Lily Kate. Just turned 3 and full of the excitement of her wonderful little life. She has a hard shell for outsiders. She is the kind of girl you want to be friends with ‘cause she is so cute and confident in herself, but is too hard to get to. I am glad I am on the inside.
She is adorable to look at, she is all curly and olive skinned. She has the brownest eyes and sandy blond hair. Lily Kate does her own thing, miss independent. She lines things up, she studies all things princess and pink. She has a large repertoire of songs ‘The B-I-B-L-E and Praise Him, Praise Him’ are her favorites, but can also be heard singing the alphabet song and many of the songs off the Geography CD from Veritas Press. Matthew’s Spanish tutor says she has a natural ear.
If not alone Lily can be found with her brother. They are like peas in a pod, they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together, play Kroger, ABC Diner, house & birthday party together. He reads to her, they wrestle. They ride side by side in the car (Lily likes to ride in Matthew’s car seat if he is not on the trip). She brings fun to his life. Lily makes all things exciting and loud. She lives to the fullest.
She says the funniest things ‘peas taste yucky in my mouth’, describing her surroundings in great detail at the strangest times. I am not a good enough writer to capture all of her.
But tonight we experienced a Lily moment: We have been working on a family art project – a big painting with lots of paint and our hand prints. Tonight we opened the red house paint to paint the sides. Lily painted most of it with me smoothing out her brush strokes as needed. The boys went off to come up with a Bible verse to put on the painting. When we were done I went to see how they were doing. They came up with: These days should be observed and remembered in every generation by every family…Esther 9:28.
I got busy formatting the verse to print out and forgot about Lily. In a few minutes I asked Mark to go check on her. I printed the verse and followed him out to the garage. I saw first Mark’s face! Then I saw what he was looking so pained about: Lily – she had put her hands, no arms, into the can of red paint and had smeared it all over her body and legs (did I mention that she is always naked, even in 53 degree weather!). She was so pleased with herself, I ran to get the camera.
I chased her into the yard and hosed her down before I put her in a hot bath to warm up. I have not yet been out to clean up the pool of red paint on the bench and garage floor. I think it will eventually dry and perhaps I can peel it up!
Life with Lily is never boring.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Volcanoes
When we first were considering homeschooling I was in a panic. I had been culturally conditioned to accept the idea that I would stay home with my kids for the first few years but then re-start my career life once they started school. Instead I was faced with the idea that at the very time that I would have been ‘free’ I would instead be chained to a desk alone trying to beat phonics into a blank mind.
Worse still I had the picture of me doing kid's crafts and science experiments in the back yard. How tedious, all that saving toilet rolls, gluing, going outside to find 5 kinds of leaves, bringing in bugs to find names in books. Was I not worth more than that? Don’t I have better things to do with my life? Would I not be better serving the world with my educated mind? Wouldn’t I rather be in a meeting to plan the next newsletter or 4 million dollar budget for the development department?
Thankfully after wrestling with God on the issue of self-identity, pride and priorities I embraced a full package of family life.
We have settled into a nice pace. Matthew being a liner thinker and a workbook type child has made the transition/process easier. Sometimes I think – this is too easy, perhaps I should be doing more non-linear stuff. More experiments and crafts. But desk/book work is easier than jumping all around the place doing this enriching thing and that.
So today during geography I spied an activity which involved dirt, food coloring, baking powder, vinegar and soap suds. That picture of me doing experiments came in my mind and for a moment I thought ‘I just don’t want to do that’. Furthermore I thought ‘too much effort. I would rather be here at the table and describe to Matthew a volcano’. But in a flash I announced ‘let’s make a volcano!’
What enthusiasm! He ran the whole way to dig up mud to make the mountain. He wanted Lily to join in so we got her out of quiet time. They helped bring out all the ingredients. So intently they followed the directions. They were ENGAGED. They loved it so much when the first red lava foamed out that we had to do it again in blue, then yellow and then green.
Yes, it was messy. Yes, it took a little effort. But Lily will never forget that blue and yellow make green; Matthew that the island of Java has 50 volcanoes and that mud slides down when wet; Mom that it is easier & better to just do it than not and that baking powder, soap and vinegar can do crazy things!
I can honestly say that I would rather be here building volcanoes with muddy fingernails than anywhere else.
Worse still I had the picture of me doing kid's crafts and science experiments in the back yard. How tedious, all that saving toilet rolls, gluing, going outside to find 5 kinds of leaves, bringing in bugs to find names in books. Was I not worth more than that? Don’t I have better things to do with my life? Would I not be better serving the world with my educated mind? Wouldn’t I rather be in a meeting to plan the next newsletter or 4 million dollar budget for the development department?
