Look To The Sky

my buddy boy

 
was so quiet today.  he perhaps has a bit of a cold and wanted to spend some time resting. yes, he actually went into his bed for a few moments. but now, he is outside playing in leaves.  so there you go....

and he also sincerely likes Ella's best friend, Keturah, but somehow manages to pick on her constantly when she is there. so i think he REALLY likes her.  hmmm.....

we took food over to her mother after she had surgery and brought Keturah back home so she could visit Girl Scouts with Ella last night.   it was a great time for Ella and Keturah to spend with each other.   i managed to bake cookies as well, something i don't do regularly, because i do not wish to EAT THEM ALL.  plus, i hate cleaning up after baking.  but,  pumpkin cookies are just delish.  ella said i was the best food maker she knows. that says lots because she has grandmothers!!!!!

little Will David, well he isn't sooooo really little anymore.  he's two TOMORROW! but we had a party at Chuck E. Cheese for him on Sunday.  Elmo themed.   He loves Elmo.   and all his new little toys. This coming Sunday we will celebrate WD's and his cousins second birthday as well at Rich's parents' house for that side of the family.  

some words from WD:

army 'en

daddy 'ome

baby bubble

pretty (said in high pitched voice and then a great pause...) mama

ipahh  (iPad)

bobobo...(bulldozer)

mar mar lo (marshmallow)

abby and ella are names he says perfectly

bubby (buddy!)

and so many more every day.  just love him to pieces. he's certainly so sweet and so smart.

and ella is a darling big sister to them both.   that's a big job...she gets picked upon but loved as well.   and her and keturah can comismerate together, because she has a younger brother and younger sister.

so as far as some creativity, here's another set of papers i just put in my etsy shop.  

 

it looks like my days just allow me a few moments to spare for this type of fun, but it is a delightful few minutes.   hoping for some time this weekend to work on actual scrapbooking, and other digital kit works.  

oh! i really would like to update my blog with homeschooling news, although there's not much "new" news....we've been plugging away, and this is week 11.  i have some major reorganizing to do of papers but looking forward to it. it's relaxing to me.

philip is reading better and better each day. he was doing an evaluation today, and the rest tomorrow, with phonics and has scored 100% so far.  with Ella, i have doubled up her reading assignments because she completes them quickly and efficiently and 99% correctly.   and with Buddy, his math is being double as well. so, i suppose that is going to mean so more book buying after Christmas, or perhaps end of January/beginning of February. this is called "loop scheduling" and will help with staggering homeschooling costs even if it sounds confusing to others.  think of it as overlapping of grade/material.    just going with the flow with each subject, depending on the student's abilities.  

we excavated and found fossils, built an enchanted garden and more the past few weeks...and today we started learning about deserts. we kinda abandoned our geological excavating last week but need to finish that this week as well.    these little hands on projects have really been fun for them.   

for the desert topic i want to accomplish two fun projects- colored sand layering in a jar/bottle and another idea we read today in our book-  making a polymer clay pendant signifying layers of the desert. so, a trip to the craft store will be in our near future. 

i am thoroughly content with Ella's math abilities at the moment.   i love how Philip is deciding he WANTS to learn when he wants to.

i am busy with my kids- that is what the Lord is giving me at this point in life to cherish and minister to.   it's a constant learning process. and leaning on God for his wisdom and peace and love.    i treasure my family, and am thankful for MY PARENTS who have given me sound examples of love, respect, and of God.   truly, i am blessed.

it's Saturday...

after a long week.  i've been dealing with a cough that has been taking my voice and giving me a run down feeling.   we did manage to sneak away to a sweet inn one night, nonetheless.   Ella, Philip, and Will David were able to get some truly great swimming time.   That WD is quite the little fish!    Mommy was able to have a precious block of time playing the baby grand in the sitting area, and had a little audience even.   we had two days of school off this week, and at this point, i'm not quite certain if we will start Monday.   this past week of school was pretty much a regular, standard week.  we did finish one of our fall art projets, and next week I will have pictures of both projects completed.    i will throw in a video or two for history and science.   we will establish a better system for our Spanish curriculum.   and, try to have a visit to the library.  Buddy will learn a little bit more about "non fiction" books.   both children are working towards their Pizza Hut "Book It" coupons!    i am excited for the week, even though i am feeling under the weather.  there's something about homeschooling that just delights me.  several times this week the kids commented on how great it is to be homeschooling, especially during our little vacation.   

