Pinewood Castle

Quote Corner

"My schooling not only failed to teach me what it professed to be teaching, but prevented me from being educated to an extent which infuriates me when I think of all I might have learned at home by myself."

- George Bernard Shaw

Thankful Thursday

Thankful for . . .

A sweet four year old girl in the house. Only a four year old girl would stand outside the shower waiting to tell you she dreamt she was a pink princess with a pink flower in her hair. Precious.

The rare mornings I wake to the sound of Classical MPR at 6 am instead of crying at 5 am.

Day 5 of weaning my Little Prince. This is redefining our relationship. It's very bittersweet not knowing if I will ever nurse a baby again, or if my kids will ever see me nurse one of their little siblings again. After 8-9 total years of nursing, this is a significant milestone.

Being invited to a very creative and fun Sibling Shower.

Miracles!

The Crawley sisters who finally graced the halls of Downton Abbey with some musical talent. What a magical scene that was when Matthew walked in unexpetedly!

A clean and organized bill desk basket with pretty file folders and notebooks. (Files: Correspondence, Upcoming Events, VIP Catalogs, Grocery.Coupons, Photos, Vacation Ideas, Current Year Home-school Receipts, Health Info, Neighborhood Directory, Violin Receipts, Recipes to Try.)

Joe's clean and better organized basement shop.

Eating our Way through the USA with my 4th grader.

Having a 6th grader who actually wants to take charge of making home-made pizza every Friday. "It's easy!" she claims.

And an almond flour pizza crust that tastes much better than the cauliflower one I last tried.

Finally figuring out once and for all that milk, excess sugar, and wheat make me feel really bad.

Three weeks in a row of very productive home-schooling.

A break next week for testing and field trips.

Plans finish the school year by the end of August even with one week off at Easter, one week around Memorial Day, two weeks in June, two in July, and two in August.

Wool socks.

We are finally getting some snow here and there. We may even get enough cover to justify getting out the snow books (like the ones on my January Bookshelf sidebar). Last year at this time we had received 60" of snow - this year only 12".

A helpful toddler.

Mr. Rogers free with Amazon Prime.

The neighbor boy (who owns the BB gun that shot out the glass in our back door) came over with his father to apologize and take full responsibility of replacing and paying for the replacement glass.

And lastly - the Big Sister who teaches her baby brother how to play piano!

Quote Corner

"Thank goodness my education was neglected."

- Beatrix Potter

Just Because I Can

Do you teach to your child's learning style or your own? Or do you somehow strike a happy medium?

Back in November I attended a talk for home-schooling moms on the topic of Learning Styles. Two years ago I had heard this very talk (by the same speaker) and went home totally confused. My Perfect Paula did not pay attention to detail, my Sociable Sue could actually concentrate and get her work done, and my Competent Carl acted more like a Wiggle Willy. Even after reading Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks I had no idea what curricula would work best for each of than I did before.

Because of this confusion, I almost skipped this talk the second time. I went anyway because, well, I needed a night out, and am so glad I did. The time interval and experience added just the perspective I needed to take everything she said with a generous grain of salt. Instead of trying to categorize my children and fit them into boxes, I returned home simply wanting to know more about them and how they thought they learned best (because, quite frankly. I am often too busy to notice!). I made up a little quiz based on several learning models discussed in the talk and asked them to draw a picture of their ideal learning environment.

Here is my un-scientific quiz: Download Learning Style Profile

Based on their answers, here are the learning profiles we have:

Child #1:

• likes desk by a window
• prefers to doodle on paper
• would like to sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair
• color preference: green
• natural sunshine
• morning person
• likes to read alone or be read to
• likes books with pictures
• prefers wooden pencils
• doesn't like so much touch

To Do list for Mom: provide thinking putty and doodle pad, bring up exercise ball, set up word searches or crosswords with spelling words on spellingcity.com, draw more diagrams for math & science, keep desk by window with pine tree view.

 

Child # 2:

• likes sitting at a desk
• likes to work alone, but near others
• prefers quiet
• color preferences: orange and violet
• natural sunshine
• likes to suck on something (usually hair)
• morning person
• reads on her own
• likes color in books
• would like to doodle on a white board
• prefers mechanical pencils
• likes hugs and touch

To Do list for Mom: provide sugar-free candy to suck on, more hugs, get a little white board for desk, stock up on mechanical pencils, ask her to write plays to perform about what she studies in history and literature, continue use of classical music on headphones, purchase notebooks and supplies in orange & violet.