Thankfully after wrestling with God on the issue of self-identity, pride and priorities I embraced a full package of family life.
We have settled into a nice pace. Matthew being a liner thinker and a workbook type child has made the transition/process easier. Sometimes I think – this is too easy, perhaps I should be doing more non-linear stuff. More experiments and crafts. But desk/book work is easier than jumping all around the place doing this enriching thing and that.
So today during geography I spied an activity which involved dirt, food coloring, baking powder, vinegar and soap suds. That picture of me doing experiments came in my mind and for a moment I thought ‘I just don’t want to do that’. Furthermore I thought ‘too much effort. I would rather be here at the table and describe to Matthew a volcano’. But in a flash I announced ‘let’s make a volcano!’
What enthusiasm! He ran the whole way to dig up mud to make the mountain. He wanted Lily to join in so we got her out of quiet time. They helped bring out all the ingredients. So intently they followed the directions. They were ENGAGED. They loved it so much when the first red lava foamed out that we had to do it again in blue, then yellow and then green.
Yes, it was messy. Yes, it took a little effort. But Lily will never forget that blue and yellow make green; Matthew that the island of Java has 50 volcanoes and that mud slides down when wet; Mom that it is easier & better to just do it than not and that baking powder, soap and vinegar can do crazy things!
I can honestly say that I would rather be here building volcanoes with muddy fingernails than anywhere else.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
After school classes
There is something to turning up week after week to a class that you commit to. My son started Karate and Gymnastic last fall and we have not missed one class. Sometime we go through the motions of getting dressed for class, waking up Laura from her nap, loading up in the car, driving to the locations with little emotion passed the mundane. But we show up regardless of how we feel. Matthew runs into class, enthusiasm growing with sight of his friends and teacher. I stand, sit, chase after Laura in the back with all the other moms. We chat, watch, comment on our schedules, our kids education plans, compare notes on child rearing and schedules. Sometimes we are silent intent on noting our child’s progress.
Matthew has benefited from our diligent attendance. He was a tad physically timid when he was really small, nothing too bad, but not as dare devilish as I thought a little boy would be. That has all changed this year. He has gained a confidence in his abilities that has surprised me. He can do great hand stands and blocking drills. His form looks pretty good to me and his teachers are pleased with his progress. We are not on an athletic career path, but he is learning great physical skills that will help him in whatever he chooses to do.
So we will turn up again on Thursday to karate. Lily will play with Glenda and Avery who wait for their siblings to finish. Laura will crawl around and pull on things. I may talk to my mum on the phone. It is 11pm in Dublin when we are at class and she calls before she winds down for the night, just to check in. Matthew, in his little black karate suit lined with white satin dissected by his orange stripe belt, will do his best, smiling the whole time, loudly shouting ‘ki-yah’ as he does a double front punch & roundhouse. At the end he will line up and bellow with his fellow students ‘Little Ninja’s are Awesome’ and run wildly to get his hand stamped.
We will do it again and again. And one day his belt will be solid black.
Matthew has benefited from our diligent attendance. He was a tad physically timid when he was really small, nothing too bad, but not as dare devilish as I thought a little boy would be. That has all changed this year. He has gained a confidence in his abilities that has surprised me. He can do great hand stands and blocking drills. His form looks pretty good to me and his teachers are pleased with his progress. We are not on an athletic career path, but he is learning great physical skills that will help him in whatever he chooses to do.
So we will turn up again on Thursday to karate. Lily will play with Glenda and Avery who wait for their siblings to finish. Laura will crawl around and pull on things. I may talk to my mum on the phone. It is 11pm in Dublin when we are at class and she calls before she winds down for the night, just to check in. Matthew, in his little black karate suit lined with white satin dissected by his orange stripe belt, will do his best, smiling the whole time, loudly shouting ‘ki-yah’ as he does a double front punch & roundhouse. At the end he will line up and bellow with his fellow students ‘Little Ninja’s are Awesome’ and run wildly to get his hand stamped.
We will do it again and again. And one day his belt will be solid black.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Our first grade Curriculum
Mark is the headmaster of the Cole school. He researches the curriculum, decides where this crazy ship is headed and I implement the plan.
For first grade we are using books primarily purchased from Veritas Press. Mark was attracted by the Classical Education bent of Sonlight and Veritas Press. We decided on VP as it is a little less structured that Sonlight (it doesn’t have a teacher’s manual telling me to do pages 5-7 on Monday).
