Little Engine

The boys and I went on a bike ride today. The weather is about to change for the worst and I wanted the boys to burn as much energy as possible. We were at the end of a three mile ride headed up a long, steep hill...Speedy B in front, then Cowodie, Smoda and I brought up the rear. I could hear Smoda muttering something, but I couldn't quite make out the words. I pulled up alongside him and plainly heard...."I think I can, I think I can".

He made it, but at the end of the ride he said "I think that ride is too long for a 5 year old!"

Little Engine

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/11/little-engine.html

Halloween Costumes

I know it is Thanksgiving, but I haven't shown pictures of the boys Halloween costumes that I made. Yes, you read that right, I made them....pins, pattern, sewing machine the whole shebang. Speedy B and Cowodie were penguins. Smoda wanted to be a rabbit. It wasn't too bad. It was actually kind of fun, just sayin'.

Halloween Costumes

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/11/halloween-costumes.html

Schooling Again

It is so nice to be back in the swing of things with school. We are trying a new curriculum this year, using Sonlight. It is a lot of reading aloud for me, especially since we are doing two programs. I can put the older boys together, but Smoda is on his own. The boys are loving the books. It has been forever since I have heard them ask me to continue when the day's reading is done.

Smoda is LOVING math. I am using Saxon 1 with him. He has anticipated school for so long I could probably give him anything and he would be excited. His reading (recognizing letters and sounds) is coming along as well. I have been pleasantly surprised that he will sit for his read alouds. This is a child who normally, if I am reading, will begin to inch away, slide to the floor, inch away and then scamper as soon as he thinks I am not paying attention. This morning he asked if we were only reading one chapter of The Boxcar Children, he really wanted to do more. Yea!

Not only did I change our main curriculum, I have added in writing. We have always done something with writing...but this year I wanted more structure. I listened to a friend and have gone with Institute for Excellence in Writing. Quite a program. The boys are enjoying it and I have to say that I am already seeing improvements in their progress.

So glad to be back to "normal".

Schooling Again

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/08/schooling-again.html

Meanwhile 13 days later...

The past two weeks have been rather crazy, grab a cuppa your favorite beverage and settle in...

It all started Mother's Day weekend.

That Friday I had to take one of our dogs, Thumper, into the vet. Thumper, a 12 year old basset hound, was having difficulty breathing and not eating. RacerDad and I had a conversation before I went to the vet to discuss just how much we were willing to spend and what measures we wanted to take. I am glad we had talked about it. When I got to the vet, they wanted to begin running several tests to determine his condition. Any option they gave me started at $200 and that would not be conclusive nor include any treatment.

Lest you think we are uncaring pet owners, we had been down this road years ago with a poodle I brought into the marriage, $2000 later we still had to put the poor dog down. Basset hounds have a life expectancy of 10-12 years and though we loved Thumper we could not justify spending huge amounts of money on a dog that had lived a long wonderful life.

When I explained our position to the vet you would have thought I sprouted horns. She told me she could not conclusively give me a diagnosis and thus could not effectively treat the dog. I asked her to give her best guess and make Thumper comfortable. She then let me know that she felt he had a systemic infection, very common in older dogs...usually not curable. I left the vet with a strong antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory drug.

We had baseball games that Friday evening. My MIL came Saturday so that meant a day full of shopping plus baseball games. Mother's Day we went to church and more baseball games. Are you with me people??? Three days and we had seven games, it was not a tournament and it was Mother's Day weekend! I guess it is a good thing I enjoy baseball. Speedy B pitched in one of the Mother's Day games. He was on the mound for 4 innings and only threw 32 balls. He told me that was one of my presents. Gotta love him.

The rain we have had this spring postponed the majority of our games. The league needed to get the rain-outs played before this week's city championship and before the official start of tournament season. So for the most part I have been at baseball the last two weeks. I honestly lost count after I figured out we played 13 games in 5 days. That's what I get for having two boys that play ball...I have no idea what I will do when Smoda starts.

