We’ll Build It Ourselves! Building Picture Frames, Patience, and Self-Esteem at Lowes
The kids had a blast Saturday morning building Mother’s Day flower picture frames at the Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop. Not only did we come home with some cute and crafty creations, but we also worked on our listening skills, following directions, patience, and team work. Our friends and neighbors went with us for their first Lowes workshop and we had fun tackling the project together. It’s always easier to have dad’s to help, but when that isn’t possible a great friend is the next best thing!
Some of our projects are very simple and quick to construct. Others are very difficult, especially for someone like me who always puts something on backwards. As the kids emptied their packets, I was nervous to see that there were lots of pieces. Lots. Like, an insane amount of pieces. It was not going to be a quick and easy project. Hopefully Bella would behave herself in her stroller! Taking three young kids step-by-step through a woodworking project can be very, very stressful!
To make it more challenging, the instructions were picture only. So, we were building it based off nonverbal cues. We got it, though! Slowly but surely.
I got frustrated with Ethan, who cries when things are different or confusing. I helped each of the kids through each step, one at a time. Rather than wait his turn, Ethan cried. Rather than nail or gather the pieces I asked for, Ethan cried. I felt my patience draining. I reminded him that I wasn’t going to do it for him. He’s almost 6, and his 3-year-old brother was able to do the project just fine. I stuck to it too. I helped him, but I would not do it for him. He ended up with wobbly project because he would not focus or follow directions. He seemed mad about that. I asked him if he saw any other kids crying instead of trying and he said no. Perhaps a lesson learned? I can only hope! I hope he learns that things work out better for him when he tries his best rather than crying and expecting people to do things for him. I can hope, right? Between Ethan’s crying and Bella constantly trying to escape her stroller, I think I need a project badge too. 
Derek’s extreme enthusiasm makes up for Ethan’s non-enthusiasm. He was so proud of himself every time he finished a step. “Look, mommy! I hammerred it all by myself!” He proudly carried his picture frame around with him for the rest of the day. Alex did awesome as well. She did most of the project all by herself.
Look what we made!
The kids were very proud of their projects and couldn’t wait to display them at home. We had a fun time and learned a lot. I don’t think I would have taken them had I realized the project would be quite this intense, but it was definitely a learning experience for us all! We spent some time with our great neighbors, who we will miss dearly when they move. It was a morning we won’t soon forget.
We can’t wait for our next workshop. I hope that Hubby is here to give us a hand– and moral support– as we move forward with our woodworking adventures. 
Our First Attempt Making Watermelon Fruit-Roll-Ups
In our quest to be healthier, I’ve taken a much closer look at what exactly is in the food I feed my family. We’ve switched to completely organic produce so that the kids aren’t consuming pesticides, cut out meat from our everyday diet while finding new and exciting ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into our diet, and stopped buying soda (my weakness). If we buy meat when hubby comes home, it’ll be free-range and antibiotic free. We’ve replaced fruit snacks (the kids’ favorite) with dried fruit and took it one step further yesterday evening with our first attempt at making fruit roll-ups.
We love the food dehydrator. My kids go through tubs of dried bananas, apples, and strawberries. They make the perfect portable snack and we almost always bring a container in the car with us for snack “emergencies.” I got some special sheets for my drying racks specifically to make fruit leather and decided it was time to give it a try! My helpers were excited to turn a watermelon to mush in the food processor and even more excited to try the finished product.
The fruit leather dried all night and was done bright and early this morning. I think I may have over-dried them a bit or spread them too thin, as they were quite brittle. I began removing them from the sheets while the kids were still in bed. I couldn’t get them to “roll” without breaking, so instead I cut them into smallish pieces with a pizza cutter and stored them in Tupperware.
Before long, the kids were up and downstairs. Each of them tried a piece and liked it. The older two moved on to other activities, while the younger two mooched fruit leather the entire time! I think they ate more than I stored for later! Bella grabbed handful after handful, “Thank you, mommy! Thank you!”
Derek told me over and over again, “This is yummy! I like it. Let’s make it every day.” (Probably not).
I didn’t care for the taste of the watermelon fruit leather. I think we added WAY too much splenda. Ug. The kids, on the other hand, love it and can’t get enough. It’s like candy or fruit roll-ups, minus all the unpronounceable ingredients and chemicals. So long as they’ll eat it and it’s healthy, I’m happy!
Mommy’s helper. She’s eating it as soon as I got it off the tray!
Get in my mouth!!!
This is one watermelon! (Apart from all the pieces the kids ate)
I’d like to try this project again using different fruits. I read that watermelon is one of the most difficult fruits to properly dehydrate, so perhaps it wasn’t the best choice for our first attempt at fruit leather. Strawberries, perhaps? I just need to get the kids to stop eating them all first.
Related articles
- Make it: Fruit Leather Roll Ups (urbannugget.com)
- Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups Recipe (familyfocusblog.com)
- How to Make Fruit Roll ups (angelbabe432.wordpress.com)
- Fight Food Waste With A… Dehydrator? (organicauthority.com)
Coolest Preschool Matching Game! Thanks, Pinterest!
If you have an active preschooler, you know how challenging it can be to keep them entertained. Three-year-old Derek has completely given up naps, so I’m always looking for new and interesting things for him to do in the afternoons when his brother and little sister are sleeping. I have a love affair with Pinterest because it supplies me with constant cute and creative ways to keep Derek busy. Yesterday afternoon nothing seemed to interest him, so I logged on to Pinterest, typed “preschool” into the search box, and sorted through new ideas until we found one just right for us. Several minutes later, we made a fun new game!
I came across an adorable, printable paintbrush matching game and knew we found something great. Not only would he have fun, but he’d also practice his colors. Double score! We cut out paint buckets of various colors and lots of paintbrushes together, practicing cutting skills. Next, we taped them to a large sheet of paper and pinned it to the easel. Derek loved putting his paint brushes in the correctly colored paint bucket and did a little happy dance every time he got one right. We played the game three whole times. That’s a long time for a little guy! Plus, we can play it many more times. I think we found something great!
The best sort of game is the one that is fun AND educational. Free is nice as well. I love to see his mind working hard and the joyful smile of pride when he masters something new. Keep ‘em coming, Pinterest, keep ‘em coming.
What are your favorite activities for keeping your little ones busy?
Watch me! Watch me!
So cute!
So proud!
Haunted History, a Polygamous Plantation Owner, and Slavery at Kingsley Plantation
If you stop and listen for a moment, you can’t help but hear whispers from the past. Have you ever considered who walked this ground before you and what their lives were like? What were their challenges, their victories, their triumphs, and their choices? What impact did they have on this world that just might influence what you do—or don’t do—today?
With a mom earning her Master’s degree in American History, my kids get dragged to a lot of historical sites. I love history. I think the kids are learning to appreciate it too. If one tells the story in an interesting enough way, it transforms from “boring” to mesmerizing. One thing I love about the South is that the history is so rich and varied. No matter which historical era you are most interested in, there is something new to learn about it here. There was one remaining local historic site I wanted to check out before we move: Kingsley Plantation on the Northern tip of Fort George Island, north of Jacksonville. Every time we drive north I see the sign and make a mental note to visit. Yesterday, the kids and I made the trip. It was a drive, but it was worth it.
