Math Manipulatives

Math manipulative at their best!

Interested in CM?

There are a lot of really great resources available for learning about Charlotte Mason and her method of education, but some of my favorites come from Sonya at SimplyCharlotteMason. She put together my first and favorite CM resource, "Laying Down Rails", about the value of becoming people of good habit. She offers some wonderful helps for beginning CM users. One is "Education Is..." which is a free ebook download, and now she is offering her new ebook, "Masterly Inactivity" for free. If you haven't read much about CM, you'll be pleasantly surprised and delighted with this topic! Go for it. It's free!

Jesus, Let Us

Jesus, let us come to know you

Let us see you face to face.

Touch us, hold us, use us, mold us,

Only let us live in you.

Jesus, draw us ever nearer,

Hold us in your loving arms.

Wrap us ever in your presence,

When the end comes, bring us home.

Michael Card

May You Be Lifted Up

I saw this over at A Peaceful Day and had to share it! How beautiful!
You will be lifted up.

Grrrr!

I hate it when that happens!

Sketch Tuesday

We finally participated in Harmony Art Mom's Sketch Tuesday. Son drew this wonderful sketch for the theme "Something That Goes Fast". Here is the link to the post with all the sketches. He had a lot of fun doing this drawing of his dad on his motorcycle "before the crash".

Spelling Changes

Charlotte Mason has spurred me on to further action in dealing with our "dreaded" spelling. We've been pretty consistent with our SWR (Spell to Write and Read) and although I credit it with teaching my children to read and spell well, the multi-year repetition has taken it's toll! (To say the least!).

In the spirit on the newest member of our household, I have come to a few conclusions. The first thing I realized is that while mastery is all well and fine, mindless repetition causes more harm than good. Next, I realized that as a source of great discomfort, having son continue to battle this demon on his own (for he was doing spelling by himself) was not working; that I should take him, and it, in hand and love my son. Lastly, AND I REPEAT...being a slave to a curriculum will not stimulate a love of learning, it will squelch it...with tears, and hurt that you would never imagine could happen because of a little ole thing called "spelling".

Our new routine brought indescribable joy to the countenance of my boy! I dictate (no more cd's) the words and sentences and son spells them orally (no writing). Any that he misses, I write on 3x5 cards with all markings. Son then copies (from the cards, which he assures me is "way" easier than copying from the book. No more quizes.) each word one time (no markings--he "hates" the markings. This doesn't concern me because he "knows" them well. This is our 3rd year.)

The next day, I test him orally again (he has a lap-sized white board in case it's a difficult word that he would like to write out; he is very oral--audio learner). Any that he misses, he writes twice. As the number of words he is working on diminishes, we add from the next list and gently move from one to the next.

The following day, if he misses any for a third time, he writes the word with the markings once, and then twice as a word, while writing words missed for the first and second time, once or twice. He usually has all but the most difficult by this time.

We will continue to drill from the stack; use the diagnostic tests occasionally, and review. He really doesn't need more than that. After we complete all the lists in this matter, with sufficient progress during reviews as well, we'll discontinue the book. I fully expect that it will be this spring. Though the program encourages a fourth year. I think he's proven he can spell and we will be done.

Let me add here that daughter is in her 1st pre-year of beginning with SWR. She is doing wonderfully and I fully intend to follow the program with her pretty much the same way I did with son. Wouldn't trade it for any other spelling program!

What Though the Radiance...

What though the radiance which was once so bright

Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind

Excerpt from: Ode: Intimations of Immortality
From Recollections of Early Childhood: X
By William Wordsworth

Not Just A Doxology

We are currently reading our second book in the Mr. Pipes series, by Douglas Bond, "Mr. Pipes And The British Hymn Makers." Wonderful books! They awakened even more of a love of hymns in all of us. We were very surprised to learn that one of our favorite calls to worship, the Doxology, has a little more to it than we were always taught: several more verses, in fact:

All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.

O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

O when shall I, in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And hymns divine with angels sing,
All praise to thee, eternal King?

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Beautiful lyrics of a poem. The original music is not what we now sing the last verse to, but we still like it and are singing all the verses to it.

