Elmo - An Unschooler??

Today Marley wanted to watch Sesame Street and we hung out a bit before I had to finish packing for Girl Scout Camp. Elmo, Big Bird, and Snuffy were starting up a Y School to learn more about the letter Y. Elmo went out to find a teacher. Each person he asked said they were too busy to be the teacher but told him a little more about the letter Y. He taught what he learned to Big Bird and Snuffy but he couldn't come up with a teacher. Then suddenly they realized that he WAS the teacher. Hmmmm.

Vacuquin

My unschooler, when she didn't have a manequin to dress up, she used the vaccuum cleaner instead. All in all, they have become good friends.

Brenda's Discovery

At a party for her friend the other day, Brenda made an astounding discovery. While trying to lick icing off her body, she figured out that her tongue cannot not touch her elbow.

The Big Welcome Home

Marley had a harder time being dropped off for camp by the day. She loved being there when she was there. And the first two or three days were ok. But by the end of the week she was panicking when I left. She was getting exhausted by the end of the day and not getting enough sleep, perhaps. Today was her last day and we cleaned up her playroom and had a picnic with her when she came home!!

**Art Classes**

Actually, I sat with Brenda and Bret to work on making faces. I told them if they get nothing else from this but one thing, I would like it to be the realization that the eyes are not on the top of the head, but rather approx in the middle. We made a face graph of sorts to show where all the parts are in proximity to the other facial parts. I thought Bret's portrait was worthy of showing up on the blog. I was extrememly impressed.

Lily at Camp

When I came to pick Lily up from camp today, she gave me a frown and turned away from me. "I don't want to go home". She helped collect eggs from the hens, fed the rabbit (lettuce), made and painted a tree house, cooked bread in the outdoor dutch oven, then ate the bread with butter and honey, climbed a tree, and much much more. Mostly there was a boy who wanted to marry her that followed her around and sat by her. She wasn't amused.

Crafts at the Park

We made decorative cups today at the grand reopening of Crafts at the Park. Glad it is on again. They even let me take the craft home for Lily because of course SHE IS AT CAMP ALL WEEK... :-)

Neusole Glassworks Flowers

Our flowers from the Neusole Glassworks tour last week. One of the best field study tours of the year, we all agree!! Brenda's is blue and green, Bret's is red and green, mine is blue with a clear flower.

Two Down, Four To Go

Brenda and I took a picture of us getting ready for the big night.



Here are Josh and Brittany after the graduation for a couple photo ops.




And the three generations of Coshnitkze's all together for the big moment. Josh and Brittany are off to college soon. Yay for them moving on to new things :-)

Kids Workshop at Home Depot

Home Depot Kids Workshop. The first Saturday of each month from 9am-noon. Each month a new project. Always a cool project for the kids to learn how to build.

This month we made mini-foosball sets. Next month - Periscopes. August - School Bus Pencil Organizer. There is always something cool going on at Home Depot...

Out on Field Work

We went on a tour of a glass blowing company here in town. Ten minutes away. Never heard of it until the tour was set up.



We watched a demonstration of them making a really cool vase from beginning to end. How they add colors to the glass, how they blow the glass, how they get the glass off the big metal pole it is on while it is being worked, the cooling process, etc.



Then we all took turns making our own glass flowers.



Quiet possibly my favorite field work ever!!



I texted Lisa to tell her we HAVE to set this up for the Girl Scouts. And she said no. That we should set it up for us adults instead. Evidentally there are classes, community outreach programs, tours, all kinds of different activities available through these amazing people!!

A Sad Anniversary

If you know me from around, or if you keep up with us in other ways such as reading our blog, you might remember our painful summer last year. We will be at Girl Scout camp this year on the one year anniversary of Marley's assault.

Not trying to dredge up the past. Marley mentions the boy in passing seldom anymore. The boy is still under house arrest, for whatever that is worth.

But I would like to take this moment to remind you to appreciate the police, fire department, detectives, etc. in your area. You never know when you will need them. Hopefully you will be so lucky then for them to be as amazing as Detective Matheson was and no doubt still is.

Since last summer, I know of another family that is going through something similar, only it is with their older daughter and dad. The mother said she is so thankful for the detective in charge. He was amazing. I asked her, was it Detective Matheson? She said it was and we smiled a sad smile together. We both agree. Detective Matheson, you are great!!

Lemonade Anyone?

Brenda bugged me about having a lemonade stand for weeks now. Then she finally got tired of hearing me say no I guess so she set it up with a friend. I was beat. She went over my head to do what she felt compelled to do, so if you can't beat em join em. Her goal is $30.00 so she can buy a pillow pet. "It's a pillow, it's a pet, it's a pillow pet..." In 3 days she has earned $16.00 already and that doesn't include what her friends and Bret have earned too. Or what she has had to pay me for supplies.

And of course, because Brenda and I had to look it up, there is a Girl Scout badge for this. LOL.

Bridging Pics

This first picture is Lisa Bridging Bret into Juniors. "Do you promise to do a good turn daily and live by the Girl Scout Law?" Lisa is the talker. I do much of the work with the girls, but when it comes to speaking in the crowds, I am thankful for Lisa. That is her department.



Next is Bret helping a Daisy become a Brownie. "Twist me and Turn me and show me the Elf. I looked in the water and saw..." My Brownies one at a time took the Daisies over the bridge and twisted and turned them so they could see "themselves". lol. It was sweet!



This is Brenda earning her first Junior Star. Lisa stuck me in front of the crowd for this one, because she was announcing the girls as they came down the aisle.

Those girls just keep getting older and older. What will next year bring??

Yum Yum

There is an issue being put on the ballot about the treatment of farm animals in Ohio. It is gruesome and sad. I am not about "saving" the animals, but what I see makes me physically sick. That said, here is our dinner tonight...

Yesterday afternoon, I had lunch with a good friend. We went to Aquarius Star, yum yum, and chatted for something like 4-1/2 hours. We had Cucumber Gazpacho soup and black bean taco salad. I haven't tried to recreate the gazpacho yet (not because it wasn't amazingly delicious, I assure you.) However, this is my recreation of the taco salad, except my Goddess dressing isn't near as fabulous as theirs was, so I just added a dollop of vegan sour cream. And notice our fresh home grown bed of lettuce that the chili sits upon. Brenda and Bret cleaned their plates! Bret even grilled us some corn and veggie kabobs while he was making his barbq ribs and steak. lol.

Memorial Day Parade

So here we are, those of us that showed up to march in the Memorial Day Parade. And throw candy (we are still having issues with what Gently Toss means, evidentally lol.) and recognize our military forces that have in the past and still do support our country with their lives and commitment.



And wasn't this town nice enough to "fit the Girl Scouts in" to the ceremony after the parade. Rachel got to put up the flag with a boy scout. Those weren't my words and that is why they are in quotes. Can you hear my sarcasm? Not really offended, but why an all boyscout color guard? And why do the Girl Scouts sit in the grass while the boy scouts participate fully in the ceremony? And to our 30 or so Girl Scouts, there were 5 boys for the scouts. I don't get it. But I will try to change it. lol. It was a good time. Donuts and Juice afterward.