We had a Rainbow of a time!

We had a lovely school program with friends and family yesterday.  The theme this year was focused around the weather but primarily rainbows.  The children worked really hard memorizing and were very much stretched in their abilities and bravery.  They did great!



 This is the invitation we sent out with pictures of us all dressed colorfully to invite our guests to come celebrate with us.

 To read about the details of the food and program, check out CLB Celebrations blog.  That post goes into more details of the event and not so much the guests. 

We are seeing colors everywhere!!

 With the children studying weather and mostly rainbows, we sure have been seeing a lot of color lately.  We see it in their art projects and in the most peculiar places.  Yesterday the sun was shining so nicely and towards the late afternoon we looked, and there was a very faint rainbow on the ceiling.  So, after they figured out what was making it, they experimented with where to place it

Any guesses as to what is making this lovely rainbow?

A Rainbow of colors shirt day

We are gearing up for our end of the year school program, which will be all about rainbows this year.  In trying to figure out what the children should wear, I decided as part of their art class, they should make tie dye shirts.  The tie dye kit was a little pricey, but I used a coupon which made it more reasonable at Hobby Lobby.  The girl's shirts I found at Goodwill, and the boy's shirts I found at Walmart on the clearance rack, so all in all the project didn't cost us that much, AND I can include it as part of their school.

 

Step 1:

Put rubber bands around the shirt in the pattern that you want. 

The children all used different patterns, so they were very excited to see what they all would look like in the end.

 Step 2:
Soak shirts in the solution that comes in the kit for 15 minutes.

As you can see, they are all differently done.  Two did a spiral bundle wrap and two placed rubber bands just where they thought they would like the designs to be.  Actually, I did Benaiah's for him, but as an example of something different to the children. 

 Step 3:

Time to apply the dye.  It was very handy having it in the squirt bottles and made it easier for the children to manage and less mess.  The girl's shirts started out being colored so their's dyed a little differently and was less bold colored than the boy's shirts that were white.

 Step 4:

More dye applying, making sure that the front and backs are covered as thoroughly as you want them.

 Step 5:

We wrapped them up in the plastic and let them sit for 24 hours for the fabric to absorb the dye.  As you can see they were all done differently.  Benaiah's is the one in the bottom left that looks like a point.  I made it rainbow with the children watching to see how to mix the three colors we had to get all the colors of the rainbow.  After they saw me do it, they decided to try it more on their own and did a really good job mixing the colors and blending where they wanted different colors.

 Step 6:

After the fabric sat for 24 hours, then it's time to rinse out the shirts, take out the rubber bands and rinse until the water comes out clear.  This was the exciting part for the children as they anxiously waited for their shirt to be opened up, so they could see what it would look like. 



From left to right: Benaiah's, Diella's, Alegra's and Josiah's.

 Step 7:

After rinsing, wash and hang to dry.  Look at all those colors!

This doesn't have to do with our project, but is so typical of what our living room looks like on any given moment after school work is done or in the evenings.  Even Benaiah tries his best at joining the reading crowd.  : )

The school program is the end of this month, so be on the look out for that post.  It's going to be one of the best programs yet, so we are excited for it and enjoying all the preparation for it! 

An Early Spring in March- Lovin' It!

We have had the most wonderful end of winter and beautiful start to spring.  I could look at our weeping cherry trees all day.  Sadly, most years, once they bloom, a big gust of wind comes and blows them all off before we ever get to see them at this stage.  They turn a light pink, and we've never seen them get to that point.  We were all surprised this morning when we woke up and saw the hue of pink.  What's even greater is that as soon as we step out our front door, all we can hear is the sound of busy little bees buzzing about, enjoying all those full blossoms.  It's a sound of nature that means that it's working just as HE intended it to. 
We have also found that our steer, Oreo as the children call him, is just as joyous about this weather as we humans are.  One day I looked out the kitchen and saw Alegra and Josiah running across the pasture with the boy chasing right behind them, kicking his legs all the way.  He only ran back and forth a couple times and then went to get a drink and was done for the day, but he sure enjoyed their company, the fresh air and warmth to run in.  They have been continueing to enjoy him, spending more and more time out in the pasture with him.  The following pictures are perfect examples of what I see often when I look out my kitchen window.  It's a lovely sight for sure! 

