Beautiful Oblivion

Well, our first week of school is over and done with.  We are moving right along and things are going pretty well.  Rowan is enjoying pre-school books and has her own desk this year.  She just loves that!  I'm thinking 2nd grade is the time most student figure out that school isn't about playtime.  Shiloh is not happy about all the work she has to do sometimes.  She has no idea!  Noah has an inordinate amount of writing to do and we are trying to incorporate actual art class and geography class into all the regular stuff as well!  It's a huge challenge but I feel we are up to it and can do it if we persevere.  It makes our classes easier having a place to sit that is quiet and away from everything.  We turned Rowan's bedroom back into a study/workroom.  We put all our books in there and have enough workspaces for everyone.  It's really nice to be able to do that. 

 

We missed the large SCA event (Gothic Wars XVII) we were so planning for and hoping to attend on Labor Day Weekend.  We ended up having to replace 2 more tires.  Our friends had a great time of course but they also told of a strange plague we were just as glad to avoid!  We spent our weekend preparing the study/workroom and getting ready for school to start.

 

Our first 4-H meeting was Tuesday.  The kids enjoyed making what everyone else calls Tooties and I call fuzz balls.  They had a blast.  It also appears that I haven't lost my position as Clover Kid leader.  I'll have at least 18 or 20 kids but the older 4-H'er's are supposed to be helping me out.  Noah and I are going to be leading a project group on Citizenship and Civic Education.  I'm going to try to plan a field trip for our group, too. 

 

Today is John's birthday but we decided to give him his presents early.  On Friday, I sat down and made a banner for him.  This banner displays his device for SCA events.  It's still got a little finish work to be done but it was complete enough to give it to him on Friday when he got home from work.  LOL  You should have seen us scurrying around trying to work and hide our work for the couple of times he was home during the day!  It was so funny.  Worth it all though.  He was stoked.  No pix but I took a video of him opening it.  I might post it on photobucket or on his Piczo page...

 

Yesterday was first Saturday and we set up shop at the Chicken Farm.  I actually made money this time!  I have before but not often.  We will be back there on October 1 to try again!  We got a lot of compliments on our little booth and the variety of items in it.  It was nice to have a friend set up with me.  We were able to visit during the day.  She also made money!  We had some good friends stop by and visit with us throughout the day and that was nice, too.  The kids pretty much had the run of the place.  They made stuff with clay and the girls got their faces painted.  Noah got to shape a fork in the smithy.  I wish we knew he was doing that and we could have gotten pictures.  Next time, we'll pay for him to make one so he can bring it home.  All in all, yesterday was a great day. 

 

Here are some pix from last week.

On Saturday, we had some friends over.  One of them loves to make pasta and suggested doing so with the kids.  He did a great job working with them and teaching them how to make pasta.  They made farfalle and little ears (don't know the name of that type of pasta).  His wife made the pasta sauce and a wonderful dipping sauce for bread.  We had 6 adults and 4 kids (and one donkey!) enjoying pasta, pizza and a day of fun and games.  Here are the photos!  Our friends are Curt, Laurie, Hugh, Heather, Abby and Steve.  Thanks for making an otherwise boring day fun, you guys!

Well, there wasn't much going on this week.  We did our usual things...practice Tuesday, project night Wednesday, and combat practice Thursday.  Friday we had friends come visit and have supper with us.  That was fun.  We also watched a great, new-to-us movie...The Cat Returns.  I still haven't figured out what the title is about but the movie was truly good.  The kids enjoyed it a lot and are asking me to get it for them.  That might be a nice gift for them at some point.  Think I'll jaunt over to Flixter today and rate some more movies.  We aren't doing a whole lot today and I might actually have time.  Ah, we are going to pick up the bowls the kids threw over at the Chicken Farm.  We'll see how they came out.  I'm looking forward to that!

In the above pictures, Noah took a picture with the first dragon he painted.  Then Rowan wanted a picture while we were sitting in the car but she sits in back of me so it was kinda hard!  In the next picture, Noah wasn't too happy with something one of us said to him.  In the last picture, Shiloh decided to read a book to Rowan while we were on the way to the base.  These pictures were all taken the last week of DEFY, which was back in June.  I just thought they were kinda nice so...here you are!  Enjoy!

Well, another week has come and passed.  We had court dance practice on Wed.  John got to dance with me and Noah danced with Shiloh.  I also danced with our friend Safiye.  We've been practicing together so we can demonstrate the flourish for the Karabushka, a Russian dance which I have no idea how to spell!  LOL  We also danced a Carolingian Pavane.  I sure wish someone had used my camera to get some pix! 

 

The Thursday before Independence Day was spent cleaning and tidying the house.  We had a total of 20 folks in our home during the course of the day.  One of our guests stayed all day long.  One came just in time to catch some of the fireworks at the lake.  We had a great time visiting with friends.  I decorated the girls with face paint and they got to run through the sprinkler for a little while.  We ended the day watching the fireworks display at the lake and playing alphabet games.  We had a blast!

 

We thought 2 Wed. back, Shiloh had a bout with her allergies.  It turned out it was cold so from Sunday through Wed., we pretty much stayed inside.  Yesterday was our first outing in a good while.  We went to Combat Practice and Music Practice at the park.  The kids got to get some fresh air and play. 

 

I decided not to have an A and S meeting (SCA projects) on Wed. because we were still fighting colds and the kids were pretty upset with being stuck at home.  I figured John would appreciate having my help with them. 

 

We did take the kids to the Chicken Farm to throw clay on Saturday.  And we took them to Home Depot to build birdhouses that same day.  It was a full day and we had lots of fun.

 

Ah!  Well, it's DEFY time again.  Both Noah and Shiloh are attending this year.  Shiloh seemed to really enjoy her time there yesterday so I'm hoping the rest of the camp will be just as nice for her.  Noah is a junior mentor again this year and he is very much looking forward to it.

 

John took Shiloh to a Daddy Daughter Dance held at the base this past Thursday.  He called her from work the Monday before and asked her out on a date.  LOL  She said "Hmm...let me think about it."  And she quietly snickered and looked at me.  They dressed up really nice and we took pictures before they left.  John walked out the door and then knocked on it and asked if Shiloh was here.  Shiloh said "No." and started to close the door, snickering the entire time.  LOL  I'm still rolling while I'm writing this.  Anyway, they went and she wouldn't dance with him!  LOL  She wanted to pirouette (?) across the dance floor and chase the balloons they had all over the place.  Go figure...  They had a really nice time though and are hoping to do it again next year.

 

Rowan and I will be all by our lonesomes this week and next week thru Wed.  She's not to sure what to do with that.  Yesterday was tough as she went thru sibling withdrawals.  So far today, she's painted a lovely picture and looked thru my recipes.  We went for a morning walk and now we're cooking lunch.  We'll also cook supper for the fighter practice tonight.  We have a full day planned.  I forgot what it was like just having one child at home!  Interesting...

 

Noah went to his first chess club meeting yesterday.  All the students really seemed to enjoy themselves.  They play chess for about an hour and a half or so.  It's really nice to be able to find other boys who are interested in similar things as Noah.  Well, I need to run!  Gotta chase after Rowan.

The guys are playing chess in the first two pictures.  Shiloh and Poppa all dressed up for the Daddy Daughter Dance in the next two pix.  And Rowan taking a picture with Poppa before the dance (she wasn't too happy to be left behind).