Lenten Wreath

This is another concept that I originally heard of from Michelle...I think on MHO (Military Homeschoolers Online). Each item on this wreath represents a part of the Resurrection/Passover/Easter story. {You know this is cumbersome to say Lent/Passover/Easter......}.

I was excited to have this ready to hang this year. Click here for instructions and such.

{I plan to make a Lent/Passover index eventually and corral all the posts from last year and this year. BUT my bedtime is here and I'm determined to retrieve a semblance of discipline before Mike returns next week. See how quickly I slide into that "burn the candle at both ends" sydrome?}

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Lenten Cross

I saw this idea on Michelle's blog last year. I did NOT find one anywhere in town...and forgot to be looking online. ::snort:: I also forgot to be working on my Jesus Tree - but that's another post.

Debbie, sent me a link to the Lenten Cross Project. This is a great little handout. There are devotionals for each Sunday in Lent, along with ideas for making a Lenten Cross (none of which I followed).

The idea behind the cross with candles is the same as an Advent Wreath. We light one candle the first week, two the second etc. BUT I needed a cross. I wanted to make a cross from the branches Mike and Jared cut from our tree a few weeks ago. I wanted it done tonight. We headed to Hobby Lobby and found an unfinished cross and some wooden candle holders.

I thought it funny when we were working on the cross to look up and see the creche on the work table.

These young men are so handy.

Due to the cut out on the cross, we could attach that candle holder. I had a plan that will work until Mike is home.....

Hey - it's even the right color for the season.

We lit a candle, read from Matthew and prayed. The center candle is too heavy for the duct tape...ah well.

We remembered tonight that Jamin and Mike were going to write us a Jotham's Journey type devotional. It's not here. ::grin::

Thanks, Debbie and Michelle. You enrich my life by walking along beside me.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

What day IS this?

The day went.

We spent a significant amount of the day doing school. We rethought our plan of attack for the rest of the school year. I've noticed that Arielle has been hanging out watching us work on lapbooks, listening to our Children's Shakespeare readings, listening to our read alouds....and I wondered. This is Arielle's first year working independently. She was bored with Upper Grammar last year...so we moved her to Dialectic. Nolan had ALWAYS sat in with Arielle since he was young. I welcomed the chance this year to combine him with a younger sibling - Zander. This forces Nolan to engage. BUT Nolan has seemed to need a bit more than I've been doing....do you see where this is going? Today Arielle admitted she'd like to join us for school again. YES.... I love having all the kids lounging on the couch as I read. She will still do her own literature and some of the history in depth picks...but she'll listen to our history and lit, do fine arts with us, and the fun hands on things. She's had her run at schooling on her own and is ready to have the best of both worlds. I will allow Zander to skip the Upper Grammar read alouds...and won't feel bad that Nolan is all alone listening to the books.....

I got my hair cut. This photo doesn't really show it - but she cut a shorter layer on top and it was puffy...and the bottom flips up. I warned Nolan it will not look like it does now tomorrow....but Nolan took this photo and wants it posted. Ah, he loves me. He told me about 5x that he liked my hair. Arielle finally said, "Did you get something done to your hair?"

I'm trying to research the safety of the mission trip to Mexico that the boys are planning on taking in March. I keep hearing warnings NOT to travel down there for spring break.

The girls and I went in search of something we could turn into a Lent Cross. We also found this for Stacia...a PINK DIAMOND. This child talked to EVERY person she met in Hobby Lobby - and there were a few times I didn't much appreciate her observations - though the clerks were delighted.

Jared fixed up the cross for me.

We had dinner and I talked with Mike on the phone.

I'm now going to post a few things and head to bed. I'm still trying to read Desperate Pastor's Wives....I figure I'll finish it before Mike gets home. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Where have you put my children?

I came home from Bible study to.....this in the camera, children in bed, and my house TOTALLY cleaned. Tubs, toilets, mopped floors, dusted living room.....laundry done, folded and put away.

I'm guessing the strange characters above had something to do with the transformation. (I know Bobbie Jo's love of cleaning didn't cause her to sneak in and clean because I was discussing the joys of Navy/Air Force life with her at the time this occurred).

Thanks, Jared! You blessed me, greatly.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Jamin's White Piece of Paper

In keeping with Zander's excitement over the "awesomeness" of white pieces of paper.....I took a photo of Jamin with his first receipt for gas. I'm not sure how we let him drive a month without providing him the joy of buying a tank of gas. ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Viking Lapbooks

DONE! The boys want to continue looking at Viking books so we may add to these, but I have officially declared the lapbooks finished! I found the booklets for this lapbook free at Homeschool Share. If you are considering lapbooking this is a great spot to start. Each kit we've used has enough research that I don't have to spend a LOT of time (some time) finding answers, the patterns are there and BRIEF directions. NOW - if you need to know how to ASSEMBLE the things - be sure to read the files, visit You Tube, OR be humble enough to throw yourself at the mercy of crafty blog readers. ::grin::

Unfortunately, lapbooking seems to be taking over our school. I'm even wondering if I should bag TOG for the younger boys and do a bunch of lapbooks for the rest of this year. It's funny - because none of the kids here really liked making lapbooks until this year.

OK - with this lapbook I added....rubber cement, SUPER GLUE and tape runners....to our lapbooking adventure. We also added the whole "shape" thing vs. manila folders.

Zander's Viking Book

Note the FEROCIOUS dragon on the right booklet...under the scissors. He especially likes this booklet. ::snort::

I thought this was cute...raiders, captains, traders and sailors

*I* did all the writing and folding on this booklet but he's quite proud of the "boing" effect.

Yes, the books are similar but here are some of Nolan's favorite booklets.

Nolan's Viking Book

Norse Weapons - great job Nolan

The runes are fascinating to Nolan

This booklet labels the parts of a Viking Knorr and a Viking Longboat.



You can see more of our lapbooks at Our Lapbooks Page.

Now....on with the Renaissance!
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.