 

Child #3:

• likes to stand while working
• likes to walk around and do work various places
• color preference: brown
• would rather be near a window
• likes inside lights
• sucks on pencil eraser
• morning person
• reads on his own
• likes books with color pictures
• prefers wooden pencils
• not so much touch
• wants a little white board

To Do list for Mom: keep letting him stand to complete work (except for maybe handwriting), put work (like math pages) on a clipboard so he can move around with it, provide sugar-free candy to suck on, get a little white board for desk, more science experiments (resume 365 Simple Science Experiments during Together Time), hands-on projects and models, words on spelling city, buy electronics from thrift store to take apart and reassemble.

Obviously, I can't and probably shouldn't cater to every preference, but I was more than happy to accommodate some requests - just because I can. Oh, the beauty of homeschooling!

 

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

I don't often attempt humor here, and my husband only gave it mild chuckle, but I've had this post concocting in my head too long not to share it. I don't mean to be offensive or too stereotypical, or even label things "good" or "bad," I just find the differences funnier the longer we live outside The Metro. Feel free to add your own in the com box!

 

14 Differences Between the City & the Country

(besides the obvious lack of good restaurants, arts, and culture)

 

14. Men's Fashion:

    City: Pink shirts, fur collars, plain front pants, Ugg boots - totally metro-sexual.

    Country: Polaris (snowmobile) jackets, hooded sweatshirts and everyday jeans.

13. Women's Fashion:

    City: Pretty much everyone has switched to skinny jeans and tall boots.

    Country: The working moms sport salon hair and the latest styles but we SAHMs are still in the             same jeans and tees we bought ten years ago.

 

12. Family Size:

    City - Why on earth would you want more than two?

    Country - Three, four, or more!

11. Farm Fresh Food:

    City - Wonderful farmer's markets and natural food co-ops.

    Country - Buy direct from the farmer once you get to know the county roads.

10. Public Parks:

    City - Treated for mosquitoes

    Country - Infested with mosquitoes.

9. Flora:

    City - A few truly outstanding public gardens.

    Country - Better study up on wildflowers of Minnesota as well as deer-proof perennials.

 

8. Fauna:

    City - The usual birds, squirrels, and occasional deer.

    Country - Fox, opossum, raccoon, eagles, hawks, woodpeckers, deer, and occasional bears.

 

7. Libraries:

    City - Pretty much any book you want and free museum adventure passes.

    Country - Better learn how to use ILL and buy family memberships to your favorite museums.

 

6. Parking:

    City - Hail Mary full of grace, help me find a parking space!

    Country - A likely place to get into an accident they way people speed across the lines of all the                     empty spaces.

5. Decibel Level:

    City - Traffic, delivery trucks, and airplanes overhead.

    Country - The gun range, freight trains, and booming sub-woofers.

4. Vehicles:

    City - Mini Coopers, convertibles, and sports cars.

    Country - SUVs and pick-up trucks. Extra points for hauling snowmobiles, 4 wheelers, jet skis, a                  boat, or an ice fishing house.

 

3. Driving:

    City: Better know where you are going or be tailgated.

    Country: A surprising number of people (mostly women) refuse to attempt driving in the city.

 

2. Bumper stickers:

    City -I'm Pagan and I Vote!

    Country - I'm in the NRA and I Vote!

1. Safety:

    City - Stray bullets through your window shot by gang members.

    Country - Stray BBs shot by neighborhood boys aiming for your cat in the window!

 

Quote Corner

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did

but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

― Maya Angelou

Double Digits!

Sunshine turned ten.

TEN!

Her birthday always takes me by surprise as it is just ten days after Christmas. We are just winding down from the holidays and then I panic - I have to plan a party! At least we have learned to order her birthday gifts at the same time as her Christmas gifts.

Her original birth-date also caught us by surprise. We thought she was due at the end of January, but she arrived at what we thought was 36 weeks. Fortunatley she passed the full term baby test. I either had my due date wrong or she cooked fast. I would not be surprised if it were the latter.

(her jovial personality started showing itself quite early in life)

This girl is speedy. She thrives on charging ahead. There's really no stopping her when she wants to do something - cooking in the kitchen, climbing trees, devouring books, writing plays, creating gifts for others, composing music. This girl has drive.

The first time I enrolled the kids in ice skating, the teacher's evaluation at the end of the session read something like, "She is speedy and unafraid - sign her up for fall!"

Unfortunately, I didn't sign her up. I probably should have. She has the guts it would take to be in a sport like figure skating or gymnastics. Sometimes I feel like I failed her by not continuing these activities after a session or two, but it was fun while it lasted.

