Mid-Week Musings and Mutterings...

... in no particular order because it's all just swimming around in my mid-week head...

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Just because it's by Beatrix Potter doesn't mean it's great.  The other night I sat by while Russ read aloud to the kids from a B.P. collection.  He was reading The Tale of Two Bad Mice.  I can, without much hesitation, say that this was one of the stupidest (sorry to use such a word, but I really think it applies here) stories I have ever heard.  The story was utterly ridiculous, but the name of one of the mice - HUNCA MUNCA (?????) was what really put it over the top.  The only thing that redeemed story time that night was that hysterical (and poorly chosen, in my opinion) name for a lady mouse.  We all cracked up every time Russ read it, and that was the only delightful thing we got out of the story - a hearty family laugh.  

Has anyone else out there read this story?  Would you care to offer a different opinion?  Or does everyone the world over think there are just a few Beatrix Potter stories that just aren't that great??

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My Lenten Pandora station is getting me down.  I'm trying to train it to be all Gregorian chant and early Renaissance music all the time, but no matter how many "thumbs down" I give it, IT KEEPS TRYING TO PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC.  I did skip several Latin classes during college, but this Catholic girl can pick up a "hodie Christus natus est" when she hears one.  

Trouble is, this morning it really did look like hodie Christus natus est.  Despite the non-liturgical-calendar-ness of it all, I let the Christmas chant play through as I sat wrapped up in a blanket watching the snow fall outside the window.  It kind of seemed to fit.

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In a way, I'm appreciative of the snow.  It makes me feel less weird about crocheting mittens during the first week of Spring.

one pair per kid (don't worry, there are matches for each!) and a green pair in production for my sister

(If you're looking for a mitten pattern, this one is Grrrrrreat!)

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The photos may be misleading.  I did not do a stitch of crocheting today.  I've been taking a couple afternoons a week to sacrifice my "Me Time" and do art with the boys (and sometimes Ruth!)  We've all really enjoyed it, and it's really paid off, as they've started doing more artwork on their own outside of the "lessons."

I've heard from a handful of moms that art is intimidating or hard to fit into their homeschool schedule.  For a time, it was something I didn't do because I couldn't do it exactly the way I wanted - the perfect art lesson in my mind.  I finally let that go and just jumped in with less-than-perfect art lessons.  I can honestly say we've all had a really fun time getting to know different artists and experimenting with different media. 

I have wanted to write about it for a while, and think I will soon, offering an overview of our 3rd quarter study of Georgia O'Keeffe.  I guess I'm wondering what readers think of this sort of thing - is it interesting, helpful, or annoying?  I've been poking around blogs and Pinterest for a while for art ideas and I'd love to start up a conversation here on art at home - if anyone's interested, that is.  Let me know!

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It's still a little early to call it, but Ruth might be toilet training Clare.  Today, she got Clare on the potty seat and I heard her saying things like, "Push, Clare!  Push with all your might!"  And there was a tiny success!  We'll see, but I may not have to toilet train this girl at all.  I have helpers now.  (Or maybe Ruth's just in training to be a birth coach??)

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We played a fun family game last weekend - can you name the baby?  It was a lot harder than Russ thought it would be.  I knew it would be tricky ;)  

The kids all had fun "remembering" what they looked like :)

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A final thought from 1 Thessalonians - 

And we exhort you, brethren, reprove the irregular, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  (5:14)

Just a reminder for myself.  Reprove the irregular, but don't be the cause of any faintheartedness in my own family members. Correct with compassion, persevere in patience with young learners, and encourage with joy!  ok?

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HUNCA MUNCA!