Discovering exactly who it was who wrote these words is amazing! The history is nothing but God's great story. Thomas Ken knew what truth and devotion truly was.

Freckles

These are my freckle-faced wonders, with fresh freckles from the Florida sunshine!

I rejoice in knowing our Heavenly Father counts each one and while I tell my children how beautiful they are, freckles and all, I also tell them that "pretty is as pretty does". May their hearts and minds reflect the love of Jesus Christ in all they think and do. Father, make them wholly yours!

Ashes to Ashes

This is the day that my Mom died 9 years ago.
It was a sunny day and much warmer than today! Her death was expected, yet a surprise. Is anyone every really ready for someone to be gone forever?

My Dad had her creamated and spread her ashes beneath a beautiful tulip tree in the backyard of the family home that they had shared for 40 years. But he waited five years to do it.
A year after that he re-married and sold the family home.

I decided to dig her up.
Don't laugh! It just so happened that there was beautiful soft earth and moss growing under that beautiful shade tree. I thought it might be fitting to fill a beautiful pot and re-plant the Impatiens that my son had just given me for Mother's Day.
So I did it. I dug her up.

Every year on this date, she blooms for me.
Miss you, Mama.

The Best Vacation Book

I told you a bit about our wonderful trip to Florida, but there was so much more to tell. We are a "driving" family. We drive everywhere! Our kids have always traveled very well by car and it's somewhat of a family tradition to make car trips an adventure. We are known to stop spontaneously when seeing historic signposts and hours in the car have rarely distressed us. This trip was 18/hrs one way. So round trip, plus four days poolside/beachside gave me lots of reading time. Granted, not all of it went wholly un-interrupted, yet it was quality time to read! Time, I'm not likely to get again (in that quantity) anytime soon.

I've been carrying Karen Andreola's book, "A Charlotte Mason Companion" around with me for weeks. I'd read a paragraph here and there and underline a thought, yet I couldn't really sink my teeth into its content more than being totally enthralled with the "idea". We know from Charlotte Mason that "ideas" are pretty vital.

So now I finally had time to read. Amazingly, I almost didn't take the book with me, but I'm so glad I did! Inspiration and excitement came from every passage and even the chapters I'd initially skipped (while treating this book as a reference) touched me and gave me a fresh perspective.

The fact that we'd already begun applying many of the CM principles in recent weeks, just made the concepts more appealing. I no longer needed to be convinced of the truth of Charlotte's ideas. The fact that this would be the best educational concept for our family, added to the consistent teaching of Biblical Principles, can't be denied. My reading and processing of this information was further advantaged by discussions with my husband as I read. He'd seen the difference that just changing our schedule has accomplished, so he was easy to convert. His insights into our children always encourage me and help to refine my viewpoint.

I think one of the ideas that struck me most was regarding atmosphere in the home. Karen says,

"How much influence the world has over our children really depends on what standards we set at home--the standards by which the chidren are accustomed to measure things--and the strength of the family ties."

Standards are not just about discipline and obedience, but about habit. In layman's terms, what we let our children get away with. Believe me! I've had my share of telling, retelling, and telling again to say with authority that it does not build character or relationships. It does cause consternation and grief for the Mama. Training our children in basic disciplines of diligence and listening will most assuredly change the atmosphere of any home!

I always tell my friends how strongly I believe that God gives us everything we need to homeschool. I know that He is making a way for us to better mold and train our children to glorify Him, not just now, but always. Like any journey into the seemingly unknown, we must keep our eyes on the light--the Light of the World--so that our narrow path can be more easily illuminated.

I could tell you so much more about this book! I'm sure you'll hear it referred to often if you hang around here much. I highly recommend it and hope that you don't wait for a long car trip and vacation to read it.

Everybody Doesn't Know

Not everybody knows that there are whole movies on YouTube! I know this because I didn't know it until the other day.

Karen Andreola's book "A Charotte Mason Companion" recommended a certain movie--Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" (1935 with James Cagney & a very young Micky Rooney!)--as a way to gently draw your family into Shakespeare. Well, the library didn't have it so I started to look online. Lo and behold! There it is on YouTube. Now, it's in a ton of parts, but if you click on high quality and full screen, you get a pretty good viewing for free! (Note: Blockbuster.com has it too!)

