Sometimes I feel like those old Timex watch ads….Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.† So no new news on the job front.† Still January from all I have heard.† My boss is trying to find a rental for us at least for a few weeks.† That being said….
This was a very.good.week.† Keilee looked at me last night and said “I almost hate turning 13 [in January] because 12 has been the best age and I have had the best year”.† My heart just about burst…I mean my girl said this has been the ‘best year’ and I have been laid off 6 months of it.† Anyone who thinks that kids only want ‘things‘….WRONG.
We went to the Renaissance Faire over the weekend. It was cold. Seriously cold.† But we braved it out for about an hour and a half.† We have been going to the Ren Faire for years and years.† The wizard in the purple? I have pictures of Keilee with him for about 4 years.
We are both loving our new schedule. I don’t think I will ever go back to full lesson plans.† This makes this ‘unschooling’ Mama and her ‘lesson plans’ daughter happy!† Keilee spent hours one day learning about Mendel and genetics and Punnett Squares. Here are a couple†of resources we used. SpongeBob Genetics† and†Pardon the Punnett† Seriously she worked on it 4 hours.† Then she insisted we go to the library and get books.† I so love days like that.
Co-op and practice was cancelled this week for different reasons.† We reveled in staying at home and having NOT ONE SINGLE PLACE we HAD to BE!
There is this gorgeous tree a few miles from us where I always take Keilee’s picture every year.† It isn’t quite all the way turned but it is still glorious.
See how big it is compared to Kei?
Keilee also did so much Art Journaling this week.† I have tried to get her to do it showing her Jessica’s great stuff but she hasn’t been very interested. This week she did 3 pages and she said, “I thought it was harder than this, I thought you had to be an artist, but I love this Mom”.† She is making “Month” calendars and putting her pages in the month she did them.
Halloween day Keilee and Nomad performed a routine they had been working on all week.† They do one every Halloween.† Keilee also did some graphing and a Halloween Logic Puzzle
Halloween night we went with some of our best friends Trick or Treating.† Keilee was a Punk Mad Hatter and I was something that we never quite figured out.† We went to a few Trunk or Treats, then Brit spent the night and I took the girls out for a little longer.† It was cold, cold, cold and there were people everywhere!
Thursday, which was NOVEMBER 1st, was spent learning about Day of the Dead.†† If I had money I would take Keilee to Mexico to see this holiday up close and personel.† We have both always been a fan of Dia de los Muertos.† She did another Art Journaling page and made some skulls with clay.
This is my favorite picture of the week.† Keilee in a cotton field.† She looks like a cotton fairy.
My favorite resources this week are CK-12.† Have I already listed this? If so forgive my crazy brain. :)† They do have great resources.
My other favorite resource is a book Keilee is reading.† It is “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell” by Chris Golfer.† She is loving it.† She has made maps and NB pages and a world in Eden [app similar to Minecraft] about it.† It is suppose to be Book One is a series.† She said the coolest thing to me last night.† “There just isn’t enough hours in the day for all the amazing things I want to do Mom”.† [smiles]
This is a dialogue between Kei and I.† I adore this child and thank God for her every day.
Me:† Oh my Gosh, They are making “Mockingjay” into 2 parts!
Kei:† What!?†
Me:† Yes they do that sometimes to make more money.† Remember Harry Potter and Breaking Dawn?
Kei:† [outraged] Well they won’t get ONE DIME from us!
Me:† Well I don’t know about YOU but I will be there!
Kei:† Well…[huffy] FINE then!† We will pay with NOTHING BUT DIMES!† All dimes is what we will give them!!
Me:† Oh yeah baby,† that will show them!
Keilee and I are praying daily for the people affected by Hurricane Sandy.† So much destruction and so many lives touched.
So November starts with us very broke and very happy.† Our life is so blessed even though there are nothing but 0’s in my bank account.† Life is funny and wonderful and oh so beautiful.† Hope everyone enjoys this first weekend in November.
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
I LOVE this quote! It kinda sums up our week.
†Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.† ~Albert Einstein
Happily linking with
Mary @ Collage Friday
Susan @ Favorite Resource
Savannah @ It’s a Wrap
iHomeschool Network @ Homeschool Mother’s Journal
Kris @ Weekly Wrap Up
Holy moly! That tree is huge. And I love those cotton fields. Beautiful photos as usual, friend!
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I featured you this week. I also would like to interview you and do a full feature on what it means to create an art journal. I would link this post to your blog. Please let me know if you are interested.
Karen, the photos in this post are just beautiful, and Keilee’s artwork is awesome! What a fantastic week 😀 It really stinks about your job situation, but HOORAY for very happy!
I am glad she’s liking The Land of Stories…Jenna really liked it too, and has recommended it to others.
Thanks for linking up and sharing your resources!
I’ve really enjoyed catching up on all your posts over the last few weeks. I’m still praying for you. I can only imagine how tough it must be. What a wonderful, beautiful daughter you have! She has such a sweet, giving spirit. I always love reading about how she jumps into learning new things with such passion and curiosity. That is so rare for most 12 year olds (trust me I know from teaching that age group for 5 years!)
