Inspiration to Organize?

There has been re-arranging and such in our front room.   As Xander gets older, we are merging the concept of playroom with, gasp, school room.

Although this isn't a new problem, Rich mentioned the need to move our big filing cabinet from it's place in the garage - collecting dust, to the front room.

Apparently, the stacks of 'stuff' has reached the limit of livability.  And for my super-flexible hubby, that is saying a lot...

As you can see, organization and general tidiness are not strengths of mine.  (Although black and white makes it look a little nicer, doesn't it?)

So in that metal cabinet moved and since I didn't like the idea of staring at an ugly metal cabinet, I set out to try and beautify it!

A couple of yards of fabric and joyfully wrapping my brain around figuring it out, we now have a slipcover with a flip-front to make for easy access to my files!  

Now I just need to start sorting and filing!  Hurray for clean counter tops!

An added bonus is that people now have a place to stash their bags and coats when they come over to our house!

Want to come visit?

Music+Art+Movement = LOVE

I just had to share an absolutely enchanting book with you.  For those who love art and music this is an excellent way to pass on that love to your children.

Can You Hear It?, put out by the Metropolitan Musum of Art, pairs famous classical pieces of music with art from their collection.   It is like an "I Spy" type of book, but of the listening variety!

For my little wiggly boys, I also incorporated movement.  This sealed the deal and made this a huge hit for all of us.

As we listened to "The Flight of the Bumblebee" we explored a Japanese painting.  Their pom-pom 'bees' sniffed the flowers and drank nectar too.

Then proceeded to flit around the room to the music!  Of course, the 'flitting' of the bee's soon turned into a tackle-fest.   

Treyton loved his 'bee'.  When Daddy came down for lunch, he was still clutching his 'bee' and running over to show it to Dad.  The minute the music came on, he was 'flitting' around the room again.

But then the 'bee' went bye-bye...

I love how the book explains primary instruments and what they are trying to express thru the music.   We loved exploring this under-water scene, talking about fish and making funny fish faces at each other while listening to Saint-Saen's piece Carnival of the Animals.  Music can ignite the imagination and it is so much fun to hear the interpretations of the music that they come up with!

We became knights, sugar-plum fairies, cats, and some of Remington's soldiers!

What a feast and a great book to transition between learning about our ears and music to now going into a couple weeks learning about being attentive with our eyes!   

This book is definitely a must-add for our collection!

Musical Explorations

This week, we tried our hand at making some of our own musical instruments.  I think I've had almost as much fun playing with them as the boys have.  (Experimenting with pitch on our shoebox guitar occupied me for quite a while...)

How many ways can you play a homemade rubberband guitar?

violin-style

classic guitar style

like a mini cello...

Our vinager bottle turned horn can really put out some interesting amplifications...

Trey had fun experimenting with sound

After watching The Music Man tonight the boys are itching to join a marching band.  If the current taste continues, we could have a trombone player and a drummer on our hands.

Anticipating gifts

So much to be grateful for...

...and so I continue with my list of 1000 gifts.

(I'm finding myself looking each day with fresh excitement for His gifts to me.  They are everywhere!)

71. an enchanting, newly-turned, two-year old niece.

72. an outlet for making pretty 'girly' things!  (I've been wanting to make that tutu for years.  Her sparkling eyes when she pulled it out of the box made it so worth the wait!)

73. the wonderful 'desert' smell after a good rain.

74. bright blue skies and puffy clouds

75. spontaneous and exuberant words of thanks from Xander all week.

76. hearing Keegan announce that he wanted to "ride the alligator" when he meant the elevator.

77. hearing little voices recite God's Words...

78. knowing that God never gives up on me, but keeps gently reminding me and leading me!

79. divine intervention and victory to resist temptation just when I feel about ready to give in.  I've been praying that I would become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  God is faithful.

80. getting to see my kids play with the daughter of old college friends!

Rainy Day Relaxing...

It has been raining like crazy here for the last several days.   Of course, we've enjoyed some good 'ol puddle jumping and umbrella play.

But the chilly weather has also put us in a bigger mood for books.

There is just something special about curling up on the couch with a good book.  We are on our second read-thru of Mr. Popper's Penguins.