I was so surprised to find it there, that I thought I'd look up an old movie that was a favorite from my teen years. It's a movie that has never been released on VHS or DVD--I know because every couple of years I think of it and try to find it. The movie is "Margie" starring Jeanne Crane. It's an old musical that has some favorite diddies: "A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich, & You!" and "April Showers"...

April Showers

Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining,
have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know,
It's raining violets.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird,
And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

And what do you know?! There it was. I enjoyed watching it and singing along. It was interesting watching the story unfold because I hadn't recalled much about it other than the music. It's about a high school girl who falls in love with her teacher and he with her. Spoiler alert: They eventually married, though there was NOTHING sordid about it. It was interesting and entertaining!

So when you can't find a movie, don't forget to check YouTube!

Apostles' Creed

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

We're Back!

I'm back from vacation and I must confess, I've stared at this blank screen for a couple of days trying to come up with clear enough thinking to get something of value down! I want to tell you all about our vacation and, more importantly, about the fantastic book I read while sitting in the sun (and in the car!). So I suppose I should just get at it!


We have good friends, that do a timeshare in Pompano Beach, who invited us for a few days. We spent four totally lazy days sitting in the sun and walking on the beach. It was very out of the ordinary for us as we are "movers". We always have places to go and things to see. Being in one place with "nothing" needing to be done, was quite a switch. We survived, however, and thank God daily for spf50! We found some awesome nature finds that we dutifully carried home with us to examine at a future date, and daughter (5yo) learned to swim fearlessly. Both my children came home covered in chlorine rash.

Our time there ended with husband having a terrible allergic reaction to shrimp. He was very sick all of our last night and most of the way home. Food allergies are nothing to handle lightly, that is for sure. It's too bad restaurants don't get that and aren't careful!

Even with that, he gathered enough stamina to take us to Ft. Myers and the Ford-Edison Winter Estates. I remembered going there as a teenager and was anxious to show my family the largest Banyan Tree in the continental US. It is incredible!



The estate was nothing like I remembered it. They've added museum buildings and gone "public". It was expensive to go to for what it was. Especially considering they rarely talked about Edison, but focused on the local botanics (though I was interested in that) and who else lived there over the years. We were disappointed. The museum was neat though. They had a pictoral exhibit from the Smithsonian that was wonderful.


We will miss the beach though...and the pool. We saw one glorious sunrise from the beach which is inspiring, to say the least. We saw lots of shells, a few fish, the Goodyear blimp, & wayyy too much skin! We have sand places that sand just shouldn't be and now the children are fretting because their skin is drying out from our awful cold winter. We are officially counting the days till summer! The smell of salt air is very relaxing. The breezes are divine and the time to read was priceless!

And that brings me to the book I read: A Charlotte Mason Companion, by Karen Andreola. Wow! What a great book. My brain is very full and will need to purge itself in another post. If you are in the arctic north like us, enjoy the pictures and think warm thoughts.

What To Do?

My family is vacationing at the moment. The sun is shining, though ice is coming down at home. We are eating sand (I hate when that happens!) and drinking sunscreen. But it's ALLLLlll good! I've got Karen Andreola's "Charlotte Mason's Companion" and it is a FAbulous read. Sooo much to think about, which is about all that I have to do while here! :) I'll be back to regular posting in no time for as great as Florida sun is, it too shall pass.

On The Twelfth Day of Christmas

Today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas. That may be rather upsetting and disconcerting to many of you who happen to think that the Twelve Days of Christmas are prior to Christmas. They are not. They are the twelve days following Christmas and they end on the Epiphany.

Now, traditionally, the Epiphany is the date that is celebrated as the day the three Wise Men arrived to meet their newborn king: Jesus. We know from scripture that though it makes a great song, story and fun way to incorporate three Wise Men in our Christmas activities, it's not true. And the song? Let's just say I've been over the "Lords a'Leaping" for awhile now (though I do really like the Muppets/John Denver version!)

But that's not the reason for this post. The reason for this post is because it's January 6th and that's my birthday! It's a day in which this child of the King is treated like a Queen (or should be! LOL).