Here is an excerpt from our 1st grade curriculum outline:
Objectives: Priority 1: To dramatically increase reading level (and desire to read) of the student and the student’s mastery of the English language, and to master basic math skills. Priority 2: To introduce the student to Bible, art and music through read-alouds and related activities/applications. Priority 3: To give the student some new facts for memorization, primarily in geography, this is traditionally neglected in American schools, as well as to introduce the student to ancient and modern foreign languages (Greek and Spanish).
Total Instruction time per day: 2 – 4 hours a day (including physical education and Spanish instruction) for a total of 15-18 hours/week. This time does not include free reading time.
Phonics: Veritas Press Phonics Museum. This prgram incorporates over thirty “real” books (not readers) into the curriculum. The books contain outstanding historical and Biblical content. The program is also a visual/art history experience, as phonetic rules are introduced through a great painting and a read-aloud telling about the artist and the painting. It has a workbook, CD with jingles and games.
Grammar: Shurley Grammar program which consists of jingles and chants, repetition, games, Q&A, etc. to learn parts of speech and sentence structure. It consists of a workbook, CD, and educational software.
Literature: Veritas Press literature program, consisting of books for the student to read, and comprehension guides which stretches and tests the student’s mastery of the book content.
Bible: Vos’ Children’s Bible and Bible timelines as in Kindergarten. Student also does age appropriate Bible verse and catechism memorization, as well as learning the books of the Bible in order by memory.
Greek: “Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek”, a Biblical Greek program for young children.
Spanish: And hour a week with a tutor, and daily listening to tapes and CD’s and simple reading.
Geography: The student will be introduced to US geography and the study of geography (maps, compass, and geographic formations) through the book/workbook Legends and Leagues, or Mr. Tardy Goes from Here to There. Daily listening to a CD with 23 catchy songs will also teach names and locations of world geography such as continents, oceans and more than 200 countries.
Art: Video-based course from Calvert School called Discovering Art. This course studies art history, the essential elements of art and complimentary practical projects.
Physical Education: Karate classes twice a week and gymnastics once a week.
For first grade we are using books primarily purchased from Veritas Press. Mark was attracted by the Classical Education bent of Sonlight and Veritas Press. We decided on VP as it is a little less structured that Sonlight (it doesn’t have a teacher’s manual telling me to do pages 5-7 on Monday).
Here is an excerpt from our 1st grade curriculum outline:
Objectives: Priority 1: To dramatically increase reading level (and desire to read) of the student and the student’s mastery of the English language, and to master basic math skills. Priority 2: To introduce the student to Bible, art and music through read-alouds and related activities/applications. Priority 3: To give the student some new facts for memorization, primarily in geography, this is traditionally neglected in American schools, as well as to introduce the student to ancient and modern foreign languages (Greek and Spanish).
Total Instruction time per day: 2 – 4 hours a day (including physical education and Spanish instruction) for a total of 15-18 hours/week. This time does not include free reading time.
Phonics: Veritas Press Phonics Museum. This prgram incorporates over thirty “real” books (not readers) into the curriculum. The books contain outstanding historical and Biblical content. The program is also a visual/art history experience, as phonetic rules are introduced through a great painting and a read-aloud telling about the artist and the painting. It has a workbook, CD with jingles and games.
Grammar: Shurley Grammar program which consists of jingles and chants, repetition, games, Q&A, etc. to learn parts of speech and sentence structure. It consists of a workbook, CD, and educational software.
Literature: Veritas Press literature program, consisting of books for the student to read, and comprehension guides which stretches and tests the student’s mastery of the book content.
Bible: Vos’ Children’s Bible and Bible timelines as in Kindergarten. Student also does age appropriate Bible verse and catechism memorization, as well as learning the books of the Bible in order by memory.
Greek: “Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek”, a Biblical Greek program for young children.
Spanish: And hour a week with a tutor, and daily listening to tapes and CD’s and simple reading.
Geography: The student will be introduced to US geography and the study of geography (maps, compass, and geographic formations) through the book/workbook Legends and Leagues, or Mr. Tardy Goes from Here to There. Daily listening to a CD with 23 catchy songs will also teach names and locations of world geography such as continents, oceans and more than 200 countries.
Art: Video-based course from Calvert School called Discovering Art. This course studies art history, the essential elements of art and complimentary practical projects.
Physical Education: Karate classes twice a week and gymnastics once a week.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Book review
Reading ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat’ by Mireille Guiliano.
It is about taking time to really savor and enjoy food. This book appeals to me as I never like to deny myself pleasure. She shows how to enjoy your cake but stop before ‘indulgence’.
