Twenty minutes is not twenty minutes

An elevated heart beat of twenty minutes requires:
10 minutes of getting ready
10 minutes of getting the kids ready . . . what, you thought you could do this alone?
More time spent if not working out at same location
30+ minutes working out for the goal of those original 20 (go, stop, solve kids problem, start going again, stop for something else, etc)
10 minutes changing clothes and think what might be to their next question "Now what mommy, what's next? How are you going to entertain me NOW?"

See it takes an hour or more to complete those 20 little minutes!

Field Trip

Yesterday we took a field tip to my parents house. My family hunts deer and elk and so there is a wealth of knowledge regarding our new subject of guns (gun safety and history leading up to the Pilgrims for Thanksgiving). The pictures are poor, but our day was so much more and great.First we started with a gun safety video. Then Everett recorded what he learned to do if he found a gun 1. Stop 2. Don't touch 3. Leave the area 4. Tell an adult.Then after a discussion of how to handle a gun (always point it in a safe direction, always treat it as if it were loaded) it was time to show and tell through the gun safe (posting pictures of that makes me nervous about privacy though). It was very cool for me to see my papa teach my son in much the same way he taught me. It was cool too for papa and I to use our hunting and camping memories to teach Evie. It was NOT cool to see the height difference between me at 10 vs. Everett at 6 with the SAME rifle! I'm gonna be a little momma to a big boy.

As with any grandparents house there are highlights. At my parents place it is the Wii and the hot tub. So since we were learning about guns, they did a little target practice via the Wii. Thanks Papa! I had a great time . . . and E did too.

Proud

I believe Saturday was national Make A Difference Day. A church we have been trying out is big on community, and so participated. Our project was a park clean up, that just happened to be across the street from our house. So the kids and I geared and loaded up. Everett's participation fulfilled some Contenders and Scouts requirements . . . as well as warmed my heart. The first thing we had to do was clear the blackberry bushes. That is not easy! But many hands make light work. E was GREAT! Once shown how and what to do, there was no stopping him. In true man style, Everett dug to the roots and yanked them out.

Bel did her part to. I was surprise at how in to it they both were. Ev just kept going and Bel attacked what she could.After the berries were gone, it was time to plant trees. I was proud again at how Everett whole heartily went about his work. He had a mission and worked at it despite me, kid, teen or adult. He easily worked alongside whomever without a second thought.

After planting five trees he was more than ready to move on to something else. What could be more fun for a young man that a claw to pick up trash . . . and gross out your mother with it :)

Way to go buddy. I am so proud of your diligent hard work!

Oh, man

Monday night was our first Den Night. Everett was part of the flag procession for his fellow Tigers.

Oh be still my heart. Isn't he handsome! Sorry for the blurry pictures. I was trying to salute, recite and photograph all at the same time. He LOVES scouts!

Historical Dinner

We too went to the Historical Dinner. Since we are still studying colors and Noah, I kinda insisted that Ev go as Noah. He did a good job putting up with my character choice.

Not wanting to be left out, Isobel and I dug through our dress up box and found this. It is actually my old horse show outfit from when I was four + Ian's old hat and Everett's clothes pin gun from our trip to Winthrop = Little Annie Oakley. She was SO cute!I love this photo. Two of her friends came as Indians and our little gun slinger.Ian was a trooper. At the last minute he decided to dress up too . . . as Cesar. Does he look confused? I might be too if I was having a dinner conversation with a 3 year old Sacajawea.I attempted to go as Helen Keller. That did not go so well. I talk to much.

Everett presented his ark we made out of popsicle sticks. It was 1/120th scale with a picture of Everett on a scrabble square (1/2 in) to show how truly massive Noah's job was.Thank you Syndi for all your effort for a great night.

Schoolbucks

Daddy has will be working nights for a short while. He arrives home just as the children are waking up. Today he had a bedtime snack that was our breakfast. Then it was time for school . . . at Starbucks. We took our workbooks and enjoyed apple cider or in Everett's case hot coco. Language went well until we got to math. Everett does better when he can physically move to help his thought process. Such as when asked what is 45+1? He would stand at a wall, say "45" then jump one time to "46". Well of course Isobel has to join in to. We did a few of those and were outta there! But off to where? Can't go home yet. So during this week we will be bribing and crashing at friends houses to do school with them too. Today, Renee graciously opened her door to us. I explained to my kids that it was still school time and that they nor our hosts were free to play freely. Not wanting to disrupt her home, we said a quick hello and got to work. I had brought a pattern block activity for our youngest students and a bingo type game. It was fun to have more than one 1st grader and a few above and below that to round out my group! It was not even until lunch that we moms sat to say more than our previous hello. It was a good home school day away from home

P.S. Please pray for Ian as he is working on a runway (not is use yet), in the weather, at night, then driving home one hour.

Great Day

Today was THE DAY. As Ian was getting his table out of the car the kids and I prayed for daddy's nervousness, then we were off. It was a bit odd to be walking around down town Seattle with a table under arm. I love the fact that our kids are getting to see first hand to try something new. . . just try. Here is a picture of it from a while go. And here it will be (hopefully, there is one more jury to go). http://www.nwfinewoodworking.com/ Ian has entered it in a box competition. It will be for sale and up for people's choice award (All those in Seattle go vote!)
The rest of our day consisted of Pike Place Market,

Where we saw lots of different kinds of arts. There was a very nice lady working with watercolors. Her work was beautiful. I thought her little travel art kit was way cool. I asked Evie to smile and this is what I got.

Then stopping at Dick's was a must! The kids and I bring them back to Bellingham for dad when we go. That's how much we all love these burgers.

We made a picnic of it in the back of the car. You never saw such four happy people. Until we loaded back up to go to grandma and jaja's. What a fantastic day and Congratulations Ian!

Our art unit continues . . . . Coloring coffee filters and dipping the ends in water was way cool. Seeing it soak up water and having the colors separate was exciting. Yes, this moma sacrificed her coffee supplies for her children's fun education.We even painted our lunch. It's been a fun unit. You should see our ark! (later)

Isn't this cute. I found this awesome book at the library.(Hand-print Animal Art by Carolyn Carreiro). I love hand prints!

Art in the family

Still working on colors. Here we tried to color celery a secondary color. First it was in a primary color, then we moved them to different colors. Since then I have seen this accomplished in our science books by splicing the celery and having it rest in two primary colors to make a secondary. Guess this will be a demonstration in the scientific process . . . and retry.

Here is our homemade finger paints. The kids (we did this on a Friday that I work so Nic was able to fully participate too) each were able to choose a color and watch it mix in by stirring it. They thought this was cool, then it was mix and art!

Here is a table Ian has finished. It is at Artwood now. Sometime soon we will be taking another table down to Seattle. He is ONE of 60 participants in a Seattle show and contest! We are so proud of him.

On to Colors

We are done studying frogs (though our friends Hermie and Henrietta are still here and loved). We have moved onto colors. Last year nearly all our friends did a study of rainbows. So in keeping up with the Jones' and to check it off my list, it is our turn. Our study seems to be a mix of colors with art appreciation and Ark blended in. The kids are loving the paint, water, and mess. It seems to be a thumbs up. (Everett playing "Value", a bingo style math game http://mygamevalue.com/)

After mixing our primary colors thus creating our secondary colors they used eye droppers to decorate white felt pieces. I had to mop the floor but it was worth it. The experiments are art!