Theater takes guts too, and she is happy to be resuming this activity later this month, having always loved center stage.

 

(in Psalty's Camping Adventure she played Suzie who was "itchy, itchy, itchy" with poison ivy)

 

And of course she is plenty busy with piano and violin. This takes guts too.

 

Here's to ten years!

1

She had a cake with a big yellow smile for her first birthday.

2

Not sure what kind of cake this was!

3

She liked yellow when she was three just like her little sister.

4

The year she started liking turtles.

5

The Princess Party year.

6

Flower Fairies and Mrs. Peter's Birthday Cake.

7

Sometimes her cake doubles as an Epiphany cake.

8

Still liked My Little Pony.

9

She asked for a zoo cake. Maybe she feels like she lives in a zoo?

10!

A Tea Party with friends featuring angel food cupcakes.

Happy birthday, Sushine - you make us smile!

Undetected

For whatever reason, Google Reader did not pick up on my latest post, so if you want to see our Christmas pics, click on over!

Making it Merry 2011

Yes, I am still here and everything is ok! I have not (yet) decided to give up blogging, although it's tempting from time to time. I know hard-core bloggers only take off a day or two for major holidays like Christmas or a new baby's arrival, but me? I just take breaks when I need them for as long as I need to. Thanks for hanging in there - I hope you haven't been too frustrated with clicking on my blog only to find the same old post from two weeks ago!

It seems like so many things trump blogging these days: too busy, too tired, feeling too private, uninspired, spending more time with my family, reading more, crafting more, socializing, watching the new TVs more, going out & about, and waiting for my husband to move me from Typepad to Blogger.

Honestly, without a laptop or the quiet time during the day to do my own things, blogging hours usually fall after the kids go to bed and I am am faced with the proposition of shivering in the den in front of the computer. This is coldest room in the house and because my body temp drops winter evenings after the sun goes down I try not to spend too much time in there at night. I suppose next Christmas I would be wise to ask for either a laptop that I can use while snuggling under a wool comforter or a space heater for our north-facing den/computer/music room. A laptop and a great camera sound much more useful and safe than the space heater - are these considered blogging essentials? What do you think is a reasonable number of years to go without them?

There's one more very good excuse for my blogging slump - the anticipation of Downton Abbey's second season! Are you watching the encores on PBS? I know it's just a costumed soap opera, but there is so much packed in - social order, economics, history, fine acting, and the quotable one-liners from the Dowager Countess. Who can resist booing and hissing the villains, empathizing with the martyrs, and cheering on the heroes? Anyone who knows me might not believe that I have not even been able to watch my new season 3 & 4 Lark Rise DVDs I got for Christmas because my mind is too wrapped up in Downton. Hours have been allotted to the encores, the "Matthew & Mary" homages and behind-the-scenes clips on YouTube, the just-aired Christmas special (also on YouTube), and the hilarious posts on The Guardian. Now that we are up-to-date and wired to view YouTube and Netflix on our TV, I can watch while snuggling under the wool comforter. Much better than freezing in the den trying to blog.

But I digress. Christmas! We had a wonderfully quiet and traditional weekend complete with a family Christmas concert and seafood feast on the Eve, followed by the opening of packages sent by out-of-town friends and relatives.

Whispers and footsteps awoke us at 5 am Christmas morning and we descended the stairs to find baby Jesus in the manger and the cookie crumbs left by St. Nicholas.

More gifts were opened as we breakfasted on coffee cake and egg-sausage casserole before Mass.

On the Feast of St. Stephen we usually travel to my in-laws to celebrate the season with his family. The rest of the week we opted to visit the Ramsey House, which was all decked out with Victorian finery.

Compliments of Grandma & Grandpa, we took the three older children to the Guthrie Theater's annual rendition of A Christmas Carol. Dinner at Sea Change was on us but the enthusiasm of the waitress, thrilled to serve our kids rainbow trout, scallops, and frog legs instead of chicken fingers or hamburgers was worth the expense. I can't tell you how thrilled they were to dine at a fancy restaurant and see a fantastic show. Every time I looked down the aisle I spied dropped jaws and sparkling eyes.

Later in the week we purchased used ice skates so we can participate in our arena's Sunday afternoon open skate sessions. We rang 2012 by having friends over in the afternoon, making resolutions for the time capsule, watching a slide show of our 2011 photos (on the TV screen) and turning in on New York time.

My resolutions are much the same as always:

    :: more reading

    :: more craft making

    :: more sleep

    :: more prayer

    :: lose 50 pounds

and one new one this year -

    :: try to like camping ; )

 

 

Blessings for a wonderful new year, dear readers!

