This New Season

This new season of life has kept my wheels spinning throughout the day, but I am loving teaching Lizzi and Wesley.  To see their faces light up when they discover something new makes the daily grind worth it all.  I might not be getting paid in dollars for my degree, but it is being put to good use!

We took some dried beans and placed them in a ziplock bag on a wet washcloth to watch them sprout.  We were pretty surprised at how fast they started.  After forgetting about them for two days we were shocked today to find that the roots had grown through the washcloth and had outgrown the bag.  This led to an impromptu visit to the garden.  Those beans' roots were already to big for the tiny pots we had in the house.  While in the garden we got distracted by the tomatoes that have just finally come ripe this week.  In the midst of picking I noticed a bumblebee visiting the nearby hosta plant.  Since we have been reading all about flowers, visitors, pollination I quickly stopped them so they could see pollination in action.  Hushed whispers as we talked about the pollen that was visible on the bees back, and how he was drinking nectar and while there transferring the pollen to the next flower.  They were so excited to see their science lessons right there before their eyes.  When the bee left we checked our strawberry patch and found another half dozen needing our attention with more almost ready.  Then we got back to the planting of our bean seeds.

Our math curriculum has a game called Go To The Dump.  It's a version of Go Fish, but instead of making matches your pair has to total ten.  I was skeptical that Lizzi would be able to do that since we had just finished our lesson on the number ten.  She was so insistent on trying that I couldn't deny her the opportunity to try.  With the abacus by her side we played for a good long while before she wore out.

Lizzi heads over to our elementary school for PE/Music, lunch and recess Monday through Thursday.  When she does I try to make a point to interact specifically with Wesley.  Today however, he was much to enthralled playing with Miles to be bothered at the beginning.  Wesley would laugh then Miles would laugh.  Wesley would take off running down the hall shouting at Miles to follow him.  Miles would then crawl while giggling and try and catch up.  The only thing better than kids laughing together is them sleeping together!  After that we went outside to watch Wesley ride his balance bike.  Miles was enamored and couldn't take his eyes off of brother.  Wesley was so happy to have our rapt attention that he tried some tricks on his 'motorcycle' for us.  I was impressed that he could put his feet up on the support bar while turning around.  He's come a long ways since getting his little balance bike back in June.

I know that I don't write as much about Abi and our interactions.  It's the downside to her being in public school instead of at home.  However, she has given my heartstrings some tugs lately.  She has again been accepted on Dodge's Character Council.  I love seeing her leadership abilities grow.  It makes all the years of butting heads worth it.  She is growing up to be an amazing little gal.  This past Sunday she asked if she could make breakfast.  With a resounding yes she made a double batch of chocolate chip muffins from beginning to end.  All I had to do was lick the whisk when she was done and enjoy not having to make breakfast for that day or the next.

I'm starting to feel more balanced.  The first few weeks had left me high and dry for my friendship time.  After a wise homeschooling mom said I'd have to figure out which relationships to nurture and which to let go, I realized that I needed to just set appointments with those that I need close to me.  I was also very convicted about my internet time during that meeting.  I'm confident that as my self discipline takes me down this road, I will reclaim my time from the computer back to the crafts that I've been missing.  So pardon me as I boot myself off of here now to go and get my craft on for a few minutes before the babe awakes!