It Is I, Setting Such a Great Example

I spent a long time today in our entry. It's not my favorite place in the house. 

Grout? The devil invented it. 

I put dirty socks in the laundry room. I unpacked the carry-on that had been sitting there for a week. (Confession: I put Eliana's suitcase at the top of the stairs. It's not unpacked yet. But it's also not in the entry anymore...score?) I put shoes away. I vacuumed. I got rid of shipping boxes and garbage. I relocated small items that belong to the children and which had been congregating in this area collecting dust like professional dust-collectors. 

I want to do something. I want to get a big bin, and then I want to go through the house and pick up every single thing that is not in its proper place, stick it in the bin, put the lid on, and have this rule: Nothing can come out of the bin unless all of it gets put away. 

(It would need to be a pretty big bin, for sure.)

How is that for all or nothing? I'm good at what I'm good at, and no one can take that away from me.

And while I do feel very pleased regarding the entryway, the coffee table is another story entirely (or rather a novel...or a trilogy...or a multi-volume epic saga that has no real ending) (but just keeps going and going) (forever until the end of time). That (the coffee table, in case you forgot what I was talking about) (I may have, myself) is a project for another day. 

Tonight, I'm afraid, I will need to work on this masterpiece...

I really need to have the kids clean up their stuff, man. Just like I do! (See picture above. It only took me a month and a half!)

Short on Words, But Laughing

I was looking at some of the pictures that I have posted on Facebook, and often those same pictures don't make it onto the blog, and I thought it would be fun to share some of them. Besides, they were making me laugh, and it's always good to spread a little laughter, right?

Let's begin with this one. My brother somehow did this. I do not know how. He must have gotten into my account. I choose to ignore the fact that he is a hacker. 

Because he is hilarious.

I really don't know another woman who can rock a 'stache like I can.

I found the following posted on my Facebook wall, along with the text that comes after the picture:

Nzmxnxmxnxmxmxxn mzmz mkxm jc xncnncjcmkxxmkx

(I came to the conclusion that Eliana took a turn posting on Facebook from my phone.) (Just call me Sherlock.)

This is from the Christmas before this past one. I posted this picture with the comment below it.

We got our first real tree topper. Our tree looks like it's wearing a party hat.

(Looking at it again, I am still laughing a year later.) 

This is the kind of scene I often come across in my house. (Remember the booby trap Christian set up that I walked into? After I SAW HIM PUTTING IT UP even?) One friend asked what was going on. Um, anyone else's guess is always as good as mine. I do know that I had a hard time getting from the couch (from where I took the picture) to the kitchen for a while, so if obstacle course was their goal, then SUCCESS.

One morning, I discovered ice cream in the refrigerator. 

Sadly, it was too late to save it from an early demise. And, great day! look at that Smart Balance. That's a pretty big tub of buttery spread.

This trick made me laugh out loud. I managed to squeeze an entire length of ketchup on a hot dog bun along the edge. I don't think any ketchup touched the hot dog. I have amazing skills. 

And as I was driving down the street one day, I saw this car. 

I busted out laughing. (I was stopped when I took the picture...don't worry!) Duct tape...so multi-purpose.

Finally, here is a little blast from the past, a picture of me around age four. (I'm guessing here...Mom and Dad, you can help me out if I'm wrong.)

(Obviously, this is before facial hair got the better of me.)

Michaela's Selfie

Today, after Michaela had worked on her writing assignment for this week and done some grammar, she declared her desire to do art.

Art. Art, art, art, art, art.

Art has been much neglected as far as subjects in the homeschool go around here. She has often taken it upon herself to do projects, like painting or going through a drawing book that we have on her own. She has also gotten a little art instruction during our weekly class, both last year and this year. It's one of her favorite things to do, and I really want to include it in the rest of our schoolyear.

I found a book online (and bought it) that introduces the reader to many artists and their work. There is a blackline rendering of a particular painting to color for each person. I want to use the book to get an initial and brief intro to each person. Michaela can then use the drawing to either copy on another paper or canvas, or use it as inspiration to do a similar piece, whether it's thematically inspired or she has some interpretation of it based on her own experiences or what she is studying, or whatever. 

This afternoon, we read a little about Albrecht Durer and then looked at his self-portrait. He is a famous German artist from the time of the Reformation. After she read a bit about him, she did her own self-portrait. 

When I saw it, I got tears in my eyes. I thought she did a great job! She was critical of the eyes...she thinks they are TOO BIG. But I told her that the great thing about something like this is that there is no right or wrong. 

I am excited to experiment (well, for her to experiment) with different mediums (she used oil pastels today, and found out that they are quite smudgy - note the lower lashes), and for her to learn technique. With training and guidance, I think that she could develop her talent. It's fun to watch her do something that she really enjoys. My goal is to foster that! 

Break The Ground

Like parched grass, yellow, thirsty, 
Soaking up the long-awaited provision
Like a beggar finally feasting full 

Like tiny hope-full blades, 
Shoots that, defiant, break through that thirsty ground 
They seem weak, but look! They grow! 

Inconsequential

Mike and I have been playing a few word games. He thoroughly thrashes me in every one. I need to find a game at which I excel, and then beat him (at the game, of course). (I win at loading the dishwasher and ironing, so there's always that.) 

We have snow here in Dallas. 

Bonus: No melting, no soggy clothes, no freezing temps required! 

All you need are a couple of creative kids, some paper, scissors, tape, and string. 

And a grown-up to help hang them (or a chair, if you're like my kids...at least until the grown-up yells,"Get down from that chair!")

Speaking of creative endeavors...Christian likes to design and build things. 

I like to document those things. 

Eliana was working on a puzzle the other day. She wanted me to do it with her, but I sat with her while she put the pieces together. She is getting better at figuring out how pieces fit. I am practicing being patient with her, because I love puzzles and can work them fairly quickly. Christian and Michaela were also very good puzzle workers (Christian especially, and from a young age), and so it is hard for me to sit and watch her not get certain puzzles rules right away (edge pieces can't go in the middle, for example). I think, in part, she has gotten used to letting others do things for her (she is the youngest, after all, and her siblings often offer to help), and she has also had more screen time (by the same age) than the other two had. For the new year: less screens, more brain-engaging puzzles.

In class today, the kids got to make their own paint by smashing up chalk with rocks, and then mixing the chalky powder with a little bit of water and some honey. 

What a fun activity! This will be something we do again, and soon. I loved it, and so did she. We just purchased a new art book, for studying great artists and their paintings (that you can replicate), and I am looking forward to starting that this week! 

Inconsequential but memorable things I want to tuck away...