Classical Conversations Cycle 1 Weeks 7 and 8

These last two weeks have flown by and I didn't get to post about our week last week and just playing catch up.  It has been fun, productive, great weather and this beautiful fall is passing too quickly.  I'm just going to post photos and add any info that I remember it think of as I post. It's not all just classical conversations because as I've said before we do enjoy the CC memory work but then use it as inspiration for units I guess you could say in our Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorffy way of living, incorporating it in a fun gentle handson way that is working for us.

First things first, my 5 year old son woke up one morning, came into my room and immediately started asking for specific materials he needed to build an invention.  It's a time machine.

And he said you just need a good imagination and you really can go anywhere you want do his invention basically works! I love this kid!  

Nothing beats some rainy fall days like making banana bread with the kids! 

My little guy is always building or creating something....this is just a glimpse at something he does daily with either these or other building toys.  He actually built a roman /Greek style library with these wooden blocks after studying Greece and Rome but little brother knocked it down of course!  Just another example of how learning extends beyond our little "lessons" and into playtime.

I'm a little too conservative to frame this for my house that my best friend shared on Instagram but it would be a great motto for our "Crockett University" here... (sorry if it offends!  But I can't help but laugh!) ...that basically sums it up well! Lol

Some autumn poetry/copywork/watercolor

Lots of soccer going on with both kids playing this season!! We are loving our time outdoors! It's a busy schedule in the evenings but with the pace we have at home and our schedule it really is more like a nice little activity for our evenings...

I've been taking advantage of the time at soccer practices to get my son riding his bike with no training wheels while getting some exercise myself following him with the baby jogger.  I used a YouTube video to learn how to remove the pedals from his bike and convert it to a balance bike and so he enjoyed gliding along easily on the paths at the park and then after 2 weeks of that he said he was ready for the pedals so my hubby out them back in and he just took off with no problems!  So taking his little bike to the park to ride with his pedals was even more exciting!  At first I was worried when I found out my daughter would have 2 practices a week but really it has been such a blessing with that time at the park focused on the two boys and getting B to be a bike rider!  He had pretty much given up and stuck with the scooter until we had this intentional time to work on it.  

We are getting excited for Halloween...and this is the first year I haven't made any costumes and I don't even care!  Lol I've always enjoyed making at least one costume but it actually was a nice relief my daughter simply wanted a black cat accessory kit to wear with black pants and shirt and this boy wanted to be iron man.  The costume was $15 at Walmart...it would probably cost me that much it more in supplies to make something and even though I LOVE DIY...I am at a point where I am busy enough just raising my kiddos that it has to be a diy that is either quick or worthwhile and a big money saver or exciting but simple transformation...when they were younger and I only had 2 and I wasn't focused on homeschool and other stuff I would diy anything I could but they don't all nap anymore either!  And I am slowly being trained by Chstlotte Mason myself as I learn so much from teaching my kids and constant research and reading on educational philosophy and such...and as our family grows and matures it's harder to get away with being sloppy and disorganized and staying on top of household duties...so I'm trying to do a better job at that as well and it's hard to add without letting some things go.  I don't know why I had this ideal but earlier in in our family life I imagined having everything in our home handmade, DIY and upcycled...well I have really had to just let go and realize I'm not superwoman.  I can't be Ana White, Martha Stewart, Pioneer Woman, and the Queen of Pinterest...I just need to be intentional with my time so I can give my best to my husband and kids and even then I fall short and then in too know I can always be a better daughter, sister, friend...etc.  so buying this stinkin $15 costume may not seem like a big deal but it was a little bit of a moment for me realizing...wow it's OK I didn't do any extra special creative effort or have to spend a fortune!  Wahoo! No last minute hobby lobby run or last minute stitching or glue gun adjustments just...here's your costume sweetie!  Although I do still love making stuff!  I'd rather make a mess creating than cleaning anyday in all honesty.

We are continuing our practice of choosing to be happy, being kind, focusing on whatever is.... excellent or praiseworthy...I picked up this chalkboard at hobby lobby for around $5, made a simple bunting with some craft paper we had and picked up a bistro marker to write on it and hung it up in the playroom/schoolroom.  I saw a similar looking chalkboard somewhere on my IG feed but couldn't find it again but I tried to copy what I remembered.

See here he is always building or making something.  He loves these geometric pattern blocks and continues to come up with new awesome designs. He could do this all day...seriously!

We've been enjoying the cool fall weather  and collecting all that fall has to offer around our house.  This nature table spread came from a walk down our driveway (we live in the woods so there is a lot of interesting wild plants and weeds to pick from.). The moss and praying mantis were among the favorites this day.

Doing more hands on Living Math activities like this game called Dicey Body Parts from The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas.  The kids loved it and wanted to do more to see what other creatures they could make!

Learning About India during weeks 7&8 we picked up some books about India, Hibduism, Ghandi etc from the library and after learning about it my daughter had a little fashion show experimenting with Indian Fasion.

A couple of our library books that complimented this week well:

And here is a video of the India Geography we put to the tune of Arabian Nights from Aladdin with dramatic actions lol

We ended week 8 with our nature study if horses.  The kids watched Young a Black Stallion in the car on our way to this Equine Therapy Place that made a great field trip.  The kids learned about horse care and grooming and had the chance to groom the horses and walk them as you see my son doing below.  Some of the girls braided the horses manes which was so cute.  

When we got home B ask me to teach him to draw a horse to record his experience.  I used a step by step method to demonstrate and he follows along drawing his own picture by himself.