Cooking School

OK. Its so sad. Naomi hates "school." This has been discouraging for quite some time. Everyday its the same thing over and over again. I make her sit down and read a book to me and the battle begins. I could go on and on about our frustrations with each other and how this whole reading thing is going, but I won't. For one thing, she thinks "school" is me standing over her forcing her to read her one book for the day. She doesn't realize all of the fun stuff she enjoys is "school" as well.

For the last couple of days she has been looking at a cookbook for kids and dog-earing the pages of the recipes she would like to make. Yesterday I told her that if she would read the entire recipe, then we would make it. She picked up the book and immediately turned to the chocolate bugs. She read it with great determination and had it finished in no time. I found it encouraging that after helping her with the word "refrigerator" she recognized it for the rest of the recipe. As we began to make the chocolate bugs and measure the ingredients I remembered that we could learn about fractions while we were at it. I keep forgetting that when you choose to homeschool, every moment spent together is an opportunity to learn. I hope I will begin to think this way. It really does not come natural for me. The girls love to cook and BEG to help every time I am in the kitchen. Maybe its time to school in the kitchen. Let's see, there is reading, math, science, history, geography, and even art linked to cooking. Hmmm, maybe this is something to look into? She has already picked out the next recipe she wants to read and make. Now if I could find her a cookbook she would like that had more appetizing recipes than chocolate bugs. Melted chocolate chips and corn syrup aren't exactly my thing - especially when they were handled and shaped by hands that were "washed" after playing outside in the mulch...these definitely look less than appetizing.

A Passion for Diapers

How in the world can someone get so excited about diapers?! I have heard of it before and always thought "how crazy!" Now I am one of those crazy people. I was giving cloth diapers a try this time around with Moriah. Things were going pretty well with the "g diaper" until she outgrew some of them and I needed to buy some extras. I thought I would research a little to see if there was anything else I might like to try. I always thought the wool soakers were cute, but way too expensive. At twenty to thirty dollars a diaper, there was no way I was going to be able to pull it off. I loved the idea of the breathable wool fibers vs. anything synthetic. The more I read about wool the more I fell in love. I began to find adorable homemade wool soakers that women knit which made me want to learn to knit more than ever. And then it happened. I found this blog:

http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/my-new-wool-soaker-stash/

And THAT was something I could pull off. Inexpensive and easy! I got so excited I went straight to the thrift store and loaded up on beautiful wool sweaters. Lamb's wool, Italian merino wool, cashmere, stripes, ruffles, ribbed... I have always loved textiles and to run my hands over sweater after sweater until I felt the right texture was the most fun I have ever had shopping. It didn't matter the size, style, or brand. It was going to be felted and cut up for a diaper. By far the easiest shopping ever! In fact, I found so many potential diaper covers I had to put half of them back. As soon as I got home I washed and dried them. Only one of them felted properly, but I was told if you double them they should do fine. I fed and bathed the kids quickly, shoved down my own dinner and skipped off to Nan's to make my first wool soaker. I had it sewn together in no time and ran home to try it on Moriah. I was so excited she started to laugh as I took her picture. She knows Mommy is crazy. Now to make a little apron dress to match!

Proud Moment

If you look closely, you can see the hook to the left of the turtle's mouth.





Naomi has been obsessed with the turtles at the pond and their egg laying. There is an area on the bank accross the street where the turtles are coming to lay their eggs. We have actually seen the eggs in the hole. Whenever the girls see the crows pecking at the holes the turtles have dug, they freak out and run out the front door screaming and flapping their arms to scare the big, black birds away. Today Naomi and I went across the street to see the newest mother laying her eggs. As Naomi took a closer look, she noticed that the poor turtle had a fish hook stuck in her mouth. She desperately wanted to remove it but I kept discouraging it, thinking it had probably been there for quite some time. It looked as if the turtle's skin may have grown around it. As always, Naomi persisted. This time it was a good thing. With a carrot in one hand to win the turtle's trust and tweezers in the other hand, Naomi went to work. After some intense moments of worrying she was making it worse she gently worked this way and that until at last the hook was free. I was so proud of her! I guess because I am way to squeamish to ever do something like that and far too unconcerned about a turtle's comfort. She was so determined and gentle with that poor turtle. God has definitely given her gift with handling His creatures. It is exciting to observe.

Naomi and Bethany's Blog

www.colorfuldays4.blogspot.com