here is my More Paper Than Shoes October design team project. it is a fall decorative hanging (with handmade flower, embossing, and glitter):

 

and here are several drawings, still the grayscale look.   i told Rich that this year i really WILL have a list for my birthday and Christmas.  i am as bad as my kids!    there are a couple of artist quality colored pencil sets that i'm eyeing up.  

i am considering placing these into my shop, and actually, making a complete "print" shop, no longer offering vintage finds or vintage creations.

Will David, in particular, really likes this one:

 

and this, another in this series:

 

and here is one that is quite different from the rest.  inspiration for this drawing came from a public domain industry drawing book for girls.    think vintage fashion all the way- hats, dresses, patterns...a very special find!

 

Homeschool Update for Week #5

This week, I found that, again, it is hard to accomplish everything that I want to do.  Nonetheless,  I am very pleased with how on schedule we STILL are.   The things that go by the wayside a bit are the following:

Spanish:  Beginning Phrases and Words for colors, people, etc.  I have two simple workbooks for them and all I need to do is just have a block of time set up ONCE a week. I did that two weeks in a row but not this week! OOPS!

History: History was TOUGH to do this week. I don't know why.   My kids aren't into the activities so much this year, at least crossword puzzles or word searches.  They do like to listen to the Story of the World CD, thank goodness.   I included a movie about the history of Israel, and we discussed some of the Jewish culture, and have looked at books on Israel that past couple weeks.  Next week it's on to a different topic in history. We are doing the "ancients" for history this year, but will definitely be working on American history at some point as well.   I guess this week's History wasn't THAT bad, but we don't spend a lot of time on it.   Coincidentally, this month's "country" (for geography) was Israel which tied nicely with our SOTW studies!

Hmm, so maybe Spanish was the only thing that we didn't get accomplished.  

Philip's handwriting is really improving, but he doesn't show the confidence I know he has with reading.    We're going to continue hitting that hard this week, using some sorting activities.   Philip completed 23 math problems in 2 minutes, as a little quiz I gave him. He got all 23 correct, and these were problems with addition up to 5.  Some were the same, which gave him some reinforcement.  Next week, I will add some more addition problems that he hasn't done, such as up to 8 (or maybe I'll try up to 10!).  

Ella has enjoyed her math so much more this year.  Let me tell you, it was a struggle last year. This year, with the combination of Abeka and Saxon, it's given her, as mentioned before it has given her positive reinforcement of what she does know and yet, of course, continues to teach her new things.     I keep thinking, we are a little month into our math curriculum and she has improved in the following aspects:

knowing place value

small addition facts via oral and written, with correctness and efficiency

understanding some different ways of presenting story problems

Spelling is increasingly stable OR better.   Phonics, English, Reading, all GREAT.  

With health, we continue to work on the "human body" a couple times a week. We did two activites this week!  First, taping our hands so we see how important our individual fingers (bones) are.    And, we placed a small bone of a chicken I cooked this week into a small cup of vinegar. The result?    A bendy bone!  We also talked about good posture, benefits of good nuturition for our bones, and naming certain types of joints.

As far as art, I have to toot my own horn.   We are definitely art people here, I am finding out this year. I NEED to implement more art because I see it really helps Philip's fine motor skills and understanding of what I am saying. Ella is having to LISTEN to my instructions, and sometimes she mistakes what I say, but it is helping her understand the importance of LISTENING.   She also is so imaginative and loves to draw on her own.   We had a couple Mother-Daughter sketching dates this week where we just sat next to each other and drew.   Delightful!

So, we did two projects, but only the first HALF of each project, as they needed the glue to dry. Our first project involved drawing a design on black paper, then outlining it with glue.   We will color the picture in with chalk pastels . The picture is of Indian Corn with various swirls and shapes around it. Our second "fall" project are paper towel leaves pasted with a mixture of glue and water on watercolor paper. We will outline our leaves and use very watered down watercolors to fill the leaves in and the space around them.  I found both of these projects here!  I LOVE the ideas presented and find them easy to plan for! 

