november 20th

You know those especially delicious days....
the ones that just flow over you
and through?

Mmmm,
maybe it had something to do with Maddie's request early this morning that our day include Strawberry Cupcakes. :)

Trevelyn was still with Cousins (a hard thing for Mama),
and we tidied up and got ready for friends to come visit.

So there was some creating there,

and lots of running

and play

and cupcake making


(and soup making for me... mmmmm)

and talk of a tea party

and glasses of wine



and some very old music

and games


and Friendliness


and Treasures


and eventually the very Best part of an already lovely day...

a call to Little Son just to check in - in which he tells me that he wants to come home a night early.
phew.
Wonderful!

So now we're back home
and tucked in
and

All is right with the world.

Prob'ly we'll see you tomorrow.

two days

aye aye aye!

well,
we've had a few things round and about, but mostly my life has been lived in code. html code, that is.
honestly. could Wordpress be any more complicated?
I think I've rubbed half the skin off my face while rubbing my palms over my eyes and cheeks.
probably my eyes are going to be permanently droopy from trying to pull them off my head.

and what were the babes doing these past two days, you ask?
oh, well.
I can't be sure about some of it, of course.
but I do have something to show you that accounted for a few seconds of their time last night.

tada!!
now isn't that fine.
yeah.
no, I didn't scream.
I cried.
I'd probably still be crying except for my husband coming home and laughing.

sigh.

and now we've delivered Trevy to Cousins' house "How am I supposed to get used to your hair if I don't see you for two days?", I asked. yes, I did. petulant am I

and we played with Cousins






and the two of us that came back are now home and painting

and continuing the mad love affair with Balloons

and looking through our kaleidoscope we made

and thinking about getting tucked in with a movie.


all is well.
I guess.

november seventeen: engaged

do you hear the angels sing when the early morning sunshine streams in?

remembering Rule #6...

...which leads to...

choosing Joy
and Love
and Goodness

a clean kitchen floor before 8:51 a.m.

a popsicle within the first three minutes of waking up

???
(I can only akin it to an especially fine cup of tea)

balloons

dances and a curtsy in a frufru skirt


bike rides (solo) through the neighborhood

walking adventures though the neighborhood
with a whip and a light saber

plans for a sleepover with cousins

leaf chromatography


world of goo

a list for Santa


animated hero classics: Benjamin Franklin

* * *

and I dunno what else.

I'm thinking something
that looks and feels like

a book
and clean sheets.

we'll see you tomorrow.

November 16: Business

It seems as though today was mostly just taking care of business.


This morning we played more with balloons.
She's getting ready for her Birthday Party.
And she got out my yoga mat and block.
"Because I have to do exercises to get ready for my Birthday."
Her birthday is in June.

Trev and I started the Dino Diner Menu.
(We just barely started it, because after a couple of minutes, he said that it wasn't a good time for him to be trying to write, so we stopped.)

There was gyroscope fun.
About two hundred times.

And clean, clean, cleaning.
A cleaning Race, actually.
I offer them a race sometimes (if their bedrooms are do-able, and not a nightmare) and a trip to the store for a treat for the winner(s).
(I always make it a fair offer, so as long as they stick to the task, they will win the race. Depending on how big of a job theirs are, I'll clean one, two, or three rooms to one of theirs. I also help them to pick up a couple of things when I go in there to put something away that was in one of my rooms.)
Mama gets a few cleaned rooms and a short walk, and the babies get organized play space, a neighbhorhood walk, and a treat. It works for everyone.

And business with Daddy on the trampoline when he got back from the business of skiing.

And business with World of Goo.

And the business of loading multiple audiobooks into the computer.

And business in the kitchen.

And business with the library.

And business with the grocery store.

And now the business of getting tucked in with Loves and a movie.


Now that that's all out of way....
looking forward to tomorrow.
We'll see you then.

On Writing

Or maybe it's Penmanship.
But probably it's both, as they each lead to the other, to my way of thinking.

Since these pages are reserved for my family's moments and discoveries and my children's daily stories, I'll try to keep from philosophizing too much.
(And I send this with Trev's permission.)

Trevelyn doesn't write. He doesn't draw, either. He never has. (I don't mean that he never, ever has, just that it isn't an everyday occurrence.)

