11

     11 years old- How did we get here so quickly?  The greatest and hardest thing about an oldest child is that they are always dragging us along to uncharted waters of parenthood - Experiences we've only heard tales of from saltier parents with more time at sea. Whether it's the first time they refuse a nap,  throw a tantrum in public, or when they "don't need your help anymore", it can be jarring!   Years of exciting firsts with our eldest daughter have led us here, to 11.
     I watch her spinning with her arms outstretched as "her songs" play...I hear her sing her heart out as she swings at the playground...I see her carefully put together outfits that are "her style".  And for this Mom, these firsts are like none of the others, because this Mom knows right where we are.
     The shifting sands that bridge childhood and women hood.  This terrain is oh so very familiar.  Was it really so long ago that I took my first walk here?  There are days when I wonder if I ever really grew up and left this inscrutable place.
      And 11 is where it begins...still so young and innocent, but ready to feel important, to find oneself, and make a difference...but not quite ready for the responsibility of it all.
     Emotions are as changing as the very sands one walks on here.  One day feeling high, like a dune at the shore.  The next, bogged down, sinking like quick sand.  Anger is fierce, raging like a sandstorm, until it blows itself out.  And all too often one bottoms out on a sandbar of apathy, and progress stops.
    But for all its complexities, this Mom is willing, even happy to return.  To be a guide, albeit an imperfect one.  Because I still recall the beauty that lies in self discovery, the triumph in overcoming fears, the dignity from learning restraint and self-control...these are the majestic sights only to be experienced by those brave enough to dare.
    So if you should need us, we'll be here...navigating the ever changing land together. Me and my eldest.  Hand in hand, step by step, even when she wishes I'd just go away, because the view is breathtaking, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.
   

Life lessons from Legos

     Caleb is currently obsessed with building and creating with his legos.  As a Mom, it can be so tough to not spend all of my money on them, since they make him so happy, and are "creative play", so they're good for him, right?!?  Maybe it's the big brown eyes (which all of my children are conveniently equipped with) Maybe it's the sincere desire on his face - his thinking over how to ask for a new set when he spies one at a store.
     Today, we went into an outlet store in search of cheap Halloween prizes for the upcoming Trunk or Treat, and there it was.  A large, Jurassic set, which makes a dinosaur, multiple vehicles and comes with many lego people.  While it was an off brand, it was a nice set.  Once I saw it, I froze for second, positive he had already seen it as well.  Sure enough, I looked down and his eyes were locked on it.
Too polite to just ask for the set, he began, "I wonder how much that set is."
"Fifteen dollars, buddy."
"That's a lot of money, Mom, but I think maybe I have it in my bank at home.  Could we count my money and come back today if I have it?"
That sweet attitude was enough for me to want to buy it right then and there.  But, parenting is about teaching life lessons, so I agreed.  "I'll help you count all of your change, and we'll see."
     Later, sitting the floor of his room, with a pile of coins which was many dollars short of his goal, he again showed great restraint. "Mom, how can I earn enough before everyone else buys them all?  I only get five cents for putting away my rack of dishes and ten cents for sorting the socks.  Are there any special jobs I could do to earn more?"  Again, I wanted to hug him and tell him he was the best son ever, and I'd just buy it for him...but then, would I be teaching the right thing?  As agonizing as it was for me, I told him I would come up with a list.  Though it might take him a few days, I'm sure he can earn the money.
   It's times like these, that I know parenting teaches us just as much, if not more than our children.
Like the song says,"God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be." - and today, I feel like I took a small step in the right direction.

