A New Rhythm

This week was a little off with Labor Day, having to watch Abigail Tuesday and Wednesday, and then court on Thursday (traffic ticket), but I'm sure our rhythm will fall a little bit more into place next week. We did start preschool on Tuesday for Eaden and she loves it. There is not too much of a difference to our days. I read a lot less blogs, blog less myself, and spend more time with the kids suggesting and guiding activities. They usually are all about doing them. The weather has cooled down considerably (highs around 90-93) which means we are spending a lot more time outdoors. I can even kick them out back and they will stay which allows me to get a little cleaning done (or reading, knitting, relaxing, etc). However, the temps are supposed to rise again next week, there is no rain in sight, and forest fires are everywhere. Besides the fires, trees are dying like crazy from the drought. It's really getting old. Anyway, here are some moments from the week:

Eaden on her first day of preschool.

 We took the autumn books outside to read (yes I realize it is not yet officially autumn but we can pretend).

We painted some acorns.

And then decided to draw some acorns.

We collected acorns and created "acorn math."

We went for wagon rides.

Played hopscotch.

Eaden loves to write.

We painted some pots.

 Planted some veggies for fall.

My husband took off of work Thursday so I could go to court. After my wonderful morning there, I took Naia for a nature walk. Eaden stubbed her toe pretty bad at the beach house and then restubbed it in the same place riding her scooter the other day. So she didn't want to wear shoes. Her and Taven went with my husband to get a goat for the deep freezer my brother-in-law gave us a few weeks ago.

This morning, we're making bread from Soulemama's new book, Rhythm of the Family.

Let me add a picture of Taven, poor thing.

I am so happy and so thankful to have homeschooling as an option. I think that what I dislike most about public and a lot of private schools is the herding the kids around, keeping them calm, keeping them inside, lining them up with their hands behind their backs, etc. It's a colossal waste of time and completely unnatural. The teacher to child ratio here in the home is 1:3 and that allows for a lot of free time to play, run around, camp, think, explore, ...live. So much of what I know I learned on my own, sitting alone in my tent reading and writing. I would get so angry that no one ever taught me much of anything that was important. I was angry that I got such a late start on learning. Personally, I would have been thankful for someone to guide me in the right direction or give me something to read I would be interested in. That's one of the reasons I'm not all about letting the kids guide themselves. I guided myself most of my life (well maybe the schools misguided me. it's all so confusing) and it got me confused and searching. Confused and searching is not a bad thing, I just wish it would have happened earlier. People always say, "you're fine. You went through public schools, and you turned out great." Yes I did, thanks! But it was not because I went to public school. I went through public school getting into tons of trouble, doing drugs, and waiting for the bell to ring. I always knew that things weren't right in the world, that I wanted to be different, but I didn't know what wasn't right and I didn't know who it was that I wanted to be. People say "your kids are going to miss out on this and on that..." Who gives a sh@#! They would miss out on so much more if they were locked in a school building all day. Yes, I realize that some public schools are better than others, that there are some great private schools, and that everyone has their own unique situation and experience. I'm just talking about myself and my family. We are going to have the times of our lives and we are going to do it as a family.

Sorry that was so long, but I thought it would be easier to do one long post than a bunch of little ones. Hope you all had a great week and have an even better weekend!

Labor Day Weekend @ The Beach House

Thankful for friends and family. Life is good.

No rhythm, just chaos.

OMG, the amount of times I've had to spell rhythm in the last day or so! It is seriously the hardest word to spell. ANYWAY, I was reading a post over at Apple of the Forest and it totally gave me the idea for this post....to document the chaos in our day. I admit, it is our plan to create some rhythm around here come next Tuesday (not yet!), but I won't be totally upset if it doesn't happen. So, here's what happens on pretty much a  daily basis:

The kids jump on the couch...A LOT!

and dribble basketballs.

Those tables get turned over about 20 times each day. 

They take out all of the pots and pans.

Taven always makes sure to put on his lip gloss.

I also have to watch this little booger.

The girls dress-up.

Taven crawls up into the sink.

Naia pretends she's a witch

and then heads downstairs....on her stomach.

And yes! Our walls and carpet really are that dirty. Carpet makes me want to barf. It will be gone...one day.

OH WAIT! We do have some rhythm! Well, I do.

A Preschool Surprise

I made this nature walk watchamacallit for Eaden to get her excited about preschool (which is what we are calling the development of a daily, weekly, and monthly rhythm of sorts). We plan on starting with our so-called preschool/rhythm after Labor Day AND we will be kicking our nature walks into high gear soon with the temps decreasing!!!!!!

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations, with Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory,
with Crafty Confessions, with Sew Cute Tuesday at Creative Itch and with The Magic Onions.

Free Thrills

I decided to take my kids to the Children's Museum yesterday. I almost never take them anywhere that costs money. The last thing I remember doing that costs money was taking them to see Rio when it came out. However, we only did that because Eaden received a gift certificate to the theater for her birthday. So, guess what? They whined almost the entire time. They wanted to leave and go swimming. Why spend money? I mean really. It is not needed...ever. That's a good thing.

Creating energy

The damn plastic boat kept breaking

fun for a while

the girls' favorite part was pretending they were vets

grooming

learning where our food comes from...a supermarket

Well we didn't stay long. Off to Discovery Green downtown for some FREE water play and FREE parking. They could have stayed here for hours.

Lesson of the day (which I already knew of course): Kids DO NOT cost a lot of money. Total myth. Not only do they not cost a lot, but they are much happier just being FREE.

Dread Retirement

BEFORE

AFTER

Goodbye dreads. It's been real. I REALLY hate pictures of myself, but I suppose this occasion calls for one. So I made them as small as possible. The haircut is super short, but I don't really care. I'm getting too old to care I think.