 

Merry Christmas from Pinewood Castle

Before Naptime:

After Naptime:

Just Before Christmas Daybook

Outside my window:: Chances are, we will have a brown Christmas in Minnesota, and actually, that's ok with me.

I am hearing:: The little ones playing inside and the big kids outside.

I am wearing:: My old glasses. Guess who got his little hands on my current pair and twisted them beyond repair?

I am thankful for:: My husband, my family, and for all the wonderful Christmas cards from family and friends. I am so thankful for people who include a little notes that say things like, "Enjoyed your Christmas card - you have darling children who are all so happy and accomplished."  Because - you know how it is with family newsletters - you want to share the joys of raising a family without bragging and it's nice to know that some people really do appreciate what you are doing and how hard it can be to raise a good family.

I Miss:: The share feature on google reader that instantly listed links to great posts on my left side bar. I am not sure if any readers miss this, but I sure miss the fun of sharing good posts I read.

I am Thinking:: How are we ever going to get back to a full school routine when it takes all day just to practice music, do some math, read aloud, and keep up with housework?

I am Pondering:: Unschooling the rest of the year. Just kidding.

I am Praying for:: Our family and what the future holds. Will we ever be able to move back to the metro? Will we still want to by the time we can? Is it better in some ways to be away from city life even if we miss out on so many educational opportunities?

Books on my Nightstand:: My Name is Mary Sutter - historical fiction about a midwife/nurse on the Northern front of the Civil War.

Taking Care of Myself:: So very disappointed that the Wheat Belly diet has not turned me into the incredible shrinking woman that I had rightfully hoped after reading the book, but I am feeling worlds  better on a wheat-free, sugar-free, low-carb diet along with some extra vitamin D. If I do cheat and have something with wheat, milk, and sugar (like, perhaps, Coldstone's mint chocolate chip ice cream with brownie bits) I pay for it with a massively painful headache the next day. If you are losing weight on this diet, please don't tell me about it or I will be insanely jealous.

From the Kitchen:: Meat and veggies, grapefruit, clementines and pomegranates. Three kinds of Christmas cookies: traditional, egg-free, and almond flour/truvia versions for Joe and me. Good thing the hunger pangs and carb cravings go away on a grain-free diet.

Around the House:: Busy!

Repairs & Replacements - replaced the bottom oven fan that finally quit working after months of rattling. While we had Kenmore on the brain we also ordered replacements for the broken veggie drawer in the fridge, broken ice bin in the freezer, and crusted-over drip tray under the water dispenser.

Updating - Joe decided it was time to replace our old tube tellies with re-certified HD Vizios that he found at a great price. Now I have to learn how to use them, but at least the baby no longer has access to the power button.

Deep Cleaning - cleaned the inside of the fridge with the help of two kids. Wow, was that yucky! We also spent a morning cleaning underneath, between and behind the washer and dryer. Even yuckier!

I am Creating:: The kids and I are sewing these super-cute ornament kits for Christmas presents. Don't look if you are on our gift list!

Good Flicks:: Nothing lately, other than reviewing Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey before Season 2 airs in January.

The Children:: They are so excited that Christmas is almost here they have butterflies in their stomachs. We have enjoyed several local events the last week - the ballet academy's Nutcracker, the figure skating club's Christmas show and skate with Santa, and a Hanukkah party for homeschoolers. They learned how to play the dreidel game and love it.

The Little Prince:: Still not talking, still into everything, and constantly removing his favorite felt gingerbread boy ornaments from the Christmas tree. We really have to be careful where we lay down our sewing projects. Good thing he's so incredibly cute and well-loved.

The Little Princess:: She and Choir Boy assembled the annual gingerbread house with Grandma this year while the girls and I were at violin. Precious times!

She says all sorts of funny things like:

"Aren't you going to say Goodness Golly'?" when I am exasperated.

Onion = yun-yon

Step Stool = step-o-stool

Choking Hazards = choking haz-rits

If we are actually on time for Mass, "What? Why aren't we late?"

A Few of My Favorite Things:: A new pillow, afternoon tea, staying up until midnight wrapping presents, sewing by the Christmas tree in the quiet evenings after the kids go to bed, birth announcements, peppermint mochas, the strong winter sun through the south facing windows at lunchtime, everytime we eat lunch and Sunshine notices that the time is 12:34, my baby's hugs and kisses.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:: Bake, sew, decorate, read, pray, prepare, and celebrate the birth of our savior.