When there are plenty of fall leaves on the ground to choose from, we will do the butterfly leaves project using leaves as the butterfly wings.   The other two I'd like to try is the step by step instructions for drawing a maple leaf as well as a fall tree!  I also like the idea of a fall watercolor tree collage OR the fall pastel landscape. To see these projects, just search using the word "fall" once you get to the Art Projects for Kids website.  Since we've been working on the aspect of "lines" in art, I would like to do the contour fall leaves. 

I did forget to mention our science....we made a weather vane using a plastic cup, paper, pencil, tac, and clay to see how the wind blows.    Ella discovered that we had quite the north wind yesterday morning!    We also looked at how water is displaced (or moved) by floating objects, NOT sinking objects. Even Philip caught that detail.

Our week finished strong!

Blessings,

AMY

Homeschool Report, week 4

 

I can hardly believe this is our fourth week of homeschooling. We are pretty much still on schedule, or rather, my schedule. I have found my file folder plan has been the key to efficiency this year. It was a lot of work but well worth the pain and suffering I went through, and any eye rolling from family members..just kidding on the last part.

Both kids did so well with math this week. Yesterday, Buddy told me out of the blue that 5 20s make 100. Where did he get that from? Also, he finished a math worksheet by himself, that included about 40 problems or so, and they were all correct. Ella had a math test earlier in the week which she aced! It seems that switching our math program was a brilliant decision. ;-). We are using Abeka 2 AND Saxon 2. The Saxon math curriculum generally runs behind a grade, so I've read, but for Ella at this point, it has given her the confidence and reinforcement she needs in math. The Saxon math gives us the opportunity to create several charts or graphs over the course of time. We are graphing weather and clouds. We are also using geoboards ( these are awesome manipulatives for stirring the imagination!) and a wipe off hundreds chart. For Philip ( and Will David), I have animal counters in a tub with a basic plastic scale. And dominoes. WD has gotten into the habit of throwing lately, so watch out for those animal counters!

Our creation science is relaxed but still thought provoking enough. We incorporate experiments, a video clip, books, writing, and drawing. I decided to have Philip copy ONE sentence per experiment along with a sketch of the experiment in his official science composition book. I am satisfied with his work for sure....I believe that a little bit of QUALITY work with him will be best with his school work this year.

For history, thankfully I do not have to read that much, my throat cannot take reading aloud for more than a page. It seriously starts to hurt. The Story of the World curriculum we use has a CD with someone else narrating. WHEW! They enjoy listening to this, also. We have a few simple activities with this, but this year I haven't had the gumption to make us do a lot of crafts, etc.

For art, I am implementing the book Drawing With Children by Mona Books. It gives you lessons on elements of drawing, as well as suggestions for other lessons. We are using some warm up activities she suggests as well, such as copying certain designs. We did a simple line study project this week...torn paper collages, with accenting their "lines" with a black marker. Today I am going to go over the line aspect again as well as have them do a "listening" art drawing...should be interesting! We are using two spelling programs for Ella, which are also going super well. Spelling Workout, which is quite simple for Ella, and more like a review, along with Sequential Spelling Book One which is a study on patterns of words. English is First Language Lessons along with a few worksheets I find on the Internet, and writing is Writing With Ease.

Philip loves the Bob Jones Phonics we do, and is coming along nicely with writing his letters. He has some iPad time with Spanish and Math and Phonics, and Ella has the same Spanish as well. But his favorite is the Children Like Me books we use for geography. That's a little update on our schooling. I will post more specifics with our update next Friday, along with photos.

*a hint for the next photo essay if you wish to participate: vintage vignettes. Get that photo ready to link to my blog next Wednesday!!! Blessings, Amy

ps the pic is of WD helping Daddy make muffins

september MPTS challenge

 

Oh I can't wait to share the real thing for this challenge at More Paper Than Shoes!    Here's a little sneak peak, and you'll be able to see the other team members' projects in a few days!

To be honest, this is the only crafty thing I've done in WEEKS.  that's so sad, isn't it?  I just haven't had time.

