Braids Into a Ponytail

I tried a new hairstyle on Kiana this last week that I think is just adorable.  It's a great protective hairstyle as all her hair is braided and there is nothing in the ends to cause breakage.  I'm hoping it will last at least four weeks and maybe as long as six.

 

I started out by parting her hair into three sections.  The first was across the bottom of the back of her head, about mid-ear down.  Then I made another section all the way around from temple to temple, and then there was the "top" of her head.

In the first section, on the bottom and back of her head, I just did some quick and simple cornrows into long braids.  Then in the second section I separated it into two sections right down the middle of the back and cornrowed three rows on each side, starting by her face and meeting in free-hanging braids in the middle and back of her head.

For the top, I first sectioned off a small part in the front and cornrowed two rows to the side for a bang-effect.

 Then I separated the remaining hair into two sections and cornrowed those sections in slightly diagonal lines toward the crown of her head and captured the braids into a barrette..

 Below you can see each side of her head and also how the braids cascade down the back of her head.  I'm really happy with how it turned out and she likes being able to change her barrettes/bows each day.

 I think she looks darling and she was very happy as well.  The total time required by this hairstyle was about four hours--two sessions of two hours each.  I started with the back two sections and put the front into three quick bantu knots for a couple days before I finished the top.  The interim style was cute too, even though I didn't get a picture!

School's in Full Swing

It's been an incredibly busy week.  I'm not complaining (at least I'm trying not to)--it's been a good busy.  But I'm telling you, when Friday hits each week I am wiped out!  I've even had two Pepsis today!

It always takes a little while to get fully into the swing of school.  First we have to get the schedule down pat, figure out what the day is going to look like with the new age of little ones, and how we're going to maintain the household while juggling school and extracurricular activities.  Then the next stage of the school year involves getting deeper into each subject.  The first couple chapters of a new year always seem to start pretty slowly, reviewing information and laying a solid foundation.  THEN we get into the meat of the subject and that's where we've been the last couple weeks.

Our history has been really fun this week as I'm seeing everything connect in Briana and Destry's minds.  We're studying the age of revolution and I've enjoyed hearing them discuss the effect the reformation had on various countries and their revolutions--from England, to the United States, to France.  We're also thoroughly enjoying our study of The Scarlet Letter  and I can't wait to hear more of their thoughts next week since we finished it this week. 

We've been studying dinosaurs with the younger kids and they're having a blast.  We've read lots of books, pretended to be paleontologists, measured out the length of some dinosaurs, practiced drawing dinosaurs and all kinds of fun stuff.  We should finish this unit up next week so I'll post more then, but I'll share just one teaser photo this week.

Part of what makes things so busy is all the running I'm doing now--and not the tennis shoes and jarred knees kind!  Easton had art class on Monday, Destry had violin lesson and symphony on Tuesday, Briana and Destry taught soccer for the elementary PE class on Wednesday (which Easton loved!), Destry had music theory and a piano lesson Thursday and Briana cleans house for a lady every Friday.  Oh how I wish I could have scheduled all this stuff on one day to get it over with.  Maybe next year. . .

 Easton is really taking off with his "reading, (w)riting, and 'rithmetic".   Reading is coming much easier for him now and he is enjoying it.  He doesn't love to write, but he does fine with it and he *loves* math.  One day this week he asked if he could do six pages in his math workbook.  (shrug) Sure, why not.

Arts and crafts is still his very favorite, however.  We finally got to this super easy craft idea my friend Kat shared several weeks ago and it was a major hit. 

 You start by hot glueing crayons across the top (or side) of a canvas.

 Then you use a hair dryer to melt the crayons so the wax runs down the canvas.

 You have to hold it really close and hold it still for a little bit to get the wax hot enough to melt.

 We put cardboard under the canvas during the project and I'm glad--it was a little messy, but not too bad.

 They were super pleased with their finished projects, even though Easton has started thinking he's too big to smile for pictures.

 Using the kids' artwork to decorate their rooms makes us all happy.

I'm thankful it's Friday even though I'm not sure why.  It's not like I don't have just as much to do on the weekends as I do throughout the week--in fact, we're hoping to get our last 35 chickens butchered tomorrow.  Maybe it's just that Daddy is home on the weekends--it's great to have a partner in this busyness!

Good Clean Fun

I love seeing my kids with their new friends they've been making since our move to Iowa.  I think the friendships they are forming are high on the long list of blessings we've been granted through the experience.  Isn't it just like the Lord to give *better* than what we previously had?

I got an especially big kick out of Destry and his friend Jerrit last week.  They went down a mud road and had typical, teenaged-boy-fun. They were rather sheepish when they got back and Destry said "uh, we kinda went muddin'".  I think they wondered if they would be reprimanded.  They seemed both surprised and relieved when we just laughed.

First of all, how funny they looked on their "tough" vehicles--a moped and a mini bike!

Secondly, why would we get mad?  Clothes wash.  But memories and friendships are priceless.  I'm looking forward to seeing what these two come up with next!

