Interesting

I have spent a while online researching craft supplies for our fall/Autumn needle felting project, along with other notions for homeschooling. I am decidedly in love with anything resembling the waldorf style of learning. Hands-on, natural materials, earth-centered, and individually honoring. Which is what we do at home. I visited a mainstream toy store today looking for what to get the play area downstairs that might be fun for the kids, and I thought I'd see what the recommended for toys in Ethan's age range....all plastic and all computer related. I felt sad when I saw the top sellers, Wii crap. I am so not into gaming and disconnecting (my opinon here). I think my kids are very fortunate to have me for their mom, because I am a earthy compassionate creative being that blends both ancient and modern methods for a truly marvelous learning experience. Providing I'm not crabby. :)

I am going to purchase foam flooring for the play area downstairs to make it more user friendly for the kids. Ethan and his friends play down their regularly. It would be nice for warmth and padding.

Ethan and Avery had a great day of schooling. We got to sing all our songs and added movement to them as we sang. It is fun to see Ethan's creativity in his singing. He sings nonstop, and I love it. Avery does too, in her fashion. Singing represents a happy heart and a confident voice. I refuse to let anyone take that away from them. We also read our chaper in the Mighty Minn book and Ethan and Avery both read their books. We all went outside to see the sewer truck come and suck up all our 6 years worth of waste. It was really cool and thankfully windy as well. Nahni and I took a walk down to get the mail and I let her dance in all the puddles along the way. She was wearing her rain boots and a cosy hat and clothes and just loved being in the puddles. She was so happy.

After lunch we worked on logic with one of our sudoku games using shapes and the kids did really well. We also drew our favorite memories of Itasca, created our October Calendar (a little late I know), practiced guitar (with much complaining of hurting fingers(Ethan only), and now their creating with their legos and wearing tubers and zots on their heads. It felt like a good day today.

We purchased a new light for our school area to go over the computer and illuminate the school materails. I am so happy to have it there, as it's where the kids play most of the time. I'm going to hang up a canopy now and help them to create an enchanted realm by the window.

Tomorrow we have science, ASL (I know how to sign- I am happy to meet you, and where were you born!), reading, workbooks, and music lesson. I am taking the night off to enjoy being home and maybe go for a canoe ride to enjoy the fall leaves.

Our theatrical unit is going well. We're at the part where we're going to create our background and costumes. It's really fun to have Marcia over weekly and hear how the kids are leanring with her. It takes a lot of patience on her part and I truly appreciate her efforts. It has been an excellent learning experience and she is completely phenomenal as a teen.

I want to get a melody harp for transition times and helping ethan when he's learning his guitar. I also want to get a pentatonic flute for him and Avery. We'll see about that next year.

Our home is decorated for harvest and we're going to have a harvest party for Ethan's 7th birthday. A harvest carnival with apple dunking, ring toss, pumpkin painting or drilling (as I think some of them would rather drill holes and would tremendously enjoy that), and whatever else looks good.

It's time to go to work. Blessings.

New and Blue

Ethan got his new blue guitar today. A simple acoustical guitar with a simple case and tuner. He has a lesson book that is easy to understand. We have to retune the guitar due to his mis-understanding of tuning. I am good at tuning guitars and look forward to playing with him when I get my guitar back.

We didn't do any book work today. I had a lesson planned for science and math today that got put on hold until possibly tomorrow. It was too nice to be inside so we went to town. I went outside at 10am and didn't go back in until 4:30pm (well, back into the house). We went into town for lunch and on the way talked all about the trees that we saw and their attributes. After lunch we drove Avery to school and went back to mainstreet to give dad back his van. Then Nahni and Ethan and I went to Alco and bought more fall foliage stuff to decorate. I didn't have anything to go outside and 40% off is nice. He helped me by reading the signs and selecting flowers for the containers we purchased. We then walked over to the school and had dad come and pick us up to go home with the newbold cousins. It was a long day and I'm glad we spent a lot of it getting good exercise, fresh air, and a fresh perspective.

We will spend months indoors but for infrequent hours here and there outside. Today was wonderful and a treat to spent with excellent company and in the spirit of real life education.

It's time for bed.