Between getting ready for a garage sale next weekend and starting homeschooling this week, not much else has happened here.   In fact, those two things have truly exhausted me.   It's been a trying week physically. Each afternoon I have had to rest for awhile and recuperate from teaching two kids.   I'm hoping that after this week (because I really don't expect it to happen this week!) I will be on a better schedule, and able to include some time to craft!

here are a few photographs of Ella and cousins...oh, and Philip, too.

 

 

 

 


(these last few photos were taken this week at the butterfly gardens near our town....it was a wonderful educational and inspirational experience!)

enduring

Oh, dear, some days at the Russell household I really don't know what we're doing during the day.   This week was tough because Will David was sick and dealing with incoming teeth.   Philip was all about playing computer games and picking on his little brother.   Ella started acting like a teenager (and I say that endearingly but have to be honest because it's been a struggle with her lately...she's so sweet usually, and now I am so confused...wwhere did this come from?....LOL...).   Put those three together, and it was hard to homeschool.    We have six days left of school.   YAY.   And then a few summer things here and there but no biggie. Just enough to keep it all fresh in their heads.  

This week was a nice week of goodies for me. Well, the past TWO weeks were! Last week, as a Mother's Day gift, we all went to Medina so I could "shop" vintage goodness.  We went to three different places, and at each one, I found more than what I could even think of getting....isn't that how it always is?  SOOOOO much inspiration.  So much fun for me. Would've been better to have a friend or two with me while I looked though......my family just waited in the car, bless their hearts!   One of these days I will get pics of what I brought home with me-  one thing in particular is very functional. It's a vintage basket with compartments, and I have placed crafty/scrapbooking stuff in it already as storage.   Also, some really inexpensive old trim, and an adorable mini set of cards.   

Also, I was able to get a zoom lens.....something that I haven't had since my regular SLR camera!    I tried it out tonight and can't wait to do more with it.  Saturday is a ball game, so it'll prime time to test it out with sports.  If only we weren't flower killers I'd have some nice flower closeups. HAhahaa....I will most certainly be on the lookout for some wildflowers of something along the road....or coming to your house. :)

I am trying to get geared up for more Etsy creating. Oh, I so need to do that.  It's been too long. Lisa and I are going to update our look.....get a new store banner up there and some different things. Spruce up the place a bit.    We are also going to take some beginning steps to work on a "project" that I am quite excited about.  It entails lots of artistry. That's all I am going to say about it.  It'll be, hopefully, inspiring to others. 

Well, here's some odds and ends photographs....Ella and her daddy looking for worms.

a sweetly dimpled curly haired boy (who has a mom that will not cut the hair yet because of those curls!!!)

the three chalk artists...well, the two chalk artists and the janitor. ;-)

i really don't know what this face is all about....hmm.....

kinda cool pic of Ella jumproping with her cousin Sydney looking on while she sits...

all I can say about this photograph...I'm already nervous about her becoming a young woman....beautiful...

most certainly like a dream....

looking through photographs of these children makes my heart want to endure any difficulty we have with them, as we try to lead them along the best way...it's not easy, but so, so worth it.  we press on because of the love in our hearts...

blessings..
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Old-fashioned

I am an old-fashioned girl at heart.

I grew up completely infatuated and in love with all things Little House on the Prairie.

I loved to dress "back then."

I contemplated things "back then."

I wish I lived "back then."

I pretended to live "back then."

I read, played, ate..."back then."

Maybe I am somewhat of an Old Soul.

I have been told that.

I think it's true.

I still love old-fashioned things....especially old school books!    I have several to use for homeschooling- readers, poetry books, and penmanship.   It's pretty special to be able to pick out things like this to use for schooling.   I LOVE it.

More of me that is old-fashioned.....I love music that takes you back.   Especially soundtracks of period films.  Specifically- Last of the Mohicans and Pride and Prejudice.

And, can you believe, that with a Barnes and Noble gift card, I was able to order today the PIANO SOLO BOOK that PLAYS ALONG WITH ORCHESTRATION----from the American movie version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE!   Can you see me jumping up and down for joy, and crying with love for this book!?!?! I am so excited...oh, soooo excited. I have some friends that love Pride and Prejudice...maybe someday I'll give them a concert.  

I get excited about little things....and I think that could be classified as "old-fashioned."

