Art Time

Jane has been crafting everywhere she goes. 

Oh Yeah

We read The Tale of Despereaux the first week of school. Amber told me it was good and she never lets me down on the book recommendations. Even Scarlet listened to quite a bit of it. I love this book because it's charming, and witty, and sad, and profound and suspenseful, all rolled into one. Jane is reading it on her own now. As soon as we finish reading a book together she can't wait to get her mits on it so she can re-read it on her own. She worked really hard sewing this little mousie to go along with the book. She adjusted the pattern so it would have nice big ears just like Despereaux. She even tied a red thread around his neck and gave him a needle sword, like the story says.

I saved this lesson from a blog but I can't remember which. I used it for a devotional on resisting sin. We started by reading 2 Nephi 28:20-21. It talks in the lesson about how the adversary uses snares and lures to entice us to sin. Elder M. Russell Ballard relates the lures a fly fisherman uses to the cunning plan of Lucifer here: (or this is the mormon message video)

The goal of the fly fisherman is to catch trout through skillful deception. The adept fisherman studies trout behavior, weather, the water current, and the types of insects trout eat and when those insects hatch. He will often craft by hand the lures he uses. He knows these artificial insects embedded with tiny hooks need to be a perfect deception because the trout will identify even the slightest flaw and reject the fly.
What a thrill it is to watch a trout break the surface of the water, inhale the fly, and resist until it is finally exhausted and reeled in. The test is the pitting of the fisherman’s knowledge and skill against the noble trout.
The use of artificial lures to fool and catch a fish is an example of the way Lucifer often tempts, deceives, and tries to ensnare us.
Like the fly fisherman who knows that trout are driven by hunger, Lucifer knows our “hunger,” or weaknesses, and tempts us with counterfeit lures which, if taken, can cause us to be yanked from the stream of life into his unmerciful influence. And unlike a fly fisherman who catches and releases the fish unharmed back into the water, Lucifer will not voluntarily let go. His goal is to make his victims as miserable as he is.

We made some “lures” with feathers, beads and ribbon tied together – and the kids wore them all day to remind them to always Choose the Right!

Marshmallow Snowballs

Jane and Charlie played Champs this fall. I'm not sure who had more fun, them or Tim and I. We got such a kick out of watching their games. Charlie had the best victory celebrations after he scored. It melted us. And Jane played with a big smile the whole time. I chose this picture because Haylie is in it and seeing the Holland's was the highlight of Champs for all of us.

 Scarlet collected some nature things in her little bucket one morning. She was delighted and wanted to show me everything and I tried to enjoy the presentation even though it was making a 

big mess on my bed.

I found this picture of Scarlet on my camera.

Today it was snowy so we decided we better winterize our school room with snowball garland. We used cotton balls and white yarn. Threaded them up and hung them. Easy, cheap, fun for all ages. Done. Scarlet was extremely disappointed to realize that the cotton balls were not marshmallows.