The concept applied to eating habits can be extended to all parts of life. Theses are principles that Mark and I are trying to live by:
Take time to savor life. Live to the fullest. Experience everything deeply. Turn off the TV and stop watching others live (this applies to me only; Mark has never been sucked in by the tube). Talk, play, read great literature. Listen to music. Develop an appreciation for art. Create a life bigger than you planned. Take the first step. It is better to do that to not do. It is better to take the first step towards the dream that to dwell on the dream and not do. Take up hobbies. Try to earn more money. Love bigger. Be focused. Rehearse goals daily. Re-visit dreams weekly.
Good stuff.
It is about taking time to really savor and enjoy food. This book appeals to me as I never like to deny myself pleasure. She shows how to enjoy your cake but stop before ‘indulgence’.
The concept applied to eating habits can be extended to all parts of life. Theses are principles that Mark and I are trying to live by:
Take time to savor life. Live to the fullest. Experience everything deeply. Turn off the TV and stop watching others live (this applies to me only; Mark has never been sucked in by the tube). Talk, play, read great literature. Listen to music. Develop an appreciation for art. Create a life bigger than you planned. Take the first step. It is better to do that to not do. It is better to take the first step towards the dream that to dwell on the dream and not do. Take up hobbies. Try to earn more money. Love bigger. Be focused. Rehearse goals daily. Re-visit dreams weekly.
Good stuff.
Birthday Party for 5
I was skeptical, a birthday party with only immediate family members! Would that be fun? Could we pad out that day, or would it be over in 20 minutes?
But she was insistent. Someone had blown her candles out at her large 2nd birthday party and that was not going to happen this year. She invited only brother, sister, mommy and daddy (if we had any relatives in town, they would have made the cut).
So I diligently planned a princess party for Lily’s 3rd birthday. (What is it with Disney princess? You can get princess outfits, phones, purses, lipstick, candles, stickers, books of every kind – hard, soft, thin, thick – all pink of course. Cinderella is her favorite, Snow White, mine, there is Belle, Arial & Aurora. What are our little pink princesses learning about in this devotion to Disney princess? love, beauty, the kiss, the gown, dancing. Is this good?)
The party turned out to be such a joy. We were able to go at our own pace. For the first time at a birthday party I hosted I concentrated on the birthday person! There was no one else to visit with, or direct to the bathroom, or cater for or worry about. This was truly all about Lily.
Mark took Lily out for breakfast and to pick up the piñata & dog food I forgot. I got the party ready, Laura strapped to my back, Matthew, helper boy on full alert. We did white table cloths, silver candles, tea pot, mother-in-law China, cream bowls, heart shaped sandwiches, platters of chips and strawberries. We decorated the cake, covered every inch of that thing with white chocolate drops, meringues, pink writing icing, mini marshmallows. All yummy and pastel.
Mark and Lily came home and hid in her room. When I had put the ice float in the lemonade I called them in. They came out and to my surprise Lily was in her best princess dress & crown, Mark in a tux! She looked so pleased with herself. They looked so proud and beautiful, not caring that they had an audience of only 3.
The party began! We played 2 rounds of ‘pass the parcel’ (of course my kids won a prize each). Then we opened presents. Present opening in the Cole house is a long process. Matthew delivers the gift and then we all 'oh and ah' and take a break to try on/open/play/read the gift. The princess theme was well played at this party – another princess outfit, tu tu, books, stickers, purse, teapot with tea set.
After the lovely lunch we played/drew/danced in the living room, while daddy took a nap broken by demonstrations by Matthew of his drawing made in Lily’s new blank painting pad with Lily’s new artist’s set.
Next came the craft. We painted on wooden hearts that will be glued on the keeping box I painted for Lily. There the 4 of us were (little Laura napping), together, painting in honor Lily. Happiness personified.
What a thrill we had in whacking the piñata. My kids got as many turns as they wished. They scrambled around picking up candy and stuffing it in the paper bags as if they were competing with 12 other kids.
So 4 hours after it began, I can say I am truly glad that that child blew out Lily’s candles last year. I will never again underestimate the fun of family.
But she was insistent. Someone had blown her candles out at her large 2nd birthday party and that was not going to happen this year. She invited only brother, sister, mommy and daddy (if we had any relatives in town, they would have made the cut).
So I diligently planned a princess party for Lily’s 3rd birthday. (What is it with Disney princess? You can get princess outfits, phones, purses, lipstick, candles, stickers, books of every kind – hard, soft, thin, thick – all pink of course. Cinderella is her favorite, Snow White, mine, there is Belle, Arial & Aurora. What are our little pink princesses learning about in this devotion to Disney princess? love, beauty, the kiss, the gown, dancing. Is this good?)
The party turned out to be such a joy. We were able to go at our own pace. For the first time at a birthday party I hosted I concentrated on the birthday person! There was no one else to visit with, or direct to the bathroom, or cater for or worry about. This was truly all about Lily.
