Farwell My Faithful Pencil

By James

At the beginning of our homeschool year Mommy gave me a .5mm Zebra mechanical pencil - made in Japan. It was my first mechanical pencil. With this pencil I could write my chinese characters very acurately and do my math very quickly. I went really fast through my Saxon 6/5 mathbook. I even wore down the eraser. For Christmas I got a frying pan eraser and used it to erase mistakes, the pencil still worked. On March 21 I was about to do my math but my pencil had no lead. I tried to refill but it didn't work. I brought it to Mommy and we discovered it was jammed with little pieces of lead. We took it apart and tried to fix it but the metal got bent in the process. Then I felt very sad. As sad as if my best friend wasn't friends with me anymore. I felt sad all day, even in the night it was hard to sleep. I felt sad the next day. Mommy had the same pencil in her pattern drafting box and she gave it to me. I took this picture of my first pencil so I will never forget it. Now I hope my new pencil lasts longer.

Think Spring!

Here is the first of a pile of projects I have been finishing up. This one is first because I actually wanted her to get some wear out of it before it got too warm. I picked the fabric up from Habermans a few years ago and lined it with a hot pink Kaffe Fasstt print. The pattern is from girly style wardrobe.

This was a quick and fun project. I especially liked using my snap press for the first time (I got it over a month ago for my birthday but have been too sick to put it to use).

What it less impressive about this post is my lack of landscaping. Now that is where I need some real help. Maybe I should look into some Japanese landscape books. I seem to like the simplicity of Japanese style.

"Was it ever a living thing"?

William has a thing for reading the nutritional facts and ingredients on all his food. This recently led to a discussion on the origin of different foods. It turned into a game. Each taking turns pointing to things around the kitchen and asking "was it ever a living thing"? Someone brought up a LEGO brick. The kids said "no way it was ever a living thing". Paul then presented the argument that petroleum may have been used in manufacturing LEGOS and petroleum may be traced back to dinosaur remains. So Peter says "LEGOS are dead dinosaurs"!

This is typical of our mealtime entertainment. I am grateful when Paul is around to facilitate such fun because thinking too hard can interfere with my kitchen tasks. Another recent mealtime game the boys have enjoyed is: "can you find an un-named penisula"? off the kitchen map.

Thank you Nanny

Peter is a little sensitive guy. He has been having trouble sleeping due to all the changes and stress around here. Nanny made him this quilt and was going to bring it along on their visit later this Spring. She thought it might be better to send it sooner. She was right and now Peter is finally getting some rest.

Have you noticed that I just can't get him out of those Spiderman Jammies?

#26 -The North Star

James participated in The Raingutter Regatta this week. His Uncle and cousins helped him form the boat while he was still in Mapleton and I then let him decorate it in my bed with a pile of Sharpies (yikes!). James came up the concept on his own, "The North Star", and said it was inspired by this lesson. The sail is decorated with a compass, the big dipper, and Chinese characters for "north star".

James sure looks cute in his uniform - it suits his personality and own personal style.

Mommy's bad idea for the day

I am up and about now. Just not in sync with our regular routine. That is why yesterday we did not have breakfast until 10:00 and I did not get a shower until 11:30. So what do you do with two active girls when you need time to take care of yourself? I thought it would be a good idea to stick Clara in the tub (since I know she can't climb out) with a few toys and I could watch her while I showered. I did not even consider her turning the water on. Luckily it wasn't the hot water! I should have just let her take a real bath but at the time it seemed like too much work to undress her and fill up a tub. Maryanna decided to join her but had the sense and ability to undress herself. She was quite entertained by dumping water on Clara fully dressed. Peter then stepped into the bathroom and said "Hey- no fair! you never let me take a bath with my clothes on".

Active, Sweet, and Smart

Maryanna has a reputation of being very naughty - which is true at times but as I've slowed down I've been able to observe her in a different light. All the things which frustrate me are really just qualities that will develop into a individual capable of incredible works. These photos illustrate her unique presence.

Active- always jumping, dancing, climbing, rolling, running, and somersaulting

Sweet- since Maryanna returned home last Friday she has been cautious not to jump on me. Instead she has wrapped her blanket around my shoulders, rubbed my back, kissed my feet, and sung songs to the baby in my tummy.

Smart- this one surprised me the most. I told her she could only stay in my bed this morning if she sat very still. So I gave her a pencil and some paper to entertain herself as I drifted in and out of sleep. I heard her singing and talking to herself but what caught my attention was her repitition in saying the letters M-O-M. I asked her what she was doing and she said "I draw a picture you mom". The picture was just piles of scribbles but I was a little freaked out to see the letters M-0-M (although scattered around). I didn't even realize she knew any letters let alone how to spell and write. I'm guessing it is from the boys who went crazy with the label maker my mom gave me - they labled all our seats in the kitchen and that is where she sees the letters M-O-M everyday. So I guess as long as I can get her to sit still she will have the capacity to learn just like her brothers. And I also realize I shouldn't be so hard on her but instead have more patience in nurturing her in her many talents and abilities. So I'm officially removing her "difficult child" label.