Wednesday
We had our first bonafide nature walk today. Charlotte Mason would have been proud. I was even able to squeeze in a short story about spiders before we set out. We started with a “walking adventure” for Mommy and Sugar, and then we dragged the wagon up to the “Hundred Acre Wood” where we found moss, golf balls, a barbed wire fence, lots of spiders, more moss, plenty of sticks, and a hole. Well, Sugar found the hole. Isaac decided that Christopher Robin put up the barbed wire fence to keep the Heffalumps and Woozles from stealing our popsicles.
We returned for Spiderman popsicles and then had a bath for all. After lunch and naps, we finally made our tie-bleached spider shirts. Twice today Isaac initiated a chore on his own with no prompting. I couldn’t believe it! So we’re learning.
Habits, Progress, Science, Reading | Comment (0)Monday
Wow. What a day! We went outside to play, and Daddy inadvertently locked us out! And the whole neighborhood is at work. I tied up the dog, told the preschooler that he was in charge, and ran to the nearest retiree. She was kind enough to let me use her phone to call my very kind parents.
The kids never missed me, and I decided to use the abandoned wagon we adopted for our first “nature walk.” We had already found a zebra spider whom Isaac named “Possipicky.” We ventured over to a grey lizard that became “Dirty.” Around to the front where we found Buddy’s brother on another jasmine vine. Hmmmm . . . . we didn’t warn him about the bug next door.
Off we went down the road. We found a yellow butterfly and a lady cardinal. I took a new route where there were morning glories and dandelions. And fire ants. . . . Sigh! Thankfully, I was the one who got bit, and I said, “Isaac, God made dog’s spit to soothe things like this.” And I stuck my fingers in Sugar’s mouth and rubbed the bite with the puppy salve. And it worked pretty well. We traveled a little farther until we found the lily pond after which our street is named.
By this time, I heard a gentle grandmotherly voice up the road, and our knights-in-shining-armor rescued us. Not too bad.
We colored pictures of butterflies and morning glories later, and I’m surprised that Isaac is starting to stay in the lines. I also overheard Isaac explain the whole adventure to Grandma over dinner:
Zebra spiders don’t build webs. They just jump on their bugs. And we saw purple morning glories. And lilies. And Mommy got bit by a red ant.
Overall, a success in spite of the obstacles.
Progress, Science | Comment (1)First Day of School
Isaac asked me last night when he was going to school. I said, “Well, honey. We’re going to do something different from now on. We’ll see our friends at the park and at the library and at the store.”
So today was our first official day. After having a good breakfast and cleaning up (and emptying the vacuum cleaner filter all over the kitchen), we played chase around and around the downstairs. That was “gym.” It’s too HOT to go outside, so we had to run, run, run inside. Then I got the bright idea that we could listen to Beethoven’s “Rage over a Lost Penny” while acting it out. Good ol’ Daddy had told Isaac the story behind the song so vividly. We found a penny in the washing machine and hid it. Then we turned up the stereo really loud and “raged” while we looked for our penny. That was just too much fun: preschooler, toddler, terrier, and Mommy all raging over that “lost” penny.
Our Beethoven or Bust album portrays the No. 7 in A-flat Major; Presto as a car nearly colliding with a moving train. Out came the toy steering wheel and more pretending. Gavin had gotten a little frenetic after his up-at-5:30 morning, so he was ready for a morning snooze. And the Moonlight Sonata was the next track — a perfect respite for all of us. We listened and snuggled and looked at the wiki picture of Beethoven.
In putting Gavin to sleep, I realized I needed to teach Mr. Isaac how to NOT answer the door without Mommy. Doh! The Scotts man arrived, and I don’t know how long my undressed 3yo filled him in on all the details of our morning.
Then rock candy. 4 cups sugar & 2 cups water, a string, a washer, a pencil, and a Ball glass jar. We talked about liquid and solids and measuring (1/4 cup vs. 1 cup). So that’s cool. The flavor is orange, but the color is brown. That’s what happens when you mix blue into the orange color we already had. Also Mommy learned that clothes for the preschooler are mandatory when cooking. Lots of lessons for all there.
After Gavin’s waking, we read Runny Babbit poems and McDuff. We played with a toy clock so that it mimicked the real one. Now for lunch while they play Scooby Doo (Gavin) and Fred (Isaac). Sugar’s the Creeper. I’m Daphne.
Not bad for a start.
Progress | Comments (2)This Year’s Goals
Technically, Isaac wouldn’t be starting K4 until next year anyway, so this is a free year to test the homeschool waters. It’s also my first year for being a SAHMom — a new and slightly scary endeavor. So I have a list of goals for now until December. I’d like to:
- Read A Well-Trained Mind.
- Cover some of the Westminster Confession. Maybe the first five questions.
- Play outside daily (after this infernal heat passes).
- Cover one fun learning thing a day.
- Have a regular “circle time.”
- Have play dates.
- Check out library reading hours.
- Get up and showered and dressed daily.
- Try freezer cooking again.