The "Ma'am Anna House" and Kitchen
Kingsley Plantation was a formerly 1000 acre plantation owned by British-born slave trader and shipping magnate Zephaniah Kingsley. While he owned several plantations around Jacksonville, Kingsley Plantation was the only one that has withstood the test of time.
Kingsley was not one to play by the rules. He “married” (not legally) four different black women, including Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley. She was 13 years old when he purchased and married her. She ran the plantation for him while he was away on business. I thought this was interesting. She oversaw slaves and ran a plantation despite the fact that she was a former slave herself (he granted her and her children freedom). I wonder if she saw anything wrong with that. Between his “wives,” Mr. Kingsley sired 9-10 mixed race children.
Zephaniah Kingsley became involved in Florida politics and he wrote a treatise defending a system of slavery that would allow slaves to purchase their freedom. Mixed-race and free black people would be given certain rights. Before he died, Kingsley moved his family to Haiti. He believed that his mixed race relationships would be more accepted there. To most of American society at the time, his actions and living arangements were very taboo.
There was a large dispute between Anna Kingsley and Kingsley’s extended white family over the inheritance of the estate following his death. They did not want the vast holdings and fortune to go to a former slave. The courts ruled in Anna’s favor and she and her children lived at the Plantation for several more years before moving to St. Augustine.
A helpful guide told us all about the plantation
Our group tried on lots of historic costumes
The Plantation is now owned by the state and is being preserved. The main plantation house still stands, along with the kitchen, a garden, a church, and the remains of slave houses. We got to see cotton and cotton seeds too. The 60-or-so slaves living on this plantation gathered cotton from the fields each day, along with citrus, corn, and sugar cane. Including the slaves living on Kingsley’s other plantations, he owned a total of 200+ slaves. The kids learned a lot about life on the plantation and found the slave houses interesting. They compared how the kitchen and slave cabins were similar to and different from the homes we live in today and talked about what life may have been like had they been born slaves.
I found Kingsley’s approach to slavery very odd. On one hand, he openly sired children with his slaves, was an “unusually permissive slave owner” who wrote about the physical superiority of Africans to Europeans, and didn’t interfere with his slave’s family lives. He provided his offspring with great educations and showed them off to visitors. On the other hand, he used slaves for free labor and used Kingsley Plantation as his slave trading headquarters. He trained slaves for specific tasks so that he could sell them for more money! Kingsley is the epitime of a double standard. I really don’t think I would have liked him in real life.
The main house is a two-story home near the water. We weren’t able to go inside, unfortunately. We were able to visit the two-story kitchen house, though. It was called the “Ma’am Anna House” and doubled as a center for food preparation and Anna’s home with her children on the second floor. I thought it was strange that Anna didn’t live in the main house is she was the lady of the plantation. There really wasn’t much about the Kingsley family’s dynamics that made much sense.
The Main House, Front
Part of our group on the waterfront
As part of our studies, we’re reading the American girl series about Addy and learning what it was like to be a slave and then a free black in America. Our plantation visit was an important part of this. Hands-on history makes it so much more real. How else can we truly imagine the lives of the men, women, and children who lived and worked here 150 years ago in a time and place so foreign it feels incomprehensible today?
The plantation’s gift shop was full of interesting books on slavery as well. We picked up a children’s picture book as well as a workbook to reinforce the things we learned.
The back of the plantation home
The long dirt road winding through the Florida wilderness to the plantation was both surreal and creepy. The air teemed with life and the warm breeze danced around the car. Had I gone alone, I may have turned around. Derek said, “Mom, we’re going through a creepy jungle!” I had to agree. It was creepy.The fact that there was zero phone signal and that the plantation was miles down a narrow, twisting dirt road didn’t help. Fortunately we went with our homeschool group. This was an experience to share. As we explored the remains of the slave community, one of our friends remarked, “This place looks haunted.” I don’t know if I believe in ghosts, but if there’s anywhere I’ve been that could be haunted this would probably be it.
I’m glad I didn’t do an internet search ahead of time. When I was researching for this post, I found numerous sites claiming that Kingsley Plantation is haunted. Creepy! I have to say that I felt a little on-edge and rather like a trespasser in the slave cabins. Hmmm. This may have been one of our more interesting field trips.
The remains of slave cabins
Alex in the window of a slave cabin
Why would someone want to visit Kingsley Plantation? It represents a lost time in American history. It’s not a proud time and it’s not pretty, but it happened and it should not be forgotten. It’s amazing to think that people earned their fortunes off the backs of others and didn’t think there was anything wrong with buying and selling people! I can’t believe that happened.
I’m really glad we made it out to the plantation. I am appaled by its history and would like to have given Zephaniah Kingsley a piece of my mind, but it was at the very least educational to see a real plantation. I think it’s important for kids to learn about slavery and the role it played in our history, and also to learn how far we’ve come since then.
An intact slave cabin
New Friends
Resources to Learn More:
History of Kingsley Plantation: http://www.nps.gov/timu/historyculture/kp_history.htm
Kingsley Plantation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Plantation
Why Go to the Grocery Store When You Can Go to the Farm?
A while back, a political commentator on the news offended American moms by saying that stay-at-home moms don’t work and don’t know much about the economy. This is so far from the truth. Moms move the economy. In my home, I am in charge of 99% of our financial transactions. I choose the clothing we buy and the food we eat. I choose where we shop and where we go, for the most part. Moms control the budget in many families. In fact, media reports claim that 85% of all consumer purchases are influenced by women. That’s huge! I also know that where we spend our money has a broad impact. For example, I know that the best place to buy produce is from a farm or farmer’s market. Why? The money goes straight to the farmer and supports their livelihood. It’s also healthy and fresh and didn’t have to be transported anywhere (or at least not far).
The kids and I, along with some friends, ventured down to the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm this morning. They have so much more than strawberries! Everything is grown hydroponically and without any harmful pesticides. There was a bounty of fresh produce! I bought strawberries, green beans, various lettuces and spinach, and some delicious red tomatoes. Mmm! Along with a jar of locally made apple butter, I spent only $25! I voted with my wallet—and family’s budget—to support a small farmer today.
The best part of the farm visit was picking everything ourselves. Each child got their own pail and we walked the rows finding delicious things to eat. While they said their berry supply was low, we still managed to find lots of red, ripe strawberries. The kids loved finding them and plucking them from the vines with scissors. Cute!
The kids hurried from bush to bush, “I found one! I found the best, ripest, reddest strawberry! Mommmmm!!!!” We ended up with a very large basket full of strawberries. I had to remind them many times to slow it down. Could we really eat that many? We’ll be eating a lot of strawberries for the next week! They do taste wonderful.
Yes, my toddler is sooooo sweet and cooperative.
Buy local! Support your local farmers and small businesses!
It was also very cool for the kids to see how the fruits and vegetables we eat grow. Picking our lettuce leaves from an actual lettuce plant was a new experience for me too. I love that we’re getting more in touch with what we’re putting in our bodies and that the kids are learning this from a young age. The fresher and more organic it is, the better. See, you can take the girl out of the Northwest, but you can’t take the Northwest out of the girl. I would fit in very well back in Portland.
The only thing I didn’t love was that the farm was so far away. It was a 45 minute drive from our house. Still, convenience isn’t everthing. I think I would rather drive the distance once in a while and support local farmers and businesses while also getting fresh, pesticide-free produce straight from the vine. We live in a culture of instant gratification and putting more effort into getting our food may seem impossible. It’s not. It does take effort, but it’s worth it. Today I voted with my wallet to support a small farmer over a large corporation. Feeding a family of six isn’t cheap… so my vote definitely meant something.
