Rowing :: The Rag Coat

Before Christmas break we "rowed" The Rag Coat. I thought it was a wonderful story though the boys got a little bored with it. It was a little longer of a book for my guys.

We're trying out some new "ways" of doing school in the mornings and as such I didn't get as many pictures of this "row". And I had a lot of activities and lapbook components that I didn't get to. We tried to have fun though.

Seatwork ::

We colored our flag for the contry that our story takes place and found the country and area on the map. The Rag Coat takes place in the coal mining area of the United States. So we got to color our flag and homeschool share had a great map of the Appalachian Mountain area to color.

Coal ::


We don't live in an area where coal is used so my kids are completely unfamiliar with the mining or production or use of coal. I meant to get some coal, I was thinking the big box hardware store would have some I could buy but I never got around to it. We had purchased some charcoal to draw with for a different "row" so I pulled some of it out and let the boys experiment with the way it felt and drew and the mess it made.

We also watched this video about how coal is formed from Answers in Genesis (thanks to Michelle).

Cooking ::

From my research with what others did during their "row" of this book I found many people made "coal cookies". Of course I remember them as magic cookie bars from my growing up years. So, sounds like a good reason to make them!

Everyone got a pile of graham crackers to smoosh up into crumbs. After they got their hands dirty we used the rolling pin to really get them squashed up.

The finished product. Yum!!!

While the cookies were cooking we watched another video I found via Michelle about the layers of the earth. Careful, the song sticks in your head...I was humming it for the rest of the afternoon!

Links ::

Delightful Learning - inspiration, links, videos

All Kind of a Family - inspiration

Homeschool Share - some lapbook ideas

Aussie Pumpkin Patch - TONS of lapbook stuff :: couldn't even get to everything!

And Linking up to :: 

Handmade

Now that Christmas is over I can show off some of the handmade that made it under our tree this year. I didn't take on too much as far as handmade goes and I'm happy to report it seems like just the right amount. People who really appreciate handmade or could use something I can make got something but I didn't go too crazy and drive myself into a dizzy trying to do too much.

First up was a project by the kids for their grandmas. And our first-ever freezer paper stencil project - fun! I found the idea in a Family Fun Magazine (they didn't do freezer paper but I think it worked brilliantly). I talked to each kid about what design they would like on their dishtowel. Then I cut out all the freezer paper. During nap-time the kids took turns painting the towels. Baby got some help putting his handprint on after he woke up. The kids thought they turned out real nice and the grandmas liked them too!

#1 found a project in a book we had from the library, Kids' Embroidery, that she thought her Grandma D would like. Grandma D is a big journal keeper so #1 embroidered a cover for a new journal for her. I forgot to take a finished product photo but it turned out awesome and Grandma D loved it.

My dad is a hankie user. A couple of years ago I embroidered some for him and now they are ready to be replaced. So he got some new hankies wrapped up under the tree.

Lastly, I drew #1 in our family exchange and thought she'd appreciate a cowl (or neck warmer as we like to call them). I had some yarn my mom gave me sitting in my stash waiting for a project and found a quick easy pattern (ravelry link). I paired it with a new journal and she was very pleased.

:: Yarn Along ::

Joining Ginny, over at small things, again with yarn along. A single photo of a current knitting or crocheting project with a current read. I am really loving these posts, taking a moment to think about what and why I'm knitting or reading. I read...a lot. And I knit...not as much as I'd like but I do have 2-4 projects going either on the needles or in my brain.

I do love seeing what others are knitting and can always use some reading suggestions! Leave a comment so I can see what you're up to. And go over to Ginny's to see what others are up to.

On the needles :: I got some beautiful yarn for Christmas! Just what I asked for! Mr. Wiedz did fantastic with Shepherd's Wool in lime green. He said it was for me to make me something...first up a hat. I cast on just after Christmas and I should be able to finish the decreases after I'm done posting here. I'm using Soulemama's favorite hat pattern (it's under her tutorials tab - no direct link) with a minor modification due to user error. The picture doesn't show how beautiful the yarn is...dark, rainy day here. I'm thinking a cowl and even dreaming of a cardigan out of this yarn, although with lofty plans like that I'd be headed back to the yarn shop.

On the nightstand :: I got to go to the library all by myself yesterday! Such a treat! I had put a request on Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and yesterday was the last day to pick it up. Since I was there I got to go to the floors where the adult fiction and non-fiction are kept (our main library is 3 levels with children's materials on the ground floor, huffing the library basket and 5 children up - even by elevator - to the other floors where there are NO children and many quiet adults is not something I do very often). So I got a whole stack of books. First up is The Friday Night Knitting Club, I'd heard of these books but had never looked and I am in the mood for something fun to read and add a twist of knitting...sounds good. I started it last night and already I'm enjoying the characters. I also browsed the knitting section and found, Knitting Without Tears and Knitting for Baby (some inspiration for the next two months) and The Big Book of Knitted Monsters (I'm thinking a birthday present for a soon-to-be 2 year old).

A few Catan rounds...

My littlest elf...such a sweet boy. He had a basketful of his creations that he handed out to everyone Christmas morning.

Preparing the meat. Mr. Wiedz wanted to teach his boys about cooking the Christmas meat.

Christmas Eve Jammies :: I've tried each year. And each year I've gotten a little bit better. Some more kinks to work out but I've almost got it.

Sticky buns :: Grammie N and #1 took over the preparations for our traditional Christmas Morning breaky and did such a fantastic job that I think we've started a new tradition.

