For Today

For Today... (a nice blog idea stolen from my friend Becky, who got it from thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com)

Outside my window.... lots of baby robins, just learning to fly.
I am thinking...it is nice and quiet right now. Where are the girls?
From the learning rooms...fractions, adjectives, 'i' before 'e', making helicopters with Dad, the potato famine, worm composting...
I am thankful for...my family, my friends, and all sorts of little growing things.
From the kitchen...curry coconut stir fry tonite, minestrone and burgers over the weekend...after that, it's all mystery!
I am wearing...p.j. pants, the t-shirt I wore yesterday, and my old gray hoodie with green paint and caulk stains all over it. It's an oldie but a goodie!
I am reading... Calico Bush...slowly but surely....and the book of John.
I am hoping... that somehow peace will win out.
I am creating... a couple fun knitted items that MUST be done soon!!
I am praying... that God will have His way with us all...and that we'd let Him.
Around the house... cereal bowls at the breakfast table, undone math worksheets from yesterday, Magic Tree House books and Ranger Rick magazines strewn over little girl bedspreads, moderate piles of laundry calling my name (I can't hear you, la la la la) and one newly groomed (and no longer stinky) ShihTzu.
One of my favorite things... my daisies.
A few plans for the rest of the week... a special dinner for the celebration of Pentecost, bible study, Belle's 8th birthday party with family, and maybe a movie!
Here is a picture I am sharing with you... little Roan Henry on his birthday, wearing the hat his cousin Belle made for him.

Here We Go...Oh No.

The resolution on this note that I found is really bad, but I still had to share. It was written by my eldest, in heavy red colored pencil in obvious "I'm really mad" handwriting. It is a tally sheet of sorts. It reads: "Times you've gotten me in trouble by being trouble...III".

Ah yes, sibling fighting is in full-swing in the Grant home. Now I know that for some, this is something that is dealt with almost from day one....and for you, I can sense your joy over my having to finally deal with it. My girls just haven't given me much trouble....there has always been a spat or two to deal with, but nothing that involved high passion or emotion...nothing that involved turning red, screaming and shaking....nothing that ever--EVER--seemed to involved that two-syllable word that we all fear surfacing in our daughters: hormones.

Yes, if I am honest, this is less about fighting sisters and more about estrogen overload. Now, I may be wrong....oh please, let me be wrong....but I think that I have come into a new era with my eldest. *sigh*

You can pray for me. And for all of us...as this seems to be something that I will be managing in my home with my girls up until the point that I deal with menopause.

My husband wants to know if anyone will put him up for awhile? :)

Gigi and the Girls

As a gift for her 95th birthday, some of my Grandma's friends gave her a roundtrip ticket to visit us. Not only did she get to be here for the birth of her latest great-grandson, but she was able to see the girls' YFVS concert. It was a special 25th anniversary concert. The girls were happy to have Gigi there--they not only love her to pieces, but they are simply fascinated by all her wrinkles and age spots. Belle and Moo both can spend time just caressing Gigi's hands or arms....it's so sweet, and funny.

Belle's Story of the World

My husband and I use a fairly classical style of homeschool education--this means a lot of different things, but suffice it to say our approach is "literature rich". The girls are constantly reading biographical literature that teaches about a particular time period, or they are being read to...or they are listening to books on tape. This approach has been great, as the historical stories that they encounter really stick in their minds...whether it's learning about Native American life in the 1800's by reading about Sacajawea's Shoshoni friend Naya-Nuki, or learning about the life and times of American colonists circa 1773-1775 while reading Johnny Tremain.

Well, this was the one of the few times that I popped in a CD of "The Story of the World, the Middle Ages" and did some housework while the girls ate lunch. They enjoy this series, and they actually stay quiet and eat while listening. I could hear some of the material covered as I went in and out of the room....first "Justinian the Great"...."The Empress Theodora"....and then "Mohammad"..."Mecca"...."Koran"....and at this I wondered if they were making the connection with a timeline card that they are familiar with from our Classical Conversations class. The card pictures Mohammad having his first meeting with Gabriel, where he is told that he is to start a new religion called "Islam". The caption below the picture simply says "Mohammad and Islam".

Once I was back in the kitchen, Belle said: "He was a good man--who had a vision from God". I cringed a little as I tried to explain more about what I know about this man and the book that his followers revere. And how not all visions are of God--but how to tell, well, ya' got me on THAT one. Belle looked troubled, and said "But what about his friend...was his friend good? You know...Islam?"

That's right...to Belle, Mohammad and Islam were buddies hanging out in the 6th century C.E. It's right there, pictured on the timeline card...

I have stopped running to my computer to blog about the funny things my kids say or do during a typical school day. I would--honestly--spend way TOO much time on my computer if I did that.

Roan Henry Rothrock

My nephew was born the day before Mother's Day this year...what a good boy.

More Pictures to follow.