I wasn't sure they had enjoyed it the first time through, but when we finished it, they clamoured to read it again!  Our usual time for read-aloud chapter books is at bedtime.  I get them tucked in and then read a chapter or two so they can wind down.

But today, since our backyard is virtually a lake, it just seemed like a perfect day to read a lot more than usual!

When we were little our mom would give us either color sheets or sometimes some handwork to keep our bodies busy while we listened.  I know this has always helped me.  I'm a much better listener if my body is busy.  In fact, I still have my best talks with God (or anyone else for that matter) while I'm out for a walk!

So far, it is working well for the boys too.  In our home, we've experimented with blocks and coloring as long as they agree not to talk amongst themselves while I read. 

Sometimes it works really well.  Other times, we wait on the chapter books until bedtime... 

F.L.E.X.I.B.I.L.I.T.Y seems to be essential in my house these days!

Musical Imagination

Kid ingenuity cracks me up! 

After sorting musical instruments into their proper music 'families', Xander grabbed this pvc pipe and started running around the house playing the flute. 

Keegan soon joined in the fun and they had a flute and saxaphone going on!

Listening Closely...

Learning is such a grand adventure!

Our family theme for the semester is:

ATTENTIVENESS

listening closely and watching carefully

It has been very necessary to focus on that in our house this year.  Not only are the boys in great need of working on their listening skills, but as I've alluded to before, I need help in this area too!

As a parent it has been helpful to have one area of character to focus on and I'm thankful that we have a curriculum that incorporates many different areas of study that tie into growing in this character trait!  KONOS is a unit-study curriculum that is based around character traits.  In our unit on Attentiveness, we will cover ears, sound, music, eyes, frontiersmen/trackers, native americans and birds - learning about each of these topics in a hands-on way.

Last week we were crawling thru the human ear...

(I can't draw for the life of me, but thankfully the boys don't seem to care.)

Xander enjoyed crawling through and pointing things out.  Keegan just wanted to crawl through super fast and touch everything and Treyton was on a mission to conquer and destroy.

While learning about the inner-workings of the ear were almost too challenging, it was neat to see the two older boys grasp why our outer-ear is shaped the way it is!

We grabbed a funnel from the garage and a short piece of pvc pipe.  With spray bottles in hand the boys had a race to see who could get the most water in a cup.  One had an outer ear (funnel) and the other just an ear canal.  They definitely "get" why God gave us outer ears.  They capture a whole lot more sound that just a small canal!

NOTE TO SELF: be sure and have three sets if possible, because the 1 year old likes tagging along too!  The extra squirt bottle really saved the day!

Sentimental Sweater Season!

I'm extremely sentimental and nostalgic.   With this thought in mind, my mother-in-law pulled this out when we were back visiting for Christmas!

I can't help but get all warm and fuzzy inside thinking about my big, strong husband fitting in this adorable snoopy sweater!

Xander is both thrilled and perplexed at the thought that he is wearing something his daddy could once fit in! :)

Changing Perspective...

Today was just one of those days when nothing seems to go quite right - patience at zero, unexpected sad news, forgotten laundry in the drier, discovered horribly wrinkled, running late and low on everything, mind racing on anything and everything, but the task at hand.

It's days like this when I really need to slow down and realize how blessed I really am.  It is time to go to scripture and get myself grounded in His perspective...

Forgiveness and grace.  Basking in both, right now.

I will get back to regular blogging.  Really.  But for today it will just be some more for my gratitude list:

58. getting to see my boys spend time with my Opa!  As a loving husband, father, faithful servant to our country (career-military) it is an incredible blessing for my children to have the opportunity to be with him and celebrate yet another year having him out here in Arizona!

59. boys eager to learn.

60. grace extended to me - from them, as I figure out how to teach them!

61. the opportunity to study the book of Daniel with some amazing women.

62. the glisten of excitement in my boys eyes as we head back to Bible study!

63. dreams and plans shared with me as a sister plans a move into her new home!

64. getting to spend all day Saturday studying the Bible and learning how to help others study the most popular book of all time!

65. a husband who watched the 3 boys for the day so I could have this escape.

66. and then heroically took care of all of us that night and next morning when I didn't feel well.

67. rain.  I love rain.  It makes me feel clean, refreshed and ready to face a new day and new challenges.

68. toddler cries of delight over BOOKS and begging for more.

