And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Getting My Feet Wet

After two years of waiting and planning and praying about homeschooling the kids, finally it has started. Monday morning we jumped in to the homeschool waters with both feet. In fact I'd say got more than my feet wet. If I were truthful I'd say at one point in the week I was over my head. I believe that I am not going entering into this educational adventure with blinders on. I've talked to other homeschool families, I've read books, I've prayed. I knew there would come times that were great and times that were not at all good. I knew there would be days when I would want to sign them up for school as soon as possible. However, I did not know that I would run the gambit of emotions in one week! Monday and Tuesday that schooling was great! We had fun, we finished early, and it was fun. But by the early afternoon John Thomas' behavior was awful. I figure it was adjustment to the newness of what had happened in the morning, the new structure, and seeing me spend what he may have perceived as more time with Ellie and her school work. But by Wednesday that had settled out, but now Ellie was beginning to complain about some of the work, namely writing. Still we got through it, and accomplished some good things. Then by Thursday I was pooped, and a little grumpy. I did not like some of the impatience I saw in myself over simple things. Ah, sanctification. But Friday, which is our project, library field trip day, things were good. I looked around and saw the projects on my wall, the encouragement stickers they had earned for good work, listened to Ellie recite her first memorized poem with such pride and joy, and I knew that we would push through to next week, that this road was the one I wanted to travel with my children. I am so grateful to have this chance to learn with my children and to hang out with them and watch their minds grow and soak up the knowledge. Plus, I get to take these wonderful things they are learning and point it all back to Christ. Each book we read, I can point the literature back to Christ. With each animal we study, we talk about Christ's creativity in His workmanship. Even before math, we pray. I am one lucky mama.
I've posted some pictures below of some of the things we did together this week. I hope what you see is a family enjoying each other.
In History we studied what history is and how we discover the stories of the past. After reading some books about archaeology we had our own dirty dig.


Fish have scales, and they all go in the same direction so they can glide through the water. In science we talked about how all animals are placed in classes, fish being just one of many classifications.

Art and history meet as we make a collage of our family tree. For the next few weeks we will study collage as art. I loved Ellie's definition of a collage, "It's where you take lots of different pictures and make them collide together to make one piece of art." Perfect!


I love these kids!!!!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Culbertson Creative Camp

Last week we started a new tradition in our family: a week long Mommy run art camp I have named Culbertson Creative Camp, or Triple C! We had a blast. Vacation days and other conflicts kept us from participating in the art camps provided by the local arts council. So I decided we would have our own camp, just the three of us, for one whole week this summer. So last week we broke out the paint, glue, confetti, and imaginations to see what we could create. We made treasure boxes from old envelope boxes, stickers and patterned paper. From old water bottles we made Bottle People ( too cute!). We painted birdhouses, made sock puppets, and last but not least, decorated a refrigerator box to be a puppet theater/play fort/castle! We had a blast! It was without a doubt one of the most fun things I have ever done with my kids. We sat for hours together creating, decorating, laughing. The kids would chant for Triple C, so excited to see what the day would hold. When Daddy would come home, they would run to him with their new project, eager to show of their creativity and hear his praises. It was so nice to say, "Here, have a paint brush. Make what ever you like!" And as an added bonus, I found myself less irritated with the kids, they fought with each other less. Seriously, we spent all this time together and instead of growing tired of each other, we grew more fond of one another. We enjoyed one another. Such precious time. I will do it again, and again, and again! A new tradition for as long as I can convince them to gather around the kitchen table and experiment in art.
Enjoy some of these pictures highlighting the kids creations!
Ellie made two Bottle People and a bottle cat. John Thomas made Bottle Aliens! They are so simple, just an empty bottle, painted on the inside (paint them on the outside and the paint will chip off), styrofoam ball for the head, and felt for the clothes. Sky is the limit! I would defiantly use the hot glue gun or the thing will take so long it won't be fun!

Some of Daddy's old (but not too old) socks were sacrificed for the sock puppets. Ellie's are named Purple Abigail and Wayne the Dog. John Thomas made a great snake with a tongue that rolls out of his mouth!
Painting the Refrigerator box was the best fun. I just gave them a brush and said go for it!!