Mark took Lily out for breakfast and to pick up the piñata & dog food I forgot. I got the party ready, Laura strapped to my back, Matthew, helper boy on full alert. We did white table cloths, silver candles, tea pot, mother-in-law China, cream bowls, heart shaped sandwiches, platters of chips and strawberries. We decorated the cake, covered every inch of that thing with white chocolate drops, meringues, pink writing icing, mini marshmallows. All yummy and pastel.
Mark and Lily came home and hid in her room. When I had put the ice float in the lemonade I called them in. They came out and to my surprise Lily was in her best princess dress & crown, Mark in a tux! She looked so pleased with herself. They looked so proud and beautiful, not caring that they had an audience of only 3.
The party began! We played 2 rounds of ‘pass the parcel’ (of course my kids won a prize each). Then we opened presents. Present opening in the Cole house is a long process. Matthew delivers the gift and then we all 'oh and ah' and take a break to try on/open/play/read the gift. The princess theme was well played at this party – another princess outfit, tu tu, books, stickers, purse, teapot with tea set.
After the lovely lunch we played/drew/danced in the living room, while daddy took a nap broken by demonstrations by Matthew of his drawing made in Lily’s new blank painting pad with Lily’s new artist’s set.
Next came the craft. We painted on wooden hearts that will be glued on the keeping box I painted for Lily. There the 4 of us were (little Laura napping), together, painting in honor Lily. Happiness personified.
What a thrill we had in whacking the piñata. My kids got as many turns as they wished. They scrambled around picking up candy and stuffing it in the paper bags as if they were competing with 12 other kids.
So 4 hours after it began, I can say I am truly glad that that child blew out Lily’s candles last year. I will never again underestimate the fun of family.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Hard days
Some days are just hard. Some days no one is in a particularly good mood. Some days are long with only patches of goodness/greatness/light. After a week of late nights my kids are a little worn. I am getting over a cold and would like a little peace and quiet. I want to check the news on Drudge, I want to watch a DVD uninterrupted, I want to talk to my framer about framing without having to threaten discipline. I want to be a good Mom all the time, but at times like these I fall short.
Lily and Matthew are playing pretty well together (but it seems that Lily’s shrill scream is coming a little too often). I would normally get a break when they play but they are needy: they want me to watch what they are doing, to make comments, to see how high they can jump off the bed, to get them juice in the Spiderman cup, not the Chili’s cup, have a snack – goldfish and grapes and a cheese stick, ‘read to me’ – not in this room, in here, put the baby down, uppy-dup, turn on the music - Johnny Cash track 7 & 9over and over. I have 2 little bodies telling me what to do.
They need constant intervention today, he is stealing her toy, grabbing her books. She is crying over every little thing, needs her soother, rabbit, time out. Why aren’t they playing alone a little better? Why do they need me so much? Will they be damaged if I don’t show complete enthusiasm for all their show and tell moments and excitement in my constant acts of service? I just want some alone time. Some time to think of something else. I want them to go to bed and leave me alone. I feel pangs of guilt.
I know the answer to such days does not lie in sending them away to daycare or school. I don’t just need time away from them. I need to love them a little more. I need to order and focus my time a little more – time for play, time for school, time for reading on the floor with no interruptions, time for housework, time for art, time for quiet. I need to train them a little better on obedience and respect. I need to really see that bad days are a reality and it’s OK. We are building a life with it’s ups and downs. Real. Together.
I am always amazed at their capacity to forgive my weakness. They will wake up the next day, refreshed and I will spend an extra amount of time reading with them on the floor, listening to their every accomplishment and idea. Fill up their love bucket a little more and somehow that washes away yesterday’s dark memory.
Lily and Matthew are playing pretty well together (but it seems that Lily’s shrill scream is coming a little too often). I would normally get a break when they play but they are needy: they want me to watch what they are doing, to make comments, to see how high they can jump off the bed, to get them juice in the Spiderman cup, not the Chili’s cup, have a snack – goldfish and grapes and a cheese stick, ‘read to me’ – not in this room, in here, put the baby down, uppy-dup, turn on the music - Johnny Cash track 7 & 9over and over. I have 2 little bodies telling me what to do.
They need constant intervention today, he is stealing her toy, grabbing her books. She is crying over every little thing, needs her soother, rabbit, time out. Why aren’t they playing alone a little better? Why do they need me so much? Will they be damaged if I don’t show complete enthusiasm for all their show and tell moments and excitement in my constant acts of service? I just want some alone time. Some time to think of something else. I want them to go to bed and leave me alone. I feel pangs of guilt.
