Books, Reptile Show, Grand Piano, Chef, Art

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***Current Books***

Ethan's current audio book is Hatchet. I remember enjoying this as a read-a-loud from Mr. Woodhead in 4th grade.

I worried it might be a little over his head but so far he has really enjoyed it.

Tyra's (and Cedric's) audio book is Black Beauty. We've tried reading this book a loud about 2 years ago but the kids weren't too interested. So we put it down for another day.

I love it when the kids' minds can grasp more as time goes on.

Our current read-a louds are the Greek myths...strange yet interesting stories!

***Millie***

Go Millie! Go!
("Riding" a 4 wheeler at Cabella's)

***Monte L. Bean Museum***

We went to a reptile show at the above mentioned museum.

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Animals shows are always an easy favorite.

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They even got to "pet" a tortoise named Ollie.



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***Joseph Smith Memorial Building***

We had a dinner at the JSMB for my brother's sealing (congrats to him and Erica). As we were about to leave we followed some beautiful piano music to a man playing a grand piano on the main floor.

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Tyra was mesmerized, to say the least. She stood and watched his aged fingers amazingly travel up and down the whole scale of keys as he created the most beautiful piano music.

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Unexpectedly he stopped playing and began to talk to Tyra and let her play one of her favorite songs. Not only did he do that but he asked her what her favorite primary songs were and played the most beautiful versions of those I've ever heard.

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Tyra was inspired! She began composing her own songs the next day and has been ever since.

Apparantly, he plays at the JSMB every saturday from 7-9.

***My Little Chef***

Cedric cooks with me almost every day. Once he hears any sound such as grinding, mixing, or chopping going on in the kitchen I soon hear the pattering of his feet as he runs into the kitchen saying, "Me help?!?!"

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Before my dad moved from Germany he used to be a baker and he still loves to cook.

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I think those genes have been passed to my little guy.

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***Art***

I've been working on some illustrations for a project of mine and have created my own little work area.

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I work every night after the kids have been put to bed.

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They love to come in my room every morning and view my newest additions.

Tyra has been coming with me to my oil painting classes.

She chose to paint a waterfall for her first oil painting ever!

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My latest piece. I love African children.

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I'll also add that Ethan has been working on "inventing" toy robots. Millie has been in the process of dealing with 2 molars cutting through, Cedric has been doing his own "workbook" every day by sitting with me and going through an alphabet book and Tyra finger knitted her own scarf.

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Those are the highlights of our homeschooling life for the last couple weeks.

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Latest reads, drawing lessons, stories, and other....

Read, Read, Read

Here are our latest reads.

The invention of Hugo Cabret is one Ethan has listened to twice and one which I've read aloud twice. A definite fun read for anyone who loves to read.

We read The Little Prince, once again, and finished the third book in the Narnia series, Prince Caspian, which we celebrated by watching the Prince Caspian movie.

The Other Side of Heaven is one we read one or two chapter from every sunday. This book teaches so many wonderful values and principles. Love it!

The Secret of the Peaceful Warrior is our latest favorite library find.

Drawing Lessons


It's exciting seeing their improvements from one lesson to the next.

Step Aside Grimm Brothers!

The kids and I every now and then come together and make up stories which come from the ideas of everyone involved. Here are our latest creations...

French Onion Soup

(This one we wrote while eating baked potatoes for dinner :) )

Written by Claudia, Ethan and Tyra

After having worked hard many long days, a diligent farmer was anxious to reap his rewards, especially from his biggest and most important field – his potato field.

Harvest day came. Standing in front of his potato garden the farmer bent down, dug about in the earth and, to his surprise, what he pulled from the brown soil was far from a potato. It was an onion!

He quickly realized the store from which he purchased his seeds had tricked him! Although the packages which he had pulled the “potato” sprouts from displayed potatoes on the front, they had contained onion sprouts instead.

Despite being upset, he, fortunately, was a wise farmer. He knew very well that harvest time can come only once a year - there was nothing he could change at this point.

He decided he’d take this misfortune and turn it into something good.

The next day all the people within this little town awoke to the sound of hammering. The farmer had just finished hammering a wooden plaque to the front of his porch which read: “French Onion Soup Restaurant”.

He must have been up all night for he had built multiple chairs and tables which he had carefully placed in his, otherwise empty, barn.

Curiously, the town’s folk gathered round and, one by one, began to purchase his French Onion Soup.

Comments buzzed from all directions. “This is great!” “Fantastic!” “This is yummy!” “I want to get this recipe!” “Mommy, daddy, can we eat this every day?” “Wonderful!”

The soup and the farmer became famous. And every year, from that day on, his most important field no longer contained potatoes but grew, from then on, only onions, thanks to the mischievous store – from which he never purchased another item from again.

…Nevertheless, it has been told, that this mischievous store became the only store ever which sporadically derived free bowls of French Onion soup… bowls which were carefully left at its doorstep by a diligent hand.

The End


The Painting

Written by Ethan, Tyra, and Claudia

Once there was a mother who painted a picture of her children. If she RE-painted them – the children would DIE!!!!! And the mother would cry and cry and cry until there was a flood of tears.

The mother’s children were so beautiful that the king demanded her to re-paint the faces of her children so he could have a painting of them to place above his throne.

She desperately tried to talk the king out of it but the king wouldn’t change his mind. He told her she’d go to jail if she didn’t do it.

So, sadly she re-painted her children’s precious faces as they slept soundly in their beds.

Morning came, the faces were painted and the children slept on….never to wake again.

Crying the whole way there and carrying the painting under her arm, the mother walked to the palace. The king was pleased with the painting. The woman turned away and walked back home to her quiet and lonely abode.

Wanting to remember her children, she, once again, began to paint their delicate faces. Many hours passed – the portraits were done.

Suddenly the children sprang to life and the mother ran to them, embraced them, and cried, “Children! Children! I’m so glad you’re alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The End



The Snowbirds

Written by Tyra and Claudia

Who knew that such a grand being as the Queen of Snowflakes would be but a petite shimmering bird?

Such a little bird existed in the wintry clouds. Even though she was over all the other snow birds - she toiled with them every day.

As all kingdoms require order and hard work – so did the realm of the snowbirds. Throughout winter half of them would flap their wings to create the snowflakes upon the clouds – the other half plucked the snowflakes from its magnificent folds and carried them below where they would release the beautifully crafted snowflakes, creating the sparkling white feathery fest for all to enjoy.

As the weather warmed, the snowbirds, by order of the Snow Queen, attentively carried the clouds to other lands of wintry weather.

The End