family of five: May 2008

six one way week nineteen

six one way week nineteen
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

GG's 90th birthday
reading to "boy" and "girl"
parking garage found after bedtime

ideals :
principles or values that one actively pursues as goals

a new thrifted bag for Grace

I'm conjuring up some new personal "green" ideals lately:

1) thrifting ~ really I've always enjoyed it, but more so lately.
I don't want to see all my money going over-seas or wasted on cheap and potentially poisoned products.
I see that these mamas have it right.

2) organic ~ I know, it isn't a new ideal and maybe you think I'm late coming around... I've been there for a bit, really I have. But on those weeks when the funds were low I would buy regular milk.. no longer.
I think Nicole has it right.

3)walking ~ and no...again, this is not an earth-shattering thought..
but it is not something I have fully committed to in the past.
We live right in the center of our town & can easily walk to a bank, our church, playground, park, the university library, and bike to the grocery for a small list of items. We've done most of that, but not all.. I'm hoping it becomes a natural process for us. Like taking our shopping bags instead of coming home with one more plastic bag. Looks like I'm up to # 4!

How about you? What are your "green" ideals? I'd love to hear them! Either leave them in the comments, or link to your own blog post for it is time for FOF contest number two! I'll draw a name out of a hat one week from today if you share your green ideals. The winner will get a goody package guaranteed to include some Gevalia cinnamon coffee, a hand-carved stamp, a vintage reader (if you have youngsters) and other treats as well!

some "new" clothes from a vintage clothing store (within walking distance!!)

\

"the lesson"

Joy

end result
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

My first canvas.. inspired by my friend Peggy... www.outofhandart.blogspot.com
I'm pretty pleased.. it was a bit stressful trying to get those lines okay.. they still aren't perfect, but I doubt they'd ever be without my taping them off!
It's a gift for a friend.

six one way week eighteen

six one way week eighteen
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

We enjoyed the few warm & sunny days we lad last week...

Thrift Finds
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

Mom & I took the kids to lunch today and then they let us drag them through a few thrift stores!
I so love the candle holder ( bonus ~ with candle!) and Garden of Verses set of books. Top off those finds with a macrame purse & sewing machine drawer for my desk, and I've got a pretty great haul.
Total spent (including the 1993 star wars game , peace beanie baby & sea monster book ~ all not shown because they went to bed with my son) about $26.00.

Home

Home
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

for the creative mom podcast May ATC exchange.
click through for a link to a beautiful photo of the hummingbird inspiration.

letters
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

My son, 6, doesn't know his letters yet.
There... I've come out of the closet. He can recite the alphabet, but can't identify all 26 letters. He has memorized all the Star Wars characters, can recite lines from The Sorcerer's Stone, has created his own medieval characters & story called, "Knights of the Kingdom" and can recite the first five of the 10 commandments, with Luther's explanation (dyed in the wool, that boy).
But "q" eh, that seems to be a bit confusing....
So occasionally I pull out some project to do with letters and we go over them. This was the most recent ~

He thought it was fun idea, started finding them, cutting them out and pasting them on the page. After a bit he didn't want to do all the cutting, so the oldest and I helped. About half way through he was done and didn't want to finish the page. That was okay, I didn't want to push him... so I asked if he would finish it tomorrow. He said yes,
we tidied up a bit and put the page on the fridge, and went on with our day....
Later that afternoon my mom called and we were talking about his project. When I told her he didn't want to finish she remarked, "What do you think about that?" While I don't recall what I replied,but I do recall feeling like I had to come up with something to satisfy her question.
Something along the lines of , "well, he will finish it tomorrow... I know he should have done it today. I could have insisted..." sort of a whimpering answer.
I know what would have happened if I'd insisted... tears, frustration, some yelling, perhaps a threat of punishment..but, by God, he'd have those letters all matched up and I'd have a complete page on my fridge.
There now, isn't that better?
sigh.
I know it isn't, I did that enough with my first-born. (poor kid... she really got so much 'tude from me.) She and I went over and over workbooks, readers, web-sites, computer games, board games, bribery (oops). It didn't work.... instead she chose to
read
and we both learned a lesson.
So to answer, "What do you think about that?"
I think it is fine... peachy... just dandy really. I'm proud of him for doing
what he did!

The last several months of posts have consisted of many pictures and few words.
I have gone from sharing my art endeavors, my thoughts & maybe a few
reviews to sort of a scrapbook of our days.
Maybe it started with the six one way sets:
week seventeen(see more about the Dan Zanes concert in the post below.... it was so awesome!!!!!)

I loved the original six one way from Stefani & Erin right from the start.
Such a great documentary of their mothering days, & so doable! So when they announced they were starting a flickr group where we could all share our days, I think I was one of the first to join. I now have a seventeen week journal of some quick shots showing our days. These -for sure- will be printed out to save.
I started blogging sometime in 2005 at another spot, and by July 2006 I was here. I began blogging some thoughts, recording our move away and our move back, some of the kids' personal achievements, our interests like letterboxing..... I guess I was journaling then too. But then as my art interest began to climb I was a bit more brave and shared some of it here. (I'm always thankful for your comments and encouragements as I'm learning & growing)
I have backed off sharing some of my thoughts on homeschooling and parenting & that has bothered me a bit. I know I backed off because I didn't want to catch flack from anyone who didn't agree with me. (which has happened)
I was challenge and instead of trying to support my thoughts I backed down... that's the golden retriever in me trying to please everyone. The truth is, as we all know, that not everyone schools or parents the same way. Why should I stop sharing my opinions when I could be encouraging others? Even if you don't agree, someone else might. I know my kids. I know their interests, their weaknesses, their faith, their trust and my sole desire is to build them up.
I'll be sharing more in posts to come.

dan zanes
Originally uploaded by hsmom2luge

Dan Zanes in concert last friday ~ one of the best concerts ever! He was in a small town about 60 miles away. The venue was a nice community arts building, nothing fancy ~ which was just right for Dan. No fancy lighting, no videos flashing around behind him. At one point they added a mirror ball & bubbles from two bubble machines... that was perfect.
The music was spectacular. They sang a few old favorites (Old Joe Clark & Catch that Train) and some new songs that will be released on a new cd soon. (easy to learn & we were able to sing along )
They had several instruments on stage, and the five musicians shared them all. No need for roadies running a special guitar out to someone, they just switched. I liked that.
They left the stage singing a good-bye song I'd not heard before... but could quickly sing along with them. They weaved their way in and around the crowd to so that he could meet & greet everyone in the foyer. Again, simple. No madness... no frenzy... loved it.