Why did the moose cross the road?

Why did the Moose cross the road?.

Does anyone have an answer for this?  Leave me a note in the comments if you do...  The only thing we could think of was that the fireweed is more purple on the other side?

On our way to friends house this moose trotted across the road in front of us.  We spent a long weekend visiting friends and helping out with their building projects.... Building Alaskan Home from Scratch

This is NOT our friends home from scratch....

This is our friends other work project....  they were able to jointly acquire the above home after it sat some time vacant.  The previous owners built it and the roof caved in under the snow load not to mention a whole lot of other things that went wrong... you can read about it here Collapse of Alaskan Home 

As we hiked around it and through it looking at all the debris I couldn't help but think of the Bible verse about a "House divided will not stand."  The mother had left in a hurry with her children, there was still a jar of peanut butter on the counter and dishes in the sink.  All her household food storage sat in containers on shelves and their food supply for a year remained. 

Videos, books, kids drawings lay strewn about, including photo's, clothes, toiletries, dishes, and games.  It was so eerie to realize that everything we lay up for ourselves is just that.  It's just stuff.  It's also who we are and who we aspire to be.  BUT  we do leave it all behind.  This mother just had enough one day and walked away from it all.

It is sad but understandable.  Sometimes we can build empires around ourselves.... we have some great ideals and wonderful aspirations.  However, our dreams can also lead us astray.  Leading self sufficient lives can be lonely.  We can do it all and be left feeling very empty.  There is no such thing as perfect living and we were meant to live together, in fellowship with the body of Jesus Christ, his Church.  So, let's remember in this day and age to get together and help one another, encourage one another, and hold one another up in prayer, all the more as we see the Day approaching of the Lord's return.



Old Plastic Bags: New Cushions

First, put on your safety glasses..

Even a 2-year old can learn to use tools!

 I was inspired by another blog author who had used old plastic grocery bags to stuff an outdoor cushion.... I am sorry that I can't remember where I'd read it. 

And when they're 16, they'll be a pro!

 You can see that we just pushed lots of sacks into one sack and tied it off.  Then we kind of shaped and pushed and fluffed it until it looked like a circular cushion.  Sacks are free, foam is expensive.  We saved a lot and made some good memories too. 
We also covered the fabric with a medium weight vinyl for easy clean up.  If I'd done that with the first stools, I wouldn't have been recovering for the 2nd time!

Pounding in a few stubborn staples...

Beautiful new cushions!

I love the fabric of the old ones... but so full of leftover meals and an accident... or two

My newly organized craft and school supplies location...

My second grader enjoying a stamp project...

This was a fun project for several different age groups.  This is my biggest challenge as a Mother... learning how to shift gears between the different levels.  When I do a project, I try to include some or all of them in some way, allowing them to work on a skill suited to their level.

So for this project, my 7 year old pulled staples with several different tools while her 2 year old sister, with my supervision, thumb printed a little girl with stamps.  I let her cut a little piece of scrap fabric for the dress.  Little ones just want to be in on the action and feel apart of a project even if it's not directly related.  BUT... she wanted to pull staples like big sister so I let her climb up and try out all the tools.  I named each one and she repeated after me, so much for shapes, those are rather boring compared to real tools! 

She actually squealed with delight when she was able to work a loose one out.  Then my oldest boy stapled while I pulled the fabric and vinyl tight, as well as screwed the stool top back together.  Everyone visited, laughed and had a good time, pretty good for a teenager, a grade schooler and a toddler.  I felt successful that afternoon.... now pick another afternoon.... maybe not so much depending on who's had a melt down or what manner of mess or messes have been left behind...

I enjoy the challenge and making memories with purpose, not just entertainment.  We're so entertainment driven as a society that I find myself purposefully saying no to a movie or computer game in lieu of a work or art project.  Everyone seems happier and more fulfilled to be creatively engaged in this manner.

Education happens. Got Books?

 

You may be wondering why I've posted such hideous pictures of my home? Read on...

Study session interrupted...

Home-ec class ended...

That is a 3lb can of peanut butter in the background just in case you're wondering... I know it looks like paint, but we can eat a lot of peanut butter.

Tornado through bedroom....

Fireball and older Brother enjoying relaxation time...

In the name of Showing How.... I wanted to be real.  My house is rarely clean nor tidy.  It is functional and has a lived in look.  Oh, that's because we do live here!  The hardest part of homeschooling for me is living in a house that always has a mess in some corner or..... corners. 

I realize I have a choice to look at things with admiration and joy or with negativity and frustration.  I can look at all those messes and complain or be happy that people are studying, reading, experimenting, baking, building, and creating.  AND all those things make messes.  All I really have to do is teach them HOW to clean up after themselves.....

Now, that would be a great course title, "How to Clean Up After Yourself 101"  Probably we could all use a refresher course in that...

We are officially starting school next week so this week is finishing up the last of the planning.  I found a great site http://www.donnayoung.org/index.htm with loads of printables.