69. a three year old who is eager to memorize and practice his memory verses for Awanas.

70. the laughter enjoyed by viewing toddler wardrobe combinations! 

Reproductions

In the interest of saving time and frustration (five year old boys only like to draw and write for so long), we scanned Xander's Christmas card and thank-you note drawing for the extended family. 

He adored seeing his 'artwork' displayed on each card and then both boys willingly drew illustrations of gifts they had received inside each card.  It was fun to have them join me in the process of crafting thank-you letters! :)

As is par for the course, he's still obsessed with pregnancy and chose to draw a picture of the trip to Bethleham with a 'visibly' pregnant Mary on the donkey.  He is also pretty enamored with drawing stars, both for their Christmas significance and in keeping with his favorite football team. ;)

Germ Prevention

As you may have guessed from my recent post, we have been working towards keeping sickness at a minimum this year.  The teacher/unit study enthusiast within me, jumped at the chance to use this as an opportunity to teach the boys about germs and how to prevent their spread.

I find it ironic that just as I'm getting ready to wrap this little study up, we get waylaid with sickness.  Poor Treyton came down with a stomach bug the night I posted last...  And then 4 days later, Xander came down with the 'spits.' I guess it provided an excellent opportunity to review all we had learned about germs and put into practice what the boys have learned about stopping the spread of germs.

Xander has been walking around today telling anyone who would listen that his white blood cells were 'eating' the germs and he was feeling better!

Here is a rundown of some of our activities:

Aside from using proper techniques when using our new homemade hanky's, we also tried to make the presence of germs a little more concrete and hands-on for them we resorted to the tried and true cinnamon wash.

To do this:

• rub little hands with a bit of vegetable oil

• sprinkle with cinnamon 'germs'.  This works best with a thin dusting of cinnamon.  (As you can see in the picture at the top, it got sort of clumpy on Keegan and didn't work quite as well.) Be sure to warn them not to touch their nose or eyes while the cinnamon is on their hands. 
• have child try washing hands with only water and watch for the frustration to build as they can't get the 'germs' off.

• Here is your 'teaching moment'.  "Wow, your hands are still pretty icky.  Why don't we try adding some soap and warm water?"
• follow-up with adding soap.  Explain that the soap helps to dislodge the germs so that you can wash them down the drain.

Remind them that real germs are so small we can't see them, but like the cinnamon 'germs', they won't come off unless we wash with BOTH soap and water.

We've been working with them on washing their hands frequently and thouroughly.  It has been helpful to have them sing a song while they are scrubbing to ensure that they are washing them long enough to dislodge the germs. 

After a week of barf buckets, I think they are ready to apply proper technique!


They have loved reading the following books:

Wash Your Hands ~ This is a great entry level book about the importance of washing your hands and when to wash them.  The boys didn't seem to mind that the central character was a princess and they laughed about the various situations where she needed to wash her hands.  It doesn't get into the facts on germs, but makes them out to be fanciful, yet fearful unseen monsters called - germs and nasties.

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo ~ This charming book about the (make-believe) 'origins' of the flu talks about how germs are spread.  The boys loved finding the gooey handprints Felicity Floo left all over the zoo.  This book blends really well with the cinnamon wash as a way to communicate how germs can be passed along.

Germs Make Me Sick ~ The boys loved this factual introduction to the world of germs.  It explains the difference between bacteria and virus', precautions we can take to keep germs out and how the body is equipped to fight off germs once they get in.  It was in a very easy to understand format and Xander loved it!

Achoo: The Most Interesting Book You'll Ever Read About Germs ~ this book is definitely for an older crowd, but the boys enjoyed it in small doses and Dad really enjoyed reading it to them!

From the mouth of babes...

During bathtime last week I took advantage of the 'containment' to clean my bathroom.  As I was lost in thought, I heard bits and pieces of their conversations.  Strange words, indeed...

One spoke to the other: "I'm the grown-up, I don't have to listen."

Neither child could agree who would be the parent and who the child in their pretend play.  Neither wanted to listen to the other...

My heart broke.

Do I take time to listen to my kids?  Really listen?  Listen to understand, to have a two-way communication?

I want to listen, have that give & take, share intimate moments.