School and September

     The mornings in Pottsville are chilly again.   I wrap Tobias in a blanket, and walk out the door.  Heavy dew and a crisp nip in the air greet me as we walk the dog.   I breathe in the smell of fall...the coldness, the faint smell of rotting leaves.  The sun is coming up, and soon our busy day will begin.
The kids are allowed downstairs at 7:30.  That buys me enough time to prep their breakfasts.  We'll be moving at full tilt until homeschool is done for the day.  No chance to rest until then, and that's just fine by me.
     Homeschooling was never my plan.  But, once we decided it was what I needed to do for our family, it has become my passion.  I revel in the lesson plans, the bulletin boards, the craft supplies...maybe it's the smell or the colors.  Mostly though, I find satisfaction in watching my children learn and grow together.
     Our cozy, third floor schoolroom looks over our part of the city, out to the large hills beyond.  Up here, the world can wait.  Up here, we focus on what we want to learn.  Up here, there's always time for a quick break, one more book, or another question.  It's not perfect...there's the occasional cranky kid, silly tussle, or pouting over an assignment...but it's ours, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I Love Parties! - The Sorcerer's Stone

Long overdue, we finally had a Harry Potter Party!

We only did activities that went along with the first book,

that way, we can party again for each of the other books!

This was an ALL DAY event.

I'm talking from breakfast till dinner, nonstop fun.

So it goes without saying that this post is photo heavy - 

but I won't apologize for that, because I can't get enough of these happy faces!

Another thing about this party, which I wanted to mention,

was that I only spent 1 1/2 days putting it together, 

and spent very little money on supplies...because it wasn't a birthday party.

Those of you who know me, know that I spend a month planning, 

and probably too much money on those ;)

Anyways, fun doesn't have to be expensive, as you will see

Most of the crafts/games/activities could be easily "upgraded" for a less casual event.

*********

We started our day out with bread for breakfast,

reminiscent of the poor meals Harry would get while living with the Dursleys.

But, our kids got fresh baked bread with butter or peanut butter and fruit,

so don't feel too bad for them ;)

After breakfast, the kids got their letters from Hogwarts!!

So, we headed to Diagon Alley, where else could we get what we needed? 

First stop, Gringott's!

The kids took turns pushing each other in the "cart" or banana box

to get to their "vault" - they each got a small bag of galleons

(ok, maybe they were left over gold coins from Caleb's candy bag, 

but today they were galleons!)

Marigold almost didn't fit - She's growing up!

Then it was time to head to Olivander's

We crafted our own wands from scratch :)

Start with a length of dowel. You can use chopsticks for a pointier edge - 

I don't want kids losing eyes, so we went for the blunt option.

Next, just heat up your glue gun, and add some bulk to the handle area with the glue

(the pic below is of Ashlynn holding hers while the glue dries)

There is literally no wrong way to do it...it's almost magic how great it turns out!

This craft cost less than $1 for all 3 since I had all but the dowel at home

Next, we used Q-tips (only because I didn't want to clean brushes) to paint on the color.

We had black, metallic brown and gold paint.

The kids helped with the painting, 

and were very exact about how they wanted them to look

We began our other crafts while 

I let the handles dry by setting them upright in glasses

We made a very simple quill craft, 

mostly because we already had all of the supplies, meaning it was FREE

The kids want to make more of these for next school year :)

Then we had to have telescopes!

Look at Ashlynn's "excited eyes" that's how you know it's a good craft

Again, a FREE craft, using paper tubes, cups, and lots of duct tape

Although paint would've looked nicer, I didn't want them to have to wait for it to dry.

They decorated them with star stickers and markers

The handles of our wands were finally dry, so we painted the tips

Lastly, we also needed a pet to take with us, so we got our origami on

Marigold and Caleb chose owls, but Ashlynn wanted a pink kitty 

 

The wands were completely dry, and just in time!

Once our "shopping" was over, we got our tickets 

and headed to platform 9 3/4

sorry about the darkness in these shots

They all ran through the portal...or red plastic tablecloth made to look like a brick wall

I used white chalk and a brown sharpie...the kids acted like it was a masterpiece 

Once "on board" they chose Car number 6,

and sat back for their long ride to Hogwarts...

Really, it was movie time in the schoolroom - The Sorcerer's Stone is one long show!

Meanwhile, I got the snack trolley ready-

Drooble's best blowing gum

Dumbledore's Lemon Drops

Bertie Bott's every flavor beans

Chocolate frogs (*which I made, and put into DIY boxes)

Cauldron cake (microwave lava cake)

Ron's sandwiches (cheese, not corned beef,  since I remembered they wouldn't like it)

Licorice wands

Glasses for "pumpkin juice"

"Anything off the trolley, dears?"