Many of the little things I like are scrapbook, vintage, or sewing related. For instance...

ledger paper

old jar with buttons

a rare (and cheap!) book

pretty piece of paper

a simple idea seen in a book or online

and some of the little things I like are ones that can be voiced...

encouragement

love

kindness

gentleness

respect

truth

And some big things are...

order at home

love for God

strong family relationships

I just love old-fashioned everything.    I even picked names for my children that are of that nature....

Ella

Philip

Will David

Rich and I play music often that is old-fashioned.

I'd rather go to a festival celebrating pioneer days, or go to the Great Trail festival.

Here is a photograph that reminds me of bygone days....it's of the Christmas brunch table at my brother and sister-in-law's house....

and a vintage JOY wreath my sister in law, Lisa, made!

and guess who wants to learn how to play the "fiddle?"  You bet- my sweetie. Here he is playing my niece's violin that has been passed down to her.

well, i hope you have enjoyed this highly themed blog post....blessings!
 
 

 

Freedom

What a rich heritage our country has even after only several hundred years.   Ella and I have been reading a lot about how Thanksgiving became a holiday.  We've studied more than just the norm-  we've inspected thoughts from all perspectives.   She's read several books concerning the history leading up to this most wonderful holiday that have been "unshelved" by libraries, due to their age.   Nonetheless, they are books that grasp some of the most forgotten facts of this special day, Thanksgiving.   I've appreciated how she's been eager to learn, and stretch her mind.   Of course, we've inserted some different activities the past couple of weeks that help her to refresh her memory and sit down and write or draw...such as what it was like to be a Pilgrim child in 1621.    She misspelled NO words and only forgot the capitalization and punctuation on just a couple words.   That makes me so happy. We've taken strides.   And it is so exciting to see her blossom into this first grader who loves (for the most part!) to do her work.  

Yesterday, as it was Thanksgiving, we took the time out to celebrate with family.  Rich had to work, so we didn't see him until later that evening.   Will David has been sick but was without a fever that morning so off we went to my parents' house for some turkey!  The baby still has some stuff going on there with drainage, and coughing. This morning, well, early morning, like, say 4 a.m. I had to get up with him so he could sit up and stop the coughing, poor thing.   Today was better over all for him, and I actually was able to cook a turkey, mash some pretty good mashed potatoes, I must say!, and make some homemade gravy.   We have so much turkey now so I plan on sharing with my grandma and my mom and dad.  Bless her heart, my mom did so much for our family meal yesterday.   I am glad to be able to reciprocate a bit. 

Today, I also went out by myself to a few places, and I had some nice (inexpensive) finds. At a local antique store, called Vivian's, I actually found some stocking stuffers for the kids.  Golden Books, one for each, for a quarter a piece.  Also, a vintage little rolling kitty toy for Will David's stocking.  A horse plate for Ella that was only 50 cents made it's way into my shopping basket.   On to a craft store where I found a cousin's Christmas gift on sale, and then FINALLY the Russell household has stocking holders. We've had to struggle with that issue for years.  I am proud to say, it is now resolved. Five separate stocking holders later. Luckily, they were inexpensive (but very nice!) and then half off!  That is the ONLY way I was able to get them.

I have been lacking in the blog posting lately because I feel stuck mentally. Hoping to get that cloud gone.  I think that moving here, to Typepad, will help me get some inspiration!   I have some more things to do to complete my design.   There is a lot here to work with so it may take me a few days to get the blog how I like it (the banner bigger, some widgets, etc...).

Soon, I will share some of my photographs of some creations I've made with felt. I LOVE FELT.  It is just so wonderful to work with.   Sigh.  Also, I am loving this vintage pink thread I have had and finally have begun to craft with it.   Soon, the goodies will be in the etsy shop, A Spoonful Of Charm.  Well, maybe not TOO soon.  I am hoping to have them in right after Christmas, in preparation for Valentines Day. Did I just mention V-Day?    Time just goes by so fast....having children, for me, has certainly proved this fact.   Today, especially, I have been able to love little moments of time with them.   A few hours ago, I pulled Ella up to her feet and we danced to some Christmas music in the kitchen.  Rich quickly followed suit and got Buddy to join in. Will David was asleep so he missed out on our goofiness!  Another day!