We did end up having to put Thumper down in the midst of all this. The boys took it hard, but then they are realists as well. We had adopted Thumper when he was 10 so his playful puppy days were past. When he came into the family I became "his person" he would follow me from room to room and if I stayed in one place for long he would plop down where he could see me and go to sleep. About the only "playing" he would do for the boys was howl. And boy could he howl! Smoda could make one howling noise and Thumper would join in, nose to the air baying at the top of his lungs. Smoda called the baying sound ha-rooing and named him "Captain Haroo". The boys have requested that the next dog be one they can play with...one that will run and chase balls. I guess my lapdog Trixie doesn't count, she is a miniature dachshund and really can't be bothered to play. As long as the boys pet her she will stay with them, but then as soon as they quit touching her, she is off.

What have I been doing when not at baseball??? Well....I got passports for the whole family (talk about MAJOR sticker shock!!!) All I can say is if you think you might need passports get them early! It cost an extra $300 dollars just to get them expedited. We have also wrapped up all our extra curricular activities (except baseball!), gotten in our new curriculum, cleaned out the boys rooms and mowed the jungle. I was afraid after all the rain Speedy B was going to need a machete to cut the backyard. Oh, and I joined Weight Watchers.

Knitting wise...all this baseball has been awesome for my sticks and string. I finished my green toe up socks, I really enjoyed doing toe up and will plan on doing more. I finished numerous dishcloths and made some tribbles. I also began my Summer Sock Kit from The Loopy Ewe. I love the colors! The pattern is great and I am finding it easy to remember. I did have to put it aside though, size 0 needles and a pattern did not go well with intense competitive ball!

My life should be getting back to normal. Only one son is playing ball now. Cowodie finished his season last night. His team played in the city championship. The teams were very evenly matched, it was a fun game to watch. Cowodie is a catcher and he made a diving catch for a foul ball...he got the out. He also hit in the game winning run. His grin was from ear to ear. But what warmed my heart? After the game, he looked at me very seriously and said "I think this game was my birthday present from God". I LOVE the fact that he recognizes that God deserves the glory in all things.

Well that is about it from my hearth, I have missed you all!

Meanwhile 13 days later...

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/05/meanwhile-13-days-later.html

Homeschool Day at Six Flags

Went to Six Flags yesterday with the boys, it was Homeschool Day. We all had a great time. I am still tired today! The older two were able to ride the "big" roller coasters together, good thing since my feet don't get on roller coasters! Batman and Aquaman were the favorites....Aquaman drenched them both.

Smoda was my buddy. His favorite ride as usual was the Tea Cups. Normally my stomach is just fine on rides like that. Yesterday we went with a family that has a 16 year old boy. Let me tell you he could make the teacup spin. I have never spun so fast! Everything was a blur, so I had to close my eyes. When the ride was over I had to sit a minute and get my legs. Needless to say when Smoda said "I want to do that one again!", I let Ben take him alone.

Homeschool Day at Six Flags

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/05/homeschool-day-at-six-flags.html

Acme Brick Field Trip

I took the boys on a field trip with the local homeschool association. We went to the Acme Brick Plant in Denton. Now I must be honest, when the information for this field trip came through on the email loop I thought "this is one we could skip", but then I remembered...boys - factory - exciting. So I signed us up. I am glad I did, I was as fascinated as the boys.

The brick factory was established in 1891.

The manufacturing plant. As Speedy B said..."It's just like the TV show 'Made in America'". The process seen here is just after the bricks were cut. All bricks are the same gray color until they are fired.
Here is a "car" of bricks coming out of the kiln. It takes 48 hours for the bricks to go through the drying room and the kiln. The wet bricks cannot go straight to the kiln or they will explode. The orange slit to the right of the bricks is the "firing" part of the kiln. At that point the temperature in the kiln is 2200 degrees. One car of bricks is enough bricks to complete two 1900-2000 square foot homes. As you can see, this load of bricks is the three hole variety. Three hole bricks are considered architecturally bricks and are used in the building of city buildings. They contain more clay than residential bricks. Their composition and size make them more structurally sound.

The brickyard. The Denton plant manufactures 12 million bricks a month. All of these bricks have already been sold and are waiting to go to their respective job sites.

The boys loved the field trip and learned quite a bit about the process. Smoda wore the headphones because inside the plant was rather loud.

