Christmas Holidays~

We are DONE with school until January~

We made Gift Bag Books today that hold all the sweet poems we wrote this week
and calling it a wrap!
Next week is going to be a lot of reading, baking, Ipods, and watching movies!!!
See ya soon 2016!!!

Brave Evie~

Evie decided for some reason know only to her that she would go in her class @ KidSpring tonight~

She was proud of herself and we were too!
As we were talking about the lesson and how she liked it she said, "Will almost drinked out of that hose (water fountain) but I stopped him so we don't get strep." She is hilarious keeping everyone in line and following the rules. Now if she would decide they apply to her as well. LOVE her!!!

Schooling~

Today we created Mr. Whiskers from our book Cranberry Thanksgiving~

and watched the History Channel at lunch~

Being together is the best whatever we are doing!

Cranberry Orange Cake~

We are rowing Cranberry Thanksgiving this week and because we had company 

EK and SJ made the MOST delicious Cranberry Orange cake~

We also made a beautiful table arrangement with cranberries and flowers too~

It was a wonderful night with a full house of family!!!

Recipe for the Cake:

Ingredients:

3 large eggs, room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup (6 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ tsp table salt

zest of one orange

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

12 oz fresh cranberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the eggs and sugar using the whisk attachment. Whip until the eggs have turned pale yellow and the mixture has thickened and more than doubled in volume, about 3-5 minutes.

3. Add the softened butter, vanilla, salt and orange zest and mix until incorporated.

4. Stir the flour in with a spatula, followed by the cranberries. Stir just until mixed.

5. Pour into a 9×13 baking pan coated with non-stick spray,or even better, line it with foil and then spray the foil with non-stick spray (this will make it much easier to remove from the pan). Bake in the preheated oven 45-50 minutes, until browned on top and a toothpick stuck in the middle of the cake comes out free of cake-crumbs.

6. Cut into 16 squares. Store leftover cake in the refrigerator.

Just Schooling~

We decided everyone needed a little more room so we spread out~

Moving the little white table back in.

EC and HM were so concerned of where CA would sit

and now they are happy she will have a place.

I love how they are already including her in their thoughts and plans.

God is good!!!

Our Learning Space~

If you have followed my school blog over the last couple of years

you know we have schooled all over our house.

This summer as we have sporadically schooled I began thinking about

a designated space where learning and imagination could collide each day.

My first thought (and we have used this room for school once before) was the living room.

It is off to itself and hardly ever used so just seemed natural to use it.

I wanted tables for two children to share and looked online for ideas.

I even ordered three from Target and sent them all back.

I dreamed of little tables like the big one we have at the pool...

after all who doesn't love a beautiful farmhouse table!!!

This plan came up one day while I was searching and knew it was the one.

Scott finally got on board and we began building.

One week later after a few shopping trips with kids in tow

we completed all the details for our room and I couldn't be happier.

It is a bright, happy space with lots of room for all we will share together~

 The view of all four wall~

 The tables are nestled along the back wall behind our pink sofa

with everything they will need each day~

 There is so much charm woven into this room~

The old windows hanging above the desks once hung over my grandmother Martin's kitchen sink.

The pink sofa and floral chairs were my grandmother Ferguson's 

and I remember them from when I was a little girl!

Each pair of children will share a space~

{Chairs from IKEA}

 Pencil boxes in a tray on the table and a shelf holding their favorite book collection

as well as all the learning materials they need~

 We have a time and materials wall, US map, and white board area~

I really think we will spend most of our time piled on the sofa or lying on the round rug

listening to and reading lots of books!!!

Much work to be done but the Whole Hearts to nurture will matter the most!

A BIG Building Week~

With all 6 kids in school this year I decided it was time for a permanent room

for our learning time.

I looked for tables and desks... even ordered 3 from Target and took them back.

I wanted to build tables that would fit our space so on Saturday Scott went to Home Depot~

 I found plans online HERE and we built our first table on Saturday with our #1 helper~ 

 We built another Monday afternoon and painting began Wednesday...

{My first chalk painting experience and I am hooked!}~

 Two more on Wednesday afternoon and both painted~

 Scott also brought home these old windows from my grandmother's house

and once cleaned up looked beautiful above the table~

 Tuesday was a dr day and afterwards we made our first ever stop at IKEA

for a few goodies including these adorable chairs~

All of the tables are done and in place waiting for Monday to roll around

although they have already used and everyone keeps saying~

"We LOVE our new tables!"

So excited to show you the room once it is ready!

{Go HERE for plans}

*We cut our tables down to 4' so 2 kids could sit comfortably side by side.