PLAYING

He sits and plays and plays for days.

 

 

What a privilege to have the time.

 

He googles notes he doesn't read and turns them into melody.

 

It's beauty, a gift from the Lord, the way he plays. It moves the heart of home.

 

How worth his time...and mine I decide, and thus he spends his days...playing.

 

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!"

Psalm 95:1



SUMMER READING

We're always reading and the library is one of our favorite outings...

 

 

...especially this one.

 

(The kids had buddied themselves up this particular morning with matching outfits for their buddy teams. :))

 

Each year when the library hosts summer reading programs, the kids get really excited!

Who's not motivated by some sort of reward??

 

We sign up promptly (giving the librarian grace as she juggles our crowd).

 

The kids sift through books, helping their little buddies.

 

 

This time I gave the older kids a challenge to pick as many non-fiction books as possible.

 

 

Brodie has been especially interested in the stories of the Titanic since recently watching a documentary

highlighting the "women and children first" chivalry of the men aboard that fateful voyage.

 

Elka loves the craft books and also found some historical books about

women's clothing over the centuries which were fascinating.

 

Brodie's main job at the library is to keep India happy.

 

 

(Good job, Daddy!)

 

And these guys tend to find books quickly,

then move onto some of the more amusing aspects of the library.

 

Checking out all on their own tends to be a highlight...

and Elka is always right there to cheer the younger ones on.

 

Guess who got his very own card...finally???

 

Boden was so cute checking out with his big sister, so subdued and serious.

 

However, when he got outside he quickly celebrated by running and throwing things...

so much more himself. :)

 

 

The kids love to wander around the courtyard, finding quiet corners to read...

 

hug...

 

climb trees.

 

This day, the girls had gotten a sign language book after having studied Helen Keller's story.

I'm always amazed at the spider web of learning that develops from one source of inspiration.

Even the little ones are spelling words in sign language now as a result of their interest in Helen's life.

 

 

We love our peaceful library and our quiet memories there.

 

  

With bookmarks safe in Jesus Act Stick jars, the kids are working heartily

to earn their Rubio's kids meals...woohoo!...thanks to summer reading.

 

 

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Colossians 3:23

PRESCHOOL

 

One of my favorite things about homeschooling (especially in a large family) is observing how much

children learn without interventions such as we've culturally believed we must have in order to learn.

 

Preschool is one such case.

 

 

The 2 year old counts to 15 without flashcards. The 3 year old knows colors, letters and sounds, though I'm quite sure I never sat down to teach him how. The 4 year old is writing and sounding out words, asking to be read to constantly, acquiring skills without step-by-step lesson plans to follow. It's a marvel, the mind of a child. What a wonder to see how children learn...

 

...naturally.

 

And, thank you, Lord, for older siblings, the ones who orchestrate elaborate crafts and songs, organize games and stations.

 

 

My heart fills full to watch them nurture and teach as they learn too through the giving.

 

 

This is preschool at it's finest if you ask me...and we never set foot in a classroom.

 

 

"God called the light Day."

Genesis 1:5