A New Springtime

Monthly May Recap

School:                                                            

DH got me this new copy machine for school, it has made my job so much easier. At a moments notice  I can just press print and presto I have the papers I need.

WW II studies continued with, "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry, this was a 3 CD set from our local library. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of afternoons. I also found...

this movie at GW, it was a good way to wrap up our studies. I am so ready to be done with the study of the wars and I know why I have avoided them in the past. My older boys did a lot of reading on their own about the subject. They were into learning about the tanks and the weapons. I am glad we used: "V is for Victory", "Sadako, and the Thousand Paper Cranes", and "Number the Stars". These books gave us sense of what it was like to be living at that time and gave us a relationship with the characters who experienced these events, it wasn't just a bunch of facts in the latter two books mentioned. I am satisfied with the results of this unit.

Family Events:

May 13th B-Day!

May 13th, My flowers from Mother's Day!

May 18th another B-day! Pink Lemonade Cake and Frosting!!

Family Fun:

Brother to Brother!

Brother and Sister!

Mom's Sewing Projects:

Shorts for Baby

Library Bag for Big Sister

It's been busy so far and one more birthday to go on May 24!

What am I seeking?

 So much has been going on mentally, physically and spiritually. Even though I am not by nature a routine-oriented  type of person, lately I have been thanking God for that part of my life. I think it is my saving grace in the midst of a somewhat hectic time. Managing a nursing, teething baby, homeschooling four different kids, entertaining an almost 4 yr. old, and helping a 23 yr.old son who is back at home can be challenging to say the least.

 Everyday, Mon. through Fri. we do our hygiene, homeschool and housework duties. I feel like I have to bark out way to many orders lately o I am going to go back to written chore lists. Some of the things that should be  done by the kids automatically, I am having to remind them. This can be very frustrating and taxing but as usually it is an opportunity to readjust once again.

 We have been persevering  each day with our homeschool studies. Right now the boys are studying WW II. We are using a this thematic unit and have read this book below.

We also read, "Sadako and The One Thousand Paper Cranes", it was a very sad story and touching story and we were all moved by it. Today, I found a tutorial for an orgami paper craneand made one. Tomorrow,I will have the kids try it.

 Tuesday,was butterfly day, when the kids took a nature walk they witnessed several different kinds of butterflies so they wanted to do a bit of research on them. Hannah got out her field guide, Abbey got out her poster and I printed of a trivia sheet, a wordsearch and a butterfly to label.

We got some watercolors last week so we put them to good use.

These are some the kids did and after they went to bed that night, I had a bit of creative fun.

Spring brings so many opportunities and ideas for art work. Eliana, who is three, has been using, " Eating the Alphabet" by Louis Elhert  to paint bright, colorful pictures of fruits and veggies.

While DH focuses on planting the garden, some of the kids have been learning about where certain plants grow, above or below the ground.

This was the worksheet with the different fruits and vegetables on it. They had to color and cut them out and place them in the right catagories.

Having children who are various different ages leads to a variety of interest. My ten year old daughter has read 39 of these "Rainbow Magic Fairy Books". There must be hundreds of these books I think she may try to read them all.

Having a family with eight kids, there is never a dull moment to say the least. There are always many things going on. Painting, reading, studying, cooking, cleaning, laughing, crying, hugging, fighting, yelling, loving and the list goes on and on.  It can get very challenging at times to keep the peace and the choas at bay. It can be scary but also rewarding. Working through each day, praying to God for the strength to make it to tomorrow and to see the beauty in it all is what I am seeking.

 

 

What's the Moral of the Story?

Yesterday, we read this Caldecott Winner illustrated by Arnold Lobel. The kids enjoyed the images and the lessons set forth.. We all had a few laughs as we read each one. I can see why Lobel won an award , his drawings stirred our imaginations and made us giggle.

Each fable, only a page long gave us much food for thought and we discussed the moral at the end.

 
Good lessons and awesome pictures, a good book makes the day great!! Share one of your favorites.

Down My Garden Walk

I love the fragrance of the Lilies of the Valley flowers. The beautiful little bells are so petite and humble no wonder they are also known as 'Mary's Tears'.

 

 
Another white wonder is the Bleeding Heart, these have always been a part of our yard. They dangle on their stalk as a symbol of God's love for us. What a wonderful Creator we have, who reveals himself to us in such awesome ways!

Children and flowers go hand in hand. I like to recall the quote from MotherTeresa, "How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers."

 

 White coral bells
Upon a slender stalk
Lilies of the valley
Down my garden walk

Oh, don’t you wish
That you could
hear them ring.
That will happen only
when the fairies sing.

