This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 Happy New Year to all...and stay warm.

The Aftermath...

Our Holiday was wonderful.  Low key this year, no traveling just our family enjoying our time together.  Dinner at my aunts and a visit to the newest baby in the family and back home.  Yesterday was spent at the hospital, as most of you know the baby business doesn't shut down for the holidays so I went to work.  Now Greg is back at work and today is the day...I must deal with the "aftermath".  There was much rejoicing, crafting, playing, building, sledding, singing, dancing and music making around here over the long weekend and not much tidying up. 

New Legos need to find new homes...yes there were plenty of hand-made gifts this year, but there were purchased gift as well.  Lego is huge around here right now for the boy AND the girl.

Christmas packages need to get in the mail...yes that's right, I habitually don't get things in the mail in time for ANYTHING!  It is a terrible flaw that I would love to change about myself...but alas, here we are as always.

Our new globe needs a special spot that hasn't been decided yet.  My sweet children bought this globe for me this year, and they are extra proud!  I've been wanting one forever and they decided to make it happen.  How lucky am I?
I'll spare you all the REAL aftermath, the vacuuming that's been ignored, the dishes that haven't been done, things like that.  Instead I'll leave you with what I WANT  to be doing right now instead of getting the house in order.

Has anyone sewn from this book yet?  I'm so excited to get started!  I've got a whole wardrobe in mind...My sweet honey is too good to me.

Getting Our Craft On! (last minute as always)

Well it has become painfully obvious to me that while I have trained some pretty crafty kids, I have also trained them to have at least 85 projects going at one given time...So here we are (happily I might add) getting our craft on through this one last push the week before the big holiday!

There is a pile of flannel pj bottoms for all the little cousins.  The pattern is from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing, it's super easy and quick.  Soon there will be a t-shirt with an applique on the front matching the flannel pjs.
So far Molly has made some lovely hand-stamped little balsa fir filled scented pillows, Corey has made a most excellent iPhone holder from felt that has a loop for fastening onto your belt.  He's also don some hand-stamped stationary sets (very sweet).
I've been sifting through some books looking for just the right uses for some fabulous fabrics I have that are just screaming to be used.  And as you can see Clementine the cat is always eager to help (whether we invite her or not). 
We are quite busy "elving" around here while nursing a few yucky colds...tis the season right?

May your last minute "push" goes smoothly and all your "elving" get finished in time.

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

a busy little elf

School Right Now

I don't know about other folks out there, but the holiday bug is starting to hit and we are finding concentrating on school work a bit harder this week.  So much to do, decorating, crafting, cooking, gifting and yet school work needs to be done.

We've been moving right along through US history with a few different guides.  I figured I'd try the Oak Meadow online curriculum and see what we thought.  It's really not bad, works as a nice launching pad, we're doing 5th grade history which is focusing on westward expansion and the civil war right now.  We've watched some Ken Burns The West  It's fantastic but I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids at all...The kids are a bit horrified by the violence that went on with the American Indians.  This is the first time they have really heard the brutality of all that was early America. 

We've just started a new Chemistry unit from Real Science 4 Kids .  I am absolutely thrilled with this find!  The price is very reasonable and the content is perfect for middle school.  It's still new but I expect we will continue on with their biology and physics units as well.  It's broken down into a text and lab book and really engages the kids (and myself), there is a teacher manual that helps me along too:)
Math Mammoth has them busily dividing decimals right now.
Crammer and writing are done  in workbooks sometimes as well as Oak Meadow which gives lots of different assignments that are sometimes fun (I do like to pick and choose).
 Both kids enjoy writing in a journal and presently writing a short story together.  I can't wait to read it.
We read poetry and other assorted bits of knowledge from the What Your 5th 6th Grader Needs to Know, I also find lesson plans on their website occasionally.
I'd love a good recommendation for a book to read together.  Both kids read independently, but we don't have a group book right now.
Of course handwork is crazy around here, I think it's everyones favorite!  Both kids are knitting quite a bit.  Molly has really been enjoying using the sewing machine to make doll clothing.  She's found some free patterns at Liberty Jane.  I must say she is becoming quite the seamstress.  Corey has been doing a bit of hand stitching.  Right now he's working on the horse from Feltcraft I enlarged the pattern by 150% and he insisted on using recycled sweaters!  I'll be sure to post pictures of everyones creations as they are finished.
I think it's time for me to help with some math before we get all crafty for the holidays.  I'd love to hear what others are up to in school these days.

In Absence

Amazing how fast our lives seem to be going right now...simply amazing.  This absence I have taken from the computer has been much needed and I thank you all for checking in and for your understanding.  I am in complete awe of all the amazing women I "know" out there in blogland who seem to never miss a post of their own or anyone elses'.  Some of my favorite bloggers like Amanda at Soulemama,   Rachel from Housefullofjays ,Tonya from Plainandjoyfulliving and Meg of Sewliberated (just to name a few)kept their blogs going right through the birth of a new baby! I struggle with finding time to fit it all in every day (maybe I need a professional organizer)...actually there is no maybe about that:)
But here I am back from a bit of a break feeling ready to tackle the keyboard once again.  Thought I would start of simply with some photos of a little of what been going on around here.

a certain little boy turned 10!  There was much rejoicing and a special dinner with a very special Tita.

There is now a Lego star wars advent calender that keeps that certain boy entertained every morning.

A Millenium Falcon when the calendar is done.

Lots of "making" with my favorite new craft block printing.

little signs of the holidays are showing up everywhere.

 

Favorite ornaments are hung once again on the tree.

Thanks again for the time away my friends, it feels good to be back.

This Moment

Coming back to the blogging world this morning to join Soulemama for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.