A year or two ago (he would be six or seven then) I panicked about it for a minute, but then soon came to my senses.

A month ago I handed him a piece of chalk and challenged him to write the alphabet around the perimeter of the trampoline... I just wanted to know if he could. Because, you know... he doesn't.
He could and did.

Around here we operate within a boundary of what I deem as Unschooling. Which to me means learning and growing naturally. That doesn't mean that every little thing is hidden from an individual so that they may discover it in their own time, independently and rapturously themselves (for example, I was buying children's books long before I ever had children), because I'm really comfortable saying "check this out!" and "Guys! Let's create!". But that does mean that I don't assert my supposed greater wisdom to school them.

So Trev doesn't write. Because he just wasn't interested.

And then something happened... the last two times he's gone to write something down, he's gotten frustrated with his inability to do it.
Angry, almost. He's felt thwarted.

The first time I helped him, and it didn't go so hot, and soon after we let it go.
He knows what the letters are supposed to look like - he reads very well - he just isn't able to make them come out of his hand the way he knows they are supposed to look. (Perfect, to him.)

A few days later I was reading a review of some book, and came across Peggy Kaye's Games for Writing. We have Reading, and I've been a fan of Games for Math for a few years, so I ordered it from the library, just to see.

When he made his next attempt for writing a few days later, he of course again got very frustrated after two, I think, letters.

The great thing about Questioning Everything - meaning not operating in a space of "we do it this way because this is the way it has always been done" is that it leads to really great discoveries like the honest power of Communication.
Instead of having this be a matter of Teaching, which I see as manipulative and "let's help you do this because other people say you Should", I took it to Trev.
And we had a conversation about it.
I asked him if he wanted to be able to write, I told him my thoughts and observations, I let him know that everyone learns to write by doing it - that no one was perfect at it the first time they tried it, and I told him about the book.
"I got it because I thought it might have some cool games in it for us to play while learning to write (with ease). Want me to check it out, and find some games I think you'd enjoy?"
He did.

So we are.
Not because I feel like he should be writing. And not even because he has a burning desire to write all day.


But because it is something he now sees as useful to him.

Which means, of course,
He's ready to learn it.

november 14

let's see.

there have been toothpicks

and icecream cones

cold

gettin' rolled up

mastering patterns

laundry

balloons

Lego Indiana Jones

a meeting for Mama (with other unschooling Mama's)

grocery store

helium

questions and answers about Bosom

Halloween songs

snow

fractions (in relation to everyday life)

the fun of locked doors in the name of Privacy (Madeleine)

discovering that strumming the heat vent makes music

"Don't poke a hole in your pony... don't poke a hole in you pony...." she litan-ized while she chipped away at her pony frozen in ice

counting to thirty

"wait... did you just count to thirty?" asked Mama

the analyzing and retelling of an I Carly

communication and problem solving with a sibling (all by themselves)

drawing

finishing our story (more on that later)

pretend play

making wings (for Pegasus play)

tying knots

rasslin'

laughing

and now television.


well.
that will do.

Puzzling Puzzles

As I mentioned the other day, we made some wooden puzzles to flummox our family with on Thanksgiving Day.
Might be a fine time to show you're at least as smart as Uncle Eddie if he has a problem with home education. [grin]


String and Bead Puzzler
This first one can be made with paper or cardboard (such as a cereal box) - just use something stiff and fold it so that it's as sturdy as possible.

The size doesn't really matter, six to eight inches by two or three will do.

Punch holes near the outside corners, then make a larger hole in the center - but not large enough for your beads to pass through.

Make your string long enough that there is slack and room to pull.

Tie or your string on like this.


It's finished.
Challenge: To get both beads on the same side of the board.
(Without untying the game, of course.)


Can you do it? :)

(Solutions will be at the bottom of the post.)


Three Triangles

Arrange twelve toothpicks like this.


Challenge: Create three triangles our of this shape, moving only four of the toothpicks.


Three Connected Triangles

Arrange seven toothpicks into a triangle like this.


Challenge: Create three connected triangles moving three toothpicks.


Leaving 10

Arrange fifteen toothpicks like this.
Challenge: Remove six toothpicks and still leave ten.