We bought a brush for them to start using on him to help get rid of his winter coat.  He has to be roasting with this warm weather we've been having and still dressed for the cold months.  : )  He stands and lets them brush him.  Alegra does most of it and she's found that while she's brushing him, he stretches his head around to her back side and uses her as a scratching post.  It's pretty funny and you can tell that he loves his little friends.  Benaiah is beginning to make friends with him also.  For some reason Benaiah thinks his short horns make a good place to grab him, but he doesn't seem to mind.  He has been a little cautious of the littlest friend because, well, sometimes he doesn't make the best choices in how he treats Oreo.  But he is learning and Oreo is getting more used to him.  It's so much fun to watch them enjoy this pet.  Now if they could just get big enough to clean out the barn, we'd be doing good.  : )
Enjoy them, enjoying Oreo.....


Diella and her umbrella, being a colorful farm girl in the pasture.



"Watch this Benaiah."




While I gave him his first tick check, I found a spot he really liked rubbed.  Alegra is seeing how much he likes it. 



Brushing and he's liking it!



"Oh my little friend,  you sure make a good head scratch post."




"You can touch my horns, but I've still got my eye on you littlest one."


That's the action on our little farmstead.  The chickens are doing good too, producing regularly and also enjoying getting out and having dirt baths in the sun.  No pictures of them today.  They just aren't as cute as the boy is. 

Along with enjoying the animals, we have also been enjoying bike rides (well, the momma stays on the ground and walks), tennis (yes, I did play a low key game, but requested Jonathon not make me run for the ball  : )), playing ball in the yard, hanging laundry outside and we've been spending time at Grandma Linda's farm house cleaning things up a bit.  So, that wraps it up for what we've been doing these amazing March days in Michigan.  How have you all been enjoying this weather?

Just a little update

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 Well, it seems that winter is winding down, though it just keeps on snowing.  The end of February, Grandma Deborah had a birthday so we celebrated that by surprising her and meeting up with them at Hacienda for lunch.  It's not too often we get to do things like that.  So, it was a nice treat all the way around.  And the children did a fun picture to post on her facebook after finally getting a good one.  I think she liked it.  : )

Business as usual around here.  Jonathon is staying very busy with work, which we bless the Lord for.  Massages for me pick up and slow down.  That's fine as it alwasy picks up when we need it to and it always slows down when I'm needing more time at home.  Sickness from my pregnancy is finally dissipating, though I still get struck with tiredness every now and then.  And the little one must be growing because my belly is.  The children have been doing great with their schooling, learning new things every day.  I am amazed what they are learning, and I'm the one teaching them.  It's very rewarding!  They have also enjoyed setting up a massage room to which much pampering happens.  Always feels good to have a good foot rub, especially if it's with soft, little hands. 

Today Benaiah and I stayed home from fellowship.  Last night we were at some friends, and he really started coughing and the nose started running.  Boooo!  Well, he also choked on a cracker, which made him throw up, so we had a rough night with that.  Then today, he choked on a carrot.  He really needs to relearn how to chew his food.  : )  It's been pretty quiet as he napped after we read some stories, then I did some Scripture reading and thought I should just post a little update of our family.  Now we are enjoying a blueberry bagel and some hot chocolate together.  Yuuuummm!

Last week we had some gorgeous, spring feeling days.  The children loved getting outside and running in the sun.  They have discovered how much the boy (our steer) enjoys them being out there with him to play.  Josiah and Alegra would stand near him, then take off running across the pasture.  He would kick his feet and take off after them, kicking and jumping all the way.  I think he too was liking the warm, sunny days.  As a mom, all I could do was stand in my kitchen window and smile as I watched the pleasure from my children with the animal that we worked so hard to befriend.  After a summer filled with fun play with him, I hope they handle it alright when it is butcher time.  We'll see.  Life on the farm, right?   

Looking forward to spring and summer.  Jonathon and I's anniversary is coming up in May.  15 years!!!!  We are planning something special for that, which includes a trip to Chicago and Wisconsin for some sightseeing, visiting with friends and fishing.  We are looking forward to it greatly!  The children will be going with us, so it won't be an adult only thing, but sharing those moments with our children now while they are young will be gone as they start growing up and leaving the house.  Then we'll have our adult only trips.  And lots of them!!!!  : )

I pray this finds you all enjoying this Sabbath day and resting in His goodness.
Blessings!