simple Analogy

Evil

Thursdays are evil as far as our homeschooling schedule goes.  As a busy family, we have several commitments during the week that eat up our time.  Since I am not one of "those" homeschool moms that let their kids slip and slide around school work, this makes Thursday our day to accomplish not only all our regular everyday subjects, but also those extra things that I want my children to have in their education.  Like piano lessons.  Like writing class.  Like art.  What would the world be without art, the written word, and music?  Dull and drab is what. 

 

Landon's (the DIY-er's dream hammer)  

Our usual Friday art has been moved to Thursday this year.  Today's lesson was very uninspiring - draw hammers.  Ok, the fact that you can draw them funny, crazy, etc. just didn't cut it for me.  I usually do art with the boys, but today I tried to slip out of it by telling them they could draw while I read a book to them.  They were rather disappointed.  "What?  You always draw with us!  Come on, Mother!"  (They've taken to calling me "Mother".  Sounds so formal, but whatever.)  Oh all right!  Hammers.  Mine were very blah, until I started drawing nails along with them.  Nails are more fun to draw than hammers, so my Thursday art session kind of took on a shape of it's own.  I am banning hammers!  They are evil.

Noah's Hammerhead Shark (he was uninspired by hammers as well)

So Let the Neighbors Talk

For those of you who are totally wanting to do the chalk drawing thing, but don't have any kids to use as your excuse for drawing on your driveway... take heart.  You are not alone!  Meet Michael Neff and see his amazing shadow chalk drawing gallery.  Beautiful!  Imagine stepping outside one morning only to see that someone has captured the shadows of the night on the sidewalk in front of you.  That would make my day!

I tried it last night.  I wish we had detailed iron scroll work, but the only shadow I could find was the one made by the street light shining through the branches of my pine tree.  I grabbed my chalk and got to it.  Mine isn't nearly as wonderful as Michael Neff's and my camera doesn't take very good pictures in the dark, but it was fun and I felt like I was doing something clandestine.  None of the neighbors called Joel this morning to see if I was "all right", so I don't think I hurt my reputation too badly.

So see, you can let the inner child in you be free to chalk up the driveway - just do it at night.  Of course Mr. Neff's chalking can be attributed to artistic genius.  Somehow I fear it may not be translated the same way for you and I.  Someone might think we are doing graffiti, so be careful!  Just sayin'!

The Boy Version of Clever

Packing for a trip takes a lot of thought, and children do not want to spend their playtime thinking it all through.  They grab a few things and shove them in a suitcase and - DONE!  Later when you check their suitcase you are appalled to find they have only one pair of underwear, 15 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts (which have been pulled out of the laundry hamper), and no deodorant.  I don't know about your kids, but mine need a list!  And they need it today - the boys and I are going to Colorado tomorrow.

Last year House on Hill Road posted a printable packing list for her kids.  Print it out, write in the amount of each item - how clever!  I remembered it for this vacation and printed it out.  One little problem... she has girls.  Somehow when I saw the pink underwear, ponytail holders, dress, and party shoes print out, I didn't think my boys were going to appreciate it for the genius idea it really is.

So, here is my boy version (click on it to enlarge): 

   

Ours even has guns and ammo on it!  (Please note that these are air soft guns only and my boys have been trained to use them with safety, caution, goggles, and always under supervision!  No kicking fire buckets at each other around here!  Long story!) 

If the Beginning of My Week Is Any Indication

This is one of those weeks when every waking minute is crammed with things to do.  So far I've managed to do laundry, meet my new nephew, get groceries, watch my nieces overnight, do art and get ice cream with said nieces, shop for the rest of my VBS supplies, take Noah to piano lessons and the library, start sewing Micah's gift for the baby shower, type up all the VBS posters/parent letters/verses, make A LOT of lists, start shopping for the things Landon will need for camp, plan my VBS workdays, clean the kitchen, and watch Emma while cutting out a million stars.  Whew, it's been a whirlwind of activity.  I feel like I've come so far, but still have so far to go.

The rest of my week is more of the same.  I'll just keep plodding along until my lists are all marked through.  On my list for Sunday - planned unconsciousness so that I can get rested up for an even busier week next week.  Planned unconsciousness is what my parents call taking a nap.  Sounds sophisticated, doesn't it?