Father and Sons Campout

One of our new homeschooling friends hosted a campout for approximately 25 to 30 fathers and sons this past weekend.  Alan took Destry and Easton and I've heard nothing but rave reviews ever since.  It sounds like it was very well put together and Easton is hoping there will be another one in the spring.

 I wish I had a great picture of the three of them with their gear, but alas, I didn't think about that at the appropriate time.  I actually am not even the one who took these pictures--a friend shared them. They were shot by one of the dads and I am grateful to have them for the memories they will prompt in years to come.

They all arrived around 5 pm Friday to set up their tents and get the campfire going.  Alan said it looked like "a buckskinner's camp."  (whatever that is) 

As an aside, Alan has found a friend who shares his love of a good deal.  When his new friend asked him "Where did you get that tent" and Alan answered "I got it on a sale for five bucks", his friend responded with "Now that's what I like about you!"

Food was a very important part of the experience and they had lots of it.  After eating, one of the dads led a devotional study around the campfire and they all joined in to sing together.  Then the dads sat around the campfire (drinking coffee and reportedly anticipating a cold night of sleeping on the hard ground) while the boys played King of the Mountain and a rousing game of cops and robbers.  Four of the teen boys (Destry included) were the "bad guys" and they had to run and hide in the timber without the use of flashlights.  The younger boys were the "cops" and they used flashlights to find the older boys who were then recruited to track down their partners. (You know the saying, there is no loyalty or honor among thieves! ha!)  Destry described this as one of the funnest nights of his entire life.

Saturday morning they had organized some great educational opportunities.  Alan gave a presentation about one of his favorite hobbies:  trapping.  I've heard all sorts of fun reports from the attendees.  Some boys were extremely impressed about spraying urine around the set to "make the animal comfortable" (they directly quoted Alan) while others were amazed that they were to club the animals they catch in their traps ("I bet that would knock them out," one little boy said to which Alan responded "It would knock them out all right!")

He shared several similar tips and then set some traps and let the boys trip them with sticks.  They were so captivated by the presentation, they started out sitting in nice rows listening and ended up gathered so closely around Alan he could barely move.  After they all left the campsite, two boys compelled their daddy to take them to the farm store to look at traps so they could start getting ready for trapping season.  Alan really enjoyed sharing his interest with the others and is thrilled that the boys' attention was piqued.  I've even heard some possibilities of another weekend trapping event once the season starts (only this time they'll set traps in the afternoon and evening, sleep in a cabin, and check their traps the next morning).

After the trapping presentation, a conservationist presented information about orienteering and they got to complete a scavenger hunt with their compasses.  Then my guys came home, tired but jabbering about all the fun they had.

Quick and Cute Hairstyle

Kiana's hair was rather dry after being in braids for 6-7 weeks, so we tried a new conditioning idea followed by a simple style.  A good friend shared with me that I could deep condition Kiana's hair by leaving conditioner in for a couple hours while covering her hair with plastic and a warm towel.  It worked wonderfully! 

 I washed and conditioned her hair in the kitchen sink one evening, then let her sit and watch a movie.  After the movie was over, I rinsed her hair, detangled it (which was super easy) and quickly put in these fun braids.

 I just made random geometric shapes in her hair, captured each section in a ballie, then braided it.  She chose the big flowers to tie off the braid and the style has looked really cute for a little over a week.  Now it's time to do something different, and her hair is still nicely moisturized.  I'm always grateful for helpful tips.

Reaping the Harvest

I realize I have written posts about harvesting corn, meat, and other hobby farm products, but this post is a review of Diana Waring's encouraging book Reaping the Harvest:  The Bounty of Abundant-Life Homeschooling.

I spent several weeks absorbing the jewels Waring packed into these 200 pages because I needed time for it to sink in.  Besides that, it’s one of those books you just don’t want to end.  In her inimitable style, Diana Waring writes with an energetic and humorous voice.

This was a wonderful book for me to read as our school year began since I have two high schoolers this year.  In the first part of the book, Waring addresses the years of preparation building up to the teen years.   In part two she addresses the years "in the trenches" and especially focuses on sowing the seeds of ambition, courage, good habits, and learning to think.  Her section on thinking was especially good, over-viewing different types of intelligence and worldview and logic.  The last section was about (sniff, sniff) letting go, shooting our arrows out into the world, and giving our children a focus of serving God with their lives--being ambassadors for Him.

Frankly, there is so much in this book I don't even know how to begin to write a decent review.  I'd like to just tell you to go buy it and read it--over and over again.  To whet your appetite, here are just a few of the many, many quotes I underlined.

The JOYS OF PARENTING TEENAGERS

“This can be the most wonderful time of all for a parent, holding the richest moments, the greatest opportunities, and the best growing seasons.  Everything we have been working on as parents up to this point has been mere preparation for the really good stuff:  TEENAGERS! (1)

“Got teens?  You lucky dog.  Spend time with them; enjoy them; listen to them; and love them.  They are the most incredible people, these emerging adults, and they can become the best friends you’ll ever have” (19).

TIPS FOR PARENTING TEENS

“It is possible to have healthy relationships with your teenagers IF you spend enough time (quality and quantity) and IF you hold a place of influence in their lives by teaching them yourself” (9).