A Little Christmas Concert

We recorded most of these today at the kid's last piano lesson of 2011. You may have to click over from Google Reader to see them!

 

Here's Choir Boy and our teacher playing O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas:

 

 

Dancer performs Silent Night and Have a Holly Jolly Christmas:

 

She also worked hard on the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy:

 

 

Sunshine opted to sing and play for you! Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, and Rudolph:

Giggles for Kitty Lovers

Thankful Thursday

For my husband who, for the first time in . . . a long time, brought me flowers after a trying day.

 

For the short periods in time when I can see my son look, sing, and behave like an angel. Thank you, boy's choir.

 

Black belts two for $10 at Target. For choir, not karate.

 

For allergy meds that allow me to once again enjoy a real Frasier Fir.

And for close proximity to a real tree farm.

 

For strong daddies who lift up their littlest girl so she can be the one to place the angel on top.

 

For eyes (and hands) full of wonder and delight.

 

For the photo ornaments my sister sends every Christmas to each of the children.

 

For candle light and colored light, Jesse Tree and Star Path, advent wreaths and advent calendars that help us mark the days and prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Amazon Prime.

For the chance to get out of the house and resume book club after a very long baby break.

For the chance to see the December Full Cold Moon rise over Lake of the Isles.

 For kitties who curl up in the darndest places.

 

For the ability to drink coffee and own a smart phone without having to constantly hold one or the other like a fashion accessory.

For the completion of at least some of our hand made Christmas gifts ~ phone cases for teachers made by the children and the knitted gingerbread boy I made for the Little Princess (from Kid's Knitting).

 

For this beautiful dresser scarf one of my oldest and dearest friends sent me years ago. I try not to think of how long it took her to embroider this:

When it takes me four hours just to do this:

 

 For the upcoming reprieve from running to choir and ballet and karate and violin and piano.

For the decision to switch Sunshine from ballet to theater beginning in January. This better fits her passion and personality - and I won't have to make that extra trip back to ballet to pick her up at 7:30 pm.

For friends who call or write to catch up. Some relationships are best nurtured off-line.

And best of all - thankful that we are not yet knee deep in snow! Winter in Minnesota lasts long enough!

 

 

Santa Lucia Morning - 2011

It seems every December 12th I am up until midnight making Lucia Buns. This year I was not particularly motivated to make them now that we know we have an egg allergy in the family and Joe & I are in the 8th week of a wheat-free diet (Wheat Belly).

I was hoping these almond flour star cookies would suffice, but when one precious daughter realized at bedtime that no Lucia buns had been prepared her tears jerked my heartstrings. "They are my favorite Christmas treat!" she cried. So to the kitchen I ventured to pull out the wheat flour, yeast, milk, and eggs. I sent my husband to the store for to get milk for hot chocolate and lingonberry jelly. I had not made the annual splurge for saffron, so cardamom had to do.

I was already short of sleep and wanted nothing more to sew a bit and retire before 10 pm. Again and again we moms and dads put ourselves aside for the sake of the children. But for mornings such as this, the effort was totally worth it:

 

These are the kind of memories our kids will carry with them into adulthood. As the Christmas cards arrive at our house with news of families whose children are grown and gone, I am reminded that our children are all together now, under one roof, for a very limited time (God willing). I really should appreciate this time with them now and cherish every day. Hopefully the nest we give them will prepare them to spread their wings and follow the vocation to which God calls them and they will carry with them the memories and traditions that are precious to them.

 

Sometimes the days are so difficult, the kids don't listen, the preschooler won't stop talking constantly and demanding attention and the baby makes one mess after another. Fun and meaningful seasonal traditions shine light onto these dark and dreary (and foggy) winter days.

So here are this year's highlights:

Another St. Lucy ornament was added to our growing collection ~

 

A weekend visit to the American Swedish Institute (and gift shop) was timely ~

We even happened upon a reading of Lissa's book: Hanna's Christmas (now out of print apparently, judging from the price!) (I wish I could remember how I happened to get it, surely I didn't splurge that much.)

And I just have to include a photo of the sunny story-time room. (I actually like the 3rd floor of this mansion the best - it would be perfect for homeschooling!)

It even has a stage and a turret!

 

But I digress.

We snuggled up and read our favorite Lucia book: Lucia Saint of Light, along with plenty of Astrid Lindgren, Jan Brett, and other books found on my sidebar.

 

Another book purchased at the ASI gift shop was happily added to our seasonal  bookshelf ~

D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet

 

And we always enjoy this CD ~ En Riktig Svensk Jul ~