Also, I am using a great book called, "Home School, High School, and Beyond:  A Guide for Teens and Their Parents."  It is a "time management, career exploration, organization, and study skills course."  It all sounds rather complicated, but it's not.  It's written by Beverly Adams-Gordon.

There is a lot of course planning/record keeping sheets, experience records, and creative solutions to documenting real life studies as well as formal textbook style learning.  The older kids are looking forward to using this and so am I.  When someone takes ownership of their own education they are truly understanding the nature of learning.  All three of our oldest children have demonstrated this and are ready for some intense studying this year. 

Our youngest three are at different stages of learning to read, write, and work numbers.  I'm excited to get their journals going again.  Even a little one can trace letters and draw a picture and find it rewarding to "do school" with the older children. 

Then there's the baby....he is learning too!  He's 3 months old today and so interactive and wants to see what everyone's doing.  He coo's, smiles, and tries to communicate.  He likes to observe everyone and watch them turn pages of their books. 

Then I read a great article in one of my favorite homeschooling books written by Debi Pearl called, "The Big Book of Homeschooling."  It's very inspirational and illustrates what I believe to be an excellent way to educate.  In her article she writes of the importance of realizing that babies are intelligent little beings made in the image of God and are learning every minute. 

OK, now I'm rambling, I should stop, I'm just so excited to begin another year at home, educating my children.  I hope to be able to show more "HOW" as the days go by....

PS  Playdough, the secret is playdough, that's how I got the time to write all these posts!

Sock Sorting

Let's measure with Daddy's tape!

WOW, it's huge!

Reading numbers is fun!

Ever wonder how to make daily chores fun?  Wonder how to sneakily slip some school in when they don't know it?  Make a sock factory, give them a challenge with sorting and ask them to figure out who has the longest socks.    We had great fun examining how each of the socks were different and which ones belonged to whom and then began to measure as a review of counting forwards and backwards.

Yes, school is back in session in Alaska and never stops in this household.  We're always educating, even when we don't think so.  I have enjoyed gleaning from others, and using my creativity in thinking up ways to teach and engage my children.  As I read my Bible and pray each day I am always inspired by God in some new way.  His wisdom and creativity are endless.

We talk, work, and play together each day.  All nine of us now.  Most days are full to brimming with activity and industriousness.  Other days are full to the brimming with rest.... Sunday.  Sometimes we get sick, tired or lazy.  Even on those days, our brains do not hibernate.  They are always active, albeit possibly on screen saver. 

Those of you that have toddlers or pre-readers, take heart.  Turn your daily chores into sneaky teaching times...or make a game of it.  Enjoy one another and remember to laugh and smile.  Teaching at home does not look like school at the casual glance, but upon closer investigation one can see a lot of learning taking place. 

I've made a habit to validate my children's work and play as learning opportunities.  I use "table time" to practice letters and numbers, work in journals and math workbooks, and curl up on the couch to read.    Whenever you need a break or the kids need "calm down time," read.  It's better than computer games and videos.  Did I mention play dough?  Oh the blessings of glorious play dough!  It is a great activity for all ages and they seem to enjoy their time together as siblings, no matter how old they are.

There's a time and place for everything and different seasons of life.  Young children are precious and require most of our time and energy.  Older children are precious and require guidance.  It's work raising children but fulfilling and fruitful.  It can also be a great joy or a great pain depending on how you look at it all.  Building a family is an incredible undertaking, not for the faint of heart.

Building a Home from Scratch: Alaskan style

The wood mizer.... a tool you can't live without

Two weekends ago we drove down to Tok to help some friends out with their incredible adventure, milling their own lumber to build their own home, on their property, debt free.  What an undertaking!  You could read more about it here at their blog:  http://www.alaskanblessings.com/

The inside of the soon to be living quarters....

One more truss down, a lot to go...

Adding to the stack of handmade trusses...

Outdoor kitchen, sleeping quarters, and home storage...

PE Class in session...



Low bush cranberries... good for eating

The children spent time picking cranberries and all though small, they all added up to fill a gallon size ziploc bag!

Pile of dirt... good for sliding down

Amazing Mother... good for changing the world, one soul at a time!

Two peas in a pod enjoying one another's company

Yes, that gun does have an orange tip and it is plastic.  What fun we all had working, visiting and playing together that weekend.  What good memories everyone made and what a blessing friends from the Lord truly are!

We spent time picking cranberries right out of the peat moss forest.  We hunted for beautiful rocks and made smore's around the campfire.  We discussed home school ideas, plans, books, and got to look at some beautiful educational games from "Simply Fun."  If you're interested go to the above site link, Alaskan Blessings, and she's got a place you can take a look.   They are very high quality, sturdy games, made to last a lot of little hands playing.  I am looking forward to hosting a party.

It was so nice to get away and have a working camping vacation,  good food, listening ears, and happy but Oh so dirty bunch of kids!