Day Thirteen: Saying Goodbye To Programs

It's bitter-sweet as we say goodbye to Friendship Club and our Homeschool Co-op. Eventually, all of our programs will end and summer will begin. Oliver proudly displays a whole term of artwork, chattering on about which artist each one represents and the method and medium he used to create it. He is genuinely well-pleased with himself and I'm trying not to laugh at the hysterical faces he's making by lifting his eyebrows and presenting so seriously. As he points and explains, I'm grateful for the blessing of our small, co-operative homeschool education. His life is richer (as are my daughters' lives), I have a wee break along with an intense Bible study in the same building, and everybody wins! Saying goodbye is only for a short time so, here we come sunny, carefree days; we are ready for you.

Day Ten: The Best Audience

Katie wriggles on her big brother's lap but she has her eye on what the children are presenting today. She already proudly held her painting against her chest and smiled shyly. Last year, her mommy did most of the talking but Katie is beginning to understand this is a safe place where big kids care for her and everyone says they like her work. Eden steps up to take her place at the front of the group and displays her box filled with rows of rocky soil, weeds, and good soil and proceeds to share her project on Parables, which her amazing momma mixed with botany and other subjects to round out her learning while receiving a lasting spiritual message. Katie likes it, I think, and one by one, our children report what they've been working on recently and inspire one another.

nature paintings by Katie

Amphibians and Metamorphosis by Oliver

 Bats by Sara

Africa by Emily

 Parables by Eden

Manatees by Samantha

E.B.White Study by Molly

 Renaissance by Caleb

Model of the Lungs by Caleb

 History of the Trebuchet by Jack

piano playing by Jack

(Oliver records because he's so impressed with his older friend)

 Flexibility For Seniors essay by Meghan

World Biomes by Brooke

water colour painting by Brooke

Jake shares how he began flying lessons and some of the "tricks" he learned in the air for emergency safety procedures. He tells of his dream to fly for a commercial airline someday. The kids are mesmerized. Our biggest kid in the group is now in the workforce and learning to pilot a plane! Time flies :)

 

 

I love how our little group contains varying ages and abilities. Young ones are challenged by older ones, older ones revel in being the heroes and desire to "step it up" next time to impress further. Each new project inspires our children to wok harder and find new subject matter. Grandmas, mommas and children eager to listen... now that's the best audience!

The Work Of His Fingers

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

the moon and the stars which You have ordained,

what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?

 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,

and You have crowned him with glory and honour.

You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

all sheep and oxen--even the beasts of the field,

 

 the birds of the air,

 

and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-9 

 

Taking in the wonder of God's creation at Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto.

 

Day Twenty-Six: Making Art and Memories

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children."

                                                                                                                             -Elaine Heffner

 

Messy tables, spilled paint, popcorn prayers, fingerprints on the wall, finding the other shoe for the field trip, mixing and rationing supplies for creating when there's not enough, dressing up, Bible songs, writing speeches, baking pies, creating a General Store, playing games, and exploring the woods... these beautiful experiences are the art of living.

 

As we near the end of the 31 Days of Homeschooling Goodness, I felt that it might be inspirational to share some of the most enjoyable things we do together as a family and as a homeschool group. These photos make me smile. When I scroll through them on my computer or the children see them in our book, they inevitably exclaim, "I remember that!" or "Mommy, can we do that again?" There is nothing more memorable than adding the more time-consuming, inconvenient things to your day--even if it's once a month. Making art and memories are the experiences that my children will never forget. It is these which they'll share with their own children. And if that's the case, I want to make many, many more of them. 

 art evening for moms at my house

 

 

 Unbelievable talent between my friend Tanya and her husband who create so much art and share it! 

 ready listeners 

the lovely Tanya inspires us

art as a group

 proudly displaying his art

 using Tanya's idea and creating this fabulous mask and headdress

 dressing up, always

nature notebooking

 our General Store for learning the concept of money

 

 

 

rolling out the dough

 

baking pies

 finding interesting creatures

 winning speech meets!

 Yay!

 Mama has a lot of homeschooled grandchildren :)

 playing games for a change in pace and practice of a concept

sewing with a furry friend

 field trip with homeschool buddies

 

 

celebrating the art of living--given by the Creator of it all!