BMX Cartwheel

Saturday, September 4th
1:15pm

My little man had a bicycle accident. Daddy called me at work and asked, "Where is the card?" My heart sunk, "Garrett, NO...what happened?"

It happened on the sidewalk in front of our neighbor's home. James and Julia were riding bikes, going pretty fast. James stood up on his pedals. There were many flowers on the ground that had fallen from the palm tree, causing his front wheel to slip and handle bars to turn suddenly. Then it all happened so fast. James' back wheel flipped up in the air and went completely around throwing James to the ground, chin first.

My dear sweet son, I am so sorry I wasn't there with you. Such grief for your Mama's heart. Daddy and Julia were right there to stop your bleeding, comfort you with love, bring you to the hospital and into Mama's arms. Visiting Mama at work is nice, but not when you need urgent care my love:) The dear understanding nurses I work with took care of my patients so I could be with you, James.

James you were so brave and strong when the doctor cleaned and repaired your chin with dermabond glue. So still and quiet, you took it like a man, my little man. I love you!!!

Keeping Us Busy

Women in the Garden ~ 1866 ~ Claude Monet

Today we began the third week of term 3, year 2 using Amblesideonline.org
This week and next we will be enjoying the art work Women in the Garden by Monet as it rests on a cookbook holder at our kitchen table.

I am loving our literature and have learned more about the middle ages in this past few weeks than I have learned in my entire life! Oh, the children are enjoying year 2 as well:) After reading the first chapter of Door in the Wall last week, Julia said, "I really like this story" and after reading a chapter of Otto of the Silver Hand, she asked me to, "Please read more, don't stop."

Our current book list:

Romans ~ King James Bible
The Child's Story Bible by Vos
Valley of Vision Puritan Prayers
Poetry of Christina Rossetti
Child's History of the World
Our Island Story
Trial and Triumph
Joan of Arc
Seabird
Pagoo
Robin Hood
Pilgrim's Progress
Parables of Nature
Farmer Boy
Five Children and It
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
Otto of the Silver Hand
Mary Poppins
Along Came a Dog

After the completion of next week we will be taking a 5 week break and upon returning home we will finish year 2 through the summer.

My love is making us a bookshelf...

A work in progress

IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN

AND A LIBRARY

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

Cicero

Today, I noticed one almost ripe blueberry! The others are still green.

We will have to cut it into four pieces:)

MAMA'S FIRST QUILT

I have been taking a quilting class, tomorrow will be my seventh week. Making a quilt with my own hands has been a dream for many years. This class has been a blessing! I am so thankful to my Grandma for giving me her sewing machine and for introducing me to the classes that are offered locally and to my mom for registering me for Nuts and Bolts of Quilting. I want to take the skills I have learned and pass them on to my beautiful daughter!

MAPPING and PLANNING our ROAD TRIP

We are so very much looking forward to our 18 day road trip journey starting in June.

I plan on blogging each day we are able...

Riding and Skating

My little man learned how to ride his two wheeler last Sunday, January 3rd! He is loving it!!!


Today, my little sweetheart is roller blading on her own for the first time! She is also loving her new wheels!!!

Education is the Science of Relations

A child should be brought up to have relations of force with earth and water, should run and ride, swim and skate, lift and carry; should know texture, and work in material; should know by name, and where and how they live at any rate, the things of the earth about him, its birds and beasts and creeping things, its herbs and trees; should be in touch with the literature, art and thought of the past and the present. I do not mean that he should know all these things; but he should feel, when he reads of it in the newspapers, the thrill which stirred the Cretan peasants when the frescoes in the palace of King Minos were disclosed to the labour of their spades. He should feel the thrill, not from mere contiguity, but because he has with the past the relationship of living pulsing thought; and, if blood be thicker than water, thought is more quickening than blood. He must have a living relationship with the present, its historic movement, its science, literature, art, social needs and aspirations. In fact, he must have a wide outlook, intimate relations all round; and force, virtue, must pass out of him, whether of hand, will, or sympathy, wherever he touches. This is no impossible programme. Indeed it can be pretty well filled in by the time an intelligent boy or girl has reached the age of thirteen or fourteen; for it depends, not upon how much is learned, but upon how things are learned.

Charlotte Mason

Volume 3, page 161

Knitting

I'm new to the art of knitting. After practicing some, last night I decided it was time to really make something that can be useful to warm a special person. My first Christmas gift started! This Christmas will be one of giving handmade gifts.

Julia and James love to make gifts. Last weekend when I sick in bed they made me several bookmarks, so thoughtful, as they see that I have a stack of books at my bedside just wanting to be read! They made their daddy mazes on his birthday cards last week. Every morning before the sun shines they are ready to create. I love the warm thoughts they have for us and others in their readiness to make something to give!

This morning Julia woke and noticed my knitting had begun...


She wanted her little scarf to look longer like mine, so early in the morning she made her scarf grow!

I know it will bring such joy and pleasure for the children to make handmade gifts for Christmas along with me. We will each be blessed with being together, laughing, loving, talking, and singing the hours away as we create with our hands for that special loved one, making warm memories. We want to give as our Father in heaven has given us His own Son.

There is a prayer I like from Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart...

Lord Jesus, help me to learn this Christmas what it means to be humble. If You could be born in a little manger among barn animals, then I can be content with simple things too. Help me not to want a lot of "stuff" this Christmas; instead, I want to be happy with my family and friends and whatever You choose to give. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Psalm 149:4-5

And look what my little man can do!

Wrap the left side of yarn around the front of your thumb and put the needle through...

Julia taught James how to "cast on" this evening! He will be knitting very soon with his sweet little fingers.

The yarn on the right wraps behind the needle and then around the front...

Now, hold on to everything so the yarn doesn't slip off. OK, flip the yarn that is on your thumb up and over the needle. Now pull the yarn on the left side. You did it!!! My amazing little man that just turned four:)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2