I’m so glad the one lesson a day is making both of you happy. She’s actually learning a lot more than most kids this way. When you can immerse yourself in a subject for the whole day if you’d like instead of hopping around, you are retaining so much more and learning so much more deeply.
And the book Keilee is reading sounds like so much fun! I just put it on our wish list.
I love everything about your weeks! You and Keilee are incredible…you always inspire us with your creativity! And such joy amidst difficult circumstances- this has been her “best year” ever, huh?! Just amazing!!
The photo of her in the cotton is beautiful!
That tree is amazing! Awesome stuff you have going on!
Wow, where to start. 1) Your photos are always beautiful, but this week with the Fall color they are amazing. I also agree that you have one beautiful daughter. 2) Love her Halloween costume. Of course we love all things Alice in Wonderland. 3) I love art journaling. I just came across a Shakespeare study we are going to start that I will post about. I plan on us art journaling most of the informtion instead of doing boring worksheets and reports. 4) Still praying that something will come up with work. 5) Really love seeing how you guys unschool. Please continue to give more information in that area. It is such an encouragement to me on how I want to be doing it.
Blessings
Diane
It’s most definitely NOT things that are the most important for us or our kids. My oldest son asked me a few years ago if we were poor. According to “standards”, we ARE poor, so I told him that. He replied, “But how can we be poor if I have everything I want?” Kids really do have it together, don’t you think? And really, do any of us remember those expensive toys and things when we’re 40? Maybe a couple, but it’s the DOING and BEING WITH that I remember most.
LOL at her MockingJay comments. So funny! Love it!
What a beautiful tree! It’s HUGE!
The Ren Fair looks like a blast! You’ve got some great fairs there, don’t you?
Great costumes!
@ Mary:
Macbeth inspired my all time favorite page. Lilah drew her image of Macbeth and retold the story. Maybe it is because we read the children’s version on a dark, stormy, fall day, and the setting could not have been more perfect for the darkness of the story…..I don’t know where inspiration comes from. Please share your pages!!!
Karen, What a wonderful week! I know that we never really put pictures of our kids frowning or caught in an “unpleasant moment” but as a mom who has a daughter (who I shall not name) who will fake a smile just so I can take a picture, I notice that all your pictures are real. Kei’s joy is real. Her smiles are real. Her personality shines through every photograph you take. Rest assured that although times are hard now, your special girl is doing just fine and we are all blessed to share in your family’s journey.
We wanted to go to the Ren Faire, but it just wouldn’t work out. YOu took some fab pictures this week. That tree! Wow.
Blessings, Dawn
Now I’m getting inspired to try some art journaling — we just read some Macbeth today and I would love her to art journal like Keilee did — so cute! I read Jess’ post about it and loved it.
You are such a fun mom, and I believe that less THINGS is turning out to be a blessing in disguise (I still know it’s not easy, but Keilee’s heart just about says it all.). I’m so blessed by your friendship and reading your blog each week, Karen. You inspire me.
I think the coolest thing comment you wrote is the best thing I’ve heard in a long time! My eldest girl turns 13 this month, so she’s very close in age to your girl. Enjoy all the books and projects!
LOVE seeing your photos… and seeing the world through your family’s eyes. Your daughter is amazing, and she is such a reflection of your amazing spirit as well!
I love seeing your fall colors! Ours have been gone for weeks now here in Minnesota!
Breathtaking photo of the tree! I love it! And I also love the final photo of Keilee in the cotton field. What would you recommend for beginners of art journaling? All three of my girls like to draw and create but so far haven’t been too keen on notebooking. How can I add art journaling without it seeming like a version of NB? Do you allow Keilee to do whatever she wants in it or do you offer ideas first? I’d be very interested in adding it to our days. Terrific looking week! Blessings!
Oh her art journaling is so lovely!
What a great attitude you have, I don’t know that I could be so positive. Your week looks like it truly was wonderful. I love all the festivals and faires you two attend. They always look so inviting and fun.
Your new schedule really is working it seems and I’m thrilled you have found a balance that makes you both so happy. Keilee is learning so much!
She is a very talented artist and everything she does is so full of color that I look forward each week to her art projects. You can’t help but be happy with all the color in her art.
Have a great weekend and we continue to pray for you and Keilee.
yup – that last pic is my favorite – but they are all so good!!! looks like a great week – loads of fun and great learning too- just right
@ Phyllis at All Things Beautiful:
Thank you Phyllis. How sweet you are. We love Dia de los Muertos too. And I agree with you! Keilee is so creative. She thinks because she can’t sit down and draw a person she isn’t an artist. Thank you for always leaving the sweetest comments. They always make my day!
I honestly don’t think I have ever seen a more beautiful young woman than Kei. I was amazed at her transformation for Halloween…it doesn’t look like the same person! Scary!
I LOVE all the Dia de los Muertos activities! Wonderful. Kei is wrong…she is an artist. Wonderful art journaling! That tree is amazing! Punnett squares can be so much fun. Love all the puzzles she worked on this week, Punnett squares included, as they always seem like fun puzzles to solve to me.
Your posts always make me so happy.