I'm much more introspective on my birthday than I should be. Of this I am most certain! I dwell on memories and mushy dreams. I dream of the last treat I will "ever eat again" for the "whole year" because I couldn't make that "promise" on the New Year because, hay!, I was going to have a birthday the next week. I envision the lies I'll have to tell my children when they ask my age. Son truly believes I'm 29...bless his heart. Father, forgive me for this wretched lie! But then again, I "feel" 29. Okay. Not so much! Truly I'm beginning to feel every single one of my 44 years. They hang on me in the form of lose skin, poor eyesight, gray hair, and the ole bad back!

Well, I've earned every single crease and roll! I've diligently scrubbed my hands to dryness in the care and feeding of my family and I've worn every ponytail as a tribute to the time I don't have but take to fix my daughter's hair.

Yes sireee. So. Today is my birthday and I really just miss my mom, because, let's face it, birthdays really are about moms! The ones who love us even though we are wretched sinners in need of a good beating. The moms who never, ever, ever forget it's our birthday...unless they're dead (which mine happens to be--did I mention I really miss my mom?). The moms who tell us over and over every single second of the day we were born and they smile and they sigh and they look at us growing older and nothing else matters but that it's our birthday.

Wow! Was she ever young! At yet she was was guess how much?
29 in this picture! For real. Really!

And indeed she DID gift me the love of books!!

So that's what I'm thinking about today and for the last few days. It doesn't help that my mom died just ten days after my birthday. The last thing she did was give me my birthday gift.

Today's my birthday and I'm thankful to be alive and with the ones I love most. I'm so thankful that God is greater than my wrinkles and bad back. I'm ever, ever so thankful that He brought me into this world to one day be wife and mother to my blessings. I promise, I'm not gonna cry...much!

Honestly, today is just another day, except that it is the Twelfth Day of Christmas! (for all you bloggers that drove me totally nuts with your Twelve Days BEFORE Christmas junk! heehee!).

I will rejoice and be glad in it! :)

Charotte Moved In

Charlotte Mason has indeed moved into our house. She is here to stay and our whole family could not be happier. Even the husband is singing her praises and ready to take us on a family vacation to Ambleside, England just to be "near" her!

Seriously. We are a family that has begun a beautiful metamorphosis. Our transformation is slow and mesmerizing, but never painful. I've never been a "one step at a time" type of person--more the "all or nothing" sort. However, I am genuinely appreciative of each step of progress and I'm not pushing! We have yet to let our later afternoons in on our new family member, but I have high hopes for upcoming days. The resources we have gathered are now our friends, rather than our enemies.

Training has officially begun! Training of good habits. We're being oh so careful not to let things slide, but to stand and count them in the moment. I look forward to seeing where we go a year from now, or even a few weeks!

Just so you know...we haven't had one "I hate school" OR even an "I hate math" since she came and conquered! We are sooo going to England!

Read Bible?

I've been contemplating re-reading the Bible thru again this year. Though I read the Bible last year, I didn't read ALL of the Bible last year so it's been two whole years since I had the joy of reading Leviticus!

Someone posted this really interesting article on reading through the Bible in a year. But, nah... I really just want to read some every day and leave something to the Holy Spirit's leading. (Though I'm sure his plan is brilliant and inspired!). And if I was going to be totally honest, I like the things the author mentions contemplating, but I'm not sure you need to read it 47 times to get that. But what do I know?!! :)

Anyway, I've used the one (I think) he spoke of that is always posted at Homeschool World (though the 2009 one isn't up yet). I googled plans and found this great site that has all kinds of options and versions to choose from.

I decided on the chronological ESV. I have four days to catch up on, but no biggie! I've always enjoyed reading the Word!

On top of this, I also found this great series of posts from Understanding Charlotte where she has used the Catherine Vos book, "Child's Story Bible" (love that book!) and created a Bible reading plan for youngsters. I'm not sure how it compares with what we're using for our Bible time, but I do want some kind of a list for son to read through on his own.

You Can't Do That

There are few things in this world that I despise more than someone telling me I can't do something that I really want to do. I come by it honestly.