If you want to visit the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm, it’s located at 2495 State Road 207, St. Augustine, Florida 32086. They can be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryStacks. This farm is certainly worth the drive! The farmers were very friendly and helpful, the produce was unbeatable, and the taste is amazing. The kids enjoyed lots of fresh strawberries with their lunches and simply couldn’t get enough. I’m looking forward to making a salad tonight that is as fresh as it gets. This place is awesome!
Our Beautiful Bounty
Spring Days are Made for Bumming at the Beach
When we were stationed at NS Mayport, we went to the beach all the time. It was right up the road. Since moving to NAS Jacksonville, our beach trips have become much less frequent. It’s a big drive, plus it’s a pain dragging around wet, sandy kids. However, today was simply too gorgeous not to spend it at the beach. We packed into the Armada with lots of sand toys, towels, and a change of clothes and drove the hour to Maport to spend the morning frolicking in the waves and sand. I’m really glad we did. I was reminded just how much we love, love, love the ocean.
Our beach trip had several rules. First, don’t go in the water past your ankles. Why? There’s one of me and four of them. I told them that if something happened, I’d have to rescue my favorite. That really got them thinking. Two: Sunscreen is a must. We’re Scandinavian, for heavens sake. We burn. Three: burn off lots of energy! They did just that. I don’t think Derek stopped running for a second. I got lots of exercise too chasing him.
Isabella was not a fan of the ocean. She clung to me for dear life. I tried to set her down and she clung harder, screaming, “Eeeeeew! No! Wet! Ucky!” She liked playing in the dry sand and once her friend arrived she was happier. By the end of our visit, she was in the water along with her siblings. We stayed at the beach enjoying the warm water and glorious sun rays for several hours. My car is about as sandy as the beach and has nearly as many shells.
Post-beach cleanup is always interesting. We used the outdoor showers, then I changed one kid at a time and dried them, putting on fresh, dry clothes and loading them into the car. This was a challenge, but we did it. When everyone was dressed up, we headed to Bogey’s restaurant on the golf course for a nice lunch. I love their Cuban sandwiches!
Today’s walk to the beach brought back so many memories. The Mayport beach was the first place we visited when we moved to Jacksonville in winter 2008. We stayed at the Navy Lodge right on the beach and I remember tiny, barely-three-year-old Alex posing next to the palm trees. Alex is now 7. She’s a long, lanky kid who doesn’t look twice at a palm tree because she’s seen them for as long as she can remember. I remember I was barely pregnant with Derek at that time. Now he’s almost four and as crazy as can be. It’s amazing how things change. Yet the beach remains the same. Profound, really. I wonder where we’ll be in another four years. I can’t even begin to imagine.
I think every kid should spend some of their childhood days bumming on the beach. I remember my own childhood beach trips vividly. I loved them! My kids love it too. I can’t think of a better way to spend a warm spring day. Of course, not having to scoop sand out of the truck would be a plus… but the memories we made are so great that they make up for the mess.
Celebrating Spring and A Terrific Two-Year-Old at the Jacksonville Zoo
On Monday, we spent the morning at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to celebrate Bella’s second birthday. It was a chilly morning and the animals were very active. We got a couple of great shots and had a nice morning out!
Bella’s BFF Evie came with us and the girls had a great time together exploring and daring each other to touch or eat the grossest thing (in baby/ toddler language of course). We brought cupcakes to share (after washing hands!). The kids got a ton of exercise. This was one spring day we thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend it than outdoors!
Bella had a great birthday week and enjoyed all of the well-wishes and presents. I don’t think she knew exactly what was going on but she liked the attention. My sweet, sassy little lady is quite a handful! Her favorite part of the zoo (besides trying to eat gross things) was to run and make me chase her. When I tell her “No, stop!” she goes faster and farther. Ah, I “love” this stage.
Awwww! If Cheetas read romance novels, this would be the cover.
Alex and her BFF Sophia
Catch me, mom!
Mmmmm! Cupcakes!
Bella and her BFF Evie
How would I describe Bella at two? Silly. Sweet. Loving. She’s absolutely obsessed with baby dolls. Sometimes I call her the baby horder, because she’ll have one doll in her purse, one in a backpack, and one in her arms. She simply can’t get enough of her baby dolls. She loves feeding them, dressing them, and carrying them everywhere. At the park, she loves to put them down the slide and swing them in the baby swing. She also loves rubber duckies and playing with her neighbor and best friend Evie.
Bella loves doing school. She colors, does stickers, and adores reading books with mommy. She likes music a lot and dances and sings for us. She’s a very active, opinionated little monkey who refers to herself as “Tiny” or “Tiny Cookie.” I’m really not sure where that came from.
Alex, Age 7
LOVE!
An Interesting Bird
Friends
Best Friends Forever
We love our zoo, especially in the Spring. Sure, we’ve seen everything a million times now. However, it’s always great for a walk. This time of year everything is blooming. There are baby animals (I love babies!) and the weather isn’t yet too hot to be comfortable. There’s not much we’d rather do than walk the zoo. The kids get exercise, mental stimulation, and take naps afterwards. Hooray!
I hope Bella had a great second birthday. While I don’t know if she’ll remember it, we took lots of pictures to help her. I wonder if she dreams about the interesting things we do and things she sees. What would it be like to see inside the mind of a two-year-old? It may be interesting.
Bella's Pouty Face
Look at this, mommy!
Proud to be an American
Plants, Plants, Plants!
Spring marks new beginnings. New baby animals frolic on the farm. New baby birds tweet from their nests as their parents search for the perfect fat worms to nourish their tiny, growing bodies. At our house, new plants are born. I love filling the flowerbed with colorful flowers and nutritious vegetables each Spring. It makes it feel so homey. Hopefully I’ll even be able to keep them alive!
The kids have been learning all about plants this month, so this is a broad post encompassing our unit.
The children have learned all about the parts of a plant, different types of plants and why they are important, and what a plant needs to grow. Not only have we read scores of plant-related books from the library and done lots of great worksheets from enchantedlearning.com, but we’ve also done science experiments and planted lots of seeds. Ethan’s LIFEPAC science unit this month was on plants too. Each of the kids has learned so much!
I asked each of the kids what they know about plants.
Me: Ethan, tell me something about plants.
Ethan: Plants have, like, stems, roots, and leaves on them. Plants need sunlight, soil, and water. Some types of plants are trees, flowers, and stuff. Plants that we eat are vegetables and fruit.
Me: Good. Derek, what can you tell me about plants?
Derek: We water plants. We plant seeds in our flower bed. Then they grow and we water them. We eat some plants, like we eat tomatoes, bananas, grapes, bread (wheat), cucumbers, and lettuce.
Me: Good job, Derek! What else do you know about plants?
Derek: Birds help pollinate plants. Birds eat fruit. Then they poop. New plants can grow because they poop out the seeds and they fall in the dirt.
Me: Good job, buddy! Who grows plants?
Derek: Farmers!
Me: Awesome. Alex, what do you know about plants?
Alex: Well, in order for a plant to grow, it needs food, water, and sunlight. The type of dirt is important too. A plant also needs rain.
Me: Do you remember how a plant makes its own energy?
