Fun with Friends

We spent some time this week with our best friends.

We played

 

A lot!

 

And explored 

 

  

And learned

 

Willow, of course, documented the whole thing.  I may have to just trade her the better camera--her pictures are lovely and artistic.  It's pretty amazing to see the world through her eyes, in the most literal way possible.  How lucky for her, to grow up at a time when the technology is available to capture images in the moment and at only negligible costs.  What i would have given for a digital camera at her age!  I hope i soon have the nerve to trust her with a piece of equipment better suited for a more serious pursuit of this hobby, because i do think she's ready for it.  But am i?  Here are some images that she captured herself with a very basic, cheap, old camera:

First Day of Unschool

Today seemed like a good day to begin the 2010-2011 school year, so we did!  It's just one of many reasons homeschooling is so very wonderful. 

The bulk of our school supplies are bought, but I am having difficulties with log-keeping options.  In the past, i have simply purchased a cheap teachers' planner from the dollar bins at Target, but i haven't seen any yet this year!  I have considered a $9 equivalent, but i am very cheap, and that seems a bit much for a notebook with blank squares.  So for now, i am just keeping notes and logging the hours in a regular spiral notebook (cost: $0.15), and blogging about the more interesting aspects here.  At least that's the plan.

So what does the first day of school mean around here?  Quite honestly, it only means that this was the day that Mama bothered to start writing things down again.  The kids never stop learning; they never stop exploring and figuring things out and surprising me.  Our summer was full of stacks of read books, piles of finished sewing, balanced play checkbooks, and workbooks found and secretly filled in.

Ryvre actually took a pretty relaxed approach to the day; he read a book, and that was about all, despite all suggestions to write a book report about it.  Alas, perhaps tomorrow.

Willow filled in a few reading comprehension workbook pages; she's really coming along in her reading, but she still does most of it secretly.  She also began sewing an intricately patterned piece of felt, along the grooves of the pattern. 

Ember started sewing today too; as far as i know, it is her first attempt, and it was not bad!  She also practiced writing, asking me to spell words for her.

It was a rather slow-paced day with each kid logging about three hours of full-on 'school time' but we're getting an early start, so no harm in taking it slow.

Budding Photographer

For her birthday, Willow really wanted her own camera.  A good one is out of her birthday money price range, but i suddenly remembered that a family friend had given us a cheap camera while back--i put it away because i lacked the patience required for its slow shutter speed and lack of quality, but have since realized it's a perfect starter camera.  Here are a few of the results:

As you can see, the quality is rather dismal, but i think she's got some talent with composition!

Another Visit with the In-Laws

Injury Update

Today Willow saw the orthopedist.  He confirmed everything we already knew, and had a very talented nurse put on a new, better cast.

This one will stay on for three weeks.

We're very happy with this cast, because it allows much more mobility in the fingers--she can play video games again!  


I'm proud of how self-sufficient she has been throughout this whole ordeal; she will not allow anyone to help her any more than normal (which is not at all), and never complains about how difficult it is to maneuver things with one good arm.  She's my tough little gal.

Willow's 7th Birthday

Willow finally had her party!

Here is the cake she decorated all by herself!

Balloon war!

And the completely unrelated after-party broken arm

Kassi's 6th Birthday

Today we celebrated the birthday of a dear friend.  Her mother made our birthday girls matching dresses!