood

Spring must be coming because I have been hunting flickr and etsy hungry for project ideas. I have found a few things I'd like to make (and a few things I'd like to save up my pennies for). This is my first attempt at what is called a 'creative Kokeshi doll'. Really, I think it is a great little toy for Emma to slobber on.

Little Red Ridinghood wasn't eaten by the big bad wolf but she isn't so lucky when it comes to the big bad baby.

I know, I know this is really a shameless attempt at showing off more Emma pictures. I can't help myself. But painting this little wooden doll was super fun. I can't go too long without creating something.

Joy

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."

Guillaume Apollinaire

To Beat of the Bum-Drum

What is a bum-drum you ask?

One afternoon while I was standing at the sink doing dishes, out of the blue, little Liam (then four years) started hitting my bottom rhythmically .

"What are you doing?" I asked in surprise.

"I'm playing your bum-drums." was his pert reply.

Thus the 'bum-drums' came to be. Often it is hiding around the corner waiting for a bum to play apon. It has become part of our family culture - the kind of family culture that could only have been created by a boy.

I love my sons so I wanted to include diary articles about those amazing, ridiculous, hilarious, heartbreaking, gross things they do. My hope is to capture the essence of 'boy'. I hope you enjoy.

Yummy art for Mama...

Liam and I share a favorite artist - Tasha - she is from Toronto. For Christmas Liam drew his study of Under The Stars with Kitty . I was so excited to get it for Christmas and am presently looking for the perfect frame to hang it. Aren't the colors yummy!

Liam's favorite reads...

Liam has started reading this year quite on his own. We wanted to share 3 of his favorite books.



If you haven't read this series I would have to say you are missing out on something special. Liam loves to read this book - there are 4 in the series but this one is his favorite because it makes him laugh. He can identify a great deal with Tom Sawyer. What boy can't? The illustrations are wonderful and the stories are funny. Liam laughs out right while he is reading. He chooses this book time and time again.



I am personally an Arnold Lobel fan and he does
the illustrations for this book. Liam loves the stories.
He asks to read this book nearly every time.
It inspires wonderful discussions and family activities.

This is a Classic in our home.
Liam is a softy - and this is our mussy-cuddle time read together. When Liam reads any book he creates voices for each character. It's quite charming to listen to. He gives each animal their own voice in this book. We share many hugs and kisses after reading Nancy Tafuri.

Liam's Christmas gift to Grandma and Grandad

He's six.
I'm a proud mama.

boy

"What is genius? -

It is the power to be a boy again at will."
James Matthew Barrie

A Brother's Love - pictures taken Dec 2007

"I use to be the cutest one, now Emma Is!" ~ Liam

Is there anything more wondrous than a brother's love for his little sister?
I don't think there is. Liam carries his little sister around with such pride and devotion. Just the other day he changed her diaper. The tabs were put on askew but tenderly. He was so proud to be of service to her. Moments like these make parenthood one of the most rewarding adventures I have yet to experience.