Alex: Photosynthesis!
Me: Excellent. What else can you tell me about plants?
Alex: Well, pollination is important. First, bees and butterflies can pollinate. Flowers need them to help pollinate to make more flowers. Animals and birds that eat fruits and flowers can also help pollinate. The animal poops the seed and it helps a new plant grow.
Well… evidentially the poop lesson really sunk in.
Hard at Work!
Studying the parts of a plant-- Science!
Ethan's drawing of the parts of a plant
Some of Alex's Plant Worksheets and Books
Look What We're Reading!
Planting flowers and vegetables out front was the most exciting part of our plant unit. The kids enjoyed helping plant the seeds and have been good about caring for them. Our carrots, spinach, and tomatoes are growing nicely! It was great for them to be able to see how the plant cycle works. We have been eating entirely vegetarian meals this month too and gaining a greater appreciation for plants and how they nourish our bodies. I hope these little lessons stick with them.
Our Organic Carrots!
Mama's Helper
Sorting Marigold Seeds
Seeds
Derek Plants His Seeds
I helped Derek transform his Easter pail into a pot by punching several holes in the bottom with a hammer and screwdriver and filling it with potting soil. I gave him a pack of Marigolds to plant. When we carefully poured the seeds on the table, his eyes opened wide and he said, “Are these real seeds?” He didn’t quite believe they were. Alex and I showed him how to plant his seeds and he did a very good job.
Derek and his Marigolds!
So Cute
My Buddy Waters His Flowers
Plants are vitally important not only for our healthy, but also for our planet. Without plants, we could not be able to live. They produce the oxygen we need to live. They are an easily renewable food source. I love that the kids are learning where their food comes from and how it grows. We don’t have the space to plant a large garden now, but someday I hope we do. I think every child should learn to garden. It’s relaxing. It’s fun. It teaches respect for nature and the wonder of life. Plus it creates a useful, tasty, healthy, product. Really, does school get much better than that?
Related articles
- How Do Tulips Disperse Their Seeds? (proflowers.com)
- Why Do Flowers Need Pollen? (proflowers.com)
- Learning the Parts of a Flower (proflowers.com)
- Oct 13, How Do Flowers Grow? 4 Stages of Flower Development (growinganything.com)
A Little Monet in the Morning Does the Body Good
Alex's Monet Impression
When we visited the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens earlier this week, I was really impressed with the pond entirely covered in lily pads. I’ve seen one or two on a pond, but hundreds? It was pretty interesting. It reminded me of a beautiful painting by the French artist Monet and I had to look it up online when we got home. Later that evening, as I delved into a new review book about a homeschooling family, I read about the heroine’s sister’s children doing Monet impressions in their ritzy Dallas private school. My four kids won’t be going to a $20,000 per year school (or we won’t be able to afford food, shelter, and clothing and no one wants to see that … but we could definitely incorporate a little Monet into our morning! Plus it tied in perfectly to our nature walk. Here are the results!
To begin our lesson, I read to the kids about Monet’s life and we looked through lots of his art on the Ipad. I loaded our lily pad portrait and told the kids we would be recreating it. I didn’t care at all what medium they used and it didn’t have to look exactly like the painting. We would use Monet’s masterpiece for inspiration and add our own personal flair.
This is what we were trying to accomplish
Seven-year-old Alex is quite an artist and got completely absorbed in her project. She used charcoal, paint, crayons, glue, and tissue paper to create her own masterpiece. She worked on it for 1 1/2 hours in the morning, a few hours in the evening, and then finished it today! I was completely blown away with her results. She’s so amazingly creative. She crimped her tissue paper to make lovely lily flowers. How original! She was so proud of her work that we framed it and put it on display in the living room!
During art time yesterday, Alex was so slow and careful with her work that in 1 1/2 hours she had only pasted 8-10 green tissue squares on her page. In other words, 95% of the page was still empty. I told my mom and she said, “You know, you can’t rush art.” Whew, self. Patience. I need to work on that.I know deep down that it doesn’t matter if a project takes 30 minutes or 30 days… but in the mean time can it have a general time frame?
Ethan did really well too. He drew his picture with pencil, then colored it with crayon. He was very proud of himself too.
I love watching my kids express themselves. They are so proud of themselves when they create something interesting and new. Plus, it keeps them occupied for a very long time.
Now we can sound fancy too. Yes, my children created Monet impressions during art time today. Or they drew the lily pads we saw at the Arboretum. Or…. they made green splotches on their construction paper for no apparent reason and had a good time doing so! Art is fun and freeing and can be so beautiful. I hope the kids will learn to appreciate it as they grow and recognize some of the more famous pieces throughout history. I happen to think that a little Monet in the morning does the body good.
Alex's Monet Impression
Darn You, GPS! Civil War History is Way Better With Cousins!
For a history nerd like me, the prospect of seeing Fort Sumter filled me with excited jitters. After all, this is where the Civil War began! This is living, breathing history! My brother got off work early on Friday and joined us on our adventure.
This is where things got interesting. My brother told us that they had tried to visit the fort several years ago but GPS led them to the wrong location. We got a good laugh out of that and I saw the ferry location to the fort on the map of downtown Charleston. It couldn’t be that hard to find. Friday afternoon, hubby typed “Fort Sumter” into the GPS. Oddly enough, it didn’t instruct us to go downtown. I mentioned that the ferry was downtown but he insisted that the GPS knew best and that this was the “better” location to catch the ferry. Whatever.
We drove and drove. There were no historic marker signs leading us to Fort Sumter. Instead, signs pointed to “Fort Moultrie.” I pointed this out yet again… but Hubby disagreed. We finally arrived… at Fort Moultrie- Fort Sumter National Monument. Fort Sumter sat way out there in the ocean and there was no ferry. This was an entirely different fort, but interesting nonetheless. This was exactly the fort we teased my brother for visiting instead of Fort Sumter! We got a laugh out of that and decided to stay and explore it anyway.
Mike, Anthony, and Emily
A replica of the flag that flew over the fort during the Civil War
Cousins!
Cousin Emily, Age 20 months
Six days after South Carolina declared its secession from the United States, US Army Major Robert Anderson abandoned the indefensible Fort Moultrie and secretly relocated some of his troops to Fort Sumter, an incomplete fort just off the Carolina Coast. Fort Sumter controls the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Over the next few months, repeated calls to abandon the unfinished Fort Sumter were ignored. The bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12-13 1861 began the Civil War.
Fort Moultrie was built by South Carolina patriots in 1776 to guard Charleston, South Carolina. Built of soft palmetto logs, the fort absorbed cannon fire shock and even caused canons to bounce back off the fortress! Carolina Day is celebrated to commemorate the bravery of the patriots who defended the fort in the first decisive victory of the American Revolution on June 28, 1776. Isn’t that neat?
Mama's Cutie Bug
Look at that, Bella!
Looking out over the harbor
THERE is Fort Sumter!
Alex with Fort Sumter in the Background
We started our visit by touring the small museum, then headed across the street to the fortress. There were lots of passageways to explore and stairs to climb! The guys liked all the guns and cannons from different times throughout the fort’s long and varied history. The kids liked climbing around and exploring with their cousins. There were just a few other visitors, so we pretty much had the fort to ourselves!
Cousins!