Acme Brick Field Trip

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/03/acme-brick-field-trip.html

Blogger Woes

ARRGGHHH! I took pictures last night of some new yarn, my WIPs and Project Spectrum things I plan on doing with the boys. But this morning, when I have time to post...blogger won't upload pictures for me!

Today is skating day. The homeschool group we belong to offers homeschool skate from 2-4 every Tuesday. The deal in our home is, if your schoolwork is completed we will go skating. It is amazing what a motivator can do. I enjoy it as well, there is a nice group of moms with whom I enjoy visiting.

Tuesday is a busy day overall. After skating, we rush home for 15 minutes...let the dogs out, then off to Smoda's Kindermusik class. While he is in class, I take Speedy B by RacerDad's so they can go to a batting lesson as soon as my husband gets off work. Tonight has an added event, but it is for me ;-). I am going to go and meet some ladies at one of the local Starbucks for knitting. I can't wait!

Well, I will try to post pictures later...but it maybe tomorrow.

Blogger Woes

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/blogger-woes.html

Smoda Moment

Today Smoda showed such compassion to our dog Trixie, it really warmed my heart.

Trixie is a mini dachshund and every once in awhile she puts her nose somewhere she shouldn't and gets a scrape...I think she puts it in a hole in the fence, but I haven't caught her in the act so not really sure.

Smoda came running up to me this afternoon to tell me that "Trixie was blooding in her mouth". I knew she had a scrape on her nose so I wasn't real worried, I told Smoda not to worry and went on with helping Cowodie with math. A few minutes later he was at my side again this time with neosporin and a band-aid. He said "I knew you would need this."

I had to hide my smile ....

Smoda Moment

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/smoda-moment.html

Kids Knit

I will be teaching a knitting class for children this summer at a summer camp. I was searching for books that would give clear instructions as well as some fun EASY projects for the children to complete. I think I have found the perfect book. It is called Kids Knit by Sarah Bradberry.

The book begins with a sections on "What is Knitting" and "Tools you need". It goes into detail on choosing the right needles for your yarn, as well as describing the different types of yarn and how to read the yarn label. I found it to be well written, a 9 or 10 year old would not have difficulty understanding, but yet it is not condescending to someone much older....hey I even learned a few things, and I am much older than 10! ;-0

The rest of the books deals with technique and projects. Each technique section has clear illustrations as well as step by step written directions. It is then followed by a project that uses that particular technique. For example, after learning to knit, the project is a simple dishcloth. The next lesson is reading a pattern and overcasting, so the headband project uses the knit stitch and overcasting.

The project variety (20 different ones) is much better than I have seen in other knitting books for children. From a simple cat toy, to hair accessories, gift items and bags there is a project for everyone.

I am looking forward to using this book with children. Speedy B is going to make the cat toy for our friend that keeps the boys on "date night".

Kids Knit

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/kids-knit.html

Fun Little Game

I am not the techno wizard that many bloggers are....hopefully some day I will learn the fun little trick of adding a video for my faithful readers.

If you have some spare time, you and your children should really go here. It is called Linerider. You have the use of a pencil, much like in a paint program. The object is to draw a "hill" that a little sledder can navigate without crashing. I will tell you that I played for about 10 minutes and my poor guy ended up in the hospital every time! Quite fun.

Fun Little Game

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/fun-little-game.html

Ice Skating Texas Style

Speedy B and Cowodie were so excited to wake up to ice! They are wise to Texas weather and realized that if they were to enjoy it, (many times ice and snow will only last hours!) they could not waste time. So before 8:00 a.m., they were bundled up and outside skating on the drive.



They were also excited to find these icicles. One of them came off our van, the longer one is off our neighbors truck. True Texas style, the ice melted off the drive and streets by early afternoon....now just the bitter cold remains. It is forecasted to be in the low 20's tonight with windchills in the single digits.

While I have joked of the winter weather, it is not a laughing matter in my home state of Oklahoma. Friends and family members have shared their woes....one friend has no water because the water for their house comes from their pond and the pipes are frozen, my dad has been without electricity since Friday...no heat for him either in his all electric house. Please pray for those affected by this storm system.

Ice Skating Texas Style

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/ice-skating-texas-style.html

Gingerbread House

I bought one of the prepackaged gingerbread house kits for the boys to decorate. They anxiously awaited the day when we would have time to complete the project.

