S is for Sick, Snow, and Stir-Crazy

Take a few days... add vomit, fevers, ruddy cheeks, lots of band aids, boogies, headaches, Tylenol, and another foot of snow and you have one trying adventure. I'll spare you the details. I'll only say that this is the first winter that I can remember feeling a bit nuts. After an entire week of being indoors taking care of myself and the rest of my stuffy family, I ventured out tonight. Mike said the roads were clear enough for me to go grab some popsicles. Perfect for a picnic, and I needed some air.

I felt like a stranger in a foreign land - like I forgot the rules of the road and how to speak in complete sentences to strangers. I was looking around the grocery store at the colorful balloons and I forgot for a few moments why I was there. When I drive at night I borrow Mike's glasses (large and military style... not so cute on me). It was only until I reached home that I remembered that I wore them into the store - with my hair pulled back in a bun that had been twisted and re-done about twenty times throughout the day. I wore sweatpants - in public. Not the cozy velvety kind - the ugly grey kind that you are not supposed to wear. I looked like I was scheduled for surgery - and I forgot that some of that matters.

But as I came back home (all-natural popsicles in hand - a bit more pricey, but sooo tasty!) I remembered to be thankful. Thankful that my family is on the mend, that I have the freedom to go and grab something small and special, thankful that my nation isn't in upheaval like those mothers in Egypt who are wondering if they will be able to even feed their children tomorrow. I was thankful that the last few days had been filled with some deep spiritual conversations with my son... ones that included whether or not God knew us before we were born, and why He asks us to go into dark places to share His love. I was so thankful for the warmth and security of my home, family, and Savior.

Anyway - there are a few changes I am planning on making around here as the snow is to grow deeper and my mind free of sinus pressure. I need to increase my activity - and seek out means to engage in active play within my home. My kids need more of this - but I am in great need of some exercise.

And I need to tell others that I love them more. I have brothers whom I hardly talk to. I have nieces and nephews whom I feel I know so little about. I need to spend some time caring for and checking in with the family who lives so far away... for they are so close in my thoughts, so real in the stories I tell Gavin, and I just miss them.

I thought I'd share a few pics of what we've been up to around here. Being sick and a bit snowbound lends itself to lots of creative play. We've been digging through a math tote... one full of games much too hard for right now, but full of manipulatives and things that are all new to explore.

S is for Schoolin' ***

Gavin worked with unifex cubes and some dry-erase markers to build "snow towers". I can get him started on these types of tasks and he can finish on his own. It's so cool to see such independent progress!

S is for Snow ***

We read a few good books about snow... and used a few rubber stamps to make a groups snow picture. We talked about how snow is like God's love... covering over our dirty hearts with His beautiful forgiveness. So true.

We made a "Mega Tent" with Daddy's help. It became the afternoon hang-out for some math and card games.



Mega Tent was also the location for a bit of story time. We read "The Jacket I Wear in the Snow"... one of my favorites - and all sat on top of our own winter coat. Snow very fun.

We built snow pictures out of pattern block stickers. Ivy loved coloring over each sticker piece Daddy laid down. She tried putting the stickers on herself, but grew too cranky. Gavin built a technicolor whistling snowman. Not too bad.




We celebrated Ivy's 18 month birthday... complete with a box cake and an unexpected gift. Cute new hat huh?? My mother-in-law's friend at work knit it! I can't get over how quickly time is flying. My little girl is saying, "Mommy, see?" and "I found it!" She is kissing every baby in every book and loves to be held closely from dusk until bedtime. I love her so.




Some fun with Cuisenaire Rods....and to top it all off... "The Clothesline of Randomness"... who knows where play might just lead you! It's good to see the sanity genes running in the family.

I guess S is for Stuck inSide with my Special Sweeties. Super.

The Rainbow Connection

My sister, mom, and nephews came visiting this week. Between the snowstorms they all made their way from New Jersey and are headed back home tomorrow. I am so blessed to have a twin... I actually feel a bit sorry for all you singletons out there. Imagine sharing life with someone - like your spouse - but since the womb. It's about one of the greatest blessings God can give - I think.

Anyway, my twin and I share so many things. And planning for our homeschooling with our children is one of the most wonderful connections. We discuss where the Lord is leading us as we teach our children about God and His Holy Word. We share moments of divine intervention when we fail - how the Lord so graciously teaches us as we get back up and try again. We share joys as our children grow and change, understand deep spiritual principles practiced in real living... and we share ideas. Especially the ones that worked - the ones that hit down deep in the souls of the little ones we are entrusted with.... the ideas that are gifts of creativity and give glory to out Creator.

We are finishing up with the letter R this week. (We both spend 2 weeks per letter) And the rainbow connections we have made have been exciting and loud. What a way to spend some time with your cousins! Check out some of our fun!

Rainbow Water Play ***

No, those aren't floating carrots...

Yes, Ivy ate a lot of food coloring that morning! We evened it our with some healthy veggies!

Other than causing the water to turn an ugly brown, the children all loved splashing in their own rainbows! Start with some dollar store ice cube trays (the ones with the seasonal shapes) and food coloring, add in some scoops and sieves and such, and you have an environment for pouring, transferring and floating fun! Just be sure to have a few thirsty towels on hand!

