7 March Quick Takes

--1--

We made lapbooks. I know. You can pick yourself up off the floor now. I'm not exactly the type of homeschooling mom who lapbooks.

I'm the kind of homeschooling mom who sees directions beyond "read and discuss" and runs for the exits. Read and discuss I can do! Read and discuss I even enjoy! Beyond that? Yeah, not really. Mostly I don't lapbook because I don't think it especially fruitful for my kids to hear their good Catholic mother cuss like a sailor. But perhaps there is something to learn in that, too? ;)

All kidding aside, these Papal lapbooks (from the ever-talented Jessica) came out lovely. Between these and Elizabeth's reading suggestions, we are in good shape as far as our knowledge of conclaves, Papacy elections and the like. Now, we wait! I am so excited to see the white smoke and hear "Habemus papam!"

--2--

Speaking of the Papal election, I have decided I simply cannot watch the news until this thing is over. Those major news networks are so set on creating division and controversy where there is none. All this talk of "scandal" and "controversy" and implications that the Church is being rattled is just plain ridiculous. Secular folks (especially American secular folks) just can't wrap their minds around a leader as influential as the pope operating out of humility, service, and love instead of power and personal gain. Hello? CNN? MS NBC? FOX? This isn't a political election. Just shush already and let God do His thing, would you?

I'm keeping posted on all things papacy-related by constantly refreshing the EWTN app on the iPod. We have every intention of watching smoke and cheering as loud as we can when we see white.

--3--

I ordered this Ukrainian Egg Decorating Kit. Why do I think the cussing-like-a-sailor tradition is going to stay alive and well, even though we are done with those blasted lapbooks? ;) I had to order, it though- Tulip keeps gushing over beautiful Ukrainian eggs she finds on Pinterest. Then she found a book on how to make them at the library, and I was all- Yes! Check the book out! We will READ AND DISCUSS and I won't have to even attempt to make them!!! But then I found the kit and remembered the sparkle in her eyes and.... (sigh). It was the good mom thing to do, right?

Right.

If I survive the experience, I will let you know how it goes.

--4--

Cuteness alert.

Just wanted to make sure you would stick around for a few more takes. I knew that would get you.

--5--

We finished Amon's Adventure. I know, I know. We were supposed to draw it out all through Lent and then finish it on Easter. We just couldn't put it down! This is our second Ytreeide title (we read Jotham's Journey during Advent) and I just can't praise his work enough- he is something of a storytelling genius. I will say that you ought to consider the sensitivity of your child(ren) before reading. I have a friend whose 4-year-old is listening in to Amon's Adventure and is doing perfectly fine with it. At that age, however, one of my daughters was still sobbing when Pooh got stuck in the honey tree. She's 9 now, and I think she's just barely able to tolerate the intensity of these books. So just know that before going in- these books are set in the time and life of Christ. It was a violent and turbulent time, and the stories reflect that.

--6--

A podcast Q&A session with Andrew Kern for your listening pleasure this weekend: click here.
I loved this one- it's even a little practical (which is something, given this is Andrew Kern, lol. I say that affectionately- I love Andrew Kern).

I especially love how he identifies our #1 priority in education as developing the child's moral imagination (can you even imagine what the NEA would say to that? Ha!). We do that, he says, by living honorably and by reading aloud to our kids from fairy tales,fables, myths, and classic stories. 

While listening, I just kept thinking "This is why we homeschool!" If my kids were gone all day, I wouldn't have nearly as many discussions with them simply because I would have 30-some hours a week less in their presence. And we wouldn't be able to read aloud for hours and hours a week, like we do now. We just wouldn't manage to fit it in between homework and extracurriculars and pointless school projects like making dioramas and writing journal entries about what we did over summer vacation. (Oops. Maybe you like those kinds of projects. Refer to Quick Take #1. I prefer "read and discuss".) :)

He goes on about our #2 priority, which is training and disciplining the mind through memory work: poetry, scripture, Latin, history timelines, science facts, classical music scores, art.

Very good podcast. And it's short.

Update: Well, shoot. It seems that the podcast is now unavailable. I hope this is temporary, but because I promised you some Andrew Kern goodness, check out this Youtube video instead. The whole thing is great, but the last four and a half minutes are gold! :)

--7--

One more picture. This is the other reason we homeschool. Because I can't get enough of this, and it happens around here all. day. long.