Smoda and Cowodie are ready to go. I have to say, I loved this kit. The assembly was so much easier than kits we have done in the past. There were troughs in the white tray that held the pieces as they dried. It was great.

Speedy B was not real happy to have to share the house with his brothers. He thought that each should have their own to complete, or at the very least he should be in charge because he is the oldest. He did not like having to get his brothers opinions. Can you tell????

Completed house. Looks rather festive doesn't it? I thought they did a great job.

Gingerbread House

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2006/12/gingerbread-house.html

Masterly Inactivity

Masterly inactivity...the art of letting a child simply be is one of the blessings of a Charlotte Mason education in our home. The book Home Education from the Original Homeschooling Series by Charlotte Mason states:

"The resourcefulness which will enable a family of children to invent their own games and occupations through the length of a summer's day is worth more in after life than a good deal of knowledge about cubes and hexagons, and this comes, not of continual intervention on the mother's part, but of much masterly inactivity." p. 192

I am fortunate to witness this truth many times a day. The boys have always been able to entertain themselves...now they like to have an occasional audience or wish to tell me of their adventures. But I have never heard the words, "I'm bored" come from their mouths.

Yesterday, while I was supervising Speedy B's math lesson, Smoda came and asked for the dominoes. He then wondered if it would be okay to bring some of his wooden train set downstairs. I began to wonder what type of a mess I would walk into in the foyer. Cowodie had finished up his work and disappeared to help with the construction. Next thing I knew all three boys were involved in a masterpiece that included building blocks, wooden train and dominoes. The premise was that the train would come down from an elevated track, run into the dominoes and begin a chain reaction.

The track....would the plan work?

Proud architects!

The train did accomplish the beginning of a chain reaction, the boys found that their track made too sharp of a turn and so would not complete the tumble down. The joys of childhood!

Masterly Inactivity

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2006/12/masterly-inactivity.html

Smoda is 5!

In amidst all the hustle and bustle of last week, my baby turned five. It is hard to believe that I truly don't have a baby anymore. When I pointed this out to Smoda, he put both hands on my cheeks, looked me in the eye and said "you will always be my baby mama". Melts my heart!

Happy Birthday Smoda!

Smoda is 5!

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2006/12/smoda-is-5.html

Winding Yarn

I am about to come to the conclusion that I need a swift and ball winder. Most of my yarn had been purchased at my LYS and of course they will wind it for me. Then I discovered the joy and availability of specialty sock yarn....Lorna's Laces, Mountain Colors, and Socks that Rock to name a few, these I have purchased online as they are not readily available in my area. I didn't think about them being in a hank as opposed to a ball, just never crossed my mind.

One night I decided to do a swatch of Lorna's Laces. I went into my stash and pulled out a lovely shade but it was a HANK. I couldn't get dear old RacerDad to hold the yarn for me, so I sat with my feet spread far apart on a footstool to hold the hank and began winding. By the time I finished, my knees and ankles were so sore! I didn't learn that time, I wound yarn for my next project the same way. This time the yarn was a bigger hank and it took quite a bit of time. I thought I learned my lesson that time.

Today I wanted to start a pair of socks for a yahoo "easy sock" group. I had some STR in X-mas Rock colorway - heavyweight. It would be perfect. My knees were not up to the task today so I figured I would put my dear sons to work.

Cowodie took over when Speedy B got tired. He was a very willing helper.

Speedie B was my first swift. As you can tell by his grin he was not real happy doing it. I have to laugh, the boy is a catcher in baseball and can catch three games in a day without complaining. Holding the yarn, he lasted 5 minutes before themoans started!

The hank that started it all. Isn't it lovely?

The boys are very cute swifts and in the case of Cowodie very willing to help. Honestly though I don't know if I can wind too many more balls this way. Speedy B complained, Cowodie dropped the yarn, Smoda played "limbo" between myself and whoever was holding the yarn. As Speedy B pointed out, 350 yards is longer than 3 football fields...my arm got tired of winding!

So if you know of a good swift and ball winder please let me know. I have looked at the ones in the Knitpicks catalog, but honestly I have no idea quality of products.

Winding Yarn

https://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2006/12/winding-yarn.html