Van Gogh, the 5th day, and PE!!!!

Yesterday we started our Homeschool co-op classes.

Every time we meet I am reminded of how BLESSED  we are as a homeschool family to have such wonderful support in our community.

Even if we are all not close friends,and we have different views on many things…

I believe that GOD pulls us all together for a reason.

Sometimes that reason is for the benefit of the child…and sometimes the parent.

Sometimes it is apparent, and sometimes vague.

But it is ALWAYS a true blessing to have the fellowship of others “in the same place”  as you.

As I sat in class yesterday surrounded by others “like-minded”  I thought…

I am always thankful for being able to teach and guide my children thru what I believe is the MOST IMPORTANT part in a persons life…

The beginning.

Doing an experiment about ocean currents in “swimming creatures of the 5th day” class.

September birthdays!!!!!

Elementary Civics Class…….

PE….for Zeek and Shasha.

Art Treasury……  Van Gogh

“Pollock"-ish”

If you visit here often, you KNOW that I LOVE to make EVERYTHING into a teaching moment.

As we say….It is the SCHOOL OF LIFE.

So ….while Hailey and Jackie were here we have been not “having school”.

But..I’ve been SNEAKING IN some “secret school”!

Yesterday…the kids wanted to do tie-dye

BUT

I was so NOT WANTING to do it.

Mainly because I didn’t have gloves and didn’t want DYED HANDS for days.

SOOOO…….

I decided to do a little ART LESSON.

A  Jackson Pollock lesson.

We checked this book out on our trip to the library.

And later that night I asked the kids if they wanted to do some painting.

Which is ALWAYS greeted with squeals of excitement

ESPECIALLY when they know they will be painting on a CANVAS.

BIG TIME.

I got everything out and organized.

We decided to do it out in the yard considering that Jackson Pollock really SPLATTERED paint all over the place.

FUN!!!!

I set the canvas up against the tree and started reading the book to the kids about Pollock.

We looked at different examples of his paintings and explained HOW he did it.

Then we started….

 

They LOVED it!!!!!

AND

The tree got a nice piece of art splattered on it also!!!

NATURE ART!!!

 

THIS is the finished product-Which we will PROUDLY display in our kitchen.

LOVE IT….

Kandinsky-ish….

The kids did this art lesson today.

They watched a SHORT video exhibiting Kandinskys’ art and then we went to work………

Here is KANDINSKYS ART:

 

Here is OUR KANDINSKY-ish art:

Shashas’:

 

Zeeks:

Shebas:

And Malachis(my favorite)

I think these are defiantly are FRAMEABLE!!!!!!

ART…..in lots of ways.

Some days…….

Man.

Some days just don’t work out like you plan them.

ESPECIALLY as a homeschooling mom.

I woke up today and was ready to get going.

BUT…while I had my coffee and checked my email, Zeek started on his DINOSAUR DRAWINGS.

I checked him out a book at the library about DRAWING dinosaurs.

He LOVED it.

He loved it so much that he started on them BRIGHT and EARLY this AM….

Throwing off my WHOLE school day.

I mean….What KIND of mother stops her son from drawing THESE?

TOTALLY FREEHANDED!!!!!!!!!!

He just LOOKED at the pictures in the book and DREW THEM!!!!!

So …..

We had a BACKWARDS school day.

From ART to READING.

Instead of READING to ART.

And all the while Zeek was drawing these pics…..

Shasha was sooooo upset.

She’s not as ….how can I say it?

DRAWING SAVVY as Zeek.

So while our resident ARTIST sat at the table and whipped out dinosaur after dinosaur…..

I sat with Shasha and explained that ART comes in lots of different forms.

She may not be a SKETCH ARTIST…But shes an artist…of SOME KIND.

We watched videos on Frida Kahlo

And we talked about Picasso and Dali…..

After all THAT- I showed her how to draw some things that were easy for HER to draw….FLOWERS.

By the end of the morning I asked her THIS question…

“ Now, Do you think your an artist?”

She smiled BIG.

and said

YES!

Lil' ART 101

Yesterday we had an art lesson on Georgia O'Keeffe.
I love her art...all nature , all raw.
So I showed the kids her painting of a shell an we discussed the lines.
I had each of them run their finger over the spiral in the shell.
I had them notice the color scheme, how the colors faded from green to white to grey.
They all tried to paint a replica of her painting...Sooo Fun!
This is what THEY saw....

Last weekend....

Last weekend Jay went into OP on Saturday early morning as a gift to his Mom for Mothers Day.
She had some projects that would have been UN-doable without Jay.
He is sooo amazing.
I can only pray and try and train OUR boys, so that when they are grown, they will have the same SKILLS as their father.


Anyway...we were BUSY all weekend.
We had a great game on Saturday.
Zeek has really gotten to be really amazing at football.
He runs faster, throws better, pulls flags quicker, AND has MORE enthusiasm than he did last year.
Malachi- not so much!!!
Hes one of the "little guys" on the team.
Saturday was his first game AFTER the KNEE INJURY!!
AND Jay wasnt there.
Coach asked him a couple of times if he wanted to play and he said .."Nah."
It was so interesting to see the age differences between all the boys.
Give thanks that Zeek DIDN'T go with the bigger boys- Some of them have mustaches!!!!

That afternoon, Sebastian was performing at the ampitheatre with his school group.
It was AMAZING to see all the kids being creative.
There was music, artwork, dance groups, from different schools and age groups!!
It really inspired me to start more music classes and projects with the kids.
I mean I do heve a TALENTED group of musicians at my fingertips! LOL

Then on Sunday...We ALL went to the beach, Daddy included!
He came home Saturday night with a HUGE bag of CLAY!!!!
Thats right..I said CLAY!
He was digging the fencepost for his Moms fence and HE HOMESCHOOL GOLD!!!
He hit BLUE CLAY!!!
So we brought SOME of it to the beach and let everyone go to town.
You would NEVER think to do at the beach, but what a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and then PLAY!!!!

Thank GOD for this amazing blessing of a life.

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!!!!!!

It has been raining for what seems like months.



We have been inside for what seems like YEARS.


So one day we had HAD ENOUGH!!! Dad came home and told them to go PLAY!!!


Soon, these creative kids found a place for some ORIGINAL art!!!


And what BEAUTIFUL art it was!!!!!