Autumn Arty Mess

I figure that if I am bored with schooling the kids then they are probably bored with the schooling schedule too.   I think its entirely unreasonable to expect them to be super excited about learning when I am ho-hum about it. Now don't get me wrong I am NOT bored with schooling the kids at home but more of a need to change things up a little. Well for at least a time anyway.  Here is where 'Radical Unschooling' becomes super appealing to me.  I have a number of philosophies around education and children's learning that I glean bits and pieces that I love from.  Some from the above site, some from the Waldorf Education philosophy, some from the NZ Curriculum, some from my own thinking and reflections. Anyone interested or thinking about Home Schooling (or just wanting to know more about people who embark on this crazy journey with their kids) should read or at least know about John Holt, who was a well known author who left mainstream education where he was a teacher and became a advocate for the home-schooling movement and later the un-schooling movement.  I will openly admit that while I totally agree with it and as much as I would love to, I am not brave enough or trust my kids enough to embrace the entire un-schooling philosophy.  

Anyway this week we had some fun and got a little messier than we normally do. (which is really pretty messy but that's what we do around here)  Google/Facebook/Pinterest has oodles of fantastic ideas for creative play/art/crafty things to do. One of my favorites is Happy Hooligans who feature things that are totally doable and are heaps of fun (be prepared for mess though - which is the whole point, KIDS LOVE MESS!)

So here are our...                                Fabulous Fall Collages

Step One:  Put your boots, jackets and woolly hats on get outside to collect some autumn treasures.

                                           

Step Two.  Put some paper or plastic down to protect your table or floor and squirt some blobs of autumny colours on paper.  Be warned if you children are anything like mine, there maybe some differences of opinion about what colours are autumn ones.  Stay quiet!

 Step Three:  Roll out some Gladwrap (cling film) and tear off a piece just a little larger than the paper and lay over paper.  Then get your kids to moosh all the colours around with their fingers.  You can lift off the gladwrap and re-position for ultimate colour coverage!

Step Four:  Lift off Gladwrap and discard!  Once dry, arrange autumn treasures on paper and glue (or sticky tape extra large bits) to painting.

Step Five: Once satisfied, leave to dry and hang for all to see!!

And since I keep getting asked for an updated pregnancy/baby bump photo I thought I would oblige and post one. Aren't I brave kind!

So here it is!

 20 weeks with #7! 

I have been blessed with this pregnancy as so far I have found it relatively easy.  I have had the normal extended morning (all day/random times) sickness but that is about it.  I haven't suffered from that horrible over-coming tiredness that I usually have had.  Thank goodness for that, I do not have time to be tired!!

I have one of the worlds most loveliest midwives and I just love it when she comes to visit! All the kids are super excited and of course the boys want it to be a boy and the girls want it to be a girl. I on the other hand can honestly say I really don't mind what this wee blessing is - we will be happy with whoever God has blessed us with this time.  I am praying however that this one won't be a whopper like Jesse was and will decide to be born the right way up. (or down depending on how you want to phrase it)

Bring on the next 20 weeks!!

Dabbling in Watercolours

Today being a wet, windy and wild day, I thought I would try my hand at painting.  All morning my girls were cranking out picture after picture of colour.   Mostly flowers and rainbows and a few abstract ones too.

 

I have decided that I am quite in love with watercolours, I just love them. They are very romantic don't you think? I find it quite intriguing that you can change the depth and intensity of the colour just by how much water you have on the brush.  Listen to me! I sound like I have a clue to what I am talking about. Truth is I have NO artistic talent what so ever and have never taken an art class beyond the compulsory ones at intermediate (middle) school level.  Miss Hawkins was just the coolest teacher ever but I doubt she would remember me and my talent (or lack of).  I think I got an 'A' for effort. Even though I didn't have a choice (yes Mum I did say "didn't have a choice") as to whether or not I took art in High School, I don't think I would of chosen that path. I think I would of chosen along the lines of Home Economics/Fabric and Design and maybe even Journalism.  But no, I was hmmmm strongly urged to pursue the areas of Accounting, Economics and Science.  Oh and I can't forget the Japanese can I. It was suggested that I take this language because it would take me a long way in the Mega-Million-Dollar-Deals I was going to be making with my accounting and economics skills. It can't go without saying that I hated Japanese class and was terrible at it.  I can't even remember the poor teachers name and all I do remember of her class was learning to say 'Hello' -  Konichi Wa and the lesson where she tried to teach us how to use chopsticks by picking up jelly beans. Both lessons that I am pretty sure I could of learnt off Sesame Street. Accounting and Economics didn't fare much better either. So I guess I was never destined to be a high flying Japanese speaking business women. Hmmm I strayed a bit far off that course didn't I? Sorry.

Anyway back to the water colours - inspired by my girls who just seem to be able to pick up a brush and always just know what to paint, I thought that I would have a go. And so I stared, and I stared at the white blank paper.  My eyes perused the room for clues on what to paint and then they found something - The NZ Gardener Magazine. After a quick flick through the glossy pages I found a page of flowers in yellow and white and a touch of purple. They didn't look too hard.  Kaitlyn joined me at my side and with our brushes in our hands the first stroke of paint were being applied.   I am glad Jamie wasn't at home while I was doing that because I am pretty darn sure I had the whole tongue hanging out the side of my mouth thing going on. I discovered that there is a bit of an art (pun intended) to water colours and getting the right water-to-paint ratio. I don't think that is something that I will be mastering in a hurry.  The other thing I discover is how hard it is to paint white flowers. I mean they are white without being white.  Maybe I should of been kind to myself and just stuck to painting the yellow ones.  All in all I quite enjoy my wee soiree into the world of water colours.  I am not sure it will become a hobby of mine - I have enough of those that I don't get enough time do to.  But I can certainly appreciate the talent and love that other people have.

Just in case you can't tell what my flowers are, here is my attempt at Lewisia brachycalyx, Ranunculus insignis, Primula denticulata and Eranthis hyemalis (from left to right) PS I have no clue what so ever if they have normal English names.

 

These two are my favourite.

  I think Miss Hawkins might of like these.

Is there anything you wish you could have a go at?