Weekbook: First and second weeks of October

October is kind of a strange month for me. The birthday glut is over, Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays (I love seeing my kids happy and dressed up, but having my doorbell ring all night while giving candy to surly undecorated teenagers, not so much), and our *next* birthday month (Nov.) has not yet begun. I *do* love the look, smell, and feel of October though: crackily leaves, crisp air, candy corn, mmmmmm. :)

Highlights : let's see...great weather overall, lots of soccer and trying to be in three places at once, Verizon digging up our front yard and that of all the neighbors

Hight point: the weather. Perfect. And finding my keys after having them MIA for a week!

Low point: all the kids caught colds

Projects: putting all favorites on del.icio.us, going through clothes (this is more a plan than an accomplishement).

Discussion: discussed laws, and how some things may be *legal* yet not *morally acceptible* (i.e. abortion), civil war and how someone could see both sides of issue

Milestone or Progress: Jeffrey can walk across the room now

Focus, Theme, or Atmosphere: FALL!

Independent interests: Skye has started her next short story about either Depression times or post WWII (I forget which),

Spiritual: I'm trying very hard to just "rest" in God's presence during the rare quiet moment I have, instead of being obsessed about saying certain prayers and "getting them right" (like getting exasperated with myself if my mind wanders during my noon Angelus... it's hard for the mind NOT to wander when those around me never. stop. making. noise. LOL)

Nature/Outdoors:
Someday I'll tell you the story about trying to stuff an 8 foot high stack of corn stalks the into the van with four girls screaming BUGS!! RED BUGS!! MOMMMMYYYYYY!! Needless to say I didn't take the corn stalks, and now our porch display needs something "tall" ;-)

Literary: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch has been completed. LOVED it. We've started Across Five Aprils. I've also started using narration as our main source of language arts. I need to add into this when I find a few moments to organize my thoughts.

Artistic: drawing during read alouds, illustrating narrations. Rose sketched Jeffrey's shoe

Scientific: Apolgia Astronomy - Earth. We're also examining the night sky after soccer (because they practice until they can't see anymore, LOL) and finding planets. So cool!

Historical: Revolutionary times with Carry On Mr. Bowditch. Started Story of the USA book 2 (which was supposed to be used with Core 3 but we never did) - we're getting caught up though. This week will be spent watching applicable videos on Cosmeo (this goes for other subjects, too)

Musical: Singing songs from Annie, playing handbells with Jeffrey

Beauty: display for front steps: two mums in baskets, two large pumpkins, a squash, and a small stool wrapped in fabric. I feel I *need* to create and beautify our home, but I'm committed to using only things that we already own or that can be returned naturally to the earth (i.e. the pumpkins, mums). Also made a candle holders out of old votives, some popcorn kernals, and two pickle jars/one babyfood jar destined for the recycling bin. Honestly, it looked much nicer online, but I'm trying not to be hard on myself.

A Photo I'm Sharing: Get ready, dh, I am SO doing this chalkboard calendar wall from Martha Stewart! :) (ht: Kim/Starry Sky Ranch)