Mike and Emily Check Out Some Cannons
Alex, Age 7
The Boys
My Handsome Brother
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie were both pounded into oblivion during the Civil War and had to be rebuilt. The Confederate Army abandoned the rubble of Fort Moultrie in February 1865 and evacuated Charleston. After the war, the forts were rebuilt. The Army modernized Fort Moultrie in the 1870s with huge rifled cannons and deep concrete bunkers, which we toured. They are in great shape and very impressive for having been built so long ago! In the 1880s, all of Sullivan’s Island was turned into a military complex. The fort grew and evolved through WWII. The Department of Defense turned over Fort Moultrie to the National Park Service in 1960. It has been managed by the National Park Service ever since.
Ethan, 5 1/2
The kids had so much fun running around together. I had a blast with our impromptu photo shoot. It’s nice to spend time with cousins. Anthony loves Alex and followed her everywhere and Emily and Bella got along fabulously. Civil War history is way more interesting with cousins to chase!
Alex and Anthony
We may not have visited the fort we intended to visit, but Fort Moultrie was pretty darn neat. Its history was even older and more colorful that Fort Sumter, so I’m satisfied. This area of the country has such a vibrant past. If you close your eyes and listen, you might be able to hear the stories of the generations before you. How would our story be different had those patriots lost? What if the Confederates had defeated the Union soldiers and won the Civil War? Would the city look the same, or would it be far different? History is all around us… all you have to do is slow down and look around you. It’s easy to miss. There are so many stories just waiting for you to listen.
Related articles
- Fort Moultrie Cannon Row Upgrade Project (markerhunter.wordpress.com)
- Cannonfire marks 150th anniversary of Civil War (cbsnews.com)
- Trivia: Sumter’s Law and the “Black Currency” (jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com)
- The Civil War, 150 years later (cbsnews.com)
- Downtown Charleston On Foot- History, Amazing Architecture, and a Little Bit of Magic (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Playing the Day Away at the Charleston Children’s Museum
We began our second very-full day in Charleston with the Charleston Children’s Museum. We heard great things about it from friends and love a good place for the kids to play, so we had to check it out!
Located right across the street from the Visitor’s Center, the Charleston Children’s Museum resides in a long, thin building. It was a bit odd looking, but we’re up for anything. At only $7 per ticket, it wasn’t too badly priced either (adults need tickets too). If you keep your sticker on, you can come and go from the museum for the rest of the day! Nice touch. There certainly was a lot to do! We started by creating masterpieces in the well-stocked art room, then moved on to the Castle. The kids had fun running around up and down the passageways and sending each other to the “dungeon!” I loved how they had “drying racks” in the art room where we could leave the kids’ art until we were ready to go home. It was great not to be dragging soggy wet paintings all over the place.
We didn’t stay in the Medieval Creativity Castle terribly long because a large school group arrived and was loud and wild. The little kids were getting run over and pushed around. Had we stayed longer, I’m sure the kids would have enjoyed the puppet area. It looked cute! We moved on to the Physics Raceways, where Hubby had just as much fun as the kids teaching them about leverage and such. The kids were occupied racing balls for a long time!
King Derek
Queen Bella's "Prisoners"
Queen Bella
The kids loved the water play room, Water Wise. It was well stocked with lots of water tables, waterfalls, boats, and bridges with cars. It was pretty impressive. The kids didn’t even get too soaked with their water smocks. This room beat our little backyard sand and water table any day.
Pirate loving Derek was excited to climb the indoor pirate ship in the pirate room! He steered the ship, commanded the crew from the captain’s cabin, and ordered his siblings to walk the plank. This room was super cute!
Lastly, we went shopping in The Charleston Market and spend a little while in the 0-3 year area. The kids could have spent the day “shopping”! Bella loved having her own shopping cart.
Overall, the Charleston Children’s Museum is a fun though small children’s museum. I think it’s silly to make parents pay when we’re not the ones playing, but that’s fairly common for children’s museums. The price was not too bad. It’s more expensive than the Jacksonville Children’s Museum and has fewer exhibits, although the Charleston Children’s Museum seems newer and cleaner.
If we lived in Charleston, we’d definitely get a membership and visit often. It was a fun place to occupy the kids and the staff were very friendly. I would definitely recommend a visit if you’re in the area! Check it out at: http://explorecml.org/cml/
Related articles
- Downtown Charleston On Foot- History, Amazing Architecture, and a Little Bit of Magic (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Delicious Frozen Yogurt Drops for a Warm Spring Day
Frozen Yogurt Drops!
Yesterday was the 11th or 12th consecutive day in the 80s here in Jacksonville. It’s hard to believe that spring just started. I saw the cutest idea for frozen yogurt drops on Pinterest a while back and thought they would make a cool warm weather treat for the kids. Plus they would be soothing for Derek’s throat. He was sick yesterday and spent his day laying on the couch, poor guy. The frozen yogurt drops definitely brightened his day! The other children loved them too. They were so easy and low calorie as well.
Here’s how you can make your own frozen yogurt drops. I know some people use gogurt, but we don’t usually buy that so I used what we had.
1. Place wax paper or aluminum foil on a baking sheet. This will make for minimal cleanup!
2. Empty a container of yogurt into a plastic ziplock bag. Cut off the tip, and gently squeeze little drops of yogurt onto your baking sheet. Two small containers of yogurt filled up my entire tray. Only 100 calories total for a very substantial snack!
Yogurt in a handy ziplock bag
Yogurt drops on a baking sheet
3. Place sheet in freezer. We left ours there for several hours while we went about our daily activities.
4. Take out of freezer and enjoy! Be warned that they melt quickly!
Ta da! They're done!
I divided the frozen yogurt drops up among five plates so each of the kids and I could try them. Alex pointed out that the little pink and purple drops looked like Easter eggs. How perfectly seasonal! The kids were anxious to try their spring treats and gobbled them right up. They loved them!
Derek's frozen yogurt drops made him feel much better
Yummy!
Baby Bella loved her yogurt treats!
This little experiment was a huge success. I love, love, love Pinterest and all of the amazing ideas to be found there! We’ll definitely do this again. The frozen yogurt drops were very healthy and tasted sweet and refreshing. So much better than ice cream (health wise)! The kids thought they were getting something really special.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve found on Pinterest?
Adorable Footprint Butterflies to Brighten Your Spring Day!
If you follow my blog, you know that I think baby hand and foot-print art is beyond adorable. I love turning tiny hands and feet into adorable and seasonal keepsakes. I found this idea on Pinterest and knew we had to try it, with our own personal flair of course. Bella wasn’t the most willing participant, but she loved sitting on my lap as I turned her little footprints into adorable Spring butterflies.
To make your own footprint butterflies, all you need is some paint, a brush, construction paper, and little feet. 23-month-old Bella was my artist of the day. She certainly did not like the paint on her feet, but she did like seeing the results. Cause and effect! Paint the bottom of your little artists’ foot and gently press it onto the middle of your paper like this:
Repeat with the other foot, overlapping slightly like this:
Now it’s time to add your own flare! I added a butterfly body and antennae, grass and button flowers, a colorful border, and the words “Happy Spring!” I also added Bella’s name, age, and the date so that I’ll know how old she was when I enjoy the artwork years from now.
Here is the final product:
I loved this project because it is so darn cute and easy too. I think it looks perfectly adorable on my kitchen counter ledge and look forward to displaying it there for the next few months before tucking it away into our scrapbooks for posterity. I love my little Bella feet and know I’ll adore our little Spring keepsake when she’s much to big for her footprints to be adorable. They do grow up too fast.