Making Squares

Arrange twelve toothpicks in four connected squares like this.


Challenge: Create three squares moving only three toothpicks.


The Spiral

Arrange a spiral like this.
Challenge: Make three squares moving four toothpicks.


* * * * * *

It's a good idea to at least try to solve the problems first, so that you might have a greater appreciation for their complexity.
The solutions seem obvious once you know the answer, and may make the problem seem too simple to appreciate, unless you give it a fair go. :)

Solutions:

String and Bead Puzzler: Assuming the front of the puzzle is where the loop is visible, pull the loop down, and push the bead on the right through the central loop and into the middle. Pull on the two strings closest to the middle hole, until you pull the loop up through the hole.
You'll now see two new loops, and pass the bead through these loops.
Pull the two new loops back through the center hole, then slide the bead through the original loop and onto the left loop.
(Was confusing, but eventually I got it. :) )


Three Triangles:

Three Connected Triangles:

Leaving Ten:


Making Squares:
The Spiral:

november thirteenth

Maddie and I started our day by making coffee cake.


Mmmm, goodness-- it has nutmeg and cinnamon in it. There aren't too many things that say Fall like that.

We played downstairs,


and played some more and with Daddy

and Trevy and I made some lovely Chocolate Leaves.



So pretty!

I was told we were going for a Family Walk (bike/scoot/trike/walk).... so we got ourselves -and eachother- ready for that.
A brrrr cold and lovely day for such a thing.





When we got home Daddy went off to work, and the other three of us settled into whatever took our fancy for a bit.



Soon we came together again -

For a reading of a beautiful book called Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration.
Trev and I both say awesome! for that one.
Really.

I've had Johnnycakes on my mind lately, and since Nickommoh mentioned those same cakes made from corn....

This one the babes did entirely on their own.



Trev read the recipe, double checked the measuring cups and spoons, read and followed the directions, and they fried them up. (Well, I had to help Maddie with that part.)
They buttered them, plated them, and put pure maple syrup on them.
They were a little hesitant about the corn part (they're made from cornmeal), but they both gave it a fair shot and ate one each, saying something like "not too bad..."
:)

While still in the kitchen (we've had a lot of that this week, haven't we?)...
I made up the clay for our our next Colonial craft-- this time a clay-like stuff for making marbles and seals.
We plan to get our Christmas and Yule cards begun very soon, and since Trevelyn has always been fond of my pretty seals and wax, I thought they might enjoy making their own to seal our holiday cards.

They have to sit until tomorrow, so we'll show you them then.

Our last something-to-accomplish today was for Trev and I to sit down together and play a writing game. He wants to be able to write satisfactorily, so we plan to play games he'll enjoy for practice.


oof.
A full, full day.

We're happy
and quieting
and settling in.

Tomorrow, then.

Chocolate Leaves

Preserving beautiful autumn leaves can be a really delicious pastime.


You'll only need an especially yummy chocolate, leaves, a tray, and wax paper.


We chose leaves of all different shapes and sizes - including catnip, raspberry, rose leaves, and peppermint.
I'd say roses worked the best, because they're rather leathery and sturdy, and still have lovely markings on their undersides.
Thin leaves tear easily when you're lifting them from the chocolate, but if they're edibles such as raspberries and peppermint, it doesn't really matter.
Make sure to choose from plants and trees that have not been sprayed with anything harmful.
Leaves with a bit of a stem are easiest to lift from the chocolate, and of course don't use brittle leaves.

We washed our various leaves, and then patted them dry.


We melted our chocolate on a lowish heat in a double boiler, stirring the chocolate every couple of minutes.
Note: You could use a microwave to melt it for a few seconds, but I believe a double boiler is better, as the chocolate won't cake, dry, and harden as quickly if you leave the pan in the warm water while you're working.
When it was completely melted, we painted the undersides of our leaves with a generous layer of chocolatey goodness - use a spoon, a knife, a pastry brush (or try a paint brush!) - whatever suits your fancy.


We then placed them -chocolate side up- on the waxed paper.


We set them outside in the shade -it's cold out there today!- but you could put your tray in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.

After several minutes, we turned them over and drew the leafs up carefully, pulling them away from the set chocolate.


Store them in a cool place until you're ready to serve them.


Beautiful!