Seafoam for Santa

Santa came!

All those stockings filled up great!

Mary and Joseph made it to Bethlehem and baby Jesus was place in the manger.

How #5 spent most of Christmas  morning. He ate so many chocolates that
he got sick of them and started just unwrapping them and throwing them on the floor.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in different rounds of our new boxing championships.

Oh, we had a wonderful few Christmas days! Staying home for the first time EVER and enjoyed every peaceful and chotic moment. Preparations were fun and for the most part unstressful. The company was delightful and the children were a joy.

Now for putting it all away.

:: Yarn Along ::

Joining Ginny, over at small things, again with yarn along. A single photo of a current knitting or crocheting project with a current read. I am really loving these posts, taking a moment to think about what and why I'm knitting or reading. I read...a lot. And I knit...not as much as I'd like but I do have 2-4 projects going either on the needles or in my brain.

I do love seeing what others are knitting and can always use some reading suggestions! Leave a comment so I can see what you're up to. And go over to Ginny's to see what others are up to.

On the needles :: FINISHED with my Christmas present (ravelry link). I finished these with many days to spare. And I decided knitting at Christmas not on Christmas presents is fun! I've worked on a hat for #2...to complete the collection (ravelry link) and I'm really itching to start a pair of socks for #5 (ravelry link). I never thought I'd be a sock knitter but here I am. Strangely, I'm also starting to feel like pulling out Mr. Wiedz's sweater. And I have a long list growing in my mind of knitting I'd like to accomplish this year.

On the nightstand :: Still working through The Secret. It's good and I'm getting to the end so some questions should be answered soon. We'll have to hit the library before school starts again for a new stack of books when I'm done. Maybe I can rope Mr. Wiedz into going with me.

History is Alive :: Viking Bread

I love when there is a recipe to tie in with our lessons. I almost always chose cooking something with the kids and learning about cultures or times or areas through the food. So of course we made Viking bread. Ours was quite a bit different than the Vikings would have done though. My little market (read connivence store) didn't have whole wheat flour so we had to use all white but we did have oatmeal so that was inside and outside our bread. We also couldn't cook it in a wood burning oven like they would have but it made a great addition to our dinner. The boys noticed the crustier outside, everyone thought it was good bread and kneading bread is always fun! Yay, Vikings!

:: Yarn Along ::

Joining Ginny, over at small things, again with yarn along. A single photo of a current knitting or crocheting project with a current read. I am really loving these posts, taking a moment to think about what and why I'm knitting or reading. I read...a lot. And I knit...not as much as I'd like but I do have 2-4 projects going either on the needles or in my brain.

I do love seeing what others are knitting and can always use some reading suggestions! Leave a comment so I can see what you're up to. And go over to Ginny's to see what others are up to.

On the needles :: Argggh! I'm inches from being done with the second half of my Christmas gift but I'm out of the main color. I've tried and tried to get to a craft store for days and finally last night I made it, but they didn't have the color I needed! So I'm hoping to make it to the other store this afternoon...I'm so itching to finish this up. My super secret project is all but done (meaning I have to weave in the ends) and it was able to stay a secret so far! I've also been working a row or two at a time sitting and waiting at the lab or the car on my second puerperium. A little here, a little there. Relaxed kind of knitting, I like it.

On the nightstand :: The Secret has been a good read. I like a little Amish storyline and so far this book is good enough it is hard to put down even when my eyes start to close themselves but I'm not haunted all day, wanting nothing more than to pick it up.

Christmas 2011 - Decorating at Grandma's

Who has time to get out a ladder?

Grandmas Great with all of her great grandkids!

We are breaking tradition this year - and it is a little painful as we are "tradition people". For the second time EVER Mr. Wiedz will not be attending the Christmas Eve party with his extended family. (The first time when we had just recently moved to California and couldn't spend the money on going back up to Oregon so soon.) But last year our children started saying how much they wanted to be home on Christmas morning. Who can argue with that? Last year we already had so many plans in motion that making that happen was impossible but this year, we'll be home.

But the J Party is over 2 hours away. And a drive up and back to it in one already packed and tradition-laden day just isn't what we want to do with five children. I don't want to get home at 1AM and finish up being ready for the morning. We've never attended a Christmas Eve service...we'd like to start that as a tradition.

So it makes sense to not attend the party...except for Grandma Great. Her health isn't great. She's our last Great Grandparent. What if... Mr. Wiedz and I were talking about it and I suggested him going up to visit her and he mentioned her asking his help getting her tree up. I said, "perfect! Go do that!". Slowly through this conversation this idea and plan got formed to go up to Grandma Great's as a family and decorate with her. Then it grew even more to include all of Mr. Wiedz's cousins and their families.

So we had a decorating day at Grandma Great's! And it was a blast. She was thrilled to have her Christmas stuff out (though wondering how she would manage to put it all away) and to have a family day! And we all got some Grandma time!

Moments to Remember :: Always teaching

Joining Carisa, and many others, remembering a moment this week.
Holding it close and keeping track of it.

Mr. Wiedz sells LED lighting. #2 is into science and is a true 8 year old boy...let's take everything apart and see how it works. Luckily Mr. Wiedz must remember what it's like to be an 8 year old boy who wants to take things apart and see what's inside. He is so good at involving all the boys in projects, for work and around the house, that teaches them new things, lets them explore, and teaches them.

Such a moment with their heads together, seeing how it works.

Join Carisa for more moments ::