****Just found out my sister is having a BOY!  Two nephews in one year!  My boys are overjoyed!!!!

It's Been a While

Haven't shown you any "Friday Art" lately.  It isn't that we haven't been doing it, although at this time in our homeschool year it'd be tempting.  We are working through Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered.  Hoping it would be as good as the watercolor version, this one did not disappoint.  One thing I love about this book is the illustrations.  So many children's drawing books are illustrated by adults who have been drawing their whole life, and the pictures are perfect.  Therefore when the child finishes a drawing and compares it to the one in the book, they are less than satisfied!  The drawings and prototypes in this book are less than pristine, very kid friendly, and just plain old fun.

I also love the playfulness in the directions.  For example, from today's lesson, "There's an untidiness to a cupful of sticks that you can best catch with a careless what-the-heck kind of approach."  Ok!  I can do that!  This book makes you feel like what ever comes out of your pen is just what it should be.  It doesn't make you feel intimidated to try, but rather empowered to tackle the drawing for the day.

Also, the drawing ideas are very fun.  A few weeks ago we drew mops and brooms.  GREAT.  But then they had us think up fun new variations on our brooms/mops:  twisty, electrically powered, just back from the hair dresser, factory reject.  How fun!  Not only is our drawing improving, but also our imagination.

Landon's drawings always end up with war in them somewhere.  The U.S.S. Broomstick is about to be kamikazed!

Mine always end up with a twist of what's going on in my world.  This lesson was on umbrellas.  It had been raining like crazy and our dog hates to potty in the rain.  Can't really blame her!  If only she had a bone umbrella...

And Noah's always include soccer.  The scrawny broom defender had no chance against the powerful shot on goal by the vaccum.  And where was the goalie?

Thirteen

Ho Ho was the first bear that Joel and I bought for Landon.  He was waiting in the crib for Landon when we came home from the hospital with him; the two have a special bond.  Ho Ho kept Landon company every night for years until he finally became too threadbare to be handled any more, even with his little protective jacket made by my mom.  We placed him in a box for safe keeping.  I guess Landon discovered him when we were unpacking, because as I was walking through his room yesterday, I saw Ho Ho on the shelf in a place of prominence.

Ho Ho just turned thirteen, which means so did Landon.  So, here are thirteen reasons why I am proud of Landon.

1. He loves the Lord.
2. He is respectful.
3. He is just an all around nice guy.
4. His artwork is constantly improving.
5. He is a good big brother to Noah.
6. Landon does not like to hurt anyone's feelings.
7. He is unselfish.
8. He doesn't mind entertaining little kids.
9. He is a hard worker.
10. His desire to obey is very strong.
11. He is tender hearted.
12. He is always willing to help.
13. He is a good friend.

A sampling of his most recent artwork (a work in progress):

  

   

We Go Together Like . . .

 

Like a . . .

 

Happy 14th anniversary, Joel!

What To Do

What do you do with all the "art" that comes home from school, church, girl/boy scouts, day care . . . need I go on?  Family Fun has some great ideas.

 

 

I am by nature a "thrower".  My husband is more sentimental and is a "keeper".  When my kids were smaller, we would keep their art for a while and then do some sifting.  The ones "less worthy" were tossed (I know - hard hearted), the others were placed in a large envelope and put on the top shelf in the closet.  That was before I got my digital camera.  Now everything is photographed for posterity and then tossed.  Unless it's a masterpiece or just too special to go in the trash (not that hard hearted), then it's placed in their school notebook that I keep.  This really cuts down on the paper clutter in my house.  I only wished I would have come across ideas like these to display all their masterpieces when they were 2, 3, 4.  So much cuter than a completely covered fridge! 

The empty red frames with binder clips is my favorite!

Art Class

I started reading a new book and it kind of monopolized my time the past three days.  I love that about summer though!  If I want to spend all day on the couch reading, it's perfectly acceptable.

So . . . after I finished the book, I realized that I had received a box from Amazon.  Mostly school stuff for the boys, but I did manage to add one book for me.  It's also one I want to use with the boys, but mainly it's for me.

After my activities with the kids in the spring, I wanted to do more printing, but just didn't have time.  So I decided that this will definitely be included in art class this year!

Another included in that lovely Amazon box . . .

Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered

We had so much fun with the watercolor version (continuing with that one) that we're going to try this one out, as well as Doing Art Together.  I probably have more than enough to keep us busy for the year, but that's the joy of it.  We can delve into what we enjoy, spend as long as we want, and then go on to something new.

Move Over Halmark

OK, maybe not, but I sure like them!