I hope you enjoy our project and have fun making your own footprint butterflies!
Stepping into Spring With Bright Rainbow Crafts!
I love the bright colors of spring, and rainbows tie in with both St. Patrick’s Day and the beginning of spring next week. We began a fun rainbow craft yesterday and continued it to completion today. What preschooler doesn’t love cutting up paper and using lots and lots of glue? Mine sure does!
Derek practices his cutting skills
Bella draws a "rainbow" with markers. She loves coloring!
Ethan does a St. Patrick's Day Worksheet
Cutting is an important preschool skill to master. It develops and hones fine motor skills and builds confidence. Derek has really gotten the hang of it the past month and loves to cut paper into lots of tiny pieces, making a confetti of sorts all over the table and floor. Silly boy. I thought we could put his cutting skills to a good use and keep him busy too by cutting various colored strips of construction paper into squares and making a pretty spring rainbow. The best part was that it kept him busy for a very long time! I love it when Derek is constructively occupied. The house loves it too… it’s a short reprieve from his other hobby: making messes.
Derek's Bowl of Colors
Rainbow Construction Time!
Hard at Work
I also love the fact that Derek got to practice color sorting. We’re always looking for opportunities to practice colors and it’s always best if he doesn’t realize I’m quizzing him. We mixed the colored squares up in his bowl and he had to choose out one color at a time. For example, he had to choose enough blue squares, one at a time, to span the rainbow. This 3-year-old is a color master. He loves to glue too. He got so much glue on the table that Hubby’s flight suit arms stuck to it when he sat down for lunch. His solution was to stick paper towels to the glue bits…. they stuck too. My poor dining room table. It’s sure seen a lot of love– and projects– in its time!
On the topic of Spring and St. Patrick’s Day, Something funny happened yesterday while Alex was doing a reading comprehension project about St. Patrick’s Day. She was reading quietly and then suddenly sat up straight, “What do you mean there’s no such thing as Leprechauns? They’re not real? Well, that ruins all my plans.”
Hmmmm. I’m not sure what those plans were, but she was really bummed! I had no idea she had pertinent plans involving Leprechauns. The things parents don’t know about their kids these days!
Derek was very proud of his rainbow!
Ethan made one too!
Derek finished his rainbow this morning and hung it proudly on the easel for everyone to admire. Ethan and Alex made their own creations out of his leftover squares. Now our house is all ready for spring, bright and cheery and merry. Just don’t sit down at the dining room table… you just might stick to it.
What sort of projects do your kids love to do in the spring?
March is the Month of Musical Adventures!
Music does so much for a blooming mind, it should be a part of every child’s education. Not only are children who study music generally better at math, but it also builds self-confidence. It’s fun too. Alex has been playing the piano for about 1 1/2 years now, and this month we introduced a new instrument: the recorder. I ordered Alex a nice wooden recorder imported from Germany and several beginner’s books and we’ve had such a great time learning to play it together!
The recorder is an extremely simple instrument to play, and also one surprisingly few people know how to play. Yes, you do more than just blow and make loud, obnoxious sounds (all my kids are good at that). Once you learn the notes, it can make very beautiful music. Not only is it very inexpensive, but it builds a strong musical foundation: learning how to read music, interpret music markings, and practice notes. It allows one to practice tempo, note lengths, and more. While learning to play the recorder, my young students are mastering musical theory and terminology. A strong basis in music will make future instruments much easier to learn.
Oh So Helpful Bitty Sister!
Alex hasn’t been playing long, and already she can play dozens of cute songs very well. Sometimes I send her to her room to practice because the sound gets on my nerves after a while, but most times I absolutely love listening to her practice. She lights up with pride when she masters a new piece of music and practices for hours at a time some days. I can barely get her off her new instrument!
I’ve already noticed an improvement in her timing when she plays the piano. We’ve been practicing tempo with the old foot-tapping technique and it has really helped her out, both with the recorder and the piano. Alex is picking up this instrument so quickly. She loves it!
It has been so fun practicing the recorder with Little Miss. It’s very easy to me since I played the clarinet for many years and it’s quite similar. Alex is a natural musician and learns quickly. Bella loves “playing” too. She says “Woo woo!” with her mouth on the end of the recorder, pretending to play. Funny!
Ethan has not yet shown an interest in instruments, but Derek definitely has. Of course he just likes blowing into the recorder as hard as he can and making a very loud noise… but it’s a start, right? Music is so great for kids. I wish more kids got a strong basis in music education. It really is worth the time and effort!
Our First Attempt Making Dried Cinnamon Sugar Apples! Yummy and Nutritious to Boot!
Today marked our first attempt using the new food dehydrator and I’m happy to say it was a success! We made dried cinnamon sugar apples and they were great. Not only that, they are super nutritious and perfect snacks for little hands.
Hubby ordered a food dehydrator last week so that we can make healthy snacks for home and especially for camping trips. It arrived earlier this week and we picked up 3 bags of apples on sale yesterday at the commissary. This morning while the kids did school at the table, I brought over my cutting board, a bag of apples, a bowl, and a knife and began cutting the apples into thin strips. Holy cow… I need a cutting and paring device. It took me 2 hours to go through the bag!
Soon (relatively) the large mixing bowl was brimming full of sliced, cored, and peeled apple slices. The children’s tummies were brimming full of all the apple slices that fell apart. I soaked them for 10 minutes in a mixture of lemon juice and water to maintain the apple’s color and prevent browning. Next, I spread them out on a clean, large cutting board and sprinkled the apple slices with sugar and cinnamon. Into the dehydrator they went, 7 hours at 135 degrees.
Apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar before dehydrating
My Helpers
The apples finished dehydrating shortly after dinner. They were amazing! I’d say they beat store-bought dried apples. In fact, this is what happened to our bin of apples before I could grab the camera:
Going... Going... Gone!
Our first experiment with the food dehydrator was great. I can’t wait to try something else. I’ve got a pineapple and a pineapple-corer. Well, that and the other 2 bags of apples yet to be peeled, sliced, and cored. Hmmm… I really need one of those apple-peeling/ coring things.
Wipin’ Out The Shelves at Our Local Library– Read, Discover, and Support Your Local Library!
Our local librarians know us by name now and always ask what our topic of the week is when we walk through the doors of the children’s library. They are so helpful, and we never walk out with less than 30 books. That’s about 120 books a month, give or take. I’m really thankful for the amazing library system we have in Jacksonville and am nervous about orders partially because not many places in the US are quite as well-stocked as Jax. Our weekly library trip is an important part of our education.
Derek is learning to read too!
In addition to the random books the kids choose off the shelves and our theme books, we’re speeding along through our Mensa Kids Challenge. Join us at: http://mensaforkids.com/school_template.cfm?showPage=school_readeraward.cfm.
We’ve read so much more as a family since we started the challenge! It’s really quite amazing. The kids have been introduced to so many great classic children books that I loved as a child but had forgotten. Here’s a link to our reading list for K-3rd Grade- http://mensaforkids.com/ReaderAward/k_3.pdf. We have rediscovered books like Ferdinand and The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Mouse and the Motor Cycle and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, just to name a few. We’ve always been a family of readers, but this challenge has helped us take it to the next level! We’ve bonded and the kids have been introduced to many new ideas. I’ve really noticed a difference in Derek. That kid’s vocabulary has absolutely exploded!
