History Club Barter Fair and Feast

One of the greatest joys we've experienced in our journey through home education has been our involvement in a History Club. I met the organizer through a mutual friend, and have loved loved loved our experiences with these fabulous families. Thank you Melinda, Debbie, and Alyssa for sharing your time, talents, and families with us!

The biggest event we've had this year was held on Monday; we enjoyed our middle ages England barter fair and feast. It was super fun coming up with ideas for crafts to make and trade. Dot made bracelets, Yakko made checker boards (complete with dry beans as checkers), and Wakko sewed "pockets". All in all, the bartering went well and all the kids ended up with lots of fun middle ages type stuff. Highlights included home made candles, flowers, illuminary window coloring pages, fresh fruits and vegetables, Robin Hood hats, swords and shields, and authentic ginger bread.

The bartering finished up, and we were treated to a feast! We experienced the likes of "rotten spiced meat", barley dishes, vegetables, trenchers, roast chicken, bean salad, applesauce, and a bunch of other yummy dishes whose names I cannot recall. We ate without the use of utinsils other than knives (so midevil!), and the room was completed with dried grass on the floor. What a riot!

My sweetie and I took a bunch of pictures of the events, and thought you may enjoy a sampling of the day.

Dot, deep in conversation.

My kids assessing their goods to trade.

One of our History Club buddies enjoying his fresh carrot.

Alyssa demonstrating wool yarn spinning.

Debbie surveying the bartering.

A cute History Club friend, cheesing it up for the camera. How we adore this girl!

Another darling History Club friend. What a fun lady she is!

I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of this little angel.

Some of our buddies deep in concentration. This game of checkers was so serious!

Yakko posing for us.

Some of the kids enjoying their feast.

A wider view of the feast.

Experiencing new tastes, smells, and ways to eat.

Wakko enjoyed "mopping up" all the juices and flavors from his feast with his trencher.

What a great experience! This is one that we will always remember and look back upon with fond memories!

Porter's Supporters 2009

Dear Blog Readers,

It's that time of year again: time to get started on the Great Strides Walk! If you are not yet familiar with this, let me tell you that you're in for a treat!

The funds go towards raising awareness and finding a cure for cystic fibrosis. The walk itself is a lot of fun, and you're welcomed to check out our adventures there last year by clicking here.

If you have any questions about joining our team ("Porter's Supporters"), please feel free to ask me or click here. If you have any questions about cystic fibrosis, please ask me or click here.

I will be posting more information as the weeks go by. I hope that you'll join us!

Loves,
~me

Answers

I have been asked a lot of questions via my blog and Facebook lately about a bridal shower, my kidlettes' nurseries, and a couple of other odds and ends. I've decided to tackle them today.

Here we go.

1. I did not go to the bridal shower because I was not invited.

2. I did try to make each of my baby's nursery's as fun and wonderful as possible, but frankly, I have definitely had more time to work on Peanut's nursery than any of the others.

When I was expecting Dot, I was going to college full time, teaching ballet about 4 days a week, and assisting in various ballet rehearsals (including choreographing for a dance concert). I did make her a Raggedy Ann doll and a quilt, but she didn't have a formal nursery; I was living in a one bedroom apartment, and didn't have a lot of room. I did make a bunch of tiny bracelets for her as well as a necklace for her blessing day. One bracelet has withstood the test of time. So has Raggedy Ann.

Yakko's nursery was done in light yellows and his theme was "Noah's Arc". My sweet grandma painted him a step stool and a plaque (which we still have!) as well as crocheting him an adorable rainbow blanket. I was on and off bed-rest from our 4 month mark on, so I didn't make a ton of stuff for him. Dot got potty trained and go rid of her pacifier ("B"). That was a huge accomplishment for us, and it was about all I could handle. I did learn to quilt and made him a blanket. Maybe I'll pull it out one day and take some pictures. Maybe.