I know the answer to such days does not lie in sending them away to daycare or school. I don’t just need time away from them. I need to love them a little more. I need to order and focus my time a little more – time for play, time for school, time for reading on the floor with no interruptions, time for housework, time for art, time for quiet. I need to train them a little better on obedience and respect. I need to really see that bad days are a reality and it’s OK. We are building a life with it’s ups and downs. Real. Together.
I am always amazed at their capacity to forgive my weakness. They will wake up the next day, refreshed and I will spend an extra amount of time reading with them on the floor, listening to their every accomplishment and idea. Fill up their love bucket a little more and somehow that washes away yesterday’s dark memory.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Community
Community is so important. Real community, real people that show up week after week. Real people that hang together, listening and really responding to each others needs. When you say ‘hey, you should check out this book’ – you know they will. When someone says ‘you should read this’, you want to cause you know their hearts. When you say ‘will you pray for me about this’ – you know they will. When you mess up, or say something out of place, you know someone will call you on it, gently without you really knowing you are being called on it. When your kids wander off and get in trouble, someone will step up and guide them back to you. When you need advice they will take the time to dive deep with you there and then. When you cry, they cry too. When you want to laugh and have fun - someone is there. Acceptance, kindness, truth, love, realness, broken people relying on God’s providence and grace.
We have looked for this for years. We have found it in Grace Community Church http://www.gracecommunityinfo.org/. It is so much more than we could have dreamed. We are finally home. I wish this on every person.
We have looked for this for years. We have found it in Grace Community Church http://www.gracecommunityinfo.org/. It is so much more than we could have dreamed. We are finally home. I wish this on every person.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Weekend schooling
Homeschooling is octopus like – it extends its arms into every part of the day and even into the weekend. Not always the sit down, workbook type school. But the real life learning type school.
Saturday
Nature study – Dad & Matthew corner off a section of yard and plant some wildflower seeds (a garden for Lily who can’t pass up a flower). Next they chop some felled trees to add to the fire wood pile for next year.
We are preparing for the party - cleaning out the kitchen to make room for the chef, hanging pictures that have been sitting on the floor since we moved in, moving furniture around in the living room etc.
Life skills – Dad, Matthew & Lily are oiling the wood furniture.
A group of church folk arrive to help prepare the house. Matthew is helping too. Lily is on top of the Wendy house doing her own thing.
Math – counting chairs (we have 54 reservations, but only 48 chairs), making sure each table has 3 candlesticks, making sets of matching chairs.
Social skills – working with the big kids in laying table cloths, moving plates and listening in on the evening plans. A community working together for a common purpose, cheerfully.
Tangible things, lessons he won’t forget.
Saturday
Nature study – Dad & Matthew corner off a section of yard and plant some wildflower seeds (a garden for Lily who can’t pass up a flower). Next they chop some felled trees to add to the fire wood pile for next year.
We are preparing for the party - cleaning out the kitchen to make room for the chef, hanging pictures that have been sitting on the floor since we moved in, moving furniture around in the living room etc.
Life skills – Dad, Matthew & Lily are oiling the wood furniture.
A group of church folk arrive to help prepare the house. Matthew is helping too. Lily is on top of the Wendy house doing her own thing.
Math – counting chairs (we have 54 reservations, but only 48 chairs), making sure each table has 3 candlesticks, making sets of matching chairs.
Social skills – working with the big kids in laying table cloths, moving plates and listening in on the evening plans. A community working together for a common purpose, cheerfully.
Tangible things, lessons he won’t forget.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Night out in Houston
I never like getting a cold. It came on for 2 days, then last night on our date in a new Houston restaurant called ‘Grand Lux Café’ I could feel it roll over me and could no longer taste my food. I brought half the meal home.
What décor! Whoever got the job of turning the old FAO Schwartz into a restaurant was one crazy artist. Deep colors, swirling circles, brass, deep mahogany colored burgundy ceilings, with carvings and paint. High ceilings, golds and reds. It made me think of King Nebuchadnezzar (we read about him this week in ‘The Child’s Story Bible’ by Catherine F. Vos, AWESOME) and the kingdom he built up – conquering Egypt and Assyria and then Judah. Babylon must have been so over the top. His 90 foot golden idol. His palaces, I imagine would be grander than the Grand Lux Café. The food Daniel refused to eat would have been even grander than the food at the Grand Lux Café. But how fun to have a place in Houston to help imagine the grandness of kingdoms that God raised up and pulled down. Only a taste of God’s kingdom.