This was one of my favorite childhood songs and every time I see the lovely blossoms or smell the scent of the lilies it brings back fond memories.

 

Take some time out to smell the flowers!!

 

When Life gives You Lemons

We literally did what the saying says to do, " When life gives you lemons make lemonade." We haven't done this in a while so Thursday at the grocery store I finally got some lemons.

It was the kiddos who motivated me to do this. They remember using the old fashion juicer. I just love how they appreciate simple little traditions.

 
 Both of the girls eagerly volunteered to do the work.

 
Here is Hannah turning and squeezing, she got  alot of juice from this one.

 
Abba Do had a bit of trouble but she eventually got the hang of it.

 
After all of that, we had some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Baby Eliana wanted to get in on the action and decided to taste a bit of the lemon for herself.  Can you guess what she is thinking?

Maybe that old song is playing in her head. It goes like this...

 "Lemon tree very pretty and the flower is oh so sweet but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat."

 

Some ofmy kids do like the taste of the lemon as it is, but for the lemonade we used:

4 lemons

1 cup sugar

3 quarts of water

There are so many small ways in which memories can be made, so when life gives you lemons why not make some homemade freshly squeezed lemonade!

 

 

 
  

 

 

Reading and Writing

Here are some books we have been using for reading and writing that the kids are enjoying.

 

Abigail, who is in first grade, is using the Draw-Write-Now, Book 1. THese books are wonderful for children who may be intimidated with handwriting and drawing. I have used alot of these books especially the historic ones. When we do a particular time period I will have them use the drawings and the older kids can write the words without the big lines.

   

All three of the kids have been using these Hooked on Phonics Bible Readers. There is the Old Testament and the New Testament and after they read them there is a game to play. There is also a chart to keep track and encourage the kiddos in their reading endeavors. I picked them up for $5.00 at Ocean State Job Lotaround Christmas time. I just love a bargain.

  

Eliana is also working on her writing skills. Luckily, this time it wasn't on the kids papers!

The two boys use this book for writing and literacy.

The two girls use this book for literacy and writing exercises.

These have been a great hit due to the hands on experience it gives the kids. They do not complain when it comes to doing the centers and alot of times they will ask to do more than the assigned work for that day.
 

 

 

 

 

New England Winter

 Old Barns dot the landscape here in New England, giving a feeling of warmth even in the middle of winter. There are many historic sights here in Western Massachusetts that help to appease the winter doldrums.  This red beauty is right down the street and is adorned with this wonderful sign. As I pass by it each winter day it gives me a feeling peace and serenity. It is a comfort to me no matter what the weather.    

                                          
 

 Winter in New England can be interesting to say the least. The weather can be rather harsh at times and occasionally  you can have days that are completely the opposite. This week has been a combination of a little bit of all of the above. One day this week it was actually raining, snowing, a bit chilly and a bit warm later in the day. With unpredictability from November to May, I try to focus on other things that take my mind to a better place.

Here at the Oxbow we are blessed with such a wide variety of flora and fauna all year 'round.

    

 My winter is spent driving  the kiddos back and forth to sports in our small town. Some may find this task monotonous but I am fortunate that our area is so interesting. Today we saw this...

    

I never tire of seeing these ducks and geese. The soft brown tones of their feathers and the velvet black  necks are such a contrast to the white snow that surrounds us in the North. The mother mallards are always a reminder of spring. When I see them I can't help but think of eggs and nests that are soon to come.

Gliding across the water they look so comfortable and satisfied; I contemplate these very things as I learn to be content in my winter home. Instead of boredom and cabin fever, I focus on the nature that God has surrounded me with.

    

Finding natural beauty in the winter is not difficult, life still shows its splendor even on the bleakest days. Life can even be seen among the things that are dead. The winter holds the secret to what once was and what is to come.

 

The remains of Queen Anne's lace calls to mind sunshine and late summer days. Her drab, delicate
body has given all of itself to produce new life for future seasons.

This wonderful thistle conjures up many emotions. It brings excitement and joy because of its uniqueness. I feel so privileged to gaze upon it. Even with no color, I can still see its brilliance on a cold winter's day.

     

  Milkweed hangs delicately on slender stalks with its soft, tear-shaped seed pods emptied out of its puffy white silky seeds. I can imagine them blowing in the wind, dancing through the air.

The other seasons have never left us here in the New England winter. They are just around the bend in the recesses of our minds. I try to enjoy this time of year because it has so many lessons to offer and I hope this has given you a glimpse into some of its mysteries.