Creating Outside

Have you ever been in a three year rut? I have. Oh man, have I.
I am trying to revamp some things and pull myself out of this "place". So much change for me in the last three to four years and being in places I never saw myself in. I used to live so in the moment...just so happy where I was. I feel behind, I feel lost, I feel wasteful, and I feel upset with myself for how long I have allowed myself to be in this "place". I often wonder if I will wake-up ten years from now and wish I had been easier on myself in these moments.
On this day I stopped. I just stopped. I closed the books, I grabbed some supplies, and I made a nest outside for us to sit in while we played. I did this all the time in the past. I need to find that bliss for homeschooling, for homemaking, and I need to be okay with letting go of my birth work for a few more seasons.
...and then it happened...this perfect few hours...
I saw my sweet inventive baby turning preschooler in action. Light playing through the leaves of our apple tree lighting us up and making us feel perfect. The same apple tree we have lazed under so many times.


I saw my oldest and how perfect he needs to be once again. I saw how hard he really tries to succeed at what is at hand. I watched his newly etched big boy face for a long time. I noticed how his art wasn't finished because he needed it to be so good. He needed to be happy with it. How often I rush him or I don't see him now.


My baby delighted in his play. He was free.


I realized I have a sweet 10 year old who is still quite little right now. I treat him so much older than I should.


Our little pound puppy watched us in our efforts.


Just when I don't think it can get any better my sweet Noey brings a plate of grass and leaves to me from the yard. He used his sandwich plate. When I asked him what it was he told me it was a salad for the birds. He was trying to place it by the same tree we had helped the baby fledgling from just days before. I saw his heart. Outside I didn't see the messes he makes or anything negative. I saw a little person who really believed he could nourish the birds. He is a caretaker, even at two.



I was touched by the fact that Remy relished my help at every turn on his little art project. I forget how he still needs me. He acts so capable, but he loved sharing that time with me, of all people, me. His project made him think of my hometown and he told me he couldn't wait to eat seafood with my dad. I love how that is something he does with my dad.


I haven't been able to watch him in gymnastics much because Noey's baby gym overlaps. He wanted me to watch him do gym in the branches of our tree.


He even gave me a flower.


This time next year this little toddler will be so different. I need to see him. I need to be present.




I so need to pull myself out of the must do's and the bad moods and find myself and my children again.

January Art

Elijah:


He thought this one was fun because he used "codes" to find the pictures.




























Remy:








He says this one ended up looking like a rhino.











This was his favorite. :)







Noah:


Noey's first finger painting. He would only use his fingers for a little while. He went and got a paint brush and then painted for some time. I think he believes he is 13 and 9, too.

Squishy Homemade Play Dough and Timers

The boys and I love this new play dough we made up for Noey.





2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups water
2 tbsp. oil
coloring


Just put everything into the saucepan and mix and cook over medium heat. Feel free to add scents or glitter. Once it is very, very thick turn it out onto the counter and knead it and allow it to cool. It keeps really well in a plastic container.




Remy also got some art time in this day.





I bought each boy a timer. I had them write their names on them. The reason? School was lasting all day. It didn't matter when we started. Since I have Noey to care for I wasn't on top of their being on task. It was time to have them take more responsibility for their own time in school.


They set the timer for 25 minutes for penmanship. If they finish it in 15 minutes they may keep the extra 10 minutes and add on the next time. So if in math they are given 35 minutes, they now have 45 minutes for math. They are loving this. The boys are working within the time given and I am freed up for more Noey time. :) Both boys like to see how many minutes they have left at the end of lessons. I write it down in their notebook each day by the date.





Elijah worked on run-on sentences. *I am so guilty of this.*





Remy worked on complete sentences.





It was a good day. :)

Remy's Leaves

Remy really enjoyed this little art project.


It had been a long time since he had used the colored chalks. He always loves anything he can do messy. Rubbing that chalk back and forth to make a messy pattern was his thing.





The messy hands were a plus, too.








It is always so nice to finish something so pretty.





The best part is when I can put them on the fridge. :) I love covering it in the work they do.





While Elijah was learning about China I found this on a piece of paper. I guess Remy was listening in? :)

Art Camp Week

I sent the boys to art camp one week. I loved seeing this each day I dropped them off.

















I saw maybe 5 different raccoons out in the daylight that whole week. I also saw alot of dead ones on the roads. :( I hate it.





Remy found this bug one day on the way home from camp.





He loved the spikes on him. :)


I only took a few photos of that week on my phone. I must get better about taking that camera around with me. I miss all the photos I used to have.


Remy's art folder:





I think this is Remy. I seriously can't figure out who it is. LOL





I wish I had a better picture. I hate that I can never tell if it will be fuzzy until after I take it and look at it. This is the setup of the room. I loved leaving them in that cozy room to create all day. :)





Some of the art. They came home with a PACKED folder that Friday. :)














I need to take them out and get some good shots of my favorites. :) Who has time?


Noah and I kept busy. He ate snacks...








We visited with friends...





It was a good week. My boys asked to go back another week, but it was not something we could afford again. I am so glad they had fun. It was so strange to just have Noah. One day I asked Matthew what did I do all day with just one boy. I can't remember what that was like. HEE HEE...