Rainbow Story Time ***

We read about Noah and God's promise to never flood the entire earth again. We had out our box of puppets and the children all fed and cleaned up after our "animals". I felt led to talk to them about the great responsibility of caring for those beasts day after day... night after night. Surly Noah's wife grew tired of the smells and sounds of those creatures - no matter how much of an animal lover she may have been! The big boys drew a part of the story to record what they remembered.

You guessed it... Gavin loved the torrential downpour. Destruction! How 4-year old boy of him!

JELL-O Rainbows ***
Is there anything more delightful than eating a rainbow??? Soooo fun! The kids loved eating from such fancy goblets too! Well worth a bit of time to make.

Rainbow Band***

Reaching for a Rainbow!

With Boom Whackers, Hand bells, and Rainbow Ribbon Twirlers... we made music to brighten up this snow-covered neighborhood. I'm sure they could all hear us if they listened well enough! The children loved just exploring with the music - playing chase and catch with the ribbons... and being surrounded with scarves and laughter. It was a wonderful time for the body and soul (just maybe not the ears)!

Our Lady in Red!

Rainbow Sorting and a Rainbow Snack***

We gave the older boys a pinch or so of Rainbow Jimmies to sort and then lick up. Once I called them "little guys", Gavin decided they probably had feelings and didn't want to eat his. But other than a few emotional overreactions, they loved pushing such tiny wonders around. And the yummy pretzels were shared by us all!

Sooo tasty! We could have thrown back quite a few of these lovely little treats!

Rainbow Science***

So dish soap cuts grease, or in our case cuts milk fat. Add some food coloring to the milk and chase it away with some liquid Ajax - and you have a rainbow science experiment. We followed auditory directions, counted out drops, talked about staining, made predictions, and observed colors twirl and swirl until new colors were made. The kids all loved watching this one!

Rainbows!! What a wonderful way to spend time together with family and have lots of preschool learning!

Caught Red Handed

Who knew rice could be so much fun... create such a sweepable mess, or be the catalyst to such spiritual principles. I love living out my life with the Lord. Only He could turn a play session into lifelong learning and continue to free me from the anger I struggle with. Only He can catch us red-handed and let us go peacefully free.

R is for RED... in case you were wondering which letter we have begun. R is also for Rice, Race Cars, and Roads. I followed the easiest guide to making my own colored rice - thinking red rice would be so lovely glued to a nice paper Rr... and we could hang it up and see how we are making progress in our phonics. Then I remembered that I am teaching a 4 year old boy... who can already recognize the letter and could care less about paper and glue. He wants to smash and dominate.... and fill-up and dump. So I bagged my teachery idea and went with the messier one.

Ivy loved the rice too, of course. She kept telling us that her rice was green... and I think she really dug the sound it made as it plonked all over the dining room floor. She would spill some on purpose and just wait... listening to the music of it. She went from cup to ladle... fist full to funnel full... and had a blast filling, transferring, and dumping. Her rice became a tea party as we took turns pretending to sip, a springboard into language as she said "crunchy" and "sprinkle", a place to play and loose time as the snow and ice piled up outside as high as her mounds on her tray.

It didn't take long for the table to get in on the action... collecting all the leftovers as the children pushed and spilled so freely. And as most children would do, Gavin decided that the table rice was free game... his to claim. I think it's born into the men - take what is before you and claim it for your own until an authority tells you your limits. The limit was Ivy's tray - and that breech quickly followed. I don't often parent with repaying, but this time it occurred to me - that perhaps Gavin didn't know what if felt like to be robbed of something so precious. I thought for a moment after he greedily grabbed a huge handful of Ivy's rice, and had him freeze. Then he watched as I pointed out his error... and proceeded to take an even larger handful from his tray. (May I also add that I began to feel a bit of annoyance rise up in me at this point. We were all having such a fun time of exploration! I didn't want to be interrupted to parent... but then the Holy Spirit whispered my role and as I submitted I knew He would lead me to parent appropriately.)

Oh the anger that began to boil in Gavin... how little ones hearts are so transparent. They haven't yet learned to hide sin in their lives. What an opportunity for me to speak to that part in the heart... focusing not on the behavior, but on the greed and self that drives it. How his red face quickly softened as I helped him identify his sin... acknowledgement and humility before forgiveness. These are the terms we used and I am so thankful his heart truly gets the truth. To use these moments to feed and train the soul. It is such a blessing to be the one home, sharing with my children about the moment by moment need of a Savior in their lives.

The anger I see in my son is a daily struggle in my own life too. Such little things that go differently than my plan, such minor changes throw me for a loop... and at times I get caught in this selfish place of frustration. But I am learning, just like my boy. I am learning to fight with the weapons of thankfulness and joy. I am practicing new reactions to those situations as I continue to grow and experience sanctification. I am thankful that my Father catches me red-handed and doesn't let me go free until I have sought forgiveness in humility and truth.

Here are a few more pics of our celebration of all things R!

Gavin matched halves of rainbows in a number game. I have learned that paper activities go over much better if presented stuck to the wall (or in this case, the mirror)! 3D is always more active and engaging - more of the body is involved - therefore, more learning! (BTW - the rainbow game was from confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com)

Pretty colors right! Cheap and sooo quick to make! I think everybody is getting colored rice for their next b-day!

Hooray for Rice! What a blessed day!