It is easy for me to get focused on what needs to be done, to be impatient and expect perfect listening and obedience on their part and not reciprocate by extending graciousness, excitement and a ready ear and heart when they want to talk the most.

It is ironic that listening and attentiveness is what we are gearing all of our learning around this semester and I find that I too am in desperate need of growing in this area.

Actively listening and responding to my kids, to my hubby and most importantly to the Lord.

I'm so grateful that God uses my children to 'get through to me' and call me closer to Himself.

And so, I marvel at God's working and blessing in my life.

My gratitude list continues...

47. for a MILD stomach bug that appears to have hit only one child.

48. for good health in general.

49. sunshiney, but cool days.

50. desert walks with my family.

51. big, blue Arizona sky.  I love the feeling of open space!

52. spectacular desert sunsets.  He truly is an amazing artist.

53. for mess because it means that kids live here.

54. for my mess, because it reminds me that we are all a work in progress.

55. for 'a-ha' moments from those I am teaching!  (God made our outer ears the way He did for a reason.)

56. playing the 'never-ending' game of Chutes and Ladders with my boys and getting to witness the thrill of a good move! 

57. for change.  Life is never dull and there is always change coming.  It keeps me on my toes and trusting God!

Slime Management

One of the drawbacks of parenthood is getting slimed.  I'd be willing to guess that anyone living with toddlers knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

Some kids are worse than others in this department.  Middle son would fall in the 'worse' end.  He not only has used us for a tissue, but also my sofa's, walls, carpet, etc...  (No hands involved.  Purely nose to surface contact for a big long swipe.)

YUK.

Add to that the fact that when one child gets sick, it usually ends up making the rounds...

That is where my obsession with color coding has come in handy!

Enter the color-coded flannel hanky's!

I took the boys to the fabric store and let them pick out fabrics and then cut out 12x12 squares and hemmed them.  It was easy and now the boys know that their slime only goes in their specific hanky.

And Keegan loves the hanky's so much he now only swipes the sofa every once in a blue moon...

For the rest of our 'germ prevention' unit, check this out.

What's in a name?

Change has come. While still capturing family life thru pictures, bringing you along on our crazy learning adventures, posting my creative pursuits as well as sharing thoughts on parenting and educational philosophy, I needed a name that reflected my journey; something that would serve to remind me of the big picture and 'why' behind what I do...

As a daughter of the King, aside from spending time with Him, I am called to pursue kingdom work, the work of cultivating souls.

As a mother, I can imagine no greater privilege than to disciple and “cultivate” these three little lives by helping to prepare the soil (provide the environment) for them to encounter God and grow to be what He has called them to be!

But they aren’t the only lives that need cultivation. I need it too. I need Jesus each and every day... loving me, gently pruning me, causing me to blossom and bear fruit as I abide on the vine.

As a family, we need to cultivate our communing with God as the central aspect of our lives - knowing and loving Him with all our hearts, souls and minds. Out of that flows everything else – our creative pursuits, learning and loving others.

Thankfully, although I’m called to help in this cultivation, it is God’s Spirit and His Word that provides direction. He is faithfully at work in our hearts. Our job is merely to cooperate with His transforming work.

And that is where I will dwell, relying on the Master Gardener to be at work in my heart and in the hearts of each member of my family. Come and take a peak at my journey of cultivating intimacy with Jesus, providing opportunities for my children to encounter God, and weaving this glorious reality of 'God with us' into all that we do!

Gratitude --> Joy

It is always a delight to discover things for myself... 

Joy grows as gratitude is cultivated.

Yup, it's true.  Life doesn't look quite as gloomy when you stop to count your blessings...

Don't believe me?  Give it a try...

31. Lion puppet attacks.

32. cuddling after naps.

33. grandmother's reading to little boys.

34. learning to build a fire.

35. enjoying it's warmth.

36. having my face cupped by 3 year old hands as he makes sure to get my full attention.

37. cousins creating pictures together.

38. husband looks that make me weak in the knees.

39. a hubby who is willing to go to a costume party, even though he doesn't care for them...  :True Love:

40. Oma/Opa sleepover for the boys.

41. a quiet morning to sleep in.

42. chocolate + peppermint

43. dear friends who spur me on towards Jesus.

44.creative 5 year old responses to questions

45. remembering the past.

46. a future to look forward to.