Matschsticks

UHEA Convention 2009

Wow convention was awesome this year so many workshops so many vendors... so little time :)

I've had a lot of request for my notes and I have to admit I can't keep track of who's asked and who I've already sent them too (wait wasn't Lara's get organized workshop suppose to help me with that??!?!?).  So my solution: I'm adding my notes here.  Enjoy!

Download Writing Skills

Download The Joy of Classical Education

Download Discover your learning styles

Download Getting Organized

 

earth day

live it :: love it :: save it

all in a days work

:::getting ready for a new planting season:::

 

Life = flexibility

I took two of the boys to class at Thanksgiving Point yesterday (JC stayed home with Nana).  We drove an hour down, a long and boring trip.  Parked the car got out and ... the car exploded! 

Ok not really but there was a loud popping sound and the car started smoking and peeing at the same time.  Poor Roo was standing right next to it when it happened and jumped like he had been shot.  After waiting a few minutes for things to settle down I popped the hood and sure enough one of the hoses had a 4 inch split in it.  Roo took one look, put his hands on his hips and said "Oh that CAN'T be good!"... ummm yeah understatement honey!

Now I'm standing in a parking lot with two small children.  A very long hour away from home.  I wanted to panic.  I wanted to rail and gnash my teeth at the unfairness of it all.  But when I looked down at those two small faces I realized that this was not such a big deal.  We called up the nicest husband in the world who in turn called the nicest Father in the world and they both dropped everything to drive that very long boring hour to the rescue. 

In the mean time two boys and I went to class.  We listened to Irish music, learned Irish folklore, painted blarmy stones, decorated cookies, found gold coins, went on a tractor ride, visited all the animals on the mini farm.  Ate said cookies and CHOCOLATE gold coins (nothing like chocolate to make you forget all your cares!).

After the class we weren't in any hurry.  We stopped and looked in the "big red barn" windows, the boys ran the garden maze playing hide and seek and chase and all other boy games... we had all the time in the world.

Then the rescue team arrived and worked on the hose while the boys played on the rails of the steps that I just happened to park next too (yes! someone was watching out for us!).  Mama stayed in the car because it was much to frosty outside.  After everything was fixed (yeah for men and wrenches!) we drove a bit and stopped to check the car, drove a bit, stop, drove, stop (repeat repeat repeat), as we headed back to our neck of the woods.  Passing by Salt Lake Brian got off and I though oh man how many more stops are we going to have to make!  Then he pulled into Whole Foods... ahhhhh yes!  Pizza, pot stickers, salad, sandwich's for all the men and boys and HOT soup for the frosty Mama!  YUM!  On our way back out to the car that nicest husband in the world bought some Green and Blacks for the ride home.... ohhhh I love that man!

Back home safe... everyone in bed.  What an adventure.  I'm glad I didn't panic.  :)

ash wednesday

From dust you were born, to dust you shall return.

Science Friday

The boys are loving science fridays, me, not so much.  I just don't like oodles and oodles of dishes and uncovered liquids.  But, the boys continue to teach and I continue to learn and sometimes their way really is the best *smile*. 

 

 

 

 

**Edit: Hmmm might help is I said what we were doing hu!  The experiment was to taste the glasses to see if they were sweet or sour.  Then to poor the purple cabbage juice in and record the change.  So is it a base or acid.  *smile*  Thanks Amy for reminding me that people read this and want to know just what we are doing.** 

Science Friday

We love NPRand being HUGE fans of Science Fridays we decided to show our own science Fridays. 

 

  

   

 

 

It took us awhile to find the perfect books to teach us Chemistry but we are set and loving Fridays full of experiments.  (Well Meme just likes messing with science... and lets face it marshmallow people are pretty awesome!)

goodbye + hello

 

Dusty said good bye to us... Meme was devastated.  He held a very touching funeral for him, with a long eulogy and all.

Not long after the 'flush' goodbye like all kids he bounced back quick and started talking about his new fish.

Welcome Chime

        

Welcome Magi

...life goes on.

**Don't ask about the awful picture of Chime.  I spent a good 10 minutes adjusting the setting on the camera... cussing out the camera, cussing out the flash, cussing out the tank, and I even cussed out the poor fish a bit.... needless to say... the pic is horrid, and I need to quit cussing**

thirty-six

It was a lovely day with you, my Love.  Conversations started and finished all uninterrupted...beautiful. *smile*

fed-up?

someday's yes... what's your favorite number?

3 for today

First funny:

JC:  My burps are hollow!

Translation:  I'm starving when do we eat?

Second funny:

Meme:  I did a scootchiebum for ya mom.

Translation:  I scooted over on the seat to make room for you mom.

And the last:

enjoy you day!

nine

   

 

My how time has flown my son, I'm proud to know you, proud to learn from you and proud to call you mine.  Love you!  Momma

Jan 6 or

epiphany!  We removed our tree and then decorated it for the birds to enjoy.  

But unfortunatly mother nature had other ideas and this is what happened just a bit later.

I was trying to capture a few photo's of how much snow we were getting and while trying to find a suitable back drop I found this!

Now how fitting is it that this old delapidated fence has an owl watching over our backyard in it!  For me this is the perfect present for today!  Stay warm and be happy no matter where you are today!

9 in '09

• enjoy each season more
• menu + meals
• expand stitch knowledge
• learn magic loop
• quilt for each bed
• keep up charts
• painting
• flowerbeds
• tiling

What are your 9 in '09?

 

10 blessings

...new teeny, tiny crib scene...love...

    ...sculpy snowmen + log for the 'pond'...

...handmade ornaments, bright babbles, saggy heavy branches...

...boy-made stable...

...moaning, groaning, napping pup...

...an old game in a new way...

...juicy fruit...

...teeny, tiny knights saving the damsel...all. day. long...

...breaks from icy storms...

...two pairs of warm woolly socks to keep me warm...

What are your blessings today?

~~Merry Christmas to all~~