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 Since I don’t have anything new on the needles to show (or any time to knit), I’ll show E1’s new project.

K bought me the Knitting Pattern-a-Day Calender.  One of the patterns each month is a themed block, then at the end of the year it has directions for putting the blocks together into an afghan. E1 has decided that would be a good project, so she just started on the first block.

  I read something online about searching for backdrops outside, so I took E1 out for a casual “model” photo shoot. It was fairly breezy, and a lot of fun!

 E3 and E4 just being together. 🙂

 It’s taken three months, but I’m almost there. I have 24 stitches to graft, and 2 ends to weave in. Maybe by April she’ll be able to wear them? 🙂 Good thing wool has cooling properties and we’ll have cool nights for a while yet.

 E2 is really enjoying his new loft bed, particularly the space underneath. He often tucks blankets all around the outside for a “clubhouse.” He also uses the desk every day- it’s great for Legos!

We celebrated Pi Day with pizza for lunch, and had fun figuring out it’s circumference and the circumference of all the other circles we could find.

 K’s dad made this dollhouse for E3 for her birthday last year.  She loves it- it stays in the living room for the most part, and she plays with it almost every day.

I love to watch my kids play. Their creativity often amazes me; they most often play with something different than the designers of the toy had planned. As someone who used to focus on doing only what was expected, I am now learning to let go and think outside of the box: my kids are teaching me that. I mean, really, how many people would think of using a coupon as a doormat?

 When I laid E4 down, the nightlight caught my eye.  I had fun trying different aperture and shutter settings to see how they changed the light.

 E4 had pretty well grown out of her newborn/small diapers before we left on our trip, so I decided it was time to sort out the basket. I can’t believe how fast the time has passed.

 E4 has been able to sit up without support for a couple of weeks now. She can’t stay up for more than a few minutes yet, but that time just keeps getting longer. I can’t believe I haven’t taken a picture of her sitting before now: I really have no excuse.

The whole clan spent the afternoon at K’s parents’ house. Due to travelling, sickness, busy-ness, etc., it was the first time we were all back together since January, if I’m remembering right. It was really nice to see everyone again and to catch up a bit.

 I started reading and studying about homeschooling when E1 was only a year old, so I have had time to learn about many of the different theories and philosophies concerning methods of homeschooling. (I probably have over-studied it, but that’s another post.) Logically, mentally, I believe totally that traditional methods of teaching are not the best- that kids learn best and most when they are left to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. I have seen that is the case over and over again with my kids. Still, I find it so hard to let go of that tendency to try to get them to do something the way they would be doing it if they were sitting in a classroom with 30 other kids. It always backfires, so one of these days I may figure out I really shouldn’t keep trying to do it that way.