Quilt Scraps Mom

It was May, 2006.  The email from the music teacher at our homeschool co-op had requested “patriotic attire” for the 1st & 2nd grade classes in our spring Colonial-themed musical.  What could be more patriotic than a red & white shirt with navy blue pants, right?  As I struggled to corral an overtired, potty-training two-year old in the ladies’ restroom, a breathless teen informed me that my then six-year old son was in the rehearsal area crying.  One glance around the room quickly identified the source of the problem:  his entire class had been transformed into uniformed Revolutionary War soldiers, complete with quite the arsenal of weapons!  As tears continued to well in his eyes, a resourceful 3rd grader solved my immediate dilemma by producing a spare rifle from his weapon bag.  He happily displayed his rifle for all to see, no longer concerned with his lack of uniform.  But mom was left quite scarred by the moment!

Fast forward to November, 2008 when the same child, now eight, is cast as both sheep and shepherd (different scenes) in the Christmas musical.  Shepherd, I could handle.  Dark shirt, dark pants, and supplied headgear.  The four year old’s angel costume was a cinch once I called the preschool director at church and begged.  But a sheep???

It didn’t help when the costume coordinator rattled off something to the effect of “You just …. and then you… and it’ll look great!”  Excuse me?  I think I missed something in there??!!  But something miraculous happened this afternoon.  This craft-impaired mom spent a couple hours with a long-sleeved white t-shirt, cotton batting and a hot glue gun, and Voila!  A sheep is born!  Said son is ecstatic and can’t wait til tomorrow’s dress rehearsal.  And mom is struggling with a teensy bit of pride, but after the last time, I think it’s okay.

We’ve been bitten by the lapbooking bug this year!  My 7 year old especially enjoys this new addition to our homeschooling activities.  My favorite source for lapbooks, by far, is Hands of a Child.  Here are some pictures of the Vertebrates lapbook he just finished to display at our co-0p’s science fair:

He’s really blown me away with how much he’s learned about animals this year…. we’re planning to tackle the Invertebrates lapbook too, but ran out of time to get it done for the science fair.  I think he’d lap-book just about everything if my hands could stand the cutting!

     I remember as a child how exciting it would be when the possilibity of a snow day loomed ahead.  I’d get up even earlier than normal and listen eagerly to see if the name of my school would be on the list of those closed for the day, the excitement growing as the announcer would get closer and closer on his alphabtized list.

     Then came adulthood, when I quickly realized that with few exceptions, there were no snow days… only days when I’d still have to get up earlier than normal, but to shovel the walkway, clear snow from my windshield, and cautiously make my way to work, hoping only to arrive without joining any of the fender-bendered cars littering the sides of the road.

     And now, life as a homeschool mom.  No radio announcer will list “Windy Hill Academy” as being closed for the day.  Just sleepy students in pajamas wondering if bringing Mom coffee in bed will be enough to cause her to abandon schoolwork for just a while.  Cuddles on the couch with a good book.  Sledding down the back hill and enjoying hot cocoa afterwards.  Seems a lot like those old snow days, doesn’t it?  Except I’m blessed with the opporunity to enjoy such days whenever I want… no waiting for some school district official to give his or her okay.  So yes, I still love snow days.  And sunny, spring days exploring the budding plants in our garden.  And crisp fall days of playing in leaves and hiking in the woods.   And the blessings of learning along the way.