Art pics

Here are pictures of our latest art project. We used art masking tape to make nice clean lines around our rectangles. We colored the first square with an orange crayon and then a blue oil pastel crayon. The second box was done with a yellow crayon and a violet oil pastel. The third box was a green crayon with a red oil pastel on top. Using a toothpick, we then scraped away the oil pastel to reveal the crayon underneath while looking at different photos of insects on leaves and twigs. The first one is mine and the second is dd's.

This project was done to introduce us to shading. This was a several week project and involved drawing the bear using a photo reference, using a charcoal pencil to add shadow and then using a white pastel pencil on other areas. We also got to use a blending stump to blend certain areas. The first drawing is mine and the second is dd's. We are enjoying our art time, even though we don't manage to get around to it every week.

Horse Show

Dd had her first horse show today and she did great. We arrived around 10AM so she could get registered and watch some of the competition. She received 4th place in the first round, 4th place in the second round and 3rd place in the third round. 

     Awaiting the results with 'Scamp'

    Dd and her friend with their ribbons

Prayer Warriors Needed

A little boy named Noah is desperately in need of our prayers. I have been following his mom's blog for for over a year and I have been amazed at each new blessing I have seen in his little life. He is in a VERY bad situation right now and needs prayer very badly. Here is the link to his mom's blog.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ourquiverfull

Psalm 73

Truly God is good to Israel,

to those whose hearts are pure.

But as for me, I almost lost my footing.

My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

For I envied the proud

when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

They seem to live such painless lives;

their bodies are so healthy and strong.

They don't have troubles like other people; 

they're not plagued with problems like everyone else.

They wear pride like a jeweled necklace

and clothe themselves with cruelty.

These fat cats have everything

their hearts could ever wish for!

They scoff and speak only evil; 

in their pride they seek to crush others.

They boast against the very heavens,

and their words strut throughout the earth.

And so the people are dismayed and confused,

drinking in all their words.

"What does God know?" they ask.

"Does the Most High even know what's happening?"

Look at these wicked people-

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

Truly, you put them on a slippery path

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

In an instant they are destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors.

When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside.

I was so foolish and ignorant-

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish,

for you destroy those who abandon you.

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Update on Son

Ds is home now and some things have gotten better. He is much more responsible with his chores and he 'was' getting along great with his sister. The two started fighting again yesterday, but I think both children were at fault. We will see how today goes, as dd is in quite a mood already because she had to get up at 8:30AM on a Spring Break day. Poor baby! 

Her attitude has gotten quite bad lately and it is really starting to wear on me. A lot of the problem stems from me giving her so much free reign with her time. She has been allowed to work on her schoolwork unattended and did well in the beginning, but has gotten increasingly more lazy and many times gets to the weekend with unfinished work. She argues with everything I tell her to do and throws up an attitude when I make her do something-whether chores, schoolwork or helping around the house. I think she has developed a bad case of entitlement-thinking she is in charge and should not be required to do anything unless she feels so inclined. Argh!

We just moved the schoolroom downstairs where I can see her, so that will make it easier to keep an eye on her. Another struggle for her is realizing that her workload is getting larger now that she is moving up in grades. She is used to getting done with her work in such a short time, and hates that some things are now taking longer to complete. Writing is a good example. She 'says' she cannot complete an entire writing assignment in one week because it is too much to do each day. When I told her it is not unreasonable to spend up to 45 minutes per day pre-writing, doing the rough draft and editing, she about had a cow!

Does anyone have any ideas for moving a child from 'easy' elementary work to more 'advanced' middle school work? She is very smart and has no trouble understanding the assignments for the most part, it is just her willingness to give what it takes to do it right.

Prayers for son

We had an interesting end to our week on Friday. I don't really want to go into details, but I would definitely covet your prayers for ds. He is struggling with some serious stuff right now and can use God's protective hand over him. If nothing else comes of this situation, it has caused me to sit back and take a good hard look at our family. I also pray it will be an eye-opening experience for others in our family.

Homeschool Memoirs #28

Last week's theme was Life Skills. This is one area in which I would truly like to be doing more. My 10dd has normal chores like dusting, kitchen duty, and yard clean-up. My children are each given a weekly allowance that is based on them completing their chores. Chores that are not done or done incorrectly do not get paid for. They still have to do them, they just don't get paid. I am not sure if this is actually working as my 14ds does not care enough about money to 'remember' his chores. 10dd also gets paid to help me with the baby.

We go through periods of time when one or both children start slacking off on thoroughness. A lot of this is due to dad and I not checking and verifying that the chore was done correctly or completely. I get so worn out having to come behind my children and check everything. It is my job as their mother, but I wish they would 'get it'. I guess we are all like that, though, sometimes. I don't like to admit it, but I also have a lazy streak. 'Research' on the internet, school or pleasure reading, playing with the baby, etc. can all pull me away from cleaning the bathroom or doing laundry (my two least favorite chores, next to mopping). 

I am preparing to start Keepers of the Faith with my dd and hope to do it in a group setting. I am hoping that a group setting will provide the accountability I need to keep up with things. I am the queen of starting projects and not finishing them. Everything sounds so interesting until we get into it, and then it becomes work! 

In the past I have had my children each prepare dinner one night per week. I think I will use this opportunity to begin that again. I would also like to bring my daughter beside me when I am baking so she can develop the skills to one day take care of her family.