Wakko's nursery, frankly, is kind of a blurr. We were dealing with the tail end of a law suit, issues with family members, and a really rough pregnancy. I do remember making him a Precious Moments quilt, a teddy bear quilt, and a few little blankets. Dot was 5, Yakko was 2, and I was a super busy woman. Between pre-school, bed rest, my sweetie changing jobs, deciding to sell our house, and having a sister move in with us... let's just say I didn't get as much done on his nursery as I'd like to have.

3. We decided on pink and brown for Peanut's nursery because we actually have the room to have a formal nursery! I've always wanted to go crazy making stuff for my babies, and with the other kids being older and pretty independant, I've found I have a lot more time than I have before. I love pink. I love brown. It's just so nice that they happen to be colors that are really easy to find right now!

4. The twin bed is in the nursery. We figured it would be a good place for it since a. she will need it eventually, and b. my sweet mother-in-law will probably be spending some time with us after Peanut's born. She has been a major part of our boys' first weeks of life, and she really wants to do the same for Peanut.

Thank you for reading my blog, posting questions and comments, and being so great! I cannot thank you enough for making me feel so loved in this exciting time in our family's history!

This Week's Projects

Although I have been working like crazy this week (food storage room, laundry, school), somehow I've managed to squeeze a few nursery projects into my week.

My honey and Wakko put the crib together last week, but it got all dressed up this week. We bought the sheets, bumper pad, and a blanket. I made the crib skirt that will also fit the twin bed (when she gets too big for the crib).

My cute friend Nicci showed me an adorable hanger for hair clips when I visited her. I made one that isn't as cute as I'd hoped it would be, but it works. My favorite thing about it is that it not only holds hair bows, but the adorable bracelets Melissa made as well.I made a few more hair bows...

and got the twin bed put together (complete with a new pillow case that ties the room together).

(Thanks, Grandma Karen, for the gingham! It's been really utilated this week.)

I Love Raggedy Ann

Last night my sweetie and I spent a huge chunk of our tax return on food storage items. It was very fulfilling in that I know that we could literally survive for months on what we've got sitting in our basement. The two of us are into such a "nesting" frenzy, that this seemed like the next logical step in preparing for our big arrival.

When we got home from shopping trip number two, Dot informed us that a couple from our neighborhood (Nicole and Kevin) had stopped by while we were out. My first thought was "Bummer! I missed them! I totally love them!". Then Dot showed us a fun surprise they'd dropped off for us:
Dot said with a smile: "Nicole asked if I knew who Raggedy Ann was. I had to smile at it since I totally know who Raggedy Ann is!"

You see, my favorite dolls when I was a little girl were my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls my mom made for me. I don't know where Raggedy Ann is, but I've got my Andy in a box downstairs. When Dot was still cooking, I made her a Raggedy Ann doll.

We practically have a shrine to Raggedy Ann in our basement.Nicole and Kevin, you are so kind to do this for us! It means so much to me! Thanks!

Blue and Gold Banquet

This year's Blue and Gold Banquet's theme was "Route 66". I must admit that I was super impressed by the organization, decorations, and delicious food! (Among other awesome foods, our family was introduced to "Chicago Dogs". Ooh, baby! If you haven't tried one of these, GO GET ONE!)Yakko's efforts to continue scouting even while super busy with his play this Christmas. It meant so much to him that they'd do that (oh, and I was touched by it too!).Yakko read a paper he wrote about why he loves America along with the other boys in his troop. All the parents of these great kids should be so proud!
Thanks, Kim and Ben for the awesome time!

Getting Ready

Here are the projects that currently have me engaged in the excitement that builds up as we enter the third trimester. "Nesting" has set in BIG TIME, and all I want to do is clean, make stuff, buy baby stuff, and clean. Did I mention that I wanted to clean?
I digress...

Setting up the crib:
Baby Peanut's blanket:
Knitted hats:
It's getting exciting!