My mother was crippled with a disability most of her life--Scoliosis. Having grown up in the cut-em-up era of medicine, her numerous back and spinal surgeries did little to help, and a lot to further debilitate her. Later she became addicted to multiple pain medications, nicotine, and alcohol in her search for relief. Though she tried with all that was in her, to put herself in God's hands alone, she was constantly defeated by her fleshly pain. The "S" shaped curvature of her spine caused a shift in her vital organs, including her heart and lungs. Complicated by her smoking, her lung capacity was zilch. Her heart stopped numerous times in the last year of her life. She suffered endlessly and died young.

Just six months before she died, she rallied for the birth of her first grandson, my 9yo. We believe she probably lived just for that time. She died just 9 years ago in January and it seems like yesterday.

It has all come back to me in a furor over the last year or so as my own Scoliosis has begun to progress and cause me difficulties. Though I'm under the care of a great Chiropractor, as well as Thee Great Physician, reality is reality. A bad car accident a few years back, carrying two children and my ever-increasing age has begun to take it's toll. The pain has increased along with the list of what I can't do, while what I can do seems such a short list! My heritage is my constant companion; a constant warning alarm in my head and in my heart.

It was just this week that my own Doctor threw the "wheel-chair" threat at me. Having also attempted to treat my mom without much success because of the damage done by surgery, he knows what I face in my own mind. As I face the new year, and another birthday this coming week, I can not deny, any longer, my disability.

Thou shalt not bend.
Don't pick that up. Don't move that over. Don't close the dishwasher with your hands. Don't look inside the dryer. Don't look under the table. Don't plant those flowers. Don't pull those weeds.

Thou shalt not lift.
Don't pick up your daughter. Don't pick up your friend's baby. Don't carry that load of books at the book sale or convention. Don't lift that laundry basket. Don't carry that anything!

Thou shalt not pull.
No book carts! No wagons. No lower freezer doors.

Thou shalt not push.
No grocery carts. None. Not even Target. (Especially not Target!) No lawn mowers. No vacuums.

Thou shalt not engage in activities which take me to the point of physical exhaustion: fatigue is thy enemy.
No long shopping trips. No tornado house cleaning. No prolonged activity of any kind.

Thou shalt not...
Turn around in the car to see the children.
Face the husband while he is driving.
Go bowling.
Lift that case of water.
Ride Space Mountain.
Do "certain things" in "certain ways."
Walk down the stairs without holding the railing--ever!
Get pregnant. (Oh yes! That was a mandate I won't discuss.)
Walk on ice.
Etc.
Etc.

Thou shalt put thy hands down before sitting.
Thou shalt walk.
(Thou shalt leave the treadmill open.)
Thou shalt swim.
Period.

While I don't believe that my condition mirrors my mom's in many ways, I know that it's not something I can ignore. It will not cause addiction, unless it's to more chocolate. I'm not my mother. It is not a death sentence. It is not a curse for every bad thought I ever had toward my mother. It is just the curse of degradation caused by a sinful nature. It is temporary, as long as I'm on this earth. It is hereditary, so my own dear children will need to be educated.

It is not reversible, but it is treatable.

It is limiting, but not limitless.

It does hurt often, but God supplies all my needs.

No. I don't like being told what I can't do. I will strive with my whole being, constant prayer and the support of my husband, children, and friends to remember my limitations on days when book sales and babies are beckoning. I will anchor myself to my Source of Peace that surpasses even my own understanding and strive to be thankful instead of fearful. I will feel sorry for myself from time to time, but always I will have my hope in Christ alone, rather than myself.

One day I'll join my mother in heaven (hopefully a long, long time from now!) and together with our heavenly, straight spines, we'll continue our rejoicing. For today, son will vacuum and push my grocery cart. Husband will carry our daughter and maybe even mow the lawn! My feet will serve as hands for dishwashers and dryer doors. Weeds will grow. The floors will be messier longer. The "lunge" will take up residence. But me?

I'll still be dancing! Thou slowly and not for very long! :)

Do Art (Not Crafts)

I've always had a "bent" in favor of art & music, though that is not synonymous with "talent". It has never been a secret to me that teaching art and music increases a child's abilities in many areas. Numerous studies have proven it, despite the decline of such subjects in the public schools--or maybe "in spite" of them. Then there is just the beauty aspect, which in itself has value. It is fine, it is fun, it just makes sense when there's time.