“Stop reacting and start listening.  Listen to them like you listen to a friend.  Learn the gentle art of querying without pushing.  Create an atmosphere and attitude where hearts, dreams, and concerns can safely be revealed.  God has been at work in them—in the deep and hidden places of their hearts, and we will never know anything about it if we don’t shut our mouths, quit directing their EVERY step, and just listen to them” (15).

“Let us be the liberators, not the jailers, of our teenagers” (25).

“In the same way that delighting the heart of God is not about obeying a myriad of nit-picky, legalistic, make-yourself-perfect-type rules, this parenting of teenagers is not about issuing a myriad of nit-picky, legalistic, make-yourself-perfect=type rules.  We need love—love which takes the time to listen rather than merely react, love displayed by wise decisions and careful actions, love shown by the parents, and love shown by the teenagers” (33).

PERSONAL GROWTH FOR PARENTS

“Transparency is powerful.  It is not pretending to be perfect.  It is not putting on a show for the sake of others.  When we are transparent before our children, it is letting them into the things we do right AND into the things which we do wrong (which are much harder to be vulnerable about).  The things we do wrong, if we allow God to transform them, can become the most powerful inducements for good in our children’s lives” (64).

“As parents, we don’t have to be perfect in order to  positively impact our children; we just need to keep changing, maturing, and growing up” (86).

"Will your teens finish high school with a checklist marked off and little memory of what they learned , OR will they finish with an amazing grasp of the materials they have studied, a voracious hunger and enthusiasm for learning, and an equipping with the knowledge and understanding necessary to pursue the next step in their lives?  Time is limited--so choose wisely and choose well!  You can't do it all--so do what is best!" (145).

"Don't forget, God is uniquely leading you through life, your story will NOT be a carbon copy of someone else's.  God is far more creative, far more lavish, far wiser than that.  He is looking to show His greatness through us in wonderfully unique and powerful ways. . .We need to imitate those who have hearts and attitudes pleasing to the Lord, but that is not the same as trying to live exactly, to the dot and tittle, just the way they do.  you do not have to live in the same town, wear the same clothes, eat the same food, use the same curriculum. They have a unique walk, designed by God.  And so do you" (212). 

I'm "in the trenches" of this season, so I don't have the wisdom of experience.  I appreciate the many, many words of encouragement and advice Diana Waring shared in this book.  It is empowering and directs the reader over and over again to the Creator of our precious teens.  I hope to read it again soon.

Fiction Break

Recently I've been looking for a great fiction book to just "take me away" and I've had a hard time finding what I was looking for.  Sometimes I'm in the mood to learn and be challenged, other times I'm in the mood to ponder, other times I'm looking for a break from real life.  Ideally, a fantastic fiction book will do all these things for me.  As I escape into a fantasy world I can still be challenged to think and grow and apply lessons to my own life.  Unfortunately, I haven't managed to come across that ideal fiction book in my recent foray into fiction.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was very well-written and sucked me right in to the storyline.  My final verdict is that the characters were completely psycho and the ending quite unsatisfying.  I can't whole-heartedly recommend it because the language is quite rich and there is simply too much information given, but I have to confess once I started it I didn't want to put it down as I wanted to see what happened.  Believe me, it was NOT what I expected!  It accomplished the "escape" factor, but not much else.

I already talked about The Eyre Affair and since I had to make myself finish it, I certainly can't say it accomplished my goal.

Then I read The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan.  I'm purposefully not linking to it because it definitely had "adult content" so I wouldn't really recommend it.  As the cover of the book states, however, it is "compulsive reading".  In a nutshell, it shows the lives "twenty years later" of several classmates who graduated from Harvard and not one of them is pursuing a life of godliness--all are selfish and worshiping various worldly idols and ideologies while experiencing betrayal and misery.  At the same time, I don't regret reading it because it is a painful, painful book and sometimes I need reminded of how miserable sin's consequences are.  Not that I don't experience it in my own life, but the magnitude of these character's pain is so great it makes me want to run harder in the other direction, to guide my children closer toward the Lord and pray that they will be able to escape the sin that so easily entangles us.  Reading this book provokes me to share the Lord and attempt to help others escape from the cares of the world so they can attain the hope and peace and joy that only the Lord can give. 

Illusion by Frank Peretti was a nice break from thinking very hard and it was a little closer to what I was looking for:  an intriguing, well-conveyed story featuring fleshed-out characters and containing an underlying message that edifies.  Illusion tells the story of a man whose wife of 40 years was killed in a car crash, but then he meets a young woman who is eerily similar to the 20-year-old version of his wife.  It plays with time travel, experiments with scientific ethics, and romanticizes the concept of destined love.

I also appreciate Peretti's summary of the symbolism and thematic elements:

• Being lost in this weird and sinful world, trying to discover who we are and where we belong;
• The deception and lure of this world that we overcome as we reach for heaven, our home;
• Our longing and lifelong quest as the bride of Christ to be united with Jesus, our bridegroom.

Overall, it provided the escape I was looking for--a book good enough to keep me up until 2 am and I hadn't done that in a while.  Now I'll go back and finish some of the non-fiction books I have started.