B is for Beetle

In order to prevent Bloggie Burn-out, I have had to limit my posting to only a couple times a week. As a new blogger, I had the mindset that I had to post something everyday...you can all breathe a sigh of relief...I have come to my senses.

This week the kids studied beetles from our Christian Liberty Nature Reader. We watched some neat little backyard nature video clips off You Tube. For a craft, the kids painted plaster beetles. I found the idea off the Family Fun website. I mixed the plaster Monday and then let the kids paint them on Tuesday. I have noticed a trend in the painting habits of my children. Jackson loves lots of color, but by the time he's done with his masterpiece, it's all black because he just has no regard for separating colors and heaven forbid he should rinse his brush out before double dips into another paint. Lillie on the other hand is obsessed with pink and purple. Everytime I ask her what color paint she wants on her palette she says "pink and purple". As much as I grovel and beg, she is steadfast and unmoveable in her opinion that pink and purple are THE colors. Craft time really tries my patience. I can just about handle Chloe throwing a fit all the way home from Krogers better than my nerves can handle craft time. I sometimes forget that my kids are 4 and soon to be 3 and don't have the luxury of fully developed eye-hand coordination. They glue things in the wrong place, they over mix colors, they cut crooked...AHHHHHHHHHHH! Okay, I am ashamed that I feel that way. I have been trying to just let them be kids and create...it's awful hard for a control freak such as myself, though. Here are some pics of the beetles we painted. I did finally convince Lillie to let me paint some little flowers and eyes on her beetle!

I've been sewing all week. My girls need dresses bad for the summer, so I've been pumping out these t-shirt dresses left and right. They are very simple and very cheap and look so nice.

The kids finished up their family tree for history. Lillie started practicing the letter "B" and read the first two lessons in McGuffey's Primer. She knows the books of the Bible Genesis-Ruth.

This is Jackson who begged for a writing worksheet, so I printed him one out to trace. He did alright for a little guy, but got mad because he messed up and pitched a fit.

Lillie wanted a picture of me and her together, so I snapped this one.Then Jackson wanted in on the action...I am seriously considering this one for our Christmas card this year...but Jody and Chloe aren't in it. Bummer.