Ah! The time crutch. I've fought that battle for years. Now I think I'm finally winning it with our Charlotte Mason style learning. Short lessons have made all the difference, but truly putting a focus on the love of learning and not pushing canned curriculums and workbooks, we've been able to begin truly learning about things we love (along with math! :)).

Here are a few of the fabulous FREE resources that other moms have shared. They are so good, so easy to follow, and so important, that you don't want to miss out on them!

Jenny @ Jenny Wren's Nest just re-posted her great 36 week artist study she's calling "Waiting To Be Discovered".

Then there is Sherri who shares her lesson plans for using Mona Brookes' book, "Drawing With Children".

Barb @ Harmony Art Mom also shares her version of using "Drawing With Children" in more of a nature journal style. She has a ton of great art, music and nature lessons available on her site. Be sure to check it out before you buy anything!

I'm really realizing how important it is to have quality art supplies available all the time. If you are out of watercolor paper, it's kind of hard for the kids to make you a beautiful water color painting of that bird they just saw (or their doll having a tea party!). Though that is truly a whole other subject, I recommend the following always be on hand. This is not in any way a comprehensive list!

Firmly planted in their place:
Scissors
Rulers
Hole punch
Stapler
Plastic lids for mixing paint colors
Place to create!
Art portfolio for each child
Art books for inspiration. (We love our art calendar!)

Things that come & go & require replenishing:
Good quality colored pencils & sharpener (preferably a manual one that won't eat up your investment!)
Water color pencils (these are SO fun!)
Pastels
Quality (& numerous!) paint brushes of varying sizes.
Real drawing pencils & an art eraser Water colors
Primary colors of paint
Quality colored markers in various widths
Quality colored paper/construction paper
Colored chalks
Water color paper (this was hard for me because it's not cheap, but other paper doesn't receive water color paint well. Stock up when it's on sale. )
Other types of art paper/Sketchbooks
glue (don't use glue sticks if you can help it! They are easy, but dry out and paper peel apart!)

Let me just add that when my kids have been left to their own devices totally, with no direction, for long periods of time (months!) they argue, fuss and accomplish very little. There is little peace and joy. All this CM stuff has had a huge impact on that aspect of our lives. Right now my kids, with a friend, are painting beautiful pictures while listening to "Your Story Hour" online! Smiles all around!

I'll also say that I absolutely despise "crafts". I agree with Charlotte Mason that handicrafts need to be beautiful and useful. While I have supplied a certain amount of googly eyes, pipe cleaners, craft foam, etc., I leave their use totally up to the little 'uns and when they're gone, they will probably not return.

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today I thought it would be a great idea to take my kids to the ice skating rink for the first time. I carefully held the hand of my 4yo and my 8yo son took off with a friend. Within minutes we were headed to the Emergency Room. His concussion caused a temporary (Praise the Lord!) short-term memory loss that was incredibly frightening. I'm happy to report he quickly recovered and will have nothing more to do with thoughts of ice skating.

Beginning Nature Books

We have really been enjoying Jim Arnosky's nature books. He was recommended to us by someone in blogland and though I'd never heard of him, I'm all about a good recommendation!

The illustrations are incredible and the information is just right for us want-to-be learners! We have particularly enjoyed the Crinkleroot books like "I Was Born in a Tree and Raised By Bees". (Daughter really liked how he taught us how to grow our own popcorn!) You can see a sample from one of his books here. (Be sure to click on the word "fish".) Even the so-called toddler level books are wonderfully informative. There are many, many titles available at the library. I know because I tried to check them all out at once and got a little overwhelmed! Here is a complete list of his books. Here are a few of the Crinkleroot books. AND he has coloring pages galore!

Apparently there was a tv show? Not having tv, this was new info for me, but maybe some of you have seen it. Regardless, these books are perfect for our newly discovered Charlotte Mason leanings.

Anyway, just wanted to pass on the recommendation for a great author. You won't be able to help liking these books as much as we do!