sunday smiles

a snowy thanksgiving

We awoke to a blanket of good snow. We all headed outside first thing to play and ride go carts in the snow!
Then came inside for a lunch of anti-pasta, with naps and games filling our afternoon. As darkness fell we settled in for our evening feast. No turkey around here. But we did have some pretty cute turkey decorations made by Landon.  We had a delicious tenderloin with some of the traditional fixings. With apple pie for dessert that was made by Landon in the fall. It was a mellow day with lots of laughing and love.

homeschool art: monet

This week we were studying Monet. There was some beautiful watercolors done. It was a small group this week as people were a bit busy with the holiday.

just enough

There was just a dusting of snow this week but the boys made the most of it. It was very cold so it took me some time to get Harkin all bundled up, but then he goes after his brothers. They played together for over an hour.

Listening to his tiny voice tell the story of their sledding escapades his quite funny. There seems to have been a bit of a crash with Landon and Harkin's voice gets loud and he starts shaking his hands at Landon when he retells the story. Everyone giggles.

It amazes me still how much he comprehends and how quickly these days he is learning words. he is such a funny kid and makes us all smile so much throughout the day. His big brothers are so very sweet with him it is just awesome!

afternoon drawing

The boys were outside. I had a few minutes to myself. I sat down and took out my latest doodle book. I began to draw my own doodles. Then the rush of madness sounded from the mudroom. They were done for the day. Inside they came with a crash and a boom. When they discovered what I was doing they all wanted to join in. So we sat for the next 30 minutes in silence, drawing.  A great way to calm down before dinner.

not too tidy

Harkin loves the kitchen area. He spends time there each day and loves to take it all out. It is all in such fun to watch him play. And his big brothers are so good about helping him clean it all up:)

it stuck

The past two Fridays we have had snow falling but nothing that lasted once it hit the ground. Today the forecast was for more rain than snow but obviously they got it wrong. We came home from a busy day to an inch or two on the ground. The boys were thrilled! It was sticky enough to make snowballs and they even built snowmen. (no pictures) A great hour was spent outside burning off steam from a day of errands and classes. Harkin is so excited about it. I can't wait until we have tons of it and see him playing in it! Yeah for the winter ahead!

Landon was busy building his store of snowballs so no pictures of him were to be gotten.

turkey crafts

We spent one morning this week making some new holiday decorations. The boys said we needed more turkeys. So I got the idea for the bead turkeys from the Artful Parent. She makes sun catchers, I bought the wrong beads, so we made hanging decorations. I think they came out so cute. Harkin had fun playing with the beads. He kept picking up the embroidery hoop after he had filled beads into it, so it was just the process for him.
We then made wooden turkeys. Using craft foam and wooden pieces from the craft store. We had a fun morning together and now we have decorations to last a few years. Harkin loves looking at them up on the windowsill and wall.

archery

The boys started an archery program last week. They are very excited about it. It is different than just going shooting with Dad. It is called JOAD- which stands for Junior Olympic Archery Development. They have a goal each week to try and shoot to a certain number of points. This will help them improve as they go along. A few of their very good friends are in the class as well so it makes it fun all around. The little girl next to Will being one of them.

The program goes for 5 weeks and then there is a winter and spring session. We will have to sit out the winter one due to their sister being born and us just having home time, but then we will pick it back up in the spring.

enjoying the view

I recently read a book by Anna Quindlen that reminded me to fully enjoy life.  She says that enjoying the view is living your life to its fullest.  That is exactly what I have been trying to do the past few days. Instead of running for my camera to "capture" life I am standing just taking it all in. "Enjoying the views".

* watching Harkin dump all of his toys out and move them from place to place

* enjoying one of our last warm days outside- splashing in puddles, picking up leaves and seeing the excitement in my child's eyes at experiencing nature

* listening to the big boys mine rocks by the river, dig holes and smash sticks- things boys do

*crafting with all of them, Harkin just enjoying the process while the big boys really concentrate and create wonderful pieces of art

*still being asked to tuck my 11 year old in

*loving holding such tiny hands in mine

*still in awe that we live in the woods where it is peaceful and full of adventure each day

*watching Harkin imitate his big brothers in all that they do- the good, the bad and the funny

*smiling as Harkin anticipates Daddy's entrance each morning into his room for kisses and hugs as he leaves for work

*laughing as the boys rock out to Dad's music during the late afternoon hours

Hoping to remember to always enjoy the view and wishing you all the same.