What décor! Whoever got the job of turning the old FAO Schwartz into a restaurant was one crazy artist. Deep colors, swirling circles, brass, deep mahogany colored burgundy ceilings, with carvings and paint. High ceilings, golds and reds. It made me think of King Nebuchadnezzar (we read about him this week in ‘The Child’s Story Bible’ by Catherine F. Vos, AWESOME) and the kingdom he built up – conquering Egypt and Assyria and then Judah. Babylon must have been so over the top. His 90 foot golden idol. His palaces, I imagine would be grander than the Grand Lux Café. The food Daniel refused to eat would have been even grander than the food at the Grand Lux Café. But how fun to have a place in Houston to help imagine the grandness of kingdoms that God raised up and pulled down. Only a taste of God’s kingdom.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Not much sleep
Didn’t get much sleep last night. I went to bed late as usual, was cold and couldn’t get comfortable. Joe the dog was on the bed hogging the covers. I was tossing and turning for a while and then just when I had fallen asleep Lily arrived up wanting in the bed. She was crying wanting me to go down to her room. I said no to going down stairs so she got in beside me. So, there I was one of 4 in a row – the dog, the husband, me and the preschooler. The bed we are in is uncomfortable enough as we are on the futon mattress on the floor, it is a double and my husband is 6’2. Not much room left without the dog and child.
Then at 3 am I awake to hear a distant cry. I realize after a few minutes it is Matthew. I trek down to find him weeping over his lost bear. Matthew had gotten out of bed to put on his ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ CD and lost track of Blue Bear. I put on the light and he immediately retrieves it from under the blanket. He goes promptly asleep.
I go back to bed and squeeze in between Mark and Lily. I put my arm over Mark and my hand touches the dog.
At 4 am I hear Laura crying. Her cry is the reason we are not in our own bed down stairs. For a baby she has the LOUDEST cry. Her crib is in our bedroom downstairs, we moved up stairs to the spare room temporarily until she sleeps through the night and we are not awakened by her! That was months ago. I go down to nurse her asleep. Mark suggests that I stay down and sleep there, but Schoolhouse Rock has the all the multiplication songs to go. So I go back up stairs.
Mark got up to work at 5am. Luckily I didn’t hear him get up. Lily wanted breakfast at 8am. I held her off until 8:30.
I am tired now, but have a full day – window cleaners coming, preschool with Lily this morning, 1st grade with Matthew in afternoon, tonight babysitter here, Mom and dad to a baby shower in Houston. At some time I should shower! Do I have a clean outfit? Gotta go.
Then at 3 am I awake to hear a distant cry. I realize after a few minutes it is Matthew. I trek down to find him weeping over his lost bear. Matthew had gotten out of bed to put on his ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ CD and lost track of Blue Bear. I put on the light and he immediately retrieves it from under the blanket. He goes promptly asleep.
I go back to bed and squeeze in between Mark and Lily. I put my arm over Mark and my hand touches the dog.
At 4 am I hear Laura crying. Her cry is the reason we are not in our own bed down stairs. For a baby she has the LOUDEST cry. Her crib is in our bedroom downstairs, we moved up stairs to the spare room temporarily until she sleeps through the night and we are not awakened by her! That was months ago. I go down to nurse her asleep. Mark suggests that I stay down and sleep there, but Schoolhouse Rock has the all the multiplication songs to go. So I go back up stairs.
Mark got up to work at 5am. Luckily I didn’t hear him get up. Lily wanted breakfast at 8am. I held her off until 8:30.
I am tired now, but have a full day – window cleaners coming, preschool with Lily this morning, 1st grade with Matthew in afternoon, tonight babysitter here, Mom and dad to a baby shower in Houston. At some time I should shower! Do I have a clean outfit? Gotta go.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
The first ramble
We begin. The focus of this blog is my homeschooling and art life.
By way of introduction my wonderful husband and I have 3 kids - 1st grade boy, preschool girl, and infant girl.
When I met Mark in Ireland he told me that he would always live in Texas. I thought nothing of it, except that it was cool to meet an American student. But here I am 13 years later…. with him in Texas.
I have since become an American and a Christian and am humbled by the Grace of it all. Little old me from Cabinteely, Co. Dublin got plucked out of a life half lived and given a real pot of gold. Like our dog Benni who we got at the government pound 6 years ago. She came home with the heart worm disease, but $500 & a confident vet later she is still alive and today enjoys dominion over her 5 acres! Shona – Benni – both blessed.
Pretty typical day in the Cole world:
The morning was spent getting ready for the day: Matthew up late, 3 different child’s breakfasts in 3 different rooms, children in various stages of dress and undress, ‘Mom, I need to go pee pee…. you help mom’, nursing Laura, playing upstairs, watching a learning video, making snacks, changing outfits again, checking emails, spilling juice from an open cup, teeth brushing and finally going to the ‘Food Basket’ (we needed some more vegetables for dinner and to get out of the way of the cleaning ladies who arrived a day late).
