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

My latest piece of art and.....their latest piece of art.

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One day, one day, their artisitic interests will blossom into something other than covering their bodies with the ink from multiple markers.

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granola, inventions, reading, Germany, Brazil, Black Friday

>>>Home from Brazil<<<

We're happy to have John back from Brazil. Even though he was consumed with work, he traveled a bit around Brazil the last two days.

You can view some of his adventures here.

>>>Library Books<<<





There's nothing like seeing children get excited about the books mom brought home from the library.


















So cute!

>>>Another one of Ethan's inventions<<<







This is Ethan's snow shoe. . .I think that's what it was supposed to be.










You've got to hand it to him - it's quite creative.

>>>Black Friday<<<




We went to Tracy Aviary on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The weather wasn't bad. The kids had fun and it felt so nice just being together as a family.



Millie is so cute walking around.














Tyra is looking at the Flamingo's. We read about how the flamingo's specialized diet is what causes their beautiful pink color...

we decided Ethan isn't a "picky" eater...he just has a "specialized diet."















We also went to the Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. It was pretty cold by this time. But we enjoyed our time anyway.

After the gardens we got some ice cream and, without expecting it, there were suddenly two reindeer right by the window where we sat.

They were selling christmas trees and had reindeer in cages next to them.

So we watched them for a while.










>>>Granola<<<

We have been making granola again. It's such a yummy snack to have around.

The recipe is found on this blog. (It's a blog my friend and I created where we have started posting our natural remedies and recipes.)

>>>Germany<<<


Tyra left to Germany with my parents yesterday (at 4 am). She was nervous and excited.

I know she'll have a good time and will be able to share much with us when she comes home.

Tyra and I spent some time together making these links to go on her countdown chain before she left. Those days flew by.

Little does she know I made a new chain, one which counts down the days for her return.

Unfortunately, I don't think those days will fly by just as quickly.

Sgraffito, Kit, Raphael

Some of our favorite things have been:

Paintings by Raphael

We love the books: What makes a Raphael a Raphael? (and so on after each artists name.)

I don't buy movies ... almost ever! But this is one we'll be buying. It's our latest favorite movie - Kit Kittredge, from the American Girl's book series. (I especially love the mom's character in this movie.)

Sometime after Tyra turns eight she'll be joining a group called Liberty Girls. This is a group which has book discussions and activities about one of the American Girl books.

After watching this movie and seeing the many neat lessons and principles which we can learn (and did learn) from this story line I'm even more excited for Tyra to join Libierty Girls.


We have also been excited about all the neat (and simple, yet informative and educational) art projects we've been doing. Here's our latest. The style is called Sgraffito where you apply bottom colors which are colored over with a dark color then scratched away at until one has a peice of art one likes. This site has made art projects fun again in our home.

Jail, Face Painting, Gardner Village, Sleeping, Other

"You in jail." Is what Cedric was telling Millie as he was tying her to her chair with every chord he could find. She definitely wasn't going anywhere.
Face Painting craze. ..Almost every day the kids want their faces painted. Once painted they delve into their imaginary worlds and play together as they act as the animals (or superheroes) which are painted on their faces.
Gardner Village. We went to Gardner Village with some friends on probably their busiest day of the whole year. It was packed!!! But....fun. The faces are extra funny if you're able to view them up close by clicking on the picture. Cedric's face probably resembles perfectly the same look I had on my face as I left that place. :) This isn't an uncommon scene in the mornings. (Although this photo was taken at night.) Ethan comes and sleeps in our room every night. We have a blanket permanently placed on the floor next to our bed just for him. But, now and then they all straggle into our room during the night for one reason or another and we end up all sleeping together in the same room.

Our current favorite movie is Mr. Holland's Opus. It's so inspiring! It increased Tyra's desire to be able to play the piano smoothly and beautifully and Ethan, once again, was inspired to sit at the piano and compose his own songs. I also found him drawing pictures of him conducting an orchestra.

For me, it helped me to remember how important it is to be passionate about the things we teach to our children. Passion transforms. Passion changes one forever.
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Da Vinci Exhibit, Milcreek, Other

>>>Da Vinci Exhibit<<<

We enjoyed our visit at the Da Vinci Exhibit. We viewed some of his artwork. The Lady and the Ermine being one of them.












And we got to handle and look at displays of his inventions.









Cedric was in his right element here. Experimentation is his other middle name. And that's exactly what Leonardo da Vinci did.










Ty enjoyed herself as well. This was one of Leonardo da Vinci's water "pump" inventions.

>>>MilcreeEEEk!!!<<<

We visited Milcreek. The trees weren't as red and orange as we hoped they'd be but it was amazingly gorgeous anyway! I actually think it was the perfect time to come.












There were so many colors to enjoy. Too bad my camera didn't do well in low light.










Here's everyone hiking up. We only had about 30 minutes of good light until it began to get dark. The kids were rather uncomfortable as dark shadows began to take place within the woods of the mountain.

But we focused on how beautiful it all was. And how the leaves on the ground were like little lights the forest was providing for us. And as Cedric became more nervous, we comforted him with the fact that Heavenly Father made this beautiful place for us to enjoy. He kept repeating, as he thought aloud, "Heavenly Father! Heavenly Father!"

Sweet little bugaboo.

The kids have been getting along so well! Pure contentment flows through our home as they get along. To explain the top photo: Tyra had 2 new pairs of pajamas and so she decided to share one set of her jammies with Ethan. As they played around they decided to mix and match the jammies. They were having SO much fun that particular night.

The bottom photo is of us going on a walk. I looked ahead and this is what I saw. I hurried and snapped a photo before they broke up.