"We'll take the lot!"

*Here's how I do chocolate frogs - 

 because it's fast, easy, and doesn't require a candy mold. 

I bought the gummy frogs at Giant here in PA, 

and Winco sells them in UT, at least they did when we did this before

 Once the chocolate hardens, I clean up the edges, and they're done!

You can find free box printables many places online 

When the movie ended, we had arrived at Hogwarts-

Time to be sorted!

I made scratch off cards, with various houses on them.

Each kids choose their card, and revealed their house!

Once they knew where they belonged, they colored their house tie bookmark.

 

Ashlynn and Marigold got Gryffindor!

Caleb got Hufflepuff!

 

Then we went outside for Quidditch lessons!

And their prize for running around?

Why, a golden snitch, of course!

I made these in less than 5 minutes

They're Ferrero Roche, which conveniently came in a three pack

Take off the sticker, slap on some wings, and you're done!

Next up, a dragon egg hunt!

They're just easter eggs wrapped in foil

Clearly, you could do some amazing things to the eggs to make them more dragon-like,

but the I knew kids were just going to tear them open anyways, so, foil it was!

I let the kids decide where to hide them for the sibling who was seeking - 

They had such a good time!  I love watching them try to be tricky!

  

Inside each egg was a small coloring page of a baby dragon,

because again, it made this game FREE, although stickers or a figurine would be cool too!

On to more games, with wizards' chess, which was actually just chess

They played happily for nearly half and hour 

This next game was my favorite.  

I was thinking of how to bring in the flying key part of the book,

but since our ceilings are really high, I didn't want to hang them up.

Instead, I came up with the idea to make an "old maid" style card game.

There are many matching sets, and

the "old maid" is the key with the hurt wing, like in the book

I did laminate them, but since I own a laminator, this was FREE too!

The kids are excited that it is a game they can play over and over.

The last game of all was a Hot and Cold game of 

Find the Sorcerer's Stone

Another FREE Game

We had a feast in the "great hall" for dinner...

sadly, my kids wouldn't eat most of the foods mentioned in the book

as having being eaten at mealtimes, so I just let them choose some things.

Oh, and we had plastic goblets, because we're so fancy!

We talked about our favorite activities from the busy day,

and they each got a tiny gold trophy, because they "won the House Cup"

by cooperating, playing well, and having a great attitude the whole time.

And there you have it!  A cheap, day long Harry Potter Extravaganza :)

I'm looking forward to our next one when Caleb finishes The Chamber of Secrets!

I Love Gardening - From seed in Pottsville

Well, after last year's garden,

it is hard to feel satisfied with the tiny one 

we got into the ground at our new place here in PA.

BUT - any size garden is a victory garden with the right attitude.

We had frigidly cold nights basically up until May,

so, we had to wait until much later in the season to plant.

We started tomatoes from seed inside - they've really grown!

We have 30+ plants out right now, but only 20 are the size in the pic below...

The rest are still tiny - we'll see how productive they decide to be.

Our peas, which you can barely see behind Ashlynn below,

are growing slooooowly...I'm not sure how they will tolerate the heat,

but the kids enjoy watching them "climb" as they grow

What's that Ashlynn spies?

RADISHES!!

Suddenly all the kids want to stop playing and work in the garden :)

Our first harvest!

They all decided to try radishes again -

Ashlynn LOVES them - "They're spicy and tickley." 

Caleb barely took a nibble, and gave it a big thumbs down

"Tastes like Yuck!"

And lastly, Marigold likes them until the spicy aftertaste,

so we get a goofy "kinda" face.

Outside the veggie garden, we have some wild strawberries ripening.

Just yesterday, I made our first batch of pesto 

out of the basil from our porch boxes,

and the Marigolds the kids started from seed are blooming!

We are so happy to be blessed with a small spot of earth to call our own.

It is immensely rewarding to care for and beautify our yard!