Family News

Okay, technically it’s called a range.
It’s glass-top, has time-bake and a window in the door.
These are ways it is different from our old range that I know how to use. It also has a number of features I don’t know yet how to make the most of.
These things ought to come with examples of [...]

Elisha didn’t sleep a lot more than usual last night, but I was able to soothe him down without nursing after a couple of short wakings, *and* he put himself back out for the first time since I can’t remember when.

Saturday I watched an 18-month-old part of the day (before lunch to a little after nap).

What do you call “domestic abuse” when it’s your environment you’re abusing/neglecting rather than a person?
I just realized yesterday that Jay and I both do this. When we’re feeling frustrated or upset, we will deliberately put something not back where it belongs.
Recent example: Jay needed batteries for something, couldn’t find said batteries and left [...]

I mentioned in another post that misting bottles are one prescribed “cure” for bedroom monsters. We have a green bottle in the girls’ room, but it’s not to dissolve monsters. It’s to dissolve whines.
Last week sometime we were at the store getting a new bottle for a cleaning solution. When I said [...]

We made ice cream with/for our company last night.
Our current ice cream maker only freezes about a quart at a time, so even though we have two canisters, and our recipe is closer to 1/2 gallon, we still only have an anti-climax when ice cream is ready. Especially with two families of five looking at [...]

In her own words, then re-written for clearer modern understanding, here is a synopsis of her educational philosophy/method.

I find “comments” sections on blogs such great writing prompts. I got this whole post from a comment I wrote this morning.
This year is the second in a row I’ve gotten the girls mylar heart balloons for v-day. I talk about it being a special day to remember that we take care of [...]

Charlotte Mason: What I’ve pieced together so far:
(All things that appeal to me)

Formal schooling doesn’t start until age six*
No special textbooks—everything (except math, I suppose) drawn from good writing
Word-based

reading (good writers, good books, chosen to shape character)*
memorization* (giving the child something substantial to meditate on)
and narration,* early on a child’s answer to essays or composition, [...]

I’m in the process of washing a bunch of clothes tonight, including a cashmere sweater that reeks of chlorine.
Jay wore it all afternoon in the University swimming pool as part of his week-long, Learn to Return training.
I let the kids skip nap today so they could go watch Dad getting strapped down in a cage [...]