It makes me sad to see our library’s budget slashed year after year. I think many people have forgotten how vitally important a well-stocked, well-staffed library is to our community. Not only does it offer free Internet and computer-training to those without, but it’s also a huge educational resource. Libraries introduce us to endless ideas. Where else would we find scores of books about butterflies, bears, beavers, kangaroos, deserts, or any other topic we would like to learn about? How else would the kids be able to read through 120+ unique books per month? It would be unaffordable. Libraries are available to our entire community and offer the same opportunities to people no matter their race, income, educational level, age, or affiliations. Libraries provide us access to all the information in the world… and it’s free.
Closing libraries closes opportunities for many people. Closing libraries tells people that reading isn’t important, and reading throughout a lifetime keeps the brain strong and the mind active. I think that libraries are vitally important to modern, civilized society.
Each time we visit, we pick out some books from our reading list and some related to our weekly topic. Alex has developed good library skills and is able to locate books based on their author and ask the librarian for help looking up a book she’s interested in. We try to get a good combination of fiction and nonfiction and also love books on tape. We grab a few classics each time as well as new picture books. We get books in English and books in French.
Reading is fundamental to modern society, and the more you read the better you get at it. The mind is a muscle and it needs exercise. The more you read and exercise your mind, the stronger it gets! Reading with children not only helps them learn to read, but it also teaches them to listen. It teaches them to think critically and develops their language skills. Reading educates us and introduces us to new ideas and concepts. Reading opens doors and broadens our horizons. Reading develops creativity and allows us to use our imaginations.
Take your kids to your local library and let them begin their journey of discovery. Check out the story times and free classes. Participate in summer reading programs this year and fill your bags with books to enjoy at home. Turn off the TV and read. You’ll be amazed at how much your children will grow and learn. Books are to children as miracle grow is to plants. It’s miraculous.
Baby Art! It Doesn’t Get More Adorable Than That :-)
22-month-old Isabella frequently reminds us that she’s “no baby.” She adamantly wants to get involved with school time rather than just play and will force herself upon the other children’s projects if I don’t set her up with something to do. If Alex is playing the piano, Bella must play too. If Ethan is reading, Bella must read that book. And if Derek is trying to do his animal habitat sticker book as he was yesterday, she must push her way in and rearrange his stickers. Needless to say, the other kids aren’t overly thrilled about this. Time for some baby projects!
We read scores of books. We sang and played with instruments. We went through dozens of colorful flashcards. Finally, I got out the foam farm stickers and construction paper and she went to town. I would pull the backing off and she would carefully consider where to put it, then apply it to the paper. Markers and gem stone stickers came out next. Isabella is definitely a creative child! She loves a project to occupy her.
I rather miss the days when she would nap while we did school, but those days are definitely gone. It’s time to look for more and more ways to involve Bella in school time. What should we call it? Baby school? Pre-pre school? Either way, she’s talking up a storm and determined to learn and explore. I don’t mind. I think I’ve got a smart cookie on my hands.
At this moment, Alex is practicing the recorder and Bella is following her around with another recorder, making noises with her mouth and pretending to play. “Bella, stop copying me!” Alex says in exasperation. “Why are you always copying me? You’re ruining my symphony!” Little sisters are pesky like that. At least she’s learning, though, right?
Bird Watching Adventures Throughout Africa and Wild Florida
While we did go bird watching yesterday, we didn’t have too much luck finding a variety of fowl. That’s largely because the kids are so loud. This morning we decided to go birding somewhere where we were guaranteed to see some birds: the zoo! Ethan brought his sketch book and Alex brought the older camera. Derek scribbled in his drawing pad during the drive and tired of it before we even reached the zoo. Bella brought herself and her dolly. Our mission? Find some interesting birds, preserve their portraits in either pencil or by camera, and talk about all we’ve learned about birds this week.
Although cloudy and breezy, it’s 84 degrees today in Jacksonville. It’s February. Strange, but I don’t mind. The kids were excited to go on a little safari and I was anxious to get some exercise, both for myself and for them. All in all, we walked the zoo for about two hours! That’s a lot for little legs!
We love the African Birds exhibit right inside the zoo. There are so many interesting birds to see and all in one spot. Ethan really likes to draw and was happy to have so many specimens. He was so cute standing there studying the birds, drawing on his drawing pad. Alex was excited to learn to use the camera better. She took about 300 pictures today! We talked a lot about how to zoom and come back to normal, how to hold the camera steady to take a picture, and how to use the flash. She’s a budding photographer!
Here are some random non-bird shots that I thought turned out nicely:
Our little adventure provided us with lots of opportunities to review things we’ve learned this week. We pointed out nests and talked about what they’re made of and what they’re used for. We saw that different birds make different kinds of nests. We talked about the purpose of feathers and how birds fly, their talons and beaks, and the way their bodies look. We talked about their different sizes, shapes, and colors. We discussed what they eat and how they take care of their babies. The kids were actively involved in the discussion and really learned a lot this week. Mission accomplished!
I brought my telephoto lens along today and had fun snapping pictures along with the kids. I’ve posted my favorites. I really never enjoyed bird watching before, but now it’s interesting to me. I guess I really just had to learn to slow down and smell the roses. Having a nice camera to capture the birds with helps. This is my type of “hunting.”
Nature observation is fantastic for the kids because it gives them a greater appreciation for living things. When we learn about how their bodies work, how they live and care for their young, and watch the interesting ways they move, eat, catch food, and sleep, they’re more than “just animals.” They’re living beings that share this great planet with us. The kids are learning to slow down and take in the world around them. Derek has a very long way to go with this, but Alex and Ethan are pros. Alex captures everything on her camera, and the most interesting things too. She was enthralled by different plants and how they contrasted with the sky behind them. She loved the plant and animal track impressions in the sidewalk and took some interesting photos of them. I love seeing the world through her eyes. It’s so fresh and new.
We’ve definitely been getting in our 10,000 steps per day lately! PE: check. Art: check. Science: Check. Plus, we listened to and sang along with our Classical Conversations memory work on the drive. Did I mention that Bella loves Latin conjugations? She sings along every time (to the best of her ability). It was a pretty multi-purpose school morning.
After a nice, healthy lunch, Ethan and Bella fell fast asleep. Alex listened to a Magic Treehouse book on tape about Mozart and Derek played with his animal stencils. At 3 pm, I need to get Ethan up and engage the kids in some book work time. The great thing about homeschooling is that our schedule is so flexible. If school lasts until 5 pm, so be it. It doesn’t mean that we’ve been slaving away over textbooks all day. The world is our classroom, and it’s brimming with exciting new things to see, do, and experience.
Before heading home, we walked through the front-gate gift shop. We found a colorful book about Florida birds and grabbed it. It’ll be great to learn what sort of birds are in our area. We already spotted a few in the book that we see regularly in our yard. I also found a habitat sticker book and some zoo animal stencils for Derek’s science time. There are so many cute things in that shop! Dangerous.
Another day done, another outing accomplished. The kids and I are both a bit sleepy. I think that’s the mark of a good day, don’t you?
Little Hands + Bright Paint Sets= Colorfully Unique Birdhouses!