After lunch I do school with Matthew. Today we didn’t totally complete our task. Thursday’s are Geography, handwriting, art, karate & grammar. We did the continents in Geography – we located them on the globe, I read facts about each continent while Matthew colored the blank map book. We are using Shurley grammar. We learned about adverbs and the difference between synonyms & antonyms – these are words I never learned in 18+ years of private school and college. We did do the handwriting practice and even threw in some journaling, but we never made it to art as a friend arrived over to deliver some chairs for a church Valentine’s Day dinner we are hosting Saturday. Her 4 homeschool kids jumped out to help and then they and my 2 older ones ran off to throw pine cones in the pond and shoot the crossbow. We made it to Karate, stayed a little later to watch the older class and give dad more time to finish up work and have adult time before he has to wrestle.
(now I am thinking, last night Matthew was with me in my ‘garage converted into’ art studio as I worked until midnight drawing suns and gluing pre-painted wood things to paper – so art was covered after all!)
At dinner Mark asked Matthew to name a synonym. While my mind was reaching to recall the examples in the book, Matthew said ‘rock and stone’, a new one for the day. Mark and Matthew continued to spar verbally for a while. I think my son really gets it. Yeah!
Evening reading - books from 'Five in a Row', baths for the girls, exercises for the boys (the Royal Court ala Matt Furey) in the living room.
Art. I have, let’s see…. at least 10 pieces of collage art and one painting in the works at the moment. All are in a different stage of creation. As my days are the kids, I do art in the evenings after 9pm, often staying up until 2am. I do collage & paint with oil and acrylic (though not on the same canvas).
I also have a mural in Lily’s room three quarters complete and am painting her a keeping box for her birthday.
There is no time to be idle.
By way of introduction my wonderful husband and I have 3 kids - 1st grade boy, preschool girl, and infant girl.
When I met Mark in Ireland he told me that he would always live in Texas. I thought nothing of it, except that it was cool to meet an American student. But here I am 13 years later…. with him in Texas.
I have since become an American and a Christian and am humbled by the Grace of it all. Little old me from Cabinteely, Co. Dublin got plucked out of a life half lived and given a real pot of gold. Like our dog Benni who we got at the government pound 6 years ago. She came home with the heart worm disease, but $500 & a confident vet later she is still alive and today enjoys dominion over her 5 acres! Shona – Benni – both blessed.
Pretty typical day in the Cole world:
The morning was spent getting ready for the day: Matthew up late, 3 different child’s breakfasts in 3 different rooms, children in various stages of dress and undress, ‘Mom, I need to go pee pee…. you help mom’, nursing Laura, playing upstairs, watching a learning video, making snacks, changing outfits again, checking emails, spilling juice from an open cup, teeth brushing and finally going to the ‘Food Basket’ (we needed some more vegetables for dinner and to get out of the way of the cleaning ladies who arrived a day late).
After lunch I do school with Matthew. Today we didn’t totally complete our task. Thursday’s are Geography, handwriting, art, karate & grammar. We did the continents in Geography – we located them on the globe, I read facts about each continent while Matthew colored the blank map book. We are using Shurley grammar. We learned about adverbs and the difference between synonyms & antonyms – these are words I never learned in 18+ years of private school and college. We did do the handwriting practice and even threw in some journaling, but we never made it to art as a friend arrived over to deliver some chairs for a church Valentine’s Day dinner we are hosting Saturday. Her 4 homeschool kids jumped out to help and then they and my 2 older ones ran off to throw pine cones in the pond and shoot the crossbow. We made it to Karate, stayed a little later to watch the older class and give dad more time to finish up work and have adult time before he has to wrestle.
(now I am thinking, last night Matthew was with me in my ‘garage converted into’ art studio as I worked until midnight drawing suns and gluing pre-painted wood things to paper – so art was covered after all!)
At dinner Mark asked Matthew to name a synonym. While my mind was reaching to recall the examples in the book, Matthew said ‘rock and stone’, a new one for the day. Mark and Matthew continued to spar verbally for a while. I think my son really gets it. Yeah!
Evening reading - books from 'Five in a Row', baths for the girls, exercises for the boys (the Royal Court ala Matt Furey) in the living room.
Art. I have, let’s see…. at least 10 pieces of collage art and one painting in the works at the moment. All are in a different stage of creation. As my days are the kids, I do art in the evenings after 9pm, often staying up until 2am. I do collage & paint with oil and acrylic (though not on the same canvas).
I also have a mural in Lily’s room three quarters complete and am painting her a keeping box for her birthday.
There is no time to be idle.
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