Bird houses are adorable symbol of spring, don’t you think? Our flower bed birdfeeder is brimming with activity, hosting a wide variety of wild birds throughout the day. I thought it would be really cute if each of the kids decorated their own birdhouse for the flower bed too. I picked up some adorable, small wooden birdhouses at Michaels over the weekend for only $1 each. Today we got out the paints and brushes and got busy painting!
Each child had their own paint set and a variety of brushes. Alex chose the cottage birdhouse, Derek the plain birdhouse, and Ethan the barn. Bella didn’t get one this year as she’s still quite young and more likely to paint herself than the birdhouse. I had Derek take off his shirt and don a painting apron instead. As expected, his entire work area as well as part of his arms, face, and hair were covered in paint by project’s end.
Each child’s creation was vastly different. Derek mixed brown, yellow, and green together, splashed it onto the wood, and finished his birdhouse quickly. Ethan chose two colors and painted steadily. Alex took a very long time, adding lots of detail. I think that says a lot about each of their personalities!
Here are our birdhouses after hours of drying:
Derek's Birdhouse
Alex's Birdhouse
Ethan's Birdhouse
This was a very fun and inexpensive project that thoroughly occupied my little learners for the better part of an hour. Tomorrow we’ll see if the globs of paint are dry and apply a protective coat. Then we’ll set them up in the flower bed to enjoy. I’m sure they’re much cuter than they are functional, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
I love it when the spring birds come out in force. There will be plenty to look at right outside our little window.
I Spy a Cardinal! Bird Walks and Forest Adventures in the Florida Wilderness
It was unusually warm outside today, even for Florida. At 9 am, the temperature was already above 70 degrees. It is technically still winter, right? We began our school day with a “bird walk.” Drawing pads and pencils in hand, we headed out to the NAS Jacksonville nature trails.
As we neared the trails, we spotted a jolly red cardinal! The bigger kids began drawing to the best of their abilities. Derek scribbled a bit, then threw his drawing pad under the stroller. I told them to stand quietly a moment and listen to the different bird songs. There were many varieties!
We saw surprisingly few birds out and about, probably because Derek was so darn loud. I reminded him that if he was loud, he would frighten the wildlife away. There were plenty of butterflies, though! They really liked Alex’s hair flower and flittered and fluttered about her head.
Alex and Ethan drew lots of birds, plants, and butterflies throughout our walk. After about 20 minutes or so, all the drawing pads were stored under the stroller and the kids ran, explored, and frolicked along the trail. They got a lot of exercise!
Our forest adventure lasted an hour and a half. The kids got in some great science time, a bit of art, and lot of physical fitness time too. They were all quite tired by the time we meandered home, ready to focus on some school work. Bella was ready for a good, long nap.
We love exploring and spending time together in the great outdoors. Perhaps eventually I can even convince them to tone down the volume and we’ll see some interesting Florida wildlife. Besides for gators… I really don’t want to see any gators. A cardinal or two will always do.
Bye, Bye, Butterflies, Bye!
Our butterflies have set out into the world, soaring into the sky above Jacksonville and into the great blue yonder. It was kind of sad to see them go, but wonderful too.
Our last chrysalis hatched on Sunday and we’ve been enjoying our four active painted lady butterflies. We gave them a piece of orange to suck the nectar. It was really interesting to watch! The weather warmed a bit today and although it’s cloudy, it’s not raining. It was time to let our butterflies out into the world to enjoy the rest of their short lives. We read that an adult butterfly lives for 14-21 days. Rather sad, isn’t it?
As soon as we unzipped the butterfly habitat, the most anxious butterfly fluttered right out. The remaining three were not so interested and needed some urging. Each eventually flew carefully out and landed not far outside of the habitat, testing their wings. One of the butterflies kept landing on us, as if he didn’t want to leave at all. Bella squealed with delight each time one of the butterflies moved. The butterflies left one at a time, giving us to time enjoy each one individually.
Eventually, each of the butterflies took off and fluttered into the sky.
Our butterfly and ladybug experiences were phenomenal learning experiences. We released our ladybugs into the flower bed today as well. They are crawling merrily about the bushes, looking for an aphid snack. The children learned a lot about how things grow and change and gained a greater appreciation for living things. No matter how small, every life is worth something.
We’re keeping our butterfly habitat in case we decide to do this again. I definitely think we will. This is a project we could enjoy year after year as the younger kids grow up and begin to learn more about their world. Derek learned so much from our studies. Just this morning he was explaining to me how a caterpillar grows and changes into a butterfly…. for the millionth time. It sure made an impression on him!
Bye, bye, butterflies, bye! We will miss you.
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The Butterflies and Ladybugs Have Hatched!
Exciting news! Our butterflies and ladybugs have hatched! The ladybugs have been breaking free from their pupa throughout the week and emerging full grown. Their spots emerge over a day or so and their shells harden to protect their soft, filmy flying wings. I haven’t been able to get a super great picture, but here’s what they look like today:
We studied lady bugs last week for science, but I figured I wouldn’t post pictures until they actually did something interesting. The larva turned into stationary pupa about a week ago and just sat there, transforming on the inside. We read books about the ladybug lifecycle and found some great related printables at www.enchantedlearning.com. Learning about ladybugs from our books and literature really added a lot of depth to our experiment, and the hands-on aspect of our science experiment made the project very meaningful!
Look what we made!
Learning About Ladybugs
Alex got a shot of me reading to the crew
The butterflies have been resting within their cocoons for about a week or so too, peacefully sitting on the desk and nearly forgotten. I was gathering the children’s drawing pads this afternoon, looked up, and this is what I saw:
Two tiny butterflies fluttered their colorful wings from within the mesh habitat! Two more cocoons are yet to hatch. The kids ran over to see the new butterflies. I gently set the habitat on the middle of the table and all four kids crowded around to see the miracle.
Our fun insect experiment is coming to a close. The kids have learned so much about how living things grow and change. The child who got the most out of it was Derek, I think. He talks about the insects a lot and also compares their changing forms to how he is changing and growing up. Score!
We’re going to release our insects early next week when the rain stops and the sun brightens beautiful Florida once again.
I think we’ll miss our little friends. It has been an eye-opening experience and I’d recommend it to anyone with little kids.
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Alex’s Adventures in Art! Today’s Lesson: Shadowing
Every Friday afternoon, the children all gather around our dining room table for an art lesson. Last week we drew geometric animals, turning basic shapes like circles and triangles into birds and caterpillars. Today the boys practiced drawing shapes on their drawing pads and Alex moved on to something more advanced: shadowing.
We’re working through the text Art Basics for Kids- The ABC’s of Art by Sharon Jeffus and really like it. I wasn’t sure how to help the children take their drawing to the next level and this really helps guide the way. Today’s lesson was A is for Apple. We transformed a basic circle into an apple, learning how to shadow with a basic pencil to add shape and depth. Alex drew numerous apples and honed her shadowing skills on her drawing pad. Then, when she was ready, we got out a piece of construction paper for today’s challenge: draw an apple on a table and add shadowing to bring the picture to life.
This is what we got:
Alex's Apple on a Table
I was beyond thrilled with the results and Alex was too. She drew numerous other pictures throughout the evening, experimenting with shadowing in new and exciting ways. Hubby was really impressed with Alex’s drawing when he came home from work. She’s only 7